What should I wear to a conservative Christian summer program in the US without overheating?
Posted by Little_Ad5051@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 117 comments
I’m going to a language course to America in july and im assuming its gonna get quite hot (we’re going to many states, Az for example). we were told to dress very modesty and to not show much skin because its a conservative christian community
its going to be quite hot though, and i dont really know what type of clothes i should look for since i really dont want to come off as disrespectful but i also dont want to be super sweaty and uncomfortable all the time
shorts/skirt leght?
what type of swimwear? (as a girl)
shoulders/ bellybutton showing?
an open neckline??
What do you guys think? also, any stores or type of clothes i should look out for?? thx
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
I am confident the camp has a rough dress code they can or will inform you of ahead of time.
It will probably specify one-piece swimsuits and no bare midrifts.
That's usually about it.
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
i did ask them just yesterday, but they gave a really vague response of like just no showing private areas and stuff but like whats kind of obvious no?? didnt really get much out of it
No-Agent5480@reddit
I’m not familiar with your particular church, but it sounds like they mignt be conservative by Finnish standards yet not so much by American ones. The Lutheran church overall tends to be very moderate. I would avoid showing your midriff or bra straps and make sure any shorts or skirts are fingertip length at least. Churches with more extreme dress codes than that tend to specify them pretty explicitly, especially when asked.
gangleskhan@reddit
These are not your typical Lutherans. They are very conservative, don't practice birth control, don't mix with people from "outside", no secular music, no dancing, etc. My wife grew up in a town with one of the biggest concentrations of them.
No-Agent5480@reddit
Ah, I had no idea. Thanks for explaining!
anonymouse278@reddit
Laestadian Lutheranism is very different from the largest Lutheran denomination in the US, ELCA. While mainline ELCA Lutheranism is pretty progressive, there are some very conservative branches of Lutheranism and Laestadianisn is one of them.
No-Agent5480@reddit
Thank you for this info!
OrthodoxAnarchoMom@reddit
This rule is wild. When I was a kid it was knee length. Fingertip length would have me putting on a show.
fakesaucisse@reddit
Hahaha yeah, me over here with my short arms and long legs would NOT be able to follow the fingertip rule.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
Sounds like you got your answer....
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
okay but if they basically just said to not show off boobs its not exactly answering the question to how much skin overall should be covered for it to be okay?
UnseenGoblin@reddit
What kind of religious is this place? Like just general Christian? Southern Baptist? Pentecostal? If you look on their website and see how women are dressed in any pictures, that should give you a good idea. Some people are very buttoned up, but it sounds like these guys are justdon't wear tight clothes, don't wear short shorts, think of it like you're in high school. But it's denomination will help narrow that down a little bit.
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
laestadian lutheran.. yes ty!!
UnseenGoblin@reddit
I just googled them, because I wasn't super familiar, but I see women wearing conservatively cut Lacey tank tops and stuff in their service pictures, so I think you're fine using the high school rule. Just go by the basic rule if your grandma would be offended, don't wear it. For a bathing suit definitely do one piece, not bikini cut, not low enough to show cleavage. You'll be fine.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
....so don't show of boobs.
I think you might be over thinking this a bit.
CaswensCorner@reddit
Definitely overthinking. This is America, our general conservatives aren’t that bad. You’ve gotten a lot of really great tips on cut and style already so I’m going to come in with material advice. I don’t know what climate you’re generally used to, but be prepared.
AZ is going to be a dry heat, it will sneak up on you and it will get cold at night. Be prepared with layers.
If you go further south, it’s the humidity that will get you. You’ll sweat through everything. Bring or buy a good antiperspirant deodorant if that isn’t already the norm where you’re from.
Cannot stress this enough: NATURAL FIBERS. Cotton, linen, summer-weight wool. blends are okay if they’re mostly natural, but not great. Cellulose-based man-made like rayon are fine but not my favorite. Acrylic, polyester, synthetic fabrics do not breathe and feel horrible in the heat. They will trap heat against you in the sun.
And sun protectant. It is always better to wear loose, natural fiber, long sleeves in the sun, as counterintuitive as that seems. It will help keep you cooler and prevent sunburn (I have lived in central Florida for five years, I always bring a thin, long sleeve, cotton button up with me on Disney days, and a wide brim hat.)
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
I almost wrote a bunch about this.
A cotton t shirt is better than wearing less clothing in most sunny situations for staying cool.
