This was an article I found in the Woman’s Exponent, July 1, 1873 issue:

“We wish to call attention to the subject of fashion as there has been but little said concerning it of late, and as we consider it one of the most important items pertaining to the salvation of woman.  We would be pleased to see the serious attention of all, directed to the “tyrannical queen,” that has so long oppressed and degenerated the human family.  How many kind fathers and husbands have been involved in debt through the extravagance and unwise course of an imprudent family!  We often hear it asked, “What should the fashion be?”  We give the answer of a Prophet, as obtained from God:  “Let your garments be neat and plain and the workmanship of your own hands.”  Mothers, who call yourselves Christians, who purchase twenty yards of material for one dress, pay twenty dollars for trimming and twenty-five or thirty for making, do you ever think of the poor in every land, putting up their petitions to their Father, and to your Father and God, who created all to share in His mercies?  Oh mockery!  No more call yourselves followers of that meek and lowly Lord, the Redeemer of the world.  Let us question:  Has not one woman, the same right to introduce a fashion that another has?  Does not a woman look more intellectual in a plain solid colored suit than she does dressed in a suit part black, part white, green and blue?  We omitted to mention: “red,” which is, of course, indispensable.  Sacred history informs us that God created male and female erect; and all nations have acknowledged that any other form than the erect posture given to them in their natural organization, is deformity; and historians have admired the Indians for their upright figures.  Whenever a style of dress is adopted which will not compress the vital organs during the development of the body, and the laws of life are observed in regard to dress, you will see decided improvement; and whatever improves physically, will add mentally to refinement, elegance and strength.”

Times haven’t changed much, except for maybe the amount of fabric we wear and the fact that we expose the skin around our organs, instead of compress them with those horrible corsets.   I love finding these little articles in the Woman’s Exponent.  It’s not much different from our day; the language is a little altered, but the spirit is the same.   Occasionally, we will hear about great things Young Women are doing to combat the modesty problem in our society.  However, we hear nothing from the Relief Society.  We are all well aware of the fact that much of the problem amongst our youth exists because the mothers are not saying “no” as much as they should.

Please understand, this is not a Young Woman’s issue; this is an All Womans’ issue, and we must battle it together.