Why Modesty? Ask A Guy!

This is an awesome Catholic guy named Jason Evert talking about why modesty is important from a guy's point of view. Very insightful. Check out his other videos too-- this guy rocks! -Jen

Of course it's fun! It's a girl thing.

By Megan Walter
Okay-so we dress modest. We look for affordable prices. If you're anything like me, you can't find affordable, pretty, and modest clothes!

Here are a few things I've learned over the years:

• Look for sales! At malls, Burlington, Marshalls (my particular fav), and anywhere else there might be something with long sleeves and long skirts.
• Thrift shops! I've found a few nice things myself. And they are so cheap!
• Online! There are two online shops that have a few cute tops and bottoms: dELiA*s, and Alloy. Check back often, and wait for sales. I love the t-shirts they have!
• Make your own! Ok, so that doesn't sound very exciting, but, hey! It can be fun if you want! I mean, you can make it any size, any color, and with the help of a sewing machine, it's a snap. And that doesn't rule out knitting, crochet, etc. (I made my own poncho once!)

Where there's a will, there's possibility. If you're anything like I was, you probably get embarrassed about dressing modestly from time to time. Here's a little something for you: There was this teenage girl that was going to the grocery store. She was wearing a long black and white polka-dot skirt that touched her toes and a simple red turtleneck. At the checkout counter, some lady wouldn't stop staring at her. Just as she was leaving, the lady said “Hey wait! I wanted to tell you how pretty you're dressed! My daughter absolutely refuses to wear anything other then jeans, mini skirts and tube tops. I just wanted to tell you that you must be a wonderful person. Keep it up. And you're so pretty, by the way!” (True story.) She thought that the girl was a beautiful person because of the way she dressed! Now, isn't wearing modest clothes worth it? And looking for affordable prices too?



Megan Walter is a teenager in Virginia. Homeschooled, she enjoys writing, reading and havin' lots of fun.

The Cold Shoulder: To See or Not to See?

By Jennifer Loch
Latter-Day Saints believe in covering the shoulders for modesty, and I recently received this email from an LDS teen:

"Ok, so i still have a hard time staying modest. Especially when summer is around. I went shopping yesterday and i found it so hard to stay away from racerback styled tank tops. I don't understand why its such a big deal, i could see spaghetti straps but racerbacks? Its not like guys get attracted to our shoulders like more feminine parts of a womens body right? I just don't understand, i've fallen in to the habit of just slipping on a tank top everyday for school, putting on a sweatshirt for seminary and taking it back off the moment i get back in the highschool building. Even my mother has started noticing. Please help me understand why tank tops are so bad?"

I felt the same way when I was a teen. I wore tank tops, and I didn't understand why I wasn't supposed to wear them. It's not that wearing a tank top is so bad; there are worse things you could be wearing, or doing for that matter. Tank tops are comfortable and I loved wearing them. But I also felt guilty that I wasn't following the rules of my religion and it crept into my mind that I could break other rules as well, so it lead to other things.

I've heard that you should think of it like a test; it's a part of the religion that you believe in, so you believe that God is asking you to do it. He's asking you to do something that you might not understand, but if you obey him you are proving your obedience to him, and he will bless you for it.

If you're looking to date a good LDS guy who goes on a mission and lives the gospel, he will be looking for the same in you. If a guy like that sees that you aren't following the rules, he might think that you don't live the gospel in other ways and you aren't the kind of girl for him.

Shoulders may not be as sexy as cleavage, but men do find them attractive. It's not something they think about, it's more subconscious. Now that I'm married and wear garments, my husband has said on several occasions when I wasn't dressed or was wearing a swimsuit "Oh, your shoulders! I never get to see them when you're dressed. I never thought about shoulders being sexy but now I see why garments cover your shoulders and back because they're really sexy."

