Clothes Shopping Tips for the Recession

By Kiera Clark

Is the state of the economy cramping your style? If so then check out these recession-busting clothes shopping tips!

I am the ultimate bargain shopper when it comes to clothes. Half the fun for me is finding an amazing steal. Some people spend away their money so quickly on a few clothing pieces. This article will hopefully give advice on stretching the buck to accommodate a whole wardrobe. The key is knowing when the best times to go hunting for a bargain are.

Watch for end of season sales. End of season sales can give you amazing deals. The only drawback is they might not fit the coming season's weather. If this occurs all you have to do is incorporate the item into your wardrobe. For example: end of winter you will find lots of long sleeves for dirt cheap. Well Spring is the next season not summer, which means more rain and the occasional freak snowstorm. Also in the evening it will be nice to have some long sleeve shirts or sweaters to throw over a T-shirt. Just be intuitive while you're shopping the racks and think creatively. This will ensure a money-saving and more unique wardrobe.

Take advantage of the bad economy. Due to our shrinking economy many stores are offering great promotions and huge sales, in order to make ends meet. Though the economy going down is definitely a drawback, the sales can be used to the advantage of shoppers. Check out your local malls and see what kind of deals are being offered. You might be able to snag some "just in" clothing items for the price of last season's!

Shop with a thrifty eye. Be on the lookout for a great sale and check out the markdowns. The first thing I do when I enter a clothing store is peruse the clearance racks. I almost always can find something I like (or even love) for great prices. Don't just buy the item because it is on sale, but make sure you will wear it first. You won't be saving money in the long run if you're buying a clothing item that you will only wear once. Be smart and don't go over your budget.

Overall you don't have to spend a fortune to dress stylishly. Check online and in ads for coupons to save even more. Remember you don't always need the "it" brand. You can usually get almost the same item for half the money from other, less common retailers. If you follow these steps you will be shocked to see how much money you end up saving.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Kiera Clark lives in Alaska. She enjoys playing soccer, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

Modest Petite Fashion Guide - Spring/Summer 2009

By Traci Wennerholm

Here's how Petites can wear what's hot off the runway this Spring and Summer.

Finding modest spring and summer fashions can be difficult. Finding modest petite fashions during the spring and summer can be even harder. Many retailers have opted to stop carrying petite lines, or only carry petite lines for order over the internet. This season carries some of the hottest blends of bold black and whites, metallics, and deep sea colors filled with beautiful aqua and turquoise hues. And as you've pored over fashion magazines, perhaps you've grown a little frustrated thinking some of these fashions are cute, but couldn't be worn on you.

Not true!

This guide will go over some of the spring and summer trends, teach you how to incorporate them into your look, and show you where to go to find them.

Black and White
Black and white came back again this year. So keep that cute black and white shirt you bought last summer and use it again this year. However, while florals took over the runway last year, most of the black and white styles seen this year were patterns, and black and white bold combinations. But if you bought floral last year, keep it around. It will still work and will look great another year. On your petite frame, you'll need to consider your shape when picking the perfect black and white color combination:

• If you consider yourself a rectangular shape, create the illusion of a smaller waistline by wearing a black belt. Or choose an outfit with a black band that fits just below your bust line.
  
• If you consider yourself more triangular (smaller on top with wider hips and thighs) wear a black skirt, pants, or bottom with a white shirt or blouse. This will slim down your bottom half and draw more attention to your top half.
  
• If you consider yourself top heavy with smaller hips and thighs, consider going with the opposite. You will want a black shirt or black and white combination shirt with white pants. This will even out your body proportion and give you the appearance of a more even shape.

Neutral Tones
Another combination you'll be seeing a lot of this spring and summer are neutral tones. While some cringe, others cheer the arrival of neutral toned clothing themes. Cream and sand colors are especially popular. If you are petite, wearing these colors can sometimes present a bit of a challenge. If you choose to wear these colors, follow the same dressing guidelines that you would for the black and white combinations. Wear cream colored pants and a darker brown top, or vice versa. Or wear a light or white blouse with dark brown trouser or linen pants.

