© Mahina for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: belt, button closure, dress, front, lace, Lovely Sleeve, maxi, romantic

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We have had some previous discussions on color and the effects it can have, and a recent article by Britain’s telegraph seems to back up our discussion on the color red: 

The students then completed a questionnaire which asked them to rate, on a scale of one to nine, how attractive they thought the woman was. They also had to rate her in terms of how likely they thought it was that she would have sex with a man on the first date.

The woman was judged to be most attractive when she was wearing the red top, followed by white, blue and finally green.

She was also judged, by a significant margin, to be most likely to agree to sex when she wore red, followed by blue, green and finally white.

[Men Prefer Women in Red Because They Think They Will Sleep With Them on First Date]

In some ways I find this funny.  Those that believe that clothing is neutral and that it has no effect have to be puzzled at the results of this kind of survey.  However, I’m not sure how much weight one should put in this either.

What I do know is that color and sound have an impact on us on a level that we don’t always recognize—which is why orange is used in fast food places and why muzak plays in elevators. 

We can take away from this survey something obvious—that our clothing choices send out signals, and it’s not just the cut or fit.  But I’m sure everyone already knew that!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, Color, dress, red, sex, signals

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Shannon Bliven
Photo by ChrisWrightPhotography

There’s not much one can say about what this young lady is wearing.  From what we see, the sleeve length is fine, the neckline is fine, and it is not clingy.  The fur lends an interesting touch to an otherwise neutral outfit.

So what’s left?  The pose.

Do you think that this is a modest pose?  Personally, it does have a little of a “look at me” pose to it, and yet it doesn’t look that unnatural.

To me, this picture serves as a reminder.  Though it may not be immodest, and the clothing choice is modest the pose might not be.  This is why it’s so important that our modest starts from within and oozes out!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dress, Fur, pose

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I ask my girlfriend what she is wearing and she has an elegant nice fitting dress that she wore to her daughter’s wedding this past summer. I don’t want to spend a lot of money. My dear husband already agreed to the conference price and the split fee for the hotel room.

The Thrift Store Find

I decide to check out one of my favorite places to shop: The Goodwill! All of these stores are different depending on the location. Some carry more of one item then others.

I look around and can’t find evening dresses, so I ask the clerk at the checkout. “Anything we have will be mixed in with the dresses over on that wall,” she informs me. Not expecting to find much, I head to the rack. If you have been to Goodwill you know the majority of the dresses will be from 10-20 years ago, and the most common style is the shapeless loose tent dress in a wide variety of colors and materials – not exactly a dress for a gala event.

© lindyabbott for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cocktail dress, dress, formal, goodwill, modest, New Creation Apparel, redo, remake, thrift shop, thrift stores, v-neck

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I went shopping with my teenage daughter last week in a mall. We are not mall-shoppers; We spend more time window shopping. As we stroll, I roll my eyes away and say comments that pop in my head. I am sure I am every teenage daughter’s dream mall companion. While the lengths of skirts, dresses and shorts are still mini in most stores, we couldn’t help but notice a delightful new trend in necklines.

Thankfully, my daughter and I have a good relationship. Therefore, she puts up with my editorial comments, and she encourages me to move along.

“Where could she go looking like that?” I question about a mannequin. And then my eye moves one by one through the row of tube tight dressed mannequins wrapping in bright colors.

We laugh. We whisper. I sense her mood. And then on to the next window. Some stores we avoid.

(Why can I not pass that pink lingerie store without wishing I could lead an “Occupy The Mall” until it closed it doors? I wonder if most mothers feel this way.)

As we enjoy our time together, I can’t help being thankful for the way my daughter is growing up. I am glad our taste in clothes aligns. It is not that my teen daughter and I dress alike – what a pity that would be for both of us!

When we finally arrived to the last store window in the mall, she cheerfully declares, “I could wear any outfit in this window. I like the look. It’s me. When I get older, I will buy my clothes from here.” So I suggested we should take a walk through the store, and she was willing. (Oh, I didn’t tell you… she doesn’t like shopping, especially for clothes and never wants to try anything on in a dressing room.)

