Attire is Everything

I attended a women’s event recently where I found it difficult to get past the speaker’s clothing. Constantly, my attention was drawn to her style of dress, and whereas I know what she was saying was worthy to be heard, I just could never quite “enter in” because I was so distracted by her attire. And so as I prepared for the ladies’ retreat at which I was to speak this past weekend, my motto became, “Attire is everything.” It was evident to me that what I wore during each session could have a tremendous impact on what was heard or received.

So I planned accordingly and chose carefully. Even to the last moments before leaving my villa for the conference room, I was modeling outfits for my sweet daughter-in-love and my dear friend Jessica. Both of them agreed that the brown tank with jeans and the cropped jacket and my new brown casual pumps would do just fine, and out the door we went. After all, attire was everything.

To somewhat help squelch my butterflies, I began by telling the ladies the story of “attire is everything,” and how I had packed 5 outfits, 5 pairs of shoes and 2 sets of pajamas for one overnight stay just so they wouldn’t be distracted. We all had a good laugh. It was then that the leadership team presented me with a beautifully wrapped box. Inside was this:



Yes, that is a tire necklace complete with matching tire earrings! “A tire” is everything! To show them I would not be outdone, I donned the necklace and wore it for the entire teaching and evening! (I did remove the earrings for fear I'd knock myself out with them if I made any sudden moves.)

The next morning, I was just as careful with my outfit. I chose a white button up blouse with denim jeans again and a long “hodge-podge” necklace that goes with just about anything. I thought, yes, this is simple but classic and certainly nothing to distract. When I walked into the room, I saw several ladies who had come for the morning session who could not make it the evening before. As I hugged one their necks, she said, “Nancy, I love that necklace. You had it on at Bible study last week, and I could hardly pay attention because I was so distracted by it.” Oh, well.

God’s Word has something to say about attire being everything, too. Colossians 3:12 and 14 reads, Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. … And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

You see, if we are to share Christ with anyone, whether it be in a homeless shelter, around a kitchen table, or at a women’s retreat in a beautiful lake setting, Paul tells us in Romans 13:14 that we need to be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ. Otherwise, I don’t think anyone’s really going to listen. Yes, maybe attire is everything after all.