Beach Inspired Colors
Another popular look on the runway was the arrival of beach inspired colors. Turquoise, aqua, and marine hued tones were seen everywhere. Most of these hues were seen on chiffon or jersey fabrics and inspired flowing looks. If you're petite, oftentimes wearing a flowing chiffon dress probably isn't the most flattering. Instead, dress it up and give definition to your shorter frame by adding a belt over the dress or tunic style shirt.

Yellows and Metallics
Yellows and metallics are also coming back for a second year. While fun, elegant, and flirty colors, those who are petite can easily over do these trends. When wearing yellow, shy away from wearing a lot of yellow. A yellow bathing suit, shirt, or skirt may be too much. Instead, stick with a yellow pair of shoes, a handbag, or a bracelet. A small amount of yellow will draw attention away from your smaller frame.

Metallics should also be worn much in the same way as yellows. Metallics can look overwhelming on a petite frame. So it's also suggested that petite frames stick to shoes or a handbag when wearing this style. Golds and silver metallics tend to be the most popular metallics to wear, but different metallic hues are popping up.

Now that you've learned how to wear the runway looks on your smaller frame, where can you go to buy these looks? And most especially, where can you go to buy these looks in petite sizes?

Kohl's
One place to look is Kohl's. They offer a large selection of petite styles. They now offer the Vera Wang Petite collection. Her style adds a romantic charm to many of today's popular looks and is also affordable and stylish. Check out the stylish black pleated top by Apt. 9 for petites. This flowing pleated top is only $17, and looks great when paired with white pants, a skirt, or sand colored khaki pants.

ModBe
If you're shopping for a bathing suit, look at places like ModBe. They offer great online bathing suit shopping guides as well as suggestions for what suits will fit your shape and size best. The '09 swim guide will be out shortly, but if you're heading out for spring break and are starting to look for a suit make sure you take along these handy tips from ModBe designers. Consider v-neck tops, hip length tops, above the knee hemlines, halter swim tops, and brief cut bottoms. Finding a suit with fabric that is cinched together in the middle is also flattering on a petite top. It gives your top side a fuller look and draws attention away from your bottom area. One look that was popular with many petites last year was the Gold Halter. It mixed contrasting light and dark neutral colors in a flattering petite fit.

JC Penney
If you want a good selection of tops, pants, and dresses consider JC Penney. JC Penney has revamped their styles to include a lot of looks that appeal to the tastes of younger generations. Consider the black and khaki dress with cute tie for spring. It easily slims the waistline and draws attention away from wider hips and thighs while incorporating the modern style and look of black and white contrasting color combinations.

If you are petite I hope this guide helped you to find modest, fashionable clothing that fits your smaller frame.

Time to Clean Out Your Closet?

By Sarah Rance
Is your wardrobe stuffed with items you never wear? Well it’s that time of year to clean out your closet!

First things first. Get two bags:

1. one for toss
2. the other for consignment or donation

Shoes
I love shoes. I have over thirty pairs. But some times it’s good to let go of the shoes you know you won’t wear.

• Have a cute pair of shoes but they are just too small and you never had the strength to toss them? It’s time to cut the umbilical cord. Toss or donate.
• Your awesome pair of Nike tennis shoes but the sole is falling apart. Toss.
  
• A pair of flip-flops but one of their straps is broken. It’s time to toss those.
  
• Any shoes you KNOW you’d never wear but just never took the time to get rid of them or felt bad for throwing them away. Toss or donate (I’m giving you permission).

Tops
Possessing a lot of tops isn’t a bad thing. But let’s say you don’t wear half of them. How much space are you using with those unnoticed items? Also, you could donate them to people who actually WOULD wear them or take them to a consignment store and earn credits or even money.

