by admin | Feb 11, 2010 | Fashion Philosophy, Leggings, modest clothing
Okay, I admit it. I am in love. I have never found a single article of clothing to be so useful, versatile and multipurpose as my stretch leggings.
I am not a fan of tights, and I’m really not a fan of stockings, and neither are my girls. Leggings provide all four of us with the perfect alternative – thin and flexible, warm and comfortable, yet easy to put on and hard to tear! But, there is so much more I love about my leggings…
Take today for example. I dressed for work in a cozy sweater, a knee-length black skirt and my stretch leggings tucked into a pair of leather boots. Just the right mix of style and class for the office. When I arrived home, I slipped off my boots in exchange for a fuzzy pair of slippers and managed to spend some quality time playing with the kids. The leggings not only protected me from the cold of the tile floor, they kept me confident that my nimble maneuvers wouldn’t compromise my modesty. Once the dishes were cleared and the kids in bed, I started to think about exercising, and of course, I realized that my stretch leggings would give me enough movement for my exercise (I then decided I’d rather write this blog post instead). My oldest daughter, however, wears her leggings to exercise regularly during gym class instead changing into sweatpants.
While I get the most use out of my basic black leggings, when it comes to my girls, leggings with funky colors and patterns are always preferred. They love patterned leggings because they look adorable and give them the freedom to move and play. I love them because they are durable, easy and warm. Of course, I’d be thrilled if they wouldn’t wear spotted leggings with floral dresses…but I guess that’s a lesson for another day.
Whether hidden under a long skirt or exposed for a trendy, layered look, leggings are an absolute winter must have in my book.
by admin | Jan 15, 2010 | Layering shirts, Layering Tops, modest clothing
There’s no question that winter is upon us. And what I’m really trying to say is that it’s COLD. There are certain things that I love about cold weather, like snuggling under a down blanket, sipping a hot chocolate and sledding down a steep hill. But what I dislike most about the winter is being cold. And I am cold a lot. What’s a fashion-conscious girl to do when she only wants to wear big, fleecy sweaters, but doesn’t want to look like a winterized swamp thing? Wear layering tops!
It almost sounds implausible, but wearing several layering tops is a great way to stay cozy and chic. By their very nature, layering shirts are relatively thin shirts designed to be worn in tandem, most often as long-sleeved or ¾ length sleeved shirts under short-sleeved shirts or tank-tops under long-sleeved shirts. Not only do they keep women covered up in all the right places, but they are eternally stylish and popular among people of most ages. Layering tops are thin enough to be fashionable (without being overly-tight), and, when worn together, create fantastic warmth throughout the winter.
As it happens, I enjoy layering tops not only because they are cozy, but because they can create an endless array of looks. I mix pink layering shirts under gray sweaters, grey layering shirts under black sweaters and black tank tops under just about everything. I also own several white layering tops which I use to add a splash of light to a dark outfit or to protect my skin against a scratchy winter sweater.
I love layering tops so much that I ended up buying a bunch for my children, who also use them under jumpers, sweaters or T shirts. I can even purchase sleeveless dresses for my daughters as I know that they can wear layering shirts underneath to be both modest and warm. Although my children are warm-blooded (like their father) instead of constantly cold (like me), they enjoy the ability to wear layering tops instead of sweaters, which they (rightfully) note are less bulky and much prettier than huge sweaters.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that women no longer need to hide under giant fleece sweaters in order to stay warm- why not try some layering tops to look great and feel warm?
by admin | Nov 24, 2009 | Black Skirts, Girls Knee Length Skirts, Navy Skirts, School Skirts
My oldest daughter just started first grade, and let me tell you- I’ve completely forgotten the rules and regulations that accompany attendance at elementary school. In addition to purchasing a very specific type of notebook, a backpack with a certain number of pockets, a precise number of pencils, markers and crayons, I also had to fill her closet with a sufficient number of school skirts that cover her knee but still give her enough mobility to play actively- and to look adorable at all times.
I guess I should mention that we have 3 daughters, so I was hoping to find quality school skirts that would service my girls for the next few years. After failing at the most obvious chain stores, I began to ask around about specialty stores might carry the treasure I was hunting. One of my friends suggested Kosher Casual…and, I’d like to say that the rest is history.
