Another factor that has me urging in the chilly evenings are the outfits and different clothing you can finally pull out of the tupperware container and place on the shelves, previously owned by shorts and tank tops.

For this series I will be, as the title mentions, going over some autumn wardrobe basics. For some of you, what I share may not be your idea of a basic item of clothing,so feel free to share with me what you pull out of storage this time of year! I’d love to hear your ideas, tips and favourite pieces!

I will dip into a bit of what is happening on the runways for those of you who love modesty with a glimpse of fashion, and also touch on some ways to get the look without buying new clothes every season!

What an incredible palette the Lord Himself provides us every year at this time! So, let’s get excited because this is the season where you can enjoy both fashion and modesty quite easily!

© HeSingsOverYou for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: autumn, clothing, fashion, modesty

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Nakedness is shameful, but what constitutes being naked? Try this food for thought: Adam knew he had sinned and tried to cover himself with the loin covering of fig leaves, yet he still said he was naked – an assessment which God did not dispute (Gen. 3:7-11). There is obviously more to being naked than being without any clothing. Thayer says it is “scantily clad” and Arndt-Gingrich include “poorly dressed.”

Take another look at what God made for man to wear in Gen. 3. Adam made a “loin covering” which God replaced with a “tunic.” Wilson and Gesenius define the word as generally covering from the shoulder to the knee. The priests where told to cover their thighs or they would be naked (Ex. 28:42) and the figure of shame in Isaiah 47:1-3 includes uncovering the thigh.

Peter recognized that though he could fish in the relative privacy of his boat on the sea without outer garments, he reclothed himself before going ashore to meet the Lord. (Proving that you can swim just fine with some clothes on.) I have a very hard time dismissing these precedents when attempting to make a biblical definition of sufficient clothing.

- Laurie A. Moyer  [God’s Women on Modesty]

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Adam, clothing, Even, Genesis, quote

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This post was originally for a guest post on Jesus Couture’s Web site, but it seems like they’re probably going to take an ungodly amount of time to fix their blog, so I decided to put this up  here. It was still nice of them to ask me to write for them, though. I really appreciate the thought. Here goes…

I thought I’d talk about clothing within the church today. Since I assume that a good number of you are Christians reading this, I feel the need to address this very issue—sadly, it has been an issue. I’m sure that you recall that we are called to be the “salt and light” of the earth, which means we are to be set apart from sin and from the world. From what I have been seeing, it seems like a lot of us do not look at all different from the rest of the world.

What I really mean by this is that we dress like everyone else does, we see the same kinds of movies and TV shows without filter, talk the same gossipy talk, walk the same catwalk, etc. I don’t really see any harm in indulging in a lot of secular things—don’t get me wrong! I love my rock music, art films, and French coutouriers as long, as they don’t incite lustful thoughts for my husband or me. However, we should know our boundaries. We can still be part of this world but not of it, according to John 17 and Romans 12:2.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. -John 17:16

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. -Romans 12:2

I think the problem with a lot of churches now is that we tend to want to adapt to our surroundings to be more inviting to others—this to a fault. To an extent, this is okay. We do need to be inviting. When a church becomes too gimmicky and hip while watering down the message, presumably to “dumb it down” for people they assume would not get the Bible, it is an example of giving in to the world. God’s Word should be straightforward enough for people to understand. This is something that we need to trust Him to take care of.

As far as clothing goes in church, I believe that we women should not be wearing the blouse with the plunging neckline, the mini skirt, or the tight jeans that most every other woman we come across is wearing. Christian men, including pastors and husbands, have confessed about lusting after women, both single and married, in their church. It is true that lust can be triggered by anything regardless of clothing, but there are some types of clothing that invoke this much stronger than others and as a direct cause right then and there. We can assume that men are trying their best to not lust after us, but we have the other half of the equation to think about, which is to try to help them (and ourselves, really) to not think of us (ourselves) as objects of lust. Lust isn’t admiration. It’s far more dangerous than that. It ruins lives and marriages, and it can start for a man from just seeing an inappropriately dressed woman in church and perhaps lead up to his seeking out and viewing pornography. Again, it’s a 2-way street. The man can call upon God and the power of Christ to renew his mind after seeing something that entices him, but the initial thought was presented by a care-free (careless?) christian woman.

