Dressing with Dignity [Paperback]

Colleen Hammond (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2005

In this ground-breaking book, Colleen Hammond challenges today s fashions and provides you the information you need to protect yourself and your loved ones from the onslaught of tasteless, immodest clothing. Colleen Hammond shares real-life examples of how women can accentuate the grace and beauty of their femininity, and she shows that modest definitely does not mean frumpy !! DRESSING WITH DIGNITY covers it all . . . The history and forces behind the changes in fashion. How to talk to teenagers about the privilege of femininity so they will want to dress with dignity. How to awaken chivalry in men and be treated with respect. How to regain and teach the lost charm of interior and exterior femininity! How to dress in an attractive, dignified, classy manner! Specific documents about manners of dress from the Magisterium, the Popes and the Saints. Comprehensive guidelines for choosing tasteful attire. Resources on where to find beautiful, modest clothing. And much, much more! 138 pgs PB

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Colleen Hammond is a former cable network anchor, image consultant, actress, model and beauty queen, who gave it all up to be a stay-at-home mother. She is also an award-winning writer, radio and television talk show host and speaker, who is widely sought after because of her lively, interactive style and fresh approach to living out the Catholic Faith in daily life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: TAN Books and Publishers, Inc.; 2nd edition (July 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895558009
• ISBN-13: 978-0895558008
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A former On-Camera-Meteorologist for The Weather Channel, model, actress and Miss Michigan National Teen-Ager, Colleen lived the American Dream and found it to be a nightmare.

While working in television, she reverted to her Faith. The moment their first baby was born, Colleen "saw the light" and abandoned her highly successful career in television to become a stay-at-home-mother.

Currently heard as a host of "St. Joseph Radio Presents", available to 85 million people worldwide on WEWN, Colleen is constantly sought out for radio, television, and print interviews.

Colleen is an award-winning writer, radio and television talk show host, educator, comedienne, and mother: all rolled into one! Acclaimed for her versatility, she delivers an enduring message filled with down-to-earth wisdom, inspiration, and humor. Colleen brings a fresh and creative approach to living joyfully, and has helped thousands of people every year to make positive and virtuous changes in their lives.

A frequent speaker at conferences, retreats, and parish events, Colleen addresses such timely issues as marriage, children, family, and values and virtues. Groups appreciate her real-life solutions to tough problems presented with compassion, warmth, and a lively interactive style.

Author of the much acclaimed book, "Dressing with Dignity", Colleen is working on more follow-up books, CDs and DVDs. In addition, she is producing DVDs of her presentations, a new book on gossip, and continues to write articles for various publications.

Colleen, her husband and their four children now live in North Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Confusing modesty with stupidity..., December 11, 2009

By 

E. Jones "ellebelle2113" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dressing with Dignity (Paperback)

As a woman, I find this book offensive and I threw it away because I was ashamed of having it on my shelves. Jesus had an important place for women in His ministry and life. I believe this book encourages women to act in ways that go against the ways He would have them act.

As a young Catholic woman I find modesty severely lacking in today's society. There are times that I do raise my eyebrows at what I see people wear to church or the latest fashions. But I also find it improper that this author suggests that by putting on dresses, scorning pants, and embracing an apron we please God. Over and over again we are told to look past earthly things and embrace godly things...whether that be money or expensive clothes or jewels. Why does this author think that an apron or dresses would be any different? Why would she encourage woman to look to material items to guide them in their callings and ministries rather than to God? And Joan of Arc dressed like a man wearing pants and armor, you would be more hard-pressed to find a more holy woman.

She then proceeds to start offering weak relationship advice about acting "dreamy" and "helpless" and being pretty for your husband. One, what about nuns? Can you imagine a nun acting dreamy and helpless and mooning around when there is work to be done? Marriage is a vocation too, but both members of that vocation are dedicating it to God. This book seems to almost put the woman's commitment to the man above her commitment to God and the author would have you believe that the only way that you can attract or keep a man is by acting like a ninny.

I dress modestly and I dress up for Mass. My husband even likes that I dress modestly and has complimented me on it. I wear an apron because I love to cook and I find it practical and I love vintage clothes. I also have an advanced degree, work outside the home, don't wear makeup, and read and debate with my husband often and about half the time he concedes and smiles and says, "you are right. You so smart, you constantly challenge me and that is why I love you."

I think the author is wrong to confuse humilty and modesty with needing to act like a nitwit if you happen to be female. I, for one, plan to raise my daughter to respect herself enough to be modest. I also plan to raise her to consider herself a man's equal, different but equal, and to never make the mistake of thinking that she has to change who she is or hide her intelligence to be appealing to anyone. God made her the way He did, I think it would be a sin to try and pretend differently.

Modesty should be about respecting YOURSELF enough to not feel you have to give yourself away and feeling like you have something worth improving. This book has harmful ideas in it...and the writing is awful. Save your money and buy In Search of the Virgin Mary...I find that to be a much better book about a woman's role in the Church.

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It made me think!, October 28, 2005

By 

Traci Baker "St. Catherine" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dressing with Dignity (Paperback)

I read this book a couple of months ago and took on some of the advice of the author. I started wearing dress/skirts more often. Especially to work and when out in public. I took on a new identity so to speak. I felt comfortable that I was getting attention because I looked soft and feminine. People I would see all the time, like at the gas station, grocery store and even friends took notice. Although the employees at the gas station, attendrd on a regular basis, though I was going to alot of funerals until they asked me one day if I got a job or what? I have worked for 20 years in an office setting and they had never noticed me before by the way I was dressed.

This book does offer alot of guide lines to proper attire. I didn't feel the desire to never wear pants again but personally, I think we all need to take it to our own personal level, I feel that these changes have made me feel like the woman God intended me to be. The wife and mother that is an inspiration of why women are so precious.

Last but not least if we just take notice of what is proper attire in the house of our Lord that would be a start. I have given this book to a few young girls that don't think about what they wear to church and I have seen a change and have even been thanked.

Read this book and take from it what you feel you need to make even a small change. See what it does for you. See what it can do for society.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Those Old Enough To Remember, January 20, 2006

By 

Katherine Graham "Katherine Graham" (Sparta, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dressing with Dignity (Paperback)

If you were raised as a so-called Baby Boomer in the 1950's and 1960's as I was, you will remember rules and regulations in public and private schools about appropriate dressing attire. This was also the case at a job. My point is simply this: from my recollection, people behaved better and I, for one, think it had a great deal to do with taking the time to care about the language communicated to oneself and others by what we choose to wrap our bodies in. Wealthy or poor it doesn't matter. Unlike books that you cannot judge by their cover, most people judge others by theirs. This book, from a Catholic point of view, and is most sympathetic to mothers and fathers who are at wits' end with their youngsters virtual invitation for "trouble." And this author brilliantly provides do-able ways you can assist yourself, and others, to basically hold back the night - that comes with the never-ending attempts to corrupt our youth through incomprehensible surrender to forces that lead them ultimately down the wrong road. Of course, the clothes alone are not the core issue. And there are always exceptions. But it is what the clothes represent for the one wearing them, and others seeing them. Please buy this book, especially if you are a Mom or Dad. You will never regret it.