Chic Sleepwear

ss2Proverbs 3:24b “When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

Some of us may sleep in baggy pants and t-shirts every night, but we can get cute and modest pajama’s for a reasonable price.

Gap has great pajama pants – check in stores to find better deals on their clearance racks. Old Navy has a ton of cute pajama sets for reasonable prices. (The immodest are mixed in with the modest on their website, so shop with caution.) Fashion Bug has pants for $12 that can be combined with a solid color tee. You can get an entire pajama set (capris and a matching t-shirt) for $18.99 including shipping at crazyforbargains.com. Pajamas are a great thing to buy at places like Value City or TJ Maxx, so check discount shops in your area for even better deals.

If you’ve been reading this column, you know the modesty rules: Nothing spaghetti strap, nothing midriff or cleavage showing, and shorts need to be close to knee length. It’s important to be careful to dress modestly at all times, even when the clothes are just intended for sleepwear. Visit our modesty section for more guidelines, and to read verses from God’s Word regarding modesty.

Whether you’re going away to college, or will be living with your parents this fall, have fun accomplishing your late-night study sessions in style!

By Davonne Parks

Swimming Around Guys

aag1I believe that it’s fine to go swimming with guys, as long as I wear a modest bathing suit. I’ve heard others say we shouldn’t go mixed swimming at all. What do you think?

For most of us, it would be a new way of thinking to change our lifestyles when it comes to swimming arrangements. And probably a lifestyle that females think nothing about, but a change that guys would, honestly, probably not want but would benefit from. Guys have an incredibly hard time controlling their eyes and thoughts. They will be tempted to lust over females no matter how modest the bathing suit is or isn’t.

To go swimming in the presence of the opposite sex is not in itself a sin, but I do believe there are many things we should not do to keep a brother or sister in Christ from stumbling (1 Corinthians 10:32). Avoiding mixed swimming may be one of those things. A girl going swimming with guys may cause many of the guys to stumble and fail at controlling their eyes and keeping their thoughts pure. Truthfully, the best way for you to avoid causing males to stumble and to respect guys in that area is to change your swimming arrangements and to only swim with other girls or with family.

This can be applied to so many other situations in life other than swimming, such as wearing revealing clothing at work, or even church. But the point is to be mindful of those around you and their walk with God, as well as being pleasing to God. It’s also important to remember that guys are created differently than girls, and that includes sexuality. Although it may not affect you, or tempt you sexually, when you swim with the opposite sex, it does affect and tempt guys. While I think this is a struggle that is hard for girls to comprehend, it is something you seriously need to consider when striving to please God.

By Adam Grimenstein

Make it Modest: Giveaway

This month’s giveaway, valued at $25, is featured at the end of this article. Keep reading for details.

ss7With warmer weather approaching, that generally means less clothing. While we definitely don’t need to hide in jeans and long-sleeved shirts all summer, we still need to make sure our warm weather wardrobe is appropriate. A recent formal-wear article talks about why it’s important to dress modestly, and gives basic modesty tips that can be applied to everyday summer wear as well. For a refresher, read 1 Timothy 2:9, Matthew 5:27-28, and 1 Corinthians 8:9-12 in addition to the articles linked to above.

Make it modest

Purchasing modest clothing can be difficult and frustrating, so we’re going to cover a few tips on how to make immodest summer clothing more modest.

Layer it up. Tank tops can be a girl’s best friend! Yes, summer is hot, but a long, thin tank won’t add bulk to clothing, and will cover a multitude of top troubles. It will hide cleavage on a low-cut top and cover the back and belly on shorter shirts. I personally love Fashion Bug’s long stretch layering tanks. If you have a larger bust, you can carefully cut out the bra part of a tank top and adjust the straps so it will stay high enough. There’s no need to purchase a tank in every color––simply buy several in the colors you’ll use most, such as white, black, and brown. It’s also a good idea to have one or two wide-strapped tank tops to layer with other thin-strapped tops. Remember that these tank tops are for layering, not to wear alone!

Bermuda ShortsCut it off. Fortunately for the modest-conscious (which I hope is all of us!), bermuda shorts are in! Let’s take advantage of the bermuda shorts, because this is one trend that’d be good for us to keep around. If you’re on a limited budget, get a look like this for free by cutting off an old pair of jeans right above the knee. If you or someone you know can sew, you could also get this look by cutting and hemming a pair of Goodwill jeans to get the bermuda style, then sewing a shoelace onto the front to achieve the drawstring look.

Leg-it under. Last summer’s skirts that are a little too short (and I don’t mean mini!) can be paired with a pair of below-the-knee leggings. Black leggings with a little tie on the hem add some pizzazz to a normal outfit, and plain black leggings are sure to go with almost everything. Anything that’s super short (with the hemline more than a couple of inches above the knee) needs to be tossed, because even leggings won’t make that modest.

Shoe it down. High heels can make skirts and shorts seem even shorter than they are, so this summer, play it cheap and comfortable in a new pair of flip flops.

