Apr 08 2009
Modest fashion in the News
According to Caroline Rider at the LA Times, (April 5, 2009) modesty is making a comeback, starting with tween star, Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana)
Forget Britney-era bling ‘n’ bras or clingy American Apparel spandex — 16-year-old “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus wasn’t even allowed to wear leggings while the cameras were rolling. Spaghetti straps were verboten, as were bare bellies, micro minis, one-shouldered tanks and anything resembling a camisole.
…
Movies set in the present day tend to feature store-bought looks, but Lawrence, the costume designer, knew that the clean-cut, Hayley Mills-inspired image he wanted for his star would be a tough find in Abercrombie & Fitch, Limited Too or American Eagle Outfitters, stores that are popular among tween and teen shoppers.
“When you go out shopping for young girls, colors are acidy and fabrics are clingy,” he says. “You see lots of spandex cotton, tank tops and spaghetti straps, really short skirts and tight jeans. Some of this stuff is way inappropriate.” With that in mind, he made nearly all the costumes himself.
…The movie’s tendency toward the tame is very much in line with what’s happening in tween fashion, says Gloria Baume, fashion director of Teen Vogue.
When it comes to their wardrobes, provocative is out and (gasp) parental approval is in.
“There’s a general shift away from ‘Britney style,’ ” she says, referring to the kid-ult, exploitative fashions that started appearing in stores around the turn of the millennium: Padded bras and high heels for 8-year-olds. Tube tops for babies.
The new modesty could also be linked “to what we’re going through economically,” Baume says, citing the old hemline index that had skirt lengths falling in concert with the stock market. “Either way, girls are embracing more classic looks, and they’re putting them together in a more wholesome way.” Think tailored blazers, nautical prints, white cotton tees, practical plaid and even the once-again ubiquitous Ray-Ban Wayfarers, the classic sunglasses frame that Gen Next has so thoroughly reclaimed as its own.
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I dont know how I feel about this story, I personaly have always thought tha miley is on the edge of modesty, tetering back and forth of being a good fashion example. There are many of her outfits that are iffy and I think that the author is confused about their defenition of what is modest. I also think that modesty is a heart issue, and although I do not know miss Cyrus on a personal basis, I don’t think that is a priority. I find that the statement made by the costumer is false, you can find great modest clothing at the mall and even at some teen stores, you just have to look a little longer and be willing to up your desired size…It is good that modesty is making the news though, but I would hardley call it a comback.
The interesting thing is that I’ve seen multiple pictures of Miley in very immodest clothing, most of those things mentioned as “no-nos” for the movie. It’s very cool that the movie wants to remain modest, it’s a movie that many thousands of little girls will see and they already have enough pressure on them to be modest. I think the world is actually starting to realize the folly of having girls grow up too fast and dress seductively at such a young age.
I’m glad to hear that they are featuring modest clothing in the movie. I’d have to agree with the above two comments, though, that pictures of Miley Cyrus seem to show otherwise. I’m glad they are making an effort, though!
Living in Los Angeles as I do, celebrity news is pretty much unavoidable, even when you’re not seeking it out. So it was really disappointing to me when I heard that Miley Cyrus, who apparently professes Christ, was (and still is?) dating a 20-year-old underwear model named Justin — I forget his last name — when she was only 15, and that he routinely stayed overnight at the home she sometimes shares with her father, when he’s in town at the same time she is. A while back, there was also “big news” of a pretty risque photo shoot that she did with some famous photographer for Vanity Fair magazine, which is not exactly the most upstanding periodical to begin with.
I don’t mean to be judgmental or unloving or harsh, but given how Hollywood makes its living from fooling people, I just wanted to make sure you had a few more data points. I don’t know her heart and I have no desire to monitor her life. When a person takes the name of Christ, however, that carries certain responsibilities along with it, and I pray that she truly realizes and understands what those are, if not now, then hopefully someday very soon.
I suppose I’m just trying to say that it’s one thing to extol the virtues of modesty with one’s lips, as the LA Times writer seems to do on behalf of Cyrus. It’s another thing entirely to be LIVING OUT a lifestyle of modesty for the only correct motive, love of Christ, as you and many other sisters are doing on this blog. And praise the Lord for that!
LP
Well said, well said!
