Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Year Around Feminine Fashions





























Not everyone has the same needs regarding clothing. A farmer's wife will need something different than a woman living in an apartment or a suburban home. I have chosen several kinds of clothing and patterns to accommodate these differences. In choosing clothing, the main principles are beauty and propriety. Propriety involves being appopriate for the occasion or the job you have ahead of you. I have, for example, noticed that most bodices are too low cut, even in patterns, for the active woman of the home. Though they may appear to be just right when standing, they make a gap when bending to tie a child's shoe or changing a diaper, or even leaning over when serving dinner. Therefore I recommend creating modesty by raising the pattern 3 to 4 inches, or buying lace and doilies to create an inset.




Tea Party Hat and Walking Outfit from www.cattlekate.com


Homestead Dress from www.cattlekate.com


Dress and apron from www.cattlekate.com


Skirts can be the same way. Standing up, they appear to be the perfect length, but once a person sits down or leans over to clean a bathtub or something like that, they pull up and become very uncomfortable. That is why I wear my skirts a little longer.


I also think that colors should be bright and patterns should be pretty. I was just talking to a friend of mine and discussing the way that films portray poor people of the past. I objected to the fact that most movies, even period movies, show the poor people in drab colors and torn costumes. Growing up poor, and having known poor grandmothers who were born in the 1800's, my observations were completely different:



Poor people liked bright colors and shiny things because it disguised their poverty. In those days very few people were proud of poverty and certainly didn't want to look as poor as they were. We girls loved bright colors, especially red and aqua blue, emerald green and purple. These colors always elevated our moods and lifted us out of our poverty. We ironed everything because there was no wash and dry, nor permanent press.



One reason we did not want to look poor is that it told the public that we had no self-respect. A poor person would never have gone around with torn clothing, wrinkled clothing, or dirty clothing. Though we wore jeans, we were ashamed of being seen in them in public, so we never wore them to church. I remember when we had to ride in the back of our father's truck because it was the only vehicle that would work at the time. We had fallen on really hard times, and we girls had to wear warm jeans under our skirts in the back of the truck on the way to church. As soon as we got there we took off the jeans.



The poor are portrayed in films in brown, taupe, black, and grey, but I never knew poor people to wear those colors. Life was drab enough without making us more depressed. Women didn't like those colors, generally, and preferred things with flowers on them or some kind of embroidery and even things with shiny embellishments.



It was the rich who began to wear these plain garments. I always wondered when I visited a richer person's home, how, if they were so well off, they lived so plainly. The women wore drab pantsuits, in monochromatic, dull, dark colors, and they decorated their homes in beige. I always sewed my clothes and one day I received a sarcastic comment about the flowers in the fabric of my dress. Another day someone said in mock amazement: Lydia, why don't you wear a brighter color?" Others have ridiculed with sly remarks about a pink outfit I wear.



Folks, where does this elitist snobbery come from? You can go to exotic places like Thailand and India and deepest Africa, and the women love bright, pretty colors. Women have an instinct for beauty if they are not educated out of it. Look at the past at the paintings. We recently went to Mary Hill Museam in Washington state, and viewed paintings by painters like Paxton and Lack. One painter, Mr. Lack, bought a dress for his wife so he could paint a picture of her sitting at the piano. I can't imagine a painter today wanting to paint a scene of a woman in an uninteresting dress. Somewhere in time, the so-called progressives, changed the meaning of truth and beauty, and foisted upon society these terrible fashions. Without being a brilliant research scientist, a person can almost trace the increasing depression in the population, to the dull furnishings and fashions of the 20th century. Both men and women are affected by this: the women, because they have so little choice in the market and end up having to wear these rags, and the men because they have to look at the women wearing them.



I have found a few things that might be appropriate for some people, but for the most part, I would suggest skirts that are a-line rather than full, because they don't get caught in doors gates and other things, and are warmer. (I wear leggings under most my garments). I would also highly recommend natural fabrics. Cotton is my all-round favorite. It always feels fresh and it launders well. You can hardly damage it and the threads don't pull out. It doesn't pill, and if it fades or thins with time, it is even more charming. In winter, I make a cotton flannel night gown, and by summer, the wash and wear has made it thin enough for the warmer temperature.






