I began wearing skirts almost exclusively over two years ago. At that point in time, my convictions and motives were strong. I had no doubt in my mind that the Lord would like for me to make this change in my wardrobe. Over the past few months however, my convictions and motives just haven’t been as clear. I’ve recently met some ladies who are close to the Lord who do not share this conviction at all. I began to feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb wherever I went. Yes, maxi skirts are popular, but they aren’t too practical for me. I’ve ripped four maxi skirts within a few years while playing with my children, so I usually stick to sturdier denim for everyday wear. Long denim skirts are noticeable since not many ladies wear them. No matter, I have stuck to my skirts unless I’m sleeping in pajama pants, or working out in exercise pants.
Until last week that is. I was feeling kind of grumpy. I was bothered by some silly thing my husband had said. My children were being incredibly noisy. I glanced in my closet and saw a pair of capris, and thought, “I’ll wear these today,” and I had no good reason to at all. Wearing pants isn’t sinful. So I put them on.
By the end of the day I felt terrible, and I really didn’t even know why. When my sweet husband came home, he gave me a half-smile and asked, “Why are you wearing britches?” I really didn’t even know what to say. He knows all about my convictions, and therefore was confused. The poor guy has probably listened to me ramble for hours about the subject! I decided I needed to spend time in prayer about the matter, study God’s Word, and research more online (for the second time around).
I am so glad that I did! By last night, I was so convinced that wearing skirts is something that the Lord has asked me to do, that I’m seriously contemplating looking into buying complementary tennis shoes and wearing a skirt while my family vacations in Disney World this November. (Tennis shoes and skirts is something that I swore I would never do, ha)!
While wearing skirts is not sinful in of itself, if I feel like it is something that the Lord has called me to do. If I don’t heed to His call, then I am sinning.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.
James 4:17
The Bible is very clear that we are to be modest in our dress. I also feel like the Lord has laid on my heart that the modesty-level of wearing skirts exclusively is a good, noble and righteous thing to do. So if *I* (not necessarily you) don’t comply, then I am sinning.
My husband also used this analogy last night (which I thought was pretty good.) He works for a power company. While there are certain safety standards that his company must uphold, they choose to exceed them. While it is a good thing to exceed standards, they cannot look down on another company who doesn’t choose to do so, as long as they are upholding minimum safety guidelines. It is the same with modest dress. There are certain modesty standards that the Lord asks for all Christians to uphold. If I choose to exceed those standards (for God, and not man), then it is a good thing. But I cannot look down on anyone who doesn’t choose to do so, as long as they are upholding the minimum standards in God’s Word.
I came across a blog titled Feminine Genius yesterday. While the author is Catholic, and I do not hold all of her views, this one thought just spoke to me…
“I feel that my decision to wear only dresses and skirts with ample fabric is a spiritual discipline of sorts, one that Our Lord has asked of me and one that goes above and beyond the basic standards of the Church. It seems to me that, living as we do in a culture that is so dark and ugly and dehumanizing, my dress is a very visual way to evangelize, and that is how I practice this discipline of what I call “missionary fashion.” ~Katie Rose
I wish that I had thought of this myself. What a perfect way to explain the way I feel.
So, I will continue to wear skirts and dresses exclusively (except for when sleeping or exercising). I feel a renewed sense of purpose from God, and hope to be a “fashion missionary” myself.
I so needed to hear this today!!! It’s not always easy to feel like the “lone reed standing alone”…thank you for being a blessing and reaffirming what I know to be good and true in my heart!! God bless!! 🙂
Thanks Allison, it is nice knowing that I’m not alone in my conviction too!
