Some of you may have noticed in photos on here that we wear skirts quite a bit. I have been asked countless times the reasons why we do this. I would like to share some of my thoughts on the topic with the lady readers. :)
:::We have a principle of wearing skirts, rather than an “all-time, every-place” rule. So we do wear pants occasionally. Part of the reason I do not wear pants more often is because I have an extremely difficult time finding modest jeans and capris.
This summer, after rummaging through my closet and dresser drawers half-a-dozen times, I came to the realization that I didn’t have a single pair of jeans to wear at camp! Oh dear, I thought, what will I do when I have to ride the horses?
After visiting several “real” stores, (ie, stores where the clothes have tags on them), and coming out empty-handed, we hit the thrift stores. Goodwill was on the top of the list. After arriving there, I headed straight over to the jeans rack, and thought,
“Oh, this won’t be that hard. There are tons of pairs to pick from!” I quickly grabbed a couple, and headed to the fitting room.
Very soon, I found out that it wasn’t quite as easy as I thought it was going to be! The first pair was way too big; the second way too small; and the third fit perfectly, but was so ugly I wouldn’t wear it to anything. Sighing, I headed back out and repeated this process many times with much the same results: too big, too small, too short, too long, too ugly.
By this time, I was feeling exasperated, and thought, “This is so hard! It is so much easier to shop for skirts!”
So this is just one reason why I wear skirts.
:::My father prefers that we wear skirts because we look more feminine and dressed-up. I have seen that people have a greater respect for us as women when we wear skirts. The Lord has asked us as Christians to not conform to patterns in the world. People are convicted in different ways about what exactly this means. Wearing skirts and dresses is certainly not (may I stress this) the only way to do this, but this is one way that the Lord has laid on my parent’s hearts.
Last year, I went through a time when I struggled very much with this. I hated being so different; I was terribly concerned with what others thought about me.
One particular day last November, I was eating lunch with a group of young people. I was the only girl there in a modest skirt, and feeling very lonely, I thought, “This is ridiculous! Why do I have to be so different?” I prayed, and cried out to the Lord to give me strength and contentment. A few minutes later, a young man I had never met before came into the room, and walked immediately over to me and began talking to me. We chatted for a while, and then he said, “I want you to know that I am so pleased with how you are dressed. I love it when girls wear modest skirts.”
Although my purpose is not to get attention for dressing the way I do, I know that the Lord placed him there to encourage me.
:::The Lord worked, and continues to work, in my heart, and now I love, love, love the way I dress!
I surrendered my fear of what others think to the Lord, and realized that
“Pleasing [others] is neither [my] responsibility nor [my] goal.”
-Sarah Mally
I now know that even though I sometimes would rather wear pants because other people do, I should not worry about what other’s think about me.
Holding nothing against those who dress differently from me, yet knowing that I am to obey my parents by wearing skirts.
“And so I learned that what makes any calling noble is its being commanded by God, and what makes anything good is its being given by God; and that honest contentment consists not in persuading ourselves that our things are the very best in the world, but in believing that they are the best for us,
and giving God thanks for them.”
-Raising Maidens of Virtue, pg. 46
God has given me the parents that are “best for me” (the ones He wanted me to have), and He has given my parents the convictions they have. There is nothing wrong with others who dress differently we do. I must submit to my parents, knowing that by doing this, I am honoring my Lord.
Now that my parents have given me the responsibility the choose whether I want to continue wearing skirt mostly, the Lord has given me the desire and inner convictions to want to wear them.
Ladies, now it’s your turn!
Leave a footnote and let me know if you wear pants or skirts mostly, and why you do it.
I want to hear your thoughts on this topic! [grin]
Oh- do I really get to be the first to comment?? :)
I wear exculsively skirts and dresses- although I do have a pair of jeans for wearing under my coveralls when I’m deer hunting.
The first reason I do this is because it is what my parents desire me to do, but it is my personal conviction as well. I believe that wearing skirts is very feminine; in a culture where women have shunned the fact that they are ladies, I want to be a godly example and show that I am glad the Lord made me a woman, with precious things in store for me as I live the life He desires we women to live!
It says no where in the Bible that one has to wear skirts– I have many dear friends who wear pants and skirts, and then some who hardly ever wear skirts! I don’t love my skirt-wearing friends any more then I love my pant-wearing friends.
I also think skirts are much warmer and more comfortable then most pants.
Love You, Bryant!!
First of all, I want to say “bless your heart for your transparency”. Your willingness to submit to your parents and your desire to follow the Lord -truly shines forth. It may often be a challenge to wear dresses all the time – especially the way that our culture is headed – but to follow the Lord’s leading and direction in spite of what man may convey – is truly rewarding. To please our Saviour is our high calling. To shine as lights in this world – brings glory to Him for we are in this world but not of this world!
Bless you, my dear sister! Praise the Lord for your gentle heart in desiring to please Him in all you say and do!
You wrote a lovely post! Blessings!
Since I was a little girl I was always encouraged to wear dresses or skirts on the right occasions (we lived on a farm that was nearly always cold so wearing skirts except to church etc wasn’t practical), and my late Grandma would always make me beautiful outfits (which I am keeping for my little girls one day!).
