America Is Losing The Battle of Leggings

America has an impressive military track record. We don't lose in combat that often. The key phrase is that often. In 1836, though, we lost the Battle of the Alamo. During the Texas Revolution, Mexico regained the Alamo Mission, an 18th-century fortress in present-day San Antonio, killing over 200 American soldiers in the process.

Last week, on a business trip in Dallas, about 250 miles northeast of San Antonio, I was reminded that America is losing another conflict: the Battle of Leggings. The leggings epidemic is way worse than I thought. Women in leggings were everywhere—the airport, the hotel, the restaurants, the gas station, the billiards hall. This battle isn't just a minor skirmish in the American culture wars. It is a full-fledged and hotly-contested war over modesty, vanity, and our country's erosion of biblical principles. For centuries, leggings served as a functional undergarment. They have now become a fashion statement and a stumbling block for men and women.

Leggings, once known as hose (singular) or hosen (plural), were initially worn by men. Soldiers, knights, hunters, and noblemen wore rigid wool or deerskin leggings for warmth and protection. It was not until the 20th century that leggings evolved into a fashion item for women, created with elastic, form-fitting material suitable for exercise and dance. Over time, leggings went from functional to fashionable to provocative.

Today, leggings have become so iconic that they should be the symbol used to indicate the women's restroom. They are worn as pants—many times leaving little to the imagination. Even churches are embracing the leggings culture.

“Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes”

Several years ago, a Catholic Mass in South Bend, Indiana, accelerated the leggings debate. In 2019, Maryann White, a mother of four sons, wrote a letter to the University of Notre Dame student newspaper urging female students to reconsider their fashion choices. Her concern reached a tipping point after sitting behind a group of young women during Catholic Mass who were "all wearing very snug-fitting leggings and...short-waisted tops." She continued, "Some of them truly looked as though the leggings had been painted on them." According to Slate magazine, the letter was met with intense backlash as students organized a "Leggings Pride Day" in defiance. (Of course, they did.)

This incident perfectly illustrates the tension between perceived personal freedom and feminine modesty. Ms. White is not an old fuddy-duddy trying to dictate women's fashion. She was doing what a good elder should do—challenge young women to reflect on how their clothing choices impact others. But, instead of engaging with the core issue of modesty, they sidestepped the topic and chose immaturity instead.

From the Notre Dame incident to today's saturation of leggings in public life, few people seem to be asking, "What does God think about this?"

The Bible does not explicitly mention leggings but speaks volumes about modesty. Let's look at 1 Peter 3:3-4:

3 Don't let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4 but rather what is inside the heart—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Modern fashion prioritizes vanity over virtue. Wearing leggings is not inherently sinful, but why they are worn can be. Sure, some women do wear them for comfort and convenience. But they accentuate the body in ways that most other articles of clothing don't, inviting lustful eyes. But that's the point for most of the women who wear them: they thrive on the reaction they elicit.

Feminists and other critics argue, "It's just clothing. People have the freedom to wear whatever they want." True, but I'm reminded of that famous quote from Jurassic Park: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." People can wear whatever they choose, but they should remember that fashion is a form of communication. A business suit conveys professionalism. A wedding dress is supposed to signal purity and commitment. A police uniform indicates authority.

Leggings have become the centerpiece of the modern-day harlot uniform. Intentional or not, they communicate and entice carnal desire. A godly woman understands this and dresses accordingly, as 1 Timothy 2:9 states:

9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel

An overlooked but morally significant aspect in the leggings debate is the "men should control their thoughts" argument. It's valid but incomplete. Men are called to guard their hearts and purify their thoughts. But we cannot put all the burden on men. Balance and nuance should be exercised here. Women should not live in fear of male sinfulness, but they cannot exploit the influence they wield. I call it the stumbling block factor. Romans 14:13 reads:

13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.

If a woman's appearance leads to someone stumbling spiritually or puts her own safety at risk, shouldn't she reflect on her fashion choices? It may be an uncomfortable truth, but scandalously dressed women paint a bullseye on their backs, particularly in environments rife with alcohol and drug use.

The Battle of Leggings isn't about legislating what women can wear. No one is advocating for a "skirts-to-the-ankles" bill in Congress. However, reclaiming biblical principles in fashion is a must for a flourishing society. Women do not need to be half-naked or wear tight clothing to be feminine and beautiful. Comfort does not, and should not, have to come at the expense of character.

A modest woman is not a prudish, outdated curmudgeon. A man who values modesty is not a control freak. It comes down to dignity for yourself, respect for those around you, and obedience to our Creator.

Let the Battle of Leggings rage on.