2024 Little Black Dress

Context:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints promotes modesty and purity for both men and women, which influences their fashion choices and expectations. For example, it encourages Mormon women to keep their bodies sacred, pure, and holy. According to the Church’s teachings on modesty drawn from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, members should view their bodies as sacred temples made by God (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2025).

A number of Mormon influencers and fashion sites (missionary mall, Love, Olive Co.) highlight modesty through covered shoulders, longer hemlines, and clothing that accommodates the temple garment. Their modest dress practices combined with the LDS emphasis on traditional gender roles foster identity formation and the display of their faith through fashion. In her article on Mormon dress history, Katie Clark Blakesley explains that Mormon church leaders called for a “style of our own” to challenge dominant fashions and distinguish Mormon identity. She examines how Mormon women’s modest dress provides a sense of religious identity and moral values (Blakesley 2012).

At the same time, Mormon teachings and expectations about modesty are not static or monolithic. Recently, the LDS Church introduced a sleeveless version of the temple garment, which resembles a tank top (Salt Lake Tribune 2025). This is a significant turning point for women in the LDS church as they can now wear different types of tops and dresses that were not compatible with the previous temple garment design. This change will redefine the boundaries of how modesty is defined and displayed in the tradition. Social media is also challenging these standards.

The Creator:

In 2007, M. Russell Ballard, a high-ranking leader in the Church as part of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave a speech encouraging Mormons to share their faith and lives on the Internet (Luse 2024). Scholar Jana Reiss explains that “they got a very good response to that in 2007, with a lot of members using their own personal social media or internet presence to share the gospel” (Luse 2024). Mormon Mommy blogs appeared and with the advent of social media, Mormon influencers have emerged. Two reality TV shows, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (2020) and Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (2024), are now capitalizing on the public’s fascination with Mormon life. The visibility and popularity of these Mormon or Mormon-adjacent women highlights how they navigate definitions of and  expectations about modesty.

Within this popular social media and entertainment sphere, Mayci Neeley, a prominent thirty-year-old reshaping conceptions of Mormon womanhood, is increasingly visible. Neeley is a content creator, TikTok influencer, and cast member of the show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which airs on Hulu (see Figure 1). She is known for producing videos that focus on motherhood, fashion, humor, gossip, drama, and navigating Mormon life as a woman in today’s society. Before becoming famous, Neeley was active on social media as she posted about her everyday life. Her platform has grown as she utilizes her voice within and beyond the Mormon community. Mayci Neeley is a young LDS mother, influencer, and public figure that displays to outsiders how she negotiates LDS tradition and expectations of modesty. In multiple posts, one can see how Neeley does not always conform to the strict dress code followed by many Mormon women. However, she still outwardly expresses her dedication to Mormonism.

The Object:

In her TikTok videos, Neeley blends casual, mom-friendly comfort with trendy, feminine touches. She often wears jeans, leggings, simple tops, and soft-colored pieces that feel relatable and approachable. She also, at times, challenges traditional Mormon ideas about modesty by wearing revealing clothing. For example, in one specific video, Neeley wears a tight sleeveless black leather dress with a plunging V-neck to go on the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper, one of the most popular podcasts in the world (see Figure 2). The leather of the dress and its form-fitting cut along with its display of cleavage emphasize Neeley’s sexuality.

From one perspective, Neeley’s fashion choices might not immediately suggest that she identifies as Mormon at all. It is unlikely, for instance, that the Temple garments, common and sacred in Latter-day Saint tradition, are worn under this little black dress. In fact, many of her clothing pieces would be difficult to pair with standard Temple garments. This demonstrates how she does not conform to the typical practices associated with devout Mormon women.

Yet, Neeley is not willing to relinquish her identity as Mormon and she uses TikTok, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and other media venues to challenge thinking about traditional Mormon women’s dress. For example, in one interview, Neeley argued that “you can be Mormon and wear a tank top” (Andaloro 2024). She calls out the “outdated and incorrect stereotypes” regarding Mormons and adds that not all women “wear bonnets” because “modern Mormons…[are not] so cookie-cutter” (Andaloro 2024). Neeley emphasizes how Mormon women’s fashion has changed over time. By altering the fashion styles expected of Mormon women, Neeley works to individualize the clothing choices expected of Mormon women.

At a deeper level, her fashion choices suggest she is redefining what it means to be a “Mormon woman” in the contemporary social-media space. Neeley explained, “I’m proud to be Mormon, but I’m also proud to be myself.” This highlights how she defines her religious identity as both faithful and individualistic (Andaloro 2024). Neeley’s wardrobe choices demonstrate the ways she negotiates personal expression alongside religious affiliation. Her choices influence not only how she is perceived but also empower other young LDS women to express themselves through fashion. By reimagining what Mormon women can wear, Neeley highlights the flexibility within cultural and religious norms, showing that modesty (and Mormonism) is not so rigid or easily defined.

Morgan Salvino, Psychology Major with Religious Studies Minor, Wake Forest University (’26).

8 December 2025

Tags: Mayci Neeley, Mormonism, LDS, Modesty, Social Media, Reality TV, Influencer culture, TikTok, Temple garments, Mormon women’s fashion, MomTok, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

References:

Andalaro, Angela. 2024. “Mayci Neeley Breaks Down Misconceptions About ‘Modern Mormons.’” People, September 12, 2024. Available at: https://people.com/mayci-neeley-breaks-down-misconceptions-about-modern-mormons-8711595.

Blakesley, Katie Clark. 2012. “A Style of Our Own: Mormon Women and Modesty.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 42 (2): 95–118.

Luse, Brittany, host. 2024. “Mormon Moms: Unpacking a National Obsession.” It’s Been a Minute. NPR. November 12, 2024. Available at: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1212541651.

Salt Lake Tribune. 2025. “Sleeveless LDS Garments Are Available Now across the U.S.” The Salt Lake Tribune, October 28, 2025. https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/10/28/sleeveless-lds-garments-are/.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2025. “Modesty.” Topics and Questions. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/modesty?lang=eng.