Luanne Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Most of the stores around here don't carry modest dresses. If you wear modest dresses, where do you get them from? I have a sewing machine, but am not a good seamstress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 What lengths are you looking for? Necklines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 It depends on your definition of 'modest' dresses. For me, modest would be any of the stuff at Old Navy, and I got my dress for Easter at Belk. I've also seen some I like at Kohl's. So I'm pretty easy to please, I guess. YMMV, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted June 30, 2013 Author Share Posted June 30, 2013 I would prefer VERY modest. You know, "Little House on the Prairie" modest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Yes, please be more specific. What feature/style issues are important to you in a dress? Layering can work well. If a long dress has a lower than desirable neckline, layer a coordinating lightweight higher-necked shirt underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicAnn Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Honestly, the thrift store. Especially if you can sew a little bit...then it is easy to take them in a bit if needed. I also like Deborah and Co (the modest mom). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annandatje Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Here you go. All it took was web search "little house on prairie dresses for women." http://ourgrandmascloset.net/women.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 If you mean "modest" in Biblical sense, then anything you would buy at an affordable store, open the the general public of all socio-economic classes is completely acceptable. None of the dresses available at such stores would violate the Bible's instructions that wealthy women should show "modesty" in order not shame and alienate lower class families by their ostentatious displays of wealth. However, if you wanted to be extra carefully "very modest", you might limit your purchases to, say, dresses that cost $30 or less, since that would be about the limit of what someone working minimum wage and/or on welfare could afford. In my opinion, most Churches would not consider a woman to be flaunting family wealth unless she wore clothing or jewelry that expressed a 'distinct gap' between herself and other women's clothing options -- generally a reasonable range of fashions are expected in a Church community, without it becoming a divisive influence. As for your fashion preference of "Little House on the Prairie" style, I don't think that would at all qualify as an ostentation of wealth. It simply expresses your unique taste and fashion sense. I think others' suggestions of thrift stores might work, although to really accomplish that look, you might enjoy historical patterns (often found in the costume sections of pattern books at fabric stores) and you might enjoy branching out to 'quilting' types of fabrics to really achieve the "look" you want. (Although quilting fabrics can be thin, so you might need to layer them, using petticoats would be particularly period-appropriate.) All the best to you! --- Edited to Add: following the above link to some dresses right on-style for your tastes showed me that such a purchase would probably exceed $100, which I would not hesitate about their 'ostentation' because they are a complete dress. Many tops and bottoms sold separately add up to that much without crossing the line to 'flaunting' one's wealth... but they wouldn't quite be "very modest" since no one in the lowest sociology-economic classes of our society would be able to afford them. Perhaps you might like to re-evaluate whether 'average' is modest enough for you, or if you really want to stick with your goal of a 'very modest' Christian wardrobe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Found this pinterest. http://pinterest.com/sisbeth/modest-clothing-women/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I like Lands End and coldwater creek dresses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrygal Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Seriously check out thrift stores! I keep going back because I can't find what I want at retail stores. Check out Lands End, too. They have a website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureMoms Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Even if you can sew a tiny bit you can sew a long women's skirt to a girls shirt of appropriate size and style. I use Walmart t shirts and thrift store skirts. Women's knee length skirts are ankle length on my size 6 kid. Longer skirts I cut the tops off (save the hem so you don't have to hem it). I can do a dress in a half hour or so and I don't sew at all well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganCupcake Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 My personal definition of a modest dress includes some kind of sleeve (cap, short, or long), a neckline which does not show cleavage, and a knee-length or longer skirt. So with those criteria in mind, I have recently gotten some at Land's End, one at a Costco trunk show for some company or other, and one from Shade. I sometimes layer a camisole underneath for cleavage coverage. If you require ankle length and long sleeves, I think these dresses are beautiful: http://www.shukronline.com/womens-long-dress.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Let's see. 1. J.Jill--my favorite online store! I have about 10 dresses from there, all below the knee, all with sleeves that cover the elbow, all with no cleavage showing. They last for ever. I have them with and without collar, several black, some grey, some velvet. 2. Old Navy is a good place for long-sleeved collared blouses with buttons. They often have nice flowery prints. Old Navy is also a good place for long skirts--at least a couple years ago. I have some dresses that fall a little above the knee. I wear these with black or grey leggings. If I don't feel like wearing leggings, I wear a black skirt underneath. A black ultralight knit long- sleeved cardigan-thing finishes the ensemble. I own some other dresses that would show cleavage,so I wear a black tanktop or a black/brown short-sleeved top underneath. In the winter, I wear a turtleneck underneath. I got a couple of really good dresses at 3. Hanna Andersson too. Those last for ever as well. 4. Coldwater Creek. I shop their outlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 My personal definition of a modest dress includes some kind of sleeve (cap, short, or long), a neckline which does not show cleavage, and a knee-length or longer skirt. So with those criteria in mind, I have recently gotten some at Land's End, one at a Costco trunk show for some company or other, and one from Shade. I sometimes layer a camisole underneath for cleavage coverage. If you require ankle length and long sleeves, I think these dresses are beautiful: http://www.shukronline.com/womens-long-dress.html Mine too. I buy a lot of things at LE and Old Navy. I also have a variety of cardigans/shrugs in various colors and sleeve lengths to throw over sleeveless tops or dresses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahliarw Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Blair.com. WAHM type sites like http://www.deborahandco.com/ and http://www.liliesapparel.com/. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfknitter.# Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 For something similar to Little House, you best bet is probably follow their ways and sew your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 If you can do a long sleeved T shirt, Dress Barn has some extremely comfy and cute long skirts. It's very modest around here in Israel, esp going into some of the churches. I have had no problems with the above combos, and I add a light scarf if I want to do a short-sleeved t shirt. I'll see if I can link--http://m.dressbarn.com/mt/www.dressbarn.com/search?p=3&q=long+skirt I have three of these --the Roz one that is striped navy/white, the multi striped one, and the dark blue with a tiny bit of hem beading. All elastic waist--wide, covered elastic--super comfy, not too heavy, wash and wear, and nice on my size 16 bod! Paired with a modest blouse or T, very attractive without being old fashioned or frumpy--not that I am calling lhotp dresses either of those, just saying there are modest, modern style alternatives if you so desire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarreymere Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 You can try Ebay. Do a search for "Mennonite dresses" or "Amish dresses". There are some enterprising folks who purchase from Mennonite/Amish yard sales in their area and re-sell the dresses on ebay. You will find the traditional cape dresses in a variety of colors, sizes, and patterns very inexpensively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snickerplum Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 April Cornell has some good modest dresses. Also they have some cardigans/light sweaters that would be nice and light for summer layering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 http://www.liliesapparel.com/ I have purchased dresses and skirts from this reliable company since 1995. Good workmanship, beautiful dresses (if this is a type one appreciates), and the garments last for years. (I'm still wearing the 1995 purchases.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted June 30, 2013 Author Share Posted June 30, 2013 Thanks for all your suggestions. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Try Christopher and Banks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I thought of you in church today. Several women were wearing those floor length maxi dresses and skirts that are so popular, with light cardigans. All the covering that Ma Ingalls would like with modern style. I'm sure you could pick some up at any store or thrift shop and it looked very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shahrazad Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Here is a listing of stores selling modest clothes and dresses: http://www.modestclothes.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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