BEFORE I BEGIN...
Please note that I am providing this blog post as an educational piece apart from my usual fashion chatter here on "StyleSpace by JBM." The opinions and thoughts presented here are all for educational purposes.This blog post is based on my post from "John's Blog Space" of the same name.
--- Modest Dressing ---
To show that there are religious connotations to modest dressing, here is a quote I'd like to start off with:"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."
-1 Timothy 2:9-10
And here are a few picture examples of modest dressing:
^ from: www.phyllisjean.net (and taken from "John's Blog Space") - Long skirts and jumper dresses are especially more modest than short skirts or short dresses. (NOTE: I am using "jumper dress" to differentiate from what most people consider as jumpers (i.e. jumpsuits)).
^ from: sheknows.com (and taken from "John's Blog Space") - While you can wear a short skirt or short shorts, opaque leggings or tights underneath provides comfort and modesty.
Being modest in dress usually equals boring among mainstream society. We live in a time of "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" where anyone who isn't dressed in a manner suggestive of "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" is considered boring. So you have to wear ripped jeans. You have to wear combat boots. You have to wear that skirt or dress that is just a little too short. You have to wear studs, spikes, or skulls. But do you REALLY have to?
NO!!!
A simple modest look involves wearing something fun while not showing too much or being anywhere on the flirty side. Here's a quick modest look for a teen girl (accessories excluded):
Modest Example A
• solid pink T-shirt
• dark blue skinny jeans
• black ballet flats
And here is another modest look:
Modest Example B
• satin button-down blouse
• sweater vest over the blouse
• women's dress slacks or a sophisticated pair of jeans
• casual mary jane shoes
Now a modest look with a skirt or dress:
Modest Example C
• brown basic T-shirt
• long denim jean skirt
• ballet flats or casual sneakers
Skirts and dresses are usually a special case. I think to be safe from a modest standpoint, the skirt or dress will have to be below the knees or be the usual full-length (meaning at or below the ankles).
What IS Modest?
Modest means many things to many people. These are basically the general guidelines to most kinds of modest dressing:• nothing revealing or showing too much skin
• no studs, spikes, or skulls
• dresses and bottoms no higher than above the knees
• garments and footwear with no offensive or wild designs on them
• (whatever else you can think of that I haven't mentioned)
How do you define modest in fashion? Can you afford to come up with a look that does not go to any extremes or questionable elements that would disqualify you as wearing a modest outfit?
Modest Dressing = Boring Dressing?
Not everyone is seriously into dressing fiercely or flirty or trashy. Does that make such people boring-looking? Should we forget about dressing to be acceptable by mainstream society and instead, dress in an acceptable and non-boastful manner?Some people mostly perceive modest dressing as boring. You know, nothing exciting or empowering- just throw on some non-revealing clothes and go out. Many people will call this style of dress boring. But as with any fashion, you dress to a level you are most comfortable with. If you are comfortable dressing modestly and without anything overly appealing or revealing, then don't be under any pressure to go outside of your comfort zone. Don't let other people define your wardrobe or dictate what you should and shouldn't wear. Just because you dress modestly doesn't mean you lack style. It just means you choose to showcase your beauty in a much more pure and wholesome manner as opposed to most other daring and raunchy fashions.
Modest Dressing: Religious.
PLEASE NOTE: I am not in any way properly educated on any religious topic. So what I will discuss here is based on material I've read online from a number of sources.There is a religious side to dressing modestly. Some people believe that females should set a good example to the world by dressing modestly and not having braided hair, wearing gold, or wearing costly fabrics (all according to 1 Timothy 2:9). These values and concepts define modest dressing from a religious standpoint.
IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED: Here are other interpretations of 1 Timothy 2:9- 1 Timothy 2:9 Interpretations on bible.cc
--- Final Thoughts on Modest Dressing ---
Sometimes, being modest in dress can be just as appealing as dressing up in any edgy or sexy outfits. The key is in understanding that one does not need to dress appealing or sexy to look and feel great. There is absolutely no shame in dressing in a manner that is classy and appropriate. While it is perfectly fine to dress in any sort of edgy or sexy way, one does not have to dress edgy or sexy to be fashionable. We just live in a culture of "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" is the way to go; and anyone not dressing in any fierce or daring way is somehow not doing fashion any justice (according to a lot of people).Another criticism people may have about modest dressing is that modest dressing equates to boring dressing. That is not entirely true. It is only boring if you think someone can express style in a more appealing manner. However, you can have fun dressing modestly by wearing some stylish pieces to showcase your beauty in a pure and sensible manner without needing to resort to more daring measures.
One last aspect of modest dressing relates to the religious set. While I am in no way properly educated on religious topics, I can only comment only so much regarding modest dressing and how modest dressing relates to religious text.
If you want to dress edgy, do so. If you want to be sexy, go for it. If you want to dress modestly (and enjoy modest dressing)... dress to your heart's content.
--- Where to Find Modest Clothes? ---
Some online retailers specialize in modest clothing. You will find nothing sexy or overly revealing from any of these sites mentioned. I will pay a shout-out to some of them in this blog entry. I will try to describe each modest clothing dealer as best as I can, so everything else about the companies featured are up to you to discover. Click on the headings to visit the websites mentioned in this section from each of the following:Modest Fashion Online Stores.
These are websites you can visit to shop for modest apparel online. Have a look, and you may Contact Me via E-Mail to tell me of any other good websites. Don't tell me of other sites for me; do so because other people read my blog and its posts, and I want my future readers to be able to find relevant material based on this post. So PLEASE help if you can!• Modest Apparel USA
A family-owned business here in the United States, Modest Apparel USA is all about non-sexy fashions. They are all about providing quality clothing for girls and women that are nowhere in the realm of anything sexy or seductive. School uniforms for girls are also offered.
• Dressing for His Glory
Dressing for His Glory is a company that specializes in modest apparel for girls up to misses. You will not find any clothes that are even in the least sense sexy or appealing (maybe some). The appeal is in wearing sensible and modest clothing for Christian females that can still be fun to wear.
• Modest Clothing at ModestClothing.com!
With a motto like "Bring back the grace!", ModestClothing.com specializes in modest fashions for women. There are even modest fashions for pregnant women. Why be beautifully sexy when you can be beautifully modest?
Modest Fashion Resources...
Visit these websites for resources and more for modest apparel.• Modest Feminine Clothing (various resources featured)
• Modest Home Clothing (various resources featured)
• *Jen* Magazine, a free online publication devoted to modest fashion for juniors and women, as well as the Latter Day Saints (LDS) lifestyle.
• Modest Clothing for Christian Women
• MyCulottes.com (modest bottoms and underwear)
Modest Fashion Blogs and Websites.
Here are bloggers who specialize in modest fashion. All blogs are Blogger/Blogspot blogs unless otherwise noted.• Veiled Glory (a Wordpress blog regarding modest dressing)
I want to find more resources to help out my readers.
More resources may be added in the future. Use the "Contact Me" feature to tell me of any websites I may want to include to offer more resources for my readers.
--- Cross-Promotion ---
Here is the only bit of cross-promotion for this post:"Modest Dressing" (John's Blog Space)
^ This was my original post regarding modest dressing on "John's Blog Space."
Have a good read!
When I first blogged about modest dressing on "John's Blog Space," my intent was not to contradict about fashion by talking about being modest. I simply provided that post to discuss fashion from the perspective of modesty. Here on "StyleSpace," I used this opportunity to discuss modest fashions on here to enhance the scope of topics to all of my readers. Remember that while "StyleSpace by JBM" is a fashion blog, this blog encompasses various aspects somehow related to fashion. So I will come up with topics and issues that are a bit different from what you are normally used to with most other fashion blogs. I hope you can appreciate this blog post along with my many other posts. Also, I hope you can appreciate the scope of topics that I post here regarding fashion here in my blog. Thank you for reading!
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