Modesty Revisited
I know that modesty in clothing has been the topic of several of my blog entries, but let's revisit the issue (at least) one more time.
Some females hear the word "modest" and immediately picture moo
-moos. However, it is possible to dress modestly AND attractively at the same time!I don't spend a lot of time in malls or at clothing stores mostly because I'm far too cheap to pay full price for clothes. However, when I hear a huge sale is going on, I take a trip to the Summit here in Louisville. The summer clearance sales were going on a few weeks ago (and might still be going on now), so I went into the usuals: Old Navy, Gap, Petite Sophisticate, Limited (Too).
I am VERY e
xcited to see that the modest layered look is becoming quite the trend. Old Navy especially impressed me. Their mannequins were wearing low-cut shirts with higher tank-tops underneath.
Also, tie-neck tops are in-style:
Longer skirts have been "in" for awhile now and they've
made the cut for this fall as well.Shrugs are quickly becoming a hot sell. Although I don't own one, their look is growing on me. Next time I have a bit of extra cash, I think I'll invest in a new shrug. Shrugs are great
because you can wear them over tube-tops or spaghetti-strap tanks and you will look completely modest.Someone asked if I knew of any places that sell modest clothes. Most stores now carry styles that are modest, stylish, and affordable. I highly recommend Old Navy. I don't own a lot of clothes from Old Navy because most of their stuff seems to be made for taller people, but they carry a lot of modest (and cute) things.
I'm not suggesting that Christian women should only care about the current trends, but I do encourage modest dress that doesn't look frumpy. Let's embrace the fact that modest fashion is in style right now. Let's support the modest styles. Companies will see that their modest clothes are out-selling their skimpy clothes and hopefully begin to design more and more shirts, shorts, and skirts that cover more skin.
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I just watched some of "The Dukes of Hazzard" trailers and am appalled at what I saw. I know that a lot of Christian guys want to/have seen this movie.
If you have boycotted the Jessica Simpon-types of our day, please speak up! Is there anyone out there who agrees?
posted by Nikki Leigh Daniel @ 8/11/2005 02:32:00 PM
17 comments
17 Comments:
Hey Nikki,
I would like to say 'Thank you' for your modesty crusade. I would also like to say 'Thank you' to all of my sisters in Christ out there who are concerned enough about both their brothers in Christ and pleasing ourr God (yes, you will be judged even for the clothes that you wear, so be aware).
And Nikki, I'm one of those guys who is boycotting the Dukes movie for the reasons you've mentioned. It's hard enough to be a Christian guy in this world--I don't have to make it more difficult by watching smutty movies.
I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a girl.
For what is man's lot from God above,
his heritage from the Almighty on high?
Is it not ruin for the wicked,
disaster for those who do wrong?
Does he not see my ways
and count my every step?
"If I have walked in falsehood
or my foot has hurried after deceit--
let God weigh me in honest scales
and he will know that I am blameless (Job 31:1-6).
Grace and Peace, Sister.
And I will say, your and Brittany's comments have made me look more closely at how I dress, too. Thanks for the encouragement.
For what its worth, I agree with you.
Nikki, you and I talked about this tonight, but when I first saw Jessica Simpson's new music video, I immediately thought, "Dang, she looks good! I bet her husband is SO excited to be married to her right now!" But then I got to thinking... she isn't dancing around in a bikini in front of her husband, she's dancing around in a bikini in front of every man and boy in the Western world! How sad.
i find watching jessica parading in, not only a bikini, but skimpy shorts to be extremely contrived and degrading. i don't even find it sexy. liberation of women is one thing, but we've become free to demean, degrade, and limit ourselves -- and guys are just lapping it up, some of them.
A review described it like this:
The worst part of the big screen version of "The Dukes of Hazzard," however, has to be the abusive way it presented women. At least six scenes showed women dressed only in underwear or covered with a towel. The movie seemed to say that the only good purpose for women was to be used as sexual objects. I didn’t see one instance where a woman was portrayed as a positive role model. [..] In the movie version, the only reason for Daisy to have a part is to show skin and arouse men to get her way. When Bo and Luke started looking into Boss Hogg’s activities, she said, "You know what's gonna happen. They're gonna get caught and get thrown in jail. Then I'm gonna have to shake my a** at somebody to get them out." Then Uncle Jesse replies, "That's why we love ya, honey."
the body's beautiful, but there are ways to adorn it with beauty and still have integrity.
Have to say that the "Dukes" is definitely a film I'm skipping. Partially for its apparent crudeness, but probably more to the fact that I fear a substantial loss of brain cells should i have sit through two hours of complete drivel.