If lust were admiration, then lust would care about or respect the person it is admiring. Lust, however, isn’t like that at all. It selfishly partakes of whatever is available then moves on to another (usually more desirable or intense) object of lust. What kind of relationship would it be if lust were the basis of attraction? Temporary and fake.

Most of the things that I write about  here are related to personal experience. I was not always a believer in modesty’s importance to the Christian faith. In fact, I walked the catwalk and even talked the gossipy talk just like every other woman in the world, and the main difference was that I believed in Jesus Christ. I was off to a good start. Jesus is the central message behind Christianity. However, I didn’t realize how much my clothing was a stumbling block to people who wanted to believe in Jesus or who already believed in Him. I came to realize that my clothes and some of the other girls’ clothes were distracting men from being pure in thought and serving God with a clean mind and spirit. The other girls in church and I were not helping these men with purity and doing our part of concealing our cleavage and thighs. I had to put God first and go against my natural inclination to dress to attract without any real boundaries.

I know it’s not fun to talk about reality sometimes, but not one good thing ever really happens when we wear clothing that doesn’t conceal sexually enticing areas. Clothing like that makes us feel good, but so does sin. However, modest clothing doesn’t have to be boring and awkward. I really hated and still hate unflattering clothing, but modest clothing can be attractive (though not necessarily designed to attract/distract) without being sexual. Some of the stuff I have on my blog includes photos of what some other girls and I look up to wear that might hopefully give you some inspiration.

If our God is the God of all beauty and creation, then why do you think you have to be frumpy to be modest?

This post was originally published on a la Modest’s Web site.

© Rachel @ alamodest.com for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Christian, church, clothes, clothing, john 17:16, lust, modesty, romans 12:2

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After my mom was married, she donated her dress to a missionary.  Some formals end up at the local Thrift Store.  The UW sororities donated their prom dresses to high schoolers.

While most high school students consider attending prom to be a necessary rite of passage, the University of Wisconsin’s Panhellenic Association, along with the Junior League of Madison, distributed donated dresses and accessories on Saturday to students who might not otherwise be able to afford the opportunity to attend the dance.

The All Dressed Up program collects, cleans and gives away secondhand dresses to high school students whose families could not otherwise afford the luxury of buying attire for prom. Panhellenic Association Vice President of Civic Engagement Kari Wolter said over 300 students who might not otherwise be able to bear the expense received dresses in this year’s distribution.

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, donation

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When I was in college, I thought satin was of the Devil.  No, not really, but I thought that it was immodest—and I had my reasons:

1. It was flashy, and drew attention.
2. It reflected light and cast shadows that accentuated form.
3. It usually was tight (see #2).
4. I didn’t see much of it around.

And all of those reasons were valid; however, now that I’m married and have seen more of what is available and considered the issue, I’m not totally against shiny material.

It does have its place in formal wear, and with certain colors it can add a touch of class.  I probably didn’t see much of it, because although there were formal events, I spent most of those events with guys.

Satin may not be from Satan, but there are some things that you should do if you choose a Shiny material for your next blouse or dress.

• Check to see just how reflective the material is.
  • A little shine can go a long way.
  • Too much and we’re into #1 and #2 above.
• Check the way that item looks in the mirror in normal light.
  • Does it highlight things you don’t want seen?
  • When you turn at different angles, does it draw attention to things that in previous generations were “unmentionables”?
• Consider other options.
  • There are other dresses available.

Again, I don’t think that Shiny is immodest, but like many things it can be made immodest if you don’t take care to wear it properly.