• Cute, comfortable, and all the rest but there’s a stain. Unless you can cover it up in a non-awkward way, toss it.
• You LOVE this shirt but it’s too short. Sometimes you can layer those shirts, but other times, it looks like you’re trying to hold onto a childhood shirt and it can look awkward. Toss or donate.
• Have had the shirt for years but never have worn it and it just sits unnoticed in your closet. Toss or donate.
• Everything is fine except the armpit-mark. You don’t want to walk around knowing that you can’t lift up your arms because you have a noticeable and embarrassing stain under your arm. You’ll feel uncomfortable and stiff. It’s time to toss that shirt.
• The shirt is too small and you tell yourself you’ll lose weight THEN you can wear it. You should probably let it go. It isn’t worth having. Toss or donate.
• Long sleeved but doesn’t reach all the way to your wrist. You can roll them up to make the quartered sleeved shirt. Otherwise toss or donate. Same goes for jackets and sweaters and pullovers.
• If the shirt has a un-repairable rip, button missing and you don’t have the extra, or it's just old and out of style. Toss or donate.
  
• When shirts have rips near the bust it looks awkward. Those just toss!

Bottoms
Jeans are probably the hardest clothing to shop for. Different sizes vary in a large mass. 7’s feel like 5’s where 9’s feel like 11’s. A good way to find jeans is to first figure out your size comparing to that certain store. Personally, I shop at Target for jeans because I KNOW my size there. But if I go to Wal-Mart, for an example, I might be a completely different size according to their products. Find your size according to the store.

• If you can’t pull the jeans above your thighs, that’s the sign they are too small. Or if they’re skin tight and hard to move around in and aren’t comfortable. Toss or donate.
• Ripped where skin shouldn’t be exposed. TOSS!
• Just the cutest pants in the world. But they stop at your ankles. Either you can roll them up or trim into Capri’s, or make into Bermudas. But otherwise toss or donate. (Please don’t wear high waters!)
• Short shorts? Toss or donate.
• The skirt is just too short. Or the skirt is supposed to be long but stops at your ankles. (Again, don’t keep things that may look like you’re still holding onto your childhood clothes.) Toss or donate.
• Never wear the skirt? Toss or donate.
• Have a “busy” skirt and never can find anything to go along with it? Toss or donate (don’t let those items crowd your space).
• If the skirt is tight around the hips and when you bend over you expose too much skin, those you don’t want. Toss or donate.

Dresses
Usually girls like to keep dresses from the past and such, which isn’t a bad thing. But sometimes those things just need to be let go of. Maybe some other girl can enjoy a new dress that you grew out of. Who knows.

• Too short? Toss or donate.
• If you have a hard time putting it on because it’s so tight, that’s a good sign of "good riddance". Toss or donate.
• Zipper broke? Button missing? Ripped? Unless they can be repaired, time to say bye-bye. Toss or donate.

Feminine Articles
What I hate the most about digging through my drawer to find a pair of socks is all the stuff I CAN find. I have found some things that I never knew I had and things I can’t believe I still had! Time to clean out the ol’ sock drawer.

• Holes in the sock? Simply toss.
• Missing the other pair of sock. Toss (don’t donate just a sock).
• Never wear the pair of socks? Toss or donate.
• An out-grown bra you’ve forgotten about. Toss or donate. (I’d suggest to just toss.)
• Holes in your underwear? Eww. Time to get rid of those and get new ones!
• Then whatever else you can find and KNOW you’d never use, toss or donate.

Soon, you’ll be looking at a closet with lots of extra room. Also you can find items you DO need. Remember, don’t hold onto things with a tight grip but with an open palm. Don’t be afraid to let go. You never know who will enjoy your donated items.

I give all my old clothes to younger girls in my church and find pleasure looking at them in MY clothes! It’s such an awesome feeling to know those girls found pleasure in what I found pleasure in. It gives my heart a warm feeling.

