Swimwear Rules at Public Pools

On a recent field trip, my parents took a school group to the Taupo A.C. Baths, an outdoor pool complex we have visited many times over the years. An awkward situation developped when the pool attendant called several girls over and explained the pool had a new use-less-chlorine policy which required that only basic swimsuits be worn (fabric absorbs chlorine at a hungry rate). Therefore the girls wearing board shorts and rash vests either had to remove them and swim in the small togs they had on underneath or they could not swim at all and their entrance fee would be refunded.

My mother had not seen any notice of this rule in the dressing room nor at the entrance. They had no warning and were four hours' drive from home. To miss out on the swim would have been hugely disappointing.

If you like to swim in public pools, I recommend that you phone ahead to inquire about their swimwear rules. The new options in modest swimwear may not be permitted in your local pool.

Board shorts and rash vests are commonly accepted as regular swimwear these days, but I remember a time before the invention of these useful garments when certain outdoor pools required me to remove my t-shirt, which at that stage of my youth was worn for sun protection.

Don't get caught out! Be prepared! The world doesn't think in terms of modesty and is usually taken aback and unhelpful at any mention that it is important to you, so you have to be proactive in making life comfortable.

WHAT'S A GIRL TO WEAR?!

Pardon this dropping
Of a wail of despair,
For I did go shopping
But there was nothing there
That covered and enhanced me.
Hitched to here and plunged to there,
Stretching tight most everywhere.
I like to think it's not just pink
That flatters curves and straights of mine
And proves in truth I'm feminine.
I can be pretty, I can be smart,
When I learn the ancient, gentle art
Of beauty, elegance, and charm,
A woman's strength, a woman's balm,
The Gilead river that flows supine
From the modest lassy's Christ-owned heart.
So I'll start on a separate, sweeter line,
A clothing quest for a modesty nest
To inspire, equip, and beautify.
Let's make a start to mine the Art —
Boutique Narelle has much to impart!

What is Boutique Narelle? The original concept 2007

Modest femininity doesn’t mean you have to dress like a frump, hiding all your curves. The curves are part of your femininity. Our Creator doesn’t require a burqa mentality in order to glorify Him with your body.

Recognizing this, Narelle Worboys set out to construct a wardrobe for herself that was elegant and simple, with flowing lines and pleasing form that wouldn’t date. In her journey toward modest elegance, she learned secrets that have made her clothes more attractive whilst retaining the comfort factor. Realizing that she could shorten this journey for others, the concept of Boutique Narelle was born.

Discovering Boutique Narelle to be a vision with wonderful scope, Genevieve Smith and B’Ethel Williams formed a founding committee with Narelle. We hope you will be as excited as we are at the possibilities. These include:

• A reference resource of web links, books, and articles on topics such as modesty, sewing, and fashion.

• NewCreations: a regionally indexed list of seamstresses and others with fashion skills whose services are available for hire. Advertising through Boutique Narelle will draw a 5% commission from your sales which will go toward funding the website. If you have fashion skills and would like to operate a business from home but maybe don’t have the technical expertise or finances to create your own website, here’s your chance to get started. Boutique Narelle aims to encourage entrepreneurs with a desire to clothe women appropriate to their faith and figure.

• Sewing Tips: illustrated articles on garment construction and reconstruction.

• Closet Tips: articles and photographs providing ideas for your wardrobe appropriate to your figure.

• Shopping Tips: seasonal fashion review and store assessment.

• Social Tips: articles exploring what it means to be modest and feminine, dressing to blend in whilst glorifying God, being stylish rather than trendy or modish.

• Mirror Stop: a personal elegance checklist.

• Seasonal Secrets: summer or winter, drip or dry, there are ways to improve the comfort, practicality, and elegance of your clothing.

• Encouraging production of modest swimwear and bridal and maternity clothing.

• Art of Appearance: networking people who can help; girls with skills in clothing and other aspects of a girl’s appearance (i.e. figure, hairstyles, makeup) who are willing to share their knowledge on a one-to-one basis or in a group situation.

• Catalyst for group activities such as mall or savemart shopping ventures, fashion-to-figure wardrobe planning parties, design competitions and model makeover shoots (with rewards donated by stores who support our project), workshops in pattern drafting, sewing, and hair and makeup,seminars on modesty and deportment…

There are a number of excellent American websites that cater for parts of this vision, but we believe a centralized bureau with a focus on making these services accessible to Australians and New Zealanders will be of particular benefit.

We will not endeavour on this website to set out rules of must-do’s and shalt-not’s, but rather to stimulate your awareness of how your appearance gives either a negative or positive testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ and to assist you in modelling modesty in every situation of your daily life, allowing you, no matter what religious slant you hold, to find something at Boutique Narelle which you can use to enhance your dressing experience.

If you would like to be part of the NewCreations index or Art of Appearance network, send your details to NarelleWorboys@gmail.com.

We believe a foundation of prayer will be advantageous as we embark on this innovative project. If you’re excited about the Boutique Narelle concept and want to see it succeed, why don’t you place it on your prayer list?

If you have any comments or suggestions, please do email us at NarelleWorboys@gmail.com.

Who is Narelle?

Narelle in 2017

Narelle (pronounced nah-REL) was born to David and Isabel Worboys in 1976 and lives with them in Dannevirke, New Zealand. The only child remaining at home, Narelle is the second of six who were all educated using the Accelerated Christian Education program. The family began homeschooling when Narelle was eight. Her father David founded and directed New Zealand Christian Academy, a homeschooling branch of A.C.E., for twenty years, recently retiring from education and devoting his time to multiple community service endeavours.

Narelle has had a chronic illness since she was nineteen, a condition which severely limits her physical activity and social life. Despite this, Narelle is amazed at what the Lord has done in and through her. She has continued to educate herself in a variety of subjects, including music, creative writing, film media, and how a needle, thread, scissors, two hands, and an active mind can work together productively. Fascinated by fashion and design, she loves playing with colour, shape, and texture, often worked out in little things like drawing detailed floral vignettes with coloured pencils and creating beautiful greeting cards from paper and ribbon.

She is a published novelist, playwright, poet, and photographer. In 2006 she founded Script Haven, a library of scripts and tips for students and parents/teachers preparing for A.C.E. Student Conventions. Also in 2006, she participated in “The Way of the Master” eight-week training course and discovered the ease and excitement of witnessing to non-believers the way Jesus did.

Separated for a number of years from her singing siblings, in 2007 she achieved her dream to sing again, making her public debut as a soloist at the Dannevirke Town Hall. She’s eager for opportunities to minister with her music. Between July and October she accompanied her father to local churches and clubs giving presentations about Operation Christmas Child, a mission she has embraced with a passion.

Her teddy bear’s name is Charlie (he attached himself to her in a store, after which, naturally, she had to bring him home). Her daily encouragement is a star-gazing polar bear named Oscar hanging on her wall. Her Mum is the woman she most admires in the world, her sisters are her best friends, she likes to sing very loud when there’s nobody to be disturbed ;), and chocolate éclairs (with real chocolate) are her favourite celebration food. She loves telling stories, she recently discovered she can Cook, and she gets a big kick out of making people laugh. She knows a lot about waiting, having a heart full of big dreams accompanied by the knowledge that if these are entrusted to the Creator’s hands, they will come to pass in a way more beautiful than she could ever engineer.

Her prayer since the age of eighteen has been that the Lord will use her to transform young lives, that He would make her humble that she might communicate the quality of life that is consistent with the work of the Holy Spirit.

For more details about Narelle’s projects visit www.luminel.weebly.com or Narelle Worboys on Facebook.



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