Women's jumpers: YEAH or NAY

[kbharbert]

There are way more choices than ugly jumpers. And it bothers me that really traditional Catholic mothers seem to go out of their way to make themselves look dowdy. God made women beautiful and they should honor that. When women equate virtuousness with looking really dowdy, that causes young women to reject the whole package.

Yes, I’ve been vehement on other posts about the young girls going to the other extreme. But there is a middle road. I’ve always managed to find skirts that go to my knees at least, capri pants, long enough shirts, flowing dresses. I wear earrings and makeup and do my hair. I believe if I look attractive (not sexy) that I can maybe attract people to what I have to say about God. Face it, people in our society have more credibility if they look good when they say something. Just an indictment of our society.

No one has EVER accused me of looking immodest. The younger generation wants to look nice. If we only hold out to them that to go to heaven we have to dress like the Amish, for all intents and purposes, they’re going to throw the baby out with the bath water. In this case, the baby is the Infant Jesus.

It’s been a pet peeve with me for years that some seem to equate following God with looking like hell.

Happy medium, people!

**actually there are a NUMBER of womens groups out there that WOULD call you immodest because you’re wearing pants.
i LIKE the ‘dowdy’ look…it’s a wash and wear kinda lifestyle. **

 

[Jacafamala]

**actually there are a NUMBER of womens groups out there that WOULD call you immodest because you’re wearing pants.
i LIKE the ‘dowdy’ look…it’s a wash and wear kinda lifestyle. **

Here’s dowdy done up very cool. I like it!

thefamilyhomestead.com/denimskirts.htm

 

[laudamus_te]

mmmm correct me if I’m wrong but I was raised in the Traditional church and I don’t ever remember rules such as these for modest dressing.

That’s because you have been raised in the modern era. Traditional standards of modesty are now considered ridiculous, mores the pity. I don’t think there were ever “rules” per se, but the issue of immodest dress, particularly among women, has been addressed by Popes Pius XI, XII, Cardinal Siri, Padre Pio to name a few.

 

[Dakota_Maverick]

how funny about the desperate part!

 

[Dakota_Maverick]

Men are by nature very visual and I think a wife needs to provide some some nice visuals for her dh. I don’t think jumpers help much for that.

 

[lizaanne]

Men are by nature very visual and I think a wife needs to provide some some nice visuals for her dh. I don’t think jumpers help much for that.

Yes - I do agree with this. I love it when my DH tells me I look nice. I can’t imagine I’d get (as) much of that in I were in jumpers.

~Liza

 

[Biblioassistant]

Right now I am wearing black capri pants, a sleeveless cotton t shirt, and a short sleeved cotton blouse open over the t-shirt. It’s 81 outside and I am comfortable.

Tomorrow it’s supposed to be 95 degrees and I plam on wearing capri pants and a sleeveless t-shirt.

And if you men think that’s immodest - you know what - I don’t care. Because it’s going to be hot. And I have no air conditioning.
And I am going to be comfortable. And you are adults, so control yourselves.

(Sleeves to the elbow indeed!)

 

[jc-servant]

That’s because you have been raised in the modern era. Traditional standards of modesty are now considered ridiculous, mores the pity. I don’t think there were ever “rules” per se, but the issue of immodest dress, particularly among women, has been addressed by Popes Pius XI, XII, Cardinal Siri, Padre Pio to name a few.

I don’t think anyone is saying that being modest is “ridiculous” but it also does not have to equal “jumper” or “dowdy” either.

I find that a jumper is not a flattering style on most women because it turns them into a giant rectangle. In contrast a perfectly modest outfit (and more fashionable/flattering) can consist of a shirt/blouse that tapers to the waistline with a neckline high enough to conceal all cleavage and a full skirt that hits below the knee somewhere. There is nothing immodest about having a waistline that is covered by fabric.

There are some very flattering summer dresses out this year that remind me of a retro 1950’s style in a non-see-through cotton or linen with a 3/4 sleeve, nipped waist (with or w/out wide belt) and a flaring skirt to below the knee. They look cute with flats, pumps or even sandals (and no slip is needed for many fabrics). They would look pretty chic with a nice hat for church if someone wants their head covered.

voguepatterns.com/item/V8353.htm?tab=dresses_includes_designer&page=2

voguepatterns.com/item/V8316.htm?tab=dresses_includes_designer&page=2

 

[Cat]

I’m going to post something very uncomfortable, so if you are a young person, you might want to go talk to mom or dad.

I will be interested in comments.
Spoilers.
I am a woman, 50 years old.

I made a Holy Hour last week. During the Holy Hour, a “traditionalist” couple came into the Adoration Chapel. I know them somewhat–very kind, loving couple with a lot of zeal for the Lord and the Church. I really like them.