And if you think about it, most outfits that are supposed to look sexy show your back and/or shoulders. Just think about what the female celebrities wear on the red carpet. It's almost always something that shows the shoulders or back. When I wore tank tops, I always thought I looked better in them than in tops that covered my shoulders. "I have nice shoulders," I thought. But it actually goes back to the fact that subconsciously we think of showing shoulders as more attractive, sexy or glamorous, and that's why I thought I looked better in tank tops.

When I got married at 20, it was frustrating because I didn't have much I could wear with garments. I wished I had prepared earlier by wearing the kinds of clothes I could wear with garments. I had to change my habits, get rid of some clothes, and start layering.

Sometimes I miss the cool comfort of a tank top, which makes me wish I hadn't been spoiled by wearing them in the first place. But I still buy and wear tank tops; I just use them as layering pieces now. So you can still get use out of your tank tops while covering your shoulders. Just wear them over or under something that covers the shoulders instead of wearing them alone. Wearing a little shrug over a tank top can be a good place to start.

Hope this helps!     -Jen

From Catwalk to Church Aisle

By Brianne Ogden
For as long as I can remember, Church has been a fashion show of sorts. Whether it was trying to dazzle the Priests or outshine the other Laurels, when Sunday morning rolled around, clothes went flying.

Also, for as long as I can remember, Sunday mornings have been a frantic, frenzied, chaotic couple of hours. It was thirty minutes in the shower, shaving my legs to perfection. An hour in my closet, inevitably resulting in half of the contents on the floor in a colorful mound. Forty-five minutes spent on my hair, straightening it or pinning it until my forearms ached. Matching eye shadows, the perfect belt, a few rings, a brooch, and on those particularly rushed mornings, closed toed shoes to cover up chipped toenails. And that was just High School.

When I entered college, I found myself in a completely different playing field. Living in Huntington Beach, California for my first year, I found myself encompassed in a virtual Vogue fashion spread. My first week at church, girls were walking into the stake center like models off the catwalk.

Pencil pinstriped skirts with silk designer blouses. Authentic vintage dresses from the 50’s. Four inch heels, patent leather, bright red. Gucci, Fendi, Prada. Perfect nails to match the headband, perfect headband to match the shoes, perfect shoes to match the skirt. Every young college girl with stunningly coifed, beach bunny blond curls.

And there I was, in my pleated forty-dollar skirt from Nordstrom, the one that always got me a compliment or two back at home. Only here—it was my Schwinn ten-speed compared to their luxury private jet.

From then on, it was an hour in the shower. An hour and a half on my hair, plus the two hundred dollar dye job. It was two hours every Saturday night painting my nails, carefully inserting fake eyelashes, and ironing that Armani blouse, that had me in debt for a month, to perfection. It was fret and time spent on color coordinating every last detail.

This process was enormously draining. By the time I settled in my seat at church, I was so uncomfortable. Nothing felt natural. It was a constant battle. I had to sit in a way that my dress wouldn’t wrinkle, but in a way that showed my most flattering angle. I couldn’t move my head too much, it wasn’t worth it to risk messing up my painstakingly pinned up hair. Taking all that into consideration, bending over to pick up the hymnbook or my scriptures off of the ground was out of the question.

What was I getting out of church? Sadly, this was a question that never made it past all of the superficial, shallow worries in my mind.

I am older now. Sometimes I won’t shave my legs for a week. If my nails are chipped, I’ll deal. But there will be a Sunday here and there that if I can’t find a flawless article to wear, I feel like crawling back into bed and sleeping until my wardrobe transforms into something more satisfactory.

A couple of weeks ago while in England with some friends, I was getting ready for church when I realized that I packed absolutely nothing suitable for church. When really I had a few options, only none of them were appealing to me at the moment. It wasn’t until my friend said something to me, that my whole entire perspective on the situation did a one-eighty. She said, “Heavenly Father does not care how stylish you are.” Such a simple notion. Why had it taken twenty-four years for me to realize it?

As young single adults, living in a fashion-soaked generation, it often feels like looking cutting edge is the only thing that matters. Sometimes we give up what we want most, for what seems important to us at the time. I gave up years of my life to that superficial little devil on my shoulder.