When I was older and we moved near to the coast, I continued to wear skirts fairly often, but pants were a regular outfit too. Then in March this year, two friends and I decided to wear one dress each for 35 days. They were our ‘little brown dresses’ and that is all we wore. (Yes, we did wash them!) Since then, I have worn pants only about four times! I will never again wear them unless really necessary… I have worn skirts horse riding, hiking, etc.
I don’t have anything against anyone who doesn’t wear them, because it is up to them, but I believe that God intended for women to wear womens clothes (and indeed, the bible does mention this), and visa versa.
My parents are happy that this is what I have chosen, and I have their support, although they wouldn’t think less of me if I didn’t wear them so frequently.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Bryant :)
In Christ,
Bonnie
Bryant, I know how difficult it must be to stay true to yourself and not be swayed by the culture. I really appreicate that you do not sit in judgment of those who do wear pants and love and serve God with all their hearts. I mostly wear pants, because I hate wearing pantyhose—ick ick ick!!! Who ever invented them, never had to wear them!!!! In the bible, there are several verses in the old testament that talks to the way a women should dress. The two that come to mind are: (Yes I am sure your shocked that I know any bible verses) Deut. 22:5, The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neigh shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. The second that comes to mind is 1 Tim 2:9-10, In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with borided hair, or gold or pears, or costly array, but which becometh women professing godliness with good works. Both of theses scriptures could be interperted to mean that you should not wear clothes that pertains to man (however, everyone wore dresses back then- so I am unsure how we determine what pertains to a man; unless we look to society) and you should not wear jewlery. I am glad to see that God has given you the inner strength to stand for what you feel is right for you and what honor’s your parents, and you do this without judgment of others.With this being said, I love you very much. I hope this does not seem like a lot of babble….
As a clarification to my earlier comment, I’d like to say that when I said “it says no where in the Bible that one has to wear skirts”, I did not mean that it doesn’t address women’s clothing in the Bible. It doesn’t however say “women wear skirts, men wear pants” anywhere in the Bible, which is what I was stating.
Here’s a comment from a male.:)
It is very encouraging to see young ladies such as you and your sister dressed modestly and trying to be modest. At college, there are so many that don’t try and it makes it hard for us males who are just trying to get a good education. When you DO dress modestly, though, you stand out in a crowd.
Thanks for sharing your feelings and thoughts with us! :)
A comment from an other guy.
About 1 Timothy 2:9 “…that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety…”
First, when the apostle Paul wrote that letter to Timothy (a young Pastor in Ephesus) he didn’t wear pants…he never wore pants. In those times they wore robes, more similar to “skirts” than to pants. The robe, usually worn flowing, was girt up by a girdle when men ran, labored, or fought. (See Job 38:3 and 1 Peter 1:13).
Second, who said pants were only for man? Not the Bible.
I am of the belief that woman CAN dress (or adorn) themselves with pants or skirts in a decent way. Will you scowl a Scotsman for wearing a quilt over in Scotland? It’s the way Romans dressed and that’s how men up in Scotland dress as well (mainly in festive days).
But as of my likes, skirts really make a woman “feminine” and cute.
Woman can dress with a pair of MODEST pants or jeans. I have nothing against it.
On the other hand, I dislike “girls” wearing tight clothing. I consider that wrong, Biblically wrong and may I add the word “ugly” to it also.
So glad to see you have a heart of gold, willing to please the Lord and your parents in all this.
Thanks for “opening” this subject. There are only a few true ladies in this world that are willing to do what is right.
Andreu
I wear skirts, at first because my parents said we should, now, because I want to! I remember thinking at first, “No way, I am NEVER going to give up my pants!”, but now, I LOVE skirts, and don’t like to wear pants. (Even though I do look great in them. ;) In fact, last Sunday was the first time I have worn pants in almost a year, I think.
And like many people who wear skirts, I don’t look down or dislike people who wear pants, skirts are just my personal preferance. Why? because they are beautiful, modest, and elegant. And I must say that unless you have something under it, they can be cold in the winter, in the summer they sure beat pants for coolness!
I too have gone horesback riding, played sports, hiking, ect. in a skirt too, and found that skirts work fine. (Actually, it’s fun riding horseback in a skirt. Makes one feel… nostalgic.)
And I agree so much with you about feeling like I’m sticking out, and that hating to be different, so I was in for a pleasent surprise when I attened my first public school class (I’m homeschooled), and found I didn’t really care what my fellow classmates thought of me. God certainly blessed me there!
I wear pants only and have never been faced with the idea that I should wear only skirts until recently. I feel as though God is tugging at my heart and wanting me closer to him and in order to do this, he wants me to be more holy. What I mean is I believe he wants me to dress more feminine to separate myself from modern society in order to grow closer to him. I’ve been reading articles and bible verses and praying every night trying to become clear of what I should do. I know, in time God will tell me, but from what I’m getting now, I believe I should be wearing skirts and I want to. I love skirts, so I don’t know why I don’t wear them more often. I think they are so elegant and beautiful and make a woman so much more natural and attractive. Reading this article really helped me so thank you and God bless you!