I am so glad you wrote this and I feel so grateful I happened to see this. This post is my first introduction to your work. Hi guys!
The topic of the intersection of beauty and spirituality and dress has been on my heart in the last few months. I cared for my husband around the clock through terminal illness until he graduated to Heaven this year. During the sleepless nights and days of caregiver season I lived in cozy athleisure and a messy bun by necessity. I had to dress comfortable enough to nap in my clothes and ready to go to the hospital at a moment's notice. On the few occasions he felt able to go to church I made sure we were both dressed in Sunday best. One of the unexpected gifts of this current season when he is well and perfect with the Lord is I can slow down and enjoy choosing the dress and jewelry I feel like wearing and doing my hair and makeup because I'm no longer in constant emergency mode. Even amidst grief, I feel surprised by how profound and comforting it feels to dress and adorn myself in a way that makes me feel beautiful and at ease. Helping me come home to myself get reaquainted with myself.
Glad you found your way to us Robin! Thank you for sharing your story; it's good to hear that you were able to find some solace after such an ordeal, and it's nice to hear that taking care of your dress played a role. It's something we hope we can help promote to more people.
Good article and the argument for dressing well needs to be pushed. It's an easy way, if not the easiest way, to fight against the drudgery and ugliness of the world. It should also be pushed at parishes considering the state of men's clothing choices at mass.
Exactly. We don't need to be boisterous or over the top to affect change. Simply dressing the way you'd like to see others dress is has a quiet power to influence others for the better.
As for dressing for mass, we'll definitely be covering that in the future at some point. It's an important conversation.
Interesting article, as someone who’s been interested in men’s style forever but is also a Christian I have at various points felt conflicted about it. You make a good argument for how we can be conscientious about our appearance in a positive way.
I think one thing making this somewhat complex for men is that a lot of guys don’t realize there’s anything between dressing like a slob in sweatpants and hoodies and a millionaire playboy in a suit. My own style is vintage Americana of the sort you see in photographs by Russell Lee in the 30s and 40s - classic fit jeans and denim jackets and shirts, leather jackets, flannel and chambray western shirts, engineer boots, tucked-in tees and mid century casual short sleeve shirts in warm weather. This style creates the impression that you care about how you look while also being practical about it, and it fits right in with my context of being a traditionally minded fellow living in the Appalachian South.
A lot of my clothes are very nice pieces made in the US or Japan, but only other enthusiasts tend to pick up on the finer points, which is okay by me. This is a look I can wear at home, at work, or at my Orthodox parish and look good without seeming out of place.
I am so glad you wrote this and I feel so grateful I happened to see this. This post is my first introduction to your work. Hi guys!
The topic of the intersection of beauty and spirituality and dress has been on my heart in the last few months. I cared for my husband around the clock through terminal illness until he graduated to Heaven this year. During the sleepless nights and days of caregiver season I lived in cozy athleisure and a messy bun by necessity. I had to dress comfortable enough to nap in my clothes and ready to go to the hospital at a moment's notice. On the few occasions he felt able to go to church I made sure we were both dressed in Sunday best. One of the unexpected gifts of this current season when he is well and perfect with the Lord is I can slow down and enjoy choosing the dress and jewelry I feel like wearing and doing my hair and makeup because I'm no longer in constant emergency mode. Even amidst grief, I feel surprised by how profound and comforting it feels to dress and adorn myself in a way that makes me feel beautiful and at ease. Helping me come home to myself get reaquainted with myself.
Glad you found your way to us Robin! Thank you for sharing your story; it's good to hear that you were able to find some solace after such an ordeal, and it's nice to hear that taking care of your dress played a role. It's something we hope we can help promote to more people.
Thank you PJ
Beautifully said.
Thank you El Mike-o
Good article and the argument for dressing well needs to be pushed. It's an easy way, if not the easiest way, to fight against the drudgery and ugliness of the world. It should also be pushed at parishes considering the state of men's clothing choices at mass.
Exactly. We don't need to be boisterous or over the top to affect change. Simply dressing the way you'd like to see others dress is has a quiet power to influence others for the better.
As for dressing for mass, we'll definitely be covering that in the future at some point. It's an important conversation.
Someone (Frank Lloyd Wright??) said “beautify your world and you beautify the world of everyone around you.” Wise words.
Good stuff! I’ve been wanting to learn how to dress better and have never taken the time to do so.
This is so good 👏👏👏 I may have to use some quotes from this in a project I’m working on about person style. So well written!
Glad we could help!
Love it 👏🏽👏🏽
Interesting article, as someone who’s been interested in men’s style forever but is also a Christian I have at various points felt conflicted about it. You make a good argument for how we can be conscientious about our appearance in a positive way.
I think one thing making this somewhat complex for men is that a lot of guys don’t realize there’s anything between dressing like a slob in sweatpants and hoodies and a millionaire playboy in a suit. My own style is vintage Americana of the sort you see in photographs by Russell Lee in the 30s and 40s - classic fit jeans and denim jackets and shirts, leather jackets, flannel and chambray western shirts, engineer boots, tucked-in tees and mid century casual short sleeve shirts in warm weather. This style creates the impression that you care about how you look while also being practical about it, and it fits right in with my context of being a traditionally minded fellow living in the Appalachian South.
A lot of my clothes are very nice pieces made in the US or Japan, but only other enthusiasts tend to pick up on the finer points, which is okay by me. This is a look I can wear at home, at work, or at my Orthodox parish and look good without seeming out of place.
If it’s real, yes.