Sources of Modest Clothing--Updated!

My original post below from seven years ago has been revamped!

Original Post: June 12, 2011, Last Updated: November 26, 2012


I have plenty of friends, loved ones, and readers who are increasingly dismayed about immodesty, but have differing definitions of what constitutes modest dress (and for what ages, genders, and activities, such as swimming and sports). I regularly have girlfriends ask me where to find modest clothing (particularly skirts, particularly for daughters), so I have shared my compiled list of stores with them.

I see other women who dress in a charming, attractive and modest way, and I don't feel that I've achieved the charming and attractive parts consistently yet. I work with a combination of a little teaching about fashion (what looks flattering on different human body shapes), my beliefs about modesty, clothing that must be nursing-friendly, and the fact that I go up and down within four sizes  (lately just up!) due to six pregnancies so far.

Now I present that list of clothiers here and I hope to update it every so often. (Note that I do not think every item sold in these stores is modest.) If you have a store you think provides modest clothing, please email me the name so I can add it to this list!



** Note this extensive list of sources of modest clothing compiled by Colleen Hammond--makes me wonder why I have bothered to start a list of my own! **

** Note this extensive list of sources of modest clothing at Pure Modesty--likely a better list than I offer! **

Appleseed's

Apostolic Clothing

April Cornell (for women and girls)

Bates Sisters' Boutique

Biblical Garden

Carissa Rose: Clothes in Proportionate Sizes (I haven't ordered from here, but think it's a fabulous concept to be able to order nearly custom-made clothing to fit one's body shape.)

Coldwater Creek

Dainty Jewells (good for teen girls)

Diviine Modestee

Downeast Basics (might be especially appealing to teenagers)

Dressing for His Glory (We've ordered swim dresses for our girls from this shop for years now. Also, they seem to have a lot of clothing for middle schooler girls!)

Ebay (Search for "long skirts" or the like! Recently I wanted to buy some black knit skirts from land's End that are no longer sold, but I searched on eBay and bought two such skirts, in red, in like-new condition for $6.)

Eshakti (personalized, custom clothing!)

Etsy (enter in "long skirt" as the search term)

See this basic A-line skirt for only $18 on Etsy

French Toast (source of school uniform clothing)

HalfTee (Fantastic source for half tee-shirt shells, not just for women, but for children, starting at size 4, and plus-sized women!)

Hannah Andersson (a good portion of their clothing is not what I'd call modest, but they have some good finds, especially leggings and plain white underclothing for girls)

Inherit, Co. (many long skirts and dresses for girls, from toddlers through teenagers)

A List of Jewish Women's Modest Clothiers

Another List of Modest Clothiers

J. Jill

JMJ Modest Dress


Kosher Casual

Kosher Casual--note their exercise skirt with leggings built in

Lands End (see especially the swimwear and the classic knit dresses for girls in short and long sleeves)

Main Street Exchange Apparel (great for teen girls)

Milkarose Fashion (might be especially appealing to teenagers)

Mira Clothes (home of the Exerskirt! Yes, I own this with the shirt and they are wonderful!)

ModBod (Sarah recommends the Perfect Cap Sleeve as an underlayer)

Modcloth (might be especially appealing to teenagers)

Modest Apparel USA


Modest Like Mary Originals

The Modest Mom

ModLi

Mollyme Clothing

Nee See's Dresses (great for teens girls!)

New Creation Women's Apparel (I have been extremely pleased with the skirts I have ordered from this company!)


Orvis (See especially long skirts. The Passport Travel Fabric Shell is wonderful. Does Orvis offer annual warehouse sales in your area? If so, you can buy this expensive clothing for dramatically less.)


Phyllis Jean (I highly recommend the superior blouses for little girls: opaque white broadcloth, 3/4 sleeves, Peter Pan collar, sweet lace, all at a low price!)


Pretty Me Maternity (see the sleeveless layer, the 3/4 sleeve layer, and the long sleeve layer)

Princess Modest Swimwear

Rey Swimwear

Ringger Clothing

Sierra Brooke

Simply Modest Swimwear (sewing patterns also available)

Skirt Extenders by A Slip Shop and Babblings and More

The Skirt Lady (good for teen girls)

The Skirt Site (see the Kiki Riki shells)

The Skirt Society (good for teen girls)

Sock Dreams (good source for over-the-knee socks to wear under long skirts in winter)

Swim Modest

Sweet Salt Clothing (good for teen girls)

The Children's Place carries plain white underclothing for girls

Etsy: Treasures of Tradition and Treasures of Tradition (Susannah is a friend of mine, she makes clothing to order as well)


Tznius (3/4 sleeves, long skirts, head coverings)

Order Custom-Made Clothing

eShakti (clothing customized to all your own measurements and length preferences, received within 18 calendar days)

Sewing Your Own Modest Clothing

A Fashion Show . . . Meet Virginia

Chapel Veils

Garlands of Grace

Headcoverings on Etsy

Wear Your Mantilla (Note "Where to Purchase Chapel Veils" on the side)

Veils by Lily

If you'd like to read more, several good titles on modesty are:

"Why Must Catholic Women Be Modest When Swimming?"--with links to providers of modest bathing suits

"A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue" by Wendy Shalit (Orthodox Jewish perspective)

"Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It's Not Bad to Be Good" by Wendy Shalit (I haven't read this book yet, but recommend it based on Shalit's first excellent book)

"Dressing with Dignity" by Colleen Hammond (Catholic perspective)

"Those Who Serve God Should Not Follow the Fashions" (Catholic perspective)

"How Should I Dress for Mass and Adoration?" (Catholic perspective)

Ladies Against Feminism website (Protestant perspective: search for term "modest")

"Notification Concerning Men's Dress Worn by Women" by Guiseppe Cardinal Siri

Catholic Homilies:

"Christian Modesty" by Fr. Augustine Tran 5/02/10

"Modesty and How we Dress (Especially at Mass)" by a priest on on EWTN

"Modesty in Dress at Church" by Fr. Ronald Brown