Dress Dare Challenge

I had really intended to blog more about my May Dress Dare Challenge but this month just got away from me. Between end of year Girl Scout activities, end of year school activities and end of year PTSO events, it seemed as if I was moving from one major thing to the next. So, let me write a few things about the Dress Dare Challenge.

A couple of years ago, a friend challenged me to wear skirts or dresses every day during the month of May in honor of our Heavenly Mother, Mary. I accepted the challenge and wore a skirt or dress every day whenever I left the house except for one time. And when June 1st rolled around, I put my shorts and pants right back on! It did not convert me to become a 365-day skirt wearer.

You can read about my experiences in my other blog posts from 2012.


I've been in a sort of spiritual dry-spell for some time now and challenged myself again this year. My thoughts were that by imitating Mary in dress it might be possibly help me to get back on a better route in my spiritual devotion. This time, I had the added challenge of a Girl Scout camp right in the middle of May. When I told a fellow volunteer about my challenge, she asked how was I going to get through camp. Skorts, my friend, fuddy-duddy old-lady skorts.

My challenge didn't start well. I had posted in a Catholic facebook group of women in April asking if anyone wanted to join me in the challenge and I was immediately besieged with comments from fellow military spouses accusing me of trying to be holier than them. Sigh. Not a good start to the challenge. After that little outpouring of "support", I decided to keep the Dress Dare challenge to myself.

I wore skirts every single day of the month of May in honor of Our Mother, Mary. I even wore skorts over the weekend at camp. It was not comfortable or in anyway attractive but the skorts served the purpose. Here is proof, too! And I look hideous.

Okay, now confession time. There was one day that I cheated. ONE DAY! Two days after camp, I had not gotten my house cleaned, I had not done laundry in awhile and I had to go the GS hut and unpack boxes and tubs from camp. I threw on a pair of loose-fitting linen pants to get the job done and then went to lunch with a friend. But, later that night when I had another meeting, I changed into a skirt so technically I did wear a skirt all 31 days of May.

The skorts I ordered from Macys.com were a lifesaver during this challenge. I already owned a black skort but went ahead and ordered a kaki, white and chambray skirt for everyday wear. I absolutely loved two knit-spandex skirts I picked up at Costco. These two skirts hit right at the knee and when paired with a plain tee got me through a few days as well. I also found a couple of maxi skirts at TJMAXX and Ross that helped out with the rest of the days.

On June 1st, I am looking forward to wearing something else from my closet. But because of all of the new additions to my wardrobe, I will most likely be sporting more skirts in my every day wardrobe.

Did participating in the Dress Dare Challenge help with my spiritual dryness? I don't think so. Wearing skirts every day isn't something that can pull you out of your funk unless you pair the challenge with added prayer or devotion. These are things I really, really need to put more focus on and I thank you for your prayers for that.