Women’s Dress Code

Athletic Dress

Appropriate for P.E. classes, sports participation, sports practice, Fitness Center Gym, and Fitness Center Balcony use.
Acceptable
  • Athletic pants, wind pants, sweats, loose fitting slacks, or knee-length, loose-fitting shorts (knee-length is defined as coming to the top of the kneecap when standing).
  • Loose fitting shirts (must have sleeves unless it is part of a uniform).
Notes
  • Athletic Dress may not be worn to watch athletic events or during co-ed activities (loose fitting slacks and shirts may be worn though).
  • May not be worn in the Main Building, the Dining Hall Complex, or the Cedarholm Library at any time.
  • When not involved in activity, students are to follow Casual Dress guidelines.
  • Some activities (like sit ups and leg lifts) are not appropriate to do in shorts when the opposite sex is present.
  • Spandex may not be worn as outer garment.
  • Tank tops and sleeveless shirts are not permitted as outerwear.

Casual Dress With Pants

Appropriate for attending all on and off campus athletic events, off campus activities, and on campus Monday through Friday after 6:00 pm., all day Saturdays and Sundays. May not be worn in the Dining Hall.
Acceptable
  • Loose fitting slacks, colored jeans (not blue).
  • Windpants and sweatpants (not for the Main Campus Buildings – Library, Old Main, Dining Complex).
  • Split skirts, gauchos.
Notes
  • Wind pants and sweatpants are permitted for watching athletic events and for off-campus, but may not be worn in the main campus buildings (Library, Dining Complex, and Old Main) [SL 1/13].

Casual Dress

Appropriate for on- or off-campus activities and games, all of campus after 6:00 p.m. except while in the Dining Hall (Monday through Friday). All day Saturdays. Sundays on campus (but not in the Dining Hall).
Acceptable
  • Loose-fitting denim skirts, casual skirts, dresses, & jumpers. Loose-fitting casual shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies.
  • Casual shoes (tennis, canvas, sandals, slides, flip-flops, boots).
Notes
  • Blue jeans and shorts are not permitted.
  • All clothing should be in good condition, without holes or frays, and should not have noticeable fading that draws attention to inappropriate areas.
  • Loose fitting slacks, colored jeans, & split skirts may on occasion be approved by the school administration for certain periods of time due to unusual circumstances such as cold weather (wind-chill).
  • Wind pants and sweatpants are for Athletic Dress only.

Class Casual Dress

Required for all of campus from Monday through Friday, from 12:10 p.m. through 6:00 p.m. including eating in the Dining Hall, Sunday evening meal, evening classes, Final Exams [EC 5/11], and Summer School.
Acceptable
  • Loose-fitting casual skirts, jean skirts, tops, dresses, and jumpers.
  • Casual shoes (nylons are not required).
  • Jackets and zip-up jackets (logos must be smaller than your hand) [SL 8/09].
Notes
  • T-shirts with writing are not permitted.
  • Tennis shoes, Athletic sandals/slides, flip-flops, Crocks, and slippers are not permitted [SL 7/10].
  • Hats, do-rags, turbans, and headscarves are not permitted.
  • Sweatshirts and sweatshirt “hoodies” are not permitted [SL 8/09].
  • Ankle or Athletic socks may not be visible [SL 6/10].

Note: ROTC Cadets may wear fatigues to class when required.

Class Dress

Required for all of campus Monday through Friday until after 12:10 p.m. for morning classes, chapel, midweek church services, Sunday Breakfast and Noon meal and announced events.
Acceptable
  • Loose-fitting dresses, suits, skirts, vests, jumpers, blouses, and sweaters.
  • Plain t-shirts (without writing) under jumpers or sleeveless dresses.
  • Non-casual shoes.
  • Jackets and zip-up jackets (logos must be smaller than your hand) [SL 8/09].
Notes
  • Athletic cut polo shirts and t-shirts with writing are not permitted.
  • Jean jackets without frays or fading are permitted [SL 7/10].
  • Sweatshirts and sweatshirt “hoodies” are not permitted [SL 8/09].
  • Tennis shoes, canvas shoes, athletic sandals/slides, flip flops, extreme/faddish shoes (high platforms, army/work boots), and crocs are not permitted.
  • Denim clothing is not appropriate.
  • Blouses/shirts must be tucked in unless designed to be worn untucked. Untucked tops must be long enough to cover skin at all times—no matter what the activity.
  • Ankle or Athletic socks may not be visible [SL 6/10].

Note: ROTC Cadets may wear fatigues to class when required.