I went to church that beautiful day in England. My dress was a little less than stylish, a little less than cute. But for the first time in my life, I cared about how my Heavenly Father saw me, and not how all of my peers saw me. I felt utterly content.

Brianne Ogden attends Southern Virginia University, where she is currently studying philosophy and serving as the Editor in Chief of the school's newsmagazine.

'07 Spring Runway Fashion—Done Modestly

By Melissa Lambert
Many of the biggest designers in fashion have already held fashion shows to promote their spring fashion lines. For most of us, high fashion clothes are out of our price range. And for people dedicated to wearing modest clothes, some of the fashions don’t quite meet their standards. But with a little bit of creativity and adaptability, it is possible to re-create runway fashion with clothes that are easy to find, inexpensive, and modest.

In this year’s spring lines, many of the designers used layers to create their looks. You probably have clothes in your closet already that you can creatively layer to reproduce some of the looks found on the runway this spring. Here, Shannon, Olivia and Kelsey show a few different ways that you can layer shirts to create different looks.



This year, the Versace models were wearing white and black solids with splashes of bright yellow or pale pink, using jackets, purses and shoes to add splashes of color to their simple solid-colored outfits. Kelsey adapts this look by wearing all black with a pink purse. The color adds a bit of kick to an otherwise simple outfit. Light pink shoes or a bright yellow scarf would have the same effect.



The Philosophy spring line featured a variety of dresses with wide belts. Wide belts can make simple dresses look funky and stylish. Olivia shows off this look by using a belt in one of the hot colors of the season (a bold red).



The Louis Vuitton models were wearing a number of different fashions this year. Short flouncy skirts were a hot item on their runway, as were skinny belts worn up around the waist. Here, Shannon wears a flouncy skirt that reaches her knees and keeps her modest. These skirts are very adaptable and can be made casual or formal depending on what top you pair with them.



The Vera Wang spring fashions emphasized layering. Models wore leggings under dresses and skirts, and layered shirts. This style is one of the best ways for you to be stylish and still modest. With just a few pair of leggings and long modest shirts, you can create any number of comfortable and fashionable combinations. Here, Olivia pairs capri-length leggings with a denim skirt and two layered shirts.



Spring fashion on the Fendi runway reflected a trend seen in other lines as well: Black dresses paired with hot pink handbags. Simple black outfits with bright splashes of color are huge for spring. Another Fendi trend was the pairing of silver and black. Shannon shows one way to wear this trend by combining a black dress with a silver belt, shoes and necklace.



In the Prada fashion line, bright color was all the rage. Shiny reds and purples were combined in many of the outfits. Many of the models also wore head kerchiefs. Here, Olivia wears a brightly-colored kerchief to match her red and black shirts. (To get this look, use a large bright scarf. Fold it into a triangle, then place the long side of the triangle on your forehead. Bring the two ends back and tie them in a knot at the nape of your neck. Scarves can decorate your head in many different ways; be creative with different ways of tying them and see what you can come up with!)



Many of the Giorgio Armani models this spring sported the safari look, wearing exotic animal prints. (Others showed off a very different look, but one similar to the other fashion lines: Black tailored jackets with splashes of hot pink t-shirts and scarves.) In this picture, Kelsey shows off a modest cheetah-print shirt with a matching headband and wooden bracelet. Safari prints are easy to find and can be paired easily with neutral colors and jeans.



For all of the lines, big jewelry is the style this spring. Big necklaces, chunky bracelets, huge broaches and dangly earrings are the perfect complement to the popular styles. You can really rise to meet the trends by wearing big jewelry in one of the popular accent colors of the season (like bright red, shiny purple, pale pink, bright yellow, or hot pink) and pairing it with simple, classic outfits. Whether the jewelry is funky or classic-looking (like in the picture), it is an important part of completing the fashionable look you’re trying to achieve.

(Pictures from the spring line runways can be found at www.fashionshowroom.com).