I love your article. While I do not exclusively wear skirts, I wear them most of the time. Tennis shoes with skirts is something I said I would NEVER do either! 😉 But I have eaten my words. There are, as you put it, “complimentary” tennis shoe options and you don’t have to look “weird”. We went to Sea World last summer and I wore a skirt both days. It was super hot and humid. I did a loose fitting, just below the knee yoga skirt with cool wick yoga pants under it. Sketchers Mary Jane style tennies were comfy and cute with the skirt. I’m sure you will find something modest, that looks cute and is comfortable for family vacation. God will honor your obedience.
Thank you for the good ideas! Disney isn’t really so intimidating after all. 🙂
Oh Nicole!
I so feel your heart and frustration in the beginning of your post! I feel like I could have written this! I have lots of friends at church and in our homeschool group who don’t share the skirts conviction and I have only been at it for about a year, and I constantly feel like a sore thumb….When God began moving on my heart about this issue, I couldn’t shake it…believe me..I tried! Anyway, know that you’re not alone and I also have 3 girls…one boy…we are called to something different and that’s ok. We can still be fashionable in our skirts and I hope that I get over my feeling awkward.,.,anyway…if you ever want to chat,..I’m here. Blessings, Brook
Thank you for the encouragement Brook!
Honestly, I’m a working mother and most of the time I dress in pants, mid length skirts, and blouses, but I think no matter what religion you are you NEED TO DRESS MODESTLY. I see women and job applicants with their cleavage LITERALLY SPILLING OUT OF THEIR SHIRTS, and their legs completely revealed. Just- no. I’ve actually had to tell women to dress modestly. Standards might differ, but they have to begin at one point and at a minimum rate of modesty- simple things, like no shorts above the knees, tank tops three fingers wide, stuff like that.
Oh, and Converse/Vans/Keds type shoes (I normally find the brand for about $20-25 on clearance, the knock offs, which are also really nice, rack around the same range, perhaps cheaper) look REALLY nice with skirt and dresses.
God bless!
Jenny
Thank you for the shoe ideas Jenny!
Great post, I have had the same thoughts at times and it has been 2 years for me too 🙂
Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for sharing! Love it!!
Thanks Diane!
Thank you for this post! I too, wear skirts always, and have for a little over two years now. I am the only one in my family who does, and I also work as a nurse, so I definitely understand your feelings of feeling like a loner! First off, I will say, I go to a local amusement park quite often and I used to wear culottes when I went. I despise culottes however, talk about feeling like the sore thumb! I only wear them when I think I will be doing something like riding a four-wheeler or canoeing, etc. I found a wonderful, flared, denim skirt that is ankle-length. It has just the right fullness and length that I can wear it on basically any ride at the park and be modest, yet also comfortable! I too dislike tennis shoes with skirts, so I find sandals that are off-brand Chacos or name-brand Crocs that strap on, yet are cute and comfortable.
One of your paragraphs reminded me of this quote from Susannah Wesley to one of her sons, and I just felt like sharing it would be very appropriate and helpful for others who may read this.
“Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the [desire for] spiritual things…that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself.”
I don’t feel that women who wear skirts are sinning. I know very godly women who wear pants…but for me it is wrong considering God has impressed that upon me. While it’s hard, I feel honored that He would allow me to experience the changes that it made within myself when I chose to follow His will for me and wear skirts exclusively.
Thank you so much for sharing. I would love to place this quote somewhere in my home, it is so very true.
I really love this post. I don’t share your conviction to wear only skirts, but I think what you said can be applied to many areas of the Christian walk. Where I am, we are one of the only families who homeschool, and we have more kids than any of our friends. It’s difficult not to feel weird, but we know that these are convictions that the Lord has given us! Great post!
