When a woman or girl dresses inadequately, uncovering parts of her body that should be covered, or when she overdresses and thereby causes men to be attracted to look at her, she transgresses a number of prohibitions:

1. Firstly, inadequate dress frequently involves the Torah prohibition of ובחוקותיהם לא תלכו – not to dress in a way typical of the other nations. ¹ This is transgressed when a person wears a type of garment that is worn by the secular society because it suits their inclination for immodesty and similar ill-founded considerations.
2. Secondly, in nearly all cases she contravenes the prohibition of ולפני עור לא תתן מכשול – not to cause others to stumble and do a sin. ² In this case, by dressing in an inappropriate manner, she causes men to gaze at her and transgress the Torah prohibition of ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם - “Do not allow your heart or eyes to stray and entice you.” ³
3. Thirdly, by exposing areas that should be covered, the woman or girl transgresses the obligation והיה מחניך קדוש – “Your environment shall be holy” ⁴. This verse has a number of meanings. One of them is that it is prohibited for a female to reveal parts of her body as this erodes the sanctity of the society. ⁵
4. Fourthly, by exposing areas that should be covered she transgresses the prohibition of לא תחמוד – “Do not desire.” ⁶ According to the rules of Torah interpretations this verse can also be read as לא תחמיד – “Do not make others desire.” ⁷ When a woman exposes her limbs she arouses the desire of those who see her.
5. Fifthly, if a married woman goes out in public with her hair uncovered she transgresses a Torah prohibition. This is derived from the verse, ופרע את ראש האשה – “the hair of the woman (sotah) shall be uncovered” in Beis Din ⁸ which implies that until this point her hair had to be covered because she was a married woman. ⁹ From the same chapter we can also learn that to reveal the chest area is a Torah prohibition. This is because our Sages ¹⁰ derive from a verse that not only the hair but also the chest area of the sotah is uncovered in Beis Din - implying that until this point it had to be covered. To cover these areas is therefore considered דת משה -”a scriptural obligation.”