Sarah Rance has lived most of her life in a rainy town in Washington. She enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and loves Cuties and strawberries. Sarah has a big family and loves spending time with them. She is also in the process of writing a movie and hoping to get it filmed in the summer.

Individuality is "In" this Spring

By Sheralyn Pratt
If you’re poking around for the latest trends, you’ll discover something quite unusual.

Right now most of the “in” looks were created not by designers, but by people just wearing what feels right to them. And the current media fashion darling who graces the Spring 2009 Spring fashion issue of Vogue would be none other than our First Lady, Michelle Obama.

So in addition to individuality, modesty is in because Michelle Obama likes to dress modestly.

Following her cue, I will bet that fashion magazines will shoot for classy and elegant this year. Knee-length skirts, floor-length formals and narrow-heeled shoes will be all the rage.

Why? Because that’s what Michelle Obama feels comfortable in and, like Jackie Kennedy before her, she makes her style look good enough to shape the fashion industry as a whole.

But unless you’re a woman in your 40’s, you don’t want to copy the First Lady’s style outright. Michelle Obama is her own individual, and so should you be!

A quick look around shows cases of individual style triumphing everywhere. Whitney Port wore her own crocheted flower head wrap on the reality TV show “The City” and suddenly everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon, including the cast of Gossip Girl. Suddenly it’s cool to crochet!

Beyonce’s titanium robot glove is probably not going to catch on any time soon, but it is still her concept and design, and I can promise she doesn’t care whether you like it or not.

As much as the experts and magazines want you to defer your fashion choices to them, this year is the year to dig deep down within yourself and find the look that fits you so well that others walking by will want to copy it.

There are a few ground rules, however:
Frumpy, grunge and ill-fitting are definitely not in. As a rule those things are never in and make even billionaires look like they’re homeless, but this next year, with the First Lady as our spring mentor, what you can look forward to being in is:

• Modesty— no plunging necklines or hiked up skirts
• Strength— Spring Vogue cover shows a fully-covered Michelle, baring only her solid deltoids
• Tailored— complimenting fabrics of varying textures

Accenting Michelle Obama’s classy, third-wave feminist fashion canvas is the national recession we find ourselves in. This means happy colors are in. Blacks, browns and muted hues are not the way to go. People are looking for sunshine and happy news, so happy colors are going to be the rage. (Look at Glamour Magazine's Top 10 Best Dresses at the 2009 Golden Globes. Happy colors, all! And notice the lengths of the dresses.)

Also, the economy means that homemade/recycled looks are going to have new charm—like Whitney Port’s crocheted head wrap.

Modest, happy and handmade are in! So consult your inner fashion diva, because this is the season for you to start a trend!

Sheralyn is an author who lives in Park City, Utah where she freelance writes between writing novels. She is currently working on her 5th novel.

Of course it's fun! It's a girl thing.

By Megan Walter
Okay-so we dress modest. We look for affordable prices. If you're anything like me, you can't find affordable, pretty, and modest clothes!

Here are a few things I've learned over the years:

• Look for sales! At malls, Burlington, Marshalls (my particular fav), and anywhere else there might be something with long sleeves and long skirts.
• Thrift shops! I've found a few nice things myself. And they are so cheap!
• Online! There are two online shops that have a few cute tops and bottoms: dELiA*s, and Alloy. Check back often, and wait for sales. I love the t-shirts they have!
• Make your own! Ok, so that doesn't sound very exciting, but, hey! It can be fun if you want! I mean, you can make it any size, any color, and with the help of a sewing machine, it's a snap. And that doesn't rule out knitting, crochet, etc. (I made my own poncho once!)

Where there's a will, there's possibility. If you're anything like I was, you probably get embarrassed about dressing modestly from time to time. Here's a little something for you: There was this teenage girl that was going to the grocery store. She was wearing a long black and white polka-dot skirt that touched her toes and a simple red turtleneck. At the checkout counter, some lady wouldn't stop staring at her. Just as she was leaving, the lady said “Hey wait! I wanted to tell you how pretty you're dressed! My daughter absolutely refuses to wear anything other then jeans, mini skirts and tube tops. I just wanted to tell you that you must be a wonderful person. Keep it up. And you're so pretty, by the way!” (True story.) She thought that the girl was a beautiful person because of the way she dressed! Now, isn't wearing modest clothes worth it? And looking for affordable prices too?



