Dress, Jacket - thrifted
Cardigan - Rugged Warehouse
Bellevue Pearl Hart Pumps - Fluevog
Custom Harness - Audra Jean
Scarf - gift
I consider myself a fairly modest dresser. And by that, I don't mean I eschew color, pattern, unique design. I don't intend to hide myself with my clothes. In fact, my clothes often scream "I'm here!" So what do I mean by modest dressing?
I like clothes that cover my body. I like my legs to be covered. I prefer my necklines to be open, but not too low. I like my arms to be bare if it's warm enough, but my bra to remain hidden. I like my feet enclosed if possible. My 'modesty' means balancing skin with coverage, casual pieces with edgy ones, wildly designed shoes off set by lower heel heights, and voluminous with fitted.
I can't remember exactly which etiquette advocate first exposed me to
the importance of balancing a low neckline with a lower hemline and vice
versa, but I still feel strongly influenced by that message.
I still like to push my personal envelope on occasion by wearing a mini-dress with OTK boots, shorts with a tunic, or free-boobing in a bra-impossible top. I hope to push it further by utilizing sheer fabrics, different silhouettes, and challenging colors, but for now I generally stick to my personal comfort factors.
This grey casual dress hit some of my favorite things - cowl neck, sleeveless, comfortable thick material, good seaming for fit. It's perfect to layer up on this winter day, but I can also see it with a simple belt and flats or sandals for easy summer days. I am going through the hem debate with my petite self, but to be honest - I might not. I've messed up some stuff by hemming it badly, dresses most often. The dress only cost me $4, and some days - I like my knees covered.
What does "modest" dressing mean to you? To me, it means balance.
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Being Indian, we are both modest about exposure and it is difficult to walk the streets feeling safe in outfits that are very revealing.
ReplyDeleteHence, I prefer skirt lengths to not be TOO short (but usually above the knee) and I don't like showing my bra straps either. I make an exception for shorts, I wear mine pretty short! Why? I'm not sure. :P but in India, I wouldn't wear them outside anyway, so it didn't matter. I don't mind my midriff showing in saris, but when it comes to Western wear, I wouldn't wear a crop top.
I think these things are just personal! Anyway, I like the length of this dress on you - I don't think it is too long :)
"freeboobing" = LMAO!!!
ReplyDeleteI consider myself a fairly modest dresser as well, but I think that a lot of that has to do with working in a law office and being a mom.
I love your striped cardigan and, of course, your harness Megan!
Being modest to me is NOT flaunting the cleavage everywhere, showing so much skin there is nothing left to the imagination, and like you said balance. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I see a pair of jeans that are so low that you can see someone's butt crack or thong.
ReplyDeleteSome days I'm more modest than others. I was thinking about modesty and dressing the last day or so, as well, debating what length of skirt I'll deem too short, how that changes with leggings / tights / etc. I also thought about modesty and dressing for others - I regretted my skirt when I heard a certain client might be coming in for a meeting, but felt empowered by it when another client was in.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I agree - modesty is more about cut, conservatism is about colour/pattern
I am fairly modest in my dress, since I work in a health care setting I know I can't push the envelope too far. But I am not afraid to take a few risks every now and then! I agree that it is all about balance. I really like that dress!
ReplyDeleteI love the neckline on that dress and the unusual shape and different stripes of the cardigan is awesome. I agree with you, I dress pretty modestly but try to keep it fun not frumpy! I've never been one for low necklines or short hems unless it's for a special occasion!
ReplyDeleteI wear some fairly short skirts, but I feel compelled to make sure I've got opaque tights on with them, and I tend to keep my upper body well-covered.
ReplyDeleteThose Fluevogs are AMAZING. I wish we could get them in the UK!
I'm usually pretty covered up, but that's because I'm always cold. I used to go "freeboobing" a lot when I was younger. That was until people told me it was inappropriate to show off my nipples all the time (again, I'm always cold!)
ReplyDeleteYou look so pretty in this outfit. It looks casual and very chic. I prefer outfits that are more modest.
ReplyDeleteI don't like that word "modest" since it means unassuming or humble. I tend to wear things that are not unassuming - they're more bold or loud.
ReplyDeleteThere are times I go want to be more covered up - like when I don't think it's appropriate to show my tattoos off, but I can't say I do it out of modesty - more out of privacy.
