tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post3691130243684763973..comments2023-06-16T16:08:23.446+01:00Comments on Edinburgh Housewife: Not Another Modesty LectureMrs McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-33398941485072541842015-04-28T03:47:52.160+01:002015-04-28T03:47:52.160+01:001990? Cool! I was born that year. I am therefore v...1990? Cool! I was born that year. I am therefore vintage :)Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992516879346846271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-15516087126907282172015-04-27T17:08:47.648+01:002015-04-27T17:08:47.648+01:00To be fair, though, nobody is talking about the si...To be fair, though, nobody is talking about the sixteenth century when they are talking about "vintage." The vintage in vintage shops always means from the 1920s to 1990. Of course, the skirts in the late 1960s, early 1970s were way shorter than the average skirt in 1980. <br /><br />Currently we're very down on showing too much cleavage, but we're okay on showing a lot of leg, as long as the legs look nice. Still, I think fashion magazines rule that if you show cleavage, you have to cover up your legs, and if you show leg, you have to cover up your cleavage. If you show off both cleavage and leg, then even the fashion magazines are cross with you. Meanwhile, this whole wearing trousers and showing your legs stuff would have scandalized the living daylights out of all Europeans from the beginning of history until 1920. Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-65526977631021771752015-04-27T17:00:12.800+01:002015-04-27T17:00:12.800+01:00Julia, in so far as I can be definite about anonym...Julia, in so far as I can be definite about anonymous comments, that was definitely not PPS. Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-53170205347161344282015-04-27T16:10:46.740+01:002015-04-27T16:10:46.740+01:00Nicely said, Clare...great point about the definit...Nicely said, Clare...great point about the definition of the word "modest." Domestic Divanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-52805531192117689082015-04-27T10:33:32.501+01:002015-04-27T10:33:32.501+01:00PPS, is that you?PPS, is that you?Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992516879346846271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-27836255821648892842015-04-27T10:33:04.334+01:002015-04-27T10:33:04.334+01:00 I KNOW, RIGHT? Check out the sixteenth century. I KNOW, RIGHT? Check out the sixteenth century. Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992516879346846271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-25094980530669524482015-04-27T09:36:27.130+01:002015-04-27T09:36:27.130+01:00Well, if we're thinking Thomas' time, we&#...Well, if we're thinking Thomas' time, we're also in the time of codpieces and long-toed shoes (yes they were trying to be obvious). Truthfinderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00937672867378660928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-86417422373146977602015-04-27T08:57:52.459+01:002015-04-27T08:57:52.459+01:00But why is this anonymous?
We like vigorous deba...But why is this anonymous? <br /><br />We like vigorous debate on this blog, not anonymous scolding. Your reference to Thomas and to pray are helpful, but your holier-than-thou remarks are not.<br /><br />Meanwhile my reader is certainly a Catholic. She is a Catholic woman who very rightly wonders why chastity speakers are worried about women's clothing turning men's heads, when men don't even seem to see real-life women in public anymore, let alone turn their heads. <br /><br />I do wonder what 'harlots' wore in Thomas's day. Thomas is great fun. It would seem from 169.2 that as long as you do not dress with the intention of inciting men to lust, as a hooker does, you're okay. Meanwhile, wives are encourage to dress in sexy stuff for their husbands, lest the husbands "fall into adultery." To transpose our beloved Thomas into the 21st century, I recommend we have a quick look at the girls having a cigarette break behind their place of stripping employment and not dress like that. Also, that we do not employ such mean arts as breast implants, lip implants, fake tan, fake eyelashes and ridiculously high, high heeled shoes--also the provenance of strippers. <br /><br />169.2 is a challenge for most of us, for Thomas is most definitely against "feigning beauty" with make-up but okay with "covering disfigurement." Thus, if you are pale with illness or scarred, it is okay to wear a little foundation, but normally not. <br /><br />I believe it was a lot easier to incite men to lust in the 13th century than it is now, thanks to/depending on 21st men's viewing habits. At any rate, if you put on clothes to "look nice" and not to "incite lust" you're okay. I do not think Thomas would have the slightest problem with anyone inciting men to ask them to dance, so if at a dance where what good dancers wear, i.e. the appropriate shoes and attire for the dance form. And don't get drunk and slop around squeaking "I'm so drunk!"<br /><br />Thomas, interestingly enough, says that the same goes for men. Men are not supposed to dress to incite others to lust. I cannot imagine what men could wear to incite women to lust (unless they work out like crazy and then wander around shirtless), but naturally a lot of them might be inciting other men to lust. So there's something chastity speakers might mention once they have finished making the girls feel rotten. Seraphic Singlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17161836752822561316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-27354916579131009402015-04-27T06:55:52.778+01:002015-04-27T06:55:52.778+01:00Yes, I do agree that the reason to dress modestly ...Yes, I do agree that the reason to dress modestly is not only for the sake of others but also for our own dignity, thank you Seraphic!