But, such clearly defined standards for modesty in clothing runs counter to the life experience of most Christians. In fact, many see a lot of gray-area when it comes to determining whether an item of clothing is modest or immodest (although I think we can all agree that wearing underwear to church is the first step in wearing a modest outfit!) For most families, parents must simply set their own standard of modesty, based upon their understanding of Biblical principles and the values they wish to pass along to their children.

When Culture and Values Meet

So, why has the commitment to modesty just gotten a little easier for parents? A shift toward more modest clothing has been underway in pockets of our culture over the past few years. Efforts made by individuals and organizations such as Pure Fashion have been trying to spread the word that modesty in dress doesn’t have to mean plain, dull or frumpy. Some have lobbied fashion designers and clothing retailers to provide more modest options for tweens and teens and have achieved a level of success.

Further, it now appears that a perfect storm of factors have collided to usher in a recognized trend of modest clothing in pop culture. According to the latest research, factors like the economic recession, role modeling by tween celebrities, and a closing of the generation gap between parents and kids are the components that have dynamically turned modesty into haute couture.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these influences:

Recessionary Times. I don’t personally know anyone who is celebrating the bad economy. But, at least when it comes to fashion, modest-minded parents have reason to offer up a little “Woohoo!”

Clothing sales to teens are down 19% over last year, according to a recent survey conducted by Piper Jaffrey. The downturn in sales has caused retailers to fight for dollars, and with the recession, people are more interested in clothing that can be worn for different occasions, rather than the recently popular-yet-skimpier selections that kids would wear in fewer settings.  As a consequence, fashion designers and retailers have moved to more modest apparel to meet consumers’ demands for a wider variety of more versatile clothing.

So, have tween and teen retailers had a conversion experience when it comes to the values that drive their product sales? Have they repented for having sold skimpy and girls-as-sex-object clothing? Have they rediscovered the soul of American consumerism? Uh, that would be no, no and no.

Never forget that retailers’ chief value is making money. I have no doubt that some corporate fashion designers and retailers would offer even skimpier apparel to tweens and teens than we’ve seen to-date if they believed our culture would accept them and that consumers would buy them en masse. Thankfully, whatever the factors involved, it appears we are at least temporarily safe from pop culture pushing the limits of decency past the current status quo. Still, if our culture’s past is any indication of how it will develop in the future, it’s just a matter of time before the line of acceptability will shift again.