Can a Muslim lady dress for functions in such a way that her 1) Body shape, 2) hands from the shoulders, (3 the neck and (4 the top most part of her breast are all exposed, with an excuse that there will be no men around? Please advise, with supporting Hadeeth, if possible.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The majority of scholars consider the Awrah (those parts of the body which must be covered) of a woman in front of a Muslim woman like the Awrah of a man in front of a man, i.e. from the navel to the knee. So it is permissible for her to reveal other than what is between the navel to the knee because of their homogeneity, and as generally there is no desire towards each other. This is the principle. But it is better for a Muslim woman to dress respectfully even among other women in order to be an example for them in this regard. As regards being dressed as it is mentioned in the question, then there is an imitation in this of the dissolute women, and a Muslim woman should not treat their path.

Allaah knows best.