Considering switching to skirts...few questions!

[Jea9]

Hi,
I’m new to a lot of things here…so please forgive my questions if they seem silly I’m a convert (baptized in September of this year) and I honestly don’t get how skirts are more modest than pants. I get that if you want to be more feminine skirts are the way to go, but I don’t understand why they are more modest. I mean, I understand that the current style of jeans for girls right now are the low waisted (I too am excited for this trend to end) but if you purchase pants that are at your “regular” waist isn’t that being modest?

Jea9

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Hi,
I’m new to a lot of things here…so please forgive my questions if they seem silly I’m a convert (baptized in September of this year) and I honestly don’t get how skirts are more modest than pants. I get that if you want to be more feminine skirts are the way to go, but I don’t understand why they are more modest. I mean, I understand that the current style of jeans for girls right now are the low waisted (I too am excited for this trend to end) but if you purchase pants that are at your “regular” waist isn’t that being modest?

Jea9

Well, first off, Welcome Home!!!

Second- some women perceive skirts to be more modest than pants because pants are mens wear, and women should not wear the same clothes as men. Other women see skirts as modest because they highlight a womans femininity. Others see skirts as more modest because modest skirts do not cling to a woman and cause impure thoughts. However, just as there are immodest pants, there are immodest skirts.
IMHO- skirt wearing is an individuals decision, and is not mandated by the Church. I also see skirt wearing as a devotion, just as I see veiling as a devotion. Others do not share this view, however.

I hope that was helpful!

 

[Jea9]

Thank you very much!

This does help a lot…I have considered veiling as a personal devotion and am looking into that. I guess my thoughts on modesty in clothing is that a person has to be accountable. I have to seriously think about a shirt and where it will sit (though I AM a stickler for always wearing in a tucked-in undershirt on the off chance that I reach up and my shirt goes with me) and then looking at pants to see if they are too low, too tight etc. But this has certainly given me some food for thought. Though I work in Physical Therapy right now and am thinking it would be very difficult to transfer a patient from a wheelchair to a bed in a skirt…

Jea9

 

[ChristineML]

I consider skirts to be more modest than pants because they don’t cling to a woman’s thighs and other (ahem) private areas. According to Colleen Hammond in Dressing with Dignity, some study revealed that a woman wearing pants immediately draws men’s eyes right THERE. Although, some pants are looser than others, and some skirts are tighter than others, I suppose.

And for the physical therapist, considering the requirements of your work, bending and lifting patients, etc., it may not be IMPOSSIBLE to wear skirts in your job if they’re long enough, I don’t know, but pants MAY be the more modest choice for you in that particular occupation. I wear pants for doing yard work raking leaves, for example, maybe more for the protection of thick denim, though. Hmm.

On a separate, but related, issue:
For wearing UNDER skirts, where can one buy those really thick (for warmth) cotton or mostly cotton tights in women’s sizes? My little girls have nice, thick warm tights, but all I can find for grown women are thin nylon pantyhose, not warm enough for winter, in my opinion. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[homewardbound]

Thank you very much!

This does help a lot…I have considered veiling as a personal devotion and am looking into that. I guess my thoughts on modesty in clothing is that a person has to be accountable. I have to seriously think about a shirt and where it will sit (though I AM a stickler for always wearing in a tucked-in undershirt on the off chance that I reach up and my shirt goes with me) and then looking at pants to see if they are too low, too tight etc. But this has certainly given me some food for thought. Though I work in Physical Therapy right now and am thinking it would be very difficult to transfer a patient from a wheelchair to a bed in a skirt…

Jea9

I just wanted to say I veil and if you feel called to do this as well, they sell some really nice veils on Ebay. Just saying cause I had a very hard time finding veils in my area, not many Catholic stores.

Take care and God Bless

 

[CHCatholic]

I think the skirt idea is a wonderful idea. I would love to see girls wearing more modest clothing. They don’t seem to have enough respect for themselves by wearing things that only attract the wrong kind of attention. The skirt of course needs to be a length that promotes dignity and respect rather than the short or tight version .
This is a link to a site with alot of suggestions.
colleenhammond.com/

Preach!
I hate walking around college and seeing all these girls in tight jeans. Sometimes they’re so tights its just as if they were painted on, really. And I’m with the OP, I don’t like the way girls dress these days at all, hoodies and what have you. Your girls, be feminine, its whats beautiful about you and what God meant for you to be.

