Finding Beauty in Simple Fashion

Have you ever watched the show, "What Not to Wear" produced by TLC? Well, I kinda like that show, and I kinda don't. For me, it's given me some good ideas on how not to dress, in several different ways. And it's also given me some ideas on how to dress "simply fashionable."

I like clothes. What woman/girl doesn't?  When I go walking at the mall, I'm always looking at clothes and imagining how to make them modest, or whatnot.  These days, it seems that most women's clothing are made tightly, or with low necklines, or both! 

Personally, I have a hard time finding blouses/t-shirts that fit, because I'm small shouldered, but big chested (thanks to having 2 beautiful babies! LOL)  I'm sure I'm not the only mama out there that has a hard time finding clothes that don't look completely baggy, yet still fit modestly. So I've started challenging myself to find things that have like a draw string, or waist band that is kinda high up, so it tucks right under the breast line, and flairs out many inches above the waist.  That's my other problem; I have a smaller waist, but huge hips, (again, thanks to the babies). It's  hard to "fit" in clothes and not look like I'm wearing a tent!

It's a challenge!!!  Oh, but I love a challenge. The competitive part of me comes out when it comes to things like this. :)

For some reason, I have a hard time finding high necked t-shirts or non-collared shirts in malls or clothing outlets. I like finding those t-shirty like shirts to wear under sleeveless outfits.  So last time I went thrift shopping (by the way, thrift shopping can be a LOT of fun, and you can find wonderful deals...) I found a ton of higher necked shirts! So if you're like me and like high necked shirts, take a trip to your local thrift shops and take a look around. A lot of them have mailing lists too, so you can get updates on when their sales go on.

I found a picture (again) on Google that gives an idea of some beautiful, stylish clothing. Thought I'd share it! :) 

Blessings~

Mommy's and Daughters

Today I was out, walking around a mall, to just get some exersize and get some fresh air. I get kinda claustrophobic being all cooped up in the house sometimes. So I go walk the mall with my hubby and kiddos.

I was looking at girly clothes while I was looking around at Burlington Coat Factory and I was amazed and kinda disappointed in the clothes I saw for toddler girls. This one outfit was like a mini skirt and was what I call a "hip hugger" and then the blouse part had princess seams and was made to make the little girl wearing it, look like she had a chest like a woman. I kept looking at it, thinking, "How on earth are our little girls supposed to stay little if we're dressing them like women?"

I mean, a lot of us have probably seen the post on Facebook about how can we expect our little girls to dress like women, have make-up like women, watching movies like adults, and all those "grown up" things. In Highschool, they're taught about birth control and dating, and all those things that go with mature relationships. How are we supposed to expect our young girls to stay young and girly, if they're growing up in a world that is training them to adults before they even learn to talk and walk! Ok, maybe that is bit of an exaggeration, but think about it!? Our little girls are watching shows, seeing models and clothes everywhere that point them towards growing up faster than they should. They go to school and see/hear all sorts of things that are only for adult ears. Yet the schools and teaches say they need to hear it because of the world they're growing up in. Teen pregnancy is up 66% since the 90's!!!!

If they "need" to hear it because of the world they're growing up in, why can't WE change the world? Why can't Hollywood stop promoting sex, drugs, alcohol and promiscuity and promote real marriage, appropriate dress and relationships, and teaching that drugs and alcohol are bad things, and the consequences of those actions? 

 I'm going to share two different photos I found on Google. One is of a little girl being a little girl, and the other is a little girl trying to be grown up.  Which one do you like best??!! :)

Men and Modesty

As my little boy grows up, I have been looking at clothes for him that fit him now and even been looking at clothes that will fit him later on.

I've been trying to figure out how I want him to dress (while I'm still able to tell him how to dress..lol. Tho I hope I raise him correctly, where he'll respect me and want to do what is pleasing to God.)

Ok, before I dive into my thoughts, I want to give a disclaimer. Please don't read this if you're not ready for honesty, personal thoughts and feelings. I'm known to be a blunt person and I say what I think and feel. Sometimes that gets me into trouble, but at least everyone knows I'm honest! :)  So, read on at your own risk...LOL

First off, I really don't like it when guys where Skinny Jeans. Here's why. It shows off all the parts we do not want to see. I don't want to know their size and shape. I don't want my daughter seeing that either. To me, when guys where skinny jeans, it is showing some insecurity in themselves and need something to show off themselves. It's the same for girls, too, because you know when they dress, showing off their breasts, or their legs, that they're insecure and just trying to find acceptance, or sometimes it's due to peer pressure.

The other thing I really don't like is when guys where really tight t-shirts or sweaters. Honestly, guys, women (for the most part), don't like that. They don't think that is sexy, or hot. When I see a guy driving down the road with his big pick up truck's window rolled down, and his arm all pressed up against the side of the truck, trying to make their muscle stick out, I think, "grow up."

