Kimberly's Story 

For those of you who know me, this won't be a surprise, but I was raised as a nudist. In fact, I was home-schooled until I was almost 13 and had to attend a public school. I had always wore clothing for those occasions when we had to go into town for whatever reason, but if it was warm...I didn't wear much. And most of those clothes were homemade by my mother, so I definitely wasn't the fashion queen!

But when I had to go to public school, the clothing thing became a serious issue really fast. Kids didn't get my clothes, and I quickly became the butt of many jokes about my mother and father's economic state. They guess quite wrongly, while we weren't affluent, we certainly never struggled. But it became obvious that I would have to try to mimic the styles that others were wearing. But I hated it. I hated the image that clothing gave to people. Everything I wore, it seemed, sent a message to everyone, if only that I was trying to conform.

By the time I got into high school, I had matured enough to where I just didn't care anymore. Coincidentally, this was about the same time that I reached the bottom of the popularity ladder and joined the computer club. I was then in jeans and a t-shirt everyday, no matter the occasion, except maybe I wore some specific for "spirit" day.

So, although I came to accept wearing clothes, and the messages it sent, I have never liked it. When it became necessary to look for a job, I discovered a totally new range of messages that clothes sent. You guys, I think, have it easy, a suit is a suit. But women's business suits, egad! The variety and taste and function of a woman's business suit leaves something to be desired in my opinion.

So now, I attend college and I work. I find myself more clothed than nude. But at the same time, I have come to accept that I am still me, and still naked under my clothing. A fact that would become obvious if any of you met me in person, outrageous, hard-headed opinions and all. But I do long for those times when I was a kid and could spend literally a week or more without a stitch of clothing.

Thanks for reading,
Kimberly