So, the question is, by whose standards do we define modesty in dress? The Bible gives no illustration, drawing or picture of hem lengths; no information whether shorts are allowable, and if they are, how long they must be; how a man’s trousers must hang or how low a woman’s blouse may be cut. Even today modesty standards change from culture to culture. In many Islamic countries a woman’s face must be veiled. The mid-Victorian diagram above would be considered immodest by some of today’s Islamic standards. How then do we determine modesty?

While culture cannot be the final authority, we can surely arrive at some definition of modesty by asking what indicators of modesty do we find in the Scripture?

The Apostle Paul says that women should dress modestly “with propriety.” The Greek word for propriety is a word used only twice in the New Testament. The only other place it is found is in Hebrews 12:28 (emphasis added), “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” The word reverence is translated from the same Greek word for “propriety.” Here the word is used to speak of respect that is paid to the Lord. Perhaps we can say that to dress modestly is wearing clothing that shows respect to the Lord. This does not mean some type of religious clothing or to wear something that looks like it came out of grandma’s clothes closet. But it does mean that the apparel is something that does not dishonor the Lord.