A Fresh and Thorough Look at Dress for the Christian Lady Professing Godliness
1 Timothy 2:9-10

You may have heard Christian women say, “No one is going to tell me how to dress!” Does “no one” include God? Is it really important how we, as Christian ladies, dress? Are there Biblical guidelines concerning this controversial issue? If so, would you be willing to conform to those guidelines?

Discover how the U.S. Postal Service, the World Wars, and Hollywood affected dress in chapter one. Learn the two primary Biblical principles concerning dress in chapters three and four. Chapters two and five lay a doctrinal foundation. Don’t miss the testimonies in chapter seven showing how God has spoken to other ladies’ hearts concerning this topic.

Join us as we explore the clear Biblical mandate to ladies about their appearance in Dress – A Reflection of the Heart.

Chapter titles include History of Dress, Separation, Modesty, Identification, Worldliness, Surrender, Testimonies, and Provision.

Retail $10.30. Buy today !!

ENDORSEMENTS:

I love your take on appearance in Dress -A Reflection of the Heart. I grew up in a Baptist home and was saved at the age of 17, but did not know really how to answer Dress questions without sounding rough. Thank you. (Minnesota Pastor's wife)

I talked to a Pastor in SC about this very issue and shared with him how detailed and accurate the information was in this book. He obtained a copy of the book and reviewed it. Later, I asked him if he wanted me to place an order. He said yes. I then asked him how many. His answer was, “50 should be fine.”To my amazement, when the books arrived at his home, he took them to church that following service, and just before the service began, he walked up and down the aisle passing out this book to each of the ladies in the church. This Pastor said, “Thank you, brother, for your help in getting this book into our hands!” (Missionary to Mexico)

I was reading James this morning, and you came so strongly to my heart! I have been thinking of you very much recently, as the Lord is using your book, Dress: A Reflection of the Heart, greatly here in Okinawa! I had prayed that the Lord would specifically send ladies to me who needed help in this area. I had a friend asking for help last Wednesday. She has been saved for two years and is growing. Her eyes have been opened to the fact that she has two little girls watching and learning from her…”How do I know what is modest?”—“Not what man says is modest, but what does God say?” I remember those days, and perhaps that is why the Lord would allow such a wretch as I to be a vessel! Praise the Lord for your book and the work you do in touching the lives of ladies! Thank you for being such an ambassador of Titus 2! (Missionary to Japan)

I thank God for you for writing that book about women's dress. I enjoyed reading, studying, and sharing it with others. That's why I'm praying for God's provision to order maybe 20 of those books to give to some pastors' wives and friends in the Philippines. I began creating lessons and messages from that book for future use. I love sharing the Truth. (Missionary wife in California)

After hearing about your Dress book from a church in Michigan, we bought it. We don't have a separate church nearby so have not heard preaching on this topic. However, we absorbed what we learned from this book like a sponge. We have grown as Christians in this area of separation as we learn why we hold the beliefs we do. (Preacher & wife in Maine)

Dear Mrs. Starr, I am currently attending Massillon Baptist College in Ohio. This is my first year. I am in a Christian Life for Ladies class every Tuesday and Thursday. In that class, we are covering modesty, among other topics. Our teacher told us we were to read your Dress book. She told us it was the best book she had found for modesty out of the many books she has read. We were told to read the book and then do a detailed timeline. I want to thank you for writing the Dress book! It has helped me greatly, as have five other college students. There are even some more college students here who want to purchase the book and read it! The Lord used your book in my life to show me the right way to dress and why. I loved reading your book! It was very down-to-earth, and it all made perfect sense! I cannot begin to thank you enough for it! I just wanted to let you know how much your book has positively impacted lives! Thank you! (College student, Ohio)

We have been using a Dress book written by Pastor Starr's wife. This book has greatly helped some of our ladies understand God's standard for Christian women's dress. (Pastor in Wyoming, excerpt from his August Prayer letter)

Dear Bro. & Sis. Starr, I wanted to write and personally thank you for writing the Dress book. It is one of (if not) the best books on Biblical Modesty that I have read... and I have read them all. What I find makes this book so effective is 1) It is written by a lady. 2) It deals with the heart, as stated on the cover. 3) It answers all the questions and deals Biblically with all the excuses. Your book has been most effective in helping women know how to navigate this issue in their lives. The book makes it easy for the Pastor. I find that I do not have to preach on the subject, nor answer any questions from women. I just gave them the book. We give this book as a gift to Pastors, Preachers, and Missionaries! We also give it to new converts. My wife uses the studies in the book for ladies' fellowships and meetings. I would recommend this book to all Pastors of their churches. May the Lord continue to bless this book. (Pastor in Louisiana)