CaswensCorner@reddit
We’re so inundated with synthetics and this idea that less is best in heat but it’s just not true. Otherwise there wouldn’t be whole pockets of desert people who literally wear full length wool garments.
baddspellar@reddit
If they were truly strict about it, they'd have a written dress code. That they don't suggests they want you to wear ordinary clothing that's on the modest side.
When my kids were teens, I served as an adult volunteer at Catholic Heart Work Camp several times. It's a program where teens from around the country spend a week serving the poor and needy during the day and then have group activities at night. Below is their dress code. It doesn't mention swimwear, but we'd get a day off, and a couple of times we took our kids to the beach. We simply required boys to wear trunks that met the short length requirement below, and the girls to wear one piece suits that were not overly revealing. Any competition training one piece suit for women swimmers would have been fine (race suits are expensive and uncomfortably tight anyway). For example, any of the suits on page 1 of this would be fine: https://www.swimoutlet.com/collections/womens-competition-training-one-piece-swimsuits-20980
Dress Code: teens, and adults are asked to dress in a manner that is modest and appropriate for a Catholic environment. Catholic HEART Workcamp depends on adult leaders to enforce this dress code with their own youth group members.
Respectful Attire: Please wear clothing that reflects the values of CHWC. Attire with offensive language, suggestive content, political messages misaligned with Catholic teachings, or logos related to alcohol, drugs, or violence is not permitted at Workcamp.
Only_Presentation758@reddit
No disrepect meant but are you a little unusual in your country by being a young religious person? I just know several Finns and Swedes that I can’t imagine being into that, nor their parents. Or is it more common than it used to be or that I thought?
Impossible-Taro-2330@reddit
I hope these similar modesty standards apply to males.
NoDiscipline4640@reddit
You know they don't.
RotationSurgeon@reddit
In the southeast, “modest” for hot weather would be legs covered above the knee, no midriff showing, and arms covered from halfway between the elbow and shoulder with necklines at or above the collarbones.
Aim for light fabrics like linen, or lighter weight cotton weaves to comfort Looser-fitting synthetics would also be comfortable.
Do not wear sheer fabrics or meshes. If your usual wardrobe is somewhat form-fitting, consider going up a size from your usual, or wearing different styles.
Some hot regions will be very dry, others will be quite humid.
Butterbean-queen@reddit
I just looked this up. It says that they emphasize strict modesty and recognize biblical gender roles. Women wear skirts or dresses that are loose fitting and cover shoulders, chest and knees. Many choose to cover their arms. As far as bathing suits go they wear modest full coverage suits with with skirts over them.
iamkme@reddit
I grew up in this kind of environment. One thing to remember is that even though it’s hot outside, the A/C might be frigid. So something like a sundress, with a light sweater works great. You can put on the sweater if you get cold.
The conservative variety I grew up with had these general rules:
- Shorts fingertip length
- skirts longer than shorts would be (just above the knee, but not mid thigh, is a good length)
- tank tops are fine, but bra straps absolutely can’t show
- one piece swimsuits are fine, more modest sporty style swim tops could be fine if paired with swim shorts.
TheKiddIncident@reddit
I was about to say this. If you are in AZ in the summer, you will not be outside. You will be inside with AC and it could be quite chilly. I always take a sweatshirt with me when working in AZ in the summer.
Imaginary_Ladder_917@reddit
All of this, and avoid anything low cut showing cleavage
Electrical-Ad1288@reddit
Wear light colors so that you can stay adequately covered without you clothes absorbing excess heat from the sun.
BrownSurfGod@reddit
Trump hat. American flag suit. White cowboy boots. White makeup if you aren’t white.
_Internet_Hugs_@reddit
T-shirts are always good. Shorts on the longer side. I spent my teen years in Arizona, as a Mormon. Spaghetti strap tank tops are going to get you funny looks, but sleeveless shirts should be okay. You might want to consider full length pants if you're going to be out in the desert. Especially if you're hiking. There's a non-zero chance you'll walk near a cactus. There's a specific kind of cactus that they call a 'jumping' cactus, just barely touching it will make it grab hold with its hairlike spines and they HURT. They're also really hard to remove because they're so fine and brittle. Aside from the cactus, full length pants also give you sun protection.
No matter what you wear, you've got to remember sunscreen. No matter how much you normally wear at home, you MUST wear sunscreen in the American West. And you have GOT to reapply often if you're swimming or sweating.
