I went to college at the University of Miami, which, as you might guess, wasn’t exactly a bastion of conservative wardrobe choices. We were more shocked when girls put cover-ups over their bikinis to go to class, instead of just wandering in in a two-piece and a towel.

Some famously conservative Christian colleges, however, are more concerned with how their female students dress, out of concerns for helping men tame their “lusts” and to promote an environment of chastity for all coeds. Here are the dress codes for women from 3 such schools (you can go to the sources to see what the codes are for men!). 

Bob Jones University:

Classroom/general dress consists of a dress or top and skirt; however, pants may be worn off campus and for some recreational activities on campus.

Tops

  • Tops must be long enough to cover the midriff.
  • Sleeves are required.
  • Necklines may come no lower than four fingers below the collarbone.

Skirts

  • Hemlines and slits or other openings should not be higher than the bottom of the knee.
  • Denim skirts may be worn for casual dress (not to class or other professional-type events).

Pants

  • Loose-fitting pants may be worn between residence halls, for athletic events, and off campus (where appropriate).
  • Jeans may be worn in and between women’s residence halls and when participating in activities, such as skiing and ice-skating.
  • Shorts are appropriate inside the residence halls. Shorts that come to the bottom of the knee may be worn when participating in athletics on campus.

Ease

  • Clothing should be modest. Clothing that is revealing either because of fabric, cut or tightness is unacceptable.
  • Clothing should be loose enough to conceal undergarment lines and not to draw attention to the figure.

Other

  • Hose are to be worn whenever men students are required to wear a coat and tie (including Sunday morning worship services, recitals and productions after 6 p.m., Bible Conference and commencement activities). Dress shoes are to be worn when wearing hose.
  • Hairstyles should be neat and feminine, and hair color should appear natural.
  • Earrings may be worn in the lower lobe of the ear (no more than 2 matching pairs). Other types of body piercing are not appropriate. Tattoos are not appropriate. Excessive makeup is not appropriate.
  • Abercrombie & Fitch and its subsidiary Hollister have shown an unusual degree of antagonism to biblical morality. Therefore, BJU asks its students not to patronize these stores, wear their clothing or display articles containing their names or logos.

Pensacola Christian College:

Women–Dress and skirt lengths and slits should come no higher than the top of the kneecap when sitting and standing. Culottes, split skirts, and walking shorts should meet the skirt length standard and be full enough to look more like skirts than pants. Dress necklines should be modest; no sundresses or spaghetti straps. Except for participation in recreational activities and on campus on Saturdays, our ladies wear hosiery outside the residence hall. Anything immodest, tight, formfitting, scant, backless, and low in the neckline is unacceptable. Shirts with tails should always be tucked in. Styles relating to counterculture, such as hair style or color, unusual nail color, clothing, and jewelry, are not acceptable. No pants or shorts, please. Young ladies should dress in a manner that others will focus on the face and particularly the eyes, for some say, “the eyes are the mirror of the soul.”

Although the wearing of multiple earrings has become common in the world, PCC ladies are asked to wear a maximum of two sets. These should be worn in the ear lobes only.

Sunday Dress: Dresses, skirts and blouses or sweaters, dress suits/Church services, recitals, Sunday meals, Vespers forums, and seminars

School Dress: Casual dresses, jumpers, skirts and blouses or sweaters/Classes, chapel

Casual Dress: Jean skirts, culottes, walking shorts, split skirts, and tennis shoes/ Work where casual wear is appropriate, recreational activities. No pants or shorts are permitted. Jean jackets or stone-washed denim may not be worn. Swimsuits should be one-piece
and not French-cut.

Sports Center: General activities–Skirts, culottes, or loose-fitting walking shorts (to the top of the kneecap). No sweatshirts, sweatpants, jean skirts, denim, spandex, tank tops, T-shirts, caps, or writing or pictures (except PCC shirts) on clothing.

Ice skating–Skirts, culottes, loose-fitting walking shorts (to the top of the kneecap) with optional opaque tights or spandex tights. Loose-fitting nylon jogging suits may be worn. Change into skating attire in the skating area restrooms; change back to general activity attire before entering the recreation area.

Physical Education Classes: Royal blue culottes or walking shorts (loose-fitting and to the top of the kneecap), a royal-blue polo shirt, and white gym shoes and socks. The shirt, culottes, or walking shorts may be purchased on campus.

Liberty University

Hair and clothing styles related to a counterculture (as determined by the Student Conduct Review Committee) are not acceptable. Dresses and skirts should be no shorter than the top of the knee (sitting or standing). Skirt slits should be modest; open slits should be no higher than the top of the knee, closed slits should be no higher than two inches from the top of the knee. Shoulder straps should be no less than two inches wide. Anything tight, scant, backless, see-through, low in the neckline or revealing the midriff (in any position) is immodest and unacceptable. Slips should be worn under thin material. Earrings and plugs are permitted in ears only. No other facial piercing or plugs are allowed, including tongue.

Class Dress
Sweaters, loose-fitting tops, sweatshirts (no inappropriate logos), skirts, dresses, pants, which would include capri/cropped pants and neat jeans (no holes, patches, or tears), footwear (sandals or flip-flops are acceptable).

Class Dress must be worn in academic and administrative buildings before 4:30 pm on weekdays and in all classes, regardless of time.

Casual Dress
Shirts, neat pants, jeans, wind suits, loose-fitting, modest shorts (mid-thigh or longer), shoes (sandals or flip-flops are acceptable).

Casual Dress is acceptable in academic and administrative buildings after 4:30 pm on weekdays and in the Reber/Thomas Dining Hall for all meals.

Swimming Pool
Swimwear is only appropriate at the swimming pool. Students are to wear appropriate casual or sport attire (as stated in The Liberty Way) going to and from the pool. Women are required to wear a one-piece suit that is in good taste. Swimsuits that are see-through/mesh, expose the midriff and/or are low in the front or back or cut high on the legs are not acceptable.

Does your school have a dress code, Lovelies? Do you think these dress codes are too strict?