On every rack and stand, she found something she would wear. I turned my head, scanning the tops and dresses. I saw something I haven’t seen in years: the necklines aren’t plunging. “Now that is a nice change! Look, you won’t have to wear two shirts or a camisole,” I note. She is equally relieved.

Her eyes rest on a soft medium pink top with four small photo-like silver-grey scenes of Paris. It is romantic, subtle, with enough detail for interest. She lights up as she shows me several more items that she would enjoy, and every single piece has an appropriately modest neckline!

“Can I help you find anything?” inquires a young lady.

“It is about time!” I tell the sales clerk, explaining how much I like the new necklines. She nods knowingly, commenting on how she has been buying several of the new styles for her own wardrobe.

We have something to celebrate in 2012, “Rising Necklines!” Shopping for shirts and dresses will be so much easier. I am so thankful for this change. I am sure many of you will be too!

(The dresses in this post can currently be found at www.target.com)

© lindyabbott for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 2012 styles, Casual, clothing, dress, dresses, fashion, layers, Neckline, Shopping, Shopping mall

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Photo By Ms Midnight Maniac

Here’s an interesting outfit that draws attention while still being modest.

The stockings are what catch my eye here—especially because they match the watering can, but more so because of their color as contrasted with the black dress.

It’s a great match, and the heels go along well, though I’d suggest for the good of your feet that you want to wear heels with care.

The dress is a tad short of where we like to see it, but otherwise everything’s great!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dress, stockings

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Photo by silver tipped cat

There’s a lot positive going for this outfit.  It’s sophisticated in its look—the lace is intricate.  The sweater ads a nice touch—which might be helping to make it modest because it could be strapless or spaghetti straps, but we don’t know.

The shoes show a lot of the feet, and the skirt is shorter than what we’d normally recommend—but it’s helped by the fact that the lace portion looks like it touches the knee.  Maintenance issue, probably.  Problem? It’s close.

This dress would be a touch of class for a night out, and it would also work for a dressier working environment, but it won’t be modest for all body types, and its length wouldn’t work for everyone.

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dress, sweater

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I remember a few years before my boys were ready to go to prom that as a Christian mom I started looking at prom dresses… and was I ever surprised! I told my friends that I would tell a young lady to go put some clothes on if she dressed so immodest – well, I was only able to tell one or two friends to be honest.

Most parents didn’t think the way I did.

It was like they couldn’t see what I could see. And therefore they let their daughters do what I could never. They approvingly giggle like a high school girl allowing them buy a dress for several hundred dollars that was baring so much skin: low cut necklines, backless, accentuating bust-lines, clinging to womanly curves, cut-out sections to show more flesh, high slits skirts, strapless shoulders, and everything other possible design that shouted, “Look at me! I am sexy.”

But what puzzled me the most on prom nights was not the teen standing in a slinky dress with a low cut front and bare back but her father proudly standing with his arms around his daughter posing for a picture. As the dad felt his daughter’s flesh didn’t it cross his mind that a young man would be holding his daughter and touching her body in places that were intimate? If parents are clueless, how can we expect our teens to have any sense of modesty?

I have seen moms show off their daughter’s prom dresses and squeal with glee when they turn the strapless dress around pointing out that only strings are crisscrossed in the V-shaped back opening. What are they thinking?

More importantly,

What kind of statement are you making in your prom dress?

Look closely at your dress. What does it say? Does it speak to virtues you admire and claim to believe? or Does it tell a different story? Could it cause a date to lust? Is sexual desire what you want your date thinking about all night? I thought you wanted a guy to care about you for who you are on the inside. At least, that is what most Christian teenage girls say in public especially when youth leaders and adults are around.

Often prom dresses should be called “High School Temptation” dresses or “Tease-Your-Date” dresses!

Do you think a girl can only be beautiful if she reveals more of her body? …if she looks alluring? …if she causes males to desire her, to want her? Oh, no, not me. I didn’t think about it that way. I didn’t know. To be honest, I never really gave that much thought.

