Interested conservative/"ultra" conservative dress

[EasterJoy]

Well, then wear what you want, but if you’re getting this upset on the Internet (towards people who have mostly just taken the time to try to give opinions) then I don’t know how you’re going to deal with people who are going to openly comment on you in real life, but you better find a way to deal with it because if you look like you just came out of the 1800s, people (and I disagree with anyone who mocks another’s self-expression) are going to make comments.

Also, I’d question whether you hate modern clothing or the people and ideals that you associate with modern clothing.

Good luck. It sounds like you think it’s you vs. the forum, but we’re trying to help you out (at least I am) or else we wouldn’t be bothering to type anything.

It is possible to prefer one kind of clothing without that being a comment on what anyone else wears.

They ARE. ALL of them. I HATE them.

Forgive me for actualyl hoping to find a sense of community, love, and family in the church. It’d be nice to find that SOMEWHERE in my life, and everyone SAYS Christians are all about love. OH WELL. Guess it’s all a lie, like everything else is. SO much for feeling Like I can be ACCEPTED as a PART of something.

Now, now. Take a deep breath. You’re getting hassled about your taste in clothing, not burned at the stake. People sometimes treat those who do not like peanut butter with chocolate in a similar manner; it is just a minor provincialism in taste that takes itself too seriously. You can survive it.

You are not alone. Between you and me, while there have been some years where the fashions suit me, there have been many other times in my lifetime when the spring or fall fashions have rolled out and I have been thankful I can sew.

Cover yourself modesty, don’t let your life get wound up in looks at the expense of substance, but after that, wear what you like if that is important to you. If others who don’t like what you like to wear make it their business to make you uncomfortable where you are, move to the left coast or New Orleans, or any place else where people don’t get too wound up about what you wear, as long as you don’t get wound up about anybody else. (If the “What Not to Wear” people ever visited Portland, they probably had to be flown out on an emergency medivac! ) My guess, however, is that if you don’t ask, most people with any manners know to keep their mouth shut…relatives excluded, because they own you.

 

[LightBound]

HAAHA I doubt it. Over the last three years, do you have any idea how many things CAF members have told me I’m going to hell for?

Uh, according to your profile, you joined CAF a month ago. I was trying to offer you some support.

I will still pray for your peace with this.

 

[Megan7]

I’d wear it in a heartbeat! I love CattleKate! There is nothing Amish or Mennonite about those styles on that page.

Shabby Apple is another good source as someone mentioned.

You might also like this website: aprilcornell.com/

Thanks!

 

[Et_Cetera]

Calling me UGLY sure seems un Christian.

No one knows what you look like.

We’re all different people on here. I’m more liberal and sometimes really disliked on this forum, but I keep going and trying to have good discussions. Just because some people called your clothes ugly or said you were doomed, it does not mean that everyone here feels that way. This forum is a bunch of different people behind computers.

Anyway, I have to go. Ironically, I’m going shopping.

 

[L_piperatus]

Uhhh…this is not how all women dress. There are classy, modern clothing options. I dress well and in a modern style, but it is in no way immoral or trashy like you have described. Anyhow, this woman can dress however she likes. She asked for the opinion of the Internet, and that’s what she’s getting–a collection of opinions. In the end, no one is going to go to her house to take her clothes away. I’m tired of this idea that modern, stylish clothing = trashy. That is not the case at all. Real fashion has elegance. You’ve described people who don’t know how to dress with tact or who are at the beach.

Yeah, I’m afraid it’s still my “Miami Beach indigestion” talking.

I apologize for painting an unbalanced picture and suggesting that all modern dress is trashy. It could be that I was exposed to way too much trashiness and immodesty in Miami Beach, and I just can’t stop regurgitating it.

 

[Megan7]

Hi Miguelita,

Thanks for starting this thread! I have really enjoyed looking
at all of the links provided. I had no idea they existed So, thank you!

Please do not feel bad because of some people…just ignore those comments, and
look at the positive ones, I noticed some really nice dresses .

Pray for people to have more charity towards others, but do not let it get to you…
There is nothing wrong with you :hug3:, you do not have to be mainstream or of this world… We just have to live in this “valley of tears”, without letting mainstream society
affect us…
I also think its a bit hard to find modest, feminine, pretty
dresses in most shops. So, this thread is helpful to a lot of us!
I hope other nice ladies will continue to add links to this thread.

Again, I truly appreciate you starting this thread, and the links provided!

