Does it really matter what you wear?

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Paris_Blues

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Yeah, does it really matter what you wear?

I mean, like me, young people don’t dress like what a 55 yr. old would wear! 😉 It’s obvious that us young people dress in a way sometimes that would be considered, “highly unacceptable” or “different” but that’s from the opinions of some people who have their own style, which they dislike the style of young people in some cases.

I know as Catholics, we’re to dress appropriately. But what would be truly appropriate then?
 
Paris Blues:
Yeah, does it really matter what you wear?

I mean, like me, young people don’t dress like what a 55 yr. old would wear! 😉 It’s obvious that us young people dress in a way sometimes that would be considered, “highly unacceptable” or “different” but that’s from the opinions of some people who have their own style, which they dislike the style of young people in some cases.

I know as Catholics, we’re to dress appropriately. But what would be truly appropriate then?
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Respectfully, do you really need to ask this question? I think you lilkely know what is appropriate dress–no matter how old a person is, one knows what is right and what is wrong.
 
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Scott_Lafrance:
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Yeah, I wish sometimes!!!😃
 
Paris Blues:
Yeah, does it really matter what you wear?
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Yeah Paris, I think it does matter if your manner of dressing is inappropriate as in, too tight, too low cut, jeans w/ holes in them…you get the gist…
Nice fitting clean clothes are just fine. You should always look your best for the Lord and I don’t mean just on Sunday:yup:
God Bless,
Annunciata:)
 
I think stay away from stuff that would be considered “sexy.” And there s a huge difference between beautiful or pretty and sexy.

Always err on the side of modesty.
 
Keep covered enough but have fun with your clothes. Wear what you want as long as it’s modest.
 
Keep covered enough but have fun with your clothes. Wear what you want as long as it’s modest.

And to Scott:

:rotfl:
 
Poor Austin Powers!
Isn’t he invited to mass too?
I would love to see him there! 😃
 
Apart from the revealing, there’s also the clingy. 😉

My opinion, and everything in this post is my private opinion, is that it’s all in the eyes of beholder. The problem is that, to some extent, we are responsible for what we show to the beholder’s eyes. I’m pretty convinced that even between theologists, churchmen and other wise people, you will find two “extremes”: in favour of the beholder’s own responsibility and in favour of the beholded’s responsibility.

If someone dresses with an express free and conscious intent sexually to arouse, it’s a huge problem. Tempting others to sin is quite serious. It is problematic for someone married or otherwise obliged to stay faithful to someone else. It contradicts “one man and one woman”. It is damaging to the very person himself because it gradually reconciles him with his role as a sexual object rather than a person. The “general public” is probably also regarded as objects in this scheme, if not necessarily consciously. The intention to cause others to lust is pretty direct. Note that the matter may be grave (if the person intends the public to imagine having sex with him, the matter to the best of my knowledge can’t be anything but grave, as it falls under “who looks on a woman to lust for her already commits adultery with her in his heart” - and most certainly so for married viewers and married “wearers”). People often intend the result quite directly, but they don’t always realise the extent of damage that could be done. Consent may be disputable, considering peer pressure among teenagers, the condission of being a thrall to mass culture, and so on. Direct intent to cause others to commit something which may objectively be a mortal sin is a huge problem, and there probably is a chance of mortal sin even in this relatively unimportant case, with the “right” mindset. The problem is, the modern culture promotes that exact mindset. Also, the more persons dress like that, the more will be pressed into dressing like that. Everyone contributes to the general decay.

When someone wants just to look attractive, he still should give a thought to those concerns. There’s a difference between looking attractive and looking *accessible *(and accessible is still different from looking for it). If an average person would find the attire sexually arousing, it’s not really a good idea to wear it (especially if one’s female).

Much depends on the situation, I think. Sunbathing on a beach in a skimpy swimsuit shouldn’t really be bad for a pretty lady, but if she were to teach a P.E. lesson in a class full of teenage boys, the situation would be quite different.

My girlfriend has a rule: if she wouldn’t like Jesus or her parents to see her wearing that, she doesn’t wear it. Simple and effective.

