22 December 2011

Wardrobe Essentials | post 03

Wardrobe essentials for the modest woman

So you want to be modest but you don't know where to start? All of the clothes you've ever owned were never modest and now all of a sudden you find you have nothing to wear.  That happened to me {Ashley} and I remember getting so frustrated trying to put outfits together because none of them were modest.  The surprising thing is that although you may own clothes that aren't modest individually, when paired or layered it can become a wonderful staple to your wardrobe....

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Tops

tops

In the photo above, are what I consider the nine essential tops {besides the tee shirt}.  These tops are very important to have, they make dressing modestly very versatile.  The first top is a classic button up blouse. Most of these blouses can be found with sleeves and since they have the buttons you can wear it opened {with another shirt under it}, or buttoned all the way up.

2. The second top is a halter top.  Halter tops usually tie behind the neck.  With these shirts make sure the collar comes up high enough.  They are great paired under a blazer or even the button up blouse.  

3. The third top is a vest.  While it may not be everyone's style, it's a nice element to layer over a dress shirt. 

4. The fourth comes in handy quite often, it's a bolero.  Boleros are fitted and cropped and are one of my favorite items to have because you can throw them over a spaghetti strapped dress or shirt.  They also make jackets in this style to wear during cooler months.  They are found in a variety of sleeve lengths that are very modest.

5. The fifth is a cropped shirt designed to wear under clothes that are immodest.  They can come in short or long sleeves.  

6. The sixth piece is a cardigan, or long sleeved shirt.  These are great to wear over dresses in the spring or if they're tight you can layer under a short sleeved shirt.  Cardigans are wonderful for looking 'put together' really fast, without being too dressed up.  Great for the park, mall, or going out to dinner. 

7. The seventh shirt is a spaghetti strap- or any type of strap.  Although they aren't modest, they are great to layer over a short or long sleeved shirt.  They are an easy way to dress up your outfit without wearing additional accessories.

8. The eighth is a draped waistcoat.  I like the one in the picture because you can wear a colorful long sleeved top under this neutral color.  Many times these are sold with long sleeves too and depending on the material can be very comfortable in the fall when you aren't ready to wear a jacket. 

9. The ninth and last shirt has a cowl neck design.  Many women who are pear shaped or rectangle shaped can use this style top to add volume and even out their proportions.  I especially like the style and again you can layer ones like in the picture above that are really low cut.  The alternative to this is a v necked collar, great for women who are apple or wedge shaped. 

These tops are a great staple to your wardrobe and you can buy the same style in different colors and patterns, to add variety to what you already have by mixing and matching. 

Bottoms






bottoms

Being a modest woman, it may seem like we don't have too many bottoms to choose from but from the picture above, you can easily see that's not true!

For skirts, there are many different styles to choose from (just make sure it isn't too tight).  There are above and below the knee lengths, knee length, calf length, and floor length.  You can even choose high waisted ones like the top right two.   You have the same length sizes available in shorts and pants.  The pants can be straight, boot or even flare styled.  Also you can wear jeggings or leggings under a longer sweater with tall boots (as long as you aren't trying to flaunt you assets).    All of your bottoms can be worn in different material depending on the season and you can add belts or boots to accessorize.  Choose the style you want depending on how casual you'd like to be or professional you need to be.  For example, the gauchos {second from the right, bottom} are very comfortable and I enjoy wearing them on a hot day.  On the other hand the gray dress pants are a more professional look.

Dresses

LBD, LRD

There are many dress designs that are modest but if you are going to buy a staple for your wardrobe I would highly recommend the 'little black dress' or 'little red dress'.  These dresses are timeless and will always be fashionable.  They are meant to be a statement dress worn with not too many accessories.  My favorite accessory with a LBD or LRD is my wedding ring.  There are different length sleeves, collars, or skirts to choose from and to personalize it to your style.  If you have a favorite dress that is spaghetti strapped or sleeveless, then use an under shirt or bolero jacket to make it modest.  I suggest buying one of each, or even buying a classic black & white (top two right) or mixture of red and black (bottom right).  If you own a black dress make sure it doesn't look to morbid, try dressing it up with a red or white belt or ribbon over the waist, vice versa, with a red dress.  You can even dress up the LBD with red pumps or red lips.

Swim






modest swim wear



The last piece of clothing that you'll need for your modest wardrobe essentials would be a swimsuit.  There are many different styles to choose from to fit your personality.  There is the sporty/ athletic one (top left) or even a more flamboyant one such as an animal print.  Patterns can help to camouflage areas that you may not want to have others see.  Many swim suits are made with ruching such as the bottom left one, to hide certain areas and show off others.  If you have a small bust opt for swimsuits that are padded or that can have silicone inserts.  If you are pear shaped choose one such as the bottom right, pink and if you are apple shaped then go for a style such as the middle light blue one.

I compiled this list of clothes so that you can start building your wardrobe, and see that when you learn what clothing staples to buy, modest style doesn't have to be frustrating.  With just a few shirts in different styles & colors, you can create many outfits.  Have fun shopping!


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