She was wearing a long dress, jumper style, with a floral pattern. It covered everything, neck to ankles. It was made out of a knit fabric. She also wore a head-covering.

So far, so good. I nodded hello and went back to the Lord.

Then she knelt on the ground and prostrated herself.

I could see every inch of her extremely feminine body outlined underneath that jumper as she lay on the floor.

I am not a homosexual and I don’t do porn or even erotica and women’s romance novels. But I experienced a slight feeling of arousal, not for her body, but knowing that this is what my husband sees when he looks at my body.

Had my husband been present, I’m pretty certain that he would have experienced full-fledged erection. It was extremely erotic-looking. I was quite uncomfortable and believe me, I looked away QUICKLY and begged pardon. I know that having the thought enter my head is not a sin, but dwelling on it and using it as an occasion for sin is.

Now perhaps others wouldn’t feel that way at all. Maybe others wouldn’t notice.

But you see, sexual response is determined a lot by background.

It just goes to show that what you wear doesn’t matter two hoots. ANYTHING can be sexually arousing to the right person.

So maybe all women should just stay home and hide, eh?

 

[tamccrackine]

It’s a little ironic given the topic but, the jumpers most stores are showing this season are super, super short.

I like Cold Water Creek. They always have pretty clothes.

coldwatercreek.com/W07/Products/product.aspx?deptid=1&cmPageViewId=1&productid=29172&ensembleid=33093

How pretty is that? Or this for summer party:

coldwatercreek.com/W07/products/product.aspx?np=true&productid=33004&ensembleid=37798&Skn=generic

Modest equals pretty.
Pax Christi,
Ann

:bigyikes: :bigyikes: :hypno: Wow those are expensive!

I had one of these made for me (by this mama) and I LOVE it http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e296/tamccrackine/RedsSkirtFront.jpg

I’m not a huge “jumper” fan but I have a few that I will wear. They are easy to move around in and contrary to popular belief, you can do anything in them (to include gardening). I do go more for the skirts (hippy-ish ones if you will) but they do look charming, modest and I just like the look and feel. Pair it up with a nice button down shirt (or even a nice T-shirt) and there ya have it.

 

[jc-servant]

It figures I would notice this thread today. I just added 3 jumpers to my wardrobe!!

I’m normally a jeans and T-shirt sort of girl, but we’re heading into summer now, and I am fed up with trying to find modest shorts. (I’m big and tall, and all the shorts are too short, and cutoffs look bad!!) So I’ve been looking at dresses/skirts/jumpers. I haven’t worn any of these items in years! (I think all those years of school uniforms made me sick of them).

After trying loads and loads of these things, I finally settled on a basic denim jumper. (Cheap, goes with everything, looks all right). I’d rather wear a jumper than too-short shorts!!

Not sure how tall or “big” you are, but the “city shorts” or Bermudas out this year at The Avenue and Lane Bryant are exceptionally long. I’m 5’10 with a 32" inseam and they are hitting me below the knee. However, they look nicer than capris because they are a straight wide leg with a cuffed bottom (that is undersewn so it cannot flip down the wrong way). They are in dressier fabrics than most capris/shorts, so I can wear them to my casual office with a nice top. These come in sizes 14-30/32, so I would imagine they have a pair that will fit you. My sister is 6’ and a 5x carrying her weight around her waist and she can wear their tall pants in the 30/32 sizes.

The Avenue has a nice selection of “talls” in summer slacks also. They will mail and email coupons if you sign up with them. I have rebuilt my wardrobe (after tossing 4 jumpers) by waiting for their occasional 40% off coupons in the mail and in mailbox flyers (between the grocery coupon sheets). I decided that defaulting to jumpers simply because I had gained weight was a cop out. I now have a nice selection of full skirts with fitted waists that make my waist look smaller and some nice linen dresses that are modest and still from this century’s styles.

avenue.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay
avenue.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay
lanebryant.charmingshoppes.com/pagebuilder/lane_bryant_product_page?item=0545129&pagesize=3

Tif =

 

[tcraig]

That’s because you have been raised in the modern era. Traditional standards of modesty are now considered ridiculous, mores the pity.

Unfortunately, going by the artificial “Marylike Modesty” standards that many trads today insist on upholding as the “rule of modest dress”, many perfectly modest and charming outfits would never make the cut.

The dress I’m wearing today, for example, would not pass muster in many traditionalist circles. It ends right below my kneecap (eight inches below the knee is almost ankle-length on me), the sleeves are short and not 3/4, and the neckline is a total of four fingers width below my collarbone rather than the acceptable two (yes, I measured ).

The funny thing is, I collect vintage clothing and this dress is from the early 1940’s - hardly an era where rampant immodesty flourished.

 

[estesbob]

:bigyikes: :bigyikes: :hypno: Wow those are expensive!

