Can Wearing a Certain Brand of Clothing Be Immodest?
Can what you wear possibly be immodest, or otherwise (morally) inadvisable, simply because of the brand?
While at first blush the question may seem ridiculous, allow me to ask, “Have you ever actually been in an Abercrombie & Fitch store?” It’s been a long time since I have, but afterwards my brain needed washing! Which makes me wonder, although I have never actually been in a Hollister store, why La Kettra Bennett wanted to work there anyway. (Bennett is the former Hollister employee suing the company for firing her for refusing to wear trousers or an above-the-knee skirt.)
Biblically speaking, I believe this issue is governed by the principles outlined in Romans 14. In other words, if there is nothing immodest about the garment, we are certainly free to wear it, HOWEVER … if it would cause offense of conscience in another, we are advised to choose something else. And don’t we have an abundance of choices?
The problem, in my view, is often that we are naive to the connections in the mind of other people. And naivete isn’t always bad. If you’ve never been in an A&F store, an A&F t-shirt isn’t going to pull up images of half-dressed young men for you. (Or Victoria’s Secret … women.)
Are there things you would never wear, out of sensitivity to the conscience of another? (For me, the answer is “yes. Fishnet stockings”.) Things you wouldn’t allow your child to wear?
- Brands: SouthPole, Hollister, University of Pink?
- Looks: gangsta, goth, preppy, biker?
- Investment: luxury or welfare?
- Embellishments: piercings, tattoos, unnatural hair coloring?
Related Posts:
Polly Solves the Shoe Dilemma
What’s a girl to wear on her feet when there’s work to be done, and the day is punctuated by errands and public appearances?
Isn’t that the question? My life, as with most “at-home moms”, is an awkward mixture of physical labor and professional interactions. Polly addresses the temptation to rely on sneakers and presents a better alternative in her post Be True to Yourself.
First, consider: does it matter whether you are wearing jeans, trousers, or skirt? I don’t think so. A casual skirt worn in a casual setting demands a casual shoe, and jeans can be dressed up or dressed down. So what we’re really looking for is a shoe which is fully functional (it doesn’t limit what you can do) and commands respect (which in many settings relates to stylishness).
Polly recommends Me Too ballet flats, which she found at Marshalls and I have seen around here at TJMaxx (unfortunately they didn’t have my size in the brown patent leather last time I was there). Here are some of the styles currently available from Zappos.com Women’s Shoes (click on picture for more info or to buy):
These are a great everyday option for casual shoes, especially in a climate where socks aren’t needed. (Question for you: do you think I can comfortably go straight from sockless flats to flat boots? I’m going to give it a try this year and I’ll let you know.)Finally, under what circumstances would you consider these styles appropriate for wearing to work?
Related Posts:
Splendid Weekend Reads September 27 & 28
From the Splendicity community, comes this week best in beauty, fashion and shopping.
SHOPPING
NY Spender suggests that “if you buy only one pair of shoes this fall, buy one with stacked heels.“
Her Accessories is celebrating the cooler weather with a roundup of her favorite fall jackets.
Gleaming Things loves Givenchy’s look of layered chains, but they just aren’t in the budget right now - these picks are though!
Shopalicious finds a very stylish quilted handbag — with an eco-friendly twist! (Plus a coupon for 10% off!)
Chic by Nature has a great wrap top that you can wear out and then to bed.
There’s some serious inspiration afloat over at All That & a with more inspiration-themed jewelry.
FASHION
Sasha of Style Manila creates a boho-look on an 11-year old named Sylvie.
Tops 2 Bottoms shares an style idea, Layered, Belted, and Plaid for her weekly Work Wear Monday series.
Viva Woman shows you how corsages can make your attire more feminine and romantic.
Style…a work in progress finds inspiration in a little bear called Paddington
Petite Fashionista shows you how to update your Fall wardrobe with pieces that will keep you; comfy, cozy and chic!
The Space Between My Peers categorizes the looks at the bottom of the formality scale into Three Levels of Leisure.
BEAUTY
Beauty Bento Box features the elegantly packaged, eyeliner-slash-eyeshadow Kohl cosmetic, Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner.
Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to get an easy, elegant smoky eye with the Smoky Eye Quad from Chanel.
My Women Stuff discusses whetherSilicone is good or bad for the skin.
Krizia from Beauty Match declares: We tried Pro-V Restoratives and said bye-bye FRIZZ!.
Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at three bright handbags that look more expensive than they are”.
Related Posts:
Mom: Before and After Haircut
aka “Shirley Jones Fashion Lab”
Mom has graciously allowed me to show you her before and after haircut photos. Also pictured, the photo she forgot to take with her. 
Which reminds me of a concept I had thought of previously:
If you resemble someone beautiful, famous, and glamorous (like Shirley Jones), why not piggy-back off their stylist’s expertise and borrow their hairstyle?
(Perhaps not wanting to be associated with the character of the person you resemble?)
Now, the fashion lab portion of this post:
Based on these photos, do you have any “what color to wear” advice for the subject?
And just for fun: who would play you in the movie of your life? He hee. I have no idea what actress I resemble, but I’m fairly certain any movie of my life would have Mike Myers involved at some level. Thankfully, I live a boring life. 
Related Posts:
Fall Wardrobe: Three Levels of Leisure
Scenario:
It’s a wintery Saturday. Somehow you’ve been able to arrange child care for the day to attend a watercolor workshop, Painting the Landscape, held in an historic mansion surrounded by pine forest.
Yikes! What to wear?