 

[Lil_M]

All I can say is 6’3"!!! Wow I never quite made it to 5’

Sorry I can’t help much as I always have to chop off six inches from my pants. But generally speaking I find knee length is okay, and prefer just below the knee length in my skirts. I understand about showing too much leg but I think if you go for ankle length ones it would only accentuate your height more. I would avoid “trendy” stores that you would probably normally shop at, because the skirts barely cover you there. Not sure if you have these in the US, but here I would look at Fairweather, Reitman’s, stores for a slightly older crowd that would have more professional clothing. Maybe start with black/blue/beige skirts that you can mix and match with your current shirts.

 

[thechrismyster]

i just have to interject here, ladies.

i’ve thought this for the past 3 years and have just chuckled to myself everytime these skirt threads come up.

but it’s almost like women don’t realize, that in the effort to wear a skirt to be modest, most men find skirts to be MUCH sexier than pants. Before i was married, when i saw a woman in jeans or tight pants… it was an ‘ahh, whatever’ kind of moment. they’re so common. but when i saw women in skirts, the way they flow and ooze femininity, i actually found them to be quite intoxicating. 1000% moreso than any pant ever could. When i met my wife, the first time, she was with 4 other girls and they all wore pants, my wife had a skirt on. my attention focused on her like a laser.

don’t do it for us, we’ve got the testosterone thing going on, no matter WHAT you wear, our minds are going to be churning… wear the skirts for yourselves.

take it for what its worth.

and as another poster pointed out, Colleen Hammond;'s ideas border on ridiculous, she’s a militant feminist in sheeps clothing.

 

[wynd]

i’ve thought this for the past 3 years and have just chuckled to myself everytime these skirt threads come up.

but it’s almost like women don’t realize, that in the effort to wear a skirt to be modest, most men find skirts to be MUCH sexier than pants. Before i was married, when i saw a woman in jeans or tight pants… it was an ‘ahh, whatever’ kind of moment. they’re so common. but when i saw women in skirts, the way they flow and ooze femininity, i actually found them to be quite intoxicating. 1000% moreso than any pant ever could. When i met my wife, the first time, she was with 4 other girls and they all wore pants, my wife had a skirt on. my attention focused on her like a laser.

This. I’m a guy and I totally agree.

 

[PaulinVA]

Since some of the guys have chimed in, I’ll add my two cents.

Ladies, a skirt or dress can be very provocative. Pants can be provocative. Loose shirts/blouses, tight shirt/blouses. It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

I have been “distracted” by women who I bet thought they were dressed modestly, and I haven’t given a second thought to some women dressed in that “Hey, look at me!” style.

In some ways it’s all about attitude and who you are, which is visible no matter what you’re wearing. It’s also about body type. Some men find some body types attractive, others don’t. Some women are attractive no matter what they wear.

I think it’s good you ladies want to dress modestly. Just remember, dressing differently from everyone else (skirts when everyone is wearing jeans) sets you apart. Hard to blend in when you’re the uniquely-dressed one.

 

[NoxSineStellae]

i just have to interject here, ladies.

i’ve thought this for the past 3 years and have just chuckled to myself everytime these skirt threads come up.

but it’s almost like women don’t realize, that in the effort to wear a skirt to be modest, most men find skirts to be MUCH sexier than pants. Before i was married, when i saw a woman in jeans or tight pants… it was an ‘ahh, whatever’ kind of moment. they’re so common. but when i saw women in skirts, the way they flow and ooze femininity, i actually found them to be quite intoxicating. 1000% moreso than any pant ever could. When i met my wife, the first time, she was with 4 other girls and they all wore pants, my wife had a skirt on. my attention focused on her like a laser.

don’t do it for us, we’ve got the testosterone thing going on, no matter WHAT you wear, our minds are going to be churning… wear the skirts for yourselves.