Many people say they dress with modesty because they follow a religious obligation to cover up. I'm not one of them so that's another reason why I don't use that word. =)
Modest dressing kind of brings up religious connotations to me. I tend to wear clothes with more coverage since I work in an office, but I don't necessarily think of myself as modest.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Rebecca -- "modest" has a religious connotation to me. I was amused when someone took a picture of me in my Castelbajac Lego drew for her modest-dressing blog.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear the word "modest" I think boring, knee, arm and neck covering pieces. I also think religious, like Rebecca mentions. By your standards I dress fairly modestly. (It is required for the real world of work.) I would rather associate my style with the word "balance" and feel much more positive about that adjective.
ReplyDeleteBTW I love your dress! Cowl necks are my fav right now!
Modesty really does mean different things to different people... I tend to favor tops which nip in at my waist, which some people don't think is modest. But because I have large hips and bottom, it is hard to find a top that is loose at the waist and not much snugger in the hips. So I would look sloppy, which I cannot abide.
ReplyDeleteI've only recently gotten bold enough to show a little cleavage occasionally. I think growing older gives me a little more license to do so- perhaps b/e it is perceived as less "sexual" on a 40-year-old that a 20-year-old?
Interesting. Because I don't live as a woman, I don't fully understand the significance and consequences of exposing skin. I know it's important and every woman draws her own line. It's instructive to hear you (and your readers) talk about the issue.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing - I never really thought of myself as a "modest" dresser until I started posting outfit photos. I've never been into overtly revealing clothes because, like you, that's not me. I guess the word "modest" has been given a bad rap because of the other connotations - would a modest person actually been taking pictures of herself everyday? That's more of a narcissist, right ;) At any rate, I try not to categorize myself.
ReplyDeleteI love this outfit, btw. Great dress and harness!
I prefer to dress modestly too. I don't like clevage and avoid it at all costs (which is hard with DDs) and I always wear a sleeve. I don't like too short either. I will freak out all day over it. In summer I don't care if my feet are exposed but that is 10 years of living in florida. But bra should never show or tops of my arms. And you'd have to drug me to wear anything with straps.
ReplyDeleteoh and PS mine has NOTHING to do with religion. I am not any religion and never have been. I just don't like feeling exposed. I prefer to leave mystery! That and I have a permanant farmers tan of freckles. Not hot.
ReplyDeleteHello! Your hair is smashing! I keep looking for some way to lighten up the winter but always shy away from red or pink streaks because my hair is naturally red. So, now I'm inspired! Modest I think means humble.
ReplyDeleteI've been pondering this modesty business lately...it many ways it is MORE alluring than revealing more skin. The dress is very flattering.
ReplyDeleteFree boobing? Made me look lol! I love the B&W cardi and shoes in this outfit! I dress modestly for the most part, I definitely don't show off the whole kit and kaboodle like I did in university! I think modesty is finding the balance that works for you- feeling beautiful in your own skin, without having to reveal a lot of skin!
ReplyDeleteDon't touch the hem of that dress! The length is just perfect on you. :-)
ReplyDeleteVelma
I don't like the word modest either ... to me, it's a negative connotation that goes with religion. And in a lot of ways, it seems that the people who are always yapping about dressing modestly are being judgmental when they crow about it (hahaha ... let me tell you how I really feel about it :-). Anyway, for me the word is conservative. I dress conservative because I am an old lady, and I have to dress my age for the most part (no *ss-cracking pants for me or short short mini skirts). I also have to dress appropriately for my office. AND LMAO off about the free boobing. LOL. Oh my, that's a hysterical term. I free boob all the time, but not out in public.
ReplyDeleteI've always dressed modestly because of my personal beliefs. I always wear skirts that hit my knee, always wear sleeves, and never show cleavage. When I was younger, I hated "having" to dress modestly because I thought it was frumpy and ugly. Now I love and embrace it, and it's no longer something I "have to" do. It's something I choose to do to show God I love Him. And I've learned that it can be cute and fashionable, which is an added bonus.
ReplyDeleteMy sentiments precisely! I don't mind standing out with my clothing, but I always strive for balance, for instance if I wear something tight on the bottom I generally put something loose and flowy on top, or if I show a lot of leg then I wear a high neckline. I don't think of it as 'modesty' per se, but rather as highlighting one bit at a time -- the same concept as wearing either bold eye makeup or bold lips, but not both at once.
ReplyDeleteI love your B&W outfit! I'm visiting from EBEW and would love for you to join my ABC's of Style challenge at http://fashionsgreatesthits.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely in love with your red hair. Very pretty. And your shoes and dress are lovely. Chic and yet very balance outfit too. :)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Cathy@embroidery digitizing service