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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This tee is the classic v-neck, which brings along all the challenges that v-necks have to offer.

The sleeves are fine, and look comfortable—a little longer and with a wide bottom hem.

The length—Mia Bellina definitely has longer shirts than what we’ve seen even with Shade Clothing.  Length is your friend.

The trouble spot is in the V.  I would think that with an inner layer you would find that you could make this shirt work for an outer layer.

The only other issue that I see is that the shirt seems a bit tight.  Might have to make sure you get the right size. 

Your thoughts?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: tee shirts, v-neck

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Another comfortable looking dress from Impel Clothing.

The color on this one is interesting, and it has much the same line as the other dresses that we’ve looked at.

What I am wondering is whether there’s a faux layer underneath this dress, seen near the V, or whether the model chose to wear a layer to keep it modest.

V-necks have a way of drawing attention and showing things off, so it’s a valid question.

Otherwise, great length, sleeves are half sleeves, and there’s detail at the waist, but it looks pretty good.

Your impressions?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: crossover, dress, half sleeve, v-neck

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We’ve talked before about V-necks.  There are two things that V-necks do that you have to be aware of:

1. The V-Shape usually means that the front is cut a little low, and that cleavage might be visible.
2. The V-Shape creates a contrast of colors (perhaps with skin) that can draw attention.

This V-neck tee is a generous length, which is great, but it does come rather low, such that it would have maintenance issues and it could show cleavage on certain body types.

What do you think of V-necks?  Would layering help?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: t-shirt, v-neck

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First,  the sleeves are very feminine at the top (flutter sleeve) while being short, they are airy.

Second, the length of this dress cannot be beat.  It’s down to the lower calf and that’s great as far as modesty goes.

The V-Neck could be a problem, depending on how far down the V goes, and the fact that some do not like the V at all.

However, both of these problems could be remedied by a cami or other layering device underneath—unless you’re simply wearing it around the home.

This dress is currently on sale for $19.99!

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dress, v-neck

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Everything looks better with black.  I was once told that this was because black made facial features “pop”.  This is why the “little black dress” category exists, and you can see why with this model.

This model also gives us another illustration.  In multiple reviews we’ve discussed where a hemline would be when a person sat down.  If you click this image through to the actual item and look through the alternate images, you’ll see that this hemline falls a little above the knee.  Here, as this woman sits, you can see that a few inches above her knee and of her thigh are shown—and the way that she has to sit to keep some semblance of modesty.

When you wear a skirt that ends above the knee, or doesn’t go somewhat down the calf, you have to remember to sit “lady-like” and I’m sure you’ll find yourself tugging at the skirt wishing it would go down further.

Other than that, no complaints with this dress.  There’s a slight V-neck that I don’t think would be an issue for anyone.

Your thoughts?

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: black, Button, collar, dress, silk, v-neck

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LIZ

Originally uploaded by pffoster

Is This Modest?

Hannah: First of all, I don’t like most reclining positions used for photographs, including this one. Here the shirt is too tight, and though it is layered the layering has done nothing to make the low neck modest. It’s a little hard to tell about the jeans, but my impression is that they are overly snug as well. Also, the hand on the hip and the expression on the face seem to convey a message of, “I have an attitude”.

MInTheGap: The whole photo– the angle, etc. is to show off her body which makes the image itself immodest, the outfit, though it does a decent job of coverage, is tight to show off her waistline.

Foy: I herebye second everything the people above me have said.  A three for me.

Your Turn…

[ratings]

© Hannah for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: jeans, reclining, v-neck, waistline

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bride

Originally uploaded by ^@^ina

Is This Modest

MInTheGap: I love the lacework on the arms– it’s so pretty and feminine. In fact, I believe that this is a very beautiful dress. Except, it goes down way too far in the front. Great for her husband, mind you. Just not modest for the rest of the viewing eyes at the wedding.

Foy: That’s why she has flowers MInTheGap! Kind of like the infamous purses from “Glimpsed by the Baltimore Sun” pictures. 

Your Turn…

[ratings]

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bride, feminine, front, lace, v-neck

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Originally uploaded by Erin Liz

Is This Modest?

MInTheGap: A lot of V’s, but none of them are tight, and it’s not that distracting. This is an interesting, and mostly modest outfit– if not completely modest.

Erin: I don’t have any problems with this outfit…but the colors are not that good for her. It needs a “splash” of something cheerful

Your Turn…

[ratings]

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: layers, Salvation Army, v-neck, vintage

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IMG_9367 copy.jpg

Originally uploaded by Shelley K

Is This Modest?

MInTheGap: Though this shot is a little dark, this outfit (or what we can see of it) does look modest– even though it has a V-neck (imagine that).

Kristin:Even though she’s mostly covered, I keep feeling like my eyes are going to that button in the center of her jacket and all of the gathering around it from being too tight. If the shirt underneath comes up high enough she’d be better off leaving the jacket open, but from what I can tell it looks like the undershirt is probably low cut as well. Her makeup is VERY heavy as well! I’m going to go with Slightly Immodest here.