Dear Mrs. Starr, I just had to write and thank you for the book you wrote on dress. In a day and age when it is rare to see Christian women stand up and take the "high road" in modest apparel, it is refreshing to see a book so clearly written on the subject. My husband and I have for years been doing our best to teach our girls why we wear modest apparel, but this book just made everything so clear that I am now having our 11-year-old daughter read it and I have come up with a list of questions for each chapter to cement the truth in her head. For us, it is important that these convictions become her own so that she will continue them when she has her own family. It grieves me greatly that so many Christian women have taken this issue as the one they will "die for" and are determined NOT to give up their pants! Never have I had such a strong conviction about pants 'til I read your book. When my husband was first convicted, I agreed not to wear them because, for me, my love for him was greater than the pants I wanted to wear. Still, I could never express MY conviction 'til I read your book. What perspective! Thank you! Now, I hope my sons will read this book, too, as they get older, so that they, too, can instruct their wives on why they should dress modestly. My only wish is that a dear friend of mine, who has decided not to listen to my convictions, would read this book — you can't argue with it. Thank you again, and may God bless you richly. I know this book has blessed me! (Wyoming)

Thank you so much for the books! The greatest book I've read on biblical modesty, this book wonderfully illustrates and teaches from the Bible that the Lord is concerned with appearance! It shows that God's people should be and look like just that--God's people--with what is "holy & acceptable" in God's view! Your Dress book, when read, can speak to the heart that desires to surrender and submit. But it is only written to women who desire to be ladies of Christlike character. All glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. (Pastor in TX)

Dear Mrs. Starr, Thank you so much for the tremendous blessing you are to me!! God, in His loving provision, knew that newly saved women would need instruction in finding God's special place and plan for us. And as He lavishes His grace and mercy on me, I learned in your book He even wants to decorate me with beauty, grace, femininity, and all the glory so exclusively reserved for us, that men are forbidden from what is our! If that doesn't make a woman feel special, I don't know what does. Thanks to your willingness to teach others, I have an important part of my walk with God under His control and guidance. Had I not read your Dress book I would either be unwittingly displeasing to God through improper dress, or I would just be following what I thought was man's policy of "church preference," neither of which bring the glory God deserves in my life. Rather, I have learned a truth, decided to submit to it 100%, and best of all, I know WHY I believe it!! My son and daughter-in-law serve the Lord at a church in Oklahoma. They plan to attend college in that city, where a biblical dress code is enforced. She said she would comply out of obedience to the school policy, but she has no such conviction and would continue to wear pants at home. Someone gave your book to her at the same time someone at my church gave it to me. I drove to see her, praying that God would give me the courage and the right words to explain what I so clearly understood from your book, which I intended to give to her. Lo and behold! I couldn't believe my eyes when she opened the door, your book in her hand, and wearing a lovely long skirt! We smiled, hugged, cried, and did all that other girl stuff; and before I left, she handed me a trash sack full of pants and jeans for me to get rid of for her! You made my job easy, and I am eternally grateful! I have 3 more daughters-in-law to work on, so I will buy more of your books. I already know what they are getting for Christmas. (Oklahoma)

Dear sister in Jesus, the Lord has taught me so much. With God's directions from the Holy Bible and your book, Dress-A Reflection of the Heart, God has opened my eyes. Please remember me in prayer. God has laid a message on my heart for the young girls at our church. I would like to have 10 more copies on hand for my sisters in the Lord here. Thank you! God bless you! (Pennsylvania)

Your Dress book is excellent. It is a perfect combination of boldness and meekness and doesn't stray from "Thus saith the Lord" to opinions. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and would suggest that every Pastor keep several copies on hand. What a help it is to me! (Pastor in Virginia)

Shirley, I enjoyed your book on dress standards. You know, when I joined the Army, I had some trouble with the uniform, which is men's apparel. ... Wearing a man's uniform changes something in a woman's thought and behavior patterns...There was a difference in the way I moved and spoke, a certain harshness, it seemed to me. The toughness was troubling because I wanted the softness and gentleness of a godly lady, not the toughness that comes from competing in a man's job. It seems strange that what we wear and how we behave impact what is inside us, just like what is inside us impacts what we wear and how we behave, but it does go both ways. It's difficult to maintain a "meek and quiet spirit" when you are dressing and living like a man. (Germany)

Dear Mrs. Starr, I am writing to express my gratitude for how God has changed me regarding my dress sense and how your book played a significant role in my decision. (She tells the story for two pages.) I thank you both for writing this book because God used it to convict me about my dress. I now wear a skirt or culottes all the time. I have gotten rid of my pants, and I have ordered patterns for culottes from one of the addresses you suggested. Thank you so much! (Pennsylvania)

