Guilty By Association?

When "layering" clothing broke into a full fledged trend about four years ago (although I probably jumped on the band-wagon rather late ;) it revolutionized the modest fashion industry.

I remember starting to layer knit tops over camisoles (first in just white and black, and then in a variety of more interesting colors). I loved the versatility and options that layering provided! Shirts that were previously cut too low in front or were just a bit on the short side could now be worn, provided that a cami was giving the needed coverage. It was fabulous to have more variety to choose from when shopping, now that I wasn't being limited to purchasing pieces that were "100% modest." I jumped into what seemed like a great trend (now I believe it's no longer a"trend" - layering is here to stay :) with enthusiasm.

Then, one Sunday morning, I put on a scoop-neck top over a white camisole. And my dad took one look and said,

"Uh, Amanda? Is that shirt ok?"

"Sure!" I replied. "What's wrong with it? I've got the neckline filled in. Everything's modest!"

He looked at it a second longer.

"Well... to me, I think that white camisole looks like it could be a white bra."

I was appalled. Such an idea had never entered my head. My assumption was that people would just know that of course it was just a camisole. Didn't everyone pay attention to the latest fashions? Layering was in!

That was the first time I started to think about how about different generations will view things differently.

Layered styles like those of today were not commonly worn while my parents were growing up. Clothing was taken at face value. You usually didn't see anything else underneath it, unless it was a peek of "unmentionables." My mum says that camisoles were either worn to bed or as a slip underneath a shirt. You didn't wear a camisole as a stand-alone top (as is the norm today) or even showing underneath another shirt. (Although there were plenty of normal "tops" that were just as immodest as a stand-alone camisole today.)

All of this brought to my mind the new idea that I need to be aware that my parents (and others) will see things through the eyes of their generation. Just because I have followed the current styles and know, "of course it's not a bra! Everyone wears layered camisoles these days!" doesn't mean that everyone else will see it that way.

Similar topics have sprung up over the past year when vintage, lace-y and distressed looks and trimmings have come back into style. Of course, I know that the sheer, ruffled blouses or lace-trimmed camisoles are inspired by retro designs and meant to be worn layered over or under something else. What's the problem with that?

But then there's my mum, who sees a lace camisole peeking from the neckline of a blouse and thinks it looks like lingerie. Or she says the shiny ivory tunic top I brought back from London resembles a nightgown. :P

In addition to all of this, there's the great debate about clothing items or styles that have had negative conitations in the past. For example, a couple of years before this blog came into being I had a real fascination with fishnet stockings. I thought they were groovy, and a nice spin on boring solid tights or leggings. I'm not sure where this attraction first came from, but I certainly didn't make the connection between fishnet stockings and notorious "women of ill repute."

Uh huh. Fortunately, my dad got me cleared up on that one. (And there are lots of other pretty, feminine, patterned tights to choose from these days. ;)

Thigh-high leather boots with spiky heels have a similar affiliation, and I stay away from them. Does this make these items with "bad" associations inherently evil? I don't think I could say that about a particular item of clothing. But it's always good to consider who or what we may be identified with when we get dressed each day. What do our hearts really look like, and how is this reflected in our clothing? What's our top priority? Who do we want the world to see us as?

Believe me, they are watching.

So what do you think?
Are some styles "guilty by association?"
Or are they "taboo" because of the way they will be perceived by older generations, or those who aren't riding the wave of current trends?
What's your opinion on the styles I've brought up in this post?
Do any other not-so-good-fashion associations come to mind? (How about leather jackets and blue jeans? ;)

I want to hear your thoughts! We may not arrive at the "answers" to these questions, but it certainly gives us some interesting things to think about and discuss. (If you'd like some more "layering" posts to peruse, give these a read: Secrets of Layering / From Mini to Modest)

God bless you all! *hugs*


Images: hhllooks / workchic / diytrade