Inspiration: Past

"What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun."
--Ecclesiastes 1:9

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone."
--Sam Levenson (often attributed to Audrey Hepburn; as it was one of her favorite quotes)

On me: shirt, clothing swap; skirt, $10, Target; shoes, $10, KMart

Wouldn't it be loverly? On me: Headband, $2, For Love 21; earrings, gift

I discovered my first, and favorite, style inspiration during my sophomore year in high school. We had to do a biography project for social studies class where we dressed up and acted like a notable person from the past, and one of my best friends suggested I "be" Audrey Hepburn. I didn't really know anything about the actress, and I had never seen any of her movies, but Katherine told me I reminded her of Audrey and that she seemed like a good fit. That started my interest (shall we not say obsession?) with this beautiful woman of beautiful character. I have since received several comparisons to Miss Hepburn from others, and I consider it an honor! Almost everything I have read about Audrey would classify her as both modest and stylish. Let's look at a few definitions and let Audrey speak for herself:

Modesty:
1. freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc.
"I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing 'Funny Face' when I couldn't sing, and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance - and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for."

2. reserve or propriety in behavior, dress, speech, etc.
"Jewelry just doesn't suit me, and if I wear too much makeup, my face looks like a mask instead of me...Put me in furs and jewels, and I look like something off a barrel organ."

3. simplicity, lack of pretentiousness
"The more there is, the less I want. The more man flies to the moon, the more I want to look at a tree."

4. having a moderate opinion of oneself
"I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing."

5. of good behavior (Biblical usage)
(From her son, Sean Ferrer:) "The first choice she made was her career. Then she chose her family. And when we, her children, were grown and started our lives, she chose the less fortunate children of the world [when she worked for UNICEF the final years of her life]. She chose to give back." (From the book Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit by Sean Ferrer.)

Style
1. a mode of fashion, as in dress, esp. good or approved fashion; elegance; smartness
“My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.”

Audrey Hepburn had a very classic style, which I like because it will (presumably) never go out of style. Fifty years after her heyday, people still imitate Audrey's look...at least I do! You don't have to follow the trends or buy new things with every whim of the fashion world, and you can change little things to suit your own personality and lifestyle. Here is a cute list from the book Audrey Style by Pamela Clarke Keogh about what was typical to "Audrey's Closet":

• the little black dress
• the sleeveless sheath dress
• the white shirt
• a jazzy suit
• capri pants
• a dark turtleneck
• one "what the heck" item
• one killer dress
• jeans, a polo shirt, sneaks
• flats
• the sabrina heel
• accessories: the scarf, dark sunglasses, as little jewelry as possible, a small dog with a wry name, gregory peck

It seems for such the style icon that Audrey became, she had a simple wardrobe and desired a simple life. While she was no perfect person (of course, only One is), she is one of the best examples I have found of a well-known stylish woman with great compassion, love, dignity, and modesty. I can only hope when I draw comparisons with her, it goes beyond my flat shoes and thick eyebrows |:)

I will definitely write more about Audrey Hepburn throughout this blog, as many of my ideas about style come from her. I would recommend you read her biography! She had an amazing story that I won't describe right now, but suffice it to say she was not a typical Hollywood starlet.

The Ghost of Clothing Past

"Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right."
--Proverbs 20:11

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."
--1 Corinthians 13:11

"Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."
--1 Corinthians 14:20

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion."
--Henry David Thoreau

Me, circa 1990, dressed in hand-me-downs except for my Payless boots!

As a little girl, I loved to wear girly clothes. I always had a dress on, no matter whether I was baking with my mom or digging in the sandbox with my brother. The picture above shows me around age 7, wearing my full skirt and my favorite (and first) pair of high-heeled boots in a pumpkin patch! Everyone else in the picture had on their sweats, flannel shirts, and tennis shoes, but that's not how I rolled, evidently. I was also extremely modest. I remember one time in preschool I cried because I had hung upside down on the jungle gym and a boy told me he saw my belly button.