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, shiny

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The truth of the matter is, men—especially teenage boys—are fixated on what the young lady he sees may look like beneath the clothing she wears.  To that end, it’s not just skin and the occasional underwear that plays peek-a-boo that’s a problem, it’s also items that hug the body such that what is underneath is discernable.

And that’s part of what Anthony is trying to get the ladies around him to understand.  That tight clothing gets the same amount of attention that is given to short, low, or see-through.  Check it out:

Here is the dilemma that I see from talking to my wife and other sisters in Christ: Women often do not know what is ok, and what is too suggestive.  Sure, you all know that certain things such as bikinis and shorts that almost expose the ladies underwear is not acceptable. However, there are some articles of clothing that women are indeed surprised to find are suggestive.  Do you realize that to a man, clothes that don’t show any skin yet are tight, can show a man exactly what you look like under those clothes (and yes, they think about it). So how do you get around this?  ASK!  Wives, ask your husbands. Young girls, ask your father or brothers.  [Modesty: A Guy’s Perspective]

And I have to echo his advice—if you don’t know, or think something’s on the border, ask.  The men in your life should take interest and help in this area.  If they do not, I feel that they are not taking the time and attention to you that they should!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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A generation ago, you’d never find someone going to church that wasn’t wearing “Sunday Go To Meeting Clothes”.  Men and women would go to church wearing their “Sunday Best” which would be a suit for men and a dress for the women.  They would both wear hats, but the men would take them off at the door (of course).

Today, churches have decided to take the hymn “Just as I Am” literally (if they still sing hymns) and more people are coming to church dressed in casual attire.

A few weeks back we concluded a survey of those who read Is This Modest and the results were interesting:

Ladies, when going to church do you usually wear…

• A shirt/blouse with a skirt (39%, 21 Votes)
• A nice dress (26%, 14 Votes)
• Jeans and a nice shirt (13%, 7 Votes)
• I don’t attend church (11%, 6 Votes)
• A shirt/blouse with pants (7%, 4 Votes)
• Whatever’s comfortable (4%, 2 Votes)
• Pajamas (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 54

While I’m glad that no one goes in their pajamas—a horrible fashion trend that is—I found the rest of them to be pretty common.

Most women in our survey wore a dress or skirt.  Jeans and a nice shirt were higher than I expected, but that’s understandable.

What Does This Survey Say?

This survey is very slanted, and I think that if we opened it up to all church goers, I think that we’d find that more would wear pants or jeans.  But that being said, in most churches that I’ve been in, at least 50% of the women in attendance were in a skirt or dress.

To me, that says that when a woman wants to dress up or look more presentable, she wears a skirt or dress.  An interesting follow-up question would have been, “What do you wear on a daily basis?” and I think that might have some effect as well.

What do you think?  Should you come “Just as I Am” or do you think that church is something special to be dressed up for?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: church, clothing

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You would think that winter would be the easiest time to be modest.  I mean, the air is cold, the wind seems to cut you with a knife, and everyone (even indoors) is bundling up.

So why is it that when you go to the mall you’re still confronted with more than you want to see?

This past Saturday I was at my local mall, and as I usually do, I like to look at people that are walking around—and when you do this you see the good, the bad, and the… well… not so modest.

In the summer, that means mini-skirts, short shorts, and bellies that are hanging out.  In the winter, it’s usually confined to people that don’t dress for the weather (think guys that are still wearing shorts and tank tops) and women that wear leggings—or are they really pants?  I didn’t know that pants could get that tight?

So, without further ado, here’s 5 tips for Winter Modesty:

1. It’s Winter, Dress Like It

No one is going to think it was worth it to look fashionable if you’re out for a week with influenza because you didn’t keep warm in the cold.  This means that you should not be wearing mini skirts and big fluffy boots are not pants.  It also means that you probably should listen to your mom and wear that hat—even if it looks weird.

2. Tights are Not Pants

This closely follows #1, and goes for any time of the year.  Just because there’s clothing between your flesh and the outside air doesn’t mean that it’s modest—or smart for that matter.  Tights show everything, and get you unwanted attention to areas that, while you may think they are good, probably aren’t.  Wearing tights and a mini-skirt violates both of these rules.

