Q: A lot of top styles are really cute, but are immodest... Is there anyway I can still wear them and be modest?
Monday, February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
A: Congrats on wanting to dress modestly! The apostle Paul made a great observation in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."
Now, does this mean that braiding your hair or wearing gold jewelry is evil? No way! In heaven, like every other thing is gold! Gold lampstands, gold clothes, gold crowns, gold bowls, gold censers, gold altars, the streets are made out of gold! "The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass." (Revelation 21:21) So if gold was evil, God wouldn't fill the perfect existence -- heaven -- with it! Lol!
These were some of the fashion trends of the day (some things seem to never change right? Lol!) and Paul was trying to relate to that audience. The apostle Paul wanted the audience to get it, because there were some fashionistas walking around the Church of 60ish A.D. who were making the Church services a mere fashion show and not being concerned about doing good deeds and living a Godly lifestyle. I repeat, it seems like some things never change, right?
If the apostle Paul lived today and was writing a letter to today's fashionistas, the verse probably would have said 'headbands' or 'tunics' The point is that Christian women should be more than fluff and stuff. Christian women should be women of substance, women to be admired...appropriate women. Proverbs 11 best sums it up (go read it, it's divine!) with the highlight verse being, "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." (Proverbs 11:22)
One word sums up this verse...pointless. Don't be a pointless 'Christian' woman.
So, clarifying this often misunderstood verse in the Bible, is the first layer of the answer to your frequently asked question. Now off to the second layer...
Yes! There are tons of cute clothes that aren't very modest...when worn by themselves! But, that's the fun part of being a fashionista -- creating your own styles!
Now, remember that "modesty" -- which by definition means "decent" which in turn is defined as "free from obscenity" -- goes beyond not flashing your private parts. Modesty or being decent, should be a part of your daily living, in all aspects. Remember the point that the apostle Paul was trying to make.
So, that said, first you need to make 'layering tops' your new fashion best friend. Start by investing in a variety of basic layering style tops such as the ones below -- long sleeve, 3/4 length sleeve, spaghetti strap, and cap sleeve.
Start with the basic colors of white and black, as they easily match / coordinate with a variety of colors. Make sure that your layering tops comfortably and smoothly layer underneath your main shirt, because bumps and crumples are a fashion no-no. This may require you to buy layering tops that are a tighter fit than what you would normally wear solo.
Which brings up another topic... So, you find a top that is super cute, not too low cut, not too short, but it is too tight... Skip it as a main shirt, because wearing too tight tops that show every curve of your body can be just as immodest.
If you are still wanting the top, get creative and figure out ways that you can layer it under other tops to make modest styles! Maybe layer it underneath a cute cardigan and then pair it with glam jeans, shoes, and accessories! Problem solved!
OK, quiz time, you find a top that is super cute, but it is too low cut, what do you do? Answer - Decide which one of your layering tops will look best under it. Problem solved!
Once you've got layering 101 down, move on to experimenting with a variety of cool colors of layering tops and try layering over blouses, polos, turtlenecks, etc.!
Have Fun! RUTH
* All verses are from the (NIV) translation of the Bible!
* This is an excerpt from the book InTheTimes.com Q&A by Ruth Tynes. Copyright 2008. It may not be reprinted or posted without written permission from the author. Please contact for reprint permission.
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