The giveaway

While it’s sometimes fun to creatively think of new ways to make clothes modest, it’s also refreshing to just look at a store that is already packed full of modest clothing. Bellissima Modesty Boutique is just that––a web store full of cute, modest clothes! Their key verse is “Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us” (Psalm 90:17). They have cute summer tops, some great skirts, fun accessories, and more.

Bellissima Blue 'Flowy' SkirtThe best part is that Bellissima has generously agreed to give away one $25 gift card to a reader! All you have to do is leave a comment below by Friday, May 29, 2009, stating one article of clothing you like from their site, or let us know your favorite modesty tip, and you’ll be entered in our drawing.

Comments are moderated, so they may take a day or so to appear. Make sure to include a valid e-mail address in your information (this will not appear in the post). The winner will be announced on May 31 and will be e-mailed with simple instructions on how to claim this prize. The winner must contact us back within seven days of our initial contact, or the gift card will go to someone else.

Reminder

Lime Ricki’s special offer is still available for all Pierce My Heart readers. You will save 10% off your entire purchase just by entering the coupon code HEART10 at their checkout by May 15, 2009!

This summer, have fun looking modest while staying cool!

By Davonne Parks

Visit our Monthly Issues page to view all of our past themes, and visit our May 2009 page to read our entire current issue about serving others.

Bathing Suits: Giveaway

Lauren TankiniThis month’s giveaway, with a value of up to $75, and an additional special offer, are featured at the end of this article. Keep reading for details.

Yesterday we discussed the importance of modest swimwear, so today we’re going to get straight to the fun stuff––shopping!

We all know that bathing suit shopping can be stressful––it’s so difficult to find suits that are cute, modest, and affordable. Mall shopping can be discouraging, because those oh-so-cute bikinis are everywhere, tempting us to give into our fleshly desire to fit in, even when we want to do what’s right (Matthew 26:41). So, last year, I decided to avoid the mall completely and try my hand at online shopping! The task of finding a good web-store was very difficult, but I finally found a store and made my selection. The service and bathing suit were both so great that I want to share this store with you so you can possibly enjoy the experience too!

The chore

We all know how difficult it is to find a cute bathing suit that fits well and is affordable. Add modesty to the mix (which I hope we’ll all commit to do), and we’ve just given ourselves a seemingly impossible and very frustrating task! And who wants to order online, right? Buy a bathing suit you haven’t even tried on? Yeah, right! But that’s where, last summer, I proved myself wrong.

The store

Lime Ricki is full of cute, modest bathing suits at a reasonable price. They’re slightly pricier than the $20-per-piece bikinis I’ve seen in the mall, but I guess that’s because you’re paying for the extra fabric on them! The store was started when three sisters got together, frustrated about the lack of swimsuit choices available for themselves and their daughters, and decided to design their own suits. This year marks their third summer in business together, and this is one business that’s continually growing and improving. You can read more of their story on their About page.

Our experience

ss7I liked what I saw online, but I had a few questions about their suits, so I decided to contact the owners, hoping they would help me. Unsure of who to call, I dialed all three listed phone numbers. I received the voice mail at each number, so I left messages. Two of the women called back within the hour, and the third called back that evening. They were all genuinely nice and very helpful. One girl spent almost thirty minutes talking to me, and she helped me to choose a fabric that would suit my age as well as my taste. I chose the Emily Halter Top with their Brown Cinch Skirt, and, as promised, it arrived within the week.

Lime Ricki claims their suits don’t need tugged or pulled on to stay in place, and I’ll admit it, I was skeptical. What bathing suit doesn’t need adjusted often? Apparently, the Lime Ricki suits––even with a three-year-old to chase and carry around, plus other swimming equipment to deal with, I rarely had to adjust my suit.

I like my suit so much that when my cousin Lisa (also the assistant editor) e-mailed me in despair over trying to choose a cute, modest bathing suit for herself, I e-mailed her back with a note that said, “Buy a Lime Ricki suit!” I sent her a link to my favorite suit, the Signature Tankini Top (which was out of stock when I’d ordered), and she hesitantly purchased that top with the brown bottoms without ever trying them on. About a week later, I received another e-mail from her, raving about her new suit! She loved the fact that she could go out and look stylish––and modest––without tugging on her swimwear every five minutes.

Your (possible) experience

Lime Ricki suits are made to last, so there’s no need to buy multiple suits for one summer. If you want more variety, you could purchase one bottom with two tops to save money. To save even more, shop their sale page, which offers pieces for as low as $12.50 each. Many of the suits on Lime Ricki recommend a bottom to go with them, and some of them tell which body type would be flattered in that suit, which is very helpful for online shopping!

Their size chart doesn’t measure by inches, but it is very true to size. I ordered the size the website recommended, and my suit fit me perfectly. The only exception is their brand-new, upscale Key Lime collection (I love the Lauren top with the blue bottom!), which runs a size small, so be sure to order one size larger than normal if you choose to purchase a Key Lime suit.