Of course, you must bear in mind that I am as infallible as the Pope…'s parrot. 😃

No matter if they are sinful or not, but I hate thong straps sticking out of trousers and generally underwear sticking out of trousers. Can’t people wear belts? I’m not dressed without a belt.
 
Not that I myself would want someone to sin by lust or anything. But I understand why that would happen depending on the clothes you wear (why, people STILL look even when I’m wearing just plain jeans and a sweater, no big deal! :confused: ) but all right.

The spring and summertime is when I mostly dress “cool”😛 , like is a halter top and jeans all right? Sleeveless shirt as long as your bra strap doesn’t show or anything?
 
What you wear does matter. Your clothing says something about your personality. If you walk around in dirty clothes all the time, you clearly don’t care enough about your own appearance to be bothered to wash your clothes. If you walk around in a short skirt and a tight shirt, others will see you as possibly promiscuous and wanting to show yourself off to every guy that walks by. I know lots of people that dress modestly and still look great. They don’t get noticed for the wrong things, and their clothes don’t send the message that they are easy. People treat them with more respect. None of the girls I have met who dress modestly have been the “fast and easy” type.

I’m definitely not talking about fashion sense here, because some people just can’t put on two things that match. It’s really more about the condition and type of clothing more than whether or not something matches. I’m not offended when I see people with badly matched colors.

I’m 17, and I don’t think that I have to dress like a 55-year-old to be modest, but I do think that my pants shouldn’t have holes in the knees (they become painting/mechanics pants when they get holes), I don’t think they should be excessively baggy, and they should stay at my waist. Low-rise pants?? No. I would never walk around in a tight-fitting white tank top under any circumstances, simply because I think that it is disrespectful to those around me misrepresents who I am. The way you dress definitely matters, and says something about who you are. Well-kepmt vs. messy, someone who flaunts their body vs. someone who doesn’t, etc.

Eamon
 
Paris Blues:
The spring and summertime is when I mostly dress “cool”😛 , like is a halter top and jeans all right? Sleeveless shirt as long as your bra strap doesn’t show or anything?
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A halter top maybe at the beach, never for street wear. Sleeveless maybe for streetwear, but NEVER for Mass.

Mass - shoulders covered, back covered, no shorts, no short skirts, no plunging necklines, no bare bellies, no low rise jeans, no tight clothing.

MODESTY.

Of course, in a day when 12 year olds can buy sweatpants with the name of the school across the bottom - modesty is sliding away fast!
 
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turboEDvo:
What you wear does matter. Your clothing says something about your personality. If you walk around in dirty clothes all the time, you clearly don’t care enough about your own appearance to be bothered to wash your clothes. If you walk around in a short skirt and a tight shirt, others will see you as possibly promiscuous and wanting to show yourself off to every guy that walks by. I know lots of people that dress modestly and still look great. They don’t get noticed for the wrong things, and their clothes don’t send the message that they are easy. People treat them with more respect. None of the girls I have met who dress modestly have been the “fast and easy” type.

I’m definitely not talking about fashion sense here, because some people just can’t put on two things that match. It’s really more about the condition and type of clothing more than whether or not something matches. I’m not offended when I see people with badly matched colors.

I’m 17, and I don’t think that I have to dress like a 55-year-old to be modest, but I do think that my pants shouldn’t have holes in the knees (they become painting/mechanics pants when they get holes), I don’t think they should be excessively baggy, and they should stay at my waist. Low-rise pants?? No. I would never walk around in a tight-fitting white tank top under any circumstances, simply because I think that it is disrespectful to those around me misrepresents who I am. The way you dress definitely matters, and says something about who you are. Well-kepmt vs. messy, someone who flaunts their body vs. someone who doesn’t, etc.

Eamon
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What I meant by 55 yr. old is in general, someone around that age or so would dress more “appropriately” compared to us young people. I dress the way I do not because I want to be considered a “slut” or “easy” but mainly because just want to look good. Besides, you just “go with the flow” unfortunetely 'cause our culture is so caught up when it comes to “dressing” and fashion! In general, I wear jeans and a sweater (in winter) but the style that college people wear.
 