What a great post! I loved it! I personally don’t feel convicted to wear only skirts and dresses. I do prefer them myself though, so I do wear them almost all the time. I just feel much more comfortable in them and I feel it’s easier (for me) to be modest in skirts. Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, how timely!! I have been struggling with this EXACT thing!! I have only recently felt the conviction to wear skirts & dresses (like this summer!) Finances in our family are such that it is NOT a priority for me to be getting a new wardrobe! 😉 So I have been purchasing what I can when we have extra $ available for those purchases. I have always worn jeans & capris-nothing immodest in my opinion–they are not tight or revealing in anyway–just plain old jeans! My oldest daughter, who is 4, asked me this summer if I could start wearing dresses like her! I find that I do feel much more feminine when I do wear skirts and dresses, but I can’t say that it honestly affects my attitude. This is an issue that I am honestly still working through. I have asked my husband and he has no strong feelings either way, whatever I am most comfortable with. His opinion is that attire does not make a Christian woman, obviously as long as they are dressed appropriately overall!
So I am at the beginning of my journey 🙂 I do have a friend who does wear skirts & dresses everyday, however I would say that I have more modest friends who don’t wear skirts at all–a person’s spirit is really what defines modesty, not just what they look like on the outside! 🙂 There are many older women in our church who are very godly women, and yes, they wear pants!! It is difficult to know what is really “right”- walking with the Lord is most important! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your convictions with others!!
Nicole,
Several years ago, I asked for you counsel on homeschooling. You were so kind! Just found your new blog yesterday and am so glad to see you writing again! I have felt this modesty pull at my heart for a few years now, but don’t know where to get started! We live in Minnesota and so some days, a warm pair of sweats and a snuggly sweatshirt feel so good. I am also like one of the commenters above…there isn’t really any room in the budget for skirts, but I do have a few. I am wondering what you wear underneath the skirts for prevention of chaffing and/or extra warmth? Again, so glad to see you blogging again….you sure have come a long way since I last read your thoughts! In a good way 😉
Blessings to you!
Nicole
Hey Nicole! How have y’all been? Are you still blogging? I get so many nice skirts at Goodwill, since most people do not wear skirts often they aren’t worn at all. I always wear regular leggings, but flannel or fleece type leggings would work too. My husband wants to take me to Bass Pro Shops to look for really warm ones (he said they have warm underclothes there for hunting purposes).
It is so nice hearing from you again!
Thanks for the reply! My blog address is http://www.simplynicoleto5.blogspot.com. Have a great night! Your posts on this blog are sure encouraging! We are all doing fine…..I gave 5 children now. I think you only had 4 the last time you e-mailed me! I’ll have to check Goodwill and so so look into the warm leggings. Cold temperatures are here! Can’t wait to read some more posts this evening after getting the kiddos to bed!
Here’s a question, I have felt a strong conviction to wear skirts/dresses for about 3 years and, like you, I wear them exclusively except for sleep and exercise (though I struggled at first with the exercise part) I have two daughters (7 & 11) who enjoyed it at first but the 11 yr old has been questioning it lately. We homeschool and live in the country so it’s not peer pressure. I’m not sure how to handle it. I don’t want to force her to follow my conviction but I do feel strongly about it for many reasons. Does anyone have any wisdom to share?
I really enjoyed this post and I think it was so well written. I, too, wear only skirts and do it as unto the Lord because He has placed this conviction in my heart. It is so encouraging to hear that there are others that feel this same way and I am not alone in this call of God on my life to be different. I will think of this when I am having one of those “tough” days you mentioned at the beginning of your post. You are not the only one that has those kind of days. 😉 Thank you for sharing this. Your family is beautiful!
Thanks for the compliment Karen!
This is an excellent treatment on the subject, and describes many of the thoughts I have had!
Thank you for the kind words Sherry!
I have never felt convicted to wear dresses and so I wears jeans a lot. But my sister wears dresses most of the time and she loves them, and so does a dear friend of mine. They happen to do it because they like dresses and feel more feminine in them! But I do know some women who feel convicted and are “dresses only” and some who aren’t.
I think I told you once about a friend whose baby was stillborn, and a woman in her church told her that God would have saved her baby and it would be alive today if she wore dresses only. Obviously NOT Scriptural, but my friend understood that and so was not deeply hurt as she understood that the gal was way off.
