Why do conservative women who preach modesty end up dressing in ways that draw the same attention they condemn?

NOTE: This is not my question. It is a question posted on our sister sub that it felt appropriate actual conservatives should have the chance to answer.

In some conservative religious circles—whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Muslim—there's a strong emphasis on modesty, with women often wearing layers like abayas, tznitu dresses, or hijabs, which they claim protect them from unwanted attention. While the intention behind this is often presented as moral superiority, a closer look reveals that the very outfits they choose to wear often highlight their curves and figures, just as much, if not more, than more revealing clothing would.

It seems like there’s a contradiction at play here. Conservative women often use modesty to shame others who dress in a way they deem attention-seeking, but at the same time, they’re wearing clothing that accentuates their bodies, drawing similar attention. There’s this focus on covering skin while still dressing in a way that makes their form obvious, which begs the question—are they really dressing for modesty, or is there a different purpose behind it?

It’s not about what you wear; it’s about the attention you seek. If someone dresses in a way that highlights their body, it’s still attention-seeking, regardless of how much skin is shown. So why is it that these women, who dress with similar intent but under the guise of modesty, look down on those who do the same with less fabric? Could it be that the real motivation isn’t modesty at all, but a desire to appear virtuous while still drawing attention to their bodies? ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ

Edit: I wanted to get others' thoughts on this topic and see how people perceive this dynamic. Do others think there’s a contradiction here, or is there another perspective that might be missing?