Paris Blues:
Yeah, does it really matter what you wear?
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Dress is communication, very often. If you wear all black and color your hair green, you are communicating something to those around you. Don’t wear what you don’t want to communicate. Also, some places it is not a good idea to be very self-expressive, else you could drown out what you really want to say.

For example, if you are attending a funeral to offer your support to the remaining relatives, you don’t want to interfere with your message of support by having some huge message in your clothing saying irrelevant things. It is more important that they unabiguously hear your support for them. Of course, they may know you well enough for it not to matter, but there are usually lots of other out-of-town folks at a funeral. Go more reserved at a funeral.

Overall, dress in a way appropriate to yourself, and also dress so that people will be drawn to Christ by your example. Take your location into consideration. Be neat and modest. Don’t send signals you don’t mean to send.
 
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kage_ar:
A halter top maybe at the beach, never for street wear. Sleeveless maybe for streetwear, but NEVER for Mass.

Mass - shoulders covered, back covered, no shorts, no short skirts, no plunging necklines, no bare bellies, no low rise jeans, no tight clothing.
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WHAT??? NO SLEEVLESS FOR MASS EVEN!!! :eek: Even if it’s a nice one? I wear a lot of sleeveless shirts when it’s hot out (even in winter under a coat that is, I’m EXTREMELY hot blooded bad!) and not wearing one to Mass is…weird. Sorry.
 
Not to get off topic, but having a nearly 55 year old sis, I wonder just what Paris and the rest of you think 55 year olds wear?

My sister wears. . .tie-dye at home. Bright, bright colors–she’s especially fond of all shades of purple and yellow, don’t ask about her side of the house’s color scheme, you don’t want to know. At work, she wears all sorts of things, from long, long swishy skirts to pencil pants, hats with feathers, wild tropic prints. . .and the occasional velour, cravats, and “man-tailored” oxfords. She wears stiletto heels or cowboy boots, chunky jewelry, and owns enough scarves to stock a small studio. She has jeans of every type, some vintage from HER early 20s. I just finished knitting her the latest style “fur-look” 6 foot scarf. . .in bright purple.

55 year olds aren’t a collection of fashion dweebs or dead from the neck down, not dowdy, dumpy or locked into “a look” that’s a generation old. Really. That stereotype is older than the fashions you probably picture for them.

Working where I do, I actually see at least as much “style” in the 40-60 year old crowd as I do in the 18-25 year old population, especially when it comes to accessorizing. Yeah, maybe we “mature women” have to work a little longer to achieve a “look” than some 20 something who just has to toss her hair for that “natural” look or just slap on lip gloss to be “kissable”. . .but then again, we have more confidence about how we want to look, not just to others but to ourselves. . . We don’t all “have” to have whatever hair-style is fashionable at the moment, whether it suits our hair or not. (And what is up with the “I haven’t washed my hair and just want it to hang in limp layers” look I’ve seen the last 5 years–on models who look like they’re waiting for their next dose of heroin, no less?) We don’t all have to wear halters if it’s de rigueur for that “summer chic look”, especially if we prefer not having grilled or mosquito-bitten backs. We don’t have to wear “the color of the moment” if it doesn’t suit our complexions, or “the designer of the week” if he makes pointy-toed shoes and we like a square toe box. (P.S. There are plenty of 20 somethings who are not slaves to fashion, but they still feel traces of guilt for going “against the grain”. . .and that’s straight from the mouths of my 23 and 19 year old daughters).

No, Paris, you don’t have to dress like a 55 year old. Age is just a number. With your name, you might be interested to know that, in the city of Paris, it IS the 55 year olds who have the style, the taste, the allure, the glamor and the appeal to the vast majority.

Women rule–21, 55, 90 something. God bless us, every one!
 
Tantum ergo:
Not to get off topic, but having a nearly 55 year old sis, I wonder just what Paris and the rest of you think 55 year olds wear?