Women generally feel good when they wear beautiful colors and prints, but the prevailing culture has made them self-conscious and uncomfortable. The only way we can defeat this attitude is to wear what is lovely give your home and family the feeling of cheer and optimism it deserves.


Just as I was writing this article and had it in my drafts folder, my friend told me that she had read someone's blog that was talking about the same thing. I haven't had a chance to go and look at it, but I must say that I think people are catching on to this manipulation of fashion and are going their own way rather than following the trends that the industry is forcing upon us.


If you know a site that sells pretty clothes, please post it on the comments. I will add the pictures. I realize not everyone will wear western clothing, so I plan to add more as time permits.































37 comments:

Gina said...

I REALLY want my summer outfits to be simple skirts (I'm only 5 foot 1 so just past the knee, no longer) and matching, well-fitting shirts. It's such a challenge with petite clothing. Looking forward to people posting sites!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this info: I am hoping women will share information on winter dressing. I live down south so warmth is not much of an issue and I sew most of my clothes, however I have not managed to maintain my skirts and dresses only attitute throughout winter.
I look foward to everyones responses on this matter!

Laurie said...

I have recently begun my journey of wearing lovely, romantic clothing. I would like to recommend the following sites, some are a bit pricey, but one can get some wonderful inspiration for a gentler, more feminine style.

Greystone Gardens http://www.greystonegardens.com/store/category.cfm?Category=5

Sweet Necessi~Teas (I have bought some of her aprons, they are just lovely!)
http://www.sweetnecessi-teas.com/boutique/index.php

For those of you that are blessed with sewing skills there is the lovely Sense & Sensibility Patterns
http://www.sensibility.com/

Gigi said...

We are influenced by the media more than any of us would like to admit. I am tired of reading how the young adults today "hate" pink or flower prints. I am also amazed that so many women, no matter their shape, will buy the current styles.

I have never been impressed with those who consider themselves to have money. I find most of them to be shallow and vain, focusing on those things in life that simply do not matter. Conversely, I find the same thing with many of those who do not have much money. Their money focus skews their thinking to spend money for show rather than careful consideration of their expenditures. (According to our accountant (husband is self-employed) that this is prevalent among those who have six figure plus incomes as well.) In both these situations, dress is heavily influenced by the media and subcultures.

I believe, at least for me, that a women should dress in accordance with Scripture. Dress should be modest, which eliminates wearing pants, and not scream for the attention of others. I would describe that type of wardrobe as "classic." To me it is a style of clothing that transcends fads and current styles, but does not scream for the attention of others. Rich or poor, at least in US, it doesn't take much to obtain that goal.

Anonymous said...

Petite people can still wear longish skirts. Mid-calf or angle length is just fine. It elongates the figure. Petites can have the same problem with modesty as do tall sized women. If an average sized woman is even a little bit overweight, a short skirt will only make her look fatter. Short skirts on petite women tend to make them look shorter, not taller.

Anonymous said...

On the more expensive side, J Crew has some really nice skirts that, for petites, hit below the knee and are really cute. The website is www.jcrew.com. I'd steer clear of the dresses, though, because a lot of the necklines are VERY low.

For patterns, I like Vogue patterns. There are a lot of cute skirts and dresses that are more trendy (I live in a big city). It's at www.voguepatterns.com.

Anonymous said...

Oh the day when women dressed so beautifully! I wish that we could return back to those days of dress.
My grandmother who is 73 wears dresses wherever she goes now, she says that it is a lot easier for her get around in a skirt or dress then it is for her in pants.

Anonymous said...

Women's fashions have been designed by gay men for decades now; both men's and women's hairstyles come from the same people. Think about how hideous modern hairstyles are, e.g. the uneven "bedhead" look and the equally bizarre man's haircut with shaved neck so prevalent on middle-aged women. You'd almost think that whoever is coming up with these "fashions" actually loathes women and wishes to desecrate their loveliness.