Megan Walter is a teenager in Virginia. Homeschooled, she enjoys writing, reading and havin' lots of fun.

The Perfect (or at least improved) Pool Party Experience

By Jenna Kim Jones

Swimsuit options, cover up ideas, the pros and cons of waterproof makeup, what to do with wet hair, and party tips for the perfect pool party.

It’s officially summer and with summer comes the highly anticipated and often times mortifying pool party experience. I expressed my distaste for this unfortunate season in the following poem:


What to Wear to a Pool Party

Grandma says,
wear a one piece with
a reasonably high neckline
but throw on an oversized
t-shirt and shorts to the knee
after lathering up
with 45 SPF sunscreen.

Elle says,
three triangle shaped
patches of fabric,
a couple pieces of string,
maybe some glue,
grapefruits and water,
6,000 lunges, and you and the pool boy
might score more than
a few points in water volleyball.

European Elle says,
Swimsuit? What’s the point?

I say,
I think I’ll skip the pool this summer.

Ok, so truth be told, I LOVE the pool and I DON’T want to skip out on a pool party just because I’m embarrassed about wearing a swimsuit. But at the same time, where is the happy medium, especially in terms of modesty, when it comes to dressing for a pool party? How can a young woman feel comfortable and dress modestly at the pool? After a little research, I’ve come up with some swimsuit options, cover up ideas, the pros and cons of waterproof makeup, what to do with wet hair, and a few party tips for the perfect or at least improved pool party experience.

Swimsuits

Swimsuits are an investment and often a pricey investment. Usually one or two suits are all our wardrobes allow because they can be expensive and because it’s hard to find a suit that works with your body type. The first two things I suggest when looking for a swimsuit are:

1. Be willing to look anywhere and everywhere, including the Internet. There are a lot of options online. If you are too young to shop online and you don’t have a credit card, perhaps explain to your parents that you are looking for an affordable modest swimsuit and maybe they will be more excited to help you in your quest.

2. Be willing to take chances. You never know where your search may take you. I have a one-piece Speedo swimsuit from Costco that I LOVE and it was only $19.99.

With that in mind, what makes a modest swimsuit? Well that’s up to the wearer. In my opinion, I can tell you what a modest swimsuit isn’t. It isn’t a bikini. Dressing at the pool is obviously completely different than dressing in everyday attire so the rules of modesty are slightly redefined. Sometimes it is easy to justify wearing immodest swimwear, because one-piece swimsuits and modest tankinis are hard to find. It’s true that there are not as many options in the mainstream fashion world when it comes to one-piece swimsuits but it is possible to find at least one that you might like.

Target has a great selection of swimsuits in stores and online at www.target.com. There are actually more options online but again if you don’t have that resource, the store is also a good place to look. On their website they have dozens of one-piece options and right now most of them are $29.99 or less.

Gap has a small but incredibly fashionable selection of one-piece swimsuits all on sale right now at www.gap.com. They have two or three animal print one-piece halter swimsuits that are feminine and flattering. A halter one-piece is an attractive look for a young woman because it highlights your collarbones and makes your shoulders appear less broad. Also, the patterns and prints are a fresh take on the standard solid swimsuit. Look for swimwear under GapBody.

www.diviinemodestee.com is a GREAT website for modest and affordable swimwear. They have an amazing selection and if that isn’t enough, you can design your own perfect swimsuit. Use the promo code "jenswim2008" to get 10% off your swimwear purchase.

