What does the choice of clothes you wear and your fashion accessory say about you?

Wearing clothes is a given, but we often don’t stop to think about what kind of message we send to others through the choice of clothes we wear and our fashion accessories. Our outfits and fashion accessories are some of the non-verbal ways in which we communicate to others about ourselves; who we are, our self-esteem and our level of confidence in ourselves. Often when choosing clothes to wear, we simply think about how we look in that outfit, hoping to impress others. We often do not consider the suitability of the attire for the event or occasion we are attending.

Different occasions or events require different types of clothing, also the style of clothing. When we don’t wear the right clothing or style of clothing, we end up embarrassing ourselves, lowering our self-esteem, which in turn lowers our self-confidence.

Often times, people wear what they think looks good on them regardless of the clothing’s suitability or style for the occasion or event. One case of inappropriate outfit choice that sparked blackouts and condemnation on social media was the little black above-the-knee dress that Ariana Grande wore to Aretha Franklin’s funeral. The short little black dress itself is not bad, but the event it is worn to is the cause for outrage. Is a short black dress suitable for a funeral ceremony? There is a consensus on social media that a short dress above the knee is inappropriate for a funeral ceremony. Although many of the commenters on social media made it appear that only in black churches are short dresses considered inappropriate. The question is; Are short dresses appropriate for any place of worship, be it a black church or otherwise? It is important to realize that we talk a lot simply because of what we wear. Places of worship, moreover, a funeral ceremony requires decency, modesty and decorum. Not wearing what is generally considered modest and downward is considered disrespectful. It is not only short dresses that are considered inappropriate and immodest in places of worship, but also dresses that are too tight to reveal the wearer’s contour. Dresses without sleeves or with string sleeves are also considered inappropriate for religious gatherings.

If short dresses are inappropriate for religious gatherings and celebrations, what kinds of dresses or clothing should people wear to that gathering? The clothing that is appropriate for religious gatherings does not reveal long dresses, they can be full length or just below the knee. Often many conservative women like to wear suits for Church, it can be a two-piece dress suit or a three-piece skirt suit. It can be full length or three-quarter length.

The next question is, if short dresses are inappropriate for religious ceremonies, what kind of event or occasion can a short dress be worn? Short dresses can be worn to cocktails or non-religious social gatherings. They can be worn as evening dresses or even as simple casual wear. Each type of clothing and accessory has its proper place. Simple, think a bit about your choice of outfits. When choosing clothing sets for any event, ask yourself how appropriate the clothing is and your style before heading out your front door. Make sure it’s not a set of clothes or style where people raise their eyebrows or frown. Be careful to consider the occasion or event and make wise decisions for your clothing and your style.