Consider also how the trend in the last 15 years has been to remove men's sideburns when they get a hair cut. They are routinely shaved off near the top of the ear. This was followed by the push for men to get their body hair removed, driven by the brainwashing bit about how men's body hair is unaesthetic, and "icky".

The great push, as I see it, is to make women either slutty or masculine, while feminizing men at the same time. Certainly, the Lord is NOT in this.

Lydia said...

They had pants under their dresses. They were called pantaloons. That is where we get the name "pants." 100 years it was underwear. Today it is outerwear. And it gets worse as we allow these people to foist their fashions on us. Even the corset is now worn as outerwear.

Anonymous said...

I'm young and none of my non-Christian friends hate pink or floral prints. If you look around my school, at least, most of the girls are in pinks and florals. They aren't, however, wearing the victorian style clothes. I think there are ways to be modest without having to dress in the victorian clothes-- unless you want to, of course. :) I prefer a more streamlined look.

Lean Not said...

I have the opposite problem as Gina -- I really have trouble finding clothes long enough! I am only 5' 7", but I have a hard time finding skirts and especially dresses that come to a flattering length. I feel like a little girl who has grown out of her clothes!

JC Penney catalog sometimes has long skirts (39" is my favorite length) and sometimes Chadwick's has nice classic clothes.

I recently went pattern shopping for the first time in a long time, and it was shocking to see that the available sewing patterns were just bad as, if not worse than, the fashions I see in stores. I was only able to find 2 modest, classy dresses (with sleeves) even after looking through all the pattern books in the fabric store. And those 2 dresses, although they were nice and modest, were really boring and looked quite unflattering.

Any ideas?

Anonymous said...

Today's styles leave much to be desired. I do sew my own clothes and keep searching the pattern books for styles that are modest. I have found a few Vogue patterns that one might consider: 2911, 2654, 7822, 8352 ( a fun one), and 8028, 8021, 7873 for a few shirtwaists, and 8050 for a choice of pretty capelets and shrugs. I think they are still available as I have purchased them within this last year. Sometimes it is hard to find the right fabrics.

Serena said...

lean not-- I suggest looking places other than the Big 4 pattern companies if you don't see what you like. There are many pattern companies online. (A good place to start is sensibility.com. Mrs. Chancey's patterns are pretty and modest, but if they aren't your style, you can check out her links for other, more modern pattern companies.) Or, choose a pattern that isn't modest and MAKE it modest: raise the neckline, lengthen the skirt, etc. Often, you can take a sleeve piece from a different pattern and add it to a sleeveless pattern. Or, just put a sweater over it (I have a dress that's sleeveless that I simply always wear a light sweater over, even in summer). The right fabric can do worlds of good for a dull pattern, too.

I lengthen all my skirt patterns--even Sense & Sensibility's! I, too, am only 5'7", but I have the hardest time finding skirts and especially dresses that are long enough for me (at the very least past the knee). I realize that mid-calf length isn't supposed to be the most flattering, but it's my favorite! It is so functional! Long enough to be modest and short enough I don't trip (which I have a tendency to do).


In winter I wear bloomers/pantaloons underneath my skirts. I don't like wearing shoes, so when I can get away with sandals, I stick to the bloomers. But when it's wet or snowy, I wear tights. If it's really, really cold, I put bloomers over tights.

J. Crew's dresses DO have rather low necklines, but you can make them more modest by wearing a shirt underneath, which is what I do with the one that I have. And/or, you can wear a modest sweater over. (I like to layer, can you tell?) I have another that I got there (for a bridesmaid dress, a few years ago) that isn't too low to wear without something underneath. It's red linen, and it works for everything. Note: While J. Crew's clothes are very well-made, I still wouldn't pay full-price for them. Wait for a sale. Also, their plain tank tops make a great extra layer for modesty or warmth (like a camisole, but better!).

Many of my clothes are very bright. Orange is a common color in my wardrobe. Ya know, you get a few compliments within a few days from a few different people about how orange looks good on you, and orange tends to take over the whole wardrobe...

I do love bright colors. And flowers. Sorry about the long and rambling comment.

Anonymous said...

