Load up your wardrobe with plenty of color this spring and summer- Choose from pleasing pastels, bold brights, and color-block sensations! We are lovin' the color!

More Asos…

By Rebecca Bratsman

Modesty Manifesto

No crocs, no denim skirts, and no sweats in public. These are just a few of the rules my sister and I made up for ourselves as teenagers.

Some other guidelines we still follow: pantyhose always makes you look like a lady, jewelry should be fun, and dark denim is always a good bet.

Thinking of myself as merely modest brings to mind large flower-printed floor length dresses with sensible flats and a boxy cream cardigan to accessorize. And that’s not really my style.

What I also don’t want to look like is a store-front window with all of my, ahem, goods up front for display.

And I don’t want to be mistaken for anyone in my mother’s generation (bless their hearts, but I don't).

Fashion Rules to Live By

Here’s where my fashion rules come into play. I have to decide:

• Do I look too casual? If I’m trying to buy some makeup at the store counter, will the salesclerk help me or will she dismiss me as someone not worth her time? It’s obvious if you only step into the high school hallway that casual is an epidemic. Are pajama bottoms and slippers really okay in the grocery store? 
• Does the tunic shirt really work with my body shape? Or can I really pull off leggings? Not every style makes me look slim and svelte. Some styles, no matter how much I love them, always make me look an instant 20 pounds heavier. That brings me to, 
• Do my clothes fit? If I want to gain a quick 10 pounds, I buy my clothes a size too small so that I look like I’m bursting out of them. But who wants to ever look heavier than they are? Not me. I buy clothes that fit and skim my body and don’t make me look like everything shrunk in the wash. 
• An undershirt (in white, black, or a complementary color) can solve almost every modesty shirt problem. But leggings don’t serve the same function when you wear them under shorts. 

Style Inspiration

I also like to keep a fashion icon in mind when I'm dressing. Some of the style classics are the always chic Audrey Hepburn or the classically beautiful Coco Chanel.

Personally, I prefer Julia Roberts for during the week style and Anne Hathaway’s look on Sunday. And when I say Julia Roberts, think Julia-Earth-Mother with earth colors, ethnic bags, and comfortable shoes. And not Julia as Erin Brokovich with crazy push-up bras under a tank top and a mini-skirt.

On Sunday, I love pulling out Anne Hathaway inspired polka-dotted blouses with pencil skirts and modest kitten heels. To me, she always looks like a wholesome girl, a little bit like a bowl full of polka dotted raisin oatmeal. And I like that look on the Sabbath.

Find a style icon that embodies the look you’re going for. No Hollywood starlet is going to be 100% modest is hottest, but you can find a good number of them who wear clothes that only need a little bit of tweaking to make appropriate for you.

When you’re on your quest for your modest style inspiration, ask yourself this question:

If your eyes gravitate to an actress’s legs or a model’s cleavage, then that girl is more interested in showcasing her goods than letting you see the real her. Remember that when you get dressed in the morning.

And for heaven’s sake, leave the crocs at home.

Rebecca Bratsman writes from the perpetually chilly Northwest where she wears sweaters into June, winter coats to watch the fireworks, and never, never goes to the beach in a bathing suit. Brrrrrr.

Swim season is fast approaching, but finding a modest swimsuit can sometimes be a challenge. Here are some great one-piece options we've found to keep you covered at the beach while looking your best!

More Gottex…

I love cropped cap sleeve tops and I recently got some from Halftee. They are so versatile! These tops are made to wear under your shirts to add sleeves and coverage to your outfit when you don't want the bulk of a full long-fitting shirt underneath. The shirt stops right under your bust. I love these because I can wear them with tank dresses to add sleeves without a shirt bunching around my waist. 

Half Tee has many different styles of these tops, including the longer sleeve "boyfriend" Half Tee shown above (I have one of those in black and it fits perfect!). They also have tanks, basic capsleeve ones and longer 3/4 sleeves (shown to the left). I got the basic capsleeve one in navy blue (it matches a cute sleeveless dress I have). They also sell sizes for little girls! They also have maternity! I know these would have been really helpful when I was shopping for maternity clothes. See the full line at http://www.halftee.com/

Plus here's a bonus from Jen Magazine: use the coupon code jenmag10% to get 10% off your Halftee order! -Jen

LOL this is so cute. Listen closely for "What's a videocassette, what's a VCR"? at 1:58. -Jen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvdFpF5EuTU

I'm so proud of Kylie Bisutti for choosing "the better part" in her career. It must have been a very difficult decision, but look at all the blessings she has gained and will gain by being a good example and sharing her Christian faith! The first video tells her story, and the second video is an interview with her. Enjoy! -Jen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyekIqJDxXU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CDKLrsUyco

Yay for a super chic trend that is MODEST! We are loving the lengths of the stylish Midi and Maxi skirt. They are feminine, easy-to-wear, and available in so many colors and fabrics- you won’t want to stop wearing them!