In this card we would like to say, Thank you for leading us to the right way. You showed us how we should dress the best for our King and nothing less! (Pennsylvania)

Dear Brethren, Thank you for the books. We plan to carry them in the Camp bookstore as I travel this year. Praise the Lord. thank you Mrs. Starr for your work and labor of love for us. (Iowa)

Reviews by Earlyne Stephens and Jennifer Petticoffer of The Baptist Magazine, Longview TX July/August 2004

Shirley M. Starr has written a delightful book on the much-needed subject “How Christian Ladies Should Dress.” She covers the fact that we should be separate from the world and not keep up with the world in the matter of our attire. Our goal should be to glorify God in our lives. How better can we do this than in what we wear (our first impression)? I certainly recommend this book for all Christian ladies, not only for themselves, but to train their daughters while they are young to dress modestly and to have their convictions about their dress. (Earlyne Stephens)

I am excited to see a new, clearly written, biblical book on modesty. Dress: A Reflection of the Heart does more than give rules for Christian apparel. It begins with a chapter on the history of clothing in light of world history. The chapters are brief and to the point, explaining separation, modesty, identification, surrender, and other vital topics. The book would be excellent for a teen or adult ladies' Bible class, since there are Scriptures and suggested assignments at the end of each chapter. If you are a pastor’s wife, church leader, or mother of daughters – this book should be part of your reference library. (Jennifer Petticoffer)

Dear Mrs. Starr, Thank you for your book, Dress: A Reflection of the Heart. A friend let me borrow your book. We have three daughters. We decided that they should begin wearing dresses daily, as I have been wearing dresses only for almost four years, and God has blessed me. Pray for us. (Indiana)

Dear Mrs. Starr, I picked up your book at a homeschooling convention this year (Dress-A Reflection of the Heart). I wanted to tell you how delighted I was with it. I have been struggling with wearing pants vs. dresses for 20 years. I first heard of the concept 20 years ago in New Orleans. I had been told some of the verses, but no one ever went into detail like your book does. I would ask people why and what difference it made, and no one seemed to know. I don’t think people who wear dresses all the time know why they do so. I wish these concepts were taught as well as it is explained in your book. I now think I can finally work it out in my mind to please the Lord in my dress. Thank you for writing such a great book. (Kentucky)

Dear Shirley, someone lent me your Dress book, and I learned a lot. The Lord convicted my heart of some things. We have three daughters and are trying to raise them to dress to please the Lord and not the world. So I’d like to order a copy for myself. (Pennsylvania)

Dear Shirley, Thank you for your Dress book. It has helped me to finally realize what God’s will is for me. (3-page letter) May God bless you as you continue to teach and reach out to women who greatly need this teaching! (Pennsylvania)

Good Morning Shirley!! I am going to send [the Director of their mission board] a copy of the book and ask him to read it, and I am going to tell him that it is just the book and just the time to send it to all of our missionaries. It is a very good book, written in a very engaging way. You are to be commended. I am so glad that I happened to [find it]. (Brazil)

Dear Mt. Zion Friends, My heart was so blessed and encouraged to read Shirley Starr’s book on dress within the past year. I gave my copy away and would like to get a couple more. Thanks so much, and may God bless you. (Pennsylvania)

Dear Sister in Christ, Hi! I have been struggling with this issue of “dress” for about 2 years. I guess you can call me stubborn. Our pastor’s wife gave me your book to read. Wow, what timely help I needed. I have heard and used some of those excuses myself. Yes, I want to surrender completely to Christ, not just partially. I ask you to please pray for me. (unknown location)

I want to thank you so much for writing the book on Dress. I grew up in a Christian and was taught what was right to wear and what was wrong to wear. It's not just being told to wear this, but why we do certain things. I got saved last Mother's Day and have been searching the scriptures lately about why I dress this way. My mother-in-law has been challenging me on this subject. She doesn't approve of the way that I dress for church, because she would rather wear what the world says is ok for church. Now, when we have this conversation again I know the scriptures to use to help her see why. I praise the Lord for giving you the words and the ability to write such a powerful book. Since I read this book, I have gotten rid of so many clothes, because they don't fit the standard that God has for me as a Christian young lady. I am a mother of two boys (soon to be 4 and 6 months) and I need to start showing them now how a lady should act and dress. My husband has been liking the change that I have been making. He was taught to wear whatever you want and look decent. He's been changing things as well and studying to be a preacher! I thank you so much and give God the glory. (Email)