I love your husband’s analogy, by the way. Awesome!
I actually got in a discussion about modesty on my person fb page. I had posted that link where all those boys are singing about modesty and virtue, Have you see it? Just go on youtube and type “Virtue Makes You Beautiful” and you’ll find it if you haven’t seen it yet. Thanks for linking up to “Making Your Home Sing Monday!”
I had this convection also about 3 years ago. I went skirts and dresses only for about 7 months and then I just couldn’t take it any more. My husband kept asking why I would tell him why and he would say things like ” I miss you butt in jeans” I would then remind him that I only what his eyes to see it. I also didn’t want to be a stumbling block for any other men.
My daughter (15) said people were asking questions like is your mom going Amish. That one was just funny. But she was embarrassed.
I know these are silly but they all just wore me done. My husband even said that he was not comfortable with some of the skirts because he thought I was going to be more “Godly” then him and I would think I couldn’t be married to him anymore be cause he was not good enough for me.
I do want to say thank you for this post, it has set fire to my convection again and I believe I will go back to skirts and do it in a slower transition then cold turkey like I did before. Maybe I can collect some cute outfits over some months and I wont have always wear the denim skirts all the time and stick out like a sore thumb.
If your husband likes how you look in pants, maybe you can wear them at home but wear skirts or dresses when u go out
I hear ya! I know a lot of women who are amazing Christians who don’t wear skirts or dresses all the time and who don’t cover their heads during church… and I guess it comes down to convictions. I have conviction about those things and must follow them. Great encouragement!
I’m a Mormon woman who has been taught modest standards of dress from a young age, and am working hard to instill modest standards in my sons and daughters. The world chooses to follow styles that reveal more and more of our bodies, and I am so thankful to have recently stumbled upon blogs like yours that advocate modesty (among other lovely things). A leader of my church advocated a “return to virtue” and I am so happy to see that my children will not be alone (although it may sometimes feel that way) and that there are beacons of light in communities everywhere, working hard to follow their convictions and live their testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for your light!
Thank you for your kind words Jenna. 🙂
Wonderful Wonderful article Nicole. Modesty is definitally everyone’s personal conviction between God and them….but I do share the same convictions like you. I’ve been to amusement parks MANY times….in skirts. My tip is to wear a widER skirt since some seats have something going between the leg and that’ll give you more room. And tennis shoes and skirts aren’t the worst in the world…hahaha…though I avoid it too when I can.
Coming from 2sday linkup.
Iris @ Feminine Modesty
Hi, I really enjoyed reading that. I want to encourage you. God has recently asked me to convert my whole wardrobe to 100% cotton. Those verses in scripture about 100% one fibre in clothing kept jumping out at me. So I started praying and felt really led to just do it. Later on, I found out I had an allergy to latex and spandex, and polyesters, so for me… there really was a purpose in the 100% fibre thing. I just didn’t know it at the time. But often that is the way it is I find. He calls us to obey and then tells us why later on. I can tell you that finding clothing that I like, including underwear, all free of elastic etc. has further increased my prayer life! (LOL) Cheers, Sharon http://heleadsmesharon.blogspot.com.au/
I sometimes struggle with my feelings towards how I dress myself. I do not feel a conviction to wear skirts all the time, but I enjoy feeling feminine when I do wear skirts and dresses. That said, it is just more practical for me to wear pants most of the time.
What I do feel compelled to do is to cover my cleavage as much as possible. I’m not covered all the way up to my chin, but if the neckline of a shirt more than a couple of inches lower than my collarbone, I feel uncomfortable and must put on a camisole that comes up higher. I feel like everyone is staring at my chest otherwise, whether they are or not. Maybe because I used to work as a bank teller in an industrial town, and a lot of men in the work camps would come in and LEER at me if my neckline was a little low.
