Can I find modest jeans?

I suppose a natural progression after buying my first ever pair of trousers would be to buy a pair of jeans.

I have never really been too keen on the image of jeans. A lot of my friends at school wore jeans in their spare time but I was never tempted. I prefered to relax in a comfy skirt and was always more interested in books than the outdoor life. I tended to be regarded as the class swot and was always the last girl to be chosen for any sports team!

 

I do not really like tight clothing and feel that skinny jeans would be too restrictive around my legs. Many of the other styles also seem to tight around the bottom and crotch areas.

 

I am also still concerned about modesty issues. It must be my Christian upbringing still influencing my style of dress. I have read a number of very interesting and informative posts on blogs about wearing trousers (pants in the USA) and jeans modestly but I am still worried about my bottom and crotch area being on display when I wear my trousers in public.

 

A friends' daughter volunteered to illustrate my fears in her skinnies

 I am convinced that most eyes are directed to her bottom and that my legs would feel most uncomfortable in those tight Levis. Even worn with a long tunic, I am certain that this style of jeans would not suit me.

 

I would really welcome the opinion of other people, particularly those who like modest styles of clothing, as to whether they feel I can find some jeans that I will feel comfortable with.

 

 

A Giant Leap for Me!

Lisa finally convinced me that I should buy a pair of trousers and offered to come with me to the local shopping centre. I knew that I wanted black trousers suitable for wearing to the office and that they should be fairly modest in style to accord with my normal choice of clothing. We had done some research on line and knew which shops would give a reasonable selection to choose from.

We spent nearly an hour searching what seemed endless rails of ladies trousers and me disappearing into changing rooms. Eventually, I discovered a pair in M & S which fitted well, were a modest cut and very comfortable. They were not the cheapest (nearly £35.00) but were good quality and I felt happy with them. I was really excited when I left the shop clutching the green carrier - I had my own trousers! I felt like a child at Christmas rather than a grown women in her 30s.

I tried them on again at home and kept looking at myself in the mirror. I kept on doing a double take - I was wearing trousers! I wondered what the reaction would be when my husband and children first saw me. The children just exclaimed "Wow!" and were left with their mouths open and then said "you look like all the other mums now" My husband thought that I looked great and wondered why I had not bought some trousers sooner.

 

I still had reservations at wearing them in public. I was conscious at strangers being able to look at my crotch area and at my bottom. I am sure that it was due to my Christian upbringing. I concluded that it would be best to wear a long shirt or tunic to conceal those more delicate areas at least at first until I got used to wearing them in public.

 

My first appearance in trousers in the office resulted in more gasps of astonishment and cries of "but you don't do trousers!" I was pleased that I was now like the other girls in trousers but it still felt odd with material encasing my legs after a lifetime of skirts!

 
My first appearance wearing trousers in public

I Try on Trousers for the First Time Ever!

The question of whether I should start wearing trousers occupied my thoughts for several weeks.

Several things happened to help me make up my mind.

Firstly, I started to work part time in an accountancy office. My family were now growing up and at school all day so I felt I was able to work a few hours in the middle of the day without harming their welfare. I was there when they left the house in the morning and there when they returned in late afternoon. I could work from home or take leave during school holidays.

I wore a white blouse and knee length black or grey skirt to the office but it was a noticeable that the other women, who were of a similar age to me, all regularly wore black trousers. After a week or so, one of my colleagues asked me why I didn't wear trousers to work and she was very surprised when I told her that I never had any and had never worn them. The other girls joined in and they all said how comfortable trousers were to wear, how practical they were for various activities and how warm they were in winter. I told them that I had managed to carry out all sorts of tasks in skirts throughout my life without any problems but it just gave me further food for thought, no doubt as I was already considering the idea. Previously I would have dismissed the subject from my mind very quickly.

 

Secondly, Lisa my other friend who was a skirts/dresses only wearer bought a pair of grey trousers. I didn't realise that she wore jeans and trousers for a while when she was away at Uni so it was not such a big step for her. Like Marie, my other friend, I could not deny that trousers suited her. Lisa knew I was considering wearing trousers as well and knew that I was having real difficulty in making a decision.

 

I discussed the issue at length with my husband and he told me that it was my decision. He did not mind if I wanted to wear trousers and he would support whichever conclusion I came to.

 

Lisa invited me around for coffee on a day when I didn't have to go into the office. We are about the same size in clothes and she suggested that I try on her trousers to see how they felt and so that I could see what I looked like in them. I, at first, laughed at the suggestion but Lisa knew how the matter was troubling me and eventually persuaded me to change in her bathroom. I knew that she would not take no for an answer and felt that it would be better than trying on trousers for the first time in a shop changing room!

 

Lisa's trousers fitted me quite well but they did feel really strange. My legs felt strange when I walked encased in material and there was a different sensation with tighter material around my bottom. Lisa took some photos to mark the momentous occasion and also to let me judge on how appropriate my possible new look might be.

The trousers were a very modest cut with fairly wide legs. They were actually surprisingly comfortable. I did have some modesty concerns however. I was concerned that attention would be drawn to my crotch area from the front and also I was worried about the emphasis on my bottom from the rear. I was not used to my bottom being so prominent in clothing.

 

I felt that these modesty concerns would need to be addressed if I decided to buy some trousers of my own.

 

Growing up as a Skirt/Dresses only wearer

I grew up in a Christian environment where we attended Church each Sunday. My family were not overly religious but my mother always wore skirts and dresses and I followed suit. A number of other girls in my school who became my best friends also always wore skirts and dresses and we never really considered the need or had any desire to wear trousers or jeans.

In early October, one of my two closest friends announced that she had been considering buying a pair of trousers. My other friend and I were somewhat surprised as we had not given the subject that much thought. I had never really had any strong desire to wear trousers but did not have any objection to women who did. I was simply content wearing my skirts.

I do not believe women's trousers contravene the teachings of Deuteronomy 22.5 "that woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man...." as they are specifically designed for the female body.

I was, however, surprised how smart my friend looked in trousers and that started to sew the thought in my mind of wondering whether I should follow suit.

 

My friend wearing trousers for the first time