Church Dress

Required for Sunday services; college and Academy plays, concerts, recitals, dress rehearsals; special meetings, and when announced.
Acceptable
  • Dressy blouses, suits, jumpers, blouses, and skirts.
  • Dress shoes (nylons are not required).
  • Jackets and zip-up jackets (logos must be smaller than your hand) [SL 8/09].
Notes
  • Church dress is dressier than class dress and should reflect a desire to look one’s best out of respect for God’s Word and the church.
  • Denim is not appropriate.
  • Khaki skirts are not permitted.
  • Sweatshirts and sweatshirt “hoodies” are not permitted [SL 8/09].

Semiformal and Formal Dress

Required for banquets, artist series, and when announced.
Acceptable
  • Floor length dressy church dresses or suits.
  • Dresses of formal fabric.
  • Dress shoes and nylons.
Notes
  • Sleeveless garments are not appropriate.
  • Necklines lower than 3 fingers from the collarbone in front or 5 fingers from the base of the neck in back are not appropriate.

General Guidelines

Clothing

  • Ease is the difference in the measurement of a body and the measurement of a garment’s circumference. To ensure some clothing ease, dresses, skirts, pants, and shirts must have a minimum of one inch of fabric that can be pinched on both sides of the garment without stretching the fabric [SL 7/10].
  • Necklines may not be lower than 3 fingers from the collarbone in front and 5 fingers from the base of the neck in back.
  • Clothing of sheer or revealing material may be worn only when the garment underneath conforms to normal dress guidelines.
  • Sleeveless garments are not permitted for any level of dress (unless it is part of an athletic uniform).
    • Sleeves must have material that is connected to all parts of the arm hole opening.
    • Cap sleeves must be at least 3 fingers from the shoulder edge.
  • All clothing and T-shirt logos must be in good taste.
  • Hoodies are defined as pullover sweatshirts with a hood [SL 8/09].
  • All clothing should be in good condition, without holes or frays, and should not have noticeable fading that draws attention to inappropriate areas of the body.
  • Clothing with wording, logos, or pictures that are inappropriately placed to draw attention to specific areas of the body is not permitted.
  • Only the Student Health Center nurse or a dean can approve level of dress changes due to physical injury.

Skirts/Dresses

  • Hemlines, kick pleats, and slits, may not be shorter than the bottom of the knee.
  • Skirts must fit at the natural waist—not below.
  • Skirts should be in good condition, should be without holes or frays, and should not have noticeable fading that draws inappropriate attention to certain areas of the body.
  • Leggings are not to be worn with dresses [SL 7/10].

Pants/Split Skirts/Gauchos

  • Students must get slacks, gauchos, or split skirts approved by the Residence Supervisor prior to any activity, including work.
  • Loose-fitting slacks (not blue jeans or shorts) may be worn to work if it is for part of a uniform or requested by an employer.
  • Waistlines must fit at the natural waist—not below.
  • Split skirts and gauchos may be no shorter than the bottom of the knee. Split skirts and gauchos may be worn any time and place that slacks have been deemed appropriate.
  • Blue jeans may not be worn for any activity without a dean’s permission.

Shirts/Tops

  • Blouses/shirts must be tucked in unless designed to be worn untucked.
  • Untucked blouses and tops must fall at least 4 inches below the top of the skirt or slacks. Tops must always be long enough to cover skin at all times—no matter what the activity.

Hair, Makeup, and Jewelry

  • Hair should be cut in a feminine style and should be a natural color.
  • Tattoos, body piercing, and excessive (or unnatural) makeup and jewelry are not permitted at any time.
  • If a student gets a tattoo or body piercing prior to coming to Maranatha, she will be required to cover the tattoo if it is visible and to remove the body piercing, visible or not.
  • A maximum of three earrings may be worn in each ear: 2 earrings in each lobe and one cartilage piercing in each ear. [SL 1/13].

Nylons, Socks, and Shoes

  • Nylons must be worn for semi-formal, and formal dress.
  • If knee-highs are worn, tops are not to be visible when sitting or walking.
  • Toeless nylons are not permitted.
  • Ankle and athletic socks may not be visible for class casual or class dress [SL 7/10].

Swim Wear

  • When swimming has been approved, swim wear must be a modest one piece suit [SL 7/10].
NOTE: Due to the blatant endorsement of nudity, promiscuity, and immoral life style of Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister Co.—as evidenced by their catalog and general advertising—the College deems it necessary and appropriate to ban any clothing that bears their name, trademarks, or other visible evidence of association with Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister Co.