Then came public school, television, and eventually fashion magazines. My femininity basically remained intact, but my modesty all but went out the window. Now, if you were to ask my friends, they would say I dressed more conservatively than most people around me. When I look back at what I wore, though, this doesn't really say much. The older I get, the more I learn from other people, and the more God reveals His heart to me, the more convicted I become about dressing more modestly again. As Paul wrote, we should be like infants in regard to evil--I should be happy and it should please the Lord to want this change.

But wait! There's more. The other part of Paul's exhortation is to think like adults. I have a feeling he wasn't thinking about clothing when he wrote this, but it can apply anyhow. While my pumpkin patch outfit has the right "intent", it doesn't quite match or work with the situation. This is an example of where I should have used grown-up, intelligent thought! At least some flat shoes would have been easier to walk in, though I could have kept the skirt ;)

This is only the first in a series of pictures that I hope to write about. I think there are important lessons to learn from our past, and since I'm writing about style, I'm going to try to glean those lessons from my own previous outfits. Pumpkin patch outfit lessons learned:

1. Don't wear heels in a pumpkin patch. AKA dress appropriately for the situation!
2. I was going to say, match, but how about: Don't match. Oh, how little children care of what others think of them. We lose so much of that as we get older. If red, turqoise, hot pink, and white with two shades of denim make you happy, go for it. It's not a sin.
   

Inspiration: Birds

"For the king's ships went to Tarshish with Huram's servants; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks."
--2 Chronicles 9:21

"The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, [but] are they the pinions and plumage of love?"
--Job 39:13

Headband, $8, Target

Yet another example that shows God knows what He's doing! Just take something from nature (or if these are faux dyed feathers, then something that looks like it's from nature) and stick it somewhere on yourself. Voila! It's a beautiful accessory, because it's designed by God. Yes, that's all.

Inspiration: Flowers

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."
--Luke 12:27


Nail polish, eyeslipsface.com, $1 each

I realize I've used this verse already, but it sounds so nice, and it's so appropriate to this entry. My mom loves gardening, and I have no skill or knowledge pertaining to flowers whatsoever, so she bought and planted these pansies for me a few weeks ago. I walk past them each time I go to my car, and their color just screams out "beautiful"! The petals feel like velvet, and the maroon and violet are so rich, they inspire me to use those shades in the way I dress. Nail polish isn't something that I use often, but it's so fun sometimes to pick a unique shade and paint away.
And there's something so pretty about the colors in the bottles!

Cheap Trick: Clothing Swap

"All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
--Acts 2:44-47

Doesn't this sound like the life? Sharing everything with your friends, spending your time and meals with them, and all while honoring God and doing His work. I came upon an idea a few years ago that let me share my clothes with my friends. A clothing swap is a fun way to get new things for free and to use what you have to help your friends. Here's the basic premise:

1. Invite over a handful of friends.
2. Everyone brings all the clothing/shoes/accessories/etc. they don't want anymore.
3. Set up your space so that the items are organized and visible.
4. Everyone chooses a few items at a time to try on and keep.
5. Once everyone is finished, pack the remaining items up to donate to charity.

The first year I did the swap, one of my girl friends and I basically traded our entire wardrobes. She had lost weight and dropped a size, and I had gained enough to move up a size, and it just so happened we switched to each others' sizes! What a nice feeling it was not to have to go buy a whole new set of clothes to fit, when it was right there in front of us.

You might actually be surprised how much of a range of sizes will fit you. I can wear up to two sizes smaller or larger than what I would buy in the store (because of brand differences, prior shrinkage, the lure of its being free...), and I have shared clothes with girls who are 6 inches shorter or 30 pounds heavier than I am. If you are nowhere close to the same size as the rest of your friends, there always seem to be sunglasses, scarves, necklaces, and other accessories that you certainly could pick up or give away. I always serve food, and the atmosphere is fun even if you just come to socialize! I would guess about a third of my entire wardrobe comes from swaps!

