Author Topic: A few questions about modest dress (Read 8541 times)

Nadir · « **Reply #30 on:** July 09, 2012, 03:35:44 AM »

Quote from: Sede Catholic

Quote from: Nadir
Quote from: Sede Catholic

Penitent Woman, throw out all immodest clothing.
Cut it up first, so that no other woman can sin by wearing it.
DEFINITELY do not give it away.

No!! Don't cut them up. You can reuse the material to make little frocks for your daughter. Or maybe some other mother can use the materials.

Maybe Penitent Woman could be permitted to re-use the materials herself, perhaps.

But she has a grave moral obligation not to give away immodest clothing.

It would clearly be sinful to rely on the vague, amoral possibility that "maybe some other mother can use the materials."

These garments are intrinsically evil.

That gives them a special moral status.

They must be disposed of with great caution.

Otherwise Penitent Woman will be committing a mortal sin.

You do not set aside morality for convenience or practicality.

All sinful clothing should simply be destroyed.

It is just a snare of the devil if people mistakenly believe otherwise.

If These garments are intrinsically evil does it necessarily follow that The materials are intrinsically evil. or would it be evil for "some other mother to use the materials."

Did I suggest setting aside morality for convenience or practicality? Not at all.

In view of PW straightened means, I thought that she might use the morally neutral materials to make a frock for her little girl. Do you see some evil in that?

Many garments which would be considered morally evil can be adapted to make them modest with a little imagination and skill with a needle or sewing machine.

Tiffany · « **Reply #31 on:** July 09, 2012, 05:19:26 AM »

I know a mother of 11 children under 17 years old that does that. She adapts clothing she finds at the thrift store or that is given to her for her daughters. It's often much less expensive and time consuming than sewing it from scratch. I've learned to sew a dress but have not learned to adapt clothing. It's something I want to learn.

Some wool sweaters cannot be unraveled and used for yarn because of how they are done at the seams. At the park day on Friday I saw a mother using felted sweater peices to make pot holders. She said she also makes door stopper from them too. She buys bags of them when the thrift store has their winter clearance every year.

clare · « **Reply #32 on:** July 09, 2012, 05:28:15 AM »

Quote from: Nadir

1. The ideal, and the most feminine dress is a skirt, but if it is necessary to wear pants wear over them a long top that reaches to knee level.

I think that just covering the hip area would suffice, say to mid-thigh, give or take.

That's about the length of the top I wear over tracksuit trousers whenever I have a physio appointment, anyhow.

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #33 on:** July 15, 2012, 02:26:11 PM »

Quote from: Nadir

Many garments which would be considered morally evil can be adapted to make them modest with a little imagination and skill with a needle or sewing machine.

You gave me a brilliant idea. I was just looking over the sundresses and thinking that I could probably easily turn them into aprons. I LOVE aprons, particularly vintage ones, and some of the dresses I have are patterned in a way that I could create some vintage looks.

I also have a really pretty white cotton sundress that I think I could make into a long white skirt.

I'm thinking there could be many opportunities for using fabric to make headcoverings.

I'm like giddy with excitement now. :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

Yay for projects!

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #34 on:** July 18, 2012, 02:00:26 AM »

Are these acceptable?

http://hydrochic.com/shop-by-sport.html

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #35 on:** July 18, 2012, 02:10:48 AM »

http://www.dressingforhisglory.com/swimwear.html?p=3

Tiffany · « **Reply #36 on:** July 18, 2012, 10:22:22 AM »

Are 1 piece bathing suits that are generous with fabric not acceptable while swimming? I don't mean tanning or just "at the beach" but swimming laps or doing an aquatic class for exercise? I swim for exercise and wear a one piece swimsuit. My son also swims and he wears a rash guard t-shirt and swimming shorts. I wear dresses and he only wears full length pants when not doing sports.

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #37 on:** July 18, 2012, 12:39:23 PM »

Tiffany, I think the consensus is that a one piece tank suit shows too much (especially legs) and it "highlights" the feminine curves. I don't know if the little skirts are much better, but the men in particular seem to think they are still immodest.

