Modesty And Discernment

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' post='1489844' date='Mar 31 2008, 06:47 PM']Are any of these - or other? - links good for getting the typical live-in, retreat or postulant wear like - black stockings, long (mid-shin) black or brown jumpers, skirts, etc and white long-sleeved or 3/4 sleeve blouses? There are some overseas religious orders that don't have postulant habits and they ask you to bring these items and others. I have seen the long jumpers but in either a tacky print with flowers and such or in denim or in corduroy. Any links, suggestions?

I am still checking out the links from MargaretClare and others but I thought I'd post this in case some others who had live-ins and such got these items somewhere I hadn't found yet. Any suggestions or other links? Often the modest clothing women would wear to work or everyday is too "fancy" for a live-in or a postulant every day wear in an order. Thanks.[/quote]

I think most people make their own jumpers when the community doesn't provide them, but I'm sure you could find something. I don't know how well this would go over, but you could always try and contact communities that have black or brown jumpers to buy one from them that is not being used or make one according to your measurements. Seamstresses in monasteries can usually whip those out in a jiffy because they have so much practice.

[shortnun]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' post='1489844' date='Mar 31 2008, 07:47 PM']Are any of these - or other? - links good for getting the typical live-in, retreat or postulant wear like - black stockings, long (mid-shin) black or brown jumpers, skirts, etc and white long-sleeved or 3/4 sleeve blouses? There are some overseas religious orders that don't have postulant habits and they ask you to bring these items and others. I have seen the long jumpers but in either a tacky print with flowers and such or in denim or in corduroy. Any links, suggestions?

I am still checking out the links from MargaretClare and others but I thought I'd post this in case some others who had live-ins and such got these items somewhere I hadn't found yet. Any suggestions or other links? Often the modest clothing women would wear to work or everyday is too "fancy" for a live-in or a postulant every day wear in an order. Thanks.[/quote]
In addition to Totus Tuus' comments, many communities have closets with these outfits. I know some women who've entered communities and have received these hand-me-downs. I would imagine that it depends largely on the community, of course. But in an interest of poverty, I would have to think that most places wouldn't require you make a lot of changes to your wardrobe in order to enter! (Other than get rid of most of your clothes )

Edited April 1, 2008 by shortnun

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Cathoholic Anonymous' post='1347306' date='Aug 2 2007, 12:35 PM']My shorts, not my parents.[/quote]


[quote name='Carmelitess' post='1347346' date='Aug 2 2007, 12:55 PM']Hehe! You're funny. I'm so glad that my post was helpful! I hope you don't mind my asking, but did you used to be Muslim?

Have you found it a great sacrifice to give up fashion for modest dress? I've found it difficult, because it seems that almost the only places to find clothing that really covers you up is at a store catering to women aged 30 and above. (I'm only 18!) It's a great way to get used to sacrificing one's vanity as preparation for religious life! Also, there's a great beauty in dressing as Our Lady would dress, don't you think?

Oh, and here is a link to a company that sells modest clothing:

[url="http://www.modestapparelusa.com/"]Modest Apparel USA[/url]

Also, here are two books written by an author mentioned in a [i]Newsweek[/i] article on girls and modesty:

[i]Girls Gone Mild [/i]

[i]A Return To Modesty[/i]

I haven't read either book, so I can't give it a personal recommendation, but they looked pretty good.

Her website is [url="http://www.modestyzone.net/"]Modesty Zone[/url][/quote]
If I was a girl looking into "modest clothing" and found those sites, I'd give up!

[quote name='VeniteAdoremus' post='1347538' date='Aug 2 2007, 03:04 PM']Oh, and do you know that it's actually quite wonderful to wear ankle-length skirts? You can just flop down in the grass or curl up on a train seat and you don't have to give a thought to what's showing and what's not [/quote]
I <3 that!

[quote name='Margaret Clare' post='1348720' date='Aug 3 2007, 03:21 PM']And nowadays I pretty much always wear some light long-sleeved cardigan when I'm in church - though the a/c at my parish really requires that anyway! [/quote]
The same is true of my parish!



My response to this thread:
My dress did change when I began to discern religious life. I think there was something inside of me all along that wanted to be more modest (and I had flirted around with a few styles of dress before that were more modest) but discernment gave me that "excuse". I started wearing tons of long skirts (floor length) and cardigans. I generally kept my hair up to avoid distraction. I wore less makeup though still enough to be "presentable". I'm not a fan of throwing yourself away just because you are discerning. I believe you should dress in a way which is modest but discreetly so. I don't think people should be able to tell that you are trying so hard. You should look presentable (put together) and mature. Light makeup is okay in my book, as is jewelry. When you make the leap into the convent, then you leave those things behind. But as long as we are in the world, we must make the effort to be respectably dressed.