This outfit's possible inspiration ;)

Here is a clothing swap blouse (Express brand); khakis, $13, Old Navy; belt came with a skirt, Forever 21; headband, made from ribbon, Walmart, 50 cents/yard); earrings, $6, Target

Shoes, $10, KMart

Purse with pin, $10, KMart
Total outfit cost, with accessories: $39.50

Clothes in the Bible Part 1: Paradise is for Nudists

"The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Genesis 2:25)

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

...The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."

--Genesis 3:6-13, 21

Adam and Eve give new meaning to the term 'fall fashion'

As much as I like to follow fashion and get dressed up, clothes ironically have no place in the perfect world. When Adam and Eve dwelt in paradise, before they sinned, they were completely naked. They presumably had no use for clothing. Oh, but after that first bite, everything changed. I can picture it in my mind:
Eve: Mm, this fruit sure is tasty. Here you go, Adam.
Adam: Eh, why not? Wow, it is good.
Eve: Oh man! I can't believe it--we're naked!
Adam: You mean we've been walking around all this time without any clothes on?
Eve: Any what on?
Adam: Uh oh, here comes God. Here, put this on...
God: Sigh *shakes His head* What did you guys do?
Adam: Er...she made me do it!
Eve: It wasn't my fault! Daggone snake...
God: Come on, you were perfect. I gave you everything you could have wanted, and you've messed it all up. You have no idea how hard you've made it for yourselves now.
(God tells the snake and Eve and Adam their fates. A few minutes later...)
God: By the way, what is that you're wearing? Leaves? Let me show you how it's done. If you're going to wear something, it might as well be useful. These skin coats will keep you warm. I love you guys, but you are so hopeless without me.

Here are a few points about appearance and clothing that I get from the passage:

1. God made us in His image, so each of us is beautiful.
2. Because of sin, we need to cover our bodies with clothing. I don't exactly know why Adam and Eve needed to cover up, since they were husband and wife, but that was the consequence, so that's the way it goes.
3. God provides all we need, including clothing. We don't need to worry about what we'll wear, or store up our treasures on the earth... Not only won't we be able to bring our clothes with us to heaven, but we might not even need clothes there!
4. Ain't nothing wrong with a fur coat!
   

Looks you can RoCk...and still maintain your dignity

"Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen."
--Exodus 28:2-5

"Never wear clothes at the expense of your dignity or your hips."
--Anna Johnson

T-shirt, fredflare.com

As I've walked through the clothing stores recently, I've been frustrated at the choices. Not only do the clothes cost a small fortune, but they go to the extremes of boring or trashy. I like to think of fashion as art, so colors and textures are important to me. The boring clothes lack those qualities, and while there's nothing wrong with looking plain, I think we can enjoy beauty without being vain. On the other hand, the trashy clothes often have bright colors and cool textures, but the their goal is to call attention to "certain" parts of the body--by nearly exposing them.

So, it's exciting for me to find a style or trend that looks artistic and pretty, and stills allows me to be covered up, not drawing the wrong sort of attention. Here I give you my first installation of my finds--looks you can rock and still maintain your dignity: an ode to tights!

Tights can add color to your outfit and keep your legs a little more covered up. These remind me of grape soda. Shoes, $16, Payless; tights, $5, Marshalls

These are actually silver, even though they look white. Shoes, $20, JCPenney; tights, $4, Marshalls

Fishnets are usually not what comes to mind when you think of modesty, but if you put them over regular tights of the same color, it makes a neat grid pattern! Shoes, Nine West; black tights, borrowed; fishnets, Target, $4.

Another example of tone-on-tone. Shoes, $7, Old Navy; fishnets, JCPenney, $3.

I love the colors of these tights. This is a Coach ad, which means each item costs approximately $700...just kidding. Kind of.