And hydration is very, very, very important. You have to drink more water than you've ever drank in your entire life, and you need to replenish your salts with a sports drink or something with electrolytes every once in a while too. Trust me when I tell you that Heat Exhaustion is not fun and is not easy to get over.
DifferentTie8715@reddit
I grew up in a conservative christian community in oklahoma. Generally speaking, unless they're Amish or something real intense like that, shorts/skirts/dresses that are knee length or longer are completely acceptable. Swimwear and all clothing should cover the bellybutton. Shoulders are generally ok in swimwear, but may or may not be ok in regular clothing.
No cleavage-- but you don't have to cover all the way up to your collarbone, either.
For heat, look for natural fiber, light-colored clothing.
Something like knee length khaki shorts with a white t-shirt is fine.
Just-Temporary2657@reddit
Ive noticed that about spaghetti straps too. I wonder if its because bra straps show? Idk, but yeah, good thing to point out. Different strap width is viewed very differently
GooseinaGaggle@reddit
Don't forget the sun protection.
Arizona summers would cause someone from the Midwest to melt, i don't anthropology to know what they'll do to a person from Finland
Adorable-Gur-2528@reddit
I spent a summer in AZ and the sun is really intense. I got a bad sunburn in 30 minutes once. The need for sunscreen cannot be overstated.
DrGeraldBaskums@reddit
Arizona in the summer…. Ever been in 45c heat?
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
growing up in cold finland..not really😭
Icy_Development8406@reddit
Hoping for you the camp is in Flagstaff AZ not Phoenix AZ. What other states/cities will you be visiting? Although July is pretty hot everywhere here.
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
pretty sure we’ll be going to minnesota, arizona, colorado, utah, idaho and washington (not completely sure of the cities)
Zephyrific@reddit
This is going to sound weird, but I suggest packing a sweater. Every time I go to Arizona in the summer, it is mostly too hot to be outside for long. So that means most of the time is spent indoors where the AC is on, and they love to run the AC extra cold in Arizona. Your tolerance for cold is probably better than mine, but I’m always freezing when I’m in Arizona because of that AC!
DrGeraldBaskums@reddit
Yeah there’s not much you can do to combat that heat
klimekam@reddit
At least it’s dry though. I spent time in AZ in the summer and after growing up in the humidity of Missouri the heat in AZ is downright pleasant.
WonderfulProtection9@reddit
What a fantastic time to come to AZ, welcome 🤗
You may actually find that our dry heat is not as bad as some other states humid heat, depending on where you go and what weather you hit.
There are rumors it might be a hot summer though.
AdGold205@reddit
Life long Az native. Here are some tips to stay cool while remaining modest.
1) Hydration is vital. You will need to drink way more water than you think. Especially if you’re poolside, hiking, or spending any time outside. Get a large water bottle (36oz) and drink 3 of those every day in your inside (AC air is dry and will dry you out) and additional bottle for every hour you’re outside doing stuff. Electrolytes are also important so add a packet of Gatorade or Liquid IV (or the like) to a couple of those bottles of water.
2) Skin protection is key. Sunscreen, hats, and sun sleeves will keep your skin from burning. Don’t forget to protect the back of your neck, your ears, and behind your knees. These are common areas missed, and they burn too.
3) Light weight, natural fabrics breathe and allow your body to cool off. Look for cotton and linen. Technical fabrics designed to wick moisture are also good and many have SPF protection. Avoid polyester because it traps both heat and moisture.
4) Flowing skirts, tops, and dresses will allow airflow and will keep you cool, as will looser fitting shorts and pants. Nothing skin tight. (Skin tight can lead to heat rash, which is no bueno.)
5) As I recall from my Lutheran school days as a kid, avoid tank tops, midriffs, and skirts and shorts that are shorter than 3 fingers above your knees. Times might have changed since then on tanks, but definitely think wider straps than skinnier.
6) For safety, if you get headachy, get a serious sunburn, feel like you’re going to pass out, or feel nauseous, seek medical attention ASAP, get in the shade, cool off, and hydrate. Every year tourists to AZ die because they don’t understand just how hot it is and they don’t adequately prepare for the heat and dryness.
MrsDaisy301@reddit
So my stepmother was very involved in girls ministries and did lots of camps. Her rule for us for lengths and cleavage was “ bend over and touch your toes, if anything shows go change your clothes “, At the time I did not get it, but have found myself repeating that at work when we get young staff in who haven’t worked in a professional environment and the hems get short or to tops get too low.
