Modesty...

[KizlarAgha]

By Linda Thomas
Wed Jun 8, 8:36 AM ET



SEATTLE (Reuters) - Hip-hugging jeans and tight-fitting tiny tops are out. Less skin is back in for the young American.


U.S. fashion experts say a trend toward modesty is evident in new fall styles for clothing aimed at girls in their early teens, and will become more common with spring 2006 designs.

"We're seeing skirt hemlines that are at the knee and are very demure, very proper pants, prim tops and large pearl necklaces," said Gloria Baume, fashion market director for Teen Vogue. The magazine showcases fashion and photography much like its parent publication Vogue.

Baume, who said she looks to European fashion runways to spot what will be hot for American teens, said designers have been focusing on "ladylike and almost old-fashioned" styles that were inspired by the 1950s.

That would phase out the belly-baring, skintight numbers championed by the likes of Britney Spears. "There is nothing form-fitting about the latest fashions," Baume said.

Does that mean the low-rise jean fad is over?

"I hope so," said Baume. "I don't like them. That style has been around for four years and I think girls are getting tired of it."

CosmoGIRL! magazine fashion editor, Tara McBratney, agrees there is a new trend toward modesty in fashion, but she says it has little to do with pressure from conservative elements in society.

"Fashion is a cycle," McBratney explained. "We got to the point where the jeans were as low as they could go, shirts were as cropped as they could go, baby tees were as tight as they could go, so the natural progression is for fashion to go the other way."

SKIN IS OUT

Others say the new modesty is part of a larger social shift.

"Teens are realizing that having an unstructured, unorthodox lifestyle didn't work well for previous generations so they're becoming more conservative with their clothing and politics," said Pam Gunderson, who leads the Challenge Girls Club of Greater Seattle.

More than 400 people attended a fashion show the Catholic club sponsored in the Seattle area recently featuring modest clothing. Summer styles included one piece, colorful floral swimsuits with slip on skirts and mesh sleeveless cover-ups.

The club is one of dozens in the United States organizing such shows, called "Pure Fashion."

"Any outfit should not be so tight that you can see the shape of underwear underneath it. And a girl should be able to reach for something on a high shelf, bend over and pick something up or sit on a chair without skin showing," said Gunderson.

Gunderson's daughter, 12-year-old Ella Gunderson, said she wrote a letter to Seattle-based Nordstrom Inc. criticizing the department store retailer for selling clothes that showed too much skin.

"I see all these girls who walk around with pants that show their belly button and underwear," she wrote. "Even at my age, I know that is not modest."

Most girls have a hard time believing they can be popular while being modest, according to educator Camille De Blasi.

"Our culture teaches that happiness only comes from physical pleasure or ego gratification," De Blasi said. "It's a message teens get so immersed in from music, magazines and television that they start to believe it."

An older teen, 15 year-old Michelle Ross, said modest clothing is becoming "less unpopular."

"You can still be cool even if you're not wearing the same type of clothing as everyone else," said Ross. "Personality is what matters."

[missionarybelle]

thats nice!

[Tony]

I like seeing modesty a lot.. it helps me um.. focus

[corban711]

I think modesty is absolutely attractive and beautiful. I also think it is awesome and very pleasing to Our Lord and Our Lady that there have been more "fashionable" modest clothes over the last few years. Remember Our Lady of Fatima told Jacinta that many forms of dress would come that were very displeasing to her. I thank God that there are more modest clothes available and pray this trend continues!

[Dudette]

PURE FASHION IS BY CHALLENGE! WOOOOOOOOOOOT, GO CHALLENGE!

Ok, Challenge is a part of Regnum Christi.

BOO YEAH!

[franciscanheart]

I'm incredibly confused by dudettes post. I hope I'm not the only one.

[Dudette]

I'm guessing you didn't read the article then.

[catholicmomof4]

My daughters, ages 16 and 14 year old twins, have learned that you don't have to be half naked to look "in style" They wear some really cute clothes that cover their bodies. They are also learning to sew their own clothes. That has become a big thing around here. Girls are buying patterns, usually sundress and cropped pant patterns, and sewing their own using their own sense of color and style. I think that is really cool. One of my girls made a sundress that has a green denim skirt and a cotton calico bodice. It is really cute ! She wears it with knee socks and hightop chucks ! LOL

[Luthien]

I can't wear shorts that go more than 2 inches above knee level. I have shirts that show my stomach(I have a long torso so its a hard task to find something that fits) And I hate mini-skirts. When I short for bathing suits my size, all they have in size small are bikinis. I dont wear bikinis.

I totally agree that skin is out, finally. Im told sometimes(not my family thank the Lord) that I should show off more skin. Screw that. I only want my hubby to see that much of me.

Modesty rocks.

[Cam42]

There is something very attractive about modesty.....I guess it leaves something to the imagination?????

But I do agree with Luthien.

[shelly_freak]

I agree with 99.9% of that article. I love modesty and have never been one to wear skimpy clothes. My only problem is one I don't think my shorts should have to go down past my knees, guys should have a little self control and two I work at the local library shelving books and unless I wore a shirt down to my ankels I'd show a little skin when I bend over to put away books, it's just the way it is. I think modesty is great and everything but I shouldn't have to hide my body like it's the black plague.

[MC Just]

Modesty Rules. Some of the girls who go to the Shrine here should try it sometime.

[Mickey's_Girl]

[quote name='shelly_freak' date='Jun 10 2005, 10:12 AM']I agree with 99.9% of that article. I love modesty and have never been one to wear skimpy clothes. My only problem is one I don't think my shorts should have to go down past my knees, guys should have a little self control and two I work at the local library shelving books and unless I wore a shirt down to my ankels I'd show a little skin when I bend over to put away books, it's just the way it is. I think modesty is great and everything but I shouldn't have to hide my body like it's the black plague.
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I hear you, Shelly Freak. It's all about balance--men shouldn't expect women to walk around in burkas, and women should realize that men have their biology (not to mention the culture) working against them in this area. We all need to respect one another.

Catholicmomof4: CHUCKS RULE!

Cam42: A little mystery is more *interesting and intriguing*, especially when the whole culture has none. Retain the mystery, people!

MG

[KizlarAgha]

Yup. I agree with you guys (big surprise). I just thought it was great to have a mainstream media article talk about modesty and then have Catholics be at the forefront of it.

[God Conquers]

That is awesome!

I'm so cynical about fashion these days I thought the article would be a joke, or would talk about the trend being a bit "capricious" in nature, as in looks are decieving.

This makes me happy.

Modest girls are hot! (does this even make any sense?)