Three levels of leisure-wear:
- Active Leisure = sport-specific athletic clothing (track or yoga pants, runners, ski-gear, etc).
- Outdoor Leisure = clothing inspired by outdoorsy sports (i.e. flannel and polar fleece).
- Everyday Leisure = sportswear separates worn informally (jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers, no jacket).
Honestly, although necessarily many people spend the majority of life in the dressier - and more fun - clothing categories, IMHO, a vast number of offenses occur in the leisure categories. Offenses like: wearing clothes with big holes in them - EVER, wearing “slob casual” when one of the above classifications is called for, or wearing one of the above instead of professional clothing. Do I harp on this topic too much?
(The above category breakdown was developed by me, inspired by Sherry Maysonave’s Six Levels of Casual and my own ideas on lifestyle segmentation.)
Back to our scenario. What would you wear to such an activity?
Related Posts:
Slow Down and Read
Believe it or not, I took off for Seattle in such a big hurry that I didn’t even grab a book. Not even my Bible. (That would be even more embarrassing if it weren’t for the fact that a skinny little New Testament is a permanent resident of my purse.) I did take a little stack of bills, thereby averting the disaster that late fees can pile on top of emergencies like these. And I took my ipod, but forgot about it most of the time.
I found the quiet (in my head) rather therapeutic.
However, if I had thought of it, I would definitely have taken Brenda Kinsel’s Fashion Makeover: 30 Days to Diva Style!
In the meantime, blog reading (I’m trying to get caught up on my blog-reading, but if I missed your fall wardrobe post, please send me the link):
- Damselfly’s What I’d Wear Wednesday Fall post. Note from me: magenta - yes!
- Is This Modest? has introduced Quick Reviews, where you can comment on the modesty of specific outfits.
And Yikes! Has the weather turned suddenly in your neck of the woods? It’s been wool all week for me.
Related Posts:
Lessons from Our Hospital Stay
As the days spent praying and waiting ran together, and priorities shifted into focus, a few concepts worth sharing emerged:
- Staying in the hospital is not what I thought. Not at all. If you want your loved one to be cared for with any urgency at all, someone had better be there to keep an eye on things. I left the room for 20 minutes, to visit the cash machine after my daughter left; when my son went for the call button - remember, he can’t turn his head at all - it slipped off the bed AND he knocked a water over! Thankfully, he could reach his cell phone and call me, since there was no way for him to reach a nurse. I could give you lots more reasons and examples of why it’s best to be there, but what have your experiences been?
- Hospital rooms are cold. Note to self: if you ever have to spend time hanging out in a hospital room, no matter what time of year it is, take a cashmere sweater, even if it’s a pullover. Temperature in the room averaged 66 or 67 degrees. Wearing jeans, cotton/silk/cashmere blend t-shirt, and a cotton zip-up sweatshirt, I was still cold. Additional note to self: you wanted another cashmere cardigan for your trip to Italy, just spend the money and get it!
Other than that, I am happy with alot of my fall wardrobe. I didn’t take much time to pack; it was pretty much: jeans, shorts, t-shirt, t-shirt, t-shirt. And sweatshirt. More on fall wardrobe to come though, as I see that was supposed to be this week’s comeback topic. Drop me a line if you are doing a fall wardrobe post this week.
Oh, and having hair that I could just wash and wear was helpful too.
Related Posts:
An Update for My Praying Friends
… and all the rest of you who care.
Thank you so much for all the well wishes! You have truly been an encouragement! I am back home now, still feeling under the weather myself, and attempting to get caught up as time allows.
My son:
- is also home from the hospital. Thankfully, he is able to be at his dad’s home, which is a couple of hours closer to the hospital and where his step-mom is a registered nurse. She is taking the rest of the week off work to care for him.
- has his neck immobilized with a halo brace, which is to be worn for three months. After removal, his neck muscles will not be accustomed to supporting his head, so further rehabilation will be needed. Here’s one guy’s comments on his own time spent in the halo.
- doesn’t appear to have any other neurological issues or injuries, other than a little numbness in some of his fingers. Most likely that will go away.
- is likely in for a very rough week, both physically and emotionally: adjusting to being in the halo and being at home, trying not to overdo it, managing the pain, and so on.
We are so thankful that he is still with us, and he has a good chance for a complete recovery. In the interest of saving myself some emailing, I will try to post updates here. Feel free to ask questions too.
Hopefully, I’ll be back with some fashion and makeover posts before long. But one thing has changed: I am not going to take the time to go back in for an adjustment to my hair cut. No time! I’ll just wait until my next scheduled appointment, take the picture with me, and say, “like this, but off the collar”.
Related Posts:
Beth’s New Hair
Beth before, as seen in this previous post.
And, looking gorgeous and sensational, as well as younger, slimmer, and happier, here is her after:
Isn’t this just the kind of makeover we’re all dreaming of? Congratulations!
Sadly, I am not there.
Related Posts:
On a Personal Note …
Blogging will be taking a back seat to real life for the next day or two, maybe longer. Unfortunately I was already behind. If you have been waiting for some action or answer from me, I beg your patience and request that you wait until the end of this week to contact me again.
Here’s the story: my adventurous son, age 25, in attempting a bicycle maneuver, flipped over forward and landed on his neck, breaking a vertebra. Flown from where he lives, a couple of hours from here, he is in the hospital on other side of the state. He is able to move arms, legs … everything but his head, for that we are profoundly thankful. So far, no surgery. Anyway, my nurse friends have assured me it is safe for me to visit, even though I am under the effect of the back-to-school virus. I will head over tomorrow.
Prayer appreciated.
Related Posts:
