My husband and I used to watch ‘What Not To Wear’ on TLC regularly. It’s not so much that we are interested in fashion, but in seeing the transformation of the people when they wore their new wardrobe. While the gist of the show is about the clothing, the bigger message is how a ‘new look’ can change a person’s outlook about themselves, their friends and family, and the world in general.
Since our clothing is an outward projection of our inward character and personality, how we dress ourselves reveals how we regard ourselves. It tells others the value we place on ourselves, and thereby giving them the parameters in which to respect us.
The one consistent thing that we see, especially among women and girls, is the need to dress in a less than a self-respecting way in order to be liked, accepted, or appreciated. It’s not just ‘teens’, but women of all ages who use apparel for the attention that is absent in their lives. Unfortunately, it is usually negative attention they receive. In a lot of situations, their life is in such a state that negative attention is better than no attention.
I am by no means suggesting that we go back to Victorian days. This era repressed women in a lot of areas, not just in their wardrobe! However, what I do declare is that us women need to find our true worth, and not settle for anything less than that from the media, Hollywood, and celebrities. Then, we need to teach our children to respect their own bodies enough to dress it appropriately.
Teens have enough going on in their lives with just getting through that pubescent period without the added burden of thinking they have to reveal their bodies to the world to gain acceptance. The clothing choice is just the symptom of the deeper issues that lie beneath the façade of perfection. If we as human beings use our clothing to tell the world all about ourselves, then we should be donning the clothes that better reveal our character, not our body.
What do the images above bring to mind? The girl on the left is comfortable showing off the color of her underwear, but doesn’t want anyone to see her eyes. Is that because there might be pain behind those sunglasses that she doesn’t want anyone to see? Is she more comfortable exposing her body in a public setting than revealing how she really feels to anyone she might meet there?
And what about the girl in the middle? What is her story? Could the fact that she is overweight have her dressing provocatively in hopes for some (male) attention because she has no one in her life that expresses love to her? Could she be trading a few hours of her time seeking sexual attention, when all she really wants is someone to listen to her hopes and dreams, without judgment?
Now, we come to the guy on the right….nothing much jumps out about him, yet his shirtless body reveals tattoos. That doesn’t seem like anything hidden, but he is telling the world to look at what he has done to his body, but not to him as a person. He is saying that others will only see what he wants them to see, which means he feels invaded, and in order to take control of that, he regulates what is seen.
So, what does your choice of clothing say about you? Do you show off your body so that no one will see the pain that’s on the inside? Do you seek sexual attention when all you want is a simple ‘I love you’ without strings attached? Do you make sure any attention you get is focused on an external marking, rather than whatever emotional turmoil that is on the inside?
I would urge any who are measuring themselves by the standard the world uses-to toss that measure away, and be measured instead by Jesus Christ. In him is a measure that will deliver you from the pain of the past.
