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“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10

Embracing Modesty Throughout the Seasons

The warm season and its hot weather are upon us! Spring is finally here, with the hot summer season just around the corner. In the South, the transition to spring brings gradual warming, with temperature variations of 30-40 degrees on some days, making it essential to have layering pieces. However, as the hot summer approaches, it’s time for a significant wardrobe change. It’s time to trade in winter clothing for lighter materials and shorter hemlines, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a modest summer!

If you’re a modest dresser, in search of clothing that offers ample coverage without causing overheating, all while being affordable during these times of rampant inflation, you’re not alone. Join me on this journey as we explore clothing that meets these criteria. In this article, I will provide tips for building a year-round modest wardrobe, highlight my favorite stores for modest fashion, unveil great options that are available now, and share exclusive deals and promotions to help you create an effortlessly elegant everyday wardrobe.

Building a Modest Capsule Wardrobe: Essentials to Include

Let’s get down to the basics. One strategy that I use is that at the beginning of each year, I turn all of my hangers facing forward, with the clothes on them. At the end of the year, I’m able to quickly go through and identify which clothes I didn’t wear to remove and donate. I also go through and remove clothes that are unmendable, piling, stained, or no longer fit my body or style. I’ve been on a journey over the past year to gradually replace my wardrobe of leggings and tight, distressed skinny jeans. Modest dressing should be based on biblical conviction and personal preferences. Creating a wardrobe capsule is an excellent way to curate timeless, versatile pieces of clothing that reflect your unique style.

When building a capsule wardrobe, it’s essential to consider including the following functional pieces and also keep in mind, special occasions you may want to cater to.

• Neutral-colored Tops: Incorporate 3-5 tops of each sleeve length (tank top, cotton tee-shirt, blouse, and long sleeve tops) in neutral colors such as white, black, or navy. This enables multiple outfit combinations.
• Classic Bottoms: Invest in 2-3 well-fitted pants, pencil skirts, and classic denim jeans to have a variety of outfit options.
• Structured Blazer and Blue Jean Jacket: A single tailored blazer adds sophistication to any ensemble and can be dressed up or down as needed. On the other hand, a blue jean jacket helps dress down outfits while providing coverage for tanks.
• Little Black Dress (LBD) and a Little Floral Dress (LFD): Include a timeless LBD for formal events or evening outings, opt for longer hemlines of 26 inches + for an elegant, rather than “sexy” look. For warmer seasons, consider an LFD Floral Maxi. Maxi dresses can be dressed up or down. Floral dresses are my favorite; I typically opt for A-line or wrap-around cuts.
• Quality Knitwear: Opt for 2-4 high-quality sweaters and cardigans in neutral shades. Half should be heavier weight like cable-knit, and the other half should be light-weight and airy for cool summer nights. Cardigans are a great way to control how much skin you want to show. 
• Versatile Shoes: Incorporate a pair of comfortable flats, block heels, casual sneakers, and sandals to cover various occasions.
• Timeless Accessories: Styling with timeless accessories like a quality neutral leather handbag, thin leather belt, wide brimmed hat, or simple classic jewelry pieces is a great way to elevate any look with subtle statement pieces, without being overly extravagant.

Remember, the key to a successful wardrobe capsule is to prioritize quality over quantity and select pieces that complement each other, resulting in effortless elegance.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.”

1 Peter 3:2-5

Favorite Stores for Modest Fashion: Spring and Summer Finds

I highly suggest prioritizing your basic wardrobe capsule before adding too many new pieces. This will ensure that your bases are covered while you integrate fun seasonal pieces that easily mix and match your current wardrobe, ensuring maximum variety of options for modest outfits.

Here’s what I ended up purchasing for my modest wardrobe:

• Linen blend pants
• Linen blend skirt
• Knit skirt, all in neutral linen tones
• 3 pairs of jeans, all at 50% off
• Little Floral Dress (LFD) that can be worn year-round, paired with either of the two lightweight cardigans I bought, even through the winter.
• Two additional dresses
• A pair of Mia brand neutral flats that will go with everything

I checked out the stores of each company, online and side by side, to compare prices for similar items. I also used discount codes I found online to save money.

Amazon Finds

• Amazon offers an assortment of products, including clothing. When searching for a few key pieces, I used the term Women’s Modest Clothing 2024 (click to see).
  • I ended up purchasing Amazon Essentials Women’s Linen Blend Wide Leg Trousers, a Lightweight Summer Cardigan, and a summer straw hat which is a summer staple that doubles as a subtle statement piece and also offers UV protection!

