The history of human societies is full of examples where religion played a crucial role in defining and regulating people's behavior, including their clothing choices. This holds true also for sexuality and intimacy. In the following article, I will try to shed some light on how religious modesty has influenced public and private dressing codes in various cultures throughout the ages, focusing on different periods and regions.
Religious attitudes towards nudity and sensuality have been shaped by the main monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - all sharing the same belief that the body should be covered up in public contexts. The Bible explicitly states that God created humans "male and female" (Genesis 1:27), but it does not specify what kind of garments they were supposed to wear.
Later scriptural texts describe Adam and Eve as covering themselves after eating from the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:20-24) and Moses receiving instructions about making garments to cover the nakedness of his brother, Aaron, when he was appointed high priest (Exodus 28:42). These passages suggest that humans are fundamentally nude and need clothes to conceal their bodies in public spaces.
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church introduced strict rules regarding appropriate clothing, such as the wearing of wigs and hats by men, and the covering of breasts and arms by women. The underlying idea was that sexually attractive outfits could arouse sexual desire and lead to sinful acts. Medieval people believed that the human soul could be corrupted through touching or looking at erotic artworks or lewd gestures, so nudity was viewed with suspicion. In fact, paintings often portrayed religious figures fully clothed, even if this was at odds with reality.
Depictions of Adam and Eve in Paradise featured them completely dressed, while the Garden of Eden was described as a place where the first couple was both naked and unashamed.
In the Islamic world, modesty was also highly valued, though Muslim scholars disagreed on whether or not a woman's face should be covered in front of men who were not her mahram - i.e., close relatives.
They all agreed that a hijab or burqa should be worn, especially in public settings. Moreover, they thought that dressing up luxuriously, with jewelry or silk fabrics, was a sign of vanity and pride, which contradicted the teachings of the Quran. This is why Muslim women were encouraged to wear simple garments and cover themselves from head to toe, including the hands and feet.
Modern Western societies have been more permissive about intimate attire, but it is still common for religious individuals to observe strict clothing codes. Orthodox Jews, for example, follow biblical guidelines regarding what parts of their body can be exposed in synagogue or during prayer. These rules are reflected in Jewish law, which requires men to cover their heads when reciting the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and women to wear skirts reaching below the knees (Leviticus 18:7). Some Hasidic communities go even further, covering most of the skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, and stockings. In contrast, Evangelical Christians often avoid short-skirted outfits and tight clothes, favoring loose-fitting garments in bright colors like red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and purple, which symbolize the blood of Christ and other religious themes. Jehovah's Witnesses, on the other hand, avoid secular fashion trends and wear plain black or white clothes as a sign of humility before God.
How has religious modesty historically shaped fashion and clothing choices in intimate and public contexts?
In most cultures and religions, modesty is an important concept that dictates how one should dress according to their beliefs and traditions. While there are no strict guidelines regarding what constitutes "modest" attire, it generally involves covering certain parts of the body and wearing clothes that do not reveal too much skin or emphasize sexuality.