This is exactly what my husband has told me. He barely glances at the hot young things in their sprayed on jeans, but drools over (what almost everyone would consider modestly cut) skirts and dresses. I can barely keep his hands off me when I wear one. That they are so feminine and flowy and mysterious is a huge sexual turn-on, and he’s not alone. Many of my guy friends have told me the same thing. Some have been so frank as to say there is no way pants can ever be as sexualized as a dress/skirt, because of the lack of “easy access”. Crude, but they’re young guys.

I wear skirts and dresses almost every day, but for myself. If you like them, go for it. If you prefer pants, stick with them. I always have to raise an eyebrow at the “skirts will stop men from thinking of you in a sexualized manner because they are more modest and feminine” argument, because the result is the opposite, more often than not.

Now, men will treat you with more outward respect - holding doors, helping you with packages, that sort of thing. But most of the time it’s going to be because you caught their eye and they’re showing their appreciation.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

On a separate, but related, issue:
For wearing UNDER skirts, where can one buy those really thick (for warmth) cotton or mostly cotton tights in women’s sizes? My little girls have nice, thick warm tights, but all I can find for grown women are thin nylon pantyhose, not warm enough for winter, in my opinion. Any ideas? Thanks.

I get my tights at wal-Mart. They have a nice selection. Although, I have gotten fond of the footless tights, because I can wear nice thick socks on my feet. My feet are forever cold, and I wear wool socks to keep them warm. But the rest of me gets hot. So the footless tights are just perfect. I wear those in the summer to, cause sometime I get chub rub on my thighs, and it helps keep it away.

 

[Quinault]

tznius.com/

A great selection of both headcoverings and skirts.

 

[ribbit]

My quote didn’t work-here are some nice tights or thigh high socks:

organicclothes.com/
organic cotton tights women and children

sock-dreams.com/_shop/edit/index.php

women and children’s tights and over the knee socks

mytights.com

tights, hose, and stockings-if they don’t have it, I don’t think it exists. Has a section for ‘tall’ tights.

 

[sing]

Since some of the guys have chimed in, I’ll add my two cents.

Ladies, a skirt or dress can be very provocative. Pants can be provocative. Loose shirts/blouses, tight shirt/blouses. It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

I have been “distracted” by women who I bet thought they were dressed modestly, and I haven’t given a second thought to some women dressed in that “Hey, look at me!” style.

In some ways it’s all about attitude and who you are, which is visible no matter what you’re wearing. It’s also about body type. Some men find some body types attractive, others don’t. Some women are attractive no matter what they wear.

I think it’s good you ladies want to dress modestly. Just remember, dressing differently from everyone else (skirts when everyone is wearing jeans) sets you apart. Hard to blend in when you’re the uniquely-dressed one.

This is somewhat along the lines of what my husband tells me. I wear skirts and pants, and he enjoys the skirts because they are different and grab attention more. I never wear skirts when I’m trying to avoid attention.

Also, my brothers hate to have their sisters around when they are wearing skirts. My brothers friends notice my sisters much more, and not always in Catholic approved ways. My brothers are much more comfortable with my sisters wearing jeans.

 

[beckers]

i just have to interject here, ladies.

i’ve thought this for the past 3 years and have just chuckled to myself everytime these skirt threads come up.

but it’s almost like women don’t realize, that in the effort to wear a skirt to be modest, most men find skirts to be MUCH sexier than pants. Before i was married, when i saw a woman in jeans or tight pants… it was an ‘ahh, whatever’ kind of moment. they’re so common. but when i saw women in skirts, the way they flow and ooze femininity, i actually found them to be quite intoxicating. 1000% moreso than any pant ever could. When i met my wife, the first time, she was with 4 other girls and they all wore pants, my wife had a skirt on. my attention focused on her like a laser.

don’t do it for us, we’ve got the testosterone thing going on, no matter WHAT you wear, our minds are going to be churning… wear the skirts for yourselves.

take it for what its worth.

and as another poster pointed out, Colleen Hammond;'s ideas border on ridiculous, she’s a militant feminist in sheeps clothing.

i can’t add much except thanks for the imput. it deffintely makes me think and chuckle because I guess we women will never learn that it is the fact the we are women that catches the man’s attention.

