A best selling book was written in 1975 by John T. Malloy entitled Dress for Success. Since then, dressing for success has been a subject garnering many articles in business journals, scholarly presentations and news sources.
Success image consultants offer their services and non-profit organizations have sprung up world wide to assist people in dressing for a successful career. The power of dress is recognized by professionals world wide:
“Whatever message you’re trying to send to the world, never forget the clothes you put that message in will determine the way it’s received. So, dress it carefully” (Tervooren, 2014).
Just as dress sends a powerful message and is a determining factor for success in one’s career, so dress is a compelling force, declaring a silent proclamation in the dissemination of the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6-11) and is a decisive factor, for many, of its acceptance.
Jesus left each of His followers with the sole mission of preaching the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6-11) and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 24:14, KJV). This mission, taking precedence of all other pursuits in life, is to be carried out with such a fervent love for Jesus. Because of our love for Him, implementation of methods and modes of operation, giving this message the utmost impetus will be practiced.
“Our words, our actions, our deportment, our dress, everything, should preach. Not only with our words should we speak to the people, but everything pertaining to our person should be a sermon to them” (White, 1868-1871).
If the love of Jesus resides in the heart, this message will be received with eagerness. Changes will be hastily made so the sermon, bible study, literature distribution or lifestyle lecture may be successfully delivered with no distracting force contending for recognition.
Katherine Bernard (2012), a writer for Vogue fashion magazine, says, “It’s no secret that assembling an outfit is like selecting social armor, and that what we wear has power over others…” Now take a look at what was written in the early nineteen hundreds: “Our dress… has an influence that no man can measure” (White, 1902).
It appears there has been no change in the understanding of how influential and powerful the effects are of what a person chooses to wear. A writer for Business Insider – Careers says, “Whether you like it or not, your clothing communicates — and it can have a serious effect on your ability to achieve success” (Smith, 2014). Could it be that Seventh-day Adventist Christians have failed to understand just how powerful dress is in determining success when relating the message of salvation to every nation, family, language and person on this planet?
“Appearance has something, yes, much, to do with the impressions made upon minds, but the appearance must be after a godly sort…Our faith, our dress, and our deportment must be in harmony with the character of our work, the presentation of the most solemn message ever given to the world” (White, 1900).
Tyler Tevooren (2014), author and founder of Riskology.com - Leadership for Introverts, wrote these words: “Dress the message. The clothes you wear and the way you groom yourself will change the way other people hear what you say. It will subconsciously tell them if you’re like them or if you’re different. It will determine whether they listen or ignore. Trust or distrust” (Tevooren, 2014). These same sentiments are expressed in the following quote:
“Should we dress in plain, modest apparel without reference to the fashions…it would show the sanctifying power of the truth, and would have a telling influence upon unbelievers. But while we conform to the world in these matters..., the preaching of the truth will have but little or no effect” (White, 1882).
Adorning one’s self with the fashions of the world will only serve to diminish the power of the one proclaiming God’s Word and its successful reception in a person’s heart.
“The Lord desires every converted person to put away the idea that dressing as worldlings dress, will give value to his influence” (White, 1908).
“Many dress like the world to have an influence. But here they make a sad and fatal mistake. If they would have a true and saving influence, let them live out their profession, show their faith by their righteous works, and make the distinction great between the Christian and the world” (White, 1855).
“...Visual communication of our identities through dress and/or fashion is ubiquitous and a fundamental tool that proclaims who we are, both to ourselves and to people around us (Sika, 2014). One can read about the influence of dress upon personal identity and the people around them in the Scriptures when God commanded the nation of Israel to place a border of blue upon the hem of their garments, Numbers 15:38-40, KJV. When they looked upon their garments, they would be influenced to remember and keep God’s commandments. There was to be a distinction between the way His people dressed and the other nations surrounding them, identifying them as a holy people. God’s people today are called to dress in a manner different from the world. When they look upon their own garments they should be reminded they are God’s commandment keeping people; they are called to purity, holiness and simplicity. “The Lord would have you make it manifest that you are blessed, in your manners, in your dress, in your spirit. He would have you show that the line of demarcation between the world and the followers of Christ is a distinct line, so decided that the difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not, is always discernible. If the people of the world do not see that you are different from those that are around them, they will not be influenced by your profession of religion; for you will not be a savor of Christ, and you will win no soul to the service of God” (White, 1892).
