Modesty

I've recently seen a lot of posts about modesty on facebook, with links to various blogs. I don't know if it's due to the start of summer, a reaction to something, or a sudden interest in the topic, but I wanted to share my own thoughts on the subject.

I think how we dress is very important. External appearance, including clothing, is the first thing you notice about a person.  Before you get to know someone, you've already made subconscious judgments about them based on how they look and dress.

I love how someone's personality can come out through their clothing. Are they vibrant and loud? Do they love trying new trends and styles? Are they always well put together? Are they laid back? casual? sophisticated? cute? I can think of friends who fit into each of these descriptions, and I love how well their clothes fit their personalities.

So what does it say about a girl when she dresses in clothes that are too tight, too short or too revealing? I can think of a lot of things, but none of them are good. Maybe she's insecure, or trying to get attention, or trying to show off. It doesn't usually make you think too many positive things, except maybe, "she must work out." So number one, I think it sends a wrong message.

Secondly, it's distracting. I find it extremely disconcerting when I'm trying to talk to a girl with cleavage hanging out of her shirt, or when I'm walking behind a girl with a skirt that barely covers her rear. I don't know where to look. It's uncomfortable and awkward for me, and I'm a girl! I can only imagine how it is for guys.

Lastly, dressing immodestly draws the focus away from the person, to the body. Clothes can let a personality shine through, but a lack of clothes can turn focus away from the person, to their physical attributes. Women are seen as objects, just pieces and parts, not a whole being. Yes, dressing immodestly can get attention, but it's not the right kind of attention. The attention is on your body, not you.

There are girls I know who dress fashionably and modestly. One of the things I've realized is that I always notice their clothes secondarily. I was talking to one friend in church for 10 minutes, when I suddenly realized what a cute dress she had on. It was fitted in the top and had a cute little bow around the waist, and such an adorable pattern. It really complemented her perfectly. However, it wasn't the first thing I noticed. I noticed her, and then her clothes.

The Bible commands us to dress modestly for a reason. The clothes we wear speak to the state of our hearts. Am I humble? Do I care about how I make others around me feel? Do I respect myself and my body? Do I wish to honor God by my choices and my actions? I think if the answer to these is "yes", we should choose to embrace modesty as a beautiful way to demonstrate love and respect to ourselves, God, and other people.