Traditional Catholics and Homeschooling parents are always lamenting the fact that they cannot find modest swimsuits for the young women in the family. Everything is designed these days to show ballooning cleavage and legs extended past the waistline, or so it seems. It is all a very scary business, especially if there are young men and teenage boys on the beaches too. Remember, the most dangerous thing for a teenage girl is a teenage boy! Many of us have not visited beaches in years so as to preserve the custody of the eyes. Well, if you are tired of parading your young daughters to the ravenous beach wolves, there is hope in sight. It comes from a highly unlikely place, the Muslims.
Less willing to go naked as many so-called Catholics and other Christians these days, these girls also want fun in the sun, laying on the beach, and swimming in the surf. But, they do not want to forfeit their virginity or be prey to voyeurs in doing it. It is here that we can take a lesson from their book.
SPLASHGEAR MODEST SWIMWEAR has been designed with loose-fitting swim shirts (yes, even that pretty neck is covered!), swim pants (legs, what legs?) and hair covers (which she can use at Mass, too!). Why these girls look almost like boys they are covered so effectively. Fathers will no longer have to worry, indeed, they can get modest swim-gear for their wives too (they come even in jumbo sizes!).
An article about these wonderful swimsuits ran in an AP (Feb 18, 2007) article by Peter Prengaman that you can read in full at the Splash Gear site:
“America is predominantly coed, and increasingly the norm is skimpy swimsuits. Enter the new-and-improved all-body suit. The suits are also increasingly stylish, with aqua to purple to hot pink colors, intricate sequin designs and miniskirts that go over long pants. ‘We want to be modest, but we also want to be fashionable,’ said Shereen Sabet, who last year founded Splashgear, an online swimwear store for Muslim women based in Huntington Beach.”
The flipside to all this is that it will help us save our young Catholic boys from corruption, too. No matter how we raise them, let us be honest, when it comes to the flesh, the male of the species is weak. Girls flirt and shamelessly show themselves off to boys, arguing that it is okay as long as they do not get the boys’ engines running. Silly silly girls, boys are born with their motors running. Sexual morality will always be what young women want it to be. If most girls set limits and said “NO!” more often, boys would accept it and be better off. These swimsuits will help…out of sight, out of mind. All the bumpy parts are covered, even down to the ankles. Strategic scarves cover necks and chins and the headgear on other outfits goes all around the chin. Some might regard the hair-guard as optional, but don’t you chance it! Who knows what a pretty neck or a rosy cheek might do to a hormonal crazy boy! The Bible talks about the allure of a woman’s hair, best to keep that under cover as well.
The Church should start its own line, and we could sell to “good” Catholics and Muslims alike. But until then, the Muslims have online and mail-order catalogues! If our kids are afraid that others might make fun of them, we can start groups that will go to pools and beaches together. Catholic homeschoolers and Muslim girls can swim together and urge authorities to force those nasty boys to go somewhere else! With strength of numbers, our families and girls can admonish the other so-called Catholic females on the beach: “Have you no shame for exposing yourselves in underwear? Protestants, I mean Prostitutes wear more clothes than you! Why don’t you save money and just wear a couple pieces of cotton thread instead of that $500 string-bikini! Your butt is fat! My newborn baby sees you and all he wants to do is nurse!” You’ll have those immodest sirens running from the beaches in tears.
Compare this girl to the ones shown in modest-wear above! It is no comparison! This girl is nothing but temptation and sin looking for trouble. Look at her with that “come-hither” stare–disgusting!
Let us make a revolution for purity and modesty today!
If everyone starts wearing these new outfits, we will finally be able to take our clergy on beach vacations and not have to be embarrassed by the local sights. Take back the pools and beaches for the Lord and for us modest believers. We can make a difference! Finally we have found something worthwhile we can do with our Muslim neighbors!
On the Net:
Splashgear: http://www.splashgearusa.com/
Primo Moda http://www.primomoda.com/
Ahiida: http://www.ahiida.com/
Isn’t it a “come-hither” look? You need to visit us in West “by God” Virginia more often!
Thanks Rose, I will make the correction and change the “come here” look to “come-hither”. I am not so well versed on such things…and now you’ve got me afraid to visit West Virginia–hehehe!
