People have been scrutinizing celebrity jeans almost since Levi Strauss introduced rivet to pocket, but the recent controversy over a Duggar baby’s denim-clad derriere has arguably been one of the odder takes on the topic.

It all centers on Anna and Josh Duggar’s 4-month old daughter, Meredith, who appeared in an Instagram photo (seen above) in the arms of Dillon King, husband of Amy, a Duggar cousin. King captioned it: “Isn’t she so cute!!!!” In the photo, little Meredith is wearing a mint green cardigan, an elaborate elastic headband, tiny gold kicks — and baby blue jeans.

STORY: Jill Duggar’s Husband Under Fire for ‘Babysitting’ Their Son

It didn’t take long for some of the more invested Duggar fans to point out that female Duggars have traditionally shunned pants in favor of dresses, which they consider to be more modest and in accordance with their strict religious beliefs. So, while the Instagram image has more than 2,900 likes, plenty of the 50-plus commenters have called out the perceived inconsistency.

STORY: Jessa Duggar Seewald Shares First Baby Photo — but Hides His Name

“Wow she is wearing pants!!!! Stunning noooo skirt/dress,” wrote one. Noted another, “OMG they let the little girl wear pants.”

A full-on discussion ensued when one follower asked, “Aren’t pants more modest than skirts?”

The Duggar family. (Note the dresses.) (Photo: D. Dipasupil/Getty Images)

One answer: “No because pants show curves and show the outline of parts. If you are talking about if pants are more modest when you are working out, riding a motorcycle, etc. then yes, pants are more modest. If you are just doing day-to-day things, then skirts are more modest. That is just my opinion though. So many people have different opinions than me and that is just fine.”

Still more explanations: “I think they let the younger girls wear pants under the dresses until they are old enough to know the proper way to sit.” And, “The little ones are allowed to wear pants some. It’s getting cold!”

Story continues

One even wondered, “So I just don’t understand then why men don’t wear skirts?”

Some couldn’t figure out what all the fuss was about, with one asking, “Why are people making a big deal of a baby wearing pants? The other Duggar babies wore pants when they were younger. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if baby girls wear pants. As long as they wear skirts when they are like 6 then it’s okay in my book.”

An official Duggar family portrait shows the younger daughters in front, indeed wearing dresses, along with leggings or pants underneath.

A Duggar jean-gate story on SheKnows elicited more than 200 comments on the situation, including the following religious explanation for baby Meredith’s pants: “They can wear whatever they want as long as it follows Biblical principles, of which there are at least three: 1) Clothing must be modest; 2) One must dress like whatever sex one is; and 3) One should not spend a ridiculous amount of time, effort, and money on clothing. (Chapter and verse upon request.) These are eminently sensible principles that we should all follow. The Duggars have their own take on them, but they aren’t violating them. Why should anyone criticize them for this?”

Although Anna Duggar herself doesn’t seem to have commented yet, she’s probably out there shaking her head, taking heart from the follower who wrote: “Anna, she is adorable. Dress her how you like and ignore the butthats!”

(Top photo: Instagram)

Please follow @YahooParenting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Have an interesting story to share about your family? Email us at YParenting (at) Yahoo.com.