Where to buy modest women attire?

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That reminds me of a common complaint for the nerdier among us - there are plenty of women who would like clothing manufacturers to just stick cool dragon patterns and video game jokes on t-shirts cut for our bodies, rather than swapping them out for more feminine designs.

Which has nothing at all to do with modesty, but modest women aren’t all necessarily girly.
 
Magdalene said:
It can be a challenge to find modest clothing for women! It seems like all the dresses/skirts/shorts are very short, the shirts are low cut, everything is sleeveless, and sometimes see through. (I think they do this so you are forced to buy more clothing to go under/over it.) I get so excited when I actually find something that is cute/fashionable, but also modest. Not always as easy as it sounds…
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I think you are onto something about designing clothes for “layering”. It’s really a brilliant strategy, if you think about it. I hate it. More clothes to buy, more laundry, more to keep track of.

My teenage daughter recently bought a really cute outfit - a blouse and pants. I went shopping with her and we both liked it. Once she wore it at home, the problems became more apparent. When she bends over, the front gapes open exposing her chest and the shirt rides up at the back, exposing her lower back. Because of the low cut of the pants, which are ordinarily covered by the shirt, it also exposes quite a bit that way. It is very frustrating because it doesn’t have to be this way. There is no great demand for clothing that fits this way. It is something that has been imposed on consumers for the past 20 years or so.
 
Layering is also really handy for breastfeeding. I do like being able to wear mostly normal clothes and not have to completely change my wardrobe just because I have a little baby. Though nursing tops have come a LONG way.
 
It’s more annoying in summer. I’ve had a few times of “yeah, I know, layering - it’s june and I have to walk to work.”
 
I agree - a huge percentage of clothing manufacturers design clothes poorly. It’s why I haunt consignment shops and better thrift stores and turn into a massive label snob when I do it.

I’m fortunate in that if the thing I need - or want, I’ll be honest - is a bit pricier, I can afford it most of the time. But I see too much higher end stuff in secondhand shops to keep justifying retail costs. Plus buying secondhand keeps at least one item out of the glut of used clothing in this country.

I know you can’t always convince a teen or kid to go that route, though.
 
Wanted to comment I just shared that article today with a friend who’s dealing with that issue right now with her kids. :+1:t3: Timely for sure.
 
Pup7 said:
I agree - a huge percentage of clothing manufacturers design clothes poorly. It’s why I haunt consignment shops and better thrift stores and turn into a massive label snob when I do it.

I’m fortunate in that if the thing I need - or want, I’ll be honest - is a bit pricier, I can afford it most of the time. But I see too much higher end stuff in secondhand shops to keep justifying retail costs. Plus buying secondhand keeps at least one item out of the glut of used clothing in this country.

I know you can’t always convince a teen or kid to go that route, though.
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I’m more of a t-shirt and jeans or T-shirt and long skirt-with-elastic-waist type. I am 48 years old and don’t have any particular desire to be fashionable. My daughter has no problem with thrift stores, but she’s got some sensory issues that makes clothing shopping an excruciating and time-consuming process. Combing thrift stores for something appropriate would quadruple that and she’s got five siblings. Sometimes I’ll pick things up for her at thrift stores and she doesn’t mind, but it’s hit or miss whether she’ll wear them because of comfort / sensory issues.
 
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Oh I wasn’t implying that should be your route. I’m sorry. I just lose patience with having to hike up my spending limit if I want something that doesn’t pull or pooch. Like blouses. When did they stop making the back placket behind the buttons actually meet behind the button? Holy cow. It’s annoying.

And clothing is insanely disposable these days (or seems to be designed that way, I should say) and not made very well a lot of the time to boot.

I can imagine that a typical thrift shop would be impossible for someone with sensory issues.

I’m 44. I comb thrift shops for nice long skirts to wear to Mass. I dress pretty conservative myself.
 
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Pup7 said:
Oh I wasn’t implying that should be your route. I’m sorry. I just lose patience with having to hike up my spending limit if I want something that doesn’t pull or pooch. Like blouses. When did they stop making the back placket behind the buttons actually meet behind the button? Holy cow. It’s annoying.

And clothing is insanely disposable these days (or seems to be designed that way, I should say) and not made very well a lot of the time to boot.

I can imagine that a typical thrift shop would be impossible for someone with sensory issues.

I’m 44. I comb thrift shops for nice long skirts to wear to Mass. I dress pretty conservative myself.
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Oh, I love thrift stores myself and I shop there as much as I have time. I’m very frustrated with the disposable nature of everything these day. Thrift stores are definitely my go-to place for long skirts, though. I was recently gifted a bunch of very nice pants and skirts (good brands) from and acquaintance and I’m still marveling at the little quality details every time I put them on.
 
I’m admittedly giving in on layers. It’s just easier if you have different proportions too. I tend to have a lot of problems with shoulders not fitting right. It’s easier to modify a sleeveless top to fit properly and then throw something over my shoulders as needed. I will wear sleeveless for casual wear though.
 
DarkLight said:
Ask any group of women about finding dress pants and you’ll get a chorus of “ugh, don’t get me started!”
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I discovered an awesome way to get perfectly fitting pants: having a men’s custom tailor make them for me.
They cost a lot but they fit me perfectly. I only bought a couple pairs because of the cost, but I don’t wear tailored stuff that often, and when I do need to wear it, I like it to fit and be comfortable. While this solution may not be for everyone, I’d rather spend money on two pairs of good fitting custom trousers than on 10 pairs of poorly fitting standard trousers.

Most of the time my wardrobe consists of loose-fitting knit pants from Lands End or whoever is making them this year (used to be LL Bean but then they went all form-fitting polyester, yuck), or in the summer, cotton pants from Marketplace, and either a tunic, sweater, t-shirt, or sweatshirt on top depending on whether I’m going to the office and how cold it is.
 
Yeah I’m kind of feeling out how much stretchy knit stuff I can get away with and still be considered professional. I may try land’s end twill, they have an elastic waist version and a long top would hide that. One advantage of being petite there, it’s not exactly hard to find long tops.
 
Ponté fabric is like stretch for its comfort, but gives a very neat appearance.
 
Yeah I’m thinking of trying torrid out as well. I’m at the bottom of their size range, but they have some relaxed ponte knits. And they have separate size and inseam choices.

I’m what you call the extra-curvy fit. Or as I call it, extra derriere.
 
April said:
Might sound corney, but my granny taught me a little rhyme for modest clothing choices, it goes…
“Reach up and over to touch your toes,
Look in mirror to see what shows,
If so, hop in room and change your clothes”
Lol, :P, plus for neck lines, if my scapular shows, then I try to make a different choice.
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That’s cute 🙂 I would have liked that rhyme for my daughters.
 
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