Updated from August 2006.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:5, New American Standard Bible
Recently I ran across a blog discussion of Biblical modesty where the question of the appropriateness of dressing in bright colors was raised. (After pondering the topic overnight, I am unable to find the exact post to link to. I think it was somewhere over here.)
The concept of Biblical modesty as prescribed in 1 Timothy 2:9 and elsewhere is to be orderly and not draw undue attention to oneself.
How does this relate to the colors one chooses to wear?
- Color is one of the most notable aspects of any outfit. Any outfit which is markedly different from what people in the culture around us are accustomed to seeing is going to draw attention to itself.
- The face should be the focal point of every outfit. Color is a tool to accomplish that purpose.
- Conversely, color which doesn’t support your natural coloring, or worse – clashes with it, draws unwelcome attention to itself. (People muttering to themselves or their neighbor, “she’d sure be pretty if she’d wear better colors”.)
- Above all, color selection should support your personality and make you feel like yourself.
Some of my previous posts on finding and combining your personal colors:
Find Your Colors
Combining Colors
Combining Cool and Warm Colors
Posts about my own use of color:
Previous posts on color theory:
Characteristics of a Color
My Mental Color Wheel
More Fashion Color Resources available at The Runway Scoop.
Rebecca,
Thank you so much for the mention.
I’m curious as to what you mean about “the appropriateness of dressing in bright colors”. I believe that God created all the colors for us to use. In some cultures or religions, they only allow certain colors to be worn which I don’t quite understand…
I agree with you, Maria, and I actually think the other people did, too.
The question that was posed concerned whether wearing bright colors would be immodest, because they are inherently more eye-catching. The conclusion was no, if your personal coloring supports bright colors.
And, of course, there are ways to work most colors into any person’s color scheme. Some are just more work.
Rebecca,
You are a woman after my own heart.
xo
Jeepers
Well, considering I’m about to make an orange polka dotted dress… It’s a good thing bright, clear orange isn’t a sin.
I’m sure the dress is going to be “loud,” but making it up into a basic sheath should keep it from being to “out there” especially if I pair it with a green sweater… lol 😉 hahahahaha
There are no sins as far as colour is concerned!! The colours of the world are for everyone and anyone to enjoy. Different cultures have various expectations about colour/age/etc., but I feel it is ultimately each person’s choice to wear whatever colours they want.
I have a very basic wardrobe of colours: pinks of all shades, greys in all shades, and white — that’s about it. Some patterned fabrics might blend in a bit of lavender, orange, yellow etc. — but everything is predominately pink, white, and grey — and I love it! It’s my “signature” look.
My shoes are also basic: tans, browns, pinks, black, grey, and I think a few lavender – I buy my shoes overseas so I have a somewhat Imelda-ish collection, and work well w/ my clothes.
As far as not being too eye-catching, a person can be eye-catching w/ nice posture, a nice smile and a confident bearing, even if what they are wearing is forgettable and not noticed — the person matters more than the clothes.
Don’t you think that as nature is beautiful, and we are children of nature that we should make ourselves appear as beautiful.
All colours are beautiful, the ones that harmonise with our colouring make us more beautiful, and that makes the world a more beautiful place!
Janel – orange polka dots! It doesn’t get any more fun than that! 😉
Ellem – Pink, white, and grey – I love it! I’m so glad we are seeing more grays available too. “The person matters more than the clothes”. Nothing truer.
Imogen – I quite agree. Harmony is in keeping with the character of the Creator. That said, I fear my own wardrobe may be getting a little heavy in black. But at least I’m “in the black”. ha ha (Sadly, the Mielke household runs to bad puns.) 🙂