I have a love-hate relationship with clothes. I'm a fan of classics and sometimes try new trendy things, but I feel like I can never look quite as put together as those Pinterest fashionistas. I always feel like my clothes just slightly miss the mark of stylish. The thing I'm trying to work on now is to like the clothes I already have and make those work, instead of only wanting what I don't have. There's a Sheryl Crow song about that. "It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you have" (C'mon, C'mon). Besides, living on a budget makes it hard to justify spending money on clothes. I'd rather save up for a travel experience like scuba diving than splurge on a pair of jeans or the hottest accessories.
As I have worked on the Special Events staff, I get to stand for long periods of time in one spot, waiting for people to ask me questions. This gets really boring, so I "people watch". You should try it sometime, it's great fun. While doing this, I've noticed a couple things about the way women dress around here.
1. They can be in full makeup, hair, and a super cute outfit for an 8 AM class. (Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous?)
2. People look most confident when they are most comfortable in what they're wearing.
Comfortable clothes are usually the ones I gravitate towards. If I don't feel comfortable in it, then I don't wear it. However, there is a difference between being comfortable and being sloppy. I'm trying hard not to lean toward the sloppy side, even though I sometimes end up there. I've made an effort this semester to try to dress more professionally while still feeling comfortable with what I'm wearing. Part of the comfort aspect is my clothing being modest.
Now, I've noticed that the word "modest" has taken on a lot of different meanings. There's "frumpy modest" and "sexy modest" and "constricting modest" and way too many different "modests" for us to truly understand it anymore. In an effort to keep us all on the same page, let me define what being modest means to me. And this is just my opinion that you don't have to agree with, but it's my belief and I stand by it.
First off, modesty is a choice. We have this amazing ability to use our own conscious and choose what we believe. Everyone has that agency. I choose to be modest. It's not forced on me.
Second, modesty is a way to show respect to our bodies. As a member of the LDS church, I believe that our bodies are a gift from a loving Heavenly Father. They are essential to the plan of happiness and essential to become a God/Goddess like Heavenly Father. When you receive a gift, it is true that it becomes ours. My body is mine. It belongs to me and no one else unless I choose to share it with them. However, when we receive a very special gift, we treat it with respect and take special care of it. Here's an analogy: Your parents decide to give you not only a car, but a Ferrari in your favorite color. I highly doubt you're going to go out and trash that Ferrari. You'll be very selective about who gets to drive your Ferrari, what kind of things go in your Ferrari, and how your Ferrari looks on the outside. I see my body as a Ferrari. No way am I going to disrespect it. Dressing my body modestly is a manifestation that I love, celebrate, and respect my body.
Those are the two principles that define what modesty is to me. There are other things that come specifically from my religion and are also a part of the Honor Code for BYU. I wear shirts that aren't too tight, cover my shoulders, aren't low cut in the front or back, and don't show my stomach or lower back. I wear pants, shorts, and skirts that aren't too tight, and come to the knees. These are the basic rules that I promise to live by. I don't ever feel like these guidelines force me to cover up bad parts of my body. I feel like these guidelines are just a way that I choose to respect my body and I feel more comfortable wearing these kinds of clothes anyways. Would you believe that even with all these "rules", I can still feel beautiful? Despite popular belief, feeling attractive and dressing modestly can go hand in hand. It's not about being "sexy" or getting attention (I don't understand sexy modest... it's an oxymoron) but more about feeling confident, comfortable, and beautiful.
So what did I wear today?
My favorite skirt - It's super soft and classic. I really can't go wrong with whatever I wear with it. I also work in a lab 4 out of 5 school days and for some reason, I always want to wear skirts on those days that I don't have a lab.
My favorite sweater - It's starting to get super cold here! And I was trying to go for the skirt and longer layer sweater look but I think that only works with short skirts. Oh well.
My favorite scarf - I got this scarf in Oaxaca, Mexico and I have worn it at least a couple times a month ever since then. I love the sparkle from the gold thread.
My favorite boots - They're the best, most comfortable boots ever. I don't know what drew me to them when I saw them in a second hand store, but it was like the Cinderella slipper for country girls. Apparently lots of girls wanted them but couldn't fit into them (or so I was told by the salesgirl). I've been in love with them ever since. And I'm pretty sure boots will never go out of style. At least in my book.
Pajamas are always comfortable. Don't even care if it's a little sloppy.
Now that you've heard my rant, I want to know what modesty means to you. Why do you wear the clothes you wear? What's your favorite outfit?