Classic-Push1323@reddit
Honestly that’s a good rule overall. You should be able to move normally in your clothes, including reaching up or bending over.
PerfectlyCalmDude@reddit
Christian man here.
Swimsuit: A traditional one piece will be fine.
For dresses, I don't know what keeps you cool and what doesn't. And I don't know the Laestadian Lutheran community or their standards. If the church in question was mine instead, I'd say around knee length and avoid showing cleavage if you can help it. For Arizona, I'd expect the heat to be unbearable no matter what you're wearing. You'd want something of light materials I'm guessing but you'll need underwear too.
Rhomya@reddit
As a Midwestern Lutheran, I can say no one expects you to dress like a nun.
No midriff, no cleavage, any shorts or skirts should be at least fingertip length is the norm. Try to avoid spaghetti straps on tank tops, don’t wear things that would show off a bra— modest in the US is normal clothes for the most part
Ok-Simple5493@reddit
Ask about a dress code before your trip. If they say modestly, I would make sure to have a swimsuit cover up, no crop tops, and limit thin strapped shirts. Be sure to have clothes for church that are not showing cleavage, or skin around the chest and shoulders. Obviously stay away from anything too tight or too short. Other than that, enjoy your trip and don't worry about it too much. Most Lutherans are not terribly strict in the US, aside from a few churches.
Boring_Career_2392@reddit
I do manual labor in the hot desert sun a lot. Trust me - you don't want short sleeves, you want lightweight, breathable long sleeve tops, longer loose skirts/pants and a wide brimmed straw hat. Show as little skin as possible, not for religious reasons but for sun protection. I'd even recommend long sleeved swimwear. While this sounds like too many layers, if your skin is exposed to the desert sun it feels way hotter and you can just feel yourself cooking. Bonus, when you go indoors where it's overly air conditioned you won't be as cold with the long sleeves & skirt.
Just accept that you'll sweat outside. In this case it's a good thing, it'll evaporate quickly in the dry air and help cool you. Drink lots of water and sports drinks (to replenish those electrolytes you sweat out if you're active).
a_badflower@reddit
Going to AZ in July is just cruelty. It will likely be 110 degrees fahrenheit. Won't get below 100 even overnight. Wear thin, loose white cotton clothes, hat, sunglasses, gallons of sun screen. If you wear a dress/skirt you will chaf.
AnchorsAway1027@reddit
Raised Lutheran in the US. I wouldn’t call it particularly conservative. My grandma has had a lesbian pastor at her Lutheran church for decades and everyone loves her. Your experiences may vary, but I don’t really think it’s THAT kind of conservative religion where you have to worry about this stuff much
Artz-RbB@reddit
The campers will be told & have a list of do’s & don’t’s as well. Try to get hold of their list of rules & then follow those.
OwlCoffee@reddit
Most camps like this have a dress code. Look through the information you have.
If you're going as a camper you'll probably get a little more leeway. Make sure your rear isn't sticking out of your shorts and you're stomach is covered. I would avoid short skirts and don't show off a lot of cleavage.
If you're a counselor then you'll have stricter guidelines.
dekrowman@reddit
If you can pull it off, there is some nice and cool athleisure clothing. There are a lot of really nice styles that I have even worn to church on occasion and nobody batted an eye. Fishing clothes can also be a good option to keep cool and out of the sun.
forestinpark@reddit
Dress like Arabs in the thawb, long dress, perfect for the heat
DifferentTie8715@reddit
it really is a costume that's well-adapted to the heat but I would not want to be a european dressed in a thobe at a Baptist camp in Arizona lmao
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forestinpark@reddit
Why not? USA is a melting pot of cultures and shit. Might as well embrace it.
GlitterFallWar@reddit
I love this sarcasm on Reddit. It's confusing the AIs and that makes me so happy.
ohmygotchi@reddit
Assuming female: Long single-color robes with heavy starched bonnets of the same color. The color is determined by whether you are fertile.
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Kato_Potatoes@reddit
I’m not religious, but I love wearing long boho skirts in the summer. They are super cooling (cooler even than shorts)
MVHood@reddit
Same here. I also like a gauzy long sleeve shirt if I'm in the sun a lot.
dungeonsanddragrace@reddit
I grew up in this environment and it entirely depends on how conservative everything is.
