Should I give away immodest clothing?

[kage_ar]

A bikini is a neutral garment, a bikini can be modest or immodest - remember, we are Catholic, not Amish

 

[Sam88]

Mary, you’ve got the right idea. If in your judgement, certain items are not suitable for anyone, I wouldn’t give them away. Others can buy what they wish, but at least you will not have facilitated their inappropriate choice.

 

[surfinpure]

A bikini is a neutral garment, a bikini can be modest or immodest - remember, we are Catholic, not Amish

Would that you might read the words of Our Lady of Fatima regarding fashions that would horribly grieve the heart of God.

 

[mesquite_magic]

Send them to me and I’ll cut them up for quilts. Minus the bikini that is I don’t think spandax would work in a quilt

Kim

 

[surfinpure]

Send them to me and I’ll cut them up for quilts. Minus the bikini that is I don’t think spandax would work in a quilt

Kim

Part of my problem is that several of them contain quite a bit of spandex! In my pre-reversion life I went to dance clubs quite a bit.

 

[kage_ar]

Would that you might read the words of Our Lady of Fatima regarding fashions that would horribly grieve the heart of God.

Again, that is private revelation and we are not bound to any private revelation - also, I’ve read the accounts of Fatima, there was no list of approved and unapproved garmets. A two piece bathing costume is modest in some places/times and immodest in some places times.

You have a strong personal conviction, that is a good thing. I respect your right to have those convictions and live them. I also have my own, and wearing a two piece swim suit is fine for me.

They are your clothes, burn them if you want - why did you ask here if you had your mind made up already?

 

[lizaanne]

In my pre-reversion life I went to dance clubs quite a bit.

What in the world is wrong with going to a dance club???!! So long as you are not grinding against other dancers or poles and dressing appropriately, I see nothing wrong with going out dancing. I’ve gone out with a group of EXTREMELY Catholic girlfriends to a local club that plays 70’s and 80’s music and we have a blast!!

Don’t go so extreme that you allow your quest for modesty and a holy life suck any life you have out of you. There is a way to be holy and still enjoy this life that God has given us. All things in moderation.

~Liza

 

[estesbob]

What in the world is wrong with going to a dance club???!! So long as you are not grinding against other dancers or poles and dressing appropriately, I see nothing wrong with going out dancing. I’ve gone out with a group of EXTREMELY Catholic girlfriends to a local club that plays 70’s and 80’s music and we have a blast!!

Don’t go so extreme that you allow your quest for modesty and a holy life suck any life you have out of you. There is a way to be holy and still enjoy this life that God has given us. All things in moderation.

~Liza

This all reminds me of a Cole Porter Song:

In ancient days a glimpse of stocking was considered quite shocking but now ,anything goes.

Every piece of clothing in the OPs closet would be considered immodest in Arab Countires and her bikini would be considered over dressing on many Europand beaches.

On thing we can all agee on-only 1 out of a million men look good wearing spandex swim trunks.

 

[Em_in_FL]

On thing we can all agee on-only 1 out of a million men look good wearing spandex swim trunks.

 

[surfinpure]

Again, that is private revelation and we are not bound to any private revelation - also, I’ve read the accounts of Fatima, there was no list of approved and unapproved garmets. A two piece bathing costume is modest in some places/times and immodest in some places times.

You have a strong personal conviction, that is a good thing. I respect your right to have those convictions and live them. I also have my own, and wearing a two piece swim suit is fine for me.

They are your clothes, burn them if you want - why did you ask here if you had your mind made up already?

1. It was never my intention to start a thread on what is or is not modest.
2. I didn’t have my mind made up already. I wanted to hear some suggestions on what exactly to do with these abominations, because in their present form they don’t belong on anyone’s body ever again.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Honestly- if you feel the way you do about specific garments, chuck them. If you feel like they could be used by others, donate them.
If there is an artist coop near you, take the spangly spandexy ones over there and offer them up for artistic use.

Clothing itself is neutral. You mentioned a skirt with a slit. I acquired some clothes from a taller friend of mine. One of which was a skirt with a long slit. I am 5’3". I had the skirt length altered, and the slit that went to her thigh is slightly above my knee. She swore no one would be modest in the skirt, but I am. It’s the same with the jeans you mentioned. I I sew, and I get clothes from the thrift store to use as fabric. Trust me, some weird things get donated, but they are perfect for someone. The backless dress? I know people who wear formal gowns over jeans with long tshirts and call it “a look” or “expression”. You’d be suprised.

Put all the clothes in a box and move on.
And as Lisa said, don’t go over board.

