The definition of fashion is any way of dressing at a favored time or place. As I see it, fashion is the outward expression of inner essence. It drives the economy, sets trends and is used as a means of conformity. It exists in every form; from formal to informal, chic to couture and earthy to urban. In virtually every mall around the world these types of fashion and more can be found in some form.
Modest fashion is not mentioned in the above list and is unfortunately difficult to find in most retail places around the world. Modest clothing, designed with a modern twist, could allow females of any age to express themselves in an alluring way without compromising their virtue. If marketed and developed correctly, modest fashion could create a new age of clothing, allowing females a long awaited and much needed fashion alternative.
Social media sites and the media itself depict and tell woman that the more skin shown, the more beautiful you are and the more attention you shall receive. Young girls innocence is taken away by the new fashion trends being introduced nowadays. Modesty is often excluded from fashion and seen as a virtue from a past era or deemed undesirable. Modesty is only seen as a religious view instead of as a style of dress. If rediscovered, modesty could transform the present state of fashion undress and recreate a new generation of fashion redress.
Young girls, such as myself, have been raised in a generation where modesty is synonymous with uninteresting, boring and stale. Female consumers, who value modesty as a moral virtue allowing an expression of purity, are given few modest fashion choices in today’s retail stores. This lack of choice often leaves females in conflict with their inner virtues. Leaving female consumers with a need to compromise their values, while submitting to popular fashion trends.
In this, style and fashion suffer. Fashion is a means that one can use to express who they are without saying a word. Female’s compromise who they are when they compromise how they dress due to lack of choices. If created properly modest dress can be mysterious, alluring and draw the eye of any onlooker. If an outfit is created with modest — modern style it can deviate from the prudish era of yesteryear and provide an alternative leaving spectators in awe wanting to know more of the “why” of the person they are admiring.
Modern—modest fashion can show the world that respecting oneself can be trendy, original and distinctive. It can reflect not only godliness, but as a means for any woman religious or not to hold herself to a higher standard. Modesty is seen as a Godly thing but modesty can reach to any person, it’s a form of style or fashion. Modest dress should reflect a female’s inward beauty as well as there outward beauty without leaving the wearer feeling compromised.
I believe that modest dress should be seen as a style so that all females today have options allowing them to express themselves without compromising their values. Fashion and style drives many aspects of today’s culture. I believe there is room for modest fashion to exist from formal to informal, chic to couture, earthy to urban, Gothic to edgy, elegant to conservative and many more. My vision is that someday there will be a line that will allow all women these modest alternatives with a modern twist. My desire is to see fashion transform from its present state of undress and recreate a new generation of fashion redress.
