Tag Archive | fashion

Aging Gracefully

Oct12

This isn’t meant to be a depressing topic, honestly!  I just wanted to create some inspiration to the ladies out there to embrace the beauty that comes later in life, as opposed to fighting against it.

There seems to be such a trend out there to put on a show in regards to our presentation.  And as the years set in, that show gets harder and harder to put on!  But I can’t help but feel such a sadness when I see a woman working so desperately to change (on the outside, at least) what is happening to her physically.

I’ve recently seen two different ladies at local grocery stores who have chosen the cosmetic surgery path, and it clearly didn’t go well.  And it’s terribly sad on my heart, because you can’t help but see straight through to their heart.  It’s painfully obvious that the idea of their body moving on ahead was too much for them to bear, and they decided to fight against it.  Which makes me conclude that they are very driven by their outward beauty, and how others are judging that beauty.  It can become such a sad, frantic circle.

And even if it’s not taken to the level of surgery, there are other age-defying methods we ladies may undertake.  Like working ourselves to death in the gym, or even something as simple as wearing clothing styles that are clearly meant for a much younger generation.  I’m not saying we can’t buy anything from the Juniors department, but be sure to look upon those clothing selections with clear eyes.  Those clothes are designed and meant for the teen/college age, and can just look plain weird when worn on the more, shall we say, seasoned.

We are meant to age… our hair changes, our skin gets tired, and gravity has a field day with our body.  It’s a fact.  Although we can’t stop it, we can at least embrace it and stay classy in the process.  It is perfectly ok to look your age, and it makes the most sense to everyone else when you do.  There are scores of beautiful, smart, elegant ladies out there that embrace their golden beauty with pride.  They are sensible, classy, and loaded with wisdom.  It is these women we want to look to for inspiration, rather than the ones wearing the “Hot Girls Drink Beer” t-shirt at the age of 50. :-)

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Are you teaching modesty?

Apr25

So I mentioned in my bio that we’re approaching teenager-hood in our family.  Yep, our oldest is on the brink of manhood.  And he’s gonna be a big guy.  When I need to dash out to check the mail, I often throw on his strewn-about Vans or Tony Hawk shoes (my neighbors must get a kick out of this), and now I’ve discovered I have LOTS of wiggle room in his shoes.  I know our time left with him at home is dwindling and every day I am reminded of how many things my husband and I still want to continue instilling in him before he’s out on his own.

And one of these items is creating in him an understanding that he will be guarding the hearts of the women he’s around.  Like the women he’s going to date one day when he’s looking for a wife.  This is one of the reasons modesty is so important, ladies.  A godly woman knows that her body is for her husband’s eyes only… not everyone else’s.

When a man is courting a lady, no matter how lovely she may be, he doesn’t know for a while whether or not she will be THE ONE.  It might not be in God’s plan to marry the particular gal with whom he may be getting serious.  And if she’s not the one for him, she must be the one for someone else down the road, right?  Which means he shouldn’t be seeing something that is reserved for her future husband.

But God sure did do a mighty fine job making women appealing and beautiful to the men, didn’t he?  And it’s so tempting on these guys to take some easy glances at the ladies strolling by, bending over, etc.  So why make ourselves a temptation, ladies?  You will be causing them to sin.  My husband has personally asked me to address this topic as he sees a lack of modesty more and more in the workplace.  Not only does it become an annoyance, but it’s downright tacky.

It’s not very hard to wear a slightly higher neckline (or put on a cami underneath that plunging dress), or wear a longer skirt/pair of shorts, etc.  And if you have to bend down, make it a habit to put your hand over your shirt to keep it from revealing too much.  Believe me, there are a lot of godly men and teenagers that would greatly appreciate our help in this area.  It’s hard enough for them to get past the grocery check-out stands and not look at the brazen magazines plastered all over the place.

Start treasuring your body for the gift it is for your husband.  It is one of the most loving things you can do for him.  And teach your daughters to do the same as they are preparing to meet their husband one day.  And when your growing sons have been raised to know that they are to have a biblical respect for women, it will give them so much armor when they are faced with those shrinking hemlines.

Bring back the skirts!

Apr7

Time to add a few more skirts back into our wardrobes, ladies.  Have you noticed, aside from church, they are often missing from our daily apparel?  And obviously, I’m not referring to the ones that hug the skin, inch-by-inch (maybe about 4 – 5 inches total) until it ends at a height that leaves NOTHING to the imagination. Sooo functional, right?  What happens if you accidentally drop your keys in the parking lot?  You might cause an accident.

So, for safety, if nothing else, get your hands on some pretty, flowing skirts!  And while you’re at it, throw some dainty dresses into the mix too.  And don’t break the bank… one of my favorite pit-stops around town is our local Goodwill (or “GW” as one of my sisters-in-law affectionately named it).  You will be amazed what you can pick up for about $5.00 – 10.00 and oftentimes less.  Two of my current favorite skirts came from GW and I think I paid $10.00 total for both.

What’s a good length?  I think you can vary it a little, but for the sake of not ever putting yourself in an immodest position, make them at least as long as the middle of your knee.  I have some that are this length, and I also recently acquired a few that go to the mid-calf and a little longer.  There’s something that feels really ladylike when you have a soft, swishy one whirling about.  Remember when you were a little girl and you used to love to twirl and watch your dress flare out?  Well, revisit that memory again!  And you can pair them up with almost any type of cute footwear that is comfortable for you.

Now, I am not a “skirts only” kind of dresser… but I’ve been trying to sprinkle them into my daily wardrobe choices more often.  I think they are one of those items that places you right back in ladylike fashion… which means your husband will always enjoy seeing you in one too.  It’s a refreshing change and you will walk with a bit more spring in your step too! (How else do you make them swish so beautifully!?)