Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Detestable Fashion: Excessive Skin

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society" – Mark Twain 

I apologize in advance, but this post may not be appropriate for younglings or skin sensitive audiences.

Yes Miss Britney is finishing it off with Ugg boots.  

I am a crusading member in the effort to protect against excessive exploitation of skin.  

Female bodies are beautiful: the lines of their limbs, the forms of their torsos. It's a decadent delight that should be enjoyed in tiny, delicate mouthfuls: the allure of an ankle, the curve of a neck, an exposed wrist.

However, some choose to take the entire pastry and shove it into the greater public's mouths to be consumed in one binge-filled bite.  Examples follow:


It looks like this enviably strong backside is snacking on a pair of too dainty shorts.  This swatch of fabric can not stand up to the grandeur of flesh beneath them.  The wearer and watcher would be much better satisfied by a tasteful pencil skirt.


A 360 degree budoir check could have saved this star from paparazzi sniggering.  Raise your arms, bend over, crouch down and check for delicate skin leakage from every angle.


I don't think I'd feel comfortable seeing this ensemble at the gym.  First, leggings are not pants.  Have you seen anyone walking around with a top and stockings lately?  Second, bare midriffs are not for public consumption, not at the office, not at the grocery store, if you have to, find a beach.  

If you too would like to join with women against excessive skin exploitation, leave your support in the comments.

79 comments:

~j. said...

I could not agree with you more.

Amber_Keever said...

I was just telling my husband how leggings are just not pants and they should never be worn as such! I agree with every single thing you wrote, please please keep up the good work. This world needs a little more decency!

Melinda said...

Agreed!

Megan said...

i COMPLETELY support this!

Lydia said...

Ahhh, yes! It needs to stop!

hand pecked debb said...

Agreed! In addition, Uggs and excessive skin is just the killer for me since no weather is odd enough it leaves you hot uptop but feeties freezing cold.

Jules said...

Good grief, YES. Keep up the great work!

GinnyO said...

I agree entirely.

Natalie | The Bobby Pin said...

I totally totally support you.

Though I am guilty of wearing leggings to yoga... but my leggings are really think - nothing sheer about them!

Rebecca Irvine said...

Amen!

Please also tell ladies to stop wearing leggings under skirts to church! Yikes.

Bekah: said...

I could not have said this better myself. I certainly do not want to look at flesh all day. Nor does my husband. He would come home day after day from ASU frusturated by seeing so much.

Carolyne said...

In definite accord!

Melissa Walker said...

I agree and I hope all the crusading works--I've got three little girls that I want to grow up feeling fashionably covered!

TheMoncurs said...

Amen!

Speaking of not showing too much skin, do you have any tailors you can recommend in the Mesa area? I bought a dress at Anthro this weekend to be my baby blessing day dress in a month or two but it needs some nipping and tucking to make it cover appropriately. I haven't needed a tailor in a long long time and I'm not real sure where to look!

KaylaMoncur (at) gmail

Lady Jeanne said...

Yes yes yes yes yes YES yes!!!!

Emily Ruth said...

I support! I support!

Matt, Sarah, and Aubrey said...

I completely agree. Not only is it chintzy and unfashionable, showing excessive skin also tells the world, "I don't respect myself. I see myself as only a sensual plaything, not a woman with beauty, talents, intelligence, and a sparkling personality. So don't bother getting to know or care about me. I'm easy." It's just sad that so many women would rather have strange men leer at them then to have respect for themselves.

Angie said...

A to the Men!
Are we starting a club?!

sara said...

Yes! Lovely post.

RMAinMD said...

,,,just the other day me and my "better half" were walking in the shadow of a young adult who was wearing black leggings as pants,,,the sight was a horrific one, one can imagine without all the details,,,i shook my head and explained to the "better half" that she was in fashion violation and should be sent home to dress more appropriately,,,"he" said "she needs your business card" which reads: "fashion consultant/wardrobe stylist",,,i replied "she needs a full length mirror",,,,great minds think alike, opaque tights are for the winter wardrobe and ballet class,,,

Kristi said...

YES YES YES! Our society is losing it's "class". Very sad.

Vee said...

I want to join. Yuck!

Shelley said...

Yes, I join.

DeLynn said...

Once again, dear Reachel, you have most eloquently made an excellent point I very gladly join ranks with you.

enSTYLEpedia said...

completely agree, not only is it offensive to see but nine out of ten times it's just sad and disappointing to women everywhere. the kind of attention you get dressed like that is not the type of attention you want.

Whitney said...

Amen, Sister. Amen!

Lisa Marie said...

