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Fashion and Following the Savior
Carolyn Mahaney, Janelle Bradshaw, Nicole Whitacre
Contributors
April 5, 2008
Modesty - It’s an old-fashioned word, but for the Christian woman it should never go out of style. Yet, as today’s fashions get sexier with each season, women may feel they are caught between pleasing God and looking good. Wife, mother and author Carolyn Mahaney dove into this very important topic not long ago with her three grown daughters Kristin, Nicole and Janelle on their blog, "Girl Talk: Conversations on Biblical Womanhood and Other Fun Stuff." Here they share their insights with Crosswalk readers...
Carolyn: It’s that time of year again. The fashion magazines are touting the newest and hottest clothing trends for spring and summer. And because fashion is so fickle, a woman is sure to find that what was popular last season, must not see the light of day this season. But more than just the latest style, spring and summer (in particular) usher in a vast array of immodest and indecent clothing. Thus the racks and shelves at the nearest mall are crammed full of body-revealing attire.
So, what’s a Christian woman to do?
We must consult God’s Word rather than the fashion magazines. We must take God with us when we go shopping. And what’s interesting--and freeing, I might add--is that God’s clothing style for women doesn’t change from season to season. He presents his fashion standard to us in 1 Timothy 2:9-10:
Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
We will be talking about this verse and what it means for our 2008 spring and summer wardrobes. We hope you will join us for this discussion: Fashion and Following the Savior.
Modesty – A Matter of the Heart
Janelle: Just a small disclaimer before we begin-- some of the content that we will be presenting this week is adapted from a message by my dad entitled “The Soul of Modesty.” He has kindly agreed to let us steal his material and give it a little girltalk twist. Thanks, Dad!
We are gonna hang out on three main points:
- The attitude of a modest woman
- The appearance of a modest woman
- The allegiance of a modest woman
Soon after Caly was born, I packed away all of my maternity clothes and eagerly dug out my “regular” clothes. I was excited. I thought it would feel like shopping, but without spending any money. When I pulled out my storage bags from under the bed, however, there wasn’t much there. What happened to all of my clothes? What was I wearing before I got pregnant? I still haven’t figured that one out. Anyway, I’m currently borrowing a pair of jeans from my mom and planning a little “wardrobe rebuilding” trip soon.
Most Recent User Comments
rlange
8/2/2008 6:18 PM
I appreciate this article. I agree with a fellow post-er that the truth is stated clearly and with love. I think that it is so important to impress on women (especially young women, in their tweens and teens) the reasons WHY modesty is so important. It isn't because we want them to wear sacks and look ugly, it is because dressing modestly shows respect for men and for God. Thanks again!
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eboyette
4/16/2008 11:29 AM
I'm an older person, so I don't actually have to deal with the fashion nonsense any longer, thank the Lord! I live in New York City, so I see a lot, and it seems to me that the young women who are subscribing to fashion's dictates look miserable (skin-tight spandex, teetering heels). It's a great relief to be under the radar in comfortable, loose, modest clothing. I shop eBay a lot, and in the past few months I've noticed something new: if a dress is described as "modest" the bidding response is overwhelming. I think women are actually hungry for flowing, feminine clothing in natural fabrics (no rubber or plastic) and colors besides black. Even though I now get outbid almost all the time (time for the sewing machine), I find it a very hopeful sign. I also notice that I get lots of compliments on my out-of-style dresses, often from young women, who want to know where I got my clothes.
The Lord knows the feminine heart, having made it, and He is always right.
The Lord knows the feminine heart, having made it, and He is always right.
LARRYILA
4/15/2008 9:52 PM
Thanks for your article on modesty in women. I particularly like your willingness, as a woman, to state that skimpy dress can be seductive. It can, even if it is not intentional, and men are visual creatures!! Another point, and one I would make if I had to confront a woman who dresses immodestly, is that when a woman dresses modestly, the message she conveys to a man is that she has a lot to offer as a person. And men will go for a woman who conveys that she has a lot to offer as a person!! Conversely, a woman who dresses immodestly sells herself short as a person. I run into this at work and on TV all the time!!
Larry in Buffalo, NY
Larry in Buffalo, NY
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