Thanks for the links, but my girls and I make our own swimwear and it is very much like what the Islamic women wear. Here are some more links, Christians and others are already beginning to cater to this untapped market:
http://www.liliesapparel.com/
These clothes remind me of the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE TV show! I loved that show!
http://www.stitchintimes.com/
The swimwear are more than dresses!
http://www.modest-swimwear.net/
A Christian version of the Muslim swimwear, minus the veil!
http://www.modestapparelchristianclothinglydiaofpurpledressescustomsewing.com/
Unbelievable! These people reproduce clothes from 1901 or so!
http://www.wholesomewear.com/skirted-b.html
Almost Muslim swimwear, but I wonder if it is easy to swim in long dresses? I have tried and get fatigued pretty quickly.
You have to fight some of the administrators at pools about modest swimwear. They argue that we wear more clothes for swimming than other females do with their day-to-day clothing! One time we had to go to court because of a rule against public dress clothes in pools. They did not believe that what we wore was for swiming. We go for the fun and exercise, not to burn ourselves or to offer cheap strip shows at the community center.
I do not know what to say?
Apologies are offered if my tongue-in-cheek style offended anyone.
I certainly support modest swimwear, but I thought that most would regard the styles offered as a tad much. Maybe I am wrong?
Christian families are already buying into swimwear styles not dissimilar from that worn by Muslims. I did not know about this.
God bless them and their efforts.
Modest swim wear is difficult to find (in mainstream stores). Since few, if any women have model-perfect bodies, never mind the need for dressing modestly, there are many “of a certain age” who just skip the idea of bathing suits altogether. I am glad there are some companies who manufacture “regular” swim wear with such features as shorts/skirts and tank-top like straps. I applaud any efforts in this area.
Father, I agree with you and think the Muslim swimsuits are a little much. Like many young women I know, I managed to find a high-necked swimsuit and I wear shorts with it on the rare occasion when I visit a public pool or beach, but being covered to the wrists and ankles is, I think, over-the-top. Additionally, the baggier pants shown in one of those photos seem like they could be dangerous, hampering a swimmer’s leg movements underwater.
I suppose you’re joking, aren’t you? (As English is not my first language, I sometimes doubt my understanding of what I read).
To tell you the truth, as a woman and a believer, modesty is a complex issue to me. Sometimes I find believers preach a style of clothing which, instead of being dignified (fit for the daughter of a King), is ugly and seems to preach that there’s something inherently sinful in being woman, as if the fact that I am a woman needs to be hidden. I believe I am responsible for not creating unreasonable occasions of temptation for my brothers. But I do not believe that anything I can do can replace their own care to flee the temptations that rise from their own heart. Clothing that is well-fitting, pretty and flattering, without being indecent or too flashy to make me the center of attentions, glorifies the Lord (every woman, of every shape, is beautiful and should dress like she believes that!). I believe looking nice (not cheap like a harlot, nor flashy like I am a billionnaire showing off, I mean nice and beautiful) would be approved by our Lord who liked eating and drinking, liked everything which is healthily fun and human. He told us to fast interiorly, not showing it. “When you fast, wash your head and perfume yourself, so that no-one knows you are fasting”. Sometimes dressing shapeless long clothing can be a matter of pride, not of modesty.
On swimsuits, I have a personal pet-peeve with the “modesty” discussion. One-piece swimsuits only fit nicely women whose upper and lower halves have similar sizes. When those halves differ by more than two sizes, the best idea, in my humble opinion, is to try to find a more or less modest bikini/tankini where each piece is sold separately. I am sorry, but that’s the only option for some women. (I am lucky that I can wear some one-piece swimsuits, but not all women can).
And what about men? Do people forget that women also have lustful thoughts? Why is it OK for a man to take off his shirt when doing heavy jobs (if I have a lustful thought, it’s my responsability, he is perfectly justified in taking off his shirt because of his job) and when a women needs to breastfeed a baby everyone is outraged?
