Covered Doesn't Always Mean Modest: Exposure vs. Emphasis

A garment can cover every inch we intended it to cover and still leave us uneasy when we look in the mirror. That is because modesty is not only about what is exposed. Fit, fabric and silhouette can also determine what is emphasized.

That distinction is the focus of Part 2 of the Modest & Devoted Wardrobe Check.

Coverage Is Only the First Question

A high neckline, long sleeves and a long hem can all be good features. But after checking coverage, take one more look at the garment as a whole.

Does the fabric skim the body, or is it pulled tightly across it? Are seams lying naturally, or stretching? Does a knit become much more form-revealing once you move? Is the garment technically the correct size but simply cut in a way that does not give you the ease you want?

This is not an argument for hiding in shapeless clothing. Beautiful clothing can have structure and shape. The goal is to recognize the difference between a garment that fits attractively and one that calls more attention to the body than we intended.

LOOK • TURN • MOVE • CHECK THE FIT

LOOK. Stand naturally instead of posing. Notice where the fabric pulls, clings or stretches.

TURN. Check the front, side and back. A fit that seems comfortable from one angle may look very different from another.

MOVE. Walk, sit and reach. Stretch fabrics and fitted seams can behave differently in motion.

CHECK THE FIT. Ask whether another size, a different cut or a simple layer would allow the garment to drape more naturally.

Sometimes the solution is surprisingly small: sizing up, choosing a straighter or more relaxed cut, adding a cardigan, wearing a slip or underskirt to reduce cling, or selecting a different fabric.

And sometimes the wisest conclusion is simply, “This particular garment is not going to work for me.”

A Principle Worth Considering

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has taught about considering both what clothing exposes and what it emphasizes. Her teaching is a helpful reminder that a modest wardrobe cannot be evaluated by inches of coverage alone.

That does not give us permission to inspect or criticize other women. The Wardrobe Check is meant to turn the mirror toward our own choices.

Attractive Does Not Mean Immodest

Modesty should not make us afraid of looking feminine, polished or beautiful. The question is not whether an outfit is attractive. It is whether we can wear it with confidence that its fit and emphasis are consistent with the convictions we are trying to live by.

If a garment needs adjustment, try the adjustment. If it needs a layer, layer it. If the cut simply does not work, let it go without guilt.

The purpose of a wardrobe is to serve the woman wearing it—not to make her spend the entire day tugging, checking and worrying.

Coming next: Part 3 — The Bend Test: What Happens to Your Neckline When You Lean Forward?

Inspiration note: This installment was informed in part by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s teaching “Exposing and Emphasizing” from Revive Our Hearts. The wording and practical Wardrobe Check framework here are original to ModestAndDevoted.

— Stephanie & the ModestAndDevoted Family
Be comfy. Be beautiful. Be modest.