God bless you!
Take care,

PAX

 

[Miguelita]

I’m sorry for my harsh words and causing a scene. I’m sorry if I offended anyone, truly.

 

[LightBound]

Do you know how easy it is to rejoin this forum?

I thought that was against forum rules…

 

[Miguelita]

I thought that was against forum rules…

it is, but I can’t say it’s enforced in any way.

 

[NSFrame]

“Part of being modest and feminine is dressing in a way that makes you look beautiful, and wearing costume-ish clothing simply is not feminine nor beautiful. Rather, it’s weird and off-putting.”

translation- YOU CAN’T BE PRETTY IF YOU DRESS THAT WAY, SO YOU MUST BE UGLY.

That’s not the translation. The translation is that the first thing people are going to think about is why you are wearing such strange clothing, not looking at your personal beauty.

 

[Miguelita]

Like I said, I’m sorry. I let my emotions get away from me.

 

[Lucy_Spencer]

Closed Pending Moderator Review.

 

[Monica4316]

Hello, I have a question for the ladies/families here. Have any of you had a personal reform in dress after a conversion, reversion, or at any point in your spiritual life?

I reverted to the faith about 4 years ago, and I’ve recently decided I want to start dressing differently. I grew up in shorts and tanks and the like, and I’ve no problem with them, or pants, sleeveless shirts, etc, but ever since I was a little girl I felt that I was a lady and I wanted to dress like one, and that God wanted me to reflect the feminine ideals I held as a part of my Catholic faith. No issue, right? many women today are doing the “dresses only” thing, going for more traditional attire.

Well, I’ve always been drawn especially to old-fashioned gowns. Regency to Victorian to Edwardian, and especially to ruffled prairie dresses. In late high school, I started wearing long peasant skirts and jumpers and button up blouses and denim dresses, all of a fairly modern sense, though. But now, being away from a judgemental family, I’m feeling drawn again to show my personal sensibilities of modesty and feminine dress with the long, collared dresses I’ve always thought were so pretty. WE have a large German menonite population here, and their pretty dresses always make me more aware of my own style of dress, and my desire to follow my sense of personal dignity. I feel so joyul, feminine, and find my prayers, my religious studies and my Church attendance are much more orderly and focused when I feel like I’m dressed to reflect my beliefs.

I still feel somewhat self conscious, though. The clothes I want to wear are NOT fashionable at all; think FLDS in the nineties; wide ruffled collars, pintucks, patterns with roses and trellis flowers. I don’t want to dress in a way that suggests I’m a Menonite, or Amish, or fundamentalist mormon, bt I do find the style of clothing they wear reflects what i want to show in my Catholic devotion.

Anyway, in conclusion, what are your thoughts on Catholics following an ultra-conservative style of dress? I’ve seen sites on the PLain Catholics, but I don’t mean that simple, as I enjoy lace, patterned clothes and varied necklines. Do you think a Catholic can dress this way without being seen as a wrong religion? Do you know anyone who’s made a change to something like this?

I know this is an old thread but I just came across it… I also felt drawn to dressing modestly after becoming Catholic (I’m a convert), and I try to follow St Padre Pio’s guidelines for modesty. I wear only skirts, and they are all lower mid-calf, ankle-length, or full length. I don’t dress in a “Victorian” way though, - my clothing is kind of simple and I just wear skirts and blouses. The skirts are usually simple and a bit flared and the shirts are either casual, button-up blouses, cardigans, or turtlenecks. I feel like often it’s different from what people wear today, especially people my age, and I guess my clothing isn’t that “fashionable” - and based on today’s standards I guess it is “ultra conservative”, and I wear full length skirts in the summer - but it’s fairly simple and not from any particular time period (except maybe the 30s or 40s? not sure lol… but I shop at regular stores or second hand store sometimes for the skirts. I’ve also bought skirts online from places like “new creation apparel”).

I think that there’s nothing wrong with being really conservative in modesty, because I think to be honest, our culture is desensitized to immodesty and has gone in the wrong direction in this regard. I think maybe your question is more about the style rather than the modesty… to be honest, I do kind of like the “prairie dress” style. There’s a lady at my parish who dresses this way and somehow seeing her makes me feel peaceful. I think it’s because it looks innocent, pure, modest, and reminds me also of good and innocent things. Do you think maybe it’s the associations you have with this type of dress?

I don’t really know how to respond though, and I’m not sure if you’ve thought more about this since the original post and what your thoughts are now. I think that if you’re worried about standing out too much, it’s okay to just integrate aspects of this (like the fabrics) and see how that goes. ? I don’t know! I think regarding making it obvious that you are Catholic and not another religion, - what about wearing a crucifix and/or a medal of Our Lady, over the clothing?

