Have you ever spent several hours in a smoke-filled room, then discovered later you had carried the smoke odor out with you into the clean fresh air? Your clothes picked up the pollution in much the same way that Christians today are ineptly copying the society that surrounds us. As a result, our testimony is corrupted.

Much of that corruption can be laid at the feet of a fascinating, devious, demanding monster -- the Business of Fashion. I met it during the years I was preparing for a career in fashion design and illustration, and have kept in touch with it through many years. Today Christian women are either confused or influenced by it, to the detriment of their testimony. God has given us directives in the Scriptures, but they seem obscure to us because we have adjusted to the world and are comfortable in it.

Before we consider the dictates of fashion, let us see what God has to say about women's appearance. In many cases His directions are not specific, but the general principles are very clear. From the following verses we can come to definite conclusions:

Genesis 35:2b "Be clean and change your garments," is what God told Jacob to say to his household before they were to come to worship. In accordance with this, is a verse in Exodus 19:10b. Here the Lord speaks to Moses and asks him to have the people wash their clothes before they approached God at the foot of Mount Sinai. It is clear from these verses that God expects us to be clean and appropriately dressed at times of worship, outwardly symbolizing the inward cleansing and renewal of time set apart with God.

Proverbs 31:22 tells us "she maketh herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple." We see this ideal woman is certainly not shabby but well dressed. Tapestry is beautiful and if this means embroidery, it also indicates she adorned her clothes to make them attractive. We know that purple was a dye reserved for royalty or for those prosperous enough to pay for the expensive color. This lady did not hesitate to make her clothing attractive!

In Deuteronomy 22:5 God has said, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." This is not a ritualistic law but a moral law and is apropos today. The dictionary defines abomination as meaning extreme disgust, detestable in the highest degree, shameful and/or vile. This should leave no doubt in our minds that God expects us to look like women and to be feminine in our appearance.

1 Corinthians 11:10 refers to the fact that women are to show in Christian assemblies subjection to their husbands because of the angels. In other words, we are observed by heavenly witnesses during times of public worship.

In 1 Corinthians: 3-15b, we are told the woman is to be the glory of the man. Glory means that which secures praise, brilliant, glowing. Woman should be the attractive counterpart of the man.

1 Timothy 2:9 says, "In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array." We are not to call attention to ourselves with costly garments. Shamefacedness means shyness; sobriety means sedate. If we have trouble translating this into clothes, let's think for a minute what the opposite meaning of these words would be. The antonym of shy is bold; the antonym of sedate would be improper. We can picture a woman dressed boldly or improperly, so the meaning of this verse becomes clear.

This same thought is brought out in 1 Peter 3:4 where we read that holy women of God adorned themselves with a meek and quiet spirit. This is, in the sight of God, of great price.

In Romans 6:16 we are reminded 'Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

It was customary years ago to describe women with words we seldom use today. These words are still in the dictionary, but the qualities they describe are rarely seen among us. Descriptive words referring to women were genteel, refined, dignified, discreet, feminine. What a pity these adjectives today are almost obsolete, because we don't inspire their use. Without our realizing it, a very subtle and powerful force has taken over in our lives, and we have become the willing victims of this dictatorship. It came upon us gradually, step by step, and has changed us in ways unbecoming to our sex.

This influence comes from a small neucleus of people called high fashion designers. There are only a few powerful enough to set the pace for all of us, but they are diabolically clever. It is in their work that new styles are born and when they appear the world rushes to follow them. A large portion of them are homosexuals. The products of their creative minds do us no good. A homosexual does not intend to flatter us.  His method is to ridicule women. The designers present their creations to us as high style. We buy them and wear them and suffer the consequences. Unfortunately, their aim is to make us look either ridiculous, ugly, sloppy, nude or masculine. All of these qualities are in direct contrast to God's standards for us. Our womanhood is insulted by many of their trends and they affect not only us but the young people around us, whose minds are like sponges absorbing all that they see.

There are hair stylists that decide if we are to look like gypsies or boys, if we should cut, curl or color our hair. In figure 1, example B, is a design from a stylist who said because we are not living in neat times, he would transfer that into his hair style.

Shoe designers have done a remarkable job of changing the natural shape of a woman's foot. They have used the torture method of pointed toes, toothpick heels, later came the clubby heels, boots and sandals that are nothing more than a strap or two attached to a sole. We suffer through each change because it seems important to us to be in style. About the time we become comfortable with a new line, it becomes dated and we are faced with a new challenge.