My sister wears. . .tie-dye at home. Bright, bright colors–she’s especially fond of all shades of purple and yellow, don’t ask about her side of the house’s color scheme, you don’t want to know. At work, she wears all sorts of things, from long, long swishy skirts to pencil pants, hats with feathers, wild tropic prints. . .and the occasional velour, cravats, and “man-tailored” oxfords. She wears stiletto heels or cowboy boots, chunky jewelry, and owns enough scarves to stock a small studio. She has jeans of every type, some vintage from HER early 20s. I just finished knitting her the latest style “fur-look” 6 foot scarf. . .in bright purple.

55 year olds aren’t a collection of fashion dweebs or dead from the neck down, not dowdy, dumpy or locked into “a look” that’s a generation old. Really. That stereotype is older than the fashions you probably picture for them.

Working where I do, I actually see at least as much “style” in the 40-60 year old crowd as I do in the 18-25 year old population, especially when it comes to accessorizing. Yeah, maybe we “mature women” have to work a little longer to achieve a “look” than some 20 something who just has to toss her hair for that “natural” look or just slap on lip gloss to be “kissable”. . .but then again, we have more confidence about how we want to look, not just to others but to ourselves. . . We don’t all “have” to have whatever hair-style is fashionable at the moment, whether it suits our hair or not. (And what is up with the “I haven’t washed my hair and just want it to hang in limp layers” look I’ve seen the last 5 years–on models who look like they’re waiting for their next dose of heroin, no less?) We don’t all have to wear halters if it’s de rigueur for that “summer chic look”, especially if we prefer not having grilled or mosquito-bitten backs. We don’t have to wear “the color of the moment” if it doesn’t suit our complexions, or “the designer of the week” if he makes pointy-toed shoes and we like a square toe box. (P.S. There are plenty of 20 somethings who are not slaves to fashion, but they still feel traces of guilt for going “against the grain”. . .and that’s straight from the mouths of my 23 and 19 year old daughters).

No, Paris, you don’t have to dress like a 55 year old. Age is just a number. With your name, you might be interested to know that, in the city of Paris, it IS the 55 year olds who have the style, the taste, the allure, the glamor and the appeal to the vast majority.

Women rule–21, 55, 90 something. God bless us, every one!
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True. But I’m saying, in general, most 55 or older dress "appropriately. Yes, some older women dress silly but not all.
 
Paris Blues:
What I meant by 55 yr. old is in general, someone around that age or so would dress more “appropriately” compared to us young people. I dress the way I do not because I want to be considered a “slut” or “easy” but mainly because just want to look good. Besides, you just “go with the flow” unfortunetely 'cause our culture is so caught up when it comes to “dressing” and fashion! In general, I wear jeans and a sweater (in winter) but the style that college people wear.
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I was simply carrying your example with th 55-yo thing. I don’t even know how you dress, I definitely haven’t seen you before (unless maybe you live in LA, and we happened to meet at some time). If you want to dress how you do, go ahead, but it sounds like you are acknowledging the fact that you dress along the lines of “sluts” as you called them. That’s your choice, but it seems to me that you know that your clothes talk. I definitely don’t think that your skirts and dresses must be full-length to be considered modest. I’m saying that you can look good without looking slutty.

I’ll be honest, I want my clothes to speak to people. I want them to say, “Here is a modest, intelligent young man who cares about his appearance but doesn’t feel the need to flaunt his physical features because he has confidence and doesn’t need validation from strangers. Here is a generally good kid.”

And as for going with the flow, I neither want nor need to be noticed by my clothing. I happen to know that having a less-than-common appearance (I have the epitome of red hair), for better or worse, gets you noticed. I’ll do the talking, not my t-shirt, thanks. I’d say I’m pretty much unconcerned with modern fashion. I buy clothes that look good on me, and I don’t need the media to tell me how to dress myself in the morning. I generally dress in a manner that won’t make people turn around and stare when I walk into church every day. It’s disrespectful to God, and, unless I’m doing some sports activity or working on my car or painting, I choose to wear clothes that won’t make me feel underdressed for most daily activities (Mass, friends, teachers, etc.). On another end, out of respect for my future spouse, I would prefer to maintain a modest appearance, and keep as much of me as possible for her. It’s a matter of consideration for those around me and God, as well as myself.

Eamon
 
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