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"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" is the chorus of a song many
of us sing with our younger kids. For the young it is a fun way to learn the
different parts of their bodies; for many of us adults it can help define the guidelines
of modest dressing.
Modest clothing is more than just putting faith into
fashion. It is about a life philosophy
which presents itself outwardly in the clothing we wear. Dressing in conformity with religious teachings or
personal viewpoints makes the daily act of getting dressed a statement of who
we are and what we stand for.
Each different faith and cultural group have their own way
of defining modesty.
So let's explore our Nursery Rhyme.
Heads
Many faith groups expect married women to cover their heads,
some expect girls also to adopt head coverings from an early age. Hats, caps, scarves, snoods, wigs all have
their part to play. Look at the upside,
for many of us there is no such thing as a bad hair day!
Shoulders
Covering shoulders and wearing sleeves is very much part of
the routine, whilst some women would never go out in a strapless top, others
would never be seen in anything that exposed their elbows or collarbones. Sleeve
lengths and necklines can be positively political.
Knees
Wars have been fought over less than the length of a woman's
skirt. Below the knee, not just standing but also
whilst sitting, is the norm for some modest - dressing women. Too long is also
an issue, whilst for others a glimpse of ankle will not do.
Some faith groups permit, even encourage, women to wear
trousers, others forbid them.
Toes
Open toed shoes are also a point of contention for some, for
others this is really a non-issue.
It is "fashionable" in today's society to portray women who
dress modestly for religious, personal or ideological reasons as oppressed by
their culture or by male-dominated hierarchies.
Many women who conform to modest dressing will tell you that they find
it liberating. Modest does not mean
dowdy, repressed or meek. It means being
seen for who you are as a person. Modest clothing can be fabulous, modern and
incredibly flattering.
Kosher Casual applauds all efforts to dress modestly, no matter how it
is defined. They make a range of
products that meet the many definitions. They recognize that there are
indeed many perspectives on modesty in the Jewish, Christian, and even secular
worlds, each with different modesty guidelines.