When we consider truth and beauty, we don’t usually think about our own dress and appearance. Part of the reason may be that we’re afraid we will be engaging in vanity if we show concern for these things. But perhaps the biggest reason is simply the fact that, as a society, we have become extremely casual in our dress. This applies particularly to men for some reason. We’ve decided that how we present ourselves is not important. After all, who cares what anyone else thinks? I wear what I like and what’s most comfortable—end of story. 

But is that the end of the story? Is there more to how we present ourselves than our own comfort or convenience? Obviously, we mustn’t obsess over material goods like clothing; Jesus tells us plainly to not be worried about how look. But maybe there’s another way to look at this. Maybe how we dress reveals something of how we feel about those around us. Could our clothing be (within reason) a signal of respect—or a lack of respect—for the people we encounter during our day? 

Regardless of how we come down on this question, there’s no doubt that earlier generations felt that how they dressed mattered. We need only look at old photos to see this. Did they understand something that we’ve forgotten?

In the video below, Catholic YouTuber Brian Holdsworth talks about some of these ideas, and even posits a surprising explanation for the change in fashion over the decades. (Note that he spends some time in the beginning talking about “conspiracy theories,” but hang with him, because it becomes relevant later in the video). 

So, have we lost something important, or are things better now? Let us know what you think in the comments.