Plan Your Own Modest Fashion Show

By Sara Anderson, California
Tips for having an effective and fun Modest Fashion Show...


Tired of seeing bare bellies, cleavage, and too much thigh? So was I! That’s why I decided I wouldn’t just stand on the sidelines while the world’s revealing fashions lowered girl’s self worth--I would make my own fashion show that displays the true worth of our young women!

For my Personal Progress Choice and Accountability Value project, I produced a Modest Fashion Show. The Tustin Third Ward Young Women were the models; their family and friends were the audience.

After researching modesty all over the church resources and talking with several of my church leaders and a fashion show consultant, I came up with a few necessary items to know and do while planning a Modest Fashion show. These are just a few suggestions I used or wished I had used:

* Explain modesty before the show and check clothing modesty. It would be embarrassing if a girl came out in an immodest outfit or, even more embarrassing, if you have to tell her. Be specific before, that way you won’t have to worry later. Before my Fashion Show I had each model fill out a sheet describing her outfits, and why they were modest to her. This helped me to check their clothing and it helped the young women evaluate their clothes. It also helped the girls realize their outfits could be more beautiful and appealing while still showing their love for their Heavenly Father (physically and spiritually beautiful!)

* Make sure girls pick out their own clothes from their own closets. This is important; the girls should understand it’s not hard to find modest outfits- even in their own closets. Modest cute outfits are within reach if they just take the time to look. Remember layers are a big help when trying to dress modestly, Shade^© shirts or extra long tank tops underneath help make shirts modest. Refer to Appearance and Dress in the For the Strength of the Youth Pamphlet pages 14-16. You may also refer to the EFY website for specific standards: http://ce.byu.edu/yp/youngwomen.cfm.

* Create a fun atmosphere; the girls should have a special and memorable night. I used colorful tissue paper flowers along the walls and white Christmas lights for the runway (or a long carpet or rug would look classy.) I have also heard of lining up long tables for a tall runway the girls can walk on to be higher than the audience.



* Get uplifting, appropriate music with a fast beat compiled beforehand. I had fun songs such as “I’m Coming Out” and “Hey Mickey”!

* Practice so the girls feel comfortable. Practice posing and walking the runway beforehand so the girls feel confident in what they wear and how they present themselves.

* Define Modesty (in the show). Have Emcees explaining why the outfits are modest. This really ties it all together! Make a creative script describing the outfits’ style and modesty.

* Make it interesting and be prepared for a backup while the girls are changing. One simple solution: a fun modesty skit. I used one that had cute lines to explain the standards in simple terms. For example, a model and I walked out with saran wrap around our clothes to explain the immodesty in tight clothes; the Emcees elaborated:

"Then there are clothes so tight and revealing, just to breathe- she is numb- no feeling. Is it really worth the pain and duress to feel like a mummy with full figure distress?"



This was a very simple way to lay out the standards. The girls had fun with the humor and the audience laughed! Here's a link to the full modest fashion show skit script!

* Don’t stress about time gaps! In all fashion shows, there must be a few seconds between each person. Don’t rush! The audience likes to take in the catchy words from the Emcees and see the outfit and transition to the next person. Have the girls pose a few times and walk slowly because it goes faster than you think!

Other resources I used and would like to share:

-This is a card I had the girls each sign and promise to abide by the modesty standards. It is something they can keep in their wallet to remind them to stay modest! Use this link to open or download the MS Word document.

-This is a list of websites that I handed out to the girls for help in finding more modest clothes. Use this link to open or download the MS Word document.

Good luck and show the world- Modesty is the best policy!


Sara Anderson lives in Tustin, California. She enjoys playing tennis and going to the beach. She is the president of the Laurels in Tustin Third Ward, California. She is also president of the international exchange club at her High School because she loves meeting people from all around the world.

What's the Motive?

By Sharon Neville
Have you ever wondered why people wear immodest clothing? Well it's usually because they want to be popular and show off skin. Once they get used to showing off a little skin then they show off a little more and a little more. When people resort to being immodest it usually means they don't get the attention that they want so they’re looking for other means.

