It has been suggested that something be said about what is proper attire for Christian women, with special emphasis as to what is becoming attire for church.
Let me say that I do not believe God has appointed any one of us to legislate specifically what another person should wear. The Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy have provided us with the underlying principles, and I believe that God expects us to conscientiously apply these principles to the circumstances under which we find ourselves.
Perhaps we might look at our dress in a little different light if we consider the fact that we are ambassadors for God—His representatives. An ambassador must always be perfectly dressed in public in appropriate clothing for the particular occasion, giving no offense, wearing not too much nor too little. If we wear too much it could be considered adornment; too little, immodest.
No doubt you have read the instruction in the Spirit of Prophecy on the subject of dress. As I see it, the fundamental principles involved are these: (I) Clothing should adequately protect the body; (2) clothing should be modest; (3) clothing should be in keeping with good taste and be becoming to the wearer.
I believe there is nothing inherently wrong with any particular piece of clothing so long as it meets the first two of the three requirements we have just mentioned. For instance, in some countries all the women wear trousers, but in our country it has generally been the custom for men to wear trousers. Also, a woman of India would never wear a hat to church. She drapes part of her sari over her head, thus showing reverence.
There is another principle we might mention in connection with the problem of determining propriety in dress. You know the adage, "Be not the first by whom the new are tried yet the last to lay the old aside." To me it seems that the age of the wearer and the occupation in which she is engaged should play a large part in determining what is worn. I would think, then, that if the article of clothing is healthful and modest, if it has been generally accepted over a period of time as an appropriate form of attire for women, and if it is adapted to the activities of the wearer, it should be all right to wear. What might have been improper many years ago, might be proper today. What might be appropriate for hiking or beach wear is inappropriate to wear to church. What might be proper for a child might not be proper for an adult. In choosing our clothing, let us remember that we are daughters of the King. We would not want to bring reproach upon our parents; therefore, let us not bring dishonor to our heavenly Father by the clothing we wear.
A friend once said to me that she was embarrassed to introduce her friends to a fellow church member because of the way she dressed. I think that sometimes people dress the way they do because they have not been informed of what is good taste in clothes. And then there are some that, even though they know, have to live with the mistakes they have made until they can afford better.
I would like to share with you in this letter today some of the things I found in my study of this subject. First of all let me give you a few references I think you will enjoy looking up:
Child Guidance, pp. 413-430.
Messages to Young People, pp. 313-315; 343-360.
Education, pp. 246-248.
Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 142. Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 499.
The Ministry of Healing, pp. 288, 289, 293
"The house of God is profaned by the dress of professedly Christian women of today."—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, March 20, 1958, p. 12.
Good Taste in Clothes
"Good taste in clothes starts with simplicity, proceeds to becomingness, and culminates in appropriateness for the occasion. No matter how beautiful any article of clothing may be, unless it suits the wearer, unless it is functional and right for the specific purpose and time it is worn, it is not in good taste. Loud, flashy colors, poor fabrics and workmanship, and inharmonious combination all contribute to bad taste. Your clothes should fit properly. If too loose, they are no longer smart; if they are too tight, the seams rip and the fabric pulls. Simplicity should border on plainness, but with the distinction that is achieved by perfect fit, beautiful lines, fine tailoring, and complete suitability to the figure type. Absence of ornamentation helps to bring out the beauty of fabric and cut; badly designed clothes are often betrayed by the surplus of trimming used in an attempt to conceal the inferior workmanship."—Personality Unlimited, pp. 366, 367.
Hester Garvin of the Parsons School of Design of New York City stated: "We should wear nothing that glitters [rhinestones, sequins, gold, et cetera] for daytime wear. To do so is absolutely always in bad taste."
"Good manners include good taste in clothes—even at the cost of curtailing your self-expression. You compliment your hostess, your guests, your clergyman, teacher, or boss . . . by dressing appropriately for them."—Glamour magazine, April, 1957.
Eleanore King, who is a personality coach to many important women today, states that a basic dress or suit should have three-quarter or full-length sleeves.
Mrs. Elisabeth von Hess, speech teacher from New York City, gave a series of lectures in Takoma Park and several hundred attended her classes. She felt very strongly about sleeveless dresses. She maintained that only three-quarter length or longer sleeves should be worn by women who appear on the public platform.
A worker's wife attended a lecture on dress on the West Coast by an expert from Los Angeles who selects the wardrobes for many of the celebrities in that area, and she maintained that sleeveless arms are unattractive and ugly. She never designed sleeveless dresses or blouses for any of her patrons, nor would she consider having her picture taken in a sleeveless costume.
In Glamour magazine, December, 1955, in an article entitled "How to Dress for Church," we find the following: "For propriety's sake, low necklines and bare arms are out."
Here is a classic rule that will help you to know if you are overdressed. You should never have more than 14 counts, and some of the best-dressed women in the world are under the 12 count year after year.
So be sure you don't have more than 14 eye-arresting elements on. Better 12.
"Contrary to what most girls think, boys do not like to see them in low-neck dresses, thin blouses, short skirts, and other such revealing garb. Sights like these are repulsive to boys."—JOYCE JACKSON'S Guide to Dating, p. 153.
The following quotations are from an article, "Church Etiquette," by Elsie Landon Buck:
"What about the clothes we wear to church? Do they reveal to others our sense of the exalted nature of worship, the seriousness of the occasion? The way in which we dress for church reflects our attitude toward the God we have come to worship.
"Check these points before you go to church next week.
"Women: The church holds a unique claim on your wardrobe, for it does not want costly array and yet it expects more than the common everyday dress. The ideal church dress is one that is inconspicuously attractive, and clean. Neat, well-pressed, subdued in color. Pleasing in style and quality, always revealing good taste. . . . Suitable to the season and locale. The good church dress would not have any evidence of neglect: ripped seams or hems, et cetera. . . . Low backs borrowed from the beach. Toothpick-thin straps from the ballroom. Sleeveless dresses are in poor taste. Display in style, material, ornaments, or accessories. Any resemblance to a party dress. . . . A good tip: Choose a simple, well-tailored dress or suit for church. Keep your children's clothing simple. Shoes should be shining and in good repair . . . chosen to complement attire. Always daytime shoes, avoiding any suggestion of evening styling. Gloves: optional if not wearing hat. A must with a hat, however. Should be immaculate. If cotton or nylon, laundered frequently. Hats: Custom is not as exacting as formerly on the wearing of hats, but authority still maintains that hats should be worn to church. . . . The less formal evening meetings of the church do not require the wearing of hats, however, . . . hats worn to church should be conservative and not conspicuous. Avoid blocking the view from behind with large brims. . . .
"What does this all add up to? One thing, mainly: that no reproach be brought on the name of God by what we put on our bodies when we come to worship Him. Let us renew every effort and coordinate the utmost of heart, soul, mind, and strength to create within us and without a greater expression of dignity and reverence in our worship of God. In thought and word and deed our whole being should thrill to the exalted privilege of worshiping an eternal Majesty, the great Creator of heaven and earth, our Lord. All that is secular and shoddy must be left out of His presence, for we must give to God in worship thoughts and words and deeds that are sacred."
Very sincerely yours,
LAVONNE BIERWAGEN Pastor's wife, shepherdess, mother, but not judge
