Modesty Dress Code Issued for 2013 Grammy Awards

(Screenshot courtesy of 2013grammyalbum.com.)

Having never watched the Grammy Awards other than a few clips caught online or in the news, I was unaware of the decency problem faced by CBS in broadcasting the event until I read about it online. We all know that red carpet events are not known for modesty, but the recording industry's premier awards event has apparently been among the worst for attendees who have pushed the boundaries of acceptable attire. CBS claims that it sent the same memo to attendees last year as the one that has made big news in 2013 after being leaked to the media by an unhappy recipient. To spare you details, the dress code memo essentially requests female attendees to cover the same areas that would normally be covered by a non-see-through bikini, so they are not asking for much. What they are requesting is only logical, which makes it sad that a memo delineating such minimum coverage must be sent at all.

The first time I read The Message, a translation of the New Testament of the Bible by Eugene Peterson, a verse stood out to me that I felt directly applied to these types of awards events, Romans 1:32, ". . . And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!" While some of the songs and performances honored at awards shows like the Grammys could be called inspirational, many glorify immorality and bitterness. The people who express these dark sentiments the best are often the ones who win the awards.

Red carpet events are aspirational for the fashion industry, setting the season's tone for color and shape. While I sometimes draw inspiration from current fashion, red carpet events are typically the most difficult of all sources from which to be inspired, since the dresses worn usually require so much alteration for modesty that the looks must be completely re-created. So, while other designers are looking to the red carpet for style, I prefer to look to vintage books, nature and design resources outside of the world of contemporary fashion. Dare to be different, and you may find yourself one day winning the respect of people who appreciate modesty done best.