For those of you who claim to not be able to find any modest clothing out there: there is modest clothing EVERYWHERE! I know we've had this discussion many times before and many times I have mentioned several stores that are sure to have something you both like and can wear modestly. Some of the stores I recommend with current examples:

[url="http://www.gap.com"]Gap[/url]
[img]http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/498/498508/main/gp498508-03p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/502/502831/main/gp502831-01p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/502/502831/main/gp502831-12p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/502/502817/main/gp502817-07p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/502/502794/main/gp502794-01p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/502/502820/main/gp502820-04p01v01.jpg[/img]

(The last one would of course have a shirt under it to cover any exposed chest...)


[url="http://www.eddiebauer.com/"]Eddie Bauer[/url][list]
[*][url="http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=32853&gpCategoryId=1&pCategoryId=3&categoryId=100&gpCategoryName=EB&pCategoryName=WOMEN&categoryName=DRESSES--SKIRTS&catPath=lineId=-1~~pCategoryId=1~~categoryId=3~~pCategorName=EB~~categoryName=WOMEN&viewAll=y"]This cute dress with a cardigan on top[/url]
[*][url="http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=32478&gpCategoryId=1&pCategoryId=3&categoryId=100&gpCategoryName=EB&pCategoryName=WOMEN&categoryName=DRESSES--SKIRTS&catPath=lineId=-1~~pCategoryId=1~~categoryId=3~~pCategorName=EB~~categoryName=WOMEN&viewAll=y"]This skirt, perhaps, if it's your taste...[/url]
[*][url="http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=32469&gpCategoryId=1&pCategoryId=3&categoryId=95&gpCategoryName=EB&pCategoryName=WOMEN&categoryName=SWEATERS--CARDIGANS&catPath=lineId=-1~~pCategoryId=1~~categoryId=3~~pCategorName=EB~~categoryName=WOMEN&viewAll=y"]Cable cardigan[/url]
[*][url="http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=32458&gpCategoryId=1&pCategoryId=3&categoryId=95&gpCategoryName=EB&pCategoryName=WOMEN&categoryName=SWEATERS--CARDIGANS&catPath=lineId=-1~~pCategoryId=1~~categoryId=3~~pCategorName=EB~~categoryName=WOMEN&viewAll=y"]Another great cardigan[/url]
[/list]
[url="http://www.jcrew.com"]J.Crew[/url]
[img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/93889_RD6042_m_SP08.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/91027_KD6643_m_SP08.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/92681_NA6434_m_SP08.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/85613_BL8783_m_SP08.jpg[/img]

[franciscanheart]

more from JCrew:

[img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/87699_BR6401_m_SP08.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/91377_PR5696_m_SP08.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/91644_YL5341_m_SP08.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.jcrew.com/images/newshots2004/main305/91622_RD5935_m_SP08.jpg[/img]

[url="http://www.anntaylorloft.com/"]Ann Taylor Loft[/url]
(Images from this site can't be loaded here. Check it out though... lots of adorable cardigans and tops! They also have some nice pants.)

[url="http://www.bananarepublic.com"]Banana Republic[/url]
[img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/564/564241/main/br564241-03p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/565/565046/main/br565046-01p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/551/551688/main/br551688-00p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/564/564949/main/br564949-00p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/564/564586/main/br564586-00p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/577/577810/main/br577810-00p01v01.jpg[/img]

[franciscanheart]

more from banana republic:
[img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/553/553637/main/br553637-00p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/547/547493/main/br547493-00p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/547/547785/main/br547785-00p01v01.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/549/549975/main/br549975-00p01v01.jpg[/img]

pants are great (and look great) if you buy the right fit for you. low waist, high waist, wide leg, etc. never buy tapered! i luv a straight-line pant. it looks great on everyone and doesnt cling to the leg!

[url="http://www.chicos.com"]Chico's[/url]
[img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100042926_001_normal.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100065663_001_normal.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100073281_809_normal.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100073252_normal.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100074661_591_normal.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100073333_normal.jpg[/img]

[franciscanheart]

more from chico's:
[img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100072358_normal.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.chicos.com/Product_Images/100073561_401_normal.jpg[/img]

[url="http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/index.aspx?BID=&h=Home"]Talbots[/url]
Too many to choose! Check it out...

[url="http://www.dillards.com/"]Dillard's[/url], [url="http://www.macys.com/"]Macy's[/url], and the like have a lot of clothes to choose from. Some of their clothes AREN'T modest, but some are! Don't judge a book by its cover. Find the pieces that meet your modesty criteria like you find the clothes that meet your color/size/shape criteria. It's not a foreign concept!

Good luck everyone!

[Guest Perpetualove]

[url="http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=556L&dir_id=1192&group_id=11508&cat_id=11110&subcat_id=12534&bhcp=1"]http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice....2534&bhcp=1[/url]

This is a black jumper dress from Orvis. It is wool flannel and about 160.00 (it might be too hot/expensive) but I thought I'd post the link just in case!

[franciscanheart]

oh! i also wanted to mention that y'all should learn to sew (if you don't already have that knowledge/ability)! it's so simple and there are tons of great patterns. it's really easy to make floor length skirts that are not only cute (good material/pattern/color) but look good on you!