Velour School Skirt
I loved the black velour school skirt so much that I actually bought one for my second daughter as well. And at $10, a probably should have bought one for daughter #3! The girls love wearing them to school and for special events because the fabric can be dressed up or dressed down. (I just love them because they’re easy to wash and don’t pill or tear even after dozens of uses).
Another favorite of the girls was the knee-length tiered denim skirt, which makes a great girls school skirt because it keeps their legs warm during the winter and is loose and cool in the summer. My daughter loves the tiered denim skirt for another reason as well- it enables her to wear pants under her skirt on gym days without having to change for gym during the day.
Although the girls schools skirts that I purchased from Kosher Casual are only a few months old, I’m thrilled that they are still looking fantastic- and that the girls still love wearing them. I know that next year when I need to buy skirts in the next size I’ll know exactly where to go. Which, of course, will give me more time for finding the exact writing implements that my children’s teachers request!
by admin | Nov 15, 2009 | Black Skirts, Long Skirts
As a working mother, I need to wear clothing that looks great in the office and is comfortable when I’m crawling around on the floor with the kids or making dinner, doing laundry, supervising bath time…you get the idea. I know, I know, you’re probably thinking that the best item would be a plastic, stain-repellent mu-mu. Which would be practical, of course, except that I don’t think my coworkers (or my husband) would appreciate the style statement. Fortunately for me, there is something that is stylish, comfortable and entirely wearable- my long black skirt. I seriously love my long black skirt. It disguises my relatively wide hips (as black fabric tends to do), it hangs properly in all the right places (as cotton tends to do), and it matches absolutely everything (well, except for maybe my favorite black shirt, but that’s a story for another time).
There’s no question that I enjoy wearing knee-length skirts, but if I had to choose my favorite cut, I’d choose long skirts hands-down. Why, you may ask? To make a long story short (pardon the pun), I’ve found that at times straight short skirts make it difficult to sit comfortably on the floor when I’m playing with my children. A long skirt, on the other hand, allows just the right amount of movement and coverage at all times. It’s also great as a crutch for my son who is just learning how to pull himself up. If I wore more short skirts, I’m sure he’d be months behind as he’d have nothing to grab hold of!)
The long black skirt that I wear most frequently has a slight flare at the bottom which allows for easy maneuvering and is tailored at the top to create a completely professional look. Because the waistline is discreet and not bulky like that those on skirts with belt loops or designed waist-lines, it can be worn with nearly any type of shirt. Equally importantly, my favorite long black skirt looks fantastic with nearly any type of shoes. In the summer, my sandals look fantastic with the slightly billowy skirt brushing over the sandal straps. In the winter the skirt looks great with both boots and other close-toed shoes. I wouldn’t wear it with sneakers, but then again, I seldom wear sneakers unless I’m on the treadmill, so I guess that’s irrelevant.
by admin | Oct 21, 2009 | Fashion Philosophy
I consider myself a fashionable dresser. I care about what I look like when I leave the house and I want my clothing to fit nicely, feel comfortable and look fabulous. I put on makeup (not just lipstick!) before I leave the house. And yet, while I am working hard to look my best, I also want to make sure that my clothing reflects my personality- which is why I wear modest clothing.
For me, wearing modest clothes is about expressing who I am as an individual. I enjoy letting my fashion choices express my individuality rather than letting my physical body serve as the yardstick upon which I am measured.
People often ask me if my modest clothes (not to be confused with hideous clothing) make me sweat in the summer heat. My answer is both simple and honest- yes, modest clothes can make someone feel warm. To stay cool I wear a lot of breathable fabrics such as cotton and viscose, which keep me comfortable- and chic. More importantly, I suspect that under the blazing sun, someone wearing a tank top is probably uncomfortably warm as well. I know this because I used to wear tank tops and bathing suits. And shorts and short-sleeved T-shirts. And I was hot then as well. But it’s ok to be hot because it’s the summer.
There is plenty of women’s summer clothing available today that is both modest and trendy. The best designers appreciate the versatility that modest clothing can add to their summer collection. You may be surprised by how much is out there that can look fabulous without compromising your modesty. So take a peek around, enjoy browsing through the diverse women’s summer clothing that is available, and find something that will make you feel both modest and beautiful- because after all, you deserve to look beautiful all year long.