So why do I feel compelled to cover my chest but not wear skirts all the time? While I do not agree that I am responsible for keeping men’s thoughts “pure” (’cause lets be real, guys know whats under our clothes and the ones who were raised right will know to look at my eyes and not my boobs), I just feel that dressing modestly creates a more professional image for myself and it protects me from the more blatant attention that stems from our culture’s fetishization of breasts.
The sad thing is that our culture should be teaching us to be happy with our bodies, not ashamed because of the “temptation” they apparently cause. The temptation is caused because both men and women are taught certain parts of our bodies are taboo, or dirty/sinful, and supposed to be hidden. It’s a never-ending cycle that, if mishandled, can lead to feelings of shame and discontent with our bodies and an oversexualization of non-sexual body parts (eg. parents who don’t let their daughters wear tank tops. Because bare shoulders lead boys to sin).
But how do we change this to a healthier discourse? Can it be helped? Will I ever feel comfortable with my own body enough to wear a v-neck that shows a bit of cleavage because at the end of the day it’s just a chest? I don’t think so, and it’s a little depressing that I’m doomed to be complicit in a culture that I know can be very damaging.
Thank you for writing this post! It’s been in my email for a bit and I’m just getting around to reading it. I’ve been struggling with this very same thing! I, too, am surrounded by godly women but they do not wear skirts full time. I was praying and looking into the reasons I formed originally to reaffirm my decision.
I watched a Voddie Baucham seminar we own (it’s completely unrelated) and through this video it dawned on me that, along with the many other reasons I wear skirts, as a Christian woman following God’s will for my life by wearing skirts I am SETTING MY SELF APART FROM THE WORLD. To me, that was a huge enlightening moment. Maybe this revelation will help another, too.
God bless!
This was such an honest post and I really appreciated it today. I love wearing denim in a skirt just as much as I used to love wearing jeans. You did a beautiful job expressing yourself without making anyone else feel that they must also wear skirts.
Hi! First time visitor here from Living Proverbs 31! Excited to find your blog and hope to be back when I have more time! This was a great post, very honest, well-articulated, not judgmental or condemning!
I have been at different places on this journey for around 20 years! I feel freedom to wear pants or capris, and occasionally do, but like you described, I really don’t like the way I feel when I do! I prefer the feeling of femininity that I have when I wear a skirt. I usually wear a denim skirt with a variety of cute shirts, and since I live on the Georgia coast, most of the year I wear sandals or flip flops! During our few weeks of winter, I wear Mudd shoes – Mary Jane style comfy with bare legs or knee socks! (thus avoiding the tennis shoes with skirts look most of the time!)
Thanks so much for sharing! Come visit me some time at yestheyareallours.com! 🙂
Hi, just connected to your post through Proverbs 31…I enjoyed your article and just wanted to encourage you to keep on keeping on! It is hard to be modest in our world today, but you never know how you may be encouraging someone else as they see your consistent dress. And God will surely be blessing you as you follow Him. I too dress modestly and try to teach our children…boys too…the blessing in modesty. I am learning that as long as I am doing what God asks me to do…it does not matter what others may think..as long as my husband agrees. Praying for you and others that we may show that modesty and virtue are “in.” Blessings!
Thanks for sharing. I agree with everything you said. And you and your girls look absolutely beautiful and feminine.
Thank you so much. 🙂
I’ve really enjoying reading several of your posts tonight and this one really spoke to my heart. I have been skirts only several years ago and then went to skirts most of the time and recently have been wearing more pants (for several reasons). Anyway, this past week I’ve been convicted that I need to get back to skirts all of the time and this post really encouraged me.
Thank you so much for being honest and real,
blessings,
Rashel
Thank you Rashel, I appreciate your kindness!
a ‘fashion missionary’… too cute! I’ve had some of those same thoughts with clothing/headcovering practices that I have. If I reflect that I am in love w/ Jesus and mankind while choosing a standard of dress that may not be upheld by others – I will be an attractive Christian. (and what I mean by that is that others will be attracted to what I represent). Joy is contagious (and I fail SO often)… but what a great way to share Jesus and His Ways! (teaching them to observe all things….)
