DRESSING WELL

November 2, 2015

After church yesterday, Mom and I waited for the mall to open, and queued up beside two old ladies, who I believe were both retired teachers.  One commented on the state of dress of the young people who frequent the mall—how, many of them just wear shorts and rubber slippers like the mall is an extension of their home.  The other said that it is often like that in church too, when some of those in attendance wear short dresses and skirts, thus being a walking temptation to others.

I could only smile and nod in agreement.  Who am I to contradict such wisdom?  I have observed too that the young these days seem to have lost a certain sense of decency.  There might be others who are more sensibly dressed but who seemed to have lost all inhibitions when engaging in public displays of affection with their significant others.  While I do not condemn such practices, still, isn’t there a proper place for such things?

It seems to me that schools and many homes these days have stopped teaching basic manners and right etiquette.  We can hardly see any gentlemen anymore.  Wherever one goes, it’s every person for himself.  Old people are made to stand in buses. Lines and privileges for senior citizens are not respected.  Young people talk back to their parents and yell at other elders, be they relatives or strangers.  But the most non-verbal form of rebellion I see is the way of dressing. 

I grew up from a poor family but I never will forget the admonition of my elders and my teachers who belong to generations past who said that clothes can make or break a person.  Wear something that demeans your person and other people will lose their respect of you.  One does not have to wear brand-name clothes or colored hair or make-up.  As long as the clothes are neat and clean, and the hair properly kept, one is presentable already.  My best lifetime reminder would be the words of Audrey Hepburn which my maternal grandmother still says even on her deathbed, “your clothes should be tight enough to show you are a woman, and loose enough to show you are a lady.”  It simply means that your clothes should at best fit you properly.  If they are too loose, people will see a casual and irresponsible attitude in you.  If they are too tight, you would look like a whore (no offense meant).

I’d like to quote an oft-misinterpreted scripture from 1st Timothy 2:9-10 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works”.  Many fundamentalists take the stand that this prohibits women from beautifying themselves, but in the book of Revelation, the ‘bride’ (GOD’s people) is adorned for Him.  And this admonition is not only applicable to women, but to men too.  Hence, beautifying ourselves is not bad per se, but it should not be our main purpose in life.  Rather, as mandated even by our country’s Constitution to all (supposedly) government servants, we should live modest lives. In this regard, modest living would mean good works manifested in being decent—both in attire and action, prudent, and well-mannered.