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Clothes
that
flatter figures
Modesty
is Rx for teen
fashion ills in the classroom
By
Susanne B. Deitzel
Photos by Glenn Roberson
Back-to-school shopping
can be a nightmare for some mothers and daughters. Disagreements about
what’s acceptable in the classroom are plentiful.
Many pre-teen and teen girls have a penchant for pushing the limits to
accentuate and expose their changing bodies, and this not only can cause
conflicts at home, but also can lead to problems at school.
Parents and teachers, however, have started enforcing ground rules for
acceptability. And many retailers seem to have gotten the message.
“For a couple of years, low-rise jeans and bare midriffs were a problem,
but that phase has been over for a while now,” said Carla Moyer, an
eighth-grade teacher at Cannon School. Last year, shorts and skirts became
more of the norm, added Moyer, “and now we can concentrate on teaching
rather than being sidetracked on addressing how students are dressed.”
This could be in part because of Shari Braendel’s recent “Modest Is
Hottest” teen fashion shows at churches and youth organizations across
the country. Through the Charlotte-based Proverbs 31 Ministries, Braendel,
who is a body image and fashion consultant, involves girls in a
heart-to-heart conversation about their bodies. The fashion shows also
raise moms’ awareness of the impact that dressing decisions can have on
kids.
In University City, Braendel has presented the fashion show at Hickory
Grove Baptist Church and Mecklenburg Community Church.
From
denim to dangling earrings
When she
staged the show at Mecklenburg Community Church in May, the pews were
packed with giggling, ponytailed, gum-chewing girls from age 6 to 15, most
accompanied by their mothers and/or grandmothers. Others arrived in
groups.
The girls were clad mostly in tank tops and jeans. Some were barefaced;
others wore thick, shiny lip gloss and hints of color on their eyes and
cheeks.
They listened while Braendel explained the different body types and what
fashions are most flattering for each type. Braendel was bold in
demonstrating that many of the tighter, shorter items girls select do
little for the mature appearance that teens say they are striving for.
The audience is told to avoid the “5 Bs”: visible bra straps, bust
line (cleavage), belly, bottom and bubbling. (The last, explained
Braendel, is the odd rippling, wrinkling, dimpling that occurs when denim
is too tight or a bad fit.)
Braendel also explained necklines, hemlines and the 12-point accessory
rule for teen girls, noting that each accessory or print fabric gets one
point (anything over 12 is too much).
Volunteers flocked to the stage to become lessons in what (and what NOT)
to wear. About 20 girls rushed up to get their body type assessed, and
even more jeans-clad moms climbed on stage to turn and offer their fannies
for Braendal’s analysis of their jean choices. Color, cut, length,
waistline, pockets and pocket designs were critiqued and giggled at.
What
boys think
The fashion
show is a lot of fun, but the topic has a serious core. Each event shows
how beauty and fashion advertisements can negatively influence pre-teen
and teen girls. The show also includes an interview of teen boys.
A video captures these young men’s candid opinions of the revealing
clothes many girls wear. Those in the audience immediately perked up to
listen: “Sure, those kind of clothes are distracting, but I wouldn’t
consider someone who wears them date-able.” Also, “Skimpy clothes get
your attention, but I wouldn’t like it for my girl.” And, “It’s a
lot easier for me to talk to someone if I am not distracted by her lack of
clothes.”
Moyer, the eighth-grade lead teacher at Cannon School, said her team of
teachers tries hard to mediate on wardrobe decisions. “Our team has
tried to be very intentional and consistent with our dress code,” she
said. “We create reasonable guidelines, lay out our expectations
thoroughly up front and tell our students that ‘when in doubt, don’t
wear it.’ But one of the other things we also have to be careful about
is calling too much attention to a wardrobe issue, because then we are
being counterproductive.”
The
bottom line
Fashion for
young girls and teens comes down to attention. Braendel’s message is
simply that if a 14-year-old’s physicality is spotlighted, it is going
to drive attention to that part of her being. But if clothing is chosen to
highlight her entire being— rather than just a few suggestive regions
— then who she is and what she is saying comes through.
“This really gets to the heart of what we are doing,” said Braendel.
“Inner beauty is absolutely most important. But how is it possible to
display that inner beauty if you feel ugly on the outside? The ideas we
teach in the show help girls to dress in a way that lets who they are
shine.”
The event at Mecklenburg Community Church concluded with about 15 girls
making several wardrobe changes to walk the catwalk with “Modest is
Hottest” fashion selections. Dillard’s at Northlake put together the
outfits to specifications laid out by Braendel’s team. |
|
Rose
Stanley, left, Claire McIntyre, center, and Maddie Deming, right,
model fashionable, yet modest, clothing for dressy occasions.
Shari
Braendel says her shows help teach girls to dress “in a way that
lets who they are
shine.”
Sydney
Foil models a dress from Dillards. |