"Deals & Steals" For Reals

"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
--1 Timothy 6:8-10

Louis Vuitton bag, list price $3,738.98 (Surely this must be a typo?)


I like looking at fashion magazines, but I have a feeling the only ones who could actually afford to buy the items pictured are the actual people pictured in the pages. Even the pieces in the articles about "cheap finds" or "deals and steals" cost $50 to $100. I'm not sure what you spend in a month, but magazine prices do not match my budget.

Here's my standard:
$0=steal
$10=deal
$20=decent price
$30=splurge
$40=investment
$50=not worth it

Now, I think I have pretty decent style (hence me writing this blog), and I have never spent more than $50 for an article of clothing. That includes running shoes, winter coats, and prom dresses. (My wedding dress did cost more than that, but I didn't pay for it...Thanks, Mom and Dad!) One of my goals in this blog is to show you how I put together my outfits thriftily.

There are a few reasons I don't spend much money on my clothes. They are:

1. I'm fickle. Often, I will buy a piece of clothing and after I wear it 3 or 4 times I'll decide I don't like it anymore. I used to return about half the things I bought, until I learned a little self control. I've heard that a good guideline for buying clothes is $1 per wear.
   
2. There isn't a whole lot to spend. Even though I stay at home (meaning no paid job), I'm grateful that my husband gives me money to spend each month on whatever I want. Our spending budget is only a small percentage of his income, and we try to live debt-free (meaning no credit, ladies!). I believe this is a godly way of living, and it keeps us living within our means without getting trapped owing anything to someone else.
3. I'm used to it. I have never had a full-time, year-round job, having gone straight from high school to college, then getting married immediately (working part-time) and staying at home after the birth of our son nine months later. Thus, I've either relied on my parents or my husband for at least part of my income.
4. There are much better uses of my money. Even if money grew on the trees surrounding my house, I don't think I would pay much more than I do now for clothes. There are people who need food and homes; charities and ministries that can send workers overseas to help others; and tons of other more worthy things for which to use my income. Yes, I need to wear actual clothes to function in society, but if I can find them for $5, then why spend $500 or even $50?
5. I enjoy the so-called thrill of the hunt! It would be quick and easy to put together a gorgeous outfit if I had an unlimited budget. It's exciting to find a $7 dress that looks good after shopping for two hours.
6. I have to be prepared for any number of messes. Each day I encounter dirty diapers, food and milk spills, spit-up incidents, and falls in the dirt. That adds up to about 27 opportunities per day to ruin my clothes. I cringe at the thought of washing spit-up off a $3000 purse.
   

Here's an example of a typical casual outfit for me:

T-shirt, $5, Old Navy; men's tank, $2, Target; khakis, given to me by a friend, Old Navy; shoes, $3, Target

Jacket, $6, Target
Total outfit cost: $16

Inspiration: Seasons

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him."

--Daniel 2:20-22

I have recently (within the past week or so, since starting this blog) discovered so many aspects of the natural world that God created so beautifully that influence fashion trends every year. Especially apparent this time of year are the gorgeous reds, oranges, and yellows of the leaves. The trees at University of Virginia in Charlottesville are arranged in such a way that when you look down the road, they blend into a rainbow of foliage, and you can't tell where one tree ends and the other begins. As the trees change and the weather cools, I find myself wanting to bundle up and eat warm, rich foods. Pumpkin has been a staple in my house this year--my son especially loves pumpkin bread and pumpkin pancakes. The cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger can inspire the colors of your wardrobe. And this is the time of year for treats!

Pumpkin pie, anyone? This shirt feels reminds me of an autumn leaf! Top, JCPenney; Jeans, Marshalls

I see I'm not the only one trying to imitate nature. William, age 2 1/2. Jacket, Marshalls

Score! Leaves and pumpkins aren't the only beautiful brown and orange things this fall. Reese's peanut butter cup, courtesy of William's candy pile.

