The Modesty Test
Today’s Modesty Monday topic is a little “test” you can do to see if an outfit is modest.
Obviously, there are a lot of areas where people’s standards will differ with regards to what is modest – just how long a sleeve, just how low a neckline, etc.
But I like this little guideline because it is so basic.
I have seen such a test in seveal modesty resources – most recently in this terrific little book:
Think of the children’s rhyme
Head
and Shoulders
Knees
and Toes
So now, stand in front of a mirror and…
Put you hands on your HEAD
Does your waist show (front or back)?
Put your hands on your SHOULDERS
Check that your shoulders are covered, and your neckline is not too low.
Look at your KNEES
They should be covered.
Okay, now put your hands on your KNEES
Can you see down the front of your top to your undergarmets, chest, or even *gasp* your belly button? Yikes!
Bend over and touch your TOES
Does your back show?
Pretty good, eh?
Here’s another couple of quick-checks that I think would save women a lot of (presumably) inadvertant immodesty.
- Press your shirt to your breastbone (in the center of your chest). If it springs back out like a tramploine when you let go, it is too tight.
- Button-down shirt? Put your hands at your waist and spread your elbows back like “chicken wings.” Stand sideways and see if you can see into your shirt because it is creating big gaps between the buttons.
I’ll save my further thoughts on guidelines for modest apparel for another day. I think these are pretty universal, while we will soonbe moving into the disputed territories…
Oh, thought this was a cute “test” with some great points.
I am a modest person but one day at church a couple years ago when I first became a mother, I was bending over to get my daughter’s coat on and a lady came over and told me you could see down my shirt. Yikes! Though the neckline was up near my collar bone, apparently when I bent over…it wasn’t all that modest. I no longer have that shirt! LOL
.-= Jenn @ Beautiful Calling´s last blog … TUT: Unplugged or Unhinged =-.
LOVE this idea! I felt called to change how I dress about a year ago and it has been a slow process. Modesty is something that I wasn’t ever taught and instead I followed the world. Now I feel that it is soo important and so does my husband! Love your blog, lots of great information and very inspirational : )