Amen!! I am disgusted by what people wear out in public. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Shannon said...

I love the quote! Speaking of the beach, I hope you do some posts on bathing suits.

Aileen said...

I am dying at these pics. That bootie shot is insane. So funny and so very true!!1 For the love- i say "just because they sell it your size doesn't mean you have to buy it."

Lemondrop Marie said...

I wholeheartedly agree- but have to say that at least the thong peek meant she was WEARING them thank goodness. Too little of THAT of late.
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Spring Shabby Apple Dress giveaway

Lisa said...

Amen! Being back on a college campus has had me making more than one double-take throughout the day. Do people look in the mirror before leaving the house?

Aynna banahna said...

gross, gross, and tacky. Need I say anything more

the speers said...

I'm totally laughing! Honestly...don't people look in the mirror? I think the last picture might give me nightmares!

Emily said...

Just another example of gluttony in our society, here we have it in the form of showing flesh. There IS such a thing as too much!

Agree.

Brandee said...

Wow! That is really all I can say. I am trying to prevent my daughter from having an excessive skin moment at prom. I need your help.

She is wearing a cream, ethereal dress. It is a little low in the front and she is very well endowed. Can you suggest anything for the cleavage area and perhaps a little jacket over something over it. It is halter style and we are not comfortable with that much showing.

Thank you! Love your blog!

Her Name is Rio said...

Yes...yes...yes.

Lynette said...

Count me in! Love your blog, your fashion sense, and your fabulous style of writing!

Meredith said...

Oh yes! I have 3 young daughters and 5 surrogate girls at church. Mine are learning early on but I am trying desperately to teach the 14 and 15 year olds - without offending them - that an elongated t-shirt + leggings does not equal Sunday Dress. Ugh...

JLEG said...

A thousand AMENS. I grew up in Ohio where people generally covered up because it wasn't warm enough to expose so much. I've lived in Arizona for the past nearly 15 years, and there is entirely too much exposure here. And it's not only the teenagers; it's their mothers too. It would be bad enough if these girls/women actually looked good in their skimpy attire, but of course the vast majority do not. I have two young daughters (7 and 5), and I actually sometimes contemplate moving to Alaska or something before they hit the teen years . . . .

Kim said...

I am with you! Preach it sister!

Katherine said...

Is it terrible to wear leggings under a dress in order to stay modest? I wear delicate lace ones, especially when my pregnant belly pulls my skirts too short.

Sarah said...

I couldn't agree more. I recently attended a couples baby shower with people that I have not seen since high school. I was appalled at what some of the females were wearing. I honestly found it difficult to speak to them with so much of their bodies showing. Also, I am a nurse and find it absolutely crazy when I see nurses in scrubs that are excessively tight. I am talking so tight that they have vpl, or show too much when they bend over to help a patient.

Amanda said...

I wholeheartedly agree. I'm not a conservatively dressed girl - I like a tastefully open neckline (mostly cleavage free) and a little leg (calves?)....but I sure don't want to show everything to everyone!

I'm just grateful that the super super low rise jeans and tight, short shirts went out of style about 5 or 6 years ago. But of course, there are those who won't let a trend go.
And those who should never have done it in the first place. Leggings aren't pants - I don't care what one weighs!

Karen said...

I agree. Mother always told us girls you are better off leaving some things to the imagination... she would agree too.

Rachel said...

Absolutely!

Jesslyn said...

I truly want to know what goes through some people's heads when they're putting these outfits on. HOW do you convince yourself it looks good to look trampy?

Laney said...

Amen Sister!! It's great to know there are so many out there who are trying to reverse this sad trend. Another place is ELIZA Magazine. Love it!

Janna said...

Yes! I agree most whole-heartedly!!

Huckaby Fam said...

I concur :)

joolee said...

this is hilarious! i completely agree - and what's more, women complain that they aren't on equal footing with men in many ways and don't want to be valued as a piece of meat only...yet look what so many women wear! flaunting it all seems to be quite the contradiction, doesn't it?? hm. awesome post.

Laura Ingalls Gunn said...

Can we also talk about that certain styles have weight and age limits. I for one cannot wear mini skirts. I have passed the age limit. I also now avoid sleeveless tops as my arms wave back.

Most men I have asked (brothers, husbands, etc.) prefer the excitement and thrill of "what might be hidden" versus the "In your face~let it all hang out".

The Queen said...

AMEN!!

Apostolica said...

SUPPORT!

Modesty is infinitely more attractive than hoochieness.

marian said...

As the mom of 4 little girls, I say HIP HIP HOORAY for modesty!

H HoopThiel said...