All too often a girl wants a guy to notice her, to speak to her, to tell her that she is lovely or (to be precise) that she is loved. Most girls will say they don’t really want to be loved for their body. And that they don’t want to be thought of as a sex object! But, what do their choice and actions say?

And sadly, what is true in many teenage girls’ hearts is that they so longs to be wanted that they are willing to do what it takes to get a boyfriend. Only these kind of “boyfriends” are not really the kind they want, but they settle because their desire to be ‘wanted’ or ‘loved’ is so strong. This is a result of hurt. And truly it breaks my heart. Many teens have suffered because of absent fathers, divorce,  sexual abuse, ridicule/bullying and so many other painful past experiences that have told themselves that no one really loves them.

Sweet Daughter of the King, don’t believe this lie!

Let me remind you of a truth: GOD loves YOU! Don’t toss that away as a silly child’s nursery song. Jesus really does love you! He sacrificed his life for you and died for your sins so that you would not be trapped in bad relationships and bad choices. The grace and love of Jesus has the power to set you free from sin and to fill you with love – real lasting love. And He wants you!

So don’t believe the lie that you must dress to attract a guy or to keep him interested in you. Let God bring the young man that will love you properly and godly … and don’t be ashamed to go to a prom with a friend in a modest dress. You might be amazed how much fun you can have without compromising yourself and the values you deep inside want to believe are true.

© lindyabbott for Is This Modest?, 2012. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dress, prom, skin

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Soft Surroundings has some really great clothes that it seems like it would feel great to wear.  This dress is no exception.

The Delphine Dress also comes in black, and it meets our modest criteria—it’s long, it has wide straps and it does not come down too far in the front.  It could even be paired with an under layer (maybe a turtleneck?) to be a tad warmer!

Do you like the crinkled type look?  What type of environment could you see yourself wearing this type of dress?

I don’t think it’s a casual dress, but is it a formal?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: black, dress, soft, teal

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Here’s an interesting dress.  Interesting to me because it looks much like a top and a skirt, but it’s actually one piece.

What’s also fascinating about this dress is that the length is adjustable—it can either be ankle length or it can be shorter.

The neckline’s fine, the sleeves are short, so there’s no problems here.

Also, I noted from the site that it’s made of cotton, so it’s perfect for the fall’s cool, and might even help keep you warm inside on a cool winter’s day.

What do you think of the style?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cotton, dress, short sleeve

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From the retailer:

A Closet Classic. This is the favorite silhouette for many modest women. It’s flattering and super comfy. The cotton fabric is breathable and the unique color is stunning- Ink Blue.

From the picture, though there’s not a model it looks like it’s past the knee, maybe T-length.  The top buttons up—which could pose some maintenance issues, but it looks fine and modest.

What do you think?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blue, dress, ink

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I love what you will be finding in the shops this fall as they are modest, flowing and warm. From the picture above you will see the dresses are all falling below the knee and this is the shortest they will really be going this season, if anything you will find maxi/floor length! What spectacular news for the modest moms, working ladies or those of you who plain enjoying dressing up a tad!

The length as well as the long sleeves make them weather appropriate, and instead of socks and ankle boots you can always throw on some thicker panty-hose to seal the warmth deal (my mother would need to). The necklines are also high this year, leaving us modest ladies little to worry about! The colours are beautiful as are the fabrics, making this a very feminine dress idea we can all easily find and get on without much hassle.

The ankle boots to pair with the dresses are one of the accessories I adore and I have a few pairs still lying around from last winter. They are wonderful in the snow, leaves, mud, you name it they can handle it! I find the ones with no heel especially inviting as I am the same height as my husband ‘sans shoes’ and therefore do not feel like buying heels ever. Have fun with these modest dress types, cinched at the waist for a feminine touch and then topped off with a pair of grandma’s ankle boots and thick warm socks (preferably your own)…sigh, cozy bliss! Oh, and remember those chunky sweaters, well it is alright to grab one of those as you head out the door to keep the draft away between home and your destination. Sweater or cardy will do, just stay warm!