<br /><br />I think people tend to worry but 'modest' can also be used to mean 'neither too much, or too little' eg: "She served a modest amount of dessert." Maybe the food analogy is not a perfect one, but to dress modestly perhaps we should be thinking 'Neither too tight, nor too loose and baggy'. Perhaps knee length does not have to mean below-the-knee and perhaps shoulders covered does not mean long sleeves at all times. Regardless of length, I think modest should imply that your clothes are washed, ironed if necessary, fit you, and suit you.<br /><br />I think modest also encompasses wearing the right clothes for the right situation, bathers at the beach but not bikinis, pajamas in hospital but not to school, work boots at work but not at Mass etc. Lately we have been getting homilies on the fact that everyone should dress up for Mass - wouldn't that be nice! I love seeing guys in suits.Clarenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-32484732176280555092015-04-27T02:38:01.925+01:002015-04-27T02:38:01.925+01:00I wonder if the author of this question is catholi...I wonder if the author of this question is catholic: "Why, therefore, do I have to worry about being "modest"?...<br /><br />If she is Catholic, the answer is simple: GOD.<br /><br />Modesty is a virtue. It´s not about "in my opinion"... "I think", etc... <br /><br />St Thomas explains what modesty is about (IIª-IIae, q. 169 a. 2)<br /><br />The problem with "modesty clothes" is phariseism... You "look" modest, but you´re not...<br /><br />That´s why we need to pray to Our Lady to be modest, just as we need to pray to be pure... just as we need to pray...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-65385493315963518152015-04-27T00:12:32.427+01:002015-04-27T00:12:32.427+01:00Sheesh... I always got frustrated by the people wh...Sheesh... I always got frustrated by the people who were like, "but vintage clothes were so much more modest!! Blah, blah, blah..." Seriously, has no one ever looked at pictures of girls from then? Or seen historical paintings?? Low necklines, short sleeves, well tailored clothes abound!! Puritan culture in America has affected a lot of where the modesty talks come from... The only thing that was off limits was legs it seems... A mending heartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-9473082183020528452015-04-26T20:05:07.951+01:002015-04-26T20:05:07.951+01:00We know, we watch "Mrs Brown's Boys."...We know, we watch "Mrs Brown's Boys."Gabbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13307116304179835358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-21060385434423973302015-04-26T18:27:43.377+01:002015-04-26T18:27:43.377+01:00Reply to Aged P: Or get your mother to make it! ;-...Reply to Aged P: Or get your mother to make it! ;-DMrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-4765151583003887652015-04-26T17:05:59.181+01:002015-04-26T17:05:59.181+01:00...or make your own.
Aged P...or make your own.<br />Aged PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-57525949576152174462015-04-26T15:13:04.398+01:002015-04-26T15:13:04.398+01:00Lol! Somebody really should!!
I love this article...Lol! Somebody really should!!<br /><br />I love this article!! I know people who (not kidding at all!) won't let their DAUGHTERS watch the new Cinderella movie because of the lowish-cut dresses. Never mind the fact that it's probably one of the loveliest movies to come out from Hollywood in years, or that we are talking historically accurate costume . . . GAH. booklovernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-45701914820816450892015-04-26T09:55:08.246+01:002015-04-26T09:55:08.246+01:00The ante on modesty has been truly upped (or downe...The ante on modesty has been truly upped (or downed). Nowadays modesty does not mean "Oh gosh, can I wear spaghetti straps?" It means not having breast implants. Someone should inform the chastity speakers. Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-40896310393554958402015-04-26T09:53:24.814+01:002015-04-26T09:53:24.814+01:00What a hoot! You have discussions with your dad ab...What a hoot! You have discussions with your dad about what men find distracting? Personally I would never ever ask my dad such a thing. He was born during the war, so I am thinking men born when he was born are still distracted by ankles. Hee hee! (Just kidding, Aged P.)Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-59253487303298022152015-04-26T09:15:32.570+01:002015-04-26T09:15:32.570+01:00Gah. Modesty (TM); Chastity (TM); Theology of the ...Gah. Modesty (TM); Chastity (TM); Theology of the Body (TM). They're pretty much brands now, and I'm OVAH it. Good and true ideas and all that, but could we have something different for once? And I personally think that the importance of Modesty (TM) is waaaaaay overblown. It's important, but it's not the most important thing. I saw an attractive and scantily clad woman get on the train the other day and walk past a group of teenage boys. Not a single head turned. This Modesty (TM) thing seems like a massive take.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992516879346846271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-42133411175014290092015-04-26T08:56:34.811+01:002015-04-26T08:56:34.811+01:00Ab Fab! I love that show!