 

[surfinpure]

What in the world is wrong with going to a dance club???!! So long as you are not grinding against other dancers or poles and dressing appropriately, I see nothing wrong with going out dancing. I’ve gone out with a group of EXTREMELY Catholic girlfriends to a local club that plays 70’s and 80’s music and we have a blast!!

Don’t go so extreme that you allow your quest for modesty and a holy life suck any life you have out of you. There is a way to be holy and still enjoy this life that God has given us. All things in moderation.

~Liza

First, please refrain from advising me on whether or not my life has been “sucked” out of me since choosing to live more modestly. I consider myself a greater authority on that particular subject.

Second, please refrain from making assumptions based on what little information was given, as I don’t recall having gone into detail about the types of establishments I used to frequent. Suffice it to say, they weren’t all laid-back 80s clubs.

Third, this really doesn’t pertain to the topic of the thread at all.

The topic is: What ought I to do with my hoard of immodest clothing? Apparently, the majority of posters believe I ought to either wear it anyway or give it away, “darn” the consequences.

 

[OneAugustKnight]

You might as well throw away immodest clothing, if you don’t intend to wear it or use it for rags. I can’t imagine anyone actually wanting to wear someone’s old bikini or daisy dukes. Even out of the trailer park/domestic violence crowd I never hear, “I buy my tube tops at Goodwill.”

 

[Sr_Sally]

You might as well throw away immodest clothing, if you don’t intend to wear it or use it for rags. I can’t imagine anyone actually wanting to wear someone’s old bikini or daisy dukes. Even out of trailer park/domestic violence crowd I never hear, “I buy my tube tops at Goodwill.”

Of course, you wouldn’t use sparkly, strech fabrics for your rags anyway. But you’d be suprised what ends up on the racks at Goodwill.

 

[Sr_Sally]

1. It was never my intention to start a thread on what is or is not modest.
2. I didn’t have my mind made up already. I wanted to hear some suggestions on what exactly to do with these abominations, because in their present form they don’t belong on anyone’s body ever again.

Find a friend or aquaintance who can sew and ask them what can be done to alter the clothes, or to turn them into something completely different–spandex couch cushions? Check out the craft books at your local library and see what suggestions they have.

If that all sounds like too much trouble or money, then just toss them. Even if they were modest, you do not have to donate old clothes.

 

[OneAugustKnight]

You could make them into purses or handbags and sell them at a craft show or garage sale. You don’t even need to sew for that, you could do it with a hot glue gun, or stitch-witch.

 

[OneAugustKnight]

Of course, you wouldn’t use sparkly, strech fabrics for your rags anyway. But you’d be suprised what ends up on the racks at Goodwill.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Goodwill had 4 for $1 thongs, but I still don’t think anyone would ever buy and wear them.

 

[surfinpure]

Thanks, Sr Sally and OneAugustKnight for bringing some much-needed levity to the discussion! Yes, and come to think of it, I might take some of my sparkly spandex and some fabric glue (hard to screw that up!) and make some cute costumes for the kids. They don’t care if it’s a little sloppy – it’s dress-up!

 

[Pat_the_Cat]

No, in this instance I’m quite certain simply allowing someone else to dress immodestly in my clothing would be the sin of scandal, or contributing to another’s sin.

I think you already answered your own question here.
I just want to congratulate you in stepping up to the challenge, and taking the modesty thing seriously. Well done :tiphat: :clapping:

I went through a period a few years back, when i was convicted to get rid of a load of inappropriate music and films that I owned (worth $1000s).
at first I considered giving them to charity, but then felt that I would be encouraging others to pick up what I was asked to “cast off”. then i just thought “Make this an offering of Sacrifice to Jesus. He’ll appreciate it more than anyone.” and i know he did

Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume; and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. ***“It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” *** Jn 12:3-7

 

[surfinpure]

I think you already answered your own question here.
I just want to congratulate you in stepping up to the challenge, and taking the modesty thing seriously. Well done :tiphat: :clapping:

I went through a period a few years back, when i was convicted to get rid of a load of inappropriate music and films that I owned (worth $1000s).
at first I considered giving them to charity, but then felt that I would be encouraging others to pick up what I was asked to “cast off”. then i just thought “Make this an offering of Sacrifice to Jesus. He’ll appreciate it more than anyone.” and i know he did

You make a very good point, Pat. While on the one hand our common sense and frugality tell us not to waste, on the other we must always remember to sacrifice to Our Lord, and to be willing to lay anything and everything at His feet if He asks it of us. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son. Shouldn’t I be willing to cast away any material possession?

One of the things I truly have come to love about Catholicism is that it brings the rubber to the road. Real Catholics are not allowed to separate how they believe from how they behave. Ours is a faith of action, and it is not always easy. But boy is it worth it!