I don’t really go out of my way to read up on celebrities and my daughter is WAY to young to be part of the tv Hannah Montana generation, so I know even less about child celebrities. However, the hyper sexualized nature of children’s and teen (mostly teen) clothing was disturbing to say the least. The fact that raunch culture made it’s way into the children’s market is a sad statement on the value of childhood in this country. I can’t speak to other countries, I don’t live there.
Kids have a short time to enjoy the somewhat carefree time of childhood. When they get into high school the pressure begins and it doesn’t let up until either retirement or the grave. Knowing this, I put a high premium on childhood and it’s unique pleasures. One cannot recreate them and I want my daughter to enjoy her childhood as much as possible.
What don’t want is her to feel this overarching pressure to be a sexualized adult walking around in a 12 year old’s body. So kudos to this film for putting a premium on modest clothing. It’s a step in the right direction. Miley Cyrus may not be as modest in real life, or have a lifestyle I want to duplicate for my Sophia, but at least this film is not in that direction.
I think you’re totally correct in the sense that even incremental positive progress is better than none at all. And to the extent that the natural ebb and flow of fashion is trending in a more modest direction at the moment, I think that’s fantastic.
The main thrust of my point above, stated in a slightly different way, is simply that I would truly love it if the positive progress we are potentially starting to see is springing from regenerated hearts of Scriptural conviction, rather than Hollywood just putting its finger in the wind to see which way it’s blowing.
In the case of Cyrus, perhaps it’s just a conscious marketing decision, even though I pray that it’s not. But to the extent that Hollywood’s hand has been forced by a backlash against the tawdry culture of excess of recent years — driven primarily by Christian parents and children who value modesty, even — then that would be a great praise indeed!
Indeed, you are correct. Regenerated/transformed hearts are far more effective in producing lasting change. Hemlines change every season, but hearts remain the same.
The producers have admitted, in this case, to making a conscious “marketing decision” to keep their audience demographic clear (12-16 year old). In that case, perhaps we shouldn’t rejoice too soon. But even a “trend” towards modesty will impact the young woman emulating the show, which in turn will impact their peers and so on. Time will tell if this is an isolated incident or no.
I think that’s a wise, temperate approach. Thanks for your post, and your blog! I’ve been really seeking out like-minded sites for the last couple of weeks, and yours is fantastic. And it’s been a true privilege and encouragement for me to read the perspectives of godly men AND women, all across the web.
Actually, I read something more positive in the idea of “conscious marketing decision”. Someone in Tinsel Town actually realized that grownup things should be marketed to grownups and things for children should be marketed for children. In the past it seems like things for kids were being marketed to 35 year olds, people who had no business CARING what the new Hannah Montana or Hilary Duff movie was.
I like the idea (the hope maybe) that there should be a discernable line between children’s entertainment and entertainment for adults and a corresponding difference in how they’re advertised. Someone had the thought “Hey, if we’re marketing this to kids, then they should actually look like kids.” Now I just hope that this particular epiphany keeps happening.
I think it’s interesting that the costume designer and director purposely toned down the apparel for the sake of the audience.
They want to keep “Hannah Montana” clean, while the actress herself moves on. (as exhibited by her rather scandalous cover shoot for Vanity fair)
I have never been of the opinion that Miley Cyrus is modest, but I do think the article points to a trend away from the “Britney Spears” era.
I think there is some progress still to be made, but any step in the right direction, that is, toward modesty, is to be applauded.
It’s amazing how younger and younger they’re catering the sensual look to. Babies, people. My mother was always very careful to let me (and now my little sisters) be CHILDREN. Little girls are only little girls for a very short while. When I was young, my mother didn’t let me wear skirts until I was twelve, pierce my ears or wear heels bigger than 1″ until I was fourteen, and no makeup until I was sixteen…she also didn’t let me get a “big girl” hair cut until sixteen, too. Now, I’m not saying that everyone should do this…you need to decide what’s best for your daughter…but the point was that wearing high heels, skirts and blouses, earrings, makeup, and a grown-up hairstyle was what older girls did. And I was ok with that. Girls are being pressured to look 20 when they’re 6 and 7. My little sisters (6, 8, and 10) wear dresses and bows and LOOK LIKE LITTLE GIRLS. There’s a whole lifetime to dress like an adult. Children should be allowed to look like children.
That is so beautiful and encouraging to hear, Alexandra! Thanks for sharing that.