Personally I like these swimsuits.
http://www.swimmodest.com/
You can swim just fine in them and they are modest too. They are also really cute! I can also testify that they look better in real life than in the pictures. All my five daughters and myself have one. They sell out really fast so order early in the season.
reply to janec:
hi, there, and the answer is, no, the straight leg pants do not hinder swimming. i wear my own “resort pants”, which are the straight leg pants (or the ‘baggier’ pants as you referr to them).
i can attest that they don’t ride up in the water, they are very thin and light (a couple of my customers have already told me it feels like they are not wearing anything), and it does not weigh down or hamper the swimmer.
however, i will mention that from a safety point of view, anything that covers the feet can be dangerous and hamper the swimmer. so, if the pant legs are too long, then in the water the pant legs will cover the feet and prevent efficient kicking. that’s why my company, “splashgear”, produces pants that fall at the ankle, but not below it.
again, the straight leg pants do not hamper the swimmer as i and others can attest.
by the way, i was quite surprised to receive an OVERWHELMING response to the AP article. i never realized just how much non-muslims wanted/needed full coverage swimwear. my sales and catalog requests to non-muslims just sky-rocketed after the AP article came out, and i received so many positive and encouraging e-mails from mainstream individuals. …wow…!…
thank you for your time.
–s–
***
Shereen Sabet
SPLASHGEAR
7445 Seastar Dr.
Suite # 8
Huntington Beach
CA, 92648-2271
USA
P: 714.293.2974
F: 866.556.0432
http://www.splashgearusa.com
shereen.sabet@splashgearusa.com
***
hello, I am a young woman who was searching the web for a modest bathing suit for my senior trip to florda coming up, and stumbled on to this page. I must say that as a God loving 18 year-old woman i was discused by those suits. They are not the least bit fasionable. I believe that God has called women to be respectful of men, but he did not ask us to look like them! Father, you said that parents wouldn’t have to worry about thier daughters because they would look just like the other boys on the beach, and personally, I am proud God made me a young woman. I don’t want to look like a man. I believe that i can dress modestly without pretending to be something I am not. A modest full peice, or full coverage tankini can be less attention grabbing than a young woman in one of those outfits.
I understand your intensions are possitive, but i think you will find more young women like myself would be more resceptive toward the church’s efforts to promote modisty if we were not made to feel ashamed of the bodies God himself has created. thank you for your time.
hey father joe just wanted to say i absolutly love this site im a young teenage boy and i personally think that most secular bathing suits are immodest and and not fit for wearing in public. I personally feel betrayed when my “christian” freinds wear these immoral clothes on retreats or when just hanging out when we are supposed to have and display much higher values then our non-christian counterparts. Its been a standing debate between me and my friends one that leads to bitterment sometimes but i really appreciate that there are still people out there that do wear modest clothing and bathing suits and that yall make it available and known to us.
Are you kidding me?
Hello, you might consider my swimwear line another alternative. I offer retro/vintage styled one piece bathing suits that have more coverage.
http://www.poppiswim.com
Yes, some of these are rather much. I’d recommend L.L. Bean and Land’s End catalogs for more modest style swimsuits and clothing in general. There are a tad expensive … but maybe you are paying for the extra material! Just “google” either name and their website will come up.
This seems quite modest but practical:
http://www.poppiswim.com/shirley-brown-floral-swimwear-c-10-p-1-pr-11.html
I’m sorry, but isn’t one of the main points of being modest not drawing attention to yourself? I find that these Muslim-inspired swimsuits draw a lot more attention than a modest one piece or tankini. The desire to be modest should be an act of humilty, not pride.
GUEST EDITOR: The article is tongue-in-cheek. If a picture was grossly immodest, it would not be posted here. The moslem outfits seem to me as a bit extreme, but I am no real judge of such things. The black-and-white photographs are very old photos from an album. By the way, I thought I had them identified, if I am wrong please let me know. I have already had several cases of false identification. Just email me the approximate date and maybe a photo from the same period to prove the point. If I am wrong then a picture will be removed. God bless! frjoe2000@yahoo.com
I’m a Protestant and I was very offended by your refrence to Protestants as girls in skimpy bikini. I have never worn a bikini in my life, …..
GUEST EDITOR: Huh? Where did it say that? By the way, you have the same IP number as Katrina Ann in Texas.
You should all try a topfree or nudist beach for a day or two and get over it. Christians use the word modesty or indecency when they really mean body shame.
Clothing does not make you superior to someone who is naked.
This is nothing but Puritanism and has little to do with Christianity, Islam or Judaism.
What is a real shame is that you have to spend the rest of your lives hating your bodies.
Why do males get to take off their shirts at the beach and females do not?
To dominate and make money off of females.
It never used to be like this. Both sexes wore little or no clothing through out 98-99% of human history.
The Church and State make a lot of money off of your shame. The Church uses nudity as a device to lay guilt on everyone about sex.