Remember, be willing to look and take chances. Try on different styles. Take a look at your body and decide what would be the most flattering fit for you. Also, most swimsuits run small so don’t be discouraged if you wear a size bigger in your suit. Don’t squeeze yourself into a swimsuit because once it is wet, it will hug every curve. Lastly, take extra care of your swimsuit by washing it out afterwards and hanging it to dry. The chlorine can eat away at your swimsuit after a while leaving it sheer and misshapen. Swimsuits are an investment and should last the whole season.

With all this in mind, swimsuits shouldn’t scare you away from the pool this summer.

Swimsuit Cover-Ups

I generally wear swim shorts with my swimsuits but that is just a personal preference. Swim shorts are easy to find these days. Roxy, Target, Kmart, Wal-Mart, Gap, American Eagle, almost every store carries one or two styles of shorts that look great over almost any swimsuit.

Here are a couple ideas of what to wear over your swimsuit. Light and colorful dresses are a great way to stay covered when you aren’t in the water. Yellow is very in this season and makes you look especially summery. Since long shirt-dresses and tights are the rage for young women these days, why not take a long shirt-dress and wear is over your swimsuit, minus the tights. Another swimsuit cover up option is to take an oversized button up collar shirt, maybe one of your dad’s or your brother’s and throw it on over a swimsuit. (Make sure he doesn’t want it anymore.) Just button one or two of the buttons and roll the sleeves up a bit and you have an original swimsuit cover-up that is totally stylish.

Waterproof Makeup and Wet Hair

At a pool party, it’s hard to decide whether or not you should wear makeup. Waterproof makeup is always an option. Almost every brand of makeup carries waterproof mascara, foundation, eye shadow, blush, and even lip-gloss. Water resistant doesn’t mean waterproof so if you have makeup that is water resistant, it may still run in the pool. If you really want to wear waterproof mascara or any other form of waterproof makeup in the pool, you also need to be willing to purchase make up remover. Clinique has two different makeup removers, one specifically for eyes and one for all kinds of makeup. They are called, “Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes, and Lips,” and “Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent.” (They run at about $16.50 and $14.50 a bottle.)

It’s important to buy this product or some product like it otherwise your makeup won’t ever fully come off. Your eye lashes will become dry and are more likely to fall out and your pores will become clogged and create zits and other skin irritations.

After you are finished swimming and your hair is all wet, make sure you have a comb, not a brush, and some kind of clip, not an elastic. And if you can, rinse your hair out. Brushes have a tendency to break off the ends or your hair when it’s wet. Elastics can rip out your wet hair and also cause further tangling. If your hair is dyed or very blonde, it’s also important to rinse off the chlorine as soon as possible as it could affect your color or leave your hair with a slight tint of green.

I personally don’t wear any makeup when I go to the pool except maybe some lip-gloss and really most girls don’t even need that. The natural look is a beautiful look, especially when you are wearing a cute swimsuit and cover up!

Pool Party Snacks

What’s a pool party without snacks? I know what you are thinking. You shouldn’t eat and swim right away but I figure that everybody knows that rule and will take precaution before they eat and swim.

If you want to feel like a kid again, here is a stress-free and fun poolside snack menu:

• Bite size PB & J Sandwiches-This couldn’t be simpler. Just use your favorite bread, peanut butter and jam to make the sandwich. Then cut them into small triangles or little squares.


• Carrot sticks—If you really want to make this feel like the good ol’ days, don’t just buy the mini carrots in the store. Buy the actual carrot and peel and cut it into sticks.


• Grapes—Buy a big bunch of grapes and cut it into individual sized bunches. People will love the option of fruit.


• Baked Lays—These are a nice alternative to regular potato chips because they are quite a big healthier. They come in all kinds of flavors and won’t leave grease marks on your bathing suit.


• Otter pops—What is summer without otter pops? If you have a small cooler, fill it with ice and frozen otter pops for everyone to enjoy.


• Rice Krispie Treats—A perfect dessert because they aren’t too heavy but satisfy any sweet craving. The recipe is located on every box of Rice Krispies.