Y’all look great! Funny about the tennis shoes; my thoughts exactly…and I now wear them with skirts when I walk. I also like Mary Janes. 🙂
I began wearing skirts and dresses when I realized I am the model of femininity for my daughter. Back then I wasn’t exactly dressing modestly. I didn’t want my daughter to dress the way I was dressing or worse when she got older. Truth be told, I never felt comfortable going out either. Now, I feel ‘free’. I don’t have to worry about people staring at me. 🙂
My daughter is now 14 and she wears mostly skirts…with a t-shirt and tennis shoes 😉
Thanks for sharing Cynthia!
What a wonderful post! During my path to modesty I struggled with this as well! I absolutely love that quote and am going to write it down. 🙂
Thank you Laura!
Thank you so much Nicole for sharing your modesty journey with us. Lately I have been feeling very alone in my skirts/dresses convictions and it’s so refreshing to hear from others who have come to the same conclusions. I really appreciate your humility and graciousness in explaining your convictions!!
Lately I have been told that wearing skirts diminishes ministry and witnessing opportunities. I have never seen this to be a problem for me or for my mom and sisters, but it has been discouraging to think that it could be a problem. What are your thoughts on it? I’ve been wearing dresses/skirts almost all of my 33 years and have never had problems making friends or ministering to others.
Personally, the most “rejection” (or disagreement maybe) that I’ve run into has been from people who in the past had similar convictions and then have moved away from them. Out in the world, I’ve only had positive comments about my conservative dress and never felt that it created some sort of barrier.
I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Hi Jennifer! While I’m sure that you are much more knowledgeable about the subject than I am (I’ve only been wearing skirts for almost three years now), I do not think that wearing skirts limits witnessing opportunities. If anything, people seem to be more apt to ask where I go to church, simply by seeing my girls and I in skirts. It is definitely a way to be “set apart” from others. The problem that I have had is being accused of “adding” to scripture simply by dressing this way. I in no means believe that scripture says that women cannot wear pants lol. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing! Something similar happened to me several times when I chose to wear pants vs a skirt for the day. My son said mom what are you wearing! Lol anyway after strange looks and a few chuckles from my daughter, I went to my room prayed waited for The Lord to speak to my heart. Before I knew it I was packing up all my 3 pairs of jeans & pajama pants! That was 8 yrs ago and I have never put on a pair of jeans, slacks or pj pants since! 🙂 I live in Maine near Canada & it is very cold -25 with wind chills & I just put on lots of layers. I also wear skirts with sneakers 🙂 well thinks for sharing…. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing Rose! It is very encouraging to hear that such extreme weather conditions do not change your wardrobe convictions. 🙂
Fashion missionary? Awesome.
We went from being in a Church where everyone dressed modestly and now we are in a Church, by God’s leading, where modesty is mocked by most. I do feel like a fashion missionary, but it takes a great deal of time. It is easy to get discouraged, even though modesty and femininity our subjects near and dear to my heart, and have been for many years.
This was very encouraging to me. I just recently began wearing only dresses and skirts when I felt the Lord leafing me in this direction seeing it as a means to bring Him glory , but recently I have been accused of being legalistic and adding to God’s word or interpreting it wrong. I definitely don’t see this as a salvation issue but just the way I felt compelled to honor God with my dress. All the criticism was causing confusion reading this today really blessed me.
I’m so glad Jess! 🙂
I’ve felt this “above and beyond” calling for many years now…still, it’s refreshing to see that God is talking to others in the same way. Thanks for the encouragement!
Thank you for sharing Sarah!
Just wanted to say it has been 3 years in March for myself and my girls. Thank you for the encouragement. So nice to know we are not alone sometimes God bless you!
