Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have some specific standards when it comes to modest dress and grooming. However, their standards allow for a fair amount of personal choice and expression.
Temple Garments
Adult Latter-day Saints who have participated in temple endowment ceremonies wear special undergarments known as temple garments, or garments for short. Garments resemble an undershirt and shorts or boxer briefs. They are made of lightweight, sturdy fabric and are worn next to the skin, under other clothing.
Garments serve as a personal reminder of covenants made in the temple. They also promote modesty and respect for the body. The exact design of garments has changed over time, but they always cover the shoulder and stomach. Garments are worn at all times, with exceptions for activities like swimming.
Modesty Standards
In addition to wearing garments, Latter-day Saints believe God has set a standard of modesty in dress, grooming, and behavior. Mormons strive to dress in a way that is simple, neat, clean, and avoids extremes of fashion. Their standards apply to both men and women.
Specific guidelines on modesty come from Church leaders. General principles of modest dress for Latter-day Saints include:
- Avoiding tight, revealing, or translucent clothing
- Seeking fabrics, fits, and lengths that don’t draw undue attention to the body
- Maintaining cleanliness and neatness
For women, modest clothing generally covers the shoulders and has hemlines at least to the knee. Cleavage is to be avoided. For men, shirts should have sleeves and shorts should have longer inseams if worn publicly.
Sunday Best
Mormons wear their “Sunday best” to church meetings on Sundays. This signifies respect for God and the Sabbath day. For men, a white shirt, tie, and suit or blazer is standard. Women tend to wear modest dresses or blouses and skirts. Some flexibility is allowed based on climate and culture.
Here are some examples of standard Sunday dress:
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| – Suit or blazer with tie | – Modest dress or formal blouse with skirt |
| – Dress slacks with tie | – Dress pants with blouse |
| – Button-up dress shirt | – Sweater or jacket over dress/blouse |
| – Dress shoes | – Dress shoes |
General guidelines for Sunday dress are to avoid casual clothes like jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers. Typical Sunday outfits are a more formal “step up” from daily wear.
Missionary Attire
Young men and women who serve full-time missions for the LDS church have a set dress code. This standardized look identifies them as official representatives of the faith. Missionaries wear:
- White dress shirt and conservative tie for elders
- Modest skirts, blouses, and dresses for sisters
- Black pants for elders, either slacks or suits
- Sensible dress shoes
- Minimal jewelry and makeup for sisters
- White name badge
Missionaries wear very simple, functional clothing that allows them to focus on teaching rather than appearance. Their look telegraphs cleanliness, purity, and wholesomeness.
BYU Honor Code
Students who attend Church-owned Brigham Young University agree to follow an Honor Code with certain dress and grooming rules. The Honor Code states:
A clean and well-cared-for appearance should be maintained. Clothing is inappropriate when it is sleeveless, strapless, backless, or revealing; has slits above the knee; or is form fitting. Shorts must be knee-length or longer. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles or colors, and trimmed above the collar, leaving the ear uncovered. Sideburns should not extend below the earlobe or onto the cheek. If worn, mustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or below the corners of mouth. Men are expected to be clean shaven and beards are not acceptable.
BYU students represent the Church, so their appearance is held to a higher standard. Rules on hair, facial hair, and clothing help convey a sense of decorum.
Cultural Adaptations
While Latter-day Saints have a baseline standard of modesty, they adapt these standards to local culture and tradition. Mormons in tropical areas may wear lighter fabrics. African members incorporate colorful traditional attire like dashikis. General guidelines apply, but saints dress in a way that is situationally appropriate.
Style and Self-Expression
Despite having standards, Mormons are not cookie-cutter conformists in appearance. There is ample room for personal style and preferences within the guidelines. Latter-day Saint women accessorize with jewelry and scarves. Men show individuality through sock patterns or tie choices. Mormons also follow beauty and grooming trends to an extent, within reason.
Purpose Behind Standards
Some wonder why Mormons have appearance standards at all. These standards have several intended purposes:
- Encourage modesty and respect for the body as a gift from God
- Foster a neat, clean-cut look that signals virtue and self-control
- Reduce emphasis on outward appearance
- Promote harmony with the will of God over passing fads
By avoiding extremes in appearance, Latter-day Saints hope to focus more on inward qualities of the soul. Their standards provide guidelines but allow for individual expression.
Conclusion
Latter-day Saints adhere to certain dress standards based on spiritual beliefs about modesty, virtue, and appearance. Key elements of Mormon style include wearing temple garments, dressing modestly, wearing “Sunday best” to church, and missionaries having a standardized look. However, Mormons combine their standards with personal preferences and adaptation to culture and climate.
The purpose behind these appearance guidelines is to show respect for God and the body while focusing more on inward spirituality. Mormons aim for their dress and grooming to convey principles like purity and harmony with God’s will. Their ultimate goals are spiritual, not superficial.