“Our clothes make a huge difference to what people think about us – and without us knowing or in ways we couldn’t even imagine. People make their assessments in the first few seconds of seeing another; assessments that go way beyond how well you are dressed and how neat and tidy you might look” (Fletcher, 2013).
In 1 Peter 3:3, KJV, the Holy Spirit instructs God’s followers to wear the priceless ornaments in the heart of a gentle and quiet spirit, rather than those seen on the outside - stylish hair, gold rings, chains, pearls or diamonds - that they may have a drawing influence to the truth upon the unbelieving. When women dress in garments gracefully covering their natural form, the influence upon the wearer is subduing, encouraging a demur demeanor and of speaking truth; the influence upon the beholder is that of respect, admiration and trustworthiness. Men, who are dressed in apparel that covers their nakedness, neatly pressed, plain in style and properly fitting gain access to an undistracted audience more readily: trust in what one says is thus beget.
Dress not only has a powerful influence upon others, but can also influence the wearer too, affecting their thought processes and influencing their mood (Fletcher, 2014). “People’s mental processes and perceptions can be primed by clothing, as they internalise the symbolic meaning of their outer layers” (Fletcher, 2014).
This truth is illustrated in Genesis 38:13-16, KJV which tells of Tamar casting aside the garments of her widowhood and covering herself after the manner of harlots. She sat by the roadside to be seen by Judah, her father in law, who did not fulfill his promise to give his youngest son, when grown, for her to wife. 2 Samuel 11:2-5, KJV tells of Bathsheba who chose to bathe uncovered conspicuously in sight of the palace. Her thought processes were so primed by her nakedness that she unhesitatingly succumbed to the flattery of her beauty when summoned by king David to enter into his bedchamber..
In every society today, there are inventions of dress, leading to varying states of nudity which are strongly associated with immoral behavior and objectification. Recent research demonstrates how tight fitting styles of clothing, revealing the natural shape of the body and its parts are self and other-objectifying (Lennon, et al., 2017).
Self and other-objectification is a psychological state of mind involving the identification of one’s body or that of another person as an object for the gratification of pleasure whether consciously or subconsciously (Lennon, et al., 2017). This state of mind is directly influenced by the fabric and style of clothing worn (Lennon, et al., 2017). Behavior is directed by this objectified state of mind (Lennon, et al., 2017).
Can Seventh-Day Adventists dress in styles that evoke objectification while witnessing for Jesus and expect to be successful? A dichotomous message is proclaimed and no real success is possible (White, 1892).
The power of clothing is very real. There is evidence piling on top of evidence from scientific studies revealing this fact and confirming what was revealed to Seventh-Day Adventists regarding the importance of dress over 100 years ago. Above all, there is enough evidence in the Word of God revealing the importance of right dressing for those preparing to occupy a home out of this world. Their dress will express the truth of the gospel and symbolically represent the righteousness of Jesus, just as the Israelite priest’s garments who ministered in God’s sanctuary (White, 1901).
Soon, every living person will see Jesus. This same Jesus, Whom Isaiah described as a “Root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, (there is) no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2, KJV).
He, Who wore a plain, seamless garment when He walked among men will come to this earth again, very, very soon! John saw Jesus after He had returned to heaven “clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle”, His hair was white like wool and snow (Revelation 1:13, KJV).