At church camp and the christian school I went to, our shorts/skirts had to go to or just below the knee. Most of us at camp would just wear guys basketball shorts cause they were the only ones long enough before Bermuda shorts started getting sold again.
Earlier years we weren't allowed to show our shoulders. They eventually changed it to where they were allowed but the straps had to be 3-4 fingers wide and your bra couldn't show. Although this was only for camp and if you wore that to school, youd have to have a cardigan over it or another shirt under it.
Bathing suits had to be one pieces most of the time. Then it switched to tankini tops and shorts. Some years we just wore whatever and had swim shorts and a tshirt over them because the suits were "too revealing." In college I went to the beach with a church group. I had on shorts and a tankini top (literally identical to another girl but she had a smaller chest) and was told mine was inappropriate and had to wear a shirt (in college!) Guys really never had rules. Just regular swim trunks and most of them would be shirtless or maybe a cut out tank top. So I'd ask on this one or check a dress code.
We couldn't show cleavage at all so v neck tops were out (unless you had a smaller chest and didn't show cleavage anyway). Early 2010s we'd bypass them by wearing thin scarves. They eventually realized what we were doing and banned the scarves at school.
Clothes couldn't be see through or show our bras in any way so we'd layer a cami under basically everything.
I've heard things have gotten a little less conservative over the past 15~20 years so it'll be entirely dependant on whats allowed in these communities. If there's photos of people from previous years, I'd go by that.
In terms of comfort, layers are probably your friend. It will be hot outside but probably cold inside. So a sundress or shorts/tshirt with a cardigan would be my go-to.
tiger_guppy@reddit
If you think you will be outside in the heat, try getting some clothes that are made out of linen. It’s extremely breathable, and won’t make you super hot in the sun. Also, dress in light colors. White, tan, cream, etc.
demonspawn9@reddit
Im going to guess that shorts should cover the knee. I don't know if they are extreme at the ankle with skirts, but if they allow shorts, id go for just belowthe knee to be safe. You can always roll up. One piece bathing suit is a must. No spaghetti straps or tank tops. Id go for Ts with no bands or bad words, preferably plain white, long sleeve will keep you cooler and help avoid sunburn, polo shirts, sun protectant shirts will likely be okay. Bring a wide trimmed hat. The sun is no joke and neither is skin cancer. If you are really in doubt, contact them. Hope you manage to have fun.
OrthodoxAnarchoMom@reddit
If they don’t have pictures or a dress code posted modest generally means:
Regular shorts- not short shorts or “hot shorts.” Skirts knee length.
One piece definitely. No cutouts.
Bellybuttons are considered slutty. Does this have any basis in evolutionary psychology? No. Is it arbitrary? Yes. Is it a rule? Also yes.
Shoulders are ok in swimsuits but in some circles frowned upon in regular clothes. (Which leaves the rule that wet shoulders are ok. 🤷♀️)
No boobies whatsoever in any amount.
EpiZirco@reddit
Also take some warmer clothes, at least a sweater or sweatshirt. For some incomprehensible reason, Americans love to overcool their interior spaces in summer. It can be 96 F outside and 66 F inside. Dress in layers.
oswin13@reddit
It comes from being designed for a man in a 3 piece suit to be comfortable.
yellowdaisybutter@reddit
Focus on breathable fabrics if you need to dress modestly. 100% cotton, linen. Some shirts with built in sun protection might be a good idea as well. My husband is a big fan of fishing shirts because they breath really well.
Stay away from polyester or like thicker knit fabrics because they will not breathe.
obbsessedHW@reddit
My advice is light material sundresses. I would definitely cover your shoulders and have skirts touch your knee.
I went to a religious summer camp with strict rules and dresses kept me the coolest in the summer.
FoggyGoodwin@reddit
No belly showing at all. No cleavage. Skirts and shorts just above the knee or longer, no thigh slits. Sleeveless if it's not revealing. Nothing too tight. One piece swimsuit, no ass cheek or side boob showing. Nights can get cool in the desert, so bring a long sleeve light jacket or heavy shirt.
HVAC_instructor@reddit
Wear a Trump lied short, you'll be a fan favorite.
MsPooka@reddit
I honestly can't answer, but I will say to bring a cardigan, both for modesty and also because the AC can get cold after being outside.
