On a recent blog, I wrote about one of my very favorite fashion styles: kawaii. Kawaii means cute, and the fashion style can have a pretty wide range from the subtle to the extreme. But, as a Christian woman… should I even be wearing kawaii??

As some of you correctly guessed, “kawaii” means cuteness (in Japanese pop culture)! 🥰

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible tells us that we should wear a style that is respectable and modest, one that shows self-control. As Christian women, we should also not wear elaborate hairstyles and show off with gold and pearls and expensive clothes.

9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,

1 Timothy 2:9 ESV

The good news is that kawaii can definitely be respectable and modest!! More so than other fashion styles, since kawaii tends to be a style with lots of layers: long socks, arm warmers, sweaters, cardigans, etc. Short skirts are not required for kawaii. One can wear kawaii with longer skirts, also covering up with added opaque stockings or leggings.

Nice and covered up… BB (Baby Bear!) in the background with me 🥰

And kawaii doesn’t have to be expensive. While other styles, such as academia or lolita can require expensive shoes or dresses, kawaii is pretty laid back ~ a cute $9.99 t-shirt will do. A nice $1 hair clip, and you’re done. Choose a pink sweater over a black one, and you’re doing kawaii! And if you were going to buy a sweater anyway, then it doesn’t matter much. As for hair, some bangs or an updo, and you’re done. No need for crazy elaborate ‘dos!

Simple makeup, simple hairstyle.

The Bible also says:

10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

1 Timothy 2:10 ESV

It doesn’t matter if we look cute if our attitude is rotten 😒 It doesn’t matter if we have the perfect kawaii outfit if we aren’t helping others. Christian women should strive to be decent, kind, and gentle first. Everything else is secondary. Everything else is superficial. We clothe ourselves with strength and dignity (Proverbs 31:25).

And all in all…

Our identity is in Christ, not our fashion style.

No matter what style we choose, we must remember that our identity is in Christ, not in our fashion style. As Christians, our identity isn’t in our ancestry or skin color, and it isn’t in our college degree, either. Our identity isn’t our sexuality, our bank account, our social media follower count. Our identity is in Christ.

“Kawaii” should never be who we are, it’s just something on the side that we enjoy, that we would be fine without. Because our tastes in fashion can change. Our budget can change. Our bodies can change and our moods can change (like when I got pregnant and wanted to wear nothing but the comfiest clothes, which were often baggy pajamas 😅). All of that can change, but the Lord never changes 🥰 He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

What about you?

I can only speak for myself, ultimately. But what about you? Any fashion style you want to try, whether it’s kawaii or something else, if you’re a Christian woman, I recommend seeing what the Bible has to say about our fashion choices, and go from there. Ask yourself if you should adopt that style, and if so, how?

As for me, my identity stays firmly rooted in Christ, and if I couldn’t wear kawaii anymore, then that would be just fine 🤗

Some resources to consider:

How should a Christian view fashion?
100 Bible verses about women dressing.

Take care and God bless!

Yari, the ✿ Lovely Panda Mom ✿