More Asos…

By Sarah Martin

I have often wondered to myself, while looking at a particularly trendy friend or at a fascinating stranger, how they ever managed to assemble their ensemble. I sometimes grow envious, not at the girl, but at her wallet which I conclude must be much more full than mine. I think to myself, over and over, that if only I had the money she does, I could be as pretty, as happy, as positively good-looking. But then I am brought to my senses, and I must smile at how ridiculous my thoughts must have sounded. 

I don’t know about you, but I am a poor college student, and before that, I was a poor high schooler. For years I was plagued with the idea that you have to have money in order to take part in any kind of fashion. I thought that department stores were the haven of the perfect blouse and the amazing handbag. Then, my world was changed when I was introduced to thrift stores. 

Why I Love Thrifting

The amazing thing about fashion today is that it’s so versatile. We are so lucky to live in a time when there are so many variations on what’s trendy. We can go hipster, we can go school girl, we can go Marilyn Monroe if we so choose. With the right hemlines and accessories, we can rock any decade that sparks our fancy, and our ability to create entirely new styles has never been more accepted. Even with the values of modesty that we hold dear, we can create looks for ourselves that are not only fabulous, but completely unique.

On a modest budget, a good thrift store can do amazing things for any fashionista. One girl’s trash becomes another girl’s treasure, as the saying goes, and it’s completely true. Some of my favorite pieces in my closet I found at one thrift store or another, and I just love being able to shock people when I tell them what I paid for my designer find. Though thrift stores can be a little overwhelming, it’s important to understand that not every thrift store is created equal. Hopefully I can help you start your thrift store hunt.

I remember walking into my first thrift store and feeling completely overwhelmed. I stared in amazement at the tables and cabinets simply teeming with anything and everything. I felt like I couldn’t touch anything, and stood still for fear that even breathing would knock something over. But then my curiosity won over. I began to pry under stacks of newspaper, and to move the boxes of old records. 

5 Tips for Your Thrift Store Experience

• Tip #1: Move things! Thrift stores are very rarely organized, and if they are, it is probably impossible to tell, so don’t be afraid to shift things around and dig a little. You are hoping to find a bargain, so don’t be surprised if you have to work at it. 
• Tip #2: Talk to the owner! or the workers there, whoever looks mildly amused by what they are doing. The owners of thrift stores are sometimes very interesting people. They may seem a bit outlandish, and I’ve known a few to smell faintly of cats and chicken soup, but don’t let that deter you. These people have probably spent years amassing the collection of objects in their crowded store, and very well may have some great stories and suggestions to go along with their treasures. I never would have found my favorite, authentic leather belt ($ 10!!) if I hadn’t asked the nice man behind the counter. And don’t be afraid to haggle! This can be a little scary at first, but you can do it! if you think something is overpriced, it probably is, so tell the salesman. Most of the time, they will lower the price for you. 
• Tip #3: Have a Goal! Its helpful whenever you are shopping to have something in mind to look for, maybe a color that you don’t have enough of, or a belt, maybe some gold earrings. If you have a question in mind, your more likely to find an answer. Be sure though, that you keep your mind open to other things though while you search. I find that I usually stumble upon my best finds while looking for something else. 
• Tip  #4: Fix it! Often times, I have to make minimal changes to what I buy after I bring in home. I’ll cut the shoulder pads out of a shirt or take some nail-polish remover to a bag to get the smudges off. If I had to make changes to something new, I probably wouldn’t buy it, but remember, you are not buying something new. The beauty of an object is in the eye of the beholder, and that is so true with thrifting. I bought this white pencil skirt once, and the girls I brought with me looked a bit concerned. They saw the rust stains of the previous hanger and the pen marks by the hem, but I saw a missing puzzle piece to my wardrobe. I took some Tide-Pen to it, threw it in the wash, and now I can’t wear it without getting compliments. Best three-dollar investment I have ever made. When you buy it, it’s yours! You have the power to change it, to cut it, to synch it, to dye it even. My favorite part of thrift-store shopping is the amount of creativity it allows you to have on your limited budget, so don’t be afraid to make your purchase yours. 
• Tip #5: Keep Trying! Like I said, all thrift stores are definitely not created equal. Sometimes a store that may look promising is a total flop. Sometimes it’s just not your day. Sometimes you may have the wrong group of friends with you who are just not very interested in some heavy searching. Whatever the reason for your bad thrifting experience, please don’t give up. For every sad little store, there are dozens of amazing shops that will seem as though set up specifically for you, so give thrifting a few more tries. 

Happy Hunting!

Well, ladies, I hope this helped. I know that thrift stores truly inspire me to be more creative, more involved in what I wear, and help me to have so much fun with fashion. Go out and find your local thrift stores and start searching, you will be amazed at what you can find on a limited budget. Good luck hunting!

Sarah Martin is a student at Brigham Young University and is pursuing a major in print journalism. She loves fashion and aspires to work on a fashion magazine that expresses the values of modesty she has come to revere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtzIcz7MOkc