It is great to see faithful Christian ladies who are concerned about dressing modestly. You see them layering their clothing to hide cleavage or making sure the clothes are not too tight before purchasing them. It doesn’t happen often but any time I overhear a teenager in the fitting room asking if something is too tight, short or low I smile. But I have noticed a new trend when it comes to women’s dress today – leggings.
Yes, they can be very fashionable when worn appropriately but just because you are wearing something underneath your dress or skirt, does not mean that you can wear shorter dresses or skirts. Just because you are not showing skin doesn’t mean it is modest. The leggings or tights worn underneath your skirt just enhance the curves in your legs and bring attention to them. It still makes guys look at you with lustful thoughts.
Would you find it appropriate to wear those leggings by themselves, without the short skirt flapping around above it? I would hope not because it is too tight. So why would adding a little fabric over your rump change things? Especially, when some don’t even bother picking things up off the floor or sitting like a lady.
So, lets stop pushing the limits on modesty. We should all be trying to win others to Christ with everything we do and say – and that includes how we dress. How can we be effective telling others about what the Bible says if they are distracted by what you are wearing?
Matthew 5:28 – But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 – Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
1 Peter 3:3-4 – Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
By Amanda Key
Amanda and her husband attend Karns Church of Christ while going to East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions in Knoxville, Tennessee. After graduation this July, they will be moving to Illinois to work with the Collinsville Church of Christ as the intern/associate minister. Amanda enjoys writing articles for her blog (AKeyMoment.wordpress.com), teaching adult ladies classes and speaking at Ladies’ Days. She has her own photography business (Key Memories Photography.com) and looks forward to starting a family with her husband.
Lauren says
Yessss!!! Thank you so much! I don’t know why wearing leggings seems to suddenly mean that miniskirts are ok. Also, I sometimes do see people wearing leggings as pants and it always leaves me flabbergasted. Anyways, great article!
Martha Stewart says
Good article and one that needs to be heeded! This is one topic that is becoming more and more needed in the church.
Emily Nelson says
I just love you!!! thank you for posting this!!! I say the same thing ALL THE TIME! I love leggings and wear them under everything…they can be a great asset to being extra modest…but they are NOT pants and they do NOT make things that are way too short modest either!! I am stunned sometimes when people buy dresses that are at least 2 inches short though and wont put leggings underneath it, because it would really help cover any questionable areas. We need to be MORE modest than necessary, not less!! Thank you!! 🙂
Dena Ivie says
Appreciate your good article, Amanda. I also appreciate the comment in the previous response, “We need to be MORE modest than necessary, not less!!”” Thanks, Emily, for adding that statement. Let’s truly be God’s holy and special people as He desires us to be (1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Peter 2:9) and glorify God in our body and our spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
margot says
Amanda, just wanted to let you know when you get to Illinois, contact me if you need directions around the area or just somebody to talk too. I live just a town or so over…. going through Collinsville for all kinds of reasons. (I guess there might be more than one Collinsville….. Southern Illinois, about 30 minutes outside St. Louis?)
Tami Roberts says
We need to be teaching “holiness” when we talk on “modesty”!! Great article and I LOVE the comments!!! Got to love the women who are “striving” in the church!!!