That is awesome Dianne! 🙂
Hello I’m 16 and my sister is 12 and her and I want to start wearing skirts/dresses but don’t know where to begin because seeing all the fashionable pants shorts and everything else makes me want to wear pants still but I feel some sort of calling to wear skirts and dresses but I’m hesitant about it I think I need someone to talk to.
Hi Dailya, please take a look at my daughter’s blog reflectionsoftheheart.wordpress.com. Blessings!
I started wearing nothing but skirts after Grandma died. She was a very simple woman but so strong inspirit. She wore nothing but skirts. She was my example of a woman of higher standards. I did not realize it until after she was gone. She used to say set your standards high and others will meet you there. I know now she was talking about the image you give to others. She dressed like a lady and people treated her like a lady. I started wearing her skirts at first and then finding skirts in thrift stores. It was impossible to find them in stores. Nothing but immodest low ride jeans that just did not feel good to me. Then a few years later I had to return to work and I felt like I did not fit in. So I returned to jeans and tops that did not feel right but I looked like everyone else. After about 6 months, I found out I was pregnant. I had two boys and the youngest was 9. When I found out the baby was a girl I really started thinking about what kind of role model I wanted to be for her. I turned to the Bible and again and again the subject of modesty came to back to me. She is 9 years old and we both wear skirts.
God has given us His mother Mary as our role model and we as Christians are to be role models for others. So when we look around and it seems like we don’t fit in….it is not about the “skirt”. But the choices we make. Modesty is one way to Honor God by being respectful in action and in dress. You know the saying “they will know we are Christian by our love”…Well they will know we are Christians by the higher standards we set for ourselves and the examples we set for others. I was once told: we must ask ourselves are we “of” this world or just “in” this world.
God’s blessings.
Thank you so much for sharing Melissa. May God bless you too!
Oh, I’m so happy to have found you, sister in Christ. For the last couple of years, I’ve worn only dresses and skirts, not just for modesty but for health (the seams of pants are very uncomfortable to my overly sensitive Fibromyalgia skin). But I felt so out of place that I bought a tunic top to wear with jeggings thinking it would be a comfortable outfit. I hate them! I get compliments but feel like that is so wrong, to be fishing for compliments in church, and the outfit is not comfortable. Unlike the leggings I wear under skirts, these jeggings constantly have to be adjusted.
Personally, I’d love it if we all dressed like the Jews of the Bible. While I know godly women who wear pants, like my pastor’s wife, I have to wonder at their comfort. I didn’t realize how much more comfortable skirts were because prior to 2012, I rarely wore anything but pants, but I realized something by wearing skirts. I wasn’t constantly adjusting my outfit, pulling and tugging and worrying about stuff riding up or down. No worries of underwear or worse showing at the altar. Dresses are even better. No more gappy shirts.
My pastor’s wife gave a message the other day and the whole time, she kept tugging her shirt down, which kept riding up at her waist. She looked very uncomfortable.
Another thing I consider is something I heard once; Pants make a perfect upside down V shape that draw the eyes right to the crotch. FYI, this isn’t only true for women, which is why I wish men wore robes. As an abuse survivor, it really bothers me to see men in very immodest pants. It can actually be traumatizing.
It shouldn’t just be about women. Both men and women in the Bible should be concerned with how their attire affects those around them, even if just inspiring some covetousness from those who dress very fashionably. Is fashionable dress modest? Aren’t we saying “Look at me. Compliment me. Me, me, me.” So why do I feel like I’m being judged by the church for not conforming to the world’s standards?
Great post. I have done the same thing. Oh, and my daughter and I had no issues this summer at Disney World with our skirts.
I realize this post is old but I wanted to comment that I live long skirts. I wear dresses mainly but I needed to sew a skirt for a concert I was in last week. And I really like them. I guess I didn’t want to deal with skirts is because I would have to deal with separate tops and it is so hard to find modest tops.
I’m glad I came across your blog!
Thank you so much for sharing, Regina!