SOP on Women's Pants: Modesty, Health, and Dress Distinction

The truth concerning women's attire emphasizes modesty, health, and maintaining a clear distinction in dress between males and females, which explicitly condemns styles that imitate the opposite sex, but mandates the thorough clothing of the limbs for health, often recommending trousers as undergarments for this purpose2SM 477.8+2.

Condemnation of Styles that Erase Distinction

God’s clear direction is that women should not adopt a style of dress that pertains to a man, nor should a man put on a woman’s garment, because all who do so are an abomination to the Lord God Deuteronomy 22:52SM 477.8+3. This means that adopting the "American costume," or any style of dress that does away with the distinction of dress between males and females, is wholly unfitting for modest, humble followers of Christ1T 421.2+2.

The attempt by some to carry dress reform to extremes, imitating the opposite sex by wearing the cap, pants, vest, coat, and boots, is objectionable and leads to confusionRH February 6, 1900, par. 7. Those who feel called to join movements supporting woman's rights and this extreme form of dress reform might as well sever all connection with the message, as the spirit attending such movements cannot be in harmony with divine truthT10 30.5+1. When God's people adopt such costumes, their influence is dead, and people often mistakenly place them on the level with Spiritualists, who had previously adopted similar singular modes of dressT10 30.5+1.

The Mandate for Healthful Limb Coverage

While adopting masculine attire is condemned, it is impossible for women to have health when their limbs and feet are habitually cold, and the fashionable style of dress is considered one of the greatest causes of terrible diseasesHR January 1, 1877, par. 7+2. It is essential that females clothe their limbs as thoroughly as the males, regardless of the length of the dress2SM 478.3+1.

To ensure an equal distribution of clothing and maintain equal circulation, the extremities, being remote from the vital organs, must be thoroughly protected with warm coverings2SM 478.3+3. This vital principle of health may be accomplished by wearing lined pants that are gathered into a band and fastened about the ankle, or made full and tapering at the bottom, coming down long enough to meet the shoe2SM 478.3+1. These warm, lined pants protect the limbs and ankles against currents of air, ensuring circulation is equalized, which keeps the blood healthy and pure2SM 478.3+2.

Evolution of the Reform Dress

Historically, the reform dress advocated and adopted in the 1860s was intended to be a blessing that provided a healthful, comfortable, and modest attire, which called for loose-fitting garments hung from the shoulders with the hemline about nine inches from the floor3SM 253.2+3. This style necessarily included a trouser-like garment for the lower limbs to provide comfort and warmth3SM 253.2.

However, the specific adoption of the short reform dress proved a battle at every step, creating dissension and controversy among members5MR 404.4+1. Due to resistance and the fact that it was sometimes turned into a curse, the burden of advocating that specific style of reform dress was removed5MR 404.4+2. God allowed the testimony concerning that dress to become silent so that those with pride in their hearts might follow their own inclination, thereby proving that they needed the restriction the dress imposed4T 639.3.

A more sensible style of dress has since been adopted, which avoids the objectionable features of long, trailing skirts and ridiculous hoops5MR 404.4+2. This acceptable style consists of a plain sacque or loose-fitting basque and a skirt short enough to avoid the mud and filth of the streetsT30 167.2. While the specific length of the original reform dress (nine inches from the floor) is no longer mandated, the health principles remain, and the same attention must be given to the clothing of the limbs as with the short dressT30 167.2.

The Lord has not indicated that it is the duty of sisters to go back to the specific reform dress of the past, and there must be no branching out into singular forms of dress that create unnecessary controversy5MR 404.4+3. Instead, sisters should dress plainly, using good, durable, and modest material appropriate for this age, ensuring that the dress question does not distract the mind from the grand test of the commandments of God5MR 404.4+1.