I am praying about this a lot because I have a family gathering coming up and we are supposed to go boating.

Philomena · « **Reply #38 on:** July 18, 2012, 02:39:07 PM »

Quote from: PenitentWoman

Tiffany, I think the consensus is that a one piece tank suit shows too much (especially legs) and it "highlights" the feminine curves. I don't know if the little skirts are much better, but the men in particular seem to think they are still immodest.

I am praying about this a lot because I have a family gathering coming up and we are supposed to go boating.

Hi PW, I had this site bookmarked and wanted to share it with you. I have ordered from them and have been very pleased with their custom work. I think they have some very pretty and feminine-looking swimwear while still being modest. In addition to their custom work, patterns can also be ordered directly from them, if you wish to sew your own.

Simply Modest Swimwear

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #39 on:** July 18, 2012, 06:03:23 PM »

Quote from: Philomena

Quote from: PenitentWoman
Tiffany, I think the consensus is that a one piece tank suit shows too much (especially legs) and it "highlights" the feminine curves. I don't know if the little skirts are much better, but the men in particular seem to think they are still immodest.

I am praying about this a lot because I have a family gathering coming up and we are supposed to go boating.

Hi PW, I had this site bookmarked and wanted to share it with you. I have ordered from them and have been very pleased with their custom work. I think they have some very pretty and feminine-looking swimwear while still being modest. In addition to their custom work, patterns can also be ordered directly from them, if you wish to sew your own.

Simply Modest Swimwear

Thank you! :smile: I'll check it out soon.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #40 on:** July 18, 2012, 08:37:51 PM »

If perhaps you don't have $100 to spend on a swimsuit, I'd recommend getting some men's board shorts -- make sure they're knee length, but that probably won't be difficult -- and wear them with a properly-fitting* t-shirt. You probably already have some sort of swim top to wear under the t-shirt. Just make sure and go with dark and/or thick materials that aren't see-through.

Remember that modest behavior is as important as modest clothing.

*normally, you can't really go too wrong with loose-fitting clothing, but if you'll be in the water, you don't want anything too loose.

Tiffany · « **Reply #41 on:** July 18, 2012, 08:47:12 PM »

This is a great idea! Thank you.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #42 on:** July 18, 2012, 11:23:41 PM »

That is a VERY good idea, Mater! I absolutely don't have the money to spend on swimwear.

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #43 on:** July 19, 2012, 07:49:20 AM »

I definitely do not have that kind of money to spend, but it is nice to know what is out there. I enjoy looking at clothing. Ordering a pattern might be a good option.

I don't know if I could personally do the men's shorts thing. I would probably feel so unfeminine it would be uncomfortable. Not to mention my family already thinks I have lost my mind, haha. My mom will probably have me committed if she sees anymore "drastic changes."

I have decided that if I go boating I will just forget about swimming and wear a light summery skirt and short sleeve top. While I have been making wardrobe changes for months now, I have really felt some serious conviction over the past couple of days, and I believe I need to focus on other things first and just let the Holy Spirit work on me a little more. Ideally, I could evaluate whether or not I should be wearing a swimsuit when I have a husband to guide me. If I come up with something modest and feminine and I can afford it/afford to make it, then fine, but right now I'm just not ready to make that call for myself.

I want to form consistent habits that set an example for my daughter even if that means giving up some activities for now. I want to teach her better than I was ever taught.

SouthernBelle · « **Reply #44 on:** July 19, 2012, 09:02:03 PM »

When I swim, I wear a halter-style top with a skirted bottom. I ordered my swimsuit from Lands End (they're a bit pricey) but I was at my local Walmart today and noticed that they sell similar swim separates there. $16 for the top, and $11 for the bottoms. They also have some board-style shorts obviously made for swimming for $11 also.

We swim at public pools in our town, and when we go to the beach we choose family-friendly beaches in the South. For about the past 5 years or so, I've noticed that most women wear some form of these skirted bottoms or shorts. They're cute and practical, which is something most mothers (whether thinking specifically about modesty or not) appreciate.

It's been ages since I've seen a grown woman in a bikini, or even a regular one-piece swimsuit.