Embracing Modesty, No. 8
You all have been so supportive about this series. The girls and I have been blessed by your comments and emails. I just can’t tell you how much fun we’re having sharing our outfits with you all and hearing about what you’re wearing too!
This week it’s back to Mom. I am always on the lookout for ways to flatter my Dr. Seuss-like figure. If I’m not careful I can look like I should be new blue goo chewing.
One of my best tricks is creating a long line down my torso. An open jacket, a scarf, a top with vertical lines can all do this.
Here I added a lacy scarf to create a more slimming look. This gray top is fun to wear, but it can look like I have a giant square sitting on top of a skirt. The scarf helps elongate me.
Also, sticking with one basic color is more flattering. It doesn’t chop up my body visually. But I like to have a little more flair than just one color, so I used gray and black….still in the same color family.
This next picture is from a day when I was running errands in the city. I like the purple peeking out from the plaid. I tossed a little gray jacket over the plaid to add that long line. The big flower topped it off simply…..love that!
And I also want to point out here that the grays don’t match. That doesn’t matter at all….they still look cute and its not all matchy-matchy.
Here’s the same gray jacket on another day.
This time I used 2 flower pins to close it in the front. It’s fun to find different ways to wear the same pieces. It doubles my wardrobe!
I want to add that I know wearing jeans or pants might be even more slimming, but I have to put my convictions ahead of looking pretty. For us, we are convicted to wear dresses and skirts only. I don’t think that’s a rule for everyone. But since we have that conviction, we wouldn’t have peace if we went against that. So we joyfully find ways to look nice within the boundaries that we feel are for us. I want to encourage you to establish boundaries. Not just in skirts/pants, but how tightly you will wear your clothes, how much skin you will show, what message you want to send.
You can be beautiful, attractive, trend-setting, comfortable and stay within modest boundaries that you set for yourself.
Check out the rest of this series in our Embracing Modesty Gallery!
Follow me on Instagram for daily pictures of what we are wearing!
You always come up with creative ways to look great! I am a plus size gal and short to boot, I wear skirts and can never decide which length looks flattering on me. I would like to try the maxi skirt like you had on, but not sure how that works on me. Do you find it easier in the summer or winter? I like winter, because I can throw on tights and feel great. Summer is great too, I go bare legged. Spring and fall are more challenging for me as I have to wear hose. blah…… I was thinking if I could wear my skirts to the floor, I could just wear knee socks……Oh one day I will get this figured out. lol I appreciate all your help and wonderful ideas. Thank you so much!
Your outfits are really lovely – I especially like #2 with that pop of purple under the plaid! I’m all about fooling the eye and making the most of our best features! I’m short (only 5’10”) for my family – and you know I’m on the level ’cause my bubble’s in the middle, so it’s a challenge. I like the idea of adding vertical lines with long scarves etc.!
Great outfits, my favorite is the ruffled edge jean skirt and great sweater closed with the flower pins….
You really know how to pull together great outfits!
Deanna
Love them all! Beautiful!
I really need to try some of your ideas. I never feel all that pulled together. Your outfits are wonderful, love them all and love how you change it up so simply with your accessories!
Love the tips you share, how you follow your convictions and how you’re committed to modesty. Thank you for this series!
I love, love, love outfit #2. Everything about it is fabulous. The long skirt is ultra-flattering which is counterintuitive.
Lisa, you are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. XOXO
I like your outfits, and your girls ones too. They have a real knack to put a creative outfit together.
I think it is important to note that the modesty passages in context are more likely to point to being modest about wealth (ie. not looking flashy) than not looking too sexy. This is often missed.
However modesty of dress is a definite wisdom thing in our sexualised culture. I respect your convictions.
One thing this series has done for me is to give me the courage to think outside the box with my clothes. In fact today I was at Goodwill and bought two shirts that I am going to try to alter to wear under other tops that need some type of help. My 8 y.o. daughter was with me and I was explaining to her what I wanted to do and she said “I want to look at that “Embroidering Modesty” blog again. LOL! As for pants being more slimming I have to differ with you. Often when I’m out and I see a large woman with pants on I think “she would look so much better in a skirt”. Skirts don’t hug every bump, dimple and roll like pants do. Yikes! Keep up the good work with your embroidering modesty. hee hee
I love the denim ruffled skirt!
I think I agree with Kerri here – I’m a big girl and I know it… and though my convictions are not exactly the same as yours (I do think that pants can be worn modestly by a woman, but it’s far more difficult) I think that skirts are more slimming on my pear-shaped figure. Especially when there are vertical lines involved, like you’ve mentioned above. I get lots of complements on my denim skirt that is seamed vertically about every 8 inches.
Thanks for the series – we’re really enjoying it.
I think these ideas are awesome, as I see even four-year-old girls in mini skirts and tanks (which gives me the angry sort of chills). However, in Phoenix, Arizona – it’s hard to be modest and comfortable in such a hot climate for most of the year. I am a new follower and from the pics, it looks like you can layer because of your climate… What do you suggest for teens that deal with over 100 degree weather but still want modesty (or at least their mothers do!)
Thanks!!
Jenny G.
Jenny, I live in Ohio but struggle with this same issue because of the oppressive summer heat and HUMIDITY!! For me, light colors and light-weight fabrics are the key. Also, I do shorten my skirt lengths to just below the knee. A looser garment helps air flow as well. I do not layer at all in the summer.
Totally appropriate and you look so cozy!
I am loving these posts!!! I have four young girls and our guidelines are very similar to yours. The most important part is having guidelines/standards and then letting them be themselves like you talk about!
I also have to agree with a few others that jeans show everything! Skirts are more slimming and you look amazing!!!
We live in Sacramento, ca and while it’s only hot a few months out of the year. It definitely gets over 100 most days (or close to it). My girls wear lots of summer dresses with a little top under or usually a light knit shrug/sweater over it. I layer my clothes in the summer. And at first it feels kinda strange layering in the summer but I think you get used to it. I’ll wear a cute t-shirt with a light jacket over ( like the grey one Lisa is wearing above) with a jean skirt or a maxi skirt.
People notice us everywhere we go. I get compliments on how my girls are dressed. It is definitely a testimony to our beliefs and being a Christian. And No we don’t wear denim jumpers or frumpy cloths. 🙂 staying up with trends and styles are fun and we love looking cute. You don’t have to dress inappropriate or immodest to look put together or attractive. I’m thankful my girls are learning that at a young age.
Thank you for these posts!! What a blessing to all of us reading!