ThredUp

• ThredUp is the world’s largest online thrift store. The company offers a wide array of discount codes and rewards coupons and even provides a program to buy your clothes! I almost always shop by favorite brands to ensure good quality and fit, and I sort by “excellent” condition. My favorite brands to search for are: Market & Spruce, West Kei, Fortune + Ivy, Simple Retro, Ann Taylor, and Loft because of their classic, feminine fit and style. Because I’ve earned points on my purchases over time, I was able to redeem a $20 off coupon on already discounted items. I spent $90 on a dress, two blouses, and a lightweight cardigan, plus had free shipping! Use this link to enjoy 45% off + free shipping on your order.

Stitch Fix

• I started with Stitch Fix back when they only offered surprise boxes put together by a stylist. They’ve since added a lot of new features such as box previews which allow you to preview and switch out items before your box ships, the freestyle shop which makes recommendations based on your past purchases and preferences, and a sale shop. Every once in a while, I’ll order a surprise box, like once a year. But mostly I shop the freestyle shop and sales. I love that they offer free shipping and return/exchanges, even on their sale items. This allows me to buy with confidence knowing I can return items. That’s why I’m taking a chance on a couple of pairs of jeans that are 50% off right now. For these jeans, I opted for non-distressed, straight, or boyfriend cut as opposed to the tighter fitting skinny cut. I also purchased a long floral maxi and neutral flats. All of these are essential staple pieces for my capsule wardrobe. Save $25 on your Stitch Fix purchase.

Main Street Exchange

• Main Street Exchange offers modest, trendy clothing at competitive prices. They offer free shipping on all orders over $150, inclusive sizing of XS through 3X, and 10% off first-time orders. Quality, relaxed, and on-trend, they provide beautiful, modest pieces for the everyday woman. Use this link to shop and the code NEWFRIEND15 for 15% of your first purchase. If you’ve shopped here before, use code KIM10 for 10% off. I opted for both a long skirt and a shorter, knit skirt, both in neutral.
  • ‘WINSLET’ WAIST TIE MAXI SKIRT IN NATURAL
  • ‘Lauren’ Everyday Knit Skirt

Inherit Co. Founded in 2010, InheritCo Clothing Company has made a name for itself by offering modest yet trendy fashion for the modern individual. With a focus on timeless designs and sustainable practices, InheritCo is dedicated to promoting confidence and individuality through its versatile and elegant collections. They have a cool, free Insider Rewards program that accumulates points for purchases redeemable for coupons and you’ll also receive random rewards offers. Shoppers new to Inherit Co can get 15% off by signing up for the Inherit email, on their website. If you’re an Insider Rewards member (Free), right now, you can use the code REWARDS20 for 20% off your purchase, or you can use the code DOLLARSHIP for $1 shipping!

• I like the upscale yet simplistic look of the Essential Pleated Neck Layering Tank. This is an essential wardrobe piece which comes in a variety of colors.
• I purchased the Embroidered Flutter Sleeve Top and the Button Down Striped Belted Shirt Dress.
• An Inherit Design, the Simona Midi Sport Dress, is a modest dress made for ALL the things! Crafted from quick-dry fabric and of course, has those lovable, hidden side pockets! Choose between four color options for a variety of outfits. Be sure to check out the embedded video featuring the Simona Midi.

Explore More with Vintage Virtues

The exploration of modest clothing is a captivating journey, enriched with history and timeless styles. Embracing a modest capsule wardrobe and discovering favorite stores for spring and summer fashion are key elements in the resurgence of the modest-fashion market. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like: A Journey into Modest Fashion: Exploring its History, Evolution, and Resurgence.

We hope you’ve found value in this exploration. Vintage Virtues is dedicated to promoting traditional values through a Christian lens, with a main focus on homesteading, homemaking, and homeschooling, all through a Christian perspective. Don’t miss a thing – be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Follow and Like us on our social media platforms (we’re linked up in the banner of this page).

Update: Video Review of the Clothing Pieces

Be sure to check it out below and let me know what you think.

Natural Options: Linen & Cotton

But wait there’s more. We recently added a new article with an emphasis on breathable fabrics like cotton and linen, so you can stay even cooler during the heat of this summer. Be sure to check out: Modest Summer Wardrobe Guide: Natural Fabrics on a Budget

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