The State gets large sums of revenue from the the sale of pornography, while saying that they have passed laws to fight it.
The worst thing that females could do to combat pornography would be to go nude at the beach. Nudity is the major draw for pornography.
Females should at least go topfree. Just like males do. I’ll bet that if you did for 10 or 15 minutes you would probably do for the rest of your life.
Turn back the clock to way it used to be. Start asking the males around you why their chests are considered normal and decent and yours is not.
It would be great if every State would encourage females to go one summer topfree. Most would never put that top or one-
piece back on.
Wonder why we aren’t born naked, god hates it so much. OH WAIT! WE ARE BORN NAKED! GO FIGURE….once your “BUMPY” parts show you become indecent hahaha you people are fools.
BTW This is NOT a male posting. Father Joe, I think your a [deleted] reading your post made my stomach turn.
Question: Are bumpy parts prohibited on just females or males too???? I think it should go both ways, don’t you? Therefore, I must recommend that all overweight men wear bras… It’s just fair.. And all men must also wear swimsuits to their ankles.. Cuz we all might get turned on by the “bumpy part” in an ankle, right? What happened to the freedom that Jesus offers us? I’m sorry, this just is not a clear representation of what Jesus came to proclaim. I believe in modesty, but not legalism. Good luck.
Check out http://www.modest-swimwear.net
who told them they were catholic? have they be eating of the tree of knowledge of which God had forbidden?
As someone mentioned, those clotings are grossly unfashionable. I don’t think it is necessary to go to the extreme to be considered modest. Also, I don’t think anyone needs to purchase your clothing to appear modest. A tank top and shorts can be purchased at any store. And not every one of them reveals cleavage or are unbearably tight. If you are really concerned about what girls wear, and consider yourself a practical person, rather then choosing the styles you prefer consider taking the time to listen to the girls that might consider wearing them. I hope whoever looks at your website knows that they don’t have to look like that to be modest.
does your wife wear these swimsuits? or is she too embarressed?
What some regard as modest, others find titillating or even fetishistic.
The simplest way to eliminate eroticism of this kind is 100% nudity, Scandinavian style. What is familiar will not excite.
As a Catholic myself, I thought Catholicism was primarily concerned about bringing love to the world through the Risen Christ.
Joe, that’s sick. If you can’t handle swim attire, don’t go to the beach.
Acquagym manufactures highest quality swimwear and its collection is an innovation for many muslim women.
Please acess http://www.acquagymbrazil.com and don´t hesitate to contact us !
(God) forbid - just stay out of the sun and off the beach. Did not God design the human body? Are we to be ashamed and deny the beautiful creation called the human body? I think those people extolling the ‘virtues’ of modest swimwear must have their minds in the gutter. Methinks one doth protesteth too much !
muslim shmuslim. Please women, WHY would you want to propell us backward ? This has NOTHING to do with religion - when will you realize this is about male dominance - stupid old men who want to feel powerful and seek to do this through the subjugation of women. Burn the burkha !
If you want to save your young catholic boys from temptation send them with a priest for 5 minutes! I bet they wont want anything to do with sex for years! maybe if you werent a dirty old man “bumpy parts” wouldnt bother you so much.
immodestwhore@carolina.rr.com
why not? you take your crack pot beliefs seriously. The body is beautiful, the baggy crap used to cover gods beautiful creation is not. The more you cover, the farther away we are from where god wanted us to be before adam and eve found the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Basically your telling women that because men are tempted they need to cover up. It doesnt sound like my problem if i want to wear a bikini, im not going to go to hell so save your prayers for someone who agrees with everything you say.
and by the way my mom gave me when i came out of what your so concerned about covering efficiently.
They’re too revealing
HERE IS A NEW LINK ON THE SUBJECT:
http://saintjosephslilies.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/focus-on-fashion-modest-bathing-suits/
Raeleigh of Texas
juicydiorcouture@hotmail.com
HA HA HA You are so highly amusing…not. That comment is extremely offensive and not the least bit amusing. You are a [deleted] who claims to be under the direction of God. Your attempt at humor [deleted] and I hope that [deleted] with all this [deleted] you are spreading.
I love the range of muslim swim suites from ZEHBA.
I have chosen one of their floral designs, which i believe to be a better choice for a moderate women. I have bought it from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
You can see many designs at their website.
http://www.zehba.com
A More Practical Alternative.