Let's raise our young men to want to be modest in their dress too! Let's help our young women keep their minds pure and holy when they're spending time with guys. Let's show the world there is a way to be godly, and pure, all the while, still being stylish. I'm not against style and looking "cute" or whatever. I just think there should be a balance.

Here a couple of pictures of some young kiddos and some teenagers dressed stylish, yet modestly. :)  I know all these guys are dressed in pants. I'm not against shorts. I just couldn't find any pictures with guys dressed in shorts that looked modest. But I know there are some really nice, modestly loose shorts that men/boys can wear.

Blessings~

Accepting

Growing up, I was always the "different" one; at least I felt like that.  I didn't feel like I fit in with the "crowd" and deep inside, I wanted to fit. I wanted to be accepted. So I found myself trying this hairstyle and that hairstyle; dressing this way and then dressing that way. But nothing seemed to work. I just was different.

So in my later teen years, I decided to just be me, and as I learned how to express who I was, the more I felt "normal."

In life, our children are always going to be running into peer pressure and the fear of not being accepted. It's something that everyone goes through at some point in life. The thing that is important is to realize our worth in Jesus and that we don't have to impress, be accepted into the "popular" circles, or look like the crowd.

The Bible says that Jesus wasn't attractive; he looked like the ordinary, every day man. No special features or in the world's words, "hottness." I think what God is looking for in a person is a beauty within our spirit and hearts, not our outward appearance. I wish more people, boys and girls alike, could see and understand that they don't have to have the Justin Bieber look, or the Selena Gomez beauty to be accepted. Being who they are and letting the light of Jesus shine through them is what makes them beautiful.

Simplicity & Beauty

When I think about simplicity, I think of the Amish, or life in what I like to refer to as the "Old Days." You know, the 1800's when women stayed at home, nursed the babies, cooked, cleaned, tended the garden and sewed; when the men got up before the break of dawn to eat a hearty breakfast before heading out to the fields to farm and take care of livestock.

When I think of beauty, I think of waterfalls, blue skies with puffy white clouds floating around, looking like popped corn, and beautiful mountains, cliffs and a variety of flowers lining the paths.

Ok, so there is a lot more to simplicity and beauty than those two definitions I just wrote about. There are different opinions, and different things enjoyed by others, but those are two examples of what I think of when considering the words "simplicity" and "beauty."

When it comes to simplicity in our daily lives, I try to translate my earlier description of simplicity into a modern day simplicity. Sometimes that is hard to do when this world is so full of technology and "fancy smanciness" as I like to call it! LOL.

Often when I hear girls talking about simplicity in dress, it's often in a negative tone. They think of simplicity as being old timey, vintage, or those dresses that start high up on the neck and end at their toes. Now, I'm not judging those who feel that is what God has led them to do in their dress. If that is what God wants you to do, then by all means, do that. But for others who are trying to find a balance between simple modesty and modern dress, then here are some suggestions.

1. If you find a blouse that has a low neck line, go shopping for some under shirts that will bring the neck line higher. If you can't seem to find ones that are high enough up for your preference, consider turning it around where the back is in front. Often the back is higher than the front!

2. If you have a shirt that is too short, wear layers. Find another shirt or under shirt that is longer and comfortable to you. "Layers" seem to be in style anyways, so it'll make it more stylish, and it will be modest.

3. Go for some color! There is nothing wrong with colors. Enjoy trying new styles with new colors; you never know what you'll find that you will like!


As to beauty, a lot of women and girls are concerned they won't be attractive if they're not beautiful.  I think, for the most part, men are more attracted to a woman who respects her body and values her worth, than a woman who dresses slutty and revealing.

One man described it as this, "When I get married, I want to be the only one to enjoy my wife's body. I want her to respect and value herself enough to dress conservatively and modestly, yet beautifully and stylish. I don't want the rest of the world enjoying something that is meant for just me to enjoy."

So dress beautifully, but make sure that you look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you're trying to impress and attract, or if you're trying to be pleasing to Jesus. There is a common saying among Christian circles, "A woman should be so lost in God that a man has to seek Him to find her."  That is so true.

Blessings~

Little Girls

There is a TV show produced by TLC called "Toddlers and Tiaras." It's a show about little girls winning crowns and money for their dress and personality.

I have watched it on occasion and have really felt sad for the little girls as their mama's push them and push them to do things that much older girls and women do, like fancy hair, make up and teeth whitening. Often times the little girls throw fits, saying they don't want to do what their mamas are wanting them to do. Part of me doesn't like that they're being disrespectful to their mama's, but then another part of me realizes that the girls really just want to play dolls, live in the play world and not have all this practicing and acting like an older girl.

Lately, not only have the little girls been dressing like older girls and women, but they've also been put into pageants that require them to dress like hookers and prostitutes.

