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Ellen G. White and Her Critics

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Mrs. White Answers Questions on Dress

In 1867 several questions were addressed to Mrs. White on the subject of dress reform. One question read thus: EGWC 148.4

“Does not the practice of the sisters in wearing their dresses nine inches from the floor contradict Testimony No. 11, which says they should reach somewhat below the top of a lady’s gaiter boot? Does it not also contradict Testimony No. 10, which says that they should clear the filth of the street an inch or two without being raised by the hand?”—The Review and Herald, October 8, 1867, p. 260. EGWC 148.5

Now listen to Mrs. White’s clear-cut answer, that follows immediately: EGWC 149.1

“The proper distance from the bottom of the dress to the floor was not given to me in inches. Neither was I shown ladies’ gaiter boots; but three companies of females passed before me, with their dresses as follows with respect to length: EGWC 149.2

“The first were of fashionable length, burdening the limbs, impeding the step, and sweeping the street and gathering its filth; the evil results of which I have fully stated. This class, who were slaves to fashion, appeared feeble and languid. EGWC 149.3

“The dress of the second class which passed before me was in many respects as it should be. The limbs were well clad. They were free from the burden which the tyrant, Fashion, had imposed upon the first class; but had gone to that extreme in the short dress as to disgust and prejudice good people, and destroy in a great measure their own influence. This is the style and influence of the ‘American Costume,’ taught and worn by many at ‘Our Home,’ Dansville, N. Y. It does not reach to the knee. I need not say that this style of dress was shown me to be too short. EGWC 149.4

“A third class passed before me with cheerful countenances, and free, elastic step. Their dress was the length I have described as proper, modest and healthful. It cleared the filth of the street and side-walk a few inches under all circumstances, such as ascending and descending steps, &c. EGWC 149.5

“As I have before stated, the length was not given me in inches, and I was not shown a lady’s boot. And here I would state that although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation. As I wrote upon the subject of dress the view of those three companies revived in my mind as plain as when I was viewing them in vision; but I was left to describe the length of the proper dress in my own language the best I could, which I have done by stating that the bottom of the dress should reach near the top of a lady’s boot, which would be necessary in order to clear the filth of the streets under the circumstances before named.... EGWC 149.6

“Numerous letters came to me from all parts of the field, inquiring the length of the dress shown me. Having seen the rule applied to the distance from the floor of several dresses, and having become fully satisfied that nine inches comes the nearest to the samples shown me, I have given this number of inches in [Testimony], No. 12, as the proper length in regard to which uniformity is very desirable. If it be said that a lady’s boot is not nine inches high, I would say I wear a boot eight inches high, and when I have walked before my sisters with it uncovered as those properly dressed passed before me in vision, they could not see the top of my boot.”—Ibid. EGWC 149.7

Mrs. White here frankly states the nature of her vision concerning dress reform. There passed before her vision-focused eyes certain scenes, which scenes were clear and definite as to the basic principles concerning the dress reform. From these principles she was left to frame, in human words, the application of the principles as they applied to health, convenience, modesty. Her statements about inches were incidental. She was seeking only to convey the general thought that the skirt should be a reasonable distance above the ground. EGWC 150.1