This is something I hear all the time – from everyone from middle-aged women wearing low-cut shirts, to moms explaining their daughters’ too-short skirts.

(Seems to me that if you have to explain (justify?) something, that’s a sure sign of a problem!)

People say that they would like to dress more modestly, but “this” is all that they can find at the store.

I don’t buy that excuse for a moment.

I mean, yes, “that” is exactly what you’ll see if you look at the prominently-displayed items at any mass-market retailer these days… But it’s simply not as though there aren’t any other options.

Theoretically, we all know that people could sew their own clothes, but I realize that it’s not a realisitic option in many cases. Heck, it’s not a realistic option for me right now, living in the RV with my sewing machine in storage!

But there are still several viable options.

• Shop major retailers online. That same store you were just visiting in the mall? They have a much bigger selection online.
• Shop boutiques and specialty shops. There are both online and brick-and-mortar stores that cater to very specific needs, including modest clothing (defined variously!). Just type “modest apparel” or “long skirt” or something into a search engine, and away you go.
• Order clothing directly from a seamstress/small business. Bonus – you can often get things made to your exact measurements, as well as having “off the rack” options. My favorite store is Katie’s Mercantile – and it’s almost as cheap as buying garbage locally!
• Finally, and the thing that got me started on this post today: Think outside the box.

I was at one of those local stores, hoping to pick up a couple of inexpensive short-sleeved tops for me, to replace some that were just plain worn out.

The women’s section was very frustrating. Almost all the blouses had the exact same neckline – a collar, then plunge front down to the first button waaaaay down there, for a streamlined version of leaving the top few buttons undone.

Except, of course, that I don’t leave that many buttons undone!

How frustrating that they want to design away the very possibility of being modest.

Needless to say, I did not buy them, even though “that’s all there was.”

Instead I strolled across the aisle to the men’s department.

In no time at all I had a cute textured grey polo shirt, and a button-down shirt in a small green plaid (similar to this):

It’s not “girly,” of course, but I just needed a top to wear under the jeans jumper that Jewel and I just got in matching versions from Katie’s!

(I’m pretty sure that’s her in the photo. Click it to visit the store and check the selection!)

So now Jewel and I can step out together in modest style, on a budget, with no sewing required!

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