The tan, brown, and black of the shoes blend right into the fall leaves. Shoes, American Eagle Outfitters

**Disclaimer**

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
--Romans 14:14-19

I realize that everyone has their own standard of what is appropriate, and there is a wide variation even among Christian women as to what we should wear. Some women only wear long skirts and head coverings; others feel shorts or strapless tops can be tasteful. I will obviously be using my own standard, which I have developed from advice from others (friends, mentors, my husband) as well as my conviction from God. I ask that you readers keep me accountable, too. If you feel offended by anything I post, please let me know. Or just don't read it ;)

The Proverbs 31 Woman

"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her. And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax, and works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor; and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
"Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."
--Proverbs 31:10-31, italics added

In the Bible, God warns us about idolizing objects and about materialism, storing things up that will fade away instead of focusing on the eternal. Does that mean we should not desire or be able to dress nicely? I don't believe that is the case, if our priorities are right.

Take the example of the godly woman in Proverbs 31. Her clothes are made of fine linen and purple fabric, which were associated with nobility and the wealthy. She also gathers wool and flax (also nice fabrics) to make into clothing. Not only does the noble woman put thought into what she wears, but she buys the best for her family.

What are her priorities? She fears the Lord; she loves and honors her husband; she cares for her household; and she helps others in need. The woman obviously exhibits wisdom, and the description leads me to believe a few things about her attitude towards clothing, from which we can draw advice:

• Dress for your position of influence. I think she dresses her family nicely because her husband is well-respected in the city. As much as we love or hate to admit it, people will form opinions about us based on what we wear. Thus those in the public eye should tailor their wardrobe accordingly.
• Dress within your means. The noble woman seems she does a cost-effective job by selecting fabrics, working to make the clothing herself, and only using what she and her family need, without excess.

These two principles go hand in hand. When you stock your wardrobe only with the things you need for your lifestyle, you need not overspend or accumulate useless articles.

For example, as a stay-at-home mother, I spend most of my day and days playing with the kids and doing housework, so I should have mostly casual clothing and comfortable shoes. As much as I love to wear formal dresses, it would be unwise to spend my money on them, as I have almost no chance of wearing them. For a professional ballroom dancer, however, a closet full of chiffon ruffles is completely practical. A student will need different clothes than a lawyer, who will need different clothes than a lumberjack. You see my point?

Buying impractical things is a waste of money and can lead to materialism. If our focus is on doing the work of the Lord, everything we need will fall into place.

Inspiration: Nature

"Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these."
--Luke 12:27

Many things inspire my style, and nature is one of them. God surrounded us with such amazing colors, textures, scents, and patterns. Here are some of my favorites:

What is modestyle?

"Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness."

--1 Timothy 2:9, 10

modestyle=modest style

I have an interest in fashion and style, and I also believe the Bible is truth. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Fashion as a form of art, like music or literature, can be used to glorify God and reflect His creativity. I hope to explore elements of style while incorporating the principle of spiritual, physical, and financial modesty.

We must examine the reasons we wear what we wear. Is it to show off our material possessions? That could inspire covetousness in others... Is it to show off our bodies? That could inspire lust. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Cor. 6:19, 20)

To me, modesty means this:

1. Wearing clothing that does not inspire lust in others. Thankfully, my husband is a good judge of this. If a skirt is too short or a pair of pants is too tight, I'll ask him what he thinks. If I look "too good" it's time for a change! Of course, this principle is important for him too--he is the only one he wants to see me that way.
2. Living and spending within my means. I plan to write more about the financial aspects of fashion later, but I want to mention the need for a budget. Tithing first, necessities second, then spending. I love being thrifty because it breeds creativity.
3. The focus is not on me but on Christ. Of course, I am a "work in progress" as they say, but I want the first thing people think of me to be my heart for God. It's okay to look nice, but if I take too much pride in my appearance or call attention to my looks or possessions over my character and actions, I need to change.