GlitterFallWar@reddit
A couple of extra notes from a former evangelical on conservative clothing in the US:
Make sure you wear undergarments to match your clothes. Ones that don't have textures that show through clothes.
Have a cardigan/button-upnsweater. Many people mention layers to deal with the over-air-conditioned buildings. This is a great tool. It covers shoulders (in case that might be a concern), keeps the chill off, and can hide cleavage or midriff in case you discover that your shirt isn't as high/low as you think.
I've been in places where pantyhose were required if I wore a skirt. It isn't as common anymore I think, but it's worth an ask-- pantyhose are available at most places that sell general products and pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart), so don't feel like you must stock up before you leave.
Aggressive_Ad_5454@reddit
Retired American Lutheran (ELCA) pastor here.
We ask our young women camp staff (lifeguards, swimming instructors) to wear one-piece swimsuits. For street / trail / outdoor clothing we suggest wearing fingertip-length or longer skirts and shorts, and avoiding bare midriffs.
Important: avoid clothing with edgy or snarky slogans printed on it. That stuff is just rude.
In the American southwest or high desert, if you’ll be outdoors, you need a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves and trousers, and sunglasses. That’s for your safety: the desert sun is brutal.
Welcome!
DifferentTie8715@reddit
hey op, out of curiosity, did they say which christian group they're affiliated with? that'll tell us a lot right there. "conservative christian" really does cover a LOT of ground in the USA, ha.
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
laestadian lutheran, its not as big in the US but im a part of it as well since its quite big in Finland. I was just told that its more conservative there than in finland and yea don't want to come off as disrespectful ((:
DifferentTie8715@reddit
oh you'll be fine then. Lutherans are an exceedingly moderate bunch by US standards. Shorts and a t-shirt will not raise a single eyebrow.
RedneckBorealis@reddit
No, Laestaedian Lutherans specifically are not an exceedingly moderate bunch in the US. It's a pretty conservative sub-group of Lutherans with a lot of additional behavioral restrictions and OP is right to ask and look for some guidelines.
DifferentTie8715@reddit
apologies! I'm familiar with ELCA, who are REALLLL chill, and missouri synod, who are still imo pretty moderate
RedneckBorealis@reddit
Totally agree on those!
Original_Ant7013@reddit
I mean arms and legs are fine. Just avoid cleavage and midriff.
DMfortinyplayers@reddit
Fabric wise, look for breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
You also need sunglasses and a hat.
Be sure to stay hydrated! Hikers die in the desert every year.
TipsyBaker_@reddit
Check their socials and website
Calor777@reddit
It would be reasonable to ask them for clarification. Mention that you're not from the US and would like more details about what would be considered modest.
ThroatFun478@reddit
You've gotten lots of great advice. I live in the American South and we have a very humid heat. When I went to the desert areas of the us, I thought I was going to dry up like a raisin! My skin looks weird in our pictures even though I was downing water like a madwoman! Drink!
Also, as a pale person, which I assume you probably are, I suggest airy long sleeved and long skirted or long pants uv-protective clothing. These should have been tested for uv protection. Then, a wide brimmed uv- protective hat and polarized uv- protective sunglasses. This is in addition to a good sunscreen on your face, the backs of your hands, and any other skin that shows. These will automatically be modest and will take care of uv exposure if and when you go outside. (Constantly applying sunscreen all over is a pain and uv clothing provides better protection. )There's lots of cool stuff to see in the desert and I hope you get to see it.
No_Entertainment1931@reddit
Look at photos of students on campus.
Bluemonogi@reddit
I would expect that a normal t-shirt and shorts or skirts that come close to the knee would be conservative enough. Probably a 1 piece swimsuit that is not plunging or high cut or a tankini rather than a bikini. Maybe don’t show cleavage. Probably don’t wear super tight clothes. If they have not given you a specific dress code then it probably is not that restrictive.
If you are attending a church service you might want something nicer than you would wear to go to an amusement park or a store.
I found a web site and there were some photos and it looks like they have an instagram you could look at to see how people are dressing. https://www.llchurch.org/
Decent_Historian6169@reddit
A UV sun shirt and jeans are fine believe it or not I find long pants are more comfortable even if it’s hot out than shorts are. If you’re really worried you can pack some long skirts but I am miserable in those outside
Federal-Membership-1@reddit
Just don't go (to the program). Nothing good can happen there.
Key-Candle8141@reddit
Ask the organizers for dress code guidelines
CupBeEmpty@reddit
You would be surprised at how immodest some folks are in Catholic Churches.