When I was very small, I loved the color pink. Then as I grew up, it wasn't 'cool' to be different and I started wearing mostly blue - denim and other clothes of blue material. At one point almost everything I owned was blue. And then I got married. My clothes didn't change very quickly, but six years and three sons later, I am learning just how nice it is to have something other than blue to wear! We are expecting our first daughter and it has been so much fun to plan and make dresses in pretty florals, pinks, reds and purple.
I know first hand how a pretty, bright dress can brighten the whole atmosphere of the home. Our sons get really excited when I wear something bright and often compliment me on how cute or pretty I look in my new dress. Coming from a not yet four year old, it has to be genuine! And that it really has to mean something to them. Even at such a young age, they can see the difference.

Anonymous said...

I read on several blogs that these women buy older patterns on e-bay or such. The styles are beautiful and have special detailing a lot of time that really sets them apart from the plain lines of so many styles now. You have to watch the sizing on the older patterns if you buy them, as what is a size 12 now may not have been the same measurements as a size 12 back then. I believe a while back on this site you had a u-tube type site to click on that showed a home-ec class of years back. The patterns the girls made and modeled on that were Very pretty and could give people ideas. When we sewed years ago even though we always wore a full slip under all our dresses we also lined the dress, especially if it was of a lighter fabric. The dresses and skirts hung better and were not so sheer. It made a real diference in the look of the outfit. Also if the outfit was made of wool or any itchy like fabric then that fabric was not next to your skin.

Lean Not said...

Thank you for the helpful answers about sewing patterns. I'm looking forward to looking at those! :)

Vanessa said...

Beautiful (mostly colourful), Quality Clothing for Women and Girls. Also sells fine linens for the home.

http://www.aprilcornell.com/

Blessings.

Anonymous said...

What suggestions does anyone offer for a middle-aged woman in Phoenix, AZ, where temps. are over 100 degrees from early a.m. until past 10 p.m., from June through Sept.? I am at home most of the time. Thanks for ideas!

Anonymous said...

I find that I have the same problem as some of the other ladies here. I can not find modest and feminine patterns in major pattern brands (Mcalls, Butterick, Simplicity and Vogue) so I have gone to small online businesses like Sense and Sensibility. Here are the ones that I like:
http://www.hintofhistory.com/
http://favoritethings.net/
http://www.paisleypincushion.com/
http://www.indygojunctioninc.com/store/ http://folkwear.com/

This is a great website to get vintage patterns: http://www.oldpatterns.com/

Anonymous said...

I am a new reader, what a great place to visit! I have a special place to look for romantic feminine clothing patterns. The patterns are so romantic and pretty! Enjoy! http://www.longago.com/rwhen.html

runningtothecross said...

I have found that you can find some really great patterns in the costume sections of the pattern books. I have a couple myself, I haven't had time to make them yet but a young lady at my church has and it is beautiful!

Also, as far as staying warm in the winter, I always layer a petticoat and maybe an extra skirt under my dresses. The petticoat is very easy to make, too...just cut the fabric to the right length (front & back piece), stitch sides, add lace at the bottom, sew a casing at the top for elastic & then add elastic & stitch opening closed! You can count on it taking at least an hour or two, but it is worth it. Even in the summer I like my petticoat because I can wear it under my dresses that button up the front and still be modest.

And as far as wearing beautiful fabrics, I wholeheartedly agree! I remember when I was 7 months pregnant with my 5th child and I put on a borrowed dress in a pretty blue floral and WOW!!! I felt so feminine and pretty that I didn't want to take the dress off! I was forever changed and I have made several dresses since in pretty floral patterns.

Also, if you have a dress that you really like, you can trace a pattern off of that dress and make another just like it! That is what I have done with several of my favorite dresses with fantastic results.

Another site to visit is http://www.practicallyprettydesign.com/

She makes beautiful dresses for under $100, and she can make maternity and nursing dressses as well. (This is Jennie Chancey's mother.)

Blessings!
Heather

BoysMom said...

