by Kosher Casual Team | Sep 18, 2024 | cropped tops, Layering shirts, Layering Tops, modest clothing, Modest Clothing Accessories, Modest Fashion, tank top, Uncategorized
Practical and Creative Modesty Solutions!
Finding creative solutions for modesty can be a bit of a challenge. These key items extend the usability of your wardrobe across different seasons and occasions. Wearing modest clothing can help women feel more comfortable, confident and secure.
NECK
- Mock Neck and Turtlenecks: These tops provide full coverage and can be paired with various outfits.
- High-Neck Blouses: Elegant blouses with high necklines can be both stylish and modest.
- Dickies or detachable shirtfront or a small fabric insert worn to fill in the neckline. A dickey is a way to add versatility to a look, without adding bulk.
- Statement Necklaces: Layered necklaces can cover the collar bone a while adding a stylish touch.
CLEAVAGE
- Mock Tee-shirt collars or Sleeveless Crop Tops. Mock collars and sleeveless crops can give a polished and professional look without being too formal. They provide a layering without bulk.
- Camisoles or Tank Tops: Wear a camisole or tank top underneath your low-cut top. Choose opaque fabrics and higher necklines for fuller coverage.
- Scarves: Lightweight scarves can be draped or tied around the neck to cover the cleavage. Scarves not only cover cleavage, there a great way to add a pop of color and a bit of drama.
ARMS
- Three Quarter sleeve Layering Cropped Tops: Layering a cropped top over a longer top can provide coverage while adding a trendy element to the outfit.
- Detachable Sleeves: Sleeves that can be attached to sleeveless tops or dresses as needed.
- Boleros or Shrugs: Short jackets that cover the arms and can be worn over sleeveless dresses and tops. Covering the arms offers protection from the sun and can add depth and interest to an outfit.
TUMMY
- Bodysuits: A bodysuit with a modest neckline can provide full tummy coverage under skirts pants or sleeveless dresses. Bodysuits don’t “ride up” and provide a smooth or seamless finish.
- Peeking Underneath: Let a tube top or hippie peek out from underneath a cropped sweater or top, paired with a high-waisted skirt. This adds an extra layer of modesty and interest to your outfit.
- Layering Shell Top Layering tops can help make sheer or cropped garments suitable for more conservative gatherings or professional settings.
LEGS:
- Layering Dresses: You can pair shorter dresses with a longer layering dress underneath. Love that sleeveless tunic you saw online? Pair it with a layering dress for a modest complete outfit.
- Capri or Leggings: Wear leggings or tights under skirts and dresses for added coverage. Choose opaque, patterned, or textured styles to add interest.
- Layering Slips: These innovative slips can be found online and are essentially a fabric layer attached to the bottom of a regular slip.
Choosing modest clothing with these tips in mind can help enhance your natural shape and create a balanced, polished appearance. By incorporating these creative solutions into your wardrobe, you can achieve the desired coverage while maintaining a stylish and personalized look.
by Kosher Casual Team | Feb 5, 2024 | modest clothing, Pencil Skirts, Tunic Tops
Adding pops of color to modest clothing can be a delightful way to express your personal style while maintaining coverage. Here are some suggestions for infusing vibrant hues into your modest wardrobe:
Bright Accessories:
Use accessories like colorful belts, exotic print scarves, or statement jewelry to introduce shiny metals and vibrant jewel tones to glam up your outfits. Wear a cuff bracelet or a set of stacked bracelets on one wrist. Even small accessories can add a touch of glamour without being overwhelming.
Contrast Colors Outfits:
Create visually interesting outfits by color-blocking with opposing colors on the color wheel. Pair yellow with navy, coral with turquoise, green and reds, etc., pairing them together for a modern and modest look.
Combine Pattern and Textures
If you’re comfortable with it, mix subtle patterns and textures in the same color shades and hues. For example, pair a ribbed baby blue top with a navy plaid skirt, consequently the colors will complement each other.
Layered Color:
Experiment with layering different colored pieces. For example, you can layer a colorful long-sleeved cardigan over a crisp white shirt or neutral blouse. Pair neutral-colored clothing items with one or two vibrant pieces. Generally feel free to experiment with different color combinations to discover what resonates with your personal style.
Print Blouses or Tunics
Buy three quarter tops or tunics in bold print patterns that can be paired with skirts or trousers for a chic and colorful look. Choose trendy animal, tie dye or ethnic prints for a modest and lively look.
Embellished Footwear
Choose flats, heels or boots with embellishments, such as studs, embroidery, or metallic details, to add a dash of style to your footwear. However avoid bright colors as these may overpower the rest of your outfit.
Colored Hats or Headscarves
If you cover your hair, choose bright colors in various shades to add a pop of color to your outfit. Adding color can add an element of fun or in a formal setting an elegant stylish accessory. Coordinating colors with one item in your outfit provides a nice intentional and cohesive appearance.
Remember that personal style is subjective, and these suggestions are just a starting point. Feel free to mix and match these ideas based on your preferences and the occasion. The key is to add elements that make you feel especially confident and express your unique style while maintaining modesty.
by Kosher Casual Team | Apr 5, 2017 | Dress, Fashion Philosophy, Modest
When it comes to discussing the topic of modesty in clothing, whose responsibility is it? Is it all on the girls and women, because they are the ones that lead men towards temptation? Many would say that there is absolutely no justification for the way men think towards women, however, we will say that the responsibility is split between absolutely everyone.
