A Field for Daisy: Dressing Modestly: Where do we draw the line?

A Field for Daisy: Dressing Modestly: Where do we draw the line?: Today I read two different posts about dressing modestly; one writer explained why she chose not to wear leggings or Yoga pants anymore , w...

Dressing Modestly: Where do we draw the line?

Today I read two different posts about dressing modestly; one writer explained why she chose not to wear leggings or Yoga pants anymore, which spawned this reaction that ridiculed the notion. Here's what I have to say -

Before picking your clothes, question what you hope to accomplish with your clothes.
Do you want to look professional? You'd choose clothes accordingly, like a pant suit. Or a skirt and blouse. Do you want to feel comfortable? You might choose jeans and a t-shirt. Or leggings. Or Yoga pants. Want to exercise? You might wear Yoga pants. Or biker shorts.  Do you want to look attractive to others? Some women might wear Yoga pants, too. Or a deep V-neck blouse. Or "Juicy" pants.

Lately, Yoga pants has drawn the most attention in public debate. But Yoga pants, like anything in this world, can be abused. Does that make all Yoga-pant wearers evil women who are trying to steal attention away from your man? Nope. And some of you reading this will proudly admit that you are indeed trying to appear attractive, whether it be with Yoga pants, the low-cut dress, or what have you. I'll address that later. 

What about those of you ladies who want to be modest but are uncertain about Yoga pants or leggings? For those of you who wish to appear modest, then start by questioning your motives. Are you wearing the pants for exercise or comfort? Then sheesh, by all means, do so. If you feel uncomfortable with unwanted attention, though, you will figure out what you need to do to adjust. God knows your heart.

You cannot control other people's reactions.

For those of you who are worried about unwittingly causing others to sin due to your style of dress, please remember that you cannot completely control what others think of you or your style of dress. Sometimes, you might be able to accurately predict how they will react, but that is not always the case. I imagine that several women who wear Yoga pants are wearing them out of comfort or necessity (exercise, for instance); they were probably shocked when they realized some people claimed they were being inappropriate. If you are such a woman and you find yourself worried that you might cause someone else to sin because those pants might be too tight, then please remember - you are not responsible for that. 

Would you wear a bag over your head in order to save some passing stranger from having sinful thoughts about your good looks? No, that's just silly. You cannot control another person's thoughts. Leave that to the other people.

There are more important things to worry about in the world.

Our time on Earth is precious and limited, as highlighted in several Bibl.e verses. I think that our time could be better spent on more important matters, such as uplifting the weak and helping others. Children are starving, first-time mothers are struggling, military families are suffering. These, among many, many other issues, would be a loving and useful investment of our time and attention.

You cannot control what other people do.

To those of you who are concerned with what others wear - We cannot dictate someone's sense of style, even if we feel that person is inappropriate. It is up to the Holy Spirit to convict people should God see fit, especially if they are indeed sinning.

Yes, we Christians are called to correct our brothers and sisters out of love. Does that necessarily mean you have to be the fashion police? No. But if you feel compelled to do so, at least have a conversation with the woman in question and find out her motives before you condemn her. That is if she does not shy away from the conversation; it could be fairly awkward. And quite frankly, it might not be your business either, unless your conversational partner allows you to make it so.

IMO, your time is better spent being the example - model how you think others should dress. Treat them kindly (i.e. don't nag people over trivial matters), and they will respect you. With respect people might emulate you; young ladies might wish to dress like you. On the other hand, if you are someone who critiques freely and unsolicited, then you will be avoided, as will your wardrobe choices.

Final thought -

Ever notice how there are a disproportionate number of clothing attacks geared toward women? Well, guess what - some men purposefully dress to impress the ladies. Here's a nice parody to even the playing field a bit. ;)

Thank you for reading.

I'm Really Bad at Blogging

In case you haven't noticed, I have not been keeping up with this blog. I blame my hectic life and my writer's block - I wasn't quite sure what my blog would be about. Well, now I have more of an idea!

I'm just going to start blogging about life. My goal is to blog about once a week, including linking to my articles on The Educator's Room. Since part of that life includes teaching, though, I'll have to be very careful about what I post there in order to protect others' privacy.

In the meantime, here's a beautiful photo of my family. I love them dearly. :)