Women
Dressing For The Wrong Reasons
Modesty amongst men
and women is a natural instinct dating back to Adam and Eve who used fig leaf to cover their nakedness as recorded in the Bible. Not satisfied with the make-shift fig leaf aprons, God himself became the first dress-maker He further admonishes women to adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel and with a virtuous life. However in recent times, so much importance is given to the outward forms of beauty while the main aspect goes “unhonoured and unsung”.
Status symbols have never had more power than they have today because modern liberalism treats modesty as dull and unattractive. Thus, all sorts of names are given to the few who still struggle to appear decent such as Mary-Amaka, Juu-guy, Deeper-life, Holy-nwa-eje etc.
As social beings, we all want to be loved and accepted, to belong and to blend in. Thus, most people in a bid to belong allow the trend of things to set the standard for them. As a result, they lose their true identity and charm and become poor carbon copies of the famous beauties they initate and so end up more bewitched than bewitching.
Beauty is a tricky business. It changes from country to country, from decade to decade and from man to man. But despite this variation, every culture has an acceptable dress code. Any code that deviates from the acceptable set moral standard of the people is termed indecent. Indecent dressing has eaten deep into the fabric of the society. A keen observer will notice that it is now difficult to differentiate a man from a woman, a woman from a girl or an insane from a sane person. People dress any how they like all in the name of fashion. This unwholesome disease has negative sequences which may not be known to those who dress immodestly. It is in this light that this write up examines the causes and effects of indecent dressing and suggests ways to uproot it from the human society.
Clothes reflect the aspirations and psyche of the wearer. Clothing no matter how artfully designed, how fashionably styled must always be judged on the basis of its relationship to the wearer. There are clothes for various occasions namely,’ office, wedding, dance, party or informal get-together etc. Thus, some clothings are inappropriate for some occasions, place, time and age while some are. Any pattern of dressing that does not put this into consideration and that is also likely to shock or offend people is termed indecent dressing.
Your dressing can shock or offend people when parts of the body that should be covered such as the breasts, thighs, buttocks, back, armpit etc are unduly exposed or when your dressing unduly reveals your figure or body parts or when your dressing reveal your under-wears i.e. the bra, pants, singlet etc. Again, indecent dressing is not restricted to clothes, there are also indecent hair styles, make-ups foot wears etc.
Most people accept hook, line and sinker all they see around. They trust their fashion magazine implicitly and so are easily swept off by the fashion in vogue all in the bid to be beautiful. Thus, when the issue of indecent dressing is raised, modern liberalism immediately invokes liberty of conscience and advances all kinds of false arguments such as,
· What is wrong with what I am wearing? (something is wrong because the opposite sex can be provoked by your exposed body).
· Those who see me this way are not forced to sin (your indifference can coax others into sin).
· Every other person dresses this way (you should not be like others. Every human person has the freedom, privilege and duty to pursue virtue).
· I do not mean to do evil (yes but you can send the wrong signal with body language),
· I feel I should be in style and up-to-date (moral law does not change with style and popular taste),
· There is no universal standard for modesty (there is, consult the accepted ethical norms of your people),
· I refuse to be a bigot and hypocrite (there is nothing false about being decent).
· Men want me this way (one day you will render an account to God not to your husband or boyfriend).
· Beauty is supposed to be seen (yes but beauty may be living or dead. Living if it attracts souls to goodness not evil)
· It is the heart that matters (yes but Christians are meant to be light of the world).
· But I feel hot (the same people who dress scantily to church and other sacred places because of heat, dress modestly to the law court and other civil offices)
· There are bigger problems and bigger evils than this (yes but evil is evil).
· One can sag responsibly (there is nothing responsible about sagging).
Some examples of indecent dressing for females include, all types of scanty wear such as, spaghetti tops, sun-suits, off shoulder; all types of ostentatious or over ornamented wears such as bum-shorts, knickers, body hugs, miniskirts, tight fitting slacks or jeans, sheer and transparent outfits, low waist(sagging), off-colour hair-dos, heavy make-ups, artificial nails or eye lashes etc. And for the males, earrings, tight fitting T-shirts and jeans, braiding, permed hairs, plaited hairs, shirts or any wear revealing the arm pit for male, low waist etc. Others are some beauty enhancement therapies such tattoos, breast enlargement or reduction, facial up lift, hip enlargement, tummy trunk etc.
In recent times, virtue is sadly on the verge of extinction. There is total lose of the sense of the sacred. People dress any how even to Church and sacred places. It is unfortunate that most people who suffer from identity crisis copy all sorts of fashions introduced by fashion designers. They forget that every action we take has either a positive or negative effect on our family and the society in general.
Indecent dressing can sexual harassment, rape, unwanted pregnancies, ritual killing, acid bathe, road accident, lying, stealing, etc. This is because since the original sin, appetite for sex in all men and women is not always subject to direct control of the will and intellect. This appetite is so powerful that it does not take much to arouse the desire of the procreative faculty. As a result of this weakness it is imperative to safeguard virtue by dressing modestly in strict justice and charity. A keen observer will easily notice the high rate of sexual promiscuity among the youth. Incest is now even common in the society. These evils are possible because you are addressed the way you dress.
On the other hand, modesty in dress helps safeguard the virtue of purity and is demanded by the mortal laws of God. Decent dressing depends 6n good taste and good judgment. which is defined as a refined look, leaning more towards the conservative and simple than a flamboyant spectacular look. While good judgement is self-awareness i.e. a clear picture of whom and what you are, your goals in life, your values and beliefs as well as the accepted ethical norms of your culture.
Thus, decent dresses in a typical African society have sleeves extending to at least the elbows (or quarter-length sleeves because of impossible market conditions) and skirts reaching below the knees. Decent dresses require full coverage for the body, chest, shoulders and back and conceal rather than reveal the figure of the wearer. Women and girls who follow these standards will have no problem of modesty in dress.
The problem of indecent dressing requires an integrated approach because of its manifold causes and effects. To curb the menace of indecent dressing in the society, parents should serve as role models. They should by words and examples emulate the virtues of modesty and chastity. A mother who dresses decently can easily inculcate it in her children and vice versa.
Civil and religious laws should be enacted and enforced by the government and all relevant agencies to check the abuse of indecent dressing. Churches and religious bodies should go an extra mile to champion this cause.
Marie C. Obasi
A typical example of indecent dressing
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