I agree that leggings are not pants, but I do think they're cute with a slightly shorter skirt or dress. They help me bend and reach for the little one without exposing too much! And - I think that I've seen the Empress rocking a similar look on this blog.

I also have a rule to add to a prior comment: "Just because you can button or zip an item, does not mean that it fits or that you should wear it."

Kate said...

Reachel - got my look book - thanks! It's very helpful and fun. I'll add the pear button to my blog soon, of course!
Can't wait for the virtual shopping session portion of my package to come through. Best to you!

edith said...

I concur. I REALLY get tired of all these people pushing their flesh in my face. The checkout magazines make me physically ill.

bethany said...

I'm with you!

Reachel Bagley, Stylist said...

Brandee,
I just posted a link back to some solutions for too much lady egg exposure.

Reachel Bagley, Stylist said...

To many,
If you'd be comfortable wearing nylons with the dress or skirt, I say you can also wear leggings with the dress or skirt. They're virtually the same thing.

Alycia said...

When teaching in Southern Chile, I had a roommate/fellow teacher decide that she was going to wear tights to school, with a waist length sweater. Not leggings, tights. Off she went to teach at a Catholic school in Patagonia sans pants. She couldn't understand why she got more stares/honks/creepy remarks than usual...way to represent the U.S.A.

whimsy said...

yes. we are much more attractive and show our womanhood a lot more when we are covered up and show we respect our bodies. everyone is more beautiful when they respect themselves!
loves!
britt

Shayce Nicole said...

Reachel these pictures are a crack up, in which I am sure that is not what these people wanted. I think you need to write a book! The way you get your point across and the way it is worded is genius!!

The VIPs said...

agreed! excellent post- modest is definately hottest

LuckyStarHeather said...

Just found you from Tatertots and Jello and I think I'm your newest follower! Couldn't agree more on the skin thing...and many of your other posts! So happy to have found you!

A Touch of Country said...

Just stopping by and hoping to win!

I am definitely fashion challenged and live in some type of t shirt and sweats or jeans....yikes!

I usually am dashing in and out of somewhere hoping I don't run into someone I know.

Am loving looking thru your archives.

Hugs,

Natalie

Auburn said...

Amen.

sarah.elizabeth<3 said...

wow. everything you said is agreeable 100% there's a girl in one of my classes who wears leggings, i swear, EVERY DAY! it grosses me out. but really, that's so degrading to women to see any woman dressed like that. it gives us a bad image. Modest is hottest. :]

Jenn Harrist said...

We have always lived in college towns and I don't know how many times a day I see way too much of someone. Thank you!!!

Robyn said...

When all is exposed, nothing can be left to the imagination. Remember that we all have secrets about our bodies that should not be exposed to the world.
I whole heartedly agree with you. :)

Elisa1 said...

I live in sunny Arizona...lots of excessive skin exploitation here. My sons are 9 and 5 and hate that there is nothing left to their imagination! Keep up the good work.

Laura said...

It's nice to know that someone agrees with me. I long for the day when this will all just be seen as a fad one day instead of just continuing to get worse. Maybe???? My husband too regularly comments about the immodesty of women, especially all the focus on cleavage. Guys really have it tough in today's society. I appreciate this post. I do wonder why you have a woman in your blog header dressed like that. The focus is on the breasts, in my opinion. Where is her face?

Lisa said...

I consider myself a fairly chic, fashion-conscious woman yet I DETEST how undignified some younger women present themselves these days, in particular the big words on the booty of sweatpants or tiny shorts. I love how eloquently you voice your opinions! I am sending the link to your blog to my lovely 24 year old niece who doesn't need to show her midriff to be beautiful. Love love love this series of posts!

Denise said...

friends don't let their friends swear leggings as pants.

The Mann Fam said...

Just found your blog through tatertots & jello. I'm liking your blog and I couldn't agree more with what you have said. Count me in on your bandwagon!

Ann @ makethebestofthings said...

Excellent info. I am emailing all the ladies in my family with your blog address. So true classy style still lives! Bravo!

Rebekah Greiman said...

I would love to form a group of women that will stop this insanity every time we see it. Really, I don't need to see the fleshy muffin top being forced out of the top of your too tight stretchy pants. I may sound old, but at 31, I just don't know what happened to women respecting their bodies with how they dress. You can be attractive without your butt cheeks hanging out of your shorts, or plummeting cleavage distracting even the most honorable man.
Who will join me in this fight & what should we name it?

Kari said...

AMEN!

Natalie5911 said...

I totally agree with you! My mother and I were at an arts and crafts show today and were shocked at some of the things we saw. No one respects a woman that exposes her whole body for the world to see.

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