The Empress has no Clothes!

Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame (Revelation 16:15).

Yes, summer is quickly approaching. Many Christians are beginning to discuss and reevaluate their thinking regarding whether one should wear clothes or glorified underwear when swimming publicly. I read a good article here at Mrs. Parunak's blog where she touches on reasons other than modesty for choosing to not swim almost naked. She says:

"I enjoy wearing the equivalent of a bathing suit (or less!) for my husband, and I feel infinitely more beautiful because it’s just the two of us. I would so much rather be my husband’s delicious secret than participate in pool side beauty pageants in which no woman ever feels like the winner."

Yet, there are certainly more reasons than that for not walking around in public practically naked. Scott Brown, in his article, Why I am Against Bikini Clad Girls and Bare Chested Boys Swimming in My Lake, wrote the following:"Over the last hundred years, we have had, as Jeff Pollard has said, 'The public undressing of America.' What was illegal in clothing 100 years ago, and would cause your arrest, is now popular and accepted everywhere — even in churches."

· 1890’s: Swimwear was modified street clothing

· 1910: Arms were exposed

· 1920: You would be arrested if you appeared in a modest 21st century bathing suit

· 1920’s: Legs and backs were exposed

· 1930’s: Cleavage was exposed and men began to swim bare chested

· 1935: Two piece bathing suits appeared with a small break between upper and lower half

· 1940’s: New fabrics appeared which hugged the body

· 1960’s: Navels were exposed

"Today: Anything goes... One piece suits with fabrics like skin that really leaves nothing to the imagination and bikinis of various categories prevail as normal.

"Today, the fashions are so pervasively broadcast over every media outlet that everyone dresses the same when they swim. Movies and TV have so popularized nakedness, that if you challenge it, you are not thought of as being very accepting. In fact, if you do cover your body it seems odd.

"Jeff Pollard says it this way, 'Fashion designers have used swimwear to undress America.' Who can deny this? It is as obvious as a fly on your nose.

"So it is time to shout it out with perfect clarity: The empress has no clothes! For the last two generations we have been told that swimwear is about fashion. They say, Fashion is neutral. Don’t criticize fashion, it is only fashion. No! It is public nakedness."

Want to see what bathing suits used to look? Take a pictorial walk down memory lane by visiting this site, which shows the change in bathing attire from the early 1800's to the 1920's:

I think I finally snapped to the fact that I'd been duped by the fashion industry when someone asked me why I was comfortable wearing something to the pool that was nothing more than colored, spandex underwear. Wow! I had never thought of it that way, but it was true. I would never invite friends over to lounge around in our underwear, but add a splash of spandex color (and a little water) to the mix and somehow it's pool side fashion!

Here's an excerpt from Raising Maidens of Virtue, challenging daughters to evaluate their thinking in this area:

"Would you feel naked wearing your nightgown or undergarments into a courtroom or church? What would your pastor and his wife think if you invited them over to supper, then answered the door in your underwear? Would they be shocked? Why do many of us think it is acceptable then to invite fellow Christians over for a pool party where everyone is wearing 'colored underwear'?"

It is true that there are certain things that may be appropriate for one event and not for another. For instance, no matter how modest my nightgown may be, I would never answer the front door wearing it! My bathrobe may cover my body completely, but I'm not going to lounge around in it when I have company and I certainly wouldn't wear it to the grocery store.

But we're not talking about appropriate styles for appropriate events, we're talking about public nakedness. There's no real way to conceal the private parts of our bodies in most modern bathing suits. The majority of bathing suits today leave little to the imagination.

So, what's a girl to do? Where do you find a bathing suit that is modest, safe to swim in, and doesn't draw attention (other than the fact that you're covered)? Thanks to the efforts of many Christians who are not sitting by and allowing the modern fashion industry to dictate what they have to wear, many new companies are springing up.

Wholesomewear.com is my favorite choice because their suits cover appropriately, they're lightweight and don't cling horribly when wet, and they're Christian owned. We've purchased their bathing suits for years.

There are also other businesses selling modest suites, as well as patterns where you can make your own. Don't let the modern fashion industry strip you of your...dignity everytime you go swimming. You do have a choice - this summer, wear clothes!

Free Downloads: Listen to Part 1 of a sermon by Jeff Pollard on Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America HERE. Part 2 can be found HERE. Or order his booklet here:

Order comfortable, modest, and lightweight bathing suits here: