QnA

We want your questions!! 

We may not be able to answer all of your questions, but we'll try our best to give sound biblical advice! Shoot us an e-mail or look over some of the questions we've already addressed. : )

silknpurpleprov31@gmail.com

Q: What is the recommended age to follow Silk and Purple?

A: Silk and Purple was created to reach a wide age range. While we have many women reading and gathering creative ideas from this blog, we do not believe we have biblical jurisdiction to instruct and lead wives and mothers in the ways of scripture. Our focus is on unmarried young ladies! We love for wives, mothers, and grandmothers to read the blog, and our prayer is that they will share it with the young ladies in their lives. 

We all mature differently. The Victorian idea that girls are not concerned about appearance until 15 is a long-forgotten thought. We believe that the maturity level of a girl should be determined by her parent or guardian. We desire Silk and Purple to be a wonderful resource to girls entering the years that can be the most exciting and productive -- the preteen, teen, and young adult years. Preteen may mean 12 for some girls, others as early as 10. We encourage parents to determine when it is best for their daughters to engage in outside instruction regarding their outward appearances and the deeper heart issues.

We will always strive to place disclosures to help parents censor sensitive subjects in protecting young, pure hearts, as well as provide admonition to the young lady to seek the counsel of her spiritual head!

~ Abby and Elyse

Q: What is too low or too high in regards to tops, skirts, shorts, and dresses?
A: Great question! Before I give my personal opinion, I'll give you the underlying question. How far is too far? Many times we want to find out how close we can stand to a fire before we get burned! We should change our thinking! Try asking yourself, "How pure can I become?" This is radical thinking in a culture that is always pushing the boundaries. Examine your heart and talk with your parents to obtain some general dressing strategies that can guide your wardrobe selection.

I can't give a flat answer because every family is different, but I can give you a few ideas of what I keep in mind, along with some other young ladies I know.

I choose not to wear anything above the knee with skirts and dresses. After that point, it becomes too hard to move around gracefully and stay modest.

As to shorts, thighs call attention to skin (something I feel is too troubling for our brothers in Christ).  I choose not to wear short shorts, but will wear a Bermuda short or capris rolled just above my knees for outdoor activities such as canoeing in the hot Alabama summers.

As to how low a top or a dress should come, it all depends on the cut and how it lays on my body. I keep in mind the four-finger test. I lay four closed fingers starting at my collarbone and if I see skin below the fourth finger, I don't wear it. I usually always wear a camie under everything as a precaution. The four-finger test doesn't work for all body types, so I would suggest that if you see even a hint of cleavage while standing straight and/or moving around, take steps to cover yourself.  We don't want people's thoughts to be directed and centered on that aspect of us. We desire folks to look at our unique faces and eyes -- cleavage makes thoughts gravitate to what we don't want people to focus on or be tempted by. ~ Abby

Q: How high is too high when it comes to high heels?
A: Let's think about why and when heeled shoes were created. A small heel has been around for hundreds of years, but I would say it was during the Renaissance and especially the Baroque eras that shoes became their own fashion statement. They were no longer just necessity, but could be frivolity!

The classic pump as we know it today appeared in the early 1900s. The purpose behind wearing these shoes was to make one taller and create a longer looking leg. Dresses at this time became a lot shorter than in previous annals of history, so legs were now noticed. As time moved on, so did the height of the heel -- from a small 1-1.5 inch to a shocking 6.5-7! The 1960s and '70s platform also changed the shoe movement. These generations seemed to want to push the limit on everything! In the '80s and '90s, heels took a little rest. As women were climbing the ladder of success in the corporate world, shoes had to become more practical, and the only gals wearing the over-the-top high heels were Hollywood stars and desperate prostitutes.

Along the way, taking us into the new millennium, we met up with a woman named Carrie Bradshaw, a.k.a., Sarah Jessica Parker, on a provocative, hit television show. She taught us that you can "have it all" and "do it all" in sky-high, sexy, platform heels! Parker and her gang changed the face of western civilization by somehow "empowering" women to be symbols of lustful ambition and still be "classy," just because they were searching for “true love.” Their view of fashion has now penetrated our culture -- shoes being an ultimate symbol of lust!

Now, let's don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Shoes are not evil! They can, however, become objects of a stereotype. I personally like a reasonable-sized heel when I'm dressing an outfit up a little more. When I wear a longer dress or skirt, heels are a great way to balance the proportion to my form. Also, they are a great way to add a splash of color and personality to an outfit -- very classy when done correctly.

When selecting any shoe to wear, first consider the efficiency it will provide you. If you are only thinking about keeping your balance in a pair of 4-inchers, then I would suggest picking a lower-sized heel. Playing to our vanity can be easy to do when all we are thinking about is what we are wearing. Our concern should be for others, not keeping our balance and wondering how many people are admiring us when we walk across a room.

A pair of 2-inch black heels are, I believe, a basic, but talk with your parents about the shoes and find the best fit for you as a representative of Christ and your family.