Fashion to the Glory of God

So many girls have commented on my clothes, or even just noticed that I tend to wear dresses instead of jeans, that I wanted to write to you about fashion and how I think about this for God's glory.

The starting point must be this - that "dressing the coolest isn't going to get any praise for the suffering Christ" (this is a John Piper quote from the most profound video on Youtube - please watch it now before reading on:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--JiiuJNvt4). We first have to be willing to give up fashion completely. After I became a Christian fashion was still a huge priority in my life. I studied the magazines, I devoted hours to browsing clothes shops, I spent more money on fashion than anything else, and worst of all, my identity and self-worth rested almost entirely on what I wore. The lady who guided me through the first few months of following Jesus told me to give up shopping for clothes and reading fashion magazines for a year. She suggested putting away my clothes that followed any trends and wearing simple jumpers and hoodies, so my identity couldn't be in my clothes. This is exactly what I did. It was hard because I was starting uni and I wanted to make an impression, and the only way I knew how to do that was through clothes. Aaron remembers meeting me then and says I didn't come across as caring about my appearance because I wore big hoodies! How far that was from the truth!

So fashion disappeared from my life for a while. Then there comes a point when you can reclaim something for God because your heart is right - when your heart is won by Jesus not enchanted by fashion you can sometimes have it back. Could you give up your wardrobe for a year? Would you be willing to do that to put God first in your heart?

I gave up fashion and then after just over a year I was able to start thinking about it again. I was thinking differently to before - not 'how can I dress to attract people? how can I dress to give an impression?, but 'how can I dress to express my God-given femininity?' So I started to develop a style, not strategically, but naturally, as an overflow of who I felt God had made me to be. I absolutely love dresses, and as I grew in confidence about wearing what I loved I began figuring out shapes and styles for different occasions and seasons. Now I have become comfortable with myself so that I hardly notice what I am choosing to wear, and I don't take time worrying over my outfits like I used to. That's why I'm really surprised when people compliment me on what I'm wearing! I want fashion to be a non-issue in my life. Not something consuming, but something I enter into without compromising my love for God. Fashion must be trivial in our hearts compared to Jesus, and in my experience if you pursue fashion your money goes on clothes, and so do your thoughts and time.

So, my practical tips on fashion...

• A big issue with fashion is good stewardship of your money. Jesus said: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" (Matt 6:19). Bearing this in mind, I don't want my clothes, shoes or handbags to be my treasure because they won't last. I don't think spending loads on branded clothes, designer clothes, or shopping in the coolest shop is really justifiable.
• Never buy anything full price. I get amazing deals on clothes because I think ahead to the next season, so when everyone is buying winter clothes I buy summer clothes at their cheapest. I usually don't spend more than £5 on a dress, and it is incredible what you can find when you look carefully.
• If you can learn some basic sewing techniques you can alter clothes to fit you. I taught myself by trial and error and it really is very simple! I buy lots of my dresses very cheaply in larger sizes and then adjust them to fit me. I choose things for the print or colour rather than exactly the right size.
• Buy things that are classic and feminine and they will last. Don't get caught up in the buzz of trends that will be gone in a few months. Buying into those things is a luxury lifestyle, and not something that works with a biblical view of money.
• There are lots of trends and styles which don't honour God (or the people who can almost see your underwear because your shorts are so short!) so be aware of how short/tight/revealing different styles are. I don't buy anything that compromises modesty in any way, no matter how great it looks on me because the point isn't to draw attention to myself. You can be confident and beautifully dressed without wearing any of these things.

Two final points - I say all of this knowing that fashion is a leisure pursuit that most people in the world can't afford. I think it is important to remember what exists outside our culture so that we don't get sucked in to chasing the next thing. Secondly, I know many women who are beautiful people who don't have any interest in fashion. I don't think it matters at all as Christians whether we follow fashion or not. The only important thing is that if we are married we make an effort to be attractive for our husbands, whatever that might look like. We have to wear clothes, and we simply have the option of using our clothes to express ourselves. If we are modest, good stewards of our money, secure in our identity as God's child, and undistracted from our pursuit of God then I think we are doing fashion to the glory of God. Love,x