8 Guiding Principles for Mary-like Catholic Modesty

The Marylike Standards in Dress

For more information on Catholic modesty please visit Catholicmodesty.com

1. "Marylike" means modesty without compromise -- "like Mary," Christ's pure and spotless Mother.

2. Marylike dresses have sleeves extending at least to the elbows; and skirts reaching well below the knees.

3. Marylike dresses require full coverage for the bodice, chest, shoulders, and back; except for a cut-out about the neck not exceeding "two fingers breadth under the pit of the throat" and a similar breadth under the back of the neck.

4. Marylike dresses do not admit as modest coverage transparent fabrics -- laces, nets, organdy, nylons, etc. -- unless sufficient backing is added. However, their moderate use as trimmings is acceptable.

5. Marylike dresses avoid the improper use of flesh-colored fabrics.

6. Marylike dresses conceal rather than reveal the figure of the wearer; they do not emphasize, unduly, parts of the body.

7. Marylike dresses provide full coverage, even after jacket, cape or stole are removed.

8. Marylike fashions are designed to conceal as much of the body as possible, rather than reveal. This would automatically eliminate such fashions as slacks, jeans, shorts, culottes, tight sweaters, sheer blouses, and sleeveless dresses; etc. The Marylike standards are a guide to instill a "sense of modesty." A girl or woman who follows these, and looks up to Mary as her ideal and model, will have no problem with modesty in dress. She will not be an occasion of sin[....].

Keep this guide with you when buying clothes. Make sure that you purchase or make only garments which meet the Marylike Standards.

''Be Marylike by being modest -- be modest by being Marylike."

Another great resource:
https://www.facebook.com/Catholic.Modesty