My whole life I've been LDS and I've seen people wearing shirts that are a little low, shirts that don't cover their stomachs, and mini skirts that are too high. Now in this day and age there are still people who are LDS and wear immodest clothing that isn't uplifting to the Lord. Everybody needs to stay away from that harmful source of sin. There are even simple things you can do if you're willing to put in that extra effort.

All of us need to be as far away from the border line in wearing immodest clothes as possible. People say to themselves "Oh, if I just pull down my skirt then it'll be fine". Then they get used to saying that to themselves and then they don't seem to care about it.

If we are wearing longer skirts and longer shirts then we don't even have to worry about being immodest because we always know in the back of our minds that we are keeping the Lord's commandments and listening to the prophets and what they've been saying about modesty. We should do it not only because of church standards but also for ourselves. People will respect us more if we respect our own bodies. The first step we should take is to go through our closets and throw out everything that we know the Lord wouldn't approve of!

Sharon Neville lives in North Salt Lake, UT and is going to school while living at home. She is the youngest of 7 children. She likes to scrapbook and use the computer.

Modesty Through Example

By Jenny Longenecker
Everyone in church is always taught to be good examples because we can have a big influence on non-members. Though this may sound cliché, it is very true.

My extended family plays a big part in my life, but, outside of my immediate family, none of my relatives is a member of the church. This creates interesting moments during family parties, whether my grandmother is asking questions about the church, or my dad is saying a blessing over food in a midst of Catholics. It has also allowed me to share some things with a particular cousin of mine.

My cousin Elise* is one year younger than I and completely into the fashion scene. Several years ago when I was about twelve, we had gotten together at her house and decided to go through her closet. Elise took out some clothes that she wanted me to try on. However, I refused because they were immodest. Modesty was a foreign concept to Elise. I spent some time explaining that I would not wear tank tops, or two piece swim suits, etc.

This came into play later one summer at a birthday party for my dad’s cousin’s daughter. A Slip-n-Slide was set out for the kids. I had not brought a swimsuit, but Elise and her mom had brought two of Elise’s swimsuits: a one piece and two piece. My aunt told Elise to allow me to wear the two piece. But Elise said to her mom that I did not wear bikinis and that I would rather wear the one piece. Without any prompting from me, Elise had known what to say. By telling Elise my beliefs, I didn’t have to speak up for myself. Although Elise does not share my belief of modesty, she respects it.

I had another chance to teach someone else about my beliefs in modesty. I went shopping once with a friend of mine who decided to pick out an outfit for me. My friend went around the whole department of clothes, and nine times out of ten, picked out a piece of clothing that was immodest. I told her several times, “I won’t wear that.” She retorted that she was picking the outfit. My reply: “You can pick it, but I won’t wear it.” After awhile, my friend picked out clothes that were modest and I was willing to wear. Like Elise, she does not fully understand where I am coming from, but respects what I have chosen to wear and not wear. She also liked the aspect that in my religion, it is not just we cannot wear that, we cannot listen to that—we’ve made the decision not to.

If we want to be good examples, may I offer a quote to be of some help: “Live in such a way, that those who know you, but don’t know Christ, will want to know Christ, because they know you.” I think that is something we should and can all strive to do and be. One day our example will truly have an effect on someone, now or in the future.

*Name has been changed.

Jenny Longenecker lives in Bettendorf, Iowa. She is currently a freshman in high school. Jenny has one brother and loves to write. She also enjoys playing the flute and the piano.

How Clothing Influences Your Relationships

By Nick Sidwell

“Sometimes we don’t realize how far the ripples reach when we throw a rock into a pond. The fact is, those ripples that we cause, may affect others though we are unaware of the damage. So, it is important to remember that our actions always have consequences and we will always affect those around us. Just like those ripples in the pond; sometimes we have no control over where they go and what happens with them. It’s best not to throw the rock.” --Josh K.