Now that you know what to wear and what to eat, it’s time for you to throw your own pool party. If you don’t have a pool and you know of a neighborhood pool you can use, check their regulations and see if you can have a party there. If you don’t have access to a pool, pull out the old slip and slide, a couple of water balloons, and throw the party at a park or in your own backyard!

Be confident in whatever you are wearing. With your modest swimsuit and cover up, you won’t have to skip out on a party. Make swimsuit season your favorite season!

'07 Spring Runway Fashion—Done Modestly

By Melissa Lambert
Many of the biggest designers in fashion have already held fashion shows to promote their spring fashion lines. For most of us, high fashion clothes are out of our price range. And for people dedicated to wearing modest clothes, some of the fashions don’t quite meet their standards. But with a little bit of creativity and adaptability, it is possible to re-create runway fashion with clothes that are easy to find, inexpensive, and modest.

In this year’s spring lines, many of the designers used layers to create their looks. You probably have clothes in your closet already that you can creatively layer to reproduce some of the looks found on the runway this spring. Here, Shannon, Olivia and Kelsey show a few different ways that you can layer shirts to create different looks.



This year, the Versace models were wearing white and black solids with splashes of bright yellow or pale pink, using jackets, purses and shoes to add splashes of color to their simple solid-colored outfits. Kelsey adapts this look by wearing all black with a pink purse. The color adds a bit of kick to an otherwise simple outfit. Light pink shoes or a bright yellow scarf would have the same effect.



The Philosophy spring line featured a variety of dresses with wide belts. Wide belts can make simple dresses look funky and stylish. Olivia shows off this look by using a belt in one of the hot colors of the season (a bold red).



The Louis Vuitton models were wearing a number of different fashions this year. Short flouncy skirts were a hot item on their runway, as were skinny belts worn up around the waist. Here, Shannon wears a flouncy skirt that reaches her knees and keeps her modest. These skirts are very adaptable and can be made casual or formal depending on what top you pair with them.



The Vera Wang spring fashions emphasized layering. Models wore leggings under dresses and skirts, and layered shirts. This style is one of the best ways for you to be stylish and still modest. With just a few pair of leggings and long modest shirts, you can create any number of comfortable and fashionable combinations. Here, Olivia pairs capri-length leggings with a denim skirt and two layered shirts.



Spring fashion on the Fendi runway reflected a trend seen in other lines as well: Black dresses paired with hot pink handbags. Simple black outfits with bright splashes of color are huge for spring. Another Fendi trend was the pairing of silver and black. Shannon shows one way to wear this trend by combining a black dress with a silver belt, shoes and necklace.



In the Prada fashion line, bright color was all the rage. Shiny reds and purples were combined in many of the outfits. Many of the models also wore head kerchiefs. Here, Olivia wears a brightly-colored kerchief to match her red and black shirts. (To get this look, use a large bright scarf. Fold it into a triangle, then place the long side of the triangle on your forehead. Bring the two ends back and tie them in a knot at the nape of your neck. Scarves can decorate your head in many different ways; be creative with different ways of tying them and see what you can come up with!)



Many of the Giorgio Armani models this spring sported the safari look, wearing exotic animal prints. (Others showed off a very different look, but one similar to the other fashion lines: Black tailored jackets with splashes of hot pink t-shirts and scarves.) In this picture, Kelsey shows off a modest cheetah-print shirt with a matching headband and wooden bracelet. Safari prints are easy to find and can be paired easily with neutral colors and jeans.



For all of the lines, big jewelry is the style this spring. Big necklaces, chunky bracelets, huge broaches and dangly earrings are the perfect complement to the popular styles. You can really rise to meet the trends by wearing big jewelry in one of the popular accent colors of the season (like bright red, shiny purple, pale pink, bright yellow, or hot pink) and pairing it with simple, classic outfits. Whether the jewelry is funky or classic-looking (like in the picture), it is an important part of completing the fashionable look you’re trying to achieve.

