Dress for Success

Ok girls we are going to talk clothes. I love clothes. I don’t know many women who don’t. How many times have you stood in front of your closet and said, “I have nothing to wear for …” If you are like me you quickly look at your bank account and head to the mall for that perfect outfit or pair of shoes. Hey, it’s what we do! Of course we want to feel and look pretty. We like walking in a room and having someone pay us a wonderful compliment on how we look. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Girls we should take pride in our appearance.

By now you are probably wondering where I am going with all of this. Here it is. We can dress trendy and fashionable without baring it all. There I said it … Baring it all. Quite frankly I am seeing a little too much cleavage and at times bare behinds in very public places these days. Not just in the fashion magazines but in the classroom, workplace, public venues and yes even the church. I am being told by other women that I am not the only one who is slightly concerned about this.

I am not going to tell anyone what to wear and I am quite sure that most of you reading this dress very fashionable without being a distraction in the room. However, maybe all of us should give this just a little thought for today whether it be in regard to looking at ourselves in the mirror, instructing our daughters or maybe having to lovingly without humiliating her approach a dear friend. Here are some questions we can ask before walking out the door …Who am I seeking the compliment from? Is what I am wearing going to cause me to conduct myself in a manner unbecoming to who I really am? Do I respect what I see in the mirror? Am I fashionable without baring it all? Whose eye am I trying to catch? If you are married and/or a mother…Is what I am wearing going to bring disrespect to my husband and/or children?

Just some things to think about.

When I was in elementary, middle, and high school, there were certain dress guidelines that were not only in place, but were also enforced. The girls’ shorts and skirts could not be more than 3 inches above one’s knees (when kneeling). I know in elementary school, our shirts had to have sleeves (no strapless or tank tops) and they also had to cover our tummies. I think this was also part of the middle and high school dress code, but I’m not sure it was enforced. The crazy thing is that I think the dress code is still the same, but not enforced at all!

Don’t misunderstand me. I certainly do not believe it is the school’s job to train our daughters up as far as what is and is not appropriate, but I do wonder what happened! Especially when the teachers may or may not follow the dress code themselves.

Modesty is something that I am becoming more and more passionate about. As a wife of a man and a mother of two little girls, I definitely notice what other ladies are wearing (or not wearing, as is sometimes the case). I know that going back into history, what is deemed “sexy” has shifted from ankles, to big thighs (ah, the good old days), to bottoms, and now bosoms. I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said, “Boobies make me smile.” And, I have a feeling that’s one happy man, because bosoms are on display!

When I get dressed I definitely want to feel good about what I am wearing. However, I am now much more aware of what others can see. I toe a fine line between wanting to dress sexy for my husband and still dress appropriately for my friends’ husbands. We can not be naïve and think they won’t notice, because they do. Granted, men must take responsibility for their own actions, but we don’t need to put them to the test!

I also want my daughters to know what is and is not appropriate. At one and three, I want them to dress like they are one and three. I want my girls to remain innocent for as long as possible. When I taught I was often times appalled at what some of my sweet little first and fifth graders would come to school in.

So, ladies, wives, and mamas, be aware of what you’re wearing and who is watching what you wear.