My father told me that ...Ab Fab! I love that show!<br /><br />My father told me that ARMS can be distracting to men. He didn't say that women have to wear sleeves at church (I wear sleeves all the time anyway), but he said that it could be a distraction. That would never have occurred to me. <br /><br />However, my father was born in 1953, far before the advent of porn-on-tap, so maybe men of his generation are different than those born post-1970.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992516879346846271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-23650490602679614472015-04-25T22:53:24.323+01:002015-04-25T22:53:24.323+01:00I agree with you about the dignity issue. It isn&#...I agree with you about the dignity issue. It isn't a matter of how good one's figure and face may be, for one's age or for any age. It's that, by a certain age - say 40ish, one ought to have outgrown the need to show off one's assets, which always carries a connotation of begging for approval. Those who have arrived at a degree of confidence should have no need to beg for it, in words or gestures. <br /><br />Just as verbal boasting by the young (especially children), is amusing and even charming, but becomes much less so in adults in their prime, so does boasting involved in flaunting one's body or even in wearing the kind of clothes that scream "look at me!" no matter how well they cover one. (In other words, fellow-females, it's probably best to avoid the purple leather Versace jacket, alas.) I would apply this to men, too; a 60-year-old man looks silly driving a flashy sports car or wearing motorcycle leathers. I would make two exceptions to this: a very formal event like a ball permits women a certain leeway when it comes to cleavage and bare arms. Even so, we should always use this permission with a certain caution, showing no more than one asset at a time. The other exception is of course a very informal setting like the beach or one's own backyard. <br /><br />Clio<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-61833891070754827522015-04-25T17:45:57.548+01:002015-04-25T17:45:57.548+01:00Well, indeed. I am not a huge fan of "below t...Well, indeed. I am not a huge fan of "below the knee" myself. Hopefully the 14 year old's rebellion will be to wear her hemline right smack to her knee. ("Take that, Mom!") Sadly, a little creativity with the shopping would turn up LOVELY clothes. Frankly I think most of the clothes on the high street (main street with clothing stores) are ugly, the immodest being just as ugly as the modest, and the answer is either to frequent the higher end shops or to search the internet. Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-53050122854527801472015-04-25T16:49:26.734+01:002015-04-25T16:49:26.734+01:00How many cheers can I give this post?!! Especially...How many cheers can I give this post?!! Especially the last paragraph. I run in some circles where I see lots of frumpiness. I am heartily sympathetic to all manner of budget constraints, as well as the body image struggles of pregnant/new moms, both of which can make clothes shopping extra difficult. But my heart ached for the 14 year old daughter of a woman my age, who was protesting the uber-strict modesty requirements of her parents (hemlines below the knee, necklines to the collarbone...). When she told her mother those clothes were ugly, her mother basically said, "But they are modest, and that's what's important." Goodness knows what she will buy when she's independent and making her own choices.Domestic Divanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-62133260051187373352015-04-25T15:51:20.175+01:002015-04-25T15:51:20.175+01:00Sorry about their language, by the way. Trinny and...Sorry about their language, by the way. Trinny and Suzannah are a bit earthy by North American standards. You should hear what British people say on TV after 9 PM.Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-16661918623281219172015-04-25T15:49:14.346+01:002015-04-25T15:49:14.346+01:00Very annoying. And there are helpful books by Trin...Very annoying. And there are helpful books by Trinny and Suzannah about dressing well for your body type in every British charity shop. If not in the UK, see the following http://trinnyandsusannah.com/. Mrs McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095035617334068201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-670426779858438488.post-63897104579034599642015-04-25T14:53:54.454+01:002015-04-25T14:53:54.454+01:00Also check out the "Longer Lengths" sect...Also check out the "Longer Lengths" section of modcloth.com.<br /><br /><br />This was hilarious! Can I also point out the near impossibility for some women of hiding their cleavage/boobs, and they would look like sacks if they tried? Also the unfair double standards whereby some busty, constantly flirting women are given a pass on flirtatiousness and mildly hot clothing, whereas other busty women (same general size and shape) get glares if they wear party clothes because they are normally so prim and proper. Like, "Hey, Maryann, stop acting like Ginger. O HAI, Ginger, how are you today, hahaha." Typecasting. It's annoying.sciencegirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16596410801889249167noreply@blogger.com