By Kerry Steinhofer
Social Media Specialist
When the weather starts to cool off, what seems to be the first article of clothing girls go for? If you guessed leggings, then you’re right. Girls on campus are constantly reminded of the fact that leggings are not considered as pants. Everyone has heard and knows the rule on campus about them. Leggings can only be worn around campus if worn under a skirt or dress.
Obviously, several girls continue to wear then inappropriately, which causes the constant reminder about the rule.
There are times when I don’t even understand why wearing leggings has become a major issue. If leggings are not allowed to worn as pants because of how tight they are, then other pants should not be worn around campus, as well. Leggings have become the focus of dress code issues for several years now. I personally do not wear leggings as pants nor do I particularly care if girls do, but I feel like there are more issues with not following the dress code other than leggings.
Although you can’t help but notice girls wearing leggings inappropriately, I also notice that some of the skirts and dresses I seen being worn are much shorter than what is stated in the Asbury dress code. The Asbury handbook says, “Although short shirts/dresses may be in fashion, most skirts/dresses that are shorter than two inches above the knee (sitting or standing) are considered immodest.” I believe that the concern about leggings leaves people unaware of the fact that other dress code rules are also being broken. There is only so much you can do about the short skirt/dress issue as well as the leggings issue. If girls have short skirts/dresses or even leggings in their closet while at Asbury, they can’t help but think that they can get away with it.
The main theme that is presented in the handbook about dress code is modesty. For years the phrase, “modest is hottest” has been repeated to remind girls that dressing modest is a much better choice then showing every inch of skin on your body. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, “…women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” Your clothing sends a message. It can be one of materialism, pride or “look at me”. It can be one of sexuality and provocativeness; or it can be a message of Godliness and modesty. Modesty is an issue of the heart and our attitude towards it reflects our attitude about holiness. Clothing today has become a way to make a statement about “self”.
That was never God’s intention. Clothing has two main purposes: to cover the shame of our nakedness produced by our sin; and to honor God through our modesty and obedience.
I hope you are starting to see that modesty truly is an important issue. Let’s remember the importance of modesty and how as women of God on this campus, that we should be aware of the clothes we wear and what kind of message is being shown by them. “Or do you now know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