3. Layers are Your Friend

Layering not only provides you warmth, but also gives you flexibility in case you end up somewhere that has different temperatures than you planned on.  Take, for instance, the work environment.  I keep a sweater in a drawer at the office in case I end up to work and it’s colder (which it tends to be in front of large windows).  If I’m cold, I chatter my teeth and blow into my hands as I rub them I whip out the sweater and I’m nice and toasty.

This also goes the other way.  If you’re roasting, instead of sweating profusely, you can remove a layer and still be stylish.  Unless, of course, your layer is from Shop Second Base.  In that case, leave the outer layer on.

4. Footwear Needs to Be Appropriate

This is not the time for flip-flops or open toed anything.  In fact, during the winter months you’ll catch me in these puppies—nice and warm and slush is no problem.

My wife says they aren’t that stylish, but with the slush and gunk that’s around, and a nice inner lining, you can’t go wrong!

I store a set of work shoes under my desk at work, and I come and go in these guys.

For you ladies, even wearing sneakers or something that is less fashionable to and from work will be more practical than wearing your dress shoes out in the elements.

5. Remember Your Mom’s Advice

My dad always says that a coat is what you wear when your mom’s cold.  If your mom was anything like my mom, a coat wasn’t enough.  You had to have gloves, a hat, and maybe a scarf and even then you got nice hot chocolate when you came back in.

The point is, keep yourself warm and keep an extra blanket in the car, just in case.  It may seem ridiculous now—like your Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer hat that you still have in your closet—but you’ll be thankful when you find that you are not sick as often and your feet are not soaked when you get inside.

Any other useful tips?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, modesty, winter

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Cute Comfy Summer Dress? OR Just another Muu Muu?

Leave a comment with your opinions and suggestions!

To see more of this dress click here!

© tawnynicole001 for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, dress, is this modest, modesty, summer

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As always, I’m sure this heat is here to stay!

Each year the summer heat brings with it the ‘necessary’ tiny clothes! Bare shoulders and tiny straps seem to be popping up everywhere!

I’m on a quest to find something cute & comfy to wear in this summer heat! I needed look no further than the vast vintage market!

Here are a few of my favorite things!

What do you think!?

How would you accessorize these outfits?

What’s your favorite summer things??

*Not your Grandma’s Muu Muu*

*a house dress you’ll want to wear out*

*Summer berries please*

*A day out*

*Picnic Dress*

Tips for buying vintage:
*Check out thrift stores! Great finds at great prices
* Think about adding modern ‘trendy’ pieces & accessories – you probably already have some great stuff to really jazz up any outfit
*Vintage sizes are usually different from modern sizes – be sure to double check measurements
*If you can sew, your in luck! There are tons of vintage patterns
*When searching for this style dress online search different key terms: try *When searching for this style dress online search different key terms: try vintage lounge dress, vintage house dress, muu muu dress, vintage patio dress, ect

© tawnynicole001 for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, dress, modest, summer, vintage

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Looking for a simple message on a t-shirt?  Then check out a new site I found that has some great short phrases that you can have placed on shirts!

exalt Him is built using Printfection, which allows anyone to create a line of clothing—and exalt Him is a line that carries the theme from Psalm 18:46:

“The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—”

Samples

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Although the prices seem a tad high for individual shirts, I have not received one to review for quality.  They have neat designs and might be worth a look!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, exalt Him, tee shirts

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In our society clothing has gotten smaller and smaller over the last 100 years! The views on what is modest and immodest have changed more in the last few decades than ever before. Religious views of modesty and proper clothing are incredibly diverse even among Christians. So I decided to do a little investigating. Here is some of the interesting thing I found.

Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden. They were pure and without sin and innocent (Much like a newborn baby) thus their was no shame in their nakedness. However after eating the forbidden fruit, shame and sin entered the world and they were ashamed of their nakedness. They made “aprons” of leaves to cover their nakedness. This “covering” was not up to God’s standards. So he made them “Coats” of animal skin. This is our first glimpse for the need of Modesty. (Read the story Here: Genesis 3 )

*How does the bible define nakedness?*
Obviously Modesty would require you to AT LEAST cover our nakedness.
In Exodus we are given instruction on how to make garments for the priest. These MEN wore robes and tunics and frequently climbed ladders or were in other positions in which they may unintentionally expose themselves. For this reason, God commanded them to make under garments to “cover their nakedness”. This garment was to go from the waist past the thigh. ~This tells us that God considers any skin showing between the waist extending to the thigh to be nakedness and that these areas need to be covered.~

Isiah 47:2-3 says “…make bare the leg, uncover the thigh,…Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen…”. Some versions of this passage omit “uncover the thigh”. What does this tell us? ~ God finds it shameful and to be reviling nakedness when you show bare leg or and uncovered thigh.

Its also interesting to note that biblical garments had sleeves and started just below the collar bone.

In conclusion Nakedness can defined as:
1. Showing skin from the breast to the knee
**Arguments could be made that nakedness starts below the collar bone. It can also be argued that exposed shoulders would continue nakedness. Also “baring leg” could be argued to be a showing of nakedness.**

What are your opinions, thoughts, and convictions.

**In the next post we will cover Standards of Modesty: Part2: Religion: Christianity: Why some Christian’s Feel Modest women should only wear skirts.**

© tawnynicole001 for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, dress, Religion and Spirituality

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From the “dress code” of modesty to the way a modest women presents herself, and even modest talk, not one rock will remain unturned as we take a journey into discovering the roots of different standards of modesty.

© tawnynicole001 for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: article, clothing, culture, dress code, modesty, religion, standards

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Modesty! Its rather important to us! But, have you ever sat back and examined your standards of modesty? How your standard was formed? Considered other views of modesty? The annual Modesty Challenge gives each of us a chance to re-think modesty and discuss our finding!

This Years Modesty Challenge Begins on April 19th 2010 & Ends April 23rd 2010. The theme this year is “A week in Modest Feminine Attire”.  And just to make it interesting, we’ll pick one participant from those who take the challenge to get a free skirt from New Creation Apparel!

The Rules

For this years challenge, lets put the debate of skirts or jeans behind us. Skirts/Dresses of appropriate length are certainly modest. They are certainly feminine. And They are most defiantly no longer the “norm” for girls and women.

During the challenge, you should wear only skirts, dresses, culottes, or split-skirts. Try to keep outfits as feminine and modest as possible. Continue with your normal routine. Especially participate in activities you “thought you couldn’t do in a skirt” such as gardening, cleaning, housework, childcare, outdoor activities etc.

Take lots of pictures of yourself doing your normal routines in feminine modest clothing. (If you are uncomfortable taking your picture, take pictures of your outfit.) Post these pictures along with any thought or comments on the challenge to your personal blog. Your post should include a link to the challenge. Add your post to the list of links (Comments) so we can all see how your challenge is going!

Already a “skirt gal”? Great! You are still welcome to participate in the challenge. You may wish to make the challenge a bit more challenging for yourself by adding a “bit more feminine challenge”. Possibly challenge yourself to also wear feminine hair styles! (Think Buns & Braids!) Or to Speak or write more feminine.

Below I am listing some questions you may wish to answer concerning this years challenge!

Enjoy! I wish everyone a great experience during this years challenge! I am so excited to hear everyone’s thoughts!

Week in Modesty Questions:

1. Prior to the challenge, What was your standard of modesty? How has it changed after the challenge?

2. Prior to the challenge, How did you feel about wearing skirts or dresses? Did you feel they would be limiting? How has this view changed Post-Challenge?

3. Prior to the challenge what was your self-image like? Did this change any after the challenge?

4. Did you notice any changes in you behavior during the challenge? Did you notice any change in the way others treated you while wearing skirts/dresses?