When Jesus comes to the earth again, He will have on a garment reddened as with blood (Revelation 19:13, KJV); upon His head many crowns; His eyes will be as a flame of fire. (Revelation 1:14; 19:12, KJV). Those who have worked an abomination and made a lie shall be destroyed by the sword proceeding from His mouth and the brightness of His countenance; their names shall never be found in the Lamb’s book of life nor shall they walk in the earth made new (Revelation 19:21; 21:27, KJV). Could it be that those who wear objectifying styles of clothes are making a lie and working an abomination? When truth is spoken, is the gospel manifested with all its distinctive force in the dress? Is there congruence in the message delivered from the spoken word and the dress worn?
Dear reader, a style of dress that will bring success to the preaching of the gospel should be thoughtfully studied and applied by all who bear the name of Christ (White, 1875-1881).
It is now time for God’s people to rightly represent the gospel to the world as John the Baptist, prophet and forerunner of Jesus’ first coming. He dressed in simple clothes (Matthew 3:4) adding power to his message, sending a message of rebuke to those indulging in the luxurious excesses of food and dress (White, 1940).
Crowds of people were drawn to see and listen. Many repented, adhered to the message and became followers of Jesus. No less is required of God’s people today who are to herald the second coming of Jesus. Those who follow God’s plan in simple, modest dress will have success in delivering the message of salvation.
Carol is a mother of two precious children, and a spouse of 24 years to a Gospel Minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church serving in the United States Army. She is also a Registered Nurse and Lifestyle Educator.
References
Bernard, K. (2012, April 27). Confidence Dressing: How clothing affects the mind. Retrieved January 7, 2018 from https://www.vogue.com/article/intelligent-design-how-clothing-affects-the-mind/amp
Fletcher, B.C. (2013, April 20). What Your Clothes Might Be Saying About You. Retrieved January 7, 2018 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/do-something-different/201304/what-your-clothes-might-be-saying-about-you
Fletcher, B.C. (2014, May 27). What Your Clothes Are Telling You: Mind what you wear – it could change your life. Retrieved January 7, 2018 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/do-something-different/201405/what-your-clothes-are-telling-you
Lennon, S.J., Adomaitis, A.L., Koo, J., & Johnson, K.P. (2017, July 28). Dress and Sex: A review of empirical research involving human participants and published in refereed journals. Retrieved on January 7, 2018 from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40691-017-0101-5
Sika, V. (2014, January 10). Fashion for Feminists: How fashion and dress shape women’s identities. Retrieved January 7, 2018 from http://www.osisa.org/buwa/regional/fashion-feminists-how-fashion-and-dress-shape-women’s-identities
Smith, J. (2014, August 19). Here’s How Clothing Affects Your Success. Retrieved January 7, 2018 from https://www.businessinsider.com/how-your-clothing-impacts-your-success-2014-8
Tevooren, T. (2014, March 24). The Psychology of Dressing Well (and why you must to get anywhere in life). Retrieved January 7, 2018 from https://www.riskology.co/dress-well/
White, E.G. (1855). Conformity to the World. In Testimonies for the Church (Vol. 1), pp. 132. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing.
White, E.G. (1868-1871). Manners and Dress of Ministers. In Testimonies for the Church (Vol. 2), pp. 615, 618. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing.
White, E.G. (1875-1881). Simplicity in Dress. In Testimonies for the Church (Vol. 4), pp. 641.3. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing.
White, E.G. (1882). Calls for Laborers. In Testimonies for the Church (Vol. 5), pp. 206. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing.
White, E.G. (1900, August 13). Haskell, Brother and Sister, S.N., Letter 121.18. Sunnyside, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia.
White, E.G. (1901). Examination of Candidates. In Testimonies for the Church (Vol. 6), pg. 96.2. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing.
White, E.G. (1902, July 2). Our Talents. The Signs of The Times, par. 11.
White, E.G. (1908). The Dress of the Christian. Bible Training School, par. 4.
White, E. G. (1940). The Voice in the Wilderness. In The Desire of Ages (pp. 72-76). Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing.