M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

Cami Style Confusion
By Judith Rasband

“I’ve just seen a style I don’t like,” announced a concerned father returning home. “It’s women’s lingerie, and the girls are wearing it over the top of their T-shirts.”

It turns out the “style” he doesn’t like is the “hot body” look in camisole tops.  Made in cotton or nylon, they’re trimmed in nylon lingerie lace.  And no question about it, the trendy cami looks just like ladies’ lingerie, especially those with the metal adjuster on the strap, purposely identical to that used on a slip or bra-strap. 

But just to test my perception in comparison to others, I headed into the stores.  The racks are packed.  I held up one cami, asking a male clerk, “Um-m-m, what’s this?” 

“Uh-h-h, women’s underwear,” he said, looking at me like I was dense not to recognize it all by myself.  And so it went, as scores of men and boys rightly recognized the cami as women’s underwear.

Yes, underwear worn as outerwear is today’s pop fashion trend.  Featured in full-page retail clothing ads, today’s cami is worn alone instead of a blouse or may be topped with a little shrug — “playfully sensual” say the write-ups.  Still others wear their cami over a T-shirt or two.

Most give little thought to the look and see the cami issue as “a small matter of little consequence.”  “It’s just the fashion.”  Another, however, recognizes the cami issue “is a moral matter with real-life consequences.” 

So who’s wearing the cute little cami and why?  Women of all ages, I see.  Women who want to be “in fashion, cool, edgy, sexy — just a little bit bad,” I’m told.

“To be attractive,” added one young woman.  “Who doesn’t want to be attractive?”

“So, who are you trying to attract?” one might inquire, “and what is your intention?”

Few girls or women want to give me a straight answer on that one, but here are the facts:  Lacy camisole underwear worn as outerwear is distracting.  Men and boys tell me they distract attention to the body.  As the ads proclaim, “They’re loaded with evocative imagery.”  They stimulate thoughts of intimate and sexual behavior — thoughts that wouldn’t have otherwise entered the mind.

“The girls and women need to understand,” said the wife of a man attempting to recover from addiction to pornography, “that the exposed camisole is an instant trigger to a man, bringing to his mind sexual thoughts and images.  They are contributing to the problem.” 

Some women interviewed are disturbed by girls and women dressed in girlie, cutesy, lacy camis expecting to be treated as intelligent and capable adults when visibly at odds with their obvious desire to attract a man.  “The exposed cami puts us out there as sex objects.”

Other women are torn between their need to appear in fashion and their sense of modesty and decency.  Some are confused by fashionistas promoting the camisole as outerwear on shaky grounds “that it’s better than showing skin,” and because “they are so-o-o cute.”

Sorry.  Cute doesn’t cut it.  Living only to the letter of the law, it doesn’t matter how many T-shirts we wear underneath a cami, it’s still underwear and it’s still distracting — on the street, in school, in church, and in the office.  Anything that distracts attention from the purpose of education, business, leadership, or worship does not belong.  It’s that simple.

Nonetheless, to some, I’m the spoilsport — spoiling their fashion fun.  They assume I’m simply "close-minded, like others" in our Utah culture.  “Prudish,” said one man on voice-mail. 

Maybe, but not likely.  I was recently privileged to speak on the topic of “Image Integrity” at a multi-denominational women’s conference in Detroit.  In attendance were Catholic women, Lutherans, Southern Baptists, Seventh-Day Adventists, Pentecostals, Episcopalians, and more.  They, like many Americans, are concerned and disgusted about the state of undress and sloppiness they see. 

Go to the internet and read the 8/24/05 article in USA Today, "Give me a 'C' for controversy." 

Texas legislator, Al Edwards, has sponsored the "cheerleader booty bill," stating "I can't describe what 'sexy' is to you or somebody else, but you know it when you see it."

Amy wrote, “Wearing a cami over a t-shirt is being covered up and stylish.  Wearing a little lace is feminine.”  Amy and Nikki assume that wearing "no lace-edged camis on the outside" negates lace on other clothing; that pretty and feminine, earrings, and lipstick are also taboo.  Not so.
You don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! 

There’s more to modesty than being covered up.  Modesty is also about attitude and fit.  Modesty is about common sense.  Our senses are what it’s all about.  Our sense of sight is drawn to contrast — contrast in line, shape, color, texture, and pattern.  Lace has all of that in its design and application. 

It’s not only what you wear, but how you wear it that determines the message.

When it comes to semiotic non-verbal communication cues in dress and image, the more of the same kind of cue, the faster the message comes across — first to self and then to others.  Combine a spaghetti-strapped cami, with a tight fit, and lace near bust and crotch level, viewers quickly get the message.  Add contrasting color and the signal is broadcast loud and clear.

Whether it’s a cami or the myriad of other tight-fitting and revealing tops currently being pushed as the fashion for women to wear anywhere and everywhere, smart women just say, “No, it’s not my style.”  If it’s truly a modest or mannerly appearance you intend, simply wear the cami under your outerwear and fully tucked in, exactly as it was originally intended.  This is living to the spirit of the law.

A local mom asks, “Are there stores and styles here that would be good for my daughter and me?  It breaks my heart to not be able to find beautiful hip fashions for my daughter who just wants to feel pretty!”

Oh, I hear you and you’re not alone.  We are losing so many options in fun, nice, pretty, and beautiful clothes.  The general population simply isn’t wearing nice clothes anymore.  Manufacturers of nice clothes are going out of business nationwide, and much of what we’re left with is trash fashion.

We have a few specialty shops and major department stores that offer terrific quality classic and creative clothes.  You may have to scout out quality and personal style, then save for sale prices.  We have discount chain stores and thrift stores you may have to scout more often to get quality and personal style.  Even some trend shops have some merchandise worth having.

Rely also on catalog shopping.  We can still find nearly whatever we need in catalogs.  Order two sizes and return what doesn’t work.  It’s worth getting the one thing you need that you couldn’t find elsewhere.  You just have to be strong enough to pass the trash fashion wherever you find it.  Call for recommendations if you need help.

And yes, even some catalogs are showing silky, lacy camis as outerwear — giving the public what the public thinks it wants.  Just layer yours under your shirt or blouse and tuck it in.  You’ll look and feel terrific.  But hey, each of us decides what to wear, how to wear it, and as a result, how others will treat us.  That’s image management in a nutshell.

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