Some good research here for folks on what God inspires our forefathers to write on this subject. Enjoy.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Appearance both reflects to a large degree and determines what we are in the eyes of ourselves and others.
1 Timothy 2:9
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Deuteronomy 22:5
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.
Notice it’s an abomination. Lines have to be drawn somewhere on a persons beliefs or disbelief. Their must have been some differences in Paul’s day to write anything about this subject at all.
What practices of the time concerned God enough for Him to inspire this passage.
What clothing was Paul talking about when he warned against immodesty in the way they dressed?
It was a day when women wore robes to the ankle.
So,what type of immodest dress existed? If Paul found immodest clothing in an age characterized by greater modesty of dress than our own, certainly he would consider many styles of clothing today to be immodest.
In history many women of the time tucked in their tunics above the knee for certain activities.
The early church fathers considered this immodest.
God was concerned about modesty of dress in a day when even exposing the upper leg was considered immodest.
In Isaiah 47:2-3 God considered baring the leg and uncovering the thigh to be shameful exposure of nakedness. This gives us a good idea as to what God would regard as the minimum standard of modesty, regardless of culture.
Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden.
God made them clothing from animal fur. “Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
This was symbolic for many things, but also, the original term for “coat” in Hebrew or Greek meant an outfit that covered from the elbows to the knees, hence our desire to cover a portion of our arms and wear skirts below our knees.
One of the main reasons for these guidelines are that we should strive to be modest! We should not wear clothes that will distract those of the opposite sex from their walk with God.
I would not want to be the reason one of my brothers in Christ struggled or fell!
Also, as a woman You do not want to be looked at in a vulgar way.
It shouldn’t make you feel sexy, instead it should make you feel extremely uncomfortable!
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 John 2:15-17
15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
You definitely don’t want to be the reason someone lusts after you just because of the way you dress. There are cultures on earth today that think women are asking for things to happen to them by the way they dress. Probably everyone can look at old relatives pictures and see the women dressed modestly until these very recent times we live in. What changed us? It wasn’t God because he is the same yesterday,today and forever. A God that changes not.
Zephaniah 1:8
And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
Peter even used Sarah as a good example.
Peter wished to instruct Christian women about proper conduct, he used Sarah, the wife of Abraham, as his example.
1 Peter 3:3
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
In conclusion of this study and research I leave you this.
Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
You want to be like Jesus. He clothed himself with a garment down to the foot.