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Marylike dresses conceal rather than reveal the figure of the wearer; they do not emphasize, unduly, parts of the body. Marylike dresses provide full coverage, even after jacket, cape or stole are removed and after assuming a sitting position.

REMARKS ON THE MARYLIKE STANDARDS:

This set of standards avoids a long litany of rules and details, which often only serves to complicate matters and add to existing confusion. Its form is concise, resting on the two fundamental rules of modesty: sufficient coverage and proper fit.

Therefore, a few added points of clarification are here in order.

MARYLIKE -- The first standard seeks to re-enthrone Mary, the perfect model of modesty, in the hearts of her children.

TWO-INCH CUT-OUT -- "Two inches" is the equivalent of the measure given by the Cardinal-Vicar of Rome, "two fingers' breadth below the hollow of the throat."

TRANSPARENT FABRICS -- Many women fail to realize that transparent dresses are suggestive and cause serious temptations to men. In some cases, because of the emphasized seductiveness of a pretended coverage, they are even worse than the bare skin. They tease the passions. Hence transparent fabrics are outlawed for those parts of the body which require coverage unless they are backed with sufficiently solid material to conceal the flesh.

Marylike women will refuse to become the pawn in Satan's hands to promote this modern ruse for seduction, which he uses on an extensive scale. Marylike brides and their attendants will not dare to stand at the bridal altar, in the presence of their Eucharistic Lord, attired in gowns of flimsy material, thus placing in jeopardy the blessing of God offered by the Church for the marital life.

Marylike mothers will never permit their innocent daughters to don the flimsy and transparent First Communion dresses now flooding the market, which are an insult to the King of Kings Who deigns to enter their innocent little hearts for the first time in their lives; and which causes them to lose their "sense of modesty" in tender years, even for the House of God.

FLESH COLOUR -- This color is not considered objectionable in itself for dresses, but only when used to suggest the bare skin in parts of the body requiring coverage. Thus, flesh color would be highly objectionable when used as trimming on the chest, the midriff, etc.

CONCEAL THE FIGURE -- Dresses which provide sufficient coverage may still be very immodest by reason of the fit, which renders them suggestive. Thus, a tight or form-fitting bodice is highly objectionable. On the other hand, a fit which is too loose at the two inch neckline allowed in standard number 3, especially over the shoulders and on the chest, does easily "reveal the figure" of the wearer of the dress, especially in bending or stooping.

BRAS AND SLIPS -- Modest women always wear slips that conceal, and bras of proper fit. The most Marylike dress can become very immodest, e.g., if worn over pointed or uplift bras.

"O, HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THE CHASTE GENERATION WITH GLORY, FOR THE MEMORY THEREOF IS IMMORTAL: BECAUSE IT IS KNOWN BOTH WITH GOD AND MEN." (Wisdom 4:1)

...and she was able to give birth to a baby while dressed like that?

If a woman chooses to adhere to these standards of dress, more power to her. However, I reject the vision of Decency Police walking the streets with clubs and branding irons for those who do not so choose. Enforced modesty is as false as enforced piety.

“”like Mary”, Christ’s Mother”

Mary was the mother of Jesus. Christ was with God in the beginning. Where was Mary then?

My daughter has been asking (male) friends, her father and her brother what guys are attracted to in women’s clothing. They broke it down to her like this:

- when a female wears male clothes it actually gives the signal that they are ‘taken’. There’s a subconscious cue given that she’s wearing her mate’s clothing and tells other males to back off.
- women who wear ‘slutty’ clothes send signals that they are not to be taken seriously. Guys that hit on women wearing clothes like that are not looking for a long-term relationship. They’re looking for sex.
- the pride that a woman takes in her appearance is actually an advertisement to men of her respective ‘value’ as a human being. (It probably shouldn’t be this way, but it appears that it is.)
- women should wear clothes that flatter, but don’t ‘show off the goods’. Hints of femininity are more enticing than tons of cleavage.
- a girl doesn’t have to wear deep cleavage for a guy to notice her breasts. no matter what a girl wears - he notices.
- baggy clothing say a ton about a girl’s personality. it shows a lack of confidence, self-esteem and pride and does nothing to entice. One guy even said that baggy clothes read ‘victim’ to him.
- the best way a woman can entice a good guy is just by being clean, smelling nice, looking put-together and being friendly.

My son and his friends gave the consensus that the most attractive girl had her hair done nicely (not ‘frozen’ or over-styled), had makeup that was fresh and not thick, wore a girl’s t-shirt that fit well but wasn’t skin-tight and jeans that were not baggy and not painted on. (These are kids aged 16-22)

When I look at young women (teenagers and early 20’s) it looks like most of them are trying to out-slut each other. They think that the way to attract a guy is through sexual signals. (As one of my son’s friends said, “Yeah, she may keep my attention for one night, but I’m sure not interested in anything she has to say.”)

The other thing that I found interesting is that most of these guys have said that once the impression is set (”she’s a slut”) it’s almost impossible to shift. Even after he gets to know her, she’ll still not be elevated completely if she continues to dress wrong.

Hubby has joined in these conversations over the last year or so and I must admit that I didn’t have any idea that men read so much into a woman’s wardrobe.

Guys, chime in if you have more to add. Young woman need this information.

My dear departed mother taught us, her daughters, that a woman should wear her clothes tight enough to show she is a woman but loose enough to show that she is a lady.