My brother dresses his daughters in long board shorts. Yes, the kind male surfers wear and manage to find a way to do so very low slung and immodestly. Not so with these girls, tough. For a top they again where the surfers rash guard or ’skin’.
These outfits look ‘cool’ in s surfer kind of way, allow the girls to be very active in and out of the water, protect them from the sun and lewd glances.
Dear Fr. Joe,
As a young woman desiring to be modest to aid her brothers in Christ, is the best option to forego public co-ed swimming?
Why should I reveal parts of myself at the beach I never reveal elsewhere in public?
Seeking the help of a father,
Slightly Confused
http://saintjosephslilies.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/focus-on-fashion-modest-bathing-suits/
Hi Father Joe,
I found your article when looking online for modest swimwear for myself and my little girls.
It took me a moment to realize your article was tounge in cheek, but after that it really tickled me. I felt sad when I saw some of the vitriolic replies you received. Some people truly cannot take a joke. I just wanted to say thank you for trying to address a sensitive topic in a humorous way, and for the caring manner in which you answered the obviously wounded people who responded with those posts.
One thing that I don’t recall anyone mentioning in a post is the freedom modesty brings. When I wear modest clothes, I’m more comfortable and can jump and play with my kids without thinking “gee, what’s hanging out now?” I want my girls to have the same freedom. And I don’t think my mind is “in the gutter”!
For those worried about fashion, I would suggest they try asking their kids. My husband wants our girls to be modest, but he laughed at me when I suggested we purchase suits for them from a modesty site. He then showed the pictures to our oldest, age 9, expecting her to loudly refuse. (She is quite vocal and opinionated.)
Imagine his surprise when she became really excited, and asked us to buy her one right away.
Honestly, our little ones have a sense of what is right. They don’t want to feel exposed and naked in front of strangers.
Get a clue, people!
God bless you Father Joe!
A Protestant :)
My name is Grace and I have recently designed and made a modest bathing suit. I am currently working on the pattern and will soon get that published. The one on my site is just one type of suit, and I have designed a suit with a covered back and higher neckline. The skirt I have also made so you can choose the length of knee-length or mid-thigh. The pattern will come out soon.
Please feel free to look at my site and find out!
http://www.adriennesarmoire.wordpress.com/
Thanks and God Bless!
oh, and I am making visible shorts to go underneath too!
classic pics and classic swimsuit style.
I like the 3rd pics.
I agree. That’s why I don’t bother with what is in the stores, because I know I’m just waisting a trip. I make my OWN bathing suits, modest. It’s so simple a child could do it!
You didn’t mention another option in modest swimwear for women: HydroChic. I bought a top and a bottom from HydroChic, and I love it! It is modest and comfortable and it looks very chic! And my family keeps reminding me that it’s sun-protective, too! Now when I go swimming with my family, I don’t feel like I’m showing off - or showing too much! Thank you, HydroChic!
http://www.hydrochic.com/
Sherrie Young,
Omaha, NE
Check out Shade Clothing for some great swimsuits - fashionable and covers! http://www.shadeclothing.com/~ps~mau23780
Use Personal Shopper Coupon Code MAU23780 for 10% off your first order and 5% off each additional order! Shade’s best kept secret!
I’m just wondering why people care so much what another person wears?
If you want to go to a topless beach…isn’t that your prerogative?
If you want to attract attention (purposely) at a beach or pool by wearing a revealing bathing suit…isn’t that your prerogative?
If you just want to look cute in a bathing suit that is flattering, etc…isn’t that your prerogative?
If you don’t want someone eyes attached to your a@# while you try to enjoy some time in the water…isn’t that your prerogative?
Why does everyone think that only their opinion is correct or that it needs to be imposed on others? WHO CARES that much?
If you don’t like the cover all suits, don’t wear them. If you’re not into topless, keep your top on. Life will only be pleasant for everyone if we can learn to live OUR OWN lives.
And that’s my two cents.
Grace
Hi Fr. Joe. A chastity speaker on our speakers bureau at The Goretti Group, http://www.thegorettigroup.org, has started a modest swimwear line at http://reyswimwear.com/index2.php. She is a Hollywood actress. Please post us on your blog as a resource for talks on marriage, chastity, modesty, and dating. We have spoken at a number of diocese across the United States and would welcome your support.