Hope that helps at all and doesn’t confuse you further, I don’t really have answers but I just wanted to say that I can relate in some way with feeling drawn to being more modest than our society and I do like the old fashioned sort of dress, I wish it was the fashion today.

God bless you!

 

[Monica4316]

I think any “fashion” that becomes a way of life say like punk is taking the place of meaning in ones life. Seems to me Conservative Catholics (esp. trad) are so caught up aesthetics they miss the point…sometimes. I know I have for a long time attended trad parishes, it’s understandable since the Tridentine Mass has been so censored and along with all the “trappings” really the beauty of the Mass. I get it- but I don’t think a woman in the 1940s attending a Latin Mass dressed like she lived in the 1880s- dress was modest and in fashion because the Latin Mass was the contemporary Mass.

By dressing from another time - in a way we are placing the Mass out of context.

I guess the difference is that today, dress isn’t that modest- with some exceptions. In the 40s it was more modest, now it’s not, and you really have to try to be modest, and then you feel like you stand out. I attend the TLM and I wear longer skirts and modest tops. It’s pretty hard to find them, and even when I do, - mine don’t look like the prairie dresses but they don’t look fully “modern” either, because they are longer and because of the cut. I’ve had to basically give up the idea of looking completely modern, because it’s not going to work in many cases. I don’t think we “have” to look modern, and like the OP, I also just don’t really “like” modern dress.

I guess what I’m saying is that in wanting to dress modestly, many people do find that they look less “modern”, - but that’s just how it is. They might be wearing things from regular stores - but it’s the amount of coverage, that makes it look more “old fashioned”. Frankly, that’s just something I’ve come to accept, that this is how it’s going to be.

 

[mlz]

Personally, as long as you are dressing in respect of yourself (in honor of God) and others and remain true to the teachings of the Catholic Church you are just fine. (although different to some…but ok!) God in his creation did not create all exactly the same but had love for diversion within His boundaries and allows this. Remain strong in your faith and devotion to Him within the Holy teachings of the Church He founded and is with to His Return!!! Be strong in the faith and love of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist and devote youresel to the teaching of the Holy Catholic faith within the teachings in the Cathechism of the Cathoic Church which is a wonderful guide to faith and holiness. Blessings to you,my love in our Lord Jesus the Christ, Amen!.
mlz

 

[SusanneT]

I know this is an old thread but I just came across it… I also felt drawn to dressing modestly after becoming Catholic (I’m a convert), and I try to follow St Padre Pio’s guidelines for modesty. I wear only skirts, and they are all lower mid-calf, ankle-length, or full length. I don’t dress in a “Victorian” way though, - my clothing is kind of simple and I just wear skirts and blouses. The skirts are usually simple and a bit flared and the shirts are either casual, button-up blouses, cardigans, or turtlenecks. I feel like often it’s different from what people wear today, especially people my age, and I guess my clothing isn’t that “fashionable” - and based on today’s standards I guess it is “ultra conservative”, and I wear full length skirts in the summer - but it’s fairly simple and not from any particular time period (except maybe the 30s or 40s? not sure lol… but I shop at regular stores or second hand store sometimes for the skirts. I’ve also bought skirts online from places like “new creation apparel”).

I think that there’s nothing wrong with being really conservative in modesty, because I think to be honest, our culture is desensitized to immodesty and has gone in the wrong direction in this regard. I think maybe your question is more about the style rather than the modesty… to be honest, I do kind of like the “prairie dress” style. There’s a lady at my parish who dresses this way and somehow seeing her makes me feel peaceful. I think it’s because it looks innocent, pure, modest, and reminds me also of good and innocent things. Do you think maybe it’s the associations you have with this type of dress?

I don’t really know how to respond though, and I’m not sure if you’ve thought more about this since the original post and what your thoughts are now. I think that if you’re worried about standing out too much, it’s okay to just integrate aspects of this (like the fabrics) and see how that goes. ? I don’t know! I think regarding making it obvious that you are Catholic and not another religion, - what about wearing a crucifix and/or a medal of Our Lady, over the clothing?

Hope that helps at all and doesn’t confuse you further, I don’t really have answers but I just wanted to say that I can relate in some way with feeling drawn to being more modest than our society and I do like the old fashioned sort of dress, I wish it was the fashion today.

God bless you!

Thank you for re-starting this I’m glad I’m not the only one !