I personal like to wear skirts just when I just feel in the mood. I like dresses a lot especailly the no-clingy ones because then i don’t have to worry about wearing all those “suck-me” in undergarments.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

i can’t add much except thanks for the imput. it deffintely makes me think and chuckle because I guess we women will never learn that it is the fact the we are women that catches the man’s attention.

I personal like to wear skirts just when I just feel in the mood. I like dresses a lot especailly the no-clingy ones because then i don’t have to worry about wearing all those “suck-me” in undergarments.

I enjoy the sucker-inners, but I am crazy
I bought one of those Spanx ones. WOW!!! A whole dress size went fifz

 

[deb1]

i just have to interject here, ladies.

i’ve thought this for the past 3 years and have just chuckled to myself everytime these skirt threads come up.

but it’s almost like women don’t realize, that in the effort to wear a skirt to be modest, most men find skirts to be MUCH sexier than pants. Before i was married, when i saw a woman in jeans or tight pants… it was an ‘ahh, whatever’ kind of moment. they’re so common. but when i saw women in skirts, the way they flow and ooze femininity, i actually found them to be quite intoxicating. 1000% moreso than any pant ever could. When i met my wife, the first time, she was with 4 other girls and they all wore pants, my wife had a skirt on. my attention focused on her like a laser.

don’t do it for us, we’ve got the testosterone thing going on, no matter WHAT you wear, our minds are going to be churning… wear the skirts for yourselves.

take it for what its worth.

and as another poster pointed out, Colleen Hammond;'s ideas border on ridiculous, she’s a militant feminist in sheeps clothing.

You are getting a woman being attractive confused with modesty. A woman can both be modest and still attractive enough to knock your socks off-think of Grace Kelly before she became a bride.

I think that some men are attracted to modest women because they admire a woman with self respect. These are the type of men that such women wish to attract anyway, so its a win-win situation.

 

[deb1]

Since some of the guys have chimed in, I’ll add my two cents.

Ladies, a skirt or dress can be very provocative. Pants can be provocative. Loose shirts/blouses, tight shirt/blouses. It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

I have been “distracted” by women who I bet thought they were dressed modestly, and I haven’t given a second thought to some women dressed in that “Hey, look at me!” style.

In some ways it’s all about attitude and who you are, which is visible no matter what you’re wearing. It’s also about body type. Some men find some body types attractive, others don’t. Some women are attractive no matter what they wear.

I think it’s good you ladies want to dress modestly. Just remember, dressing differently from everyone else (skirts when everyone is wearing jeans) sets you apart. Hard to blend in when you’re the uniquely-dressed one.

Again, being modest does not mean unattractive. A very, very attractive woman in a potato sack is going to get more attention then an ugly woman running around naked. That is just life.

I hate to tell most guys this but modest dress-pants or skirts-has little to do with attracting or not attracting guys and more to do with honoring God and the woman’s own self worth.

 

[thechrismyster]

You are getting a woman being attractive confused with modesty. A woman can both be modest and still attractive enough to knock your socks off-think of Grace Kelly before she became a bride.

I think that some men are attracted to modest women because they admire a woman with self respect. These are the type of men that such women wish to attract anyway, so its a win-win situation.

Grace is not a good standard… she was simply beautiful, in a strata unto herself. ( but still, just under my wife’s attractiveness (honey if you read this ). you could have put her in a sack and it’d be sexy

http://www.poster.net/kelly-grace/kelly-grace-photo-grace-kelly-6206436.jpg

http://www.monroegallery.com/showcase/images/Hepburn_Kelly.jpg

you know, there are some that will respond that the dress shes wearing is immodest. please tell me about it. i enjoy the laughs i get from reading crazy responses.

Women can believe what they want, but for the most part, as a rule of thumb… that dress you think is modest is far sexier to us than a hillary clinton pantsuit anyday.

thats all i’m saying…do it for the right reasons… because you WANT to wear a skirt. nothing more or less.