On Skirts

I have a friend who asked me, “Why do you wear skirts all the time?”

The truth is, I don’t think dresses and skirts are 100% required for a lady to be good Christians. There are a few places in the Bible where proper women’s dress is described – for instance, Deuteronomy 22:5, where women are told not to dress like men; and 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:2-5, where women are told to avoid ostentation and instead, dress with modesty, propriety, and to make an impression with their good works.

So then, why do I dress in long skirts? Several reasons…

• Modesty: A long skirt and polo shirt is not unfashionable; it’s as modest as one can be in our culture without appearing to be an odd extremist. You don’t come across as unwelcoming or isolationist; you don’t distract those around you with your body; you dress simply and in a way that would never be mistaken for a man.
Dressing ‘overmodestly’ can be a sin, as well – when it becomes a prideful badge of honour, or a modesty competition. But it’s clear that it is a lack of modesty that is most pervasive in our society.

• Comfort: Skirts have lots of room to move around. They can be flouncy or girly, maternal or serious, they’re cool in the summer, and easily paired with some leggings if you get cold.

• History: There’s something very comforting and solid to me to know that I’m wearing what my foremothers wore; what women have worn for centuries, both poor and rich, maidens and old matrons.

• It’s ladylike! What other comfy piece of clothing could you pull on and instantly look more like a lady? Much more graceful than the sweatpants and Ugg boots I see on many of the college girls in my town, but just as comfortable!

I know some will disagree with my view – I know many Christians who interpret Deuteronomy 22:5 much more strictly than I do. But this is just the way I was raised, it’s the way my father prefers me to behave, and I must say, I like dressing this way.

Related…
Feelin’ Feminine

An Excerpt from my Homeschool Studies

I'm currently researching what I consider a great Christian lady of Canadian lore - Laura Secord. I thought this was interesting...

Laura Ingersoll, as a twenty two year old woman, met James Secord at the local dry goods store in Queenston, Ontario. James, several years older than Laura, owned the shop. She found him friendly and kind. She noticed how he went out of his way to lift heavy items into the wagon. She grew to enjoy seeing him when she went into town with one of her ten siblings to buy supplies. He would seek her out at church and at the shop - did her family enjoy the new sewing needles? Was she going to cook for the church ladies' luncheon?

Townspeople whispered about them - would James ask Laura's father for permission to court her? Laura, at age 22, and with several married sisters, was already labelled an old maid. Several young women - younger than 'old maid' Laura - actively attempted to capture James's attention.

Several months passed, full of earnest conversation between them, either at church or the shop - at least, until early May. Laura went for her weekly supply run. James was not behind the counter - not in town at all. His brother said that James had left to source shop goods in the United States.

Laura wrote him letters - a dozen letters - but did not get a response. In the first month, she prayed that he would return quickly. And after six months, she prayed for his safety. After a year, she prayed that God would show her if her devotion was misplaced.

Nearly two years to the day he left, James Secord arrived back in Queenston. He traveled directly to Mr. Ingersoll's farm. He knocked on the door; Laura's father answered.

"Mr. Ingersoll, I have been away for two years, and in that time, I have often thought of your daughter, Laura," said James. "I'd like to ask your permission to court her."

They wed shortly after; Laura became mother to 7 children; she helped drag soldiers from the fields of the War of 1812 and nurse them back to health; and she nursed her own husband for nearly a year after James was accidentally shot.

Rose-petal Curd for a Victorian Tea

What could be lovelier than a mid-afternoon tea? A table laid with freshly baked scones, a pot of hot Irish Breakfast, a vase of early-spring pink hyacinth, and sweet fellowship - what a perfect afternoon!

A recipe I recently created was a rose-petal curd. Lemon curd is a sweet spread, lemon flavoured, that was common during the Victorian era. But why limit yourself to lemon? Another traditional Victorian dessert flavour is rose. Rose sweets aren't perfumey - they have a delicious candied vanilla flavour that took me entirely by surprise!

This recipe makes one small jar of sweet, delicately-pink rose curd, perfect for spreading on scones or petit-fours.

Rose-petal Curd

Ingredients:
1 tbsp rosewater or .5 tbsp rosewater extract
3 egg yolks
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar, honey, or Splenda

Equipment:
Double boiler or a metal bowl placed over a pot full of water (a makeshift double boiler!)
Whisk

Method:
Fill the lower half of the double boiler with water so that the water almost touches the bottom of the upper half. Place all the ingredients except butter in the upper half of the boiler. Turn up your burner to HIGH.

Whisk the eggs, sugar, and flavouring. Keep whisking as the water on the bottom begins to boil. The steam will rise up and gently begin to cook the eggs. Keep whisking until the mixture turns thick. Remove from heat and whisk in the butter to make the curd shiny.

Keeps in the fridge for about a week. Add a few drops of red food colour or strawberry juice if you'd like it pink (it's naturally yellow!)