I am a student at SUU in southern Utah. I study communications because communication is all about how the messages we send change the world around us. They especially change the relationships we develop with others. Relationships have always been important to me because I knew someday I would be married forever in the temple and I needed to find the right person. And, I was married there, to the right person! My wife, Sarah, is my best friend!

When I was dating after I turned 16, I had lots of fun learning about new people and what I liked about them. I still remember being astounded when I found out that girls use signs and gestures to show guys what they think or feel. Like how they sit when they are by you can say a lot. I started noticing these little signs more and more and tried to guess if they liked me or not based on the little messages. It turns out; they have classes that teach about nonverbal communication and relationships- that’s where I am today.

Like I said, communication is all about messages being sent back and forth. Through dating I learned to read these messages and interpret them the best I could. Every thing we do sends a message and we are always communicating. Even the clothing we wear sends a message about us.

I just finished a huge research paper about the influence that clothing has on relationships. I studied a lot of people and what researchers have said about clothing and relationships. The results were very interesting, especially about immodest clothing. In dating and meeting someone for the first time, the clothing you choose tells a story about you for the other person. In the case of immodest clothing, the story in not a good one. The girls that wore revealing clothing made the other person uneasy and uncomfortable. Even girls were uncomfortable with other girls that wore immodest clothing. The most interesting was the boys’ response. It got their attention at first but most of them decided to back off the relationship or not approach them at all because they felt uneasy about the clothing.
I learned a valuable lesson. We can tell who has “… [His] image in [their] countenances…” (Alma 5:14) and we feel good around those who have the “light of Christ” because that is the message they send out through their choice of clothing. Those who know their body is the temple of the Holy Ghost have the spirit with them. Those who show off their bodies and invite the world in don’t keep the spirit with them and they make us uncomfortable. My friends and several guys I hang out with look for those who always dress modestly because we appreciate that they take our feelings into consideration. When the weather gets hot we often comment about having to always look at the ground because girls wear less clothing and our thoughts become uncontrollable. It’s a constant struggle that I hate being burdened with. It’s not fair, but I don’t think girls know or understand it.

Since studying the influence that clothing has on others, I thank girls who wear modest clothing and act modestly. They are the ones who have a positive affect on those around them, without even knowing it. I know the Lord gave us a body just like His. He wants us to be happy and “let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [Him]…” (Matt. 5:16) Thank you, to all those who send out the right message, that they love the Lord; I know he is pleased with you. I appreciate you.

About the author: Nick Sidwell is 24 and lives in Cedar City UT but is originally from SLC. He is studying Communications and Spanish at SUU (Southern Utah Univ.) He and his wife Sarah (age 22) were married in the Manti temple a year and 1/2 ago. Nick served a mission in Torreón, Mexico. Sarah is a new 4th grade teacher- and loves children. They hope to raise righteous kids someday that dress modestly and love the Lord ;)





You can reach Nick at sidwello@yahoo.com
Or at: 655 South 300 W. apt. B4
Cedar City, Utah 84720

Feel free to comment, respond, ask advice or give advice and money… they also accept Walmart gift-cards ;)

What Guys Are Saying About Modesty

These are emails and excerpts from emails I've received from guys (posted here with permission). -Jen

"I'm not Mormon, but I really do prefer modest apparel over, well, not-so-modest apparel on girls to the extent, in fact, that I'm more likely to approach them. Is it because I don't think I can "get with" girls who dress explicitly? Quite the opposite. It's because modest clothes give me the impression that I can have a real conversation with a girl. When I see a girl in modest (but still cute) attire, I often see a girl who is more of a thinker and thus someone who is more interesting than the average girl."

~Alex, 19 years old, College Student in New York, and not your average Christian.


"I study interpersonal communication and I found out lots of neat things about the clothes we wear. The most astounding was that immodest clothing has a HUGE impact on relationships that are just beginning and when you meet somebody for the first time. All the stats showed that immodest clothing made people feel very uncomfortable, especially when females wore it. Even other girls were uncomfortable around them. The girls who wear revealing clothing are sacrificing a lot, even in relationships. They may be getting the exact opposite of what they are trying to achieve.