Your Turn…

[ratings]

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dark, suit, v-neck

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Trisha-67

Originally uploaded by Blue Fork

Is This Modest?

MInTheGap: V-Necks draw attention to the chest, and even when there’s an insert like here (and this is a low insert), my eyes are still drawn to the dark vertical lines. I’m going borderline here, because I’m technically not seeing anything (though that may be different if she lowers her arms), but the V is distracting.

Foy: I’m going more on the immodest side of borderline, for the same reasons.

Your Turn…
[ratings]

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: jeans, pose, shirt, v-neck

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Erin:  I think this is a cute, feminine and classy outfit!

MInTheGap: I’m surprise there was no comment about the v-neck or how low it goes.  I think this outfit works, however.

Your Turn…

[ratings]

© Erin L. for Is This Modest?, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: pants, purse, v-neck

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Is This Modest?

Erin: The v-neck is too low…With a camisole or long t-shirt, it would raise the neck and add a little length to the sweater. That’d be about perfect.

MInTheGap: The V-neck is low, even if the jacket was buttoned.  The pants don’t look that bad.  I’m going borderline.  If she bent down to pick something up, and were not careful, it’d be immodest.

Your Turn…

[ratings]

© Erin L. for Is This Modest?, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, jacket, jeans, Neck, sweater, t-shirt, v-neck

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Men’s tops come in three basic varieties—button down, partial button down (polo-shirts and the like) and no buttons.  I mean, there is the tank-top and maybe a small V-Neck, but to see a man showing upper chest is very unlikely.

And yet, when it comes to women, it seems that sometimes it’s all about how far down they can go without showing something.  And I can’t begin to list the names of all the different cuts.

It’s All About the…

–Wait!  Can I say this on a family website?

Seriously, though, there really is no other logical conclusion about why shirts on ladies differ from that on men.  There are certain areas of the female body that attract men, and obviously this is one of those areas.

As far back as I can recall, women have used the depth of the front of their shirt to entice men, and today is no different.  Therefore, if a young lady is seeking to be modest, she’ll take into account what a low cut top is trying to do, and avoid sending those signals.

Ok, Now I’m Blushing…

But Erin wants something more concrete:

I’d like to know at what point does a v-neck top (or any top for that matter) become too low? I guess I kind-of figured that sometimes even if it didn’t *show anything* it could still be immodest, but I’m not sure where the line is…

I’ve heard various rules of thumb—and there is a pun there, but you’ll have to wait for it—that try to help judge just how low is acceptable.  One measure I heard around Bob Jones University was the thumb and pinky rule.

Standing upright, place your thumb on your Adam’s Apple and place your pinky on your chest.  Your shirt should not go lower than that.

Though I think in some cases that this rule wouldn’t work for everyone—some people are really good at being disjointed, etc.  So how would you say what’s too low?

V-Necks Have Less Tolerance

Because V-Necks have a point to them, they tend to go lower than some of the other tops that I’ve seen.  And it also comes to a point and draws the viewer’s attention to the natural division on the – er—chest.  It’s the V-Necks that are the most likely to plunge, as it were.

The more skin that’s viewable, and the more of a chance of noticing the top of the breasts, the better the chance that it will draw attention and/or create a stumbling block.

So, the general rule would be “don’t show a lot of skin.”

One Last Word

My last bit of advice would be to make sure that when you bend over that you’re modest.  Some V-Necks would be immodest when you go to get something, or when the shirt slides down.  For me, this is what I would lump in with maintenance.  If you’re finding that you have to adjust your shirt a lot to be modest (even if it’s subconsciously) then I would find a different shirt.

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2008. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: v-neck

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ZAKIAH asked, “What about this cleavage?”

MInTheGap – This top is low, and while the pants are fine, I would suggest an under-layer of some kind to deflect the obvious attention to the breasts.

Erin – “No way.” It is too deep of a v-neck. I’d fill it in with a t-shirt underneath.

Is This Modest?

[ratings]

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: jeans, v-neck

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Ask some women what their number one complaint is, and they will reply that men have a hard time maintaining eye contact.

The truth of the matter, though, is that it’s hard to go to most places—even professional places—without being “treated” to an eye-full. The worst of the offenders, in my book, is the bank. Here you have to spend most of your time looking at a girl behind the counter as she counts out your cash and she does so right in front of herself… I digress.

Men’s Health goes into the mind of the woman that wears the low cut shirt, and believes that she’s thinking (or wanting you to think she’s thinking):

“Do you like what you see? Give me your sperm.”

Nice thoughts? If you’re married and wearing this for your husband, sure!

Some attribute the wearing of this shirt or a dress like it to the time of ovulation. If that’s the case, there are some women in my office that are constantly ovulating.

Is This Modest?

Nope. No way. Nada.

The only place this top has in your wardrobe is in the section that are for his (read husband, hubby, dh) eyes only.

I’ve seen some ladies try to get by wearing this top in public with something underneath it. I’m sorry, but I don’t think this works either. The lines of the V draw the eyes to your uniquely special frame, and that’s not something that a modest lady would want to be doing.

© MInTheGap for Is This Modest?, 2008. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: attention, breasts, chest, eyes, v-neck

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