In many ways, this ties in with ‘it takes a whole village to raise one child.’ Similarly, it is up to young girls and her guardians to discuss the values of modesty. It is also up to the guardians of young boys to discuss the values of respect. However, this discussion mustn’t start and end at home. The real world is outside of home. It is just as important for discussions of this nature to take place in larger community venues, especially religious establishments.
There is one thing that typically stops conversations of this nature from starting in religious institutions, and that is fear. Leaders oftentimes find themselves conflicted and afraid of potentially offending anyone who might be in attendance. Why? Because then the person might feel uncomfortable to return to the establishment. It’s a difficult topic to address, because the definition of modesty varies between one and all. How can they answer just how fashionable is too fashionable, or how attractive is too attractive?
Modesty is a community effort. Males and females alike need to gently let one another know of their thoughts on the types of garments that send off the wrong kind of message in their area. Young girls need to be taught to treat their bodies as temples, and that their true beauty will only come from their inner character- not the way they ornament themselves.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Let us know in the comments below!
by Kosher Casual Team | Mar 17, 2017 | Dress Code, Fashion Philosophy, Modest, Modest Clothing Accessories
Ladies and gentlemen- modesty goes both ways. It is not just for the ladies. We’ve previously written about universal rules of modesty for women. That got us thinking- what about men? Are there general, universal rules to modesty (in terms of appearance) for men? The answer is YES!
Granted, it’s all relative. Interpretations of what is considered to be modest varies between different cultures, religions, and of course individuals. As we did our reading, we came across lots of parallels between different religious sects in terms of how men are expected to upkeep their appearance. And of course, we decided to share them with you!
The rules of modesty for men narrow down to two categories: physical appearance, and clothing/behavior. Yes, clothing is paired with behavior, because as we’ve previously written, there is a direct correlation between the two.
Physical Appearance
Men are generally expected to keep their hair short. Although the accepted length varies between religions and cultures, they’re generally expected to keep the hair on their head shorter than women. The modern trends of men shaving themselves smooth for the sake of vanity is generally frowned upon. In most instances, it’s a different story if it’s solely for hygienic reasons around particular parts of the body. It’s generally acceptable for men to maintain a smooth face, or keep facial hair- but the bottom line is whichever route they choose, they have to keep themselves nicely groomed.
Men are also expected to look after their health and fitness across the board. But how much is too much? Well, it’s okay for a man to exercise to be fit and gain some muscle. However, reactions get mixed when a man goes after obtaining an excessively muscular appearance- because again- that taps into vanity.
Things get interesting when it comes to jewelry and other accessories. There are mixed opinions on men wearing earrings and/or excessive jewelry such as gold chains. In most cases, it’s okay for a married man to wear a wedding band, and there are also cases where it would only be okay if the material isn’t made out of gold, because gold is considered too flashy. It is unanimously accepted for men to wear watches, but only if it isn’t heavily adorned. The same applies with religious symbols- he can wear it, just as long as the piece itself is very subtle.
Clothing and Behavior
Because men, in most cultures, play a more authoritative role in society, it is generally expected that they dress modestly to be taken seriously. You just wouldn’t expect an authoritative person to approach their role in clothing that is tight, revealing, or flashy. Elder men are expected to inspire and set an example of modesty for younger men, as well as women and children. This assists in encouragement of modest behavior as well.
Men are expected to speak and act in ways that clearly demonstrate righteousness. Yes, popular culture does make that difficult for younger men of today, which makes it that much more important for those that are close to them to motivate them to get on, and stay on the modest track.
Are their some other general rules of modesty for men that you know of? Let us know in the comments below!
by Kosher Casual Team | Feb 21, 2017 | Dress, Dress Code, Fashion Philosophy, Kosher Casual, Modest Fashion, Tops
That’s right, you read the title correctly. Women all over the world are indeed covering up to stay cool. Well, ‘cool’ in the sense of being trendy. There is a growing movement of modesty taking place worldwide, as revealing styles are taking a backseat to the more conservative and classy looks. Modest style is making waves as women seek fashionable ways to cover up while remaining chic. It was a very long wait for religious women, to easily be able to access the clothes that are needed, while still being able to express their individuality without breaking the bank.
The general outlook when it comes to the latest trend of modest looks is that you can definitely look impressive without revealing yourself. There are lots of modest fashions to fit any style and definition of modesty- from the fun, to bright, to flirty, to glamour and glitzy looks. Modest pieces are quickly becoming closet staples. From long skirts, to tunic tops, to longer dresses, and more. Many believe that this is due to the increase of interest in vintage looks, which are slowly coming back and making their mark.
Designers in high fashion have taken notice, and are designing their latest pieces accordingly. They aren’t necessarily catering to religious women. They are more so catering to women that are covering up, layering up, and dressing up for themselves and other women. Here’s a look at some of their latest designs, straight out of the runway:
Now that it is cool again- the modest look is here to stay. People are realizing the benefits of dressing modestly, because just as provocative clothing has a way on conveying a message- so does modest clothing. There is a much greater element of control for women who choose to dress modestly, both in the literal, and figurative sense. We are big believers in moderation, which is why we often say that dressing modestly doesn’t have to mean dressing frumpy. There are tons of great modest looks out there, ready to be rocked. The best part of all is that modest looks leave lots of room for accessorizing. You can pair most anything with awesome shoes, purses, hats, scarves, and more to take your entire ensemble to the next level.
What are some of your favorite modest fashion pairings? Let us know in the comments below!
