Should my husband require his daughter to wear stockings and garters?
Question:
My husband requires both me and our two daughters to dress in a conservative and feminine way. For me, tights are not allowed. It's traditional stockings and a garter belt. I'm quite at ease with this, but he wants our daughter to follow suit, and I know there will be confrontation as she considers stockings very old fashioned. I have some sympathy for her as I know they are a bit fiddly to put on. Should I speak up for her? I'm kind of caught in the middle.
Answer:
Like the Pharisees of old, some people aren't content to allow God to define what is and is not proper attire. They add extra rules and requirements, not found in the Scriptures, and then complain when other people aren't inclined to follow their man-made rules. "Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 'Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.' And He answered and said to them, 'Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?'" (Matthew 15:1-3).
There isn't anything about stockings and garters in the Scriptures, nor do these items define conservative dress or modest attire. Make your limits of attire matching to what God said and then you will have the respect of your children.