Daryl,

Pants/trousers were to be held up with suspenders--thus suspending their weight from the shoulders. I would have to say that your question seems irrelevant.

Tight bands or waists hinder the action of the heart and lungs and should be avoided. No part of the body should at any time be made uncomfortable by clothing that compresses any organ or restricts its freedom of movement. The clothing of all children should be loose enough to admit of the freest and fullest respiration, and so arranged that the shoulders will support its weight. {CG 426.1}

Another error in the dress of women of the present day is that of wearing their skirts so that the weight is sustained by the hips alone. This heavy weight, pressing upon the bowels, drags them downward, and causes weakness of the stomach and a feeling of lassitude, which leads the sufferer to incline forward. This tends further to cramp the lungs, and prevent their proper action. The blood becomes impure, the pores of the skin fail in their office, sallowness and disease result, and beauty and health are gone. Ladies may resort to cosmetics to restore the tint of the complexion, but they cannot thus bring back the glow of health. That which renders the skin dark and dingy, also clouds the spirits, and destroys cheerfulness and peace of mind. Every woman who values health should avoid hanging any weight upon the hips. The shoulders should sustain the weight of every article of clothing worn upon the person. This will go far to prevent the weaknesses which prevail among women to such an alarming extent. {CTBH 88.3}

Whoa...lots of questions there.

1) Mrs. White may not mention "suspenders," but she says very clearly that clothing should be "suspended" from the shoulders. Here's a quote that applies to all children, so we would presume this applies to boys as well.



It is needful to understand that in Ellen White's day, men wore suspenders. Women had other styles of dress subject to the fashion of the day. A quote in which she addresses women, but then seems to apply the principle broadly to "the person" follows.



I, personally, would not feel justified in saying that principle applied only to women. Certainly, Mrs. White does not say so. She does not specify men as being in a different class and therefore not needing to follow this same principle. But it seems that the men of her day did not generally fall into the same error as the women did.

2) Yes, women could use suspenders for a skirt. Many do. In my part of the world, some school uniforms have such. Google can show you pictures, if you dare (don't scroll down too far, as I found out, even with the "safe search" turned on).

3) Trousers with suspenders, or a "coveralls" style of clothing, or "bib overalls," or even a "jumpsuit" are all forms of clothing that could remain loose in the abdominal area for men. There's no reason to suggest that men put on women's clothing. God declares such to be abominable.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Whoa...lots of questions there.

1) Mrs. White may not mention "suspenders," but she says very clearly that clothing should be "suspended" from the shoulders. Here's a quote that applies to all children, so we would presume this applies to boys as well.

It is needful to understand that in Ellen White's day, men wore suspenders.

Women had other styles of dress subject to the fashion of the day. A quote in which she addresses women, but then seems to apply the principle broadly to "the person" follows.
...
I, personally, would not feel justified in saying that principle applied only to women. Certainly, Mrs. White does not say so.

She does not specify men as being in a different class and therefore not needing to follow this same principle.

3) Trousers with suspenders, or a "coveralls" style of clothing, or "bib overalls," or even a "jumpsuit" are all forms of clothing that could remain loose in the abdominal area for men. There's no reason to suggest that men put on women's clothing. God declares such to be abominable.

suspect closer reading would reveal an address to the girls. Girls with tight waste binders.

What about middle Eastern wear? Or even Eastern? Are they wrong? Robes? And priest's robes? Do you have a definition of men and women's clothing?

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)

If you believe God has given imprecise directions, argue with Him about it. I, on the other hand, choose to believe God is clear. It is obvious enough to most of us which clothes are masculine and which are feminine.

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)

Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, [as] of woollen and linen together. Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest [thyself]. (Deuteronomy 22:11-12)

We cannot, if we would, conceal the fact that women have feet and limbs that were made for use. But in regard to the exposure, this is on the other side of the question. We have traveled extensively the past twenty-five years, and have been eye-witnesses to many indecent exposures of the limbs. But the most common exposure is seen upon the streets in light snow, or wet and mud. Both hands are required to elevate the dress, that it may clear the wet and filth. It is a common thing to see the dress raised one-half of a yard, exposing an almost unclad ankle to the sight of gentlemen, but no one seems to blush at this immodest exposure. No one's sensitive modesty seems shocked for the reason that this is customary. It is fashion, and for this reason it is endured. No outcry of immodesty is heard, although it is so in the fullest sense. {HR, May 1, 1872 par. 18}

Our attention was next called to a little girl about ten years of age. It was one of the bitterest days of winter, and yet this little girl's limbs were naked for full half a yard, with the exception of flannel stockings. The upper portions of the body were abundantly clothed. She had a warm dress, a nice waterproof cloak and cape lined with flannel, a fur tippet over the cloak, and a muff for her hands. Her dress gave evidence of a tender, thoughtful mother's care, except the neglected limbs, that portion of the body of all the rest which needed the extra coverings because they were so far from the heart. This delicate, bright-eyed child was suffering with severe cold and cough. It was difficult for her to breathe because of catarrhal affection. {HR, January 1, 1874 par. 3}

kland,

Do you see it as my business to be the arbiter of what a woman should and should not wear? Why would you be asking me what they should wear?