And you know what? I know that in some ways that's not really healthy. It's a quick fix, and it's materialistic. I think that's why this trend makes me nervous. We live in such a visual society; sometimes it seems as though people really do believe that being beautiful is the same as being a good person and being ugly is the same as being a bad person. I wish someone would explain to me, in a step by step process, how wearing a three piece suit to Mass makes you a better Catholic. I hope that no one ever explains to me again how wearing a dress makes you a better woman, because as the saying goes, that shit is crazy.
There's a lot of talk about beauty bringing us closer to God, and representing ourselves in a dignified manner because we are made in God's image, etc. Fine, no problem there. I believe in art, beauty, poetry, dignity--all those wonderful things that do bring us closer to God and which I personally have spent my life chasing in my own small way.
But beauty can also become a false god. The pagans loved beauty, too. The Pharisees were obsessed with how they were perceived. If the love of image has been given a higher place than charity and a simple faith, then it's going to harm more than help.
Clothes are just stuff. They're just things. Wearing something beautiful isn't any more special or important than eating a gourmet meal or listening to music.
Anybody who has read up on the history of fashion can see that trends in clothes follow society. They do not cause cultural changes; they reflect them. I believe that this new emphasis on beautiful clothes, while not necessarily problematic in itself, is the result of our visual and perhaps far too virtual society where your image is more important than who you are as a human being. Saying that dressing like an early 20th century aristocrat is going to bring back old-world morals is as silly as saying that the militaristic, uniform-inspired fashions of the 40s caused World War II.
I agree that the relentless pursuit of material goods or placing too much emphasis on external appearances are not admirable behaviors for Christians.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, as you wrote in response to one of my comments, women have a greater sensitivity to fashion and style than men, and there is no reason why you should suppress your interest in these things.
Also, while I believe that women's right to wear pants is hard-won and should be preserved at all costs, from a male perspective I can't help but observe that most men, myself included, believe that most women are at their most beautiful when they wear dresses (more so even than skirts).
Spending time keeping up with fashion trends and picking out clothing that flatters the figure that God gave you can be an act of generosity - brightening up other people's lives - rather than one of vanity, as critics might claim.
I don't think anyone needs to suppress their interest in clothes. I'm not trying to make a grumpy "Why don't you think about your clothes less and charity MORE" type statement. I'm just wondering if people are getting carried away and making appearance into some great Catholic action. And the reason why that worries me is that there is a very slippery slope there--from saying that women look nicer to men when they dress a certain way to men demanding that women do so based on their own imaginary moral high ground. There is also a growing attitude that if you LOOK like a nice Catholic gentleman, there's not a whole lot else you have to do, which is very destructive to society. It's bad enough when women are overly vain, but when men do it, the whole structure collapses. And the whole thing is just so superficial.
DeleteHi Charming! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll admit as a guy, I myself am starting to return to more fashionable dress. Really, it's been an evolution for years. I first started with Randy River (before they went Skater), then an ex-friend introduced me to American Eagle while I also thought to myself: "Hmm, what's my style that is me ... I know! I am a man of the button down shirt. I'm smart, so maybe a little more intellectual?" which then progressed to Guess, which is now taking another turn ... I seem to be thinking about going vintage. This was inspired by a recent book "The Art of Manliness" with accompanying site, as well as a nursing colleague of mine with an interest in antiques/vintage. This is part of an interest not just in clothes, but trying to pick up mature, civilized "Man" skills and decorum, even on a general basis. Looks like you're not the only one!
As for the three piece suit thing, I'll use a quote from my Latin Mass Blog when I created a Q and A for first time EF Mass goers about why we should dress up more for Mass:
"Sub-question: So why dress up man? I love my H-Co tee and sweats and I hate dressing up unless it's hitting the clubs or taking my girlfriend out to a restaurant ...
Answers: You are showing your respect and reverence for the Lord in the tabernacle, as well as for the sacrifice that is re-presented in the Mass for all our sins that our Lord carried out.
Here’s an analogy: Let's say that dinner you will take your girlfriend too is a private invite to 24 Sussex drive in Ottawa with the Prime Minister and his/her family. [I am using the Canadian federal government and our leader here. Think Obama and Whitehouse for the USA.] The private family has world-renowned chefs cooking the most amazing food for your stomach. Are you and your girlfriend going to show up in sweats and a tee shirt, when your other guests have dressed appropriate for the occasion to give respect and dignity to all parties involved? The same principle applies spiritually for the Mass, where the most spiritual food in the form of the Consecrated Host and Blood are offered and consumed in the Holy Mass of all time." How was that?
Now, of course if all one can afford is blue jeans and Goodwill shirts, then of course Jesus will see that they came in their best. Really, he himself ate with sinners and the poor, and I bet you their tunics and whatever they wore weren't of the finest condition and fabrics. You gotta have some common sense about things and I am sure Jesus had plenty, likely the Perfect amount.
As for beauty as a false God? Agree! Like Mark B alluded to, many young women it seems fall prey to this, albeit what they think is "hot" well .... isn't. So it's triple fold between covetousness, semi-lust (as our modern clothing companies usually adhere to a "sex sells" model of marketing and design") and wasting money that could have been used to clothe the needy and feed the hungry. It could certainly go the other way too even with classy beauty and dress. I bet back in yesteryear pre Vatican II that happened so no argument with you there! Not to mention if you want the good stuff at modern stores you'll have to spend a pretty penny.
Oh as for the dress thing, well ... I'm in agreement with Mark B (sheepishly). Most women are beautiful when they wear dresses. With me a classy, non tight dress especially. Visually it does a much better job of flattering the figure, though A black long sleeve tee of good fit with jeans or slacks that aren't too tight and boots (preferably not Uggs ... pet peeve) can also do justice for women too.
Like I said, I have no problem with guys or girls putting more effort into their clothes and appearance. It's a lot of fun, actually. But it shouldn't be mixed up with morality.
DeleteMen may prefer women in dresses, but I hope you understand that in our current society women are commodified beyond belief to please men. "If I like the way it looks, I deserve to have it" is the prevailing attitude, which is deeply harmful to women. Catholic men should set the example and go out of their way to fight against this tendency. Quite frankly, even a statement of preference, like the ones you and Mark B. made, is likely to sound to female ears like a demand, even if that's not how you intended it. That may not have been the case in other eras, but in other eras it was possible to walk down the street without seeing giant billboards of half-dressed women being used to sell products every ten feet.
So while I have no interest in telling other people how to dress, the fact that it's being talked about as much as it is alarms me, for that and other reasons.
Apologies Charming Disarray, I would never intend to create pressure of any kind on you or any other Catholic woman to dress any way other than how she feels happiest. Indeed, my motivation in responding to your original blog, which I perhaps expressed poorly, was to say 'If fashion makes you (and others) happy, that's a good thing :-)'
DeleteOh, it's okay. I wasn't personally offended, and it's not an offensive thing to say on its own at all. It's simply an aesthetic preference, which I understand. I like dresses myself.
DeleteAnd for the bonus the translation from Latin to English: Clothes does not make the man. ;)
ReplyDeleteCorrect!
Delete"Anybody who has read up on the history of fashion can see that trends in clothes follow society. They do not cause cultural changes; they reflect them. I believe that this new emphasis on beautiful clothes, while not necessarily problematic in itself, is the result of our visual and perhaps far too virtual society where your image is more important than who you are as a human being. Saying that dressing like an early 20th century aristocrat is going to bring back old-world morals is as silly as saying that the militaristic, uniform-inspired fashions of the 40s caused World War II."
ReplyDeleteVery well said.