Tznius Shopping Guide to Modest Silhouettes

For tznius shoppers who need visual guidance on what constitutes tznius garments, please read on to find out this handy guide based on silhouettes.Here is a basic dress form illustration.

If you dress the dress form with clothing that covers the silhouette of the dress form tightly without any ease, obviously it is not tzanua.  What are the types of clothing that are not tzanua by themselves?

Skin-tight Shell

Pencil Skirt

Straight Skirt

 

So what is left to wear, you may wonder?  Try these alternatives.

Modest Top with Ease (Semi-fitted or Loose-fit)

 

Here is a better view showing the ease for illustration only.

A-line Skirt

 

You may wonder, how about a flair a-line skirt?  Is that modest too?  Well, the answer depends on how much flair the skirt has.  If the skirt is overly flair, it is no longer modest, as it will “flair” up, as they say when there is movement or wind.

 

There is a very flair skirt called the circle skirt, which will flair up like a parachute as it is designed by drawing a complete skirt.  Think about Marilyn Monroe and her circle skirt in some Hollywood movie, if you are of that generation.

 

Side Silhouette

Here is another way of looking at a silhouette: the side profile.  You can determine if a garment is modest by looking at how it falls on the dress form/wearer at the side.

Skin-tight Shell

 

Most clothing including formal clothing such as blazers, jackets, wedding dresses are all designed to be tight on the bodice emphasizing every detail of the wearer’s anatomy.  If you wear such garments, you are compromising on your tznius.  Is it worth it?  Don’t do it.  Your Olam Haba is at stake.

Pencil Skirt

Modest Blouse

 

Here’s another look with ease defined for illustration purposes only.

 

Shopping Tips

So, next time when you go shopping, be attentive to the details of the garment.  Does it hang loose or tight on the wearer by these views – front, back and side?

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