Fasting from Fashion

Clothing and fashion are hot topics in Christianity. There's so much to say on this issue, and many "camps" of thought.

I'm really sorry so much time got away from me that I couldn't explore this topic earlier or lead into it better. But I have a month-long challenge coming up, so I'll dive in.

What I want to focus on here is not the right or wrong way to dress. For sake of argument, let's assume we're talking about whatever modesty means to you.

Given that, how much does fashion influence us as Christian women? How much SHOULD it?

How much does it take away from our confidence? How much time does it dissolve out of our life?

How much does fashion define who we are? Who we are perceived to be?

Basically, how much does fashion "get in the way" of achieving who we were meant to be in Christ?

To explore these ideas, I am about to embark on a month-long challenge. It's based on the One Dress Protest - a fast from fashion.

I'll write more about my personal guidelines for this fast from fashion shortly. But if you care to join in, a friend and I will be challenging ourselves to wear one "outfit" (uniform) for 30 days. Read more about the basic idea at the One Dress Protest blog to get an idea.

Biblically, fasting is important for focusing our mind on spiritual things. Most people fast from food and/or water. Denying one's basic human to focus on the spiritual.

I think there's a strong argument that fashion distracts people from focusing on spiritual things. The need to keep up, the constant self-consciousness replaces God-consciousness.

Therefore, a fast from fashion can be a good way to redeem time that would be spent changing into several outfits each day, redeem money  spent trying to have the season's latest, and redeem self-worth with the idea that God doesn't look at the outward appearance, but is interested in our hearts.

When we strip away the need to be fashionable, we can focus our Attention on our Intentions.

I will probably learn a lot about myself from this experience. I already feel a certain level of anxiety, and I'm going to explore those feelings to find out why.

I'll be having my own "One-Dress-Protest" from September 15-October 14, 2011. If you'd like to join in, please do so. Share your experiences and thoughts on the blog, or Facebook!

Do you feel fashion (even modest) has an undo influence on a Christian woman's confidence and effectiveness?

Female Role Models...

The whole concept of this blog had two catalysts.

1. A friend wrote about her opinions on women's dress. And it made me wonder why Christian women always have to be so self-conscious about our clothing. So slaved to fashion (whether it's secular fashion or "Christian" fashion). I want to explore this concept a bit more... later.
2. Another friend asked me who my female role models, or heroines were... I didn't really have an answer at the time... but it got me thinking... why didn't I have more women that I respected and looked to for personal growth and guidance?

Turns out... I do have female role models, I just didn't think about them overtly. I want to spend some time on this blog talking about women who are worth admiring. Here are some of mine:

• Biblical: Esther. But you knew I was going to say that. She was beautiful, strong, daring, godly, prayerful, bold, and must have been a good wife. I think she probably became a good mother too.
• Fictional: Anne of Green Gables. She's pert, audacious, daring, smart, well-read, assertive, a bit blundering at times, and a hopeless romantic.
• Real-life/Current: My mother. I know, how cliche. But it's true. While my mother and I are different in many ways, I really look up to her character. She is kind, prayerful, godly, energetic, crafty, outdoorsy, and loving.

Do you have strong female role models? Share them and tell me why! I love meeting new women to admire!

What We're Not ...

I say "we're" as if this blog is written by a group. Right now it's not. But I have a vision that one day, many women will contribute to this piece of online writing. So... "we're."

Here's a few things we're not:

• focused on the negative (except right now of course...!)
• telling you what to do
• the fashion police (but we will talk about fashion)
• going to pretend we all share the same opinions 100% of the time
• only going to talk about Esther (but I do want to study her a bit)
• sure where this writing will lead... 

What questions do you have about this blog?

Why Esther?

Why Esther? And why does she need to be revived?

This is not just a blog for me. It is for all women who were ever told they "couldn't be" the person they were born to be, created to be.

God has a beautiful purpose for each of us. He wants us to be gloriously successful in the world He placed us into. He wants women to be the beautiful creations He intended us to be.

Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world. In a fallen state.

In life, we are faced with limitations. Of the body, the mind, the spirit. And of society.

Society tells women they have to be a certain way. Act a certain way. Acquiesce and follow certain norms.

Even our Christian faith, when misapplied, causes women to feel "less than" at times. Like they can't achieve. Can't be beautiful, powerful, successful in their own right.

And so to survive, women sleep. They die inside. They need to be revived.

Esther was such a woman, I believe.

She did not seek fame. She did not seek fortune. She just followed her faith, and her beliefs led her to become one of the most sought-after, most influential, most successful women in her time.

She was both beauty queen and politician. She was fearless and faithful. She was savvy and yet submissive.

She is a Biblical hero. A role model.

I believe we can awaken our inner Esther... and become the women God truly created us to be...