I sew many of my own skirts. You need a peice of elastic of comfortable thickness, I like half inch, cut to an inch less than your waist measurment and a peice of fabric at least a couple inches wider than you wish your skirt to be long and as long as you like it full. I like a full skirt and usually use about 2 1/2 yards, but my mother prefers a narrower skirt and I use 1 1/2 times her waist measurment. It is easiest to work with a plain cotton print, the stores are selling them as quilters' calico these days. Wait until you have some practice to try striped fabrics.
Fold the fabric end to end, inside out, and pin. Sew the ends together at 1/2 inch so that you have a loop of fabric. This seam is your back seam. it is good to trim the edges with pinking shears if you have them.
Fold the top down a quarter inch, then if using 1/2 inch elastic, another 3/4's inch, pin, and sew right at the inside edge of the fold (measuring about 5/8's inch if your sewing machine has that), leaving at least an inch on each side of the back seam unsewn.
On the bottem edge, again, fold it over twice, 1/2 inch each time for a narrow hem. Sew this hem all the way around. (If you have made an error and made the skirt too long, this is the edge you may fix it on, simply by making a deeper hem.)
Secure one end of the elastic to the skirt with a safety pin. Fasten another saftey pin to the other end of the elastic and use it as a guide to thread the elastic through the hole by the back seam in the waist. The bigger the safety pin, as long as it fits, the easier this will be. Once you have the elastic all the way through, overlap it by an inch and sew it together. Then, by hand, stich closed the gap in the waistband where you threaded the elastic. Turn the skirt right-side out, and it's ready to wear.

Anonymous said...

I was at a garage sale the other day and I was looking through several beautiful upscale dresses that had cute little knit sweater jackets to match. I went to purchase a couple (only 5.00 a set!) and the ladies taking the money were all sisters, and they were trying to figure out who the dresses belonged to in order to credit the right person the purchase. They finally decided it was their MOTHER'S! I had to laugh! These gals were my age-late 30's, all wearing jeans and t-shirts and here I am admiring the great taste of their mother! I may dress like an "old lady" but the older generation are the ones that seem to have class! LOL

Amy said...

This was such a joy to read. Thank you for sharing it :o)

Anonymous said...

Dear lady Lydia, I would like to post the link to some cute soap dish bottle aprons to jazz up the kitchen, They were so cute I simply had to share with somebody.
http://sewing.about.com/od/aprons/ss/soapapron.htm

Anonymous said...

Dearest lady Lydia,

I couldn't help but love yor article on colour and costume. Wonderful! Before i married, I lived in a rented home and rarely had two brass razoos to rub together...but what colour do you think my furnishings were? Yellow! even whent out and found a yellow toaster!! (canary , sunny golden and all permutations of yellow! even a yellow tablecloth! Warm canes, soft furnishings in this golden glory plus a deep red rug (even though it was a cheapie costing $40 US in deep red - it lifted the old drab greys and creams something fabulous. Throw in a set of cream curtains with rose and brown in them that accented the cane furnishings and acted as a throw for an old cream lounge (festoone with golden yellow cushions) and the place was transformed(even if I had to safetypin a hole in the curtain from behind (no one ever saw as it sat in one of the folds =- smile)... Now my bedroom mancheester was BRIGHT! Electric violet and shocking pink reversables - (with my poor eyes, only the brightest of colours would penetrate) My sighted friends found it a bit full on but were never miserable at my place - hey they stopped over (as I was on a major highway) to get away from the blues with a cuppa a good chat and a laugh before going on their way). My husband is afraid of bright colours (smile) but my yellow toaster prevails! I've set up a guest/prayer room in a part of the house that gets the winter afternoon sun. With the yellows, and a beautiful pink prayer rug my malaysian friendd gave (pink, orange, yellow and green) folded over the back of one of the cane chairs (not enough room in our living room with his furnishings for this to take pride of place) I've a room that uplifts and revitalises - good for prayer, meditation and cheering up.

As for the clothes, I got a fantastic drill cotton a-line skirt from a local agricultural show booth - they're on the net - everythingwas cotton (even their underpinnings - fabulous and would last a lifetime as opposed to the shabby nylon things they toss our way in the department stores) $80 australian for the Brazierre though - but cotton would be worth it).