The work of these designing geniuses has been the mini-skirt. This style on a young woman or girl, no matter how attractive her figure, would make her look top-heavy as well as immodest. The proportions were wrong. On the mature figure, the result was disaster. The straight short skirt became even shorter when the wearer sat down. It isn't surprising that the adjective dignified as applied to women was lost about this time. Why women allowed themselves to be so insulted is a mystery until we realize who it is empowering the designers. Satan is working under the guise of these clever genuises and he scored a point when women accepted this trend. He succeeded in destroying the dignity of the womanhood God gave us.

From California came a trend that has had a powerful influence first here in America, then over much of the world. Like many good things, it began harmlessly and seemed like a good idea. This was our introduction to relaxed living.

It was the beginning of sportswear worn any time of the day or for any event. Shorts and slacks became popular.
We began to feel so comfortable in them that we relaxed the rules in many ways. It wasn't long before women began appearing in the supermarkets wearing hair-curlers, sweat shirts, and jeans. Shortly before this era, no woman would dare be seen outside the walls of her own home is such casual dress. Women learned to like the comfort of slacks or pants, and because they were comfortable, decided that was reason enough to wear them. We looked about us, saw most women wearing pants, so came to the conclusion that they must be acceptable. The fashion magazines began promoting the wearing of slacks or slack suits for evening wear. Some were even seen at weddings. Suddenly dresses were passe, fashion-wise, that is. God has never given us permission to wear masculine type clothing just because it is comfortable. His words are very strong concerning this, such as shameful, detestable, vile.

Other than the fact that God finds masculine clothing on women detestable, (surely that should be reason enough) there are other reasons why pants on women are not advisable. We know God wants women to be modest, and women feel they are more modestly dressed in pants than in skirts. Let's consider a few points concerning this. Several years ago in Hollywood, a young woman was given her first acting role in the movies because a talent scout had seen her wearing a very tight sweater, that revealed much of her figure. Of course she had other attributes that enabled her to achieve and keep a career in the movies. At the time she was "discovered" she was fully covered with clothing but the contours were plainly visible to all.  Contour revealing clothes are not modest!  Now, to consider slacks, think for a moment about the only area of a pair of slacks that is carefully fitted. Isn't that the part of a woman's body she should not expose to scrutiny? The comfortable knitted fabrics we all love are also revealing because they exaggerate our bulges, bumps and body lines.

Another point to ponder regarding women's pants is a natural law of vision. An artist is aware of the power of lines that can be used to attract the eye to a certain area. With intersecting or converging lines attract the eye and emphasize that area and it becomes the point of attention. In this drawing of a figure in slacks, we see this law in operation. (figure 4)

Perhaps you, as a woman, will say this does not seem at all seductive to you whether a man or woman wears this. Of course it doesn't, because you are a woman. It is men who are aroused by sight, not women. Women are more aroused by touch or hearing. You remember the verse that tells us "Man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart." Man does look on the outward appearance, and judges us thereby.

Women of all ages have adopted the pant trend. It has a great defeminizing influence on the young girls of today. They have, for the most part, worn pants most of their lives. As a result they move and sit like boys, and feel uncomfortable in dresses. They have not learned to sit with their knees together, an essential for a ladylike posture.

When a mature woman wears knitted pants, she does herself a grave injustice. She may not be aware that she becomes a candidate for ridicule, but such is too often the case. The usual combination of knitted tops and knitted pants clings to the wearer.

When she bends over then straightens up, the top in back forms a frame for the derriere. She has now created a focal point too obvious to ignore. A full length mirror should be a must in every home, and a backward glance at her self a necessary part of dressing for every woman. If she feels pants are a necessity of life, let her wear a top or tunic long enough to cover the critical area. Many women have become the target of men's jokes because of this immodest rear view.

Women past middle age should be aware that many times in the aging process a woman will lose her feminine appearance. Her features may coarsen and look quite masculine. Her voice deepens, then if she has her hair cut short and wears pants, it may be difficult to remember she is a lady.