(Pictures from the spring line runways can be found at www.fashionshowroom.com).

ModesTee Test

With the modesTee you'll never agonize over your wardrobe again!


Do you have a hard time finding dressy tops that are modest? I've always had a hard time finding cute dressy tops. It seems all the dressy tops I find are sleeveless, sheer, or revealing in some other way. By wearing the modesTee underneath, I can pretty much wear any shirt I find and not have to worry about it being revealing. It makes shopping much more fun!
How does the modesTee work? Well it's basically a stretchy shirt that snaps together between your legs so it can't come untucked. Here's a picture of me wearing a white modesTee under a sheer shirt. Normally this shirt would come with a small spaghetti-strap tank/camisole to go underneath it.
Do you have a hard time keeping your midriff covered? It's so hard to find cute pants that come up high enough and shirts that aren't too short. Even if they seem to cover enough in the dressing room, you often find it's a different story when you take the clothes home. You realize you're over-exposed when bending, stretching and sitting, and after you wash the clothes it's even worse.

The great thing about the modesTee is that it always keeps your torso covered because it can't come untucked! Plus you don't have any bulky fabric like you do when you try to tuck a regular shirt in. That plus the fact that it also covers your sholders makes the modesTee much more useful than just wearing a tank top under your shirt.

I found the modesTee here: makeitmodest.com.

Here's what one reader had to say about it:

"Thanks so much for putting the ModesTee on your website. I looked all over the internet for something similar (hoping I could find something a little less pricey) but in the end the ModesTee was the only option! I ordered two and I LOVE them. They work so much better than wearing men's tank tops under your clothes...especially since there is NO risk of them coming untucked. If you hadn't put them on your site I'd STILL be looking for something like that."
-Holly

We Put the ModesTee to the Test!

It might seem to cover well when you're standing in front of the mirror, but the true test of any article of clothing is if you have to tug at it when you're in action! So I wore a modesTee to play at the park and the arcade to really put it to the test.

At the Park

At the Arcade

Photo Details: Over the modesTee I'm wearing a white t-shirt I bought at K-Mart a while ago. It was K-Mart's going out of business sale and the shirt was cheap. The shirt fit great the first time I wore it. I kept the shirt buttoned up instead of unbuttoning it like I did in these photos because I wasn't wearing another shirt under it. Then I washed it. Wow, it really shrunk! So it just hung in my closet for a while - until I got my modesTee. The black pants with black and white striped waistband are from Wet Seal. As accessories I'm wearing a pink fishnet shirt under the modestee and a black flower pin.

To learn more about the modesTee, click HERE.

Modest Fashion Fixes!

**New Pictures and Info Added**

Shirt Too Short?
Pants Too Low?
Skirt Too Short?


Jen has Fixes for all your Modest Fashion Dilemmas. Click Here!

Reclaim The Rainbow!

The rainbow is a symbol (or token) representing the covenant God made with Noah where God promised to never again cover the Earth with a flood of water (Genesis Chapter 9). I've always loved rainbows and rainbow colored things. I used to play with Rainbow Brite dolls when I was little, though I liked Care Bears better.

Homosexuals have also adopted the rainbow as their symbol. I think it's interesting how Satan tries to take everything that's good and twist it into something bad. So I say "reclaim the rainbow!" Knowing that gay people use rainbows to let each other know they're gay, you might not want to wear rainbows. But I don't worry about that myself. I go on wearing rainbows because they represent something good to me.

Click here to check out my favorite rainbow items:

Fav Rainbow Stuff for Christian/LDS (Mormon) Girls

My Style: Fashion Around The Globe

It can be hard to live the way you know you should. Some people feel alone in their choices, with few if any good friends who share their beliefs. Others are surrounded by people with the same beliefs and struggle with feeling lost in the crowd. This growing photo album, featuring your friends near and far, celebrates our individuality as well as our common faith.

CLICK HERE to open the My Style photo album!