I had one of these made for me (by this mama) and I LOVE it http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e296/tamccrackine/RedsSkirtFront.jpg

I’m not a huge “jumper” fan but I have a few that I will wear. They are easy to move around in and contrary to popular belief, you can do anything in them (to include gardening). I do go more for the skirts (hippy-ish ones if you will) but they do look charming, modest and I just like the look and feel. Pair it up with a nice button down shirt (or even a nice T-shirt) and there ya have it.

ARENT PAINTED TONAILS IMODEST!!!

 

[ElizabethPH]

That’s because you have been raised in the modern era. Traditional standards of modesty are now considered ridiculous, mores the pity. I don’t think there were ever “rules” per se, but the issue of immodest dress, particularly among women, has been addressed by Popes Pius XI, XII, Cardinal Siri, Padre Pio to name a few.

OK I guess I’m just not getting it. Who has set these standards that are being talked about in this thread? Modern day traditionalists? I haven’t been to a TLM in many years. Do all TLM women dress in jumpers or long skirts/three/quarter length sleeves and the two finger neck rule? I went to parachial school in the 50’s taught by nuns with full habit’s and our uniforms had short sleeves and they were just below the knee. I was taught to always dress modestly; but that doesn’t mean we can’t be fashionable. It doesn’t always mean a long skirt and long sleeves. I never saw the sort of modest dress you describe in church; even in the 50’s but folks dressed modestly. They had calf length skirts and dresses back then but that was the fashion.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

The poster about the trad lady prostrating herself at church reminded me of a story. When I was overseas in an Arab country (where they all dress very conservatively), I had a friend who went to a beach in Kuwait. The women were there all covered in head to toe with their chadors. They went into the water. They came out of the water. And the material was all stuck to them at EVERY curve and became transparent and you could see everything! They would have been more covered in an American-style swimsuit.

Sometimes being overly-modest can be self-defeating.

 

[LJN21]

OK I guess I’m just not getting it. Who has set these standards that are being talked about in this thread? Modern day traditionalists? I haven’t been to a TLM in many years. Do all TLM women dress in jumpers or long skirts/three/quarter length sleeves and the two finger neck rule? I went to parachial school in the 50’s taught by nuns with full habit’s and our uniforms had short sleeves and they were just below the knee. I was taught to always dress modestly; but that doesn’t mean we can’t be fashionable. It doesn’t always mean a long skirt and long sleeves. I never saw the sort of modest dress you describe in church; even in the 50’s but folks dressed modestly. They had calf length skirts and dresses back then but that was the fashion.

I go to TLM (and have since I was 8) and I’ve never been taught that was the standard of modesty. I wear short sleeves, some times sleeveless and jeans at home. Most Sundays I were nice slacks to Mass. I guess I don’t get it either

 

[ora_pro_nobis]

Quote:
Originally Posted by paramedicgirl View Post
What the heck is a jumper??? Sounds like something from the 1950’s.
It is a loosely fitted garment, but it can be more fitted, and it usually looks like a sleeveless, long dress. Usually the neckline is low and the armholes are huge. Then the lady wears a shirt underneath it. Often the jumper is a color that will go with several different color shirts, so you can mix and match. This way you can wear the jumper for quite awhile before needing to launder. Just the shirts need to be laundered.

Thanks for clearing this up, in Britain a jumper is what I suppose you might call a sweater - a knitted top, usually woollen, long sleeved with either a crew neck or a v-neck. I have spent much of this thread being very puzzled as to what the objection was!
For the record I nearly always wear a long skirt, but that’s because of my age and figure.
Men -I don’t get the antipathy towards short sleeves or sleeveless blouses - if you find arms arousing there’s something wrong with you
I’m quite bemused by the strength of feeling about how other people should dress, if someone tried to tell me how I should dress, I’d tell them where to go

 

[tcraig]

Thanks for clearing this up, in Britain a jumper is what I suppose you might call a sweater - a knitted top, usually woollen, long sleeved with either a crew neck or a v-neck. I have spent much of this thread being very puzzled as to what the objection was!

Well, I guess you didn’t see a previous thread where someone asked if women should wear pants!!

 

[ora_pro_nobis]

I did, I just figured you guys were very strange

 

[Jacafamala]

:bigyikes: :bigyikes: :hypno: Wow those are expensive!

I had one of these made for me (by this mama) and I LOVE it http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e296/tamccrackine/RedsSkirtFront.jpg

I’m not a huge “jumper” fan but I have a few that I will wear. They are easy to move around in and contrary to popular belief, you can do anything in them (to include gardening). I do go more for the skirts (hippy-ish ones if you will) but they do look charming, modest and I just like the look and feel. Pair it up with a nice button down shirt (or even a nice T-shirt) and there ya have it.

Ooooh, very pretty! I garden in skirts, too. I like a little hippy stuff.