The unisex fad grew out of this trend. This is in complete violation of God's law. Women are largely responsible for this ungodly style. The first and foremost designer of unisex clothes is a woman. It is dangerous to try to change the natural order of things as God has set it up. As we become more masculine in our appearance, men become more effeminate. Women are not aware of the potential we have for exercising a good influence on others. Unfortunately, our power is often misspent. When God speaks of the six sins in Romans 1:26, He uses an interesting word that has a lot of meaning.  "For even the women did change the natural use." The word "even" indicates that God expects more of women, and that it was not expected of them to be so corrupted. Shouldn't we do all we can to reverse the direction Satan is sending us? One good rule to follow is to keep your silhouette unmistakably feminine, so that at a distance no one would mistake you for a boy or man. Men find women more interesting when we look different, than when we resemble second-rate imitations of themselves.

There are many tricks the designers use to manipulate us. One method that has succeeded has been to equate ugliness with chic. Many fashions have made us look ugly, yet God tells us we are to be the glory of the man. Any style that distorts the natural figure is unbecoming. Any style that promotes partial nudity is wrong. This latter trend is popular in spring and summer clothes, when necklines open to the waist, see-through blouses, skirts slit sometimes to the waist are seen under the guise of fashionable attire.

We have also endured the sloppy phase, when anything goes. There were no specific guidelines and no encouragement toward neatness. The sketch in figure 7 has been made from a photograph. This is an example of that unfortunate trend, and cannot be pleasing to our God who is a God of order.

Is it possible you might be thinking that it is your own business how your dress? Do you feel you are not responsible for what men think when they look at you? Romans 14:7 tells us "None liveth to himself:" If you feel this concentration on clothes is not fitting for Christian women, consider these facts:

We are often identified by the way we dress. The Queen of England has her wardrobe carefully designed before she makes her public appearances. Her clothes are beautiful and appropiate for each occasion. Her countrymen want her to be the best possible representative of themselves and the country. We should remember that we, as Christians, are representing Christ. We should honor Him in our appearance as daughters of the King of Kings. Another significant result of our dress is that we effect others by our appearance. If we dress provocatively, knowing men are aroused by the things they see, we are guilty of causing them to lust. Many foolish fads have begun when a young person copies someone she has seen, others pick it up and It spreads from there.

The way we dress has an affect on our own behavior. It is a proven fact that school children behave in a more orderly way when properly dressed. A girl who acts like a tomboy will walk, stand, and sit in a more lady-like manner if she is wearing a dress, than when dressed in jeans or pants. Many women are careless in the way they sit if they have worn pants frequently. If we wear sloppy clothes, it isn't long before that shows in our manners.

The way we dress also reflects the way we think about ourselves. It will quickly reflect our spiritual condition. Christian people can many times be picked out in a crowd because of the neatness and appropiate quality of their appearance.

We women should be aware of the power exerted upon us by the fashion illustrators and copywriters. Photographs and illustrations of fashions will often pose the model in what would be a typical posture for a man. This trick is a subtle method of brainwashing. We begin to think like a man in some ways if we both dress and sit or stand like man. Figures 8 and 9 are sketched from a fashion magazine and are examples of the trend to change us from what God intended us to be. The illustrator tries to make the garment appealing; the copywriter uses words to charm us. Both ways have decieved us. The illustrator uses an elongated figure to picture the garment on, so unless we are so proportioned, we find the garment disappointing. some of this subtle brainwashing is done by the fashion columnist who reports on the clothes worn at fashionable gatherings. Many times a style has "jelled" because a columnist has reported a new fad worn by a well-known figure.

We are surrounded on all sides by many persuasive appeals. We are living in a time of mass production and hypnosis. Only a well-grounded Christian woman will be able to keep her balance. We do have a check list given to us by God. Let us consider what He wants for us:

1. God wants us to look different than women of the world. (If we put on the uniform of the wrong team, we become subject to Satan's snares).

2. God wants us at times of worship to show the reverence due Him.

3. Remember we are observed by others as well as by divine witnesses.

4. We are the glory of the man and should try to look attractive and well-dressed within the limits of the family budget.

5. We are to dress modestly, sedately, meekly.

6. We are to dress like women, look like ladies.

Consider the text in Romans 12:1,2 "I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

By not conforming to the world or the mandates of ungodly men, we can defeat the monster of fashion. This subtle, devious monster would take away the essence of our femininity and turn us into foolish clothes horses that follow every whim of its leadership.

Joshua 24:15 asks us to choose this day whom we will serve. In all our ways let us acknowledge Him. Ladies, think on these things.

* Mrs. Alta Jorgensen of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin presented this material to the ladies of Faith Baptist Church of LaCrosse, Wisconsin.  Those wishing to contact Mrs. Jorgensen may do so by writing: 117 Garnet Drive, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 53590, USA.