Dressing with Dignity

[StrictCatholicGirl]

We carry this at our church supply store and I've never read it. I'm definitely going to read it now. Not buy it, mind you. I'll browse through it at the check-out between customers.

- Lisa

[QuisUtDeus]

this is a traditional site that bashes TAN books. (how UN-traditional)

TAN is owned by Protestants these days, aren't they?

Really, I'm serious.  They went into receivership, and last I heard the guy running the business was a Protty.

[fantasy_forever]

WHAT?!

[QuisUtDeus]

Note that I don't know the current state, but this was the case not too long ago:

http://www.arbyarbuthnot.com/

[DarkKnight]

Really, I'm serious.  They went into receivership, and last I heard the guy running the business was a Protty.

That would be very Traditionalist Protty, turning a profit off of a Catholic's misery.

[Aviano]

this is a traditional site that bashes TAN books. (how UN-traditional)

TAN Books is a business that sells books, one of which is Dressing with Dignity. It is a big leap to say that criticism of one of the books that they sell is "bashing" the business.

As for the book, I tend to agree with Satori. There is some good information in there - I wouldn't dismiss it entirely - but I think it a poorly written book that draws far too much on other writers, instead of presenting any truly original material. I also think it's far too simplistic; "dresses good, pants bad" is hardly a sophisticated or convincing argument in discussion of dress.

I had the notorious original copy, the one with extensive plagiarism, and she lifted whole thoughts and sentences from Alice von Hildebrand, Rita Davidson (Immodesty: Satan's Virtue), and Helen Andelin (Fascinating Womanhood). This really made me distrust Colleen Hammond, as she claims to be a college graduate and it's unbelievable to think that a college graduate would not know to acknowledge sources (which was her excuse).

On a personal note, I don't mind if Colleen Hammond wears a lot of make-up or that she tries to dress attractively. I'm tired to death of the ugly "modest dresser" look that is so predominant among evangelicals here in the South and so many traditional Catholics. I'd welcome HappyWife and her "stilettos" over clogs and ankle-length khaki or denim skirts any day!

[SouthernCatholic]

It's actually a lousy book.  Not for the subject matter but because it is poorly written. And it certainly isn't a new book from TAN.

Thinking that this book is horrible is a far cry from bashing TAN.  No publisher produces fabulous books 100% of the time. This book simply misses the mark, both in the plagiarism heavy first edition and the revised and still insipid second edition.

I think you're better off reading Alice Von Hildebrand's The Privilege of Being a Woman rather than Colleen Hammond's opinions of it.

[ErinIsNotNice]

On a personal note, I don't mind if Colleen Hammond wears a lot of make-up or that she tries to dress attractively. I'm tired to death of the ugly "modest dresser" look that is so predominant among evangelicals here in the South and so many traditional Catholics. I'd welcome HappyWife and her "stilettos" over clogs and ankle-length khaki or denim skirts any day!

I wouldn't say she tries to dress attractively, it's more like "washed up pageant queen".

I have the original plagiarized copy also.  My main problem with Mrs. Hammond's book is that she promotes the idea of women manipulating men, and the idea that women should be treated like children rather than adults.
(See her article where she writes about crying over the bills and being so happy when she turned over the finances entirely to her husband because now she gets more presents)

[Archbishop_10K]

this is a traditional site that bashes TAN books. (how UN-traditional)

Not at all. TAN is a great publisher as a whole, but no publisher churns out a winner every time.

Actually, I do have one single problem with TAN: their book designs are awful, and even garish sometimes. It's like their graphic designer just got out of high school. I mean, Ignatius is so much better at designing appealing book jackets and covers and things like that.

[Satori]

On a personal note, I don't mind if Colleen Hammond wears a lot of make-up or that she tries to dress attractively. I'm tired to death of the ugly "modest dresser" look that is so predominant among evangelicals here in the South and so many traditional Catholics. I'd welcome HappyWife and her "stilettos" over clogs and ankle-length khaki or denim skirts any day!

I wouldn't say she tries to dress attractively, it's more like "washed up pageant queen".

Yeah.

I mean, that sounds mean, but she's promoting a certain image of womanliness, so how she looks in her promotion photos matters. I bet HappyWife looks much more tasteful and attractive.

Where is this article about how she cries about bills and gets more presents? I do the bills in our household -- what's there to cry about, except that gas has gotten so high?