In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Clothes (May) Make the (Wo)man.”
How important are clothes to you? Describe your style, if you have one, and tell us how appearance impacts how you feel about yourself.
To think of when I first developed a love for clothes I have to flashback to mid-1970’s and think about wine colored gauchos, a leather shoulder bag and a mood ring. I was just a kid, but I remember feeling “put together” and a general sense of well being when I was dressed nicely, as opposed to my “play clothes”.
Unfortunately, I went through middle and high school and my younger adult years putting way too much emphasis on how I looked and what I had on. I was influenced, like most of us, by my peers and the current trend in Glamour magazine. Oh, how I wish I could make young girls and women understand that their heart and what’s inside is so much more important. And that most of what they try to live up to in a magazine isn’t even real.
I even failed my own girls sometimes when they were younger, by spending so much time in front of the mirror second guessing an outfit, or lamenting about a zit or perceived weight gain. I didn’t fully realize the impact that my self-absorption and self-consciousness could have had on them.
It’s important to instill confidence in our daughters but it should come from who they are, who God created them to be, not how they look or what they wear. I tried, but I don’t think I hammered this point in all the way.
My current style would have to be classic/feminine. I’ve never been bullied by current trends. If I don’t like it, I’m not wearing it. I wasn’t pleased at all to see high waist-ed pants come back and I’ll never have wings again, wear crocs or spend a lot of money on fake nails. I’m not interested in advertising for Coach or any of the other logo-ridden accessories, but if I truly love it, I’ll buy it. Again, it’s motive. In the past, I would buy something expensive just to flaunt it; now I see the error of my ways.
Modesty is important to me as I want to be remembered as a reflection of Christ and not someone who is overly consumed with themselves. Do I always succeed in that quest? No, but I’m learning.
I still love to buy clothes and I try to always look nice but my heart’s motives are different now. Of course, I am courting 50, and with that comes a strength and wisdom I just didn’t have at 20 (or 30). As long as I honor God and my husband is happy, no other opinion really matters to me.
Long walks and dark chocolate 
You are on the right track. So proud of you.