I'd say don't get too frustrated over the modesty thing. The visual thing for guys most certainly involves both parties. All you can do is your part. Should a guy willfully seek some visual stimulation, that remains on his conscious and he will in the end up hashing out his baggage with God.
Probably good to note that seeing a woman in a bikini doesn't necessarily/always mean sexual thoughts for guys, much the same way that an attractive fellow with his shirt off doesn't always produce sexual thoughts for girls. Each gender has their own peculiarities one can't certainly pin down with some kind of formula for "lustful though prevention." But you certainly can't go wrong erring on the side of caution, not to mention how much more respectable a tastefully modest attire can be.
As far as the "Dukes" go however . . . you know the whole Simpson bikini thing is just to ensure ticket sales. Just one more pile of crap from the film industry who seems to have lost their ability to put forth decently written scripts, while using actual talent to characterize a well crafted film. Who was it who once said "You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the general populace"? Seems Hollywood knows this all to well with the money they make on lame summer blockbuster after lame summer blockbuster.
Schnazzy special effects + a few big names + gratuitous skin = $$$$$$
When will we learn? *sigh*
cheers.
I am very disappointed. As a huge fan of the original, I had been looking forward to this movie coming out for a couple of years when the rumors about it first started flying. However Jessica Simpson has completely ruined my opportunity to go see the General Lee in action again. But I guess it is not her fault specifically because if she wouldn’t have taken the part some other trashy girl would have. So I guess the writers, directors, whoever else had a part in decision making ruined one of my favorite childhood TV shows. BUMMER.
I read in last week's People magazine that a Christian group (it didn't say which) spoke up about Simpson's "These Boots are Made for Walking Video" and how scantly clad she was. Her response was, "That's not very Christian-like, that's very judgmental...Jessica Simpson would never dress like that, I was playing a part."
I think it's really funny, b/c I thought I heard Britney Spears say something similar once...
I only have time to say that I am also appalled.
And I have an interesting take on this in my own blog.
But suffice it to say here that it's good to be around people who care about modesty.
I was at the mall today and I have to say that I am also really excited to see the layered look coming in. Everywhere had modest clothes displayed. Well, all except the ever loathsome A&F. Hopefully fall will cause girls to be more clothed.
And the Jessica S. video is CRAZY!!! I just don't understand how these are so acceptable!!
Instead of going to see the Dukes of Hazard, you should go see March of the Penguins. Its totally modest!
It's articles like this that give moo-moos a bad name. Personally, I would go for a good Christian girl who also rocked a nice red or blue moo-moo...but maybe that's just me...ok, I can't even type that with a straight face.
Seriously though, thanks to you ladies who recognize that less is most definitely more.
Do you think we try to tackle this issue without tackling the heart of the issue? Do you think girls dress provocatively just to make a man look at them lustfully? Or do you think most girls do it because their worth is somehow tied up in the attention or feedback they receive by dressing this way. Maybe it's attention from men. Maybe it's attention from their parents. Maybe it's attnetion from their friends. Maybe it's attention from whoever is willing to give it. I wonder if it all comes back to understanding our true worth in Christ and the amazing beauty He brings forth in us that can not even be hidden by a mumu.
Bethy31-
I appreciate your comment and I agree with you. Please refer to previous posts concerning modesty. "Put Some Clothes On" is the first post. "The Boldness of an Anonymous Commenter" is the second.
Personally, I think modesty is cool. I like it in young ladies ;), likewise I think to spend alot of time on it, or say that your version of modesty is "right" or "biblical" is a mistake.
I know of some missions in Africa, where the women were topless, and the prostitutes were clothed to bring attention to themselves. The "Christian" women refused to dress like "whores" by going topless.
Likewise the above mentioned clothes would be considered NOT modest just 50-100 yrs.
The bottom line is, its judging on looks, If you are sincerely following God, it will show. Likewise if you need attention or your heart is in the wrong, it will show. Likewise it equally as wrong to parade around saying how great and modest we are because we do this or wear that.
And yet another reason, why in my opinion the western church has its focus and has its eyes in the wrong place. We are concerning with ourselves with things that don’t matter, and missing the greater issues at hand. We are measuring by silly standards. Are people in the Sudan or China worried about Old Navy and Jessica Simpson?
I’m not suggesting the all evil relativism or a skin show for all guys. But where is our energy going? To track down teeny boppers and Hollywood skin? Vote with your feet with the movies. Seek God, not fashion.
Just some questions, no offense to anyone. Let’s just fight the important stuff.
I read a news story back before the movie came out that one of the actors from the sitcom was encouraging "Dukes" fans to avoid the movie because its crudeness was out of line.
I also didn't see the movie, but the show never really caught on with me and the movie didn't sound very interesting. I saw "Joe Dirt" more than enough.
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