I've a few clingy sweaters, but drape a long scarf (indian style) around to cover the bits and pieces - when i was a teen - not so long ago, blouses were straight cut and well made, and DIDN'T cling, and were not of stretch material. Now I cannot find a single blouse to wear - why are the fellow's shirts still straight and modest cut like ours used to be but ours are cheap and terrible??

I'm going to find me a seamstress this summer!! (smile).

Please share this on your comments, but if not, Jolly good work once again!

Blessings,

Mrs. E. in Australia

Anonymous said...

Dearest Lady Lydia,

Concerning drab colours, in many of the circles I move in, 'Plain' is seen as the desired attire of requirement; perhaps not 'amish plain', but drab nonetheless; I spent 22 years in a denomination that at its cornerstone frowned on bright colours for ladies and even a little makeup and jewelerry - some pastors not baptising new converts till they took off their wedding ring for good...

then there's the formal plain movements; plus traditional quakers, and groups such as the Brothers and sisters of penitence...all advocate neutrals, no patterns, sombre tones etc.

My malay friends taught me a lot about colour and modesty - love their bayjou kurongs andd kabarongs - knee or calf length tunics worn over pleated ankle length skirt - bright, lovely, when the local clothierre started selling them, I bought up big - even though I'm a western Christian as I love dthe style and brightness so so much. Even their grey one hasd splashes of peacock blue through it and another grey had a graduated rainbow ribbon running the whole length of the front of the bodice...

Lovely!

Blessings,

Sarah in Australia.

Anonymous said...

In the winter I wear long underwear (otherwise known as thermal underwear) under my skirts and dresses with a pair of boots. They keep me very warm and are quite practical. I also usually wear the top from the long underwear too. (I get cold very easily!) The kind I have now is called polypropyline and it is what the military uses for some of their cold-weather gear. It is thin and lightweight but it keeps me much warmer than normal thermals. They can also attract A LOT of static. So I always wear a slip between them and my skirt or dress, as it prevents my dress/skirt from sticking to my legs. I also usually wear 2 pairs of socks under my boots in the winter: one pair of normal socks, and one pair of wool socks and that keeps my feet nice and toasty! Hope that was helpful.

Beth in Oregon

Anonymous said...

I tried posting this once, but I'm not sure if it went through, so if you get this twice, I apologize.

I have searched throughout the internet for beautiful full dresses and skirts. Most of them are pricey, but they seem to be good quality, so if they last a long time, it's worth it to me. I find the clothes I like best from Jewish modesty sites, and also there's one Muslim modesty site that has beautiful things, though there are no bright colors there. (I myself am Christian, however.)

Here are the ones I'm thinking of:
http://www.shukronline.com/
https://www.funkyfrum.com/catalog/index.php
http://www.tznius.com/

And while not a religious site, you can find BRIGHT! colors and beautiful styles here:
http://www.chrysalis-clothing.com/

In the summer, lightweight fabrics and flowy styles, I used to wear spaghetti strap tops, and still have more tank tops than other things, but I'm thinking of moving to long sleeved crisp light colored cotton for summer tops, loose, nothing tight, because it's more modest and also more protection from the sun. I want feminine blouses in crisp white cotton, anyone have resources for that?

In the winter, I wear over the knee wool socks, not hose or tights (yuck!), and heavier fabrics (I realized this past winter that I need heavier skirts), and boots, and my personal style for skirt wearing is a cloak over it all. :) And layering is good too. I think with a denim or wool skirt, (or even corduroy!), and a heavier fabric petticoat underneath, you could be very warm- especially if there are wool stocking underneath THOSE! :)

I also know a girl online who made a skirt out of a quilted blanket. I know you're not supposed to covet, but I LOVE her skirt and want it for my own! :)
http:// gaiarose.wordpress.com/2007/01/22/quilted-skirt-from-a-rag-tag-thrifted-find/
http:// gaiarose.wordpress.com/2007/02/25/its-chili-outside/

Anonymous said...

Lydia, I think I may have an answer as to why the better-off wear drab while the lower income folks wear colors:

The better-off are using drab colors *because* the "lower classes" (I hate that expression, but you know what I mean) are wearing and using the brights. ("lower" in the view of those with more wealth--but not really "lower" in any fundamental way).

