BibleBasis.org

The Christian's outward appearance:

Clothing, Hair, Head coverings, and the proper way:

There is a common "argument" about how Christians should dress in the Church. Most Christians can agree on these points:

Men are not to have long hair.

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Corinthians 11:14)

Men should not wear hats at a gathering.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head… For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God... (1 Corinthians 11:4,7)

However, other commands, perhaps not quite so clear, are also to be observed. Unfortunately, the Church has been corrupted. The people have left out some commands, and have brought in others that are not Biblical. This is not surprising since Satan wishes for the Church corruption.
It seems that many of the commandments that are misinterpreted deal with the way in which women are to attire themselves.

The skirt vs. pants "debate":

Some Christians think that women should wear skirts or dresses. I cannot find any scripture to solely support this claim. Some people think this issue can be solved by this verse:

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. (Deuteronomy 22:5)

First of all, we must realize that in Old Testament times, pants were not worn. Men wore robes, long garments that went down to about your ankle, which were tied about at their waist. This would somewhat resemble a modern day dress. To a 21^st century observer, the women's outfit would look similar to that of the man, but would have its own characteristics which someone in that era could very easily identify. There would have been differences in the dress between men and women, much the same as what you normally have today. Now, obviously there is something wrong with a woman trying to look like a man, and vice versa. This does not mean that women have to wear similar attire to what they wore in ancient times. The men don't wear the same type of clothing, so why should the women? They are to dress modestly, not anciently!

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness [respect] and sobriety [self-control]; not with broided [braided] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
(1 Timothy 2:9)

     According to Strong's, modest means:
     well arranged, seemly

     In other words, what is proper. Now this does not mean that women should wear whatever is in style, because most fashions don't come close to being modest. It means that they should dress in a way that is acceptable.
     Now, I have absolutely nothing wrong with someone wearing a skirt or dress, unless, like so the so many skirts we have all seen, it is immodest, which seems to be the case with so many skirts. It seems that they usually have a slit part ways up the material, or are just much too short. However, the main argument I would have with the “skirt only idea” is that the people who follow this idea always seem to look down upon women that are wearing jeans, even when the jeans they are wearing are a hundred times more modest than their skirt with a slit. Like I said before, I have absolutely nothing wrong with someone wearing a skirt or dress, as long as it is modest, and they do not think themselves holier because of it.

Whose [the wife] adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair [elaborate gathering of one's hair into knots], and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (1 Peter 3:3)

Women, men, and children are not to be overly conscious of what they look like.

The Head - Covering and Hair:

In the two verses already stated before, we have also covered the way in which hair should not be adorned. In those verses, when it says plaiting and broided it basically means braided. Now this is not forbidding a plain braiding of one's hair to keep it out of the way. This is referring to spending a lot of time (or money) in getting it braided not for practicality, but for appearance, which the Christian should not be concerned about.
Long hair is a glory to the woman, but it is not required.

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. (1 Corinthians 11:15)

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered... Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? (1 Corinthians 11:5,6,13)

Does the phrase "head uncovered" mean a veil or hat, or does it mean the hair?
Now we know that short hair cannot be a covering in itself, because no one would reason that the man should be bald, correct? And since the man is not to have his head covered while praying or prophesying, and the woman is, we know that there is to be a difference between them. So short hair is obviously not a covering.

Is the covering of long hair enough?

If the woman doesn't have her head covered while she prayeth or prophesieth, let her also be shorn. Since her hair is her glory, this is saying that she is shamed, or removed of her glory, if her head is uncovered.

The covering as in hair:
4018: a covering thrown around, a wrapper, a mantle, a veil

The covering required:
2619: to cover up, to veil or cover one's self

     One reason for a material covering is that we do not know how long the woman's hair should be if it were to be the covering.
     So now, if it is a material covering, should it be worn all the time? The Bible tells us we are to "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but the idea that women are to wear a head covering all the time, if followed through, would also require that men never wear a hat, which is needed in cold and sunny parts of the earth.
     The stand BibleBasis.org takes on head coverings is that a woman should wear a head covering (veil, cloth or hat) in a gathering when there is prayer.
     On earth we may never completely understand these passages, but for those who believe in Jesus it will soon be revealed! Let us prove all things; (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Hold fast that which is good.