5. Did you find picking out an outfit or getting ready during the challenge to be inconvenient? Why or Why not?

6. Did you find your skirt/dress to be limiting or inconvenient in any situations?

7. Did you find your self to be comfortable in your skirt/dresses? As compared to jeans?

8. Will you continue to wear skirts/dresses? Why?

~Please Respect this Blog & It’s Readers~

Any Links Posted with inappropriate or immodest content will be deleted.

© tawnynicole001 for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: article, Casual, challenge, clothing, dress, fashion, jeans, modest, modesty, pants, skirt

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The retailers behind Phyllis Jean know that many of you would like to buy things that you see shopping, but that it seems that everything you find needs some modification:

Whether you are a mom, teen, toddler, or grandmother your choices of modest clothes seem to be slim to none. Everything we have found was, "oh well this might work if you just sew up this slit, or round that collar (so as not to look like a man’s shirt), or if you only added sleeves, or pinned the opening at the top of the blouse…"

I’m sure you’ve run into all these situations and many more while shopping. Not to mention the trouble and time it takes to go out to the malls, only to come back tired (of the music!) and frustrated, and left with the same options you had before you left.

So what did they do?  They decided to manufacture their own clothing for you.  And they have done an excellent job.  Here’s just some of the great skirts you can purchase at their site:

View Full Album

There’s something for ladies of all ages there, though the selection may not be as large as some of the bigger names.

And just to make it more interesting, they have given us a promo code for the rest of the month of March!

If you use the code “ss16” at checkout, you’ll receive free shipping!

So go check them out and let us know what you think!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
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A few months ago we asked you, the readers, to let us know what your favorite color to wear was. The results were overwhelming.

1. Blue (48%, 20 Votes)
2. Pink (19%, 8 Votes)
3. Green (17%, 7 Votes)
4. Red (12%, 5 Votes)
5. White (5%, 2 Votes)
6. Orange (-1%, 0 Votes)

There were more votes cast for blue than the next four colors combined. To me this leads to a few interesting observations:

Blue is Not Only for Boys

Did you know that it wasn’t until the mid 1900′s that pink was considered the color for infant baby girls? Pink was considered to be a weaker red, which is the color of power. Blue was considered to be a cool, background color.

It wasn’t until the mid 1900′s that the pink in convertibles and lipstick got the country to switch identifying colors with infants.

And our poll tends to reinforce that, showing that a majority of you ladies like the color blue!

It Is One Cool Color

When I was designing interfaces for different computer applications, blue was a very popular color to use in the background. It isn’t as stark as black, but it does fade into the background and let the other colors have the focus.

Blue rarely takes the front stage, and it compliments well.

It Highlights the Eyes

The last thing that comes to mind is how blue highlights those that have blue eyes. To me, nothing makes eyes pop like having a blue shirt or blouse that compliments the eyes.

And I should know, having a beautiful, blue-eyed wife. :)

So, ladies, you have good taste with the color blue!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 22 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blue, clothing, Color

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There are three words that the men over at The Art of Manliness use to talk about how to dress in hot weather, and I thought that they were right on.

Clean

The best thing to remember about hot weather is that your body will try to cope with it.  A clean body, therefore, will be a cooler body.  Making sure to be clean will both benefit you and all of those around you!

Clean also goes for clothing.  It’s best to wear clothing that does not have any stains (talk about a way to draw attention!), but if you’re wearing something that you’ve worn before, chances are it’s not as cool as you might like!

Light

Light colors reflect light.  Dark colors attract light.  By wearing lighter colors you’re able to reflect the sunlight that would be raising your body temperature—and therefore making you warmer.

If you wear your clothing looser, you’ll be able to have better airflow, and that will also help.  Keep in mind that if your clothing is looser you may be allowing views of yourself that you would not have to worry about otherwise.

And make sure the fabric is such that it provides both coverage but is light.

