by admin | Nov 15, 2010 | Black Skirts, Denim Skirt, Girls Knee Length Skirts, Knee-Length Skirt, modest clothing, Modest Fashion, Modest Skirts, Pencil Skirts
I have a confession to make. Even though I hold my own where style is concerned, my 12-year-old daughter is the resident fashionista in my house. Not that I don’t pay attention to what’s new and exciting, but let’s just say that she is the one who follows the latest trends. So when she came running into my room today and shouted that we ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY must go out and buy a pencil skirt (or two or three) because ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY EVERYONE is wearing them!!!, I was a little nervous. In my mind, I had immediate visions a barely knee length pencil skirt; very tight and very revealing. Not to mention unbearably uncomfortable! This did not bode well for the preference to dress modestly that both my daughter and I share.
Ughhhh! How uncomfortable does THIS look???
But, I was intrigued, so I did some research. Here is what I found: the knee length pencil skirt actually evolved from the hobble skirt of the early 20th century. The hobble skirt was a full length skirt, gathered at mid-calf, which, although nice and modest, seriously impeded the wearer’s ability to walk. Well, if you ask me, that sounds like fashion hell. Thankfully, the French uber designer Christian Dior re-introduced a much shorter version of the hobble skirt that also included a slit in the back for ease of movement. Thus the modern-day knee length pencil skirt was born. But could I find long pencil skirts that would appeal to my discerning, modest daughter???
Long Pencil Skirt
So my daughter and I hit the mall for some serious shopping. As she tried on pencil skirt after pencil skirt, I had to admit that although I very much liked the silhouette they created, most of these skirts where waaaay too short and tight. So back home we went to try and find something more suitable online. To our delight, we found some great stuff: a decent selection of long pencil skirts that hit well- below the knee, which meant they were both age-appropriate and modest. We decided that the slenderness of the long pencil skirts would be nicely balanced with a loose tunic top or a flowing, soft jacket. We found a couple of terrific denim pencil skirts that would look really cute with leggings underneath, and elegant black pencil skirts that would be great for more fancy occasions.
The added bonus was that these long pencil skirts were made in nice stretchy materials that made them incredibly comfortable to wear. Oh, did I mention that I found some amazing long pencil skirts for me, too?
Even Posh often wears classy, modest long pencil skirts!
So at the end of the day, my daughter ended up with a new wardrobe replete with long pencil skirts that completely fit our modest way of dressing, and I ended up a way cooler, fashion-forward mom!
by admin | Nov 11, 2010 | modest clothing, Uncategorized
I just wanted to give my readers the heads up about Kosher Casual’s Modernly Modest Contest that is ending November 30!
Kosher Casual makes modern and modest clothing that make you look and feel great! The line of super comfortable, quality women’s and girls’ modest clothes makes it so easy to buy stylish and affordable fashions!
Now is your chance to win a $100 gift certificate just in time for the holidays! Here is the link to enter:
No purchase is necessary in order to enter the sweepstakes and you can enter once per day! Good luck.
by admin | Oct 25, 2010 | Dress Code, Girls Knee Length Skirts, Knee-Length Skirt, modest clothing, School Skirts
I recently attended an appointment at a local public school. I must admit, I have not stepped foot in one (for various and sundry reasons) in a very, very long time. From the second I walked on to the school grounds, I was SHOCKED!!! Never mind school uniforms; I think a music video allowed to play only after 10 pm featured more modest clothing than what the people at this particular school were wearing. In the first ten steps, I saw belly-bearing tank tops, super micro mini shorts, an A line skit that was more of a no line skirt and jeans hanging so low to the ground; I had to physically restrain myself from pulling them up! And these were just the teachers!
I, myself, attended public school in the somewhat distant past (after the dinosaurs but before cell phones). While there was no school dress code, there was a broadly accepted, unspoken line that was not crossed. We did not wear anything that was more appropriate for the beach than for the classroom: no shorts; no sleeveless tops, no bellybutton baring t-shirts. It wasn’t that we dressed more modestly because we had some higher consciousness that dictated our clothing choices. We did not call it modest clothing, we just called it appropriate school clothing. We simply did not have the blurred line between the appropriate and the x-rated.
I had the biggest urge to call an emergency assembly in the school auditorium and give the kids (AND teachers, AND the administration) some fashion tips. Girls! If you want to attract attention, put on a comfy cotton t-shirt, a classy knee-length skirt and leave a little to the imagination. Boys! A short sleeve polo shirt and a nice pair of khaki pants makes you look polished and smart. Teachers! Dress respectfully and age-appropriate and watch your students take you just a little more seriously. Maybe we don’t need a school dress code for the class, but school clothing with some class!
by admin | Apr 28, 2010 | Fashion Philosophy, Layering shirts, Layering Tops, modest clothing, Modest Clothing Accessories, Uncategorized
A while ago I wrote about how I love wearing my clothing layered to stay warm and stylish in the winter. But now, as I’m slowly changing over my closet from winter to summer clothing, I’m beginning to remember that much of my summer clothing has short sleeves or a low-cut top, styles that are designed to balance well with the summer heat, but that leave me feeling rather exposed. In summers past I used to pair a trusty black (or white) cardigan with nearly every shirt…but I’ve realized over time that I’m covering up my colorful wardrobe and that none of my summer clothing is getting the attention it deserves.
Before and After Sleevies
Fortunately, I’ve found multiple solutions that I think will enhance my summer wardrobe in ways that I never thought possible. The layering clothes that I’m most excited about are Sleevies®. At first glance, Sleevies remind me of legwarmers for my arms, but without the bulkiness or bunchy style of those ’80s staples. Instead, Sleevies are made from cotton and Lycra, so they cover your arm without sliding down or making you too hot. With Sleevies, I’ve been able to resurrect several short-sleeved shirts from my wardrobe, and I’ve even purchased a few more because I know that I can wear them without covering them up or overheating with a full long-sleeved shirt underneath.
Another great item I’ve found which enables me to wear my clothing layered in the summer is a cropped ¾ sleeve layering tee, which as its name suggests, makes it look like I’m wearing a full shirt underneath an outfit, when really, I’m only wearing the top of a shirt. There are 3 major benefits of this type of layering clothing. Firstly, I can cover my arms and my chest modestly and stylishly without having to add a full extra shirt on a hot summer day. Secondly, (and I hope you don’t mind me being a bit personal), is that wearing a cropped shirt often allows me to get two uses out of my top shirt before needing to wash it. Finally, wearing a cropped shirt prevents the bulk that often results when I wear 2 full shirts, so that I can look stylish without looking like I’ve gained 5 pounds.
I know that these fantastic finds will make it possible for me to enjoy the look of layered clothing all summer and to purchase clothing that I would otherwise never consider because of its lack of modesty. I truly love being able to shop in ‘regular’ stores while knowing that I can gently adjust my clothing to become more modest, without compromising on style. In fact, if you ask me, wearing my clothing layered just gives me even more of an opportunity to express myself!
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?
