A increasingly popular trend in women's fashion that is being embraced by LDS women young and old is to wear tight and revealing clothing, no not revealing the skin, they cover all the parts of the skin they think comprises a modest dress, but they cover their bodies with clothes so tight and fitted, and in fabrics so clingy to every curve, that their naked bodies are revealed none the less. One such trend in tight clothing that is all the rage, even in Utah based clothing companies, is wearing tights as pants or as an accessory to otherwise immodest clothing.
I have been reluctant to speak on this issue and I have reserved my thoughts in public forums to spare the tender feelings of mothers and daughters in my acquaintance, woman I love and respect, but I have felt impressed that I shouldn't reserve these impressions any longer. I hope that LDS women will realize that my thoughts are shared with great concern for the ways the world snares us and are not meant to offend.
The For Strength of Youth Standards in the LDS church clearly describe immodest clothing and the standard is not only for the youth but for the entire church. The pamphlet describes immodest clothing this way, "ANY clothing that is TIGHT, sheer, or REVEALING in ANY other way..." There is no nuance about the description tight and revealing in the church standard, and even if there were room for interpretation, the skin tight pants and tights that are the latest fashion leave no room to wonder whether or not they are too tight. The tights I am seeing so many LDS women wearing are skin-tight and reveal every crease and curve of the leg and bottom. Too often there isn't even an attempt to cover the bottom when wearing these tights making this fashion just as revealing, or more so, than short shorts and dresses.
The trend of wearing tights as pants, or as a "cover-up" to make otherwise immodest skirts/shorts/dresses "modest," is a particularly dangerous deception because otherwise modest women are finding it is more easily to rationalize this fashion as providing appropriate coverage of the skin.
To help add insight into how the Lord views modesty we can review the Honor Code that governs dress at church schools. The policy states that "Clothing is inappropriate when it is sleeveless, strapless, backless, or revealing; has slits above the knee... or FORM FITTING. Dresses, skirts, and shorts must be knee-length or longer." Form fitting is certainly a higher bar on modesty than "tight," and it leaves even less room to rationalize that "skin tight" pants or tights are not "form fitting." To make these tights and so called "modesty tops" worse is that they are being used in Mormon fashions to "transform" otherwise immodest clothes into "acceptable" clothing. The problem if a dress or shorts are immodest without the "skin-tight" tights, they are not made modest by the addition of tights. If low cut dresses are worn with a "modesty top" that is "skin-tight" the dress is not made modest. What is achieved is a convenient run around of the spirit of the law laid forth by prophets of God.
My heart is filled with joy when I see pictures of my nieces in beautiful modest clothing! They simply glow with the light of Christ. A beautiful young man and woman dressed modestly are the perfect picture of pure loveliness! There dress is an outward expression of faithful obedience is very pleasing to our Father in Heaven.
What I want for all my friends, sisters & nieces, is for each of them to come to understand in their hearts the true essence of their divine nature, to understand their essential role as women in God's plan, to embrace their "keys" as mothers and givers of life and to protect and safeguard their "keys" through vigilance to their virtue. I want them to understand the power they have to exalt men and their families when they carefully follow the standards of the Lord.
I hope each of us will begin to look at our clothing and behavior and thoughtfully and prayerfully evaluate whether they guard virtue, our own and others, whether we glorify our Father in our choices. I too will commit anew to evaluate my dress and conduct in this respect, join me.
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