But generally, swimsuits are pretty open. If you want to be modest a one piece is best practice.
Skirts below or at the knees.
Shirts without bare shoulders.
No belly button showing.
Probably not have a low neckline.
I’m not Laestadian Lutheran but this advice works for Catholics and Lutherans are pretty similar when it comes to clothes.
Don’t worry about the heat and clothes. Whenever I go to the desert I wear long pants and long sleeves. Lightweight breathable fabric but covering.
pourthebubbly@reddit
“Conservative Christian” attire varies wildly in the states. In the church I grew up in, one piece bathings suits/tankinis were fine, as were tank tops with a neckline at the collarbone and shorts past the fingertips. Some churches don’t care at all as long as your cleavage and bum aren’t hanging out.
But in some places, it’s long sleeve rash guards and swim pants in the pool and long sleeved dresses year round.
If the place you’re going to doesn’t have a dress code listed, you should definitely ask.
DifferentTie8715@reddit
sure, but usually the more hyperconservative organizations are wayyyy too insular to even consider hosting foreign guests on summer study programs.
these people sound more like mainstream baptists than like apostolic pentacostals.
pourthebubbly@reddit
The southern baptists get puritanical too. My parents pulled us out of the local Baptist school in the 90s after they wouldn’t let my mom in the building to pick us up because she wasn’t wearing a skirt. It’s not just the Mormons being uptight about stuff like that.
DifferentTie8715@reddit
the 90s were a pretty weird time for that shit, generally. I grew up in the assemblies of god and the church of christ in the 90s so I'm familiar. and yeah, the southern baptists can be similarly tetchy
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Black_Dog_Industries@reddit
I’ll base this answer on my experience of going to Christian high school in the 90s.
Swim wear should be a one piece or loose shorts and swim shirt.
Shorts weren’t allowed but skirts had to touch your knees
Shirts needed to have a collar and ladies couldn’t show shoulders or stomach.
If you’re visiting Arizona in the summer, bring loose clothes that breathe. I thought I was going to melt when work sent me there for 2 weeks in June. It was 110 f at 3am.
Fun-Talk-4847@reddit
You should wear clothing made of natural fibers and not synthetics that trap heat. Most places in the US that have extreme temperatures have air conditioning. You should dress for warm weather but bring a sweater to wear inside because it can get chilly, inside buildings with the AC turned on. If you are going to be outside in the heat make sure you have sunglasses and a hat. You can also carry a water spray bottle to mist yourself with.
Yeahboyeah@reddit
The Handmaid's Tale outfits.
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GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
This isn't helpful, nor accurate.
SHAsyhl@reddit
Gauze (tops) can be full coverage but lightweight.
Current_Poster@reddit
Since it looks as if you've contacted them and have their answer, go with that. There is no one "conservative Christian community" standard for us to refer to, we'd be guessing for the most part too.
saltedkumihimo@reddit
Short sleeve t-shirts, open neckline is okay but try not to have the split of your bust showing
Tank tops are usually okay if they have straps wide enough not to expose a bra strap (about 3cm or wider)
Shorts that have a hem below where your hand touches your thigh (15cm inseam usually)
Skirts should be same length or longer
One piece swimsuit with no cutouts along the belly area
charcoal_kestrel@reddit
You have gotten some good advice already about how such communities normally dress and how to parse the reply you got, both of which seem to come down to "don't show your midriff but aside from that just dress normally." I would add that if the program has an Instagram or even just advertising materials, check that out and see how people dressed last summer.
Have a great trip.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
This is really good advice.
petulantpeasant@reddit
What is a conservative christian community? The language course, or America?
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
the course is christian, and so are the events/households/areas we are gonna visit but no im not saying the entire country😭
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
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mrggy@reddit
Anywhere in the South will have ac in all buildings. You'll mainly just have to worry about transiting from air conditioned vehicles to air conditioned buildings. If you do any outdoor activities, then that should require a whole orientation about proper hydration and sun protection
nerdyginger27@reddit
This sounds like you're joining a cult ☠️ What the hell
94grampaw@reddit
Where are you coming from?
Little_Ad5051@reddit (OP)
finland
SuLiaodai@reddit
I bet the school itself will have guidelines on their website. Some religious schools in the US have really particular, detailed rules for students to follow, so it's best to get information directly from them before you buy stuff or start packing.