I have been quite impressed with what the fashionistas are pulling out this season, even though I know the cold weather has something to do with the longer lengths and higher necks. But, that’s alright, as long as they are heading modest for fall, we will take what we can when we can!

© HeSingsOverYou for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Christian woman, dress, fall, fashion, modest

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This is probably one of the most expensive dresses at The Virtuous Closet, but that comes with a reason.  This dress is Jeweled!

That’s right, the heavy satiny fabric (perfect for formal attire) comes with jewels made right into it—and that’s where my attention goes first.

Yes, the satin does make it a bit shiny, and we’ve talked about it before.  The length is fine, the neckline and sleeves are fine, but what about the placement of those jewels?  Do you think it presents a problem?

My personal opinion is that formal wear can be a bit different because of context.  In that case, this probably is fine—but I know that some of you might have a different perspective!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: black, dress

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I have to say that the first thing I saw on this dress was the humongous red “O” pattern on the front.  This definitely attracted my eye—I don’t know if it did yours?

The length is fine, though the dress might be a tad tight.  The retailer is recommending that you wear a jacket or cover-up for modesty purposes, and I can see why.

Though the neckline is not that low, it almost looks like the top is tied around the neck.  The shoulders are showing, and I think there’d be a lot of attention shown to the bodice.

What do you think of this dress?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dress, maxi, two layered

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This dress has a beautiful pattern.  The Blue is a nice soft shade, the pattern is great, and I like it all around.

As far as modesty goes, the length seems fine (though it’s not on a model so it’s harder to tell).  The neckline is nice and high, so no troubles there.

Some will find issue with the shoulders being uncovered—I’m not one of them, but it’s easy to throw a bolero or sweater on and it’ll work just fine.

The waistline is defined by the belt, which works all right here.

What do you think?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blue, dark, dress, ocean, sleeveless

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In typical Shabby Apple fashion, the new line features cute photos of the model posing in school backgrounds, and there are a number of these that would be a great addition to any wardrobe.

The one pictured to the right is called Teacher’s Pet Skirt.

Click on the image to take a quick hop over to Shabby Apple’s Academia collection and you can see them all for yourself.

Which one is your favorite?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: back to school, discount, dress, ivy

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The red is an interesting color for this dress, and it has all the right factors to make it modest:

• The length is decent (looks like it would be right about the knee.
• It’s got a nice neckline that doesn’t show too much.
• It covers the shoulders.

But what about that color?  Is red a problem?

I know that we’ve talked about red in the past, and that some see it as a sign of power or attraction.  How about you?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: crepe, dress, red

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Here’s a neat dress with feminine appeal.  The floral pattern is good at not causing the eye to go to any one place.  The pleats are visually interesting, but I have to say that the first thing that I saw was the belt/string/thing across the waist.

The one thing that I would watch out for here is the V-Neckline, but it’s nothing that couldn’t be cured with a camisole.

Is the pattern too busy for you, or can you see yourself in this dress?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dress, floral

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Asymmetrical dresses- or asymmetrical tops.  Every time I see one I think that someone forgot part of the dress!

This dress has a great length to it, much like the maxi dresses that we’ve reviewed the past couple of days.  What it doesn’t have is obvious, one shoulder is completely bare.

Now, this isn’t the same as a strapless, in that the right shoulder is covered so it probably won’t have the same potential problems staying up.  But does the one shoulder bared cause modesty problems?

I think that my eye is quickly drawn to what’s missing, and whereas it isn’t as alluring as a shorter skirt or lower top, this is still something that’s going to get you attention to your body.

Could an under-layer help this?  Could it be made modest?  Do you think it is modest?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: asymmetrical, dress

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Here’s another maxi dress with a great pattern and lots of room to move!

This dress is long, going down to almost the ankles.  The tie keeps it in at the waist, otherwise it would be very loose.

The shoulders are bared, with what looks like straps going over the shoulders.

The neckline is nice and high, only showing the collarbone out to the straps.

Do you consider a dress like this modest, or would you want some kind of under-layer for a top to cover the shoulders?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: beaded, dress, maxi, tribal

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