Spring Break is upon us and the warm weather is getting warmer. It never fails to amaze me how little people wear when the temperature rises. The other day I saw a woman at the store that barely (and I mean barely) covered all the body parts necessary so she wouldn’t get arrested. I tried not to stare, but it was so appalling to see, I couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t even that warm outside.

Our culture has slowly accepted the bare minimum in apparel, even to just go shopping. From short shorts to bikini tops, the standard of clothing our bodies is not what it used to be. Media influence does not help as women’s bodies are paraded on the screen and young teen girls begin to notice how others dress. Wearing very tight or skimpy clothes also brings the attention to the body instead of the person. For men, it is hard to concentrate on a conversation when a blouse is so low there is not much left to the imagination.

It’s really a matter of being taught what is appropriate and what is not. Teen girls might complain and argue with their mothers about how a short blouse looks better because it shows some skin but in reality misunderstandings can develop and send the wrong message. Teen girls don’t have the understanding a mother has on what kind of message is sent to the world when you step outside in too short or too tight of clothing. The message given to others when dressed inappropriately can cause a lot of heart ache and low self-esteem. The lack of respect one has for their person shows in how they dress themselves. It is true for anyone.

Not everyone jumps on the band wagon when it is hot. Business offices and religious declarations will prevent some from dressing so immodestly. Dressing sensibly is always in fashion and gives added protection to your skin. Dressing modestly isn’t even a matter of buying frumpy clothes. There are so many designers who make wonderfully attractive clothing which flatter anyone’s body build that it is a pleasure to wear. You just have to be on your toes to find it, besides; wearing modest clothing is much more comfortable.

Dressing modestly starts at a young age. Steering young girls to cute modest clothing can help the situation. If young girls are accustomed to modest fashions, then when the time comes to choose clothing for a teen girl, it’s not as difficult to make the right choice. The fashion world does not help, however, when strapless, low cut dresses for prom are paraded at every department store. It’s really a matter of priority. If modest dress is stressed at home, then teen girls are more apt to wear modest clothes. There is power in dressing modestly.

So the next time I see too much skin at the store, I’ll think of what Mark Twain once said: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is now the author of four books. Her latest, “Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow’s Perspective” is available on Amazon.com. Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com, visit her website at www.stregthenyourhome.com or check out her blog at www.valeriesteimle.blogspot.com.