The sociologists call this having and seeking "positional goods." Those with more money will always try to find something that distinguishes themselves from those with less wealth.

Television started out as a positional good - at the beginning, only the wealthy had it. Same with phones. As time went on and these things became cheaper and therefore within the reach of the average person, the wealthier classes found something new to "position" themselves.

If the less-moneyed classes began wearing drab? Guess what would happen. The wealthier people would start wearing brights.

The idea isn't that drab or bright colors are intrinsically "in better taste" -- it's about how different social classes seek to distinguish themselves from the hoi polloi. Which is most of us!

Silly human nature. :)

Anonymous said...

Esther said:
I wear only dresses and skirts... I have a wonderful collection of pretty cloths. I have bought most of them from thrift stores and garage sales, and given from friends. I do buy new occasionally. I wear alot of denim, I wear thin, plain, and different colored 3/4 length
t-shirt like tops under sleevless dresses and blouses, I wear undershirts with tops that are cut too low.
I love colorful items, pretty dresses, I so enjoy dressing like a lady... all my skirts and dresses come below my knee, my sleeves are 3/4 length and my neckline is modest.
I do not sew really, mostly adjust clothing to make it suit my decree of modesty...I am almost 5'8" and look good in long skirts. When it is hot a loose dress is wonderful. I live in white cotton shirts, princess seams so they look feminine. They feel like silk after many washings... When it is cold, I wear tights, ALWAYS a slip, it doesn't matter the weather, and socks and boots or closed toed shoes. I keep my cloths for years, buying used good quality is important. I think bright color is important, looking drab in my book is close to being a sin!!! : ) Women used to always wear dresses. It is a shame to see the baggy sweat pants, jeans and t-shirts, cut off hair
on the women today, even the young ones. Some women do not even know how to wear a dress. Or even own one... I remember when I was younger I NEVER wore dresses in high school, I would be embarassed, but that all changed when I became a christian and wanted to become what God desired. It has made such a difference. I am so glad to be a lady and not at all like a man...

Lydia said...

That blog is now open. I had some trouble with some young people who disliked what I had to say. I closed it for awhile and cleaned up the comments.

I would suggest if anyone really needs inspiration, to look at the blogs on the side. the Guard the Home Blog is for parents to help them understand the signs of rebellion and to prevent it.

Anonymous said...

I like these clothing companies:

www.coldwatercreek.com
www.tzinus.com

Also, Christopher and Banks has nice outfits when I can stand a trip to the mall!

If you shop the sales, you can get great deals! I never pay full retail price from coldwater, too expensive, but the markdowns are awesome! I like to try and sew but it doesn't always work out and I can't find everything I need when I need it at thrift stores, so I like to have these other options as well.
Mandy

Anonymous said...

Are you okay? You haven't posted anything in over a week. I hope you are alright.

Anonymous said...

Ladies I have been occupied trying to adjust to the new blogger programs that the company has changed the blogs to. Also my mother and my daughter and I are getting a book ready to burst forth on an astonished world, ha ha. I will write an article about it soon and show you where to get it online. We have decided not to release it to bookstores, as they over price it. I hope to get that article and link on here this week.

Lydia

Sweet Necessi-Teas said...

I was so surprised to see my shop listed as "cheer-me-up-shopping". How kind of you to list my site! I began making my own clothes when I was a teenager (in the early 70's) because I could never find clothing that fit my old-fashioned and romantic style. I began selling my skirts, jackets, etc. because people would (and still do) stop me on the street and ask me where to buy them. Thank you for the mention in your lovely blog. You have such a way with words!

Lydia said...

That is interesting idea about the colors of the rich vs. poor but I haven't yet come to believe it is a matter of economics. Poor people have always loved to look rich, always liked color and sparkle, and in the 1800's they wouldn't have let on that they were poor. It was a shame to be poor and a sign of failure to use their resources wisely..especially was poverty inevitable if one drank or smoke or practiced any kind of vice, like gambling. The paintings of the Victorian period show peasants in bright colors.