"A dress cannot be called decent which is cut deeper than two fingers' breadth under the pit of the throat; which does not cover the arms at least to the elbows; and scarcely reaches a bit beyond the knees. Furthermore, dresses of transparent material are improper." (The Cardinal Vicar of Pope Pius XI)

1. Marylike is modest without compromise, "like Mary". Christ's Mother.

2. Marylike dresses have sleeves extending at least to the elbows: and skirts reaching below the knees. Acceptable Marylike Standards have revealed in many private revelations since 1917 throughout the world. One of these standards is the dress or skirt should be at least three inches below the bottom of the knee. Our Blessed Mother was very specific in one of these private revelations commenting that when a woman sits down her dress or skirt should cover her knees with the requested three inches.

Our bodies are not all the same size and contour. Therefore some women may have to add additional inches to their dresses and skirts because when sitting down the dress or skirt has a tendency to pull the garment up leaving the knees exposed.

(NOTE: Because of market conditions, auarter-leneth sleeves are temporarily tolerated with Ecclesiastical Approval, until Christian womanhood again turns to Mary as the model of modesty in dress.)

3. Marylike dresses require full coveraee for the bodice, chest, shoulders and back; except for a cut-out about the neck not exceeding two inches below the neckline in front and in the back, and a corresponding two inches on the shoulders.

4. Marylike dresses do not admit as modest coverage transparent fabrics, laces, nets, organdy, nylons, etc. unless sufficient backing is added. However, their moderate use as trimmings is acceptable.

5. Marylike dresses avoid the improper use of fleshcolored fabrics.

6. Marylike dresses conceal rather than reveal the figure of the wearer; they do not emphasize, unduly, parts of the body.

7. Marylike dresses provide full coverage. even after jacket, cape or stole are removed and after assuming a sitting position.

REMARKS ON THE MARYLIKE STANDARDS;

This set of standards avoids a long litany of rules and details, which often only serves to complicate matters and add to existing confusion. Its form is concise, resting on the two fundamental rules of modesty: sufficient cover-age and proper fit

Therefore, a few added points of clarification are here in order.

MARYLIKE - The first standard seeks to re-enthrone Mary, the perfect model of modesty, in the hearts of Her children.

TWO-INCH CUT-OUT - "Two inches" is the equivalent of the measure given by the Cardinal-Vicar of Rome, "two fingers breadth below the hollow of the throat."

TRANSPARENT FABRICS - Many women fail to realize that transparent dresses are sueeestive and cause serious temptations to men. In some cases, because of the emphasized seductiveness of a pretended coverage, they are even worse than the bare skin. They tease the base passions. Hence, transparent fabrics are outlawed for those parts of the body, which require coverage, unless they are backed with sufficiently solid material to conceal the flesh.

Marylike women will refuse to become the pawn in Satan's Hands to promote this modern ruse for seduction, which he uses on an extensive scale. Marvlike brides and their attendants will not dare to stand at the bridal altar, in the presence of their Eucharistic Lord, attired in gowns of flimsy material, thus placing in jeopardy the blessing of God offered by the Church for the marital life.

Marylike mothers will never permit their innocent daughters to don the flimsy and transparent First Communion dresses now flooding the market, which are an insult to the King of Kings Who deigns to enter their innocent little hearts for the first time in their lives; and which cause them to lose their "sense of modesty" in tender years, even for the House of God.

FLESH COLOR - This color is not considered objectionable in itself for dresses, but only when used to suggest the bare skin in parts of the bodv requiring coverage. Thus, flesh color would be highly objectionable when used as trimming on the chest, the midriff, etc.

CONCEAL THE FIGURE - Dresses which provide sufficient coverage may still be very immodest by reason of the fit, which renders them suggestive. Thus, a tight or form fitting bodice is highly objectionable. On the other hand, a fit which is too loose at the two inch neckline allowed in standard No. 3, especially over the shoulders and on the chest, does easily "reveal the figure" of the wearer of the dress, especially in bending or stooping.

BRAS AND SLIPS - Modest women always wear slips that conceal, and bras of proper fit. The most Marylike dress can become very immodest, e.g., if worn over pointed or uplift bras.

"O, HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THE CHASTE
GENERATION WITH GLORY, FOR THE
MEMORY THEREOF IS IMMORTAL: BECAUSE
IT IS KNOWN BOTH WITH GOD AND MEN,"
(Wisdom 4:1)