How Should We Then Dress? Part 1: To Start With.

I'm hoping this post will end my writers block. Seriously. I can't seem to write a blog post, a letter or a comment where this darn train of thought doesn't push it's way to the front and demand to be acknowledged. Just one problem: I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to say. And I had no intent to make it a "series". But write it I guess I must, so here goes.

I have come to the point in my life where I think I might hate clothing. The thought of moving to a place where it is optional is getting to be more and more appealing. I'm kidding. Mostly. But really, think about how much of our lives revolve around clothes: dressing in it, washing it, drying it, folding it, putting it away, packing it away, giving it away, buying it, re-selling it, heck even making it. Sheesh.
I used to be (read: pre-marriage and pre-children) pretty dang stylish. And I made most of my clothes. Wake up early on Sunday, not like anything in my closet, whip out something before church. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. I made my wedding dress folks. Then enter pregnancy, nursing and 5 children later my figure ain't what it was. I'm sort of okay with that, the figure thing. But I just couldn't find anything in the stores that I liked style wise to dress this new lumpier figure. Weight is now slowly coming off and guess what I learned? Much to my chagrin, now that I am several sizes smaller than I was this time last year, as sure as I was that once I lost the weight to fit into size_____ I still can't find clothes I like. Fashion didn't change when my size did. Rats.

I grew up in the homeschooling circle, and that, if you haven't noticed, can be a little subculture of it's own. We didn't have any strict dress code we followed. Most of my clothes were hand me downs, garage sale and thrift store purchases. Most new clothes outside of undies and socks were usually received as Christmas and birthday gifts. And I never thought to question modesty. Seems to me in the '80's and '90's that fashion in general was on the more modest scale, outside of the occasional "punk" groups.
I wore a mixture of jeans and dresses and as I got older, I became more intrigued by the Amish, Mennonites and what my mom dubbed "Denim-ites". The very small number of people we new who wore dresses all of the time were always dressed nicely, and were friendly and cheerful. Denim-ites seemed to think that sour cold expressions showed your devotion to God and your realization that life is somber and to be taken seriously you unwholesome-jean-clad-giddy-charismatic-Christian-you.  Don't you know that the more it looks like you shut your eyes, reached into the closet and wore whatever you pulled out, the closer you are to God? That girls should be wearing dresses that are passed down from their older sisters and are 3 sizes too big and boys should be wearing clothes passed up from their little brothers and are at least 3 sizes too small? If the girls aren't tripping on their hems, and the boys don't have 4 inches of white sock showing between their tennis shoes and  pants hem, while being slowing choked to death on their buttoned-to-the-top shirts, well. You must not take 1 Timothy 2 very seriously. Nobody will look at you dressed all nice and think "Wow, I bet you're a Christian!" Nope, takes a stained up jean jumper and ill-fitting clothes to spread the Word of God. People look at us and *know* we are Christians yessrireebob.
I would like to say I'm exaggerating, but. I'm not. I go to our home school convention every year. I also know that you *can* buy decent clothes at the thrift store (if you're not me. I'm somehow the exception, can't find diddly.)
 I will now insert that I have no idea of how many people read this blog, nor what their background is, so, if you are at all offended by this it was not directed as an insult. Unclench. Maybe take a little break from reading. If you don't come back I won't be hurt.
But think about it: If you are a non-believer, and see 2 groups of people- one somber and modestly attired in Denim-ite wear, and the other group dressed like- let's say mmmm- the Duggars (modestly attired, happy, having fun), who would have the better chance at making you think "Boy, I want to check out this Christianity thing more" ?

That will have to do it for today, I have baking and dishes to do, but since I feel like I should include some sort of picture I will take this monstrosity from several years ago:

Scary and horribly proportioned on me.