One of the things I really worry about is modesty and the youth... So many wear questionable clothing... It was so hard for me to deal with the unwanted visual stimulation while dating, and I still find it disturbing now at college."

~Nicholas K. Sidwell, 24

My Style: Fashion Around The Globe

It can be hard to live the way you know you should. Some people feel alone in their choices, with few if any good friends who share their beliefs. Others are surrounded by people with the same beliefs and struggle with feeling lost in the crowd. This growing photo album, featuring your friends near and far, celebrates our individuality as well as our common faith.

CLICK HERE to open the My Style photo album!

Understanding Modesty

Hi, it's Jen!

When I was a teen I didn't understand modesty. When I asked my Mom why modesty was important she'd say "If you dress immodestly guys will get the wrong idea. They'll view you as an object. They'll think bad things. People will judge you." And I thought "Well that's their problem! I respect myself, and I shouldn't have to change the way I dress just because of what other people think!"

So as a young teen I didn't pay much attention to modesty and just dressed how I wanted. I was changing from a girl to a woman and I wanted to look attractive and sexy so guys would like me. My idea of the way a young woman should dress was set by what I saw in magazines and in MTV music videos.

Unfortunately, I ended up being a victim of date rape at an early age. At first I didn't want to think of myself as a victim, so I convinced myself it was something I chose-- and I mostly blamed myself. But eventually I came to realize that it wasn't as much my fault. I also thought a lot about what lead up to the incident, and although I never talked about sex or mentioned being interested in sex, I felt that it was definitely the way I dressed; the overly-sexy way I presented myself that had sent the wrong message to this particular person, making him think I was out there interested in sex in the first place. He was at fault, but it probably wouldn't have happened if I had been a girl that dressed modestly, because he would never have pursued me. He was a guy just interested in sex, and he was looking for the same type of girl. That kind of guy is looking for signals; for the girl who shows the most skin, the girl who tries to look sexy and acts flirtatious.

Here is an analogy I came up with to describe this kind of situation:

Imagine that you just got your first car. It's exactly what you've always wanted. You take it out to drive around with some friends. You go downtown and decide to go to a restaurant. You park the car, throw the keys on the front seat, leave the doors unlocked and wide open, and think to yourself "I hope nobody steals this car! That would be awful. That would be totally bad and wrong of them." You go in the restaurant to have a fun time with your friends.

You come out afterwards and the car is gone!

Now it's true that the person who stole it did something very wrong. It's not your fault that they stole it, but it's also true that you could have done something to prevent it from being stolen and you didn't. You actually enticed the person to steal the car. It probably wouldn't have been stolen if you had locked and closed the doors and took the keys with you. So how do you feel knowing you could have prevented it?

Who would actually be so careless with their car?

Are you being that careless with your body? Do you dress in a way that encourages people to "steal your car"? Do you think that you are somehow invincible to the evils of this world? Do you do whatever is in your power to keep yourself safe and protected or do you "leave your keys on the seat"? Your body should be much more valuable to you than a car. It's a temple. A gift from god.

I also realize now that to purposely dress in a way that encourages a young man to have immoral thoughts about you is to encourage that young man to sin. And to encourage someone to sin is to commit a sin yourself. So you're not innocent in dressing immodestly if you have any other possible clothing choice. There are much better ways to get a guy's attention anyway.

Over the years, I started to understand modesty more and more. It wasn't until I was an adult that I really felt I understood the importance of modesty and the reasons behind it. There are many more reasons for modesty than what I've mentioned here, but I think this is important for young girls to know: modesty is for your own protection.

-Jen

PHOTO DETAILS: Shirt: Tom Bao Fashion. Skirt: Marithé + François Girbaud. Photographer: Jill Frost. Model: Jen.

A special thanks to Jill Frost for donating these pictures!     ;-)