So many say this day and age, 'What is wrong with our children? Why is this generation so different from us, or our parents?"

Just take a look around you. We put our children in front of TV's filled with sex, violence and immorality. We make games out of shooting. Commercials on TV are full of violence, or advertizing sexual innuendos. No wonder our children think killing is "normal" and for some "fun." We see movies that make sex and dressing provocatively normal.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, let your children be children. Let your little girls play with dolls. Dress them in cute, little girly things; bows, dresses, pink, purple, bright colors, and you know...just girly things. Don't put make up on them. Don't let them wear heels or nylons. Help them understand that being little girls is a special time. Help them enjoy that special time. Bring them into the kitchen and help them learn to cook. Get messy with dough and food coloring.  Help them learn how to sew. Teach them that beauty isn't in looks, clothes or make up, or even weight. Teach them that modesty of their hearts and minds are what will make them beautiful.

Beautiful Words

Something I've noticed about words is that they're very powerful. Someone can say something and it can affect another life permanently. I've had that happen to me many times, for the good and for the bad.

Another thing I've noticed is that we start speaking like the people we spend time with. So when we're spending time with people with godly language, we have a tendency to think and speak more godly. If we spend time with people with a more crude, unclean language, we'll have a tendency to speak and think that way.

So it really  matters who we spend time with and what we listen to. When I picture modest women; women who want to please God in every aspect of their lives, I not only picture modest clothing, but I also picture their spirits and how their words are. I think about how they talk and if the words they speak are beautiful to God and uplifting to others.

Our words are very powerful. We can tear down, or we can build up. I think God wants us, as modest women, to be very circumspect in what we say around others. Saying just one wrong thing can affect someone negatively, or positively, for the rest of their lives. Being modest and "beautiful" with our words is just one more aspect of our lives that we need to be aware of on a daily basis. God calls us to be gentle and kind, thoughtful and careful with our lives, our words and our thoughts.

Be careful with how you talk to someone. You don't know their past, and if you do know their past, you still might not know the whole story. Be gentle with your words and let a spirit of love flow through you as you speak. Don't speak out of anger, or assumptions. Don't be rushed with your words because of feelings. Think things through. Speak calmly. Talk out of love and consideration. One thing that can really ruin a person is when a person speaks out of assumptions and even rumors. They've heard this, or heard that and they allow their feelings to get in the way of truth and reality. So instead of being gentle and considerate of the person they're talking to, they rush into accusations, causing possible harm in the other person's life.

Allow your words to be a healing balm to someone's soul. Let them be encouraging, uplifting and full of love and grace.

How to be Stylish and Modest

Beauty in Modesty

Being modest can sometimes be a challenge, because the pressure from the media, billboards and "models" bombard us daily. We see all the stylish clothing and how "good" it looks on the models in magazines, catalogs, stores and even on the manacins in the stores we shop at daily. We see the skinny, almost emaciated models in pictures and often times the clothing they are wearing are attractive and beautiful. But if we take a closer look, and sometimes if we put them on our bodies, they don't quite fit us right, or there is too much cleavage, or too much leg.  When we look ourselves in the mirror, we, as women need to think about the men and boys around us that will be looking at us. In our hearts, we need to evaluate if we're wearing it to be stylish and "stand out" or if we're wearing it to glorify God and to draw attention to the inner beauty of our hearts. 

Men around us are constantly fighting the urges and temptations to look at women's bodies; it's a God given thing that He has put inside them. But we need to do our part in helping them have a pure conscience and a pure heart by giving them something to "see" that is beautiful in the eyes of the Lord. We need to allow our beauty to shine from our hearts, not our clothes and how much skin we are showing. We need to encourage our men and boys to view us as women to be treasured, respected and loved, not as sex objects and stumbling blocks to their minds. 

 "Modesty is the color of virtue."

Modesty can be beautiful. Modesty can be stylish. As I show in the picture at the beginning of this blog post; there is a dress that goes below the knees, but not to the floor. There is a belt to make it slightly fitted, but not so tight that a guy can see every nook and cranny of our body. The top part is gathered, so our chest will not "stick out" like a sore thumb, causing a guys eyes to wander where they shouldn't. Last by not least, the neck line is high enough up that cleavage won't show, but it's not like a turtle neck where you feel confined.  If you're someone who still doesn't want that much chest showing you can always buy a camisole and wear it underneath to add a little style to it, along with bringing the neck line higher up. The sleeves are nice and loose, adding a little bit a modest flare to the dress. 

So there are things out there that are modest and stylish!  So when you look yourself in the mirror, try to evaluate where your heart is in what you're dressing in. Dress to please the Lord and to help encourage the men and boys in your life to also glorify God with their minds. Encourage them to keep their minds pure. 

 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matt. 5:28

 

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control

1st Timothy 2:9

Blessings~