We Compare the Modest Shirt Companies

By Melissa Lambert

Fashion can be a tricky thing when you are committed to modesty. When the fashion is low-rise jeans and shirts that are low-cut, short and sleeveless, it can be difficult to wear the clothes you want while maintaining the dress standards that are important to you.

In recent years, a number of companies that are sensitive to the modesty challenge have developed long, modest shirts. When you wear these shirts with other potentially-revealing clothes, they keep you covered up. You can wear them with low-rise jeans to keep your back from showing when you bend over or sit down, or with immodest shirts to keep you covered in all the essential places.

One of the best things about the long shirts is that they flatter every body type and every style. You can wear them alone if you’re comfortable, or under other clothing to create a streamlined look.

If you live in Utah, most of the area malls have kiosks where you can buy these modest shirts. In other states, it may be more difficult to find long shirts in stores, but luckily, several of the modest shirt companies offer the option of ordering shirts online.

Here is a quick comparison of three of the main companies that manufacture long shirts: Down East, Shade, and Undertease. Although all three companies sell similar types of products, they offer a big variety of selection and prices.

Down East Basics

Down East Basics has basic tees (long- and short-sleeved), camis and tank tops, skirts, gauchos, shrugs, and one basic black dress. They also have the basic tees available in maternity sizes. All their clothes are available in a variety of colors, a number of styles, and a few different patterns.

The short-sleeved shirts from Down East Basics start as low as $5 if you catch a sale. Keeping your eyes open for sales at Down East, you can find some great deals. For example, right now they are having a “white sale” where you can get three white shirts for $20. February specials include gaucho pants for $4.99 and skirts for $5.99.

Down East’s website, www.downeastbasics.com, offers a fashion guide, a tutorial on how to layer shirts, and a photo gallery with style ideas. The website also has a helpful sizing chart to help you find exactly the fit you want.

I’ve been a Down East Basics devotee for a couple of years now. I’ve worn them under everything, and I was impressed at their durability. I continued to wear the regular-sized Down East shirts well into my pregnancy, and they were lifesavers. They helped me wear my pre-pregnancy clothes longer because they covered my belly as it grew. (I always meant to try the maternity tops, but by the time I grew out of the regular-sized shirts, I had already given up on being stylish and was wearing my husband’s sweatshirts every day!)

Shade

Out of the three companies, Shade has the biggest variety of available products. They have tank tops, baby tees, cap sleeve tees, camisoles, thermal shirts, ribbed turtlenecks, swim tops, long sleeve tees, and more. They also offer a variety of colors and patterns. You can find seasonal patterns and styles as well. Shade even has a new collection of modest dresses called Basic Black available online! Their website is easy to navigate and features photos of all these different items.

The prices for Shade clothing run the gamut. You can pay as little as $5 for half sleeve t-shirts that are on sale, or as much as $300 for a formal dress. There is something for every pocketbook on Shade’s website, and for every style.

The website also features gift packs, where you get a few items together for less money overall. For example, the basic gift pack gets you three pieces for $33.

Shade’s website is www.shadeclothing.com. On the website, you can fill out a wish list and e-mail it to people. Every time you send your wishlist to three people, you are entered into a drawing to win all the items on your wishlist for free!

Undertease

The Undertease website features mostly the basic tees, in a wide variety of colors. You can get cap-sleeve, ¾-sleeve, or long-sleeve shirts in addition to camis and lace tops.

Undertease shirts are a bit more expensive than the other companies. A basic cap sleeve tee sells for $29, and a cami retails for $26. For a fancier black lace shirt, you’ll pay as much as $58.

One fun thing about Undertease is their sizing system. Rather than buying a small or a large, you can buy shirts in sizes like “cutie,” “sweetie,” and “sassy.” There are no plus sizes at Undertease—-just the “Va Va Voom” line, with the sizes “sensuous,” “voluptuous,” and “goddess.” Undertease also has an “O Baby” maternity line, with shirts in three different sizes for pregnant women.

The website for Undertease is www.undertease.com. One notable feature of the website is a well-done photo gallery that will give you many different ideas for how to wear the shirts.


No matter which company you choose, modest shirts are an easy way to make your wardrobe both fashionable and modest. Even if your clothing budget is small, you can find new ways to express yourself through your style by using a few simple pieces from companies like these.