Pat Robertson on women’s fashion: “Modesty is hottest”

"A laced stocking is more sensual than a bare leg," proclaims the octogenarian televangelist

Published July 24, 2014 4:28PM (EDT)

Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson

When you think of women's fashion, there's probably one name that immediately comes to mind: Pat Robertson.

Indeed, the 84-year-old right-wing Christian fundamentalist and longtime televangelist has long been considered the Anna Wintour of his day, a larger-than-life trend-setter who is constantly looking for new ways to push fashion in challenging, innovative and fun directions.

So when Pat Robertson said during Wednesday's edition of his "700 Club" TV show that "modesty" was the "hottest" new thing happening right now in women's clothing, there's little doubt that the entire industry took notice and listened.

The impetus for Robertson's latest fashion bombshell was a segment on his show that examined the Secret Keeper Girl and Modest Is Hottest organizations, both of which concern themselves with promoting what they say is a biblically mandated wardrobe defined by its implied chastity.

Robertson gave a hearty endorsement to these organizations and their women. He then took it one step further by comforting any "girls" who worry that a modest attire will render them invisible to men. Contrary to what many people believe, the truth of the matter, Robertson said, was that men prefer women who wear clothes that leave much to the imagination.

"A laced stocking is more sensual than a bare leg," Robertson laughingly informed his audience. "It’s the illusion, that there is something behind there."

Robertson also encouraged the ladies out there to jump on the modesty trend quickly, before the bandwagon gets too full. "Once [modesty] becomes cool, then it will catch on," Robertson predicted. "Until it is cool, then the girls want to be cool, they want to be hip, they want to do what’s in." They sure do, Pat. They sure do.

You can watch Pat Robertson change the fashion game below, via Right Wing Watch:


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

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