Understated

This is where modesty comes in.  During the summer, like any other time, we should be making sure that our clothing compliments us.  We should wear things that don’t draw unnecessary attention to our person, but that draw attention to who we are.

We need to be practical.  But though a white shirt that’s made of light material may be practical—it may also be translucent.  Definitely not something a modest person might be looking for.

Here’s three tips—do you have any more?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, summer, summer wear

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Modesty is not just about making sure we have our body covered correctly. It’s about making sure that we look like a lady (for those of us who are ladies, obviously). That doesn’t mean Victorian dresses with ruffles and bustles (oh please no!). It does mean dressing in a way that makes sure we will not be mistaken for a man. I’ve heard the quote “Your clothes should be tight enough to show you’re a woman and loose enough to show you are a lady”. You want those you come in contact with to realize you are a lady; not a chimney sweep, a man or a prostitute. You want men to look at you and admire you; not look at parts of you because you are dressed in a sexy and revealing way.

Feminine modesty does not mean you always have to wear pink and be in a dress. But you should look for clothes that flatter your coloring and shape, but still keep you covered enough that you have some mysteriousness.

© Erin L. for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, feminine, modest

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When we asked the readers of Is This Modest this question, they gave us an interesting response:

Why Motivates Christian Young Ladies to be Modest?

• Keep Christian Brothers from Stumbling (82.0%, 28 Votes)
• Focus on the Inside (26.0%, 9 Votes)
• What Would Jesus Wear? (21.0%, 7 Votes)
• Holier than Thou (12.0%, 4 Votes)
• Don’t You Know? They make all their own clothing. (3.0%, 1 Votes)

Why I find this interesting is that the overwhelming answer is not the answer that I would have chosen, and yet I believe that it accurately characterizes why Christian young ladies try to be modest—and I believe it’s the wrong reason.

Have I lost you?

Let me come about this the long way, and see if I can get you to see what I’m saying…

MInTheGap and Worth Waiting For

Some of you know that, after I had finished college and started working that I began to have a passion for reaching young ladies in crisis pregnancies.  So much so that I attended classes so that I could help young women in these circumstances.

The only problem: I’m a man!

So, they figured that the only thing that I could do that would be useful would be to tag along to churches and schools and teach the benefits of purity and virginity.

Except I wasn’t very good at it.  I mean, I’m a good speaker, and I have the passion, but my number one reason for being pure wasn’t “so that my future wife would get all of me” or “so that I’d only share myself with one partner” or even “so I wouldn’t get disease.”  My number one reason was because that’s what God expected of me.

The Weight of the Answers

That’s why, though I expected the results that we received, I was a little saddened by them.  If you are a Christian and you’re dressing modesty simply because you’re worried your Christian brother’s stumbling, I have news for you: They’re going to stumble regardless how hard you try.

If there’s one thing that you should be noticing with a lot of the Quick Reviews and comments lately is that no matter what the outfit looks like, there’s something that some guy can latch onto, and that for some men a burqua is probably the only way to go.

And if that’s the case, if what you’re aiming for with your modesty is to keep Christian brothers from stumbling then you’re going to have to go that route.

However, if you’re focused inwardly, if your attempt to be modest is an effort to please God, if you’re desiring Him above all else, then He is the only one you will be concerned about answering to.  He is the one that you’ll be seeking to please.  You’ll be dressing for Him, not for your Christian brothers.

I’m not saying that you should use this as an opportunity to justify dressing in a bikini “for the Lord”, you should be careful to help your brothers not to stumble.  But that shouldn’t be the end goal.  The end goal should always be the development of the inner woman to the honor and glory of God.

Nothing else matters.

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Christian, Christianity, clothing, God, Virginity

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Is This Modest?

Erin: This is one of the cutest prom dresses I’ve ever seen! I love the gathering around the waist and the full skirt, but it still modest!

MInTheGap: Definitely a modest formal, though I typically prefer a longer length.  This one sits right at the knees, which works for this model, but may not for others.

Your Turn…

[ratings]

© Erin L. for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, prom, skirt

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