Be careful to avoid suits that accentuate the bust, and wear shorts or a skirt over regular bathing suit bottoms (which don’t cover more than underwear!) the entire time you’re not in the water.

Giveawayss1

Lime Ricki is giving away a bathing suit to one of our readers!  The winner will be allowed to choose any one top and bottom (excluding the Key Lime collection) or a one-piece. To enter, leave a comment below by Tuesday, April 28, 2009, stating at least one topic you’d like to see covered in this magazine or you could simply let us know which suit is your favorite. You may enter to win the bathing suit for yourself, or to give away as a gift for someone else.

Comments are moderated, so they may take a day or so to appear. Make sure to include a valid e-mail address in your information (this will not appear in the post). The winner, who will be announced on April 30, will be e-mailed with simple instructions on how to claim her new bathing suit. The winner must contact us back within seven days of our initial contact, or the free bathing suit will go to someone else.

Special Offer

In addition to their giveaway, Lime Ricki has generously offered a special coupon code for Pierce My Heart readers! If you purchase an item from their web store by May 15, 2009, you will receive 10% off your total order just by using the coupon code HEART10 at the checkout.

We want to give a special thank you to the owners of Lime Ricki for their generosity!  This summer, have a safe and modest swimming experience.

By Davonne Parks

Visit our Monthly Issues page to see all of our past themes, and visit our April 2009 page to read our entire current issue about caring for God’s creations.

Bathing Suits: Modesty Matters

ss2This month’s giveaway, with a value of up to $75, and an additional special offer, will be featured in tomorrows article, so stay tuned!

Last month, we discussed the importance of modest clothing, no matter what the occasion. We’ve also previously discussed modest bathing suits and the topic of mixed swimming. If you haven’t read those articles yet, please take a look, then come back to read the rest of this article!

The definition

While many females try to rationalize why they think it’s okay to wear bikinis in the summer, it’s important to take a true look at what God thinks about the issue. 1 Timothy 2:9: “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly…” That verse may not sound like much yet, but it’s more loaded than you probably realize. We’re just going to look at one word in that verse. Dictionary.com defines modest as “having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one’s merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.”

Let’s take a closer look at that definition (click on the links to read the full definitions). As much as we may want to deny it, bikinis aren’t free from vanity, especially since most girls wear them to look good and show off their bodies, or to fit in. Wearing immodest clothing also demonstrates that we’ve chosen to not consider how much this makes guys struggle, which displays a bit of egotism. Wearing bikinis can be considered boastfulness, since we’re showing others that we are glorifying our own bodies by showing them off, and it is also pretentious, since we’re saying––either consciously or unconsciously––that we’re important enough that it doesn’t matter how our suit (or lack thereof) may make others feel.

If that’s not enough…

ss6It would be completely inappropriate for a girl to walk around the mall wearing nothing but her underwear. She’d probably be escorted out by the mall police! Yet, that same girl could walk around outside, just a few miles away from the mall, wearing something that covers the same amount of skin that her underwear covers, and that’s socially acceptable because she’s at a swimming pool.

Think about this––if you were changing in your room and someone walked in on you while you were in your underwear, you’d probably be furious. But, that same person could see you at the pool wearing a suit that covers nothing more than the underwear you were seen in, and somehow that seems okay.

Socially, bikinis are acceptable, but spiritually, what’s the difference between strutting around in a bikini, and wearing underwear out in public? I’ve yet to find one!

If you’re struggling with the issue of wanting to wear a bikini (or any other immodest clothing) this summer, please pray about it and speak to a mature Christian woman who can guide you. You can be stylish while still looking like a Christian, and having someone to hold you accountable for your wardrobe may be just the nudge you need to dress in a way to glorify Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Coming up

Later, we’re going to explore a great web-store that’s full of really cute and modest bathing suits! In the meantime, pray hard about your wardrobe, ask God to convict you of your sin, find a mentor if you need one, and begin thinking about the possibility of wearing a modest bathing suit this summer.

By Davonne Parks

Formal Wear: Part Two

Yesterday we talked about the importance of dressing modestly all the time, including formal occasions. Today we’re going to give a few shopping tips and offer suggestions about where to shop.

Shopping basics

www.modestbydesign.comHave a set budget in mind and stick to it. Maybe you found the perfect dress for your event – but it’s $300. Put it back! Look online to see if you can find a similar style (or even the same dress!) for a lower price. Look on eBay, do a google product search for the item number – do anything but plunk down $300 for a dress you’ll only wear once (1 Timothy 2:9). You can find a dress you love for a much, much lower price. Even if your parents are paying for your dress, respect their money and the fact that they work hard for it. Take the time to find a good deal on a dress you can feel good about purchasing.

Shop the clearance racks. Many brides are choosing the color of bridesmaids’ dresses and allowing the bridesmaids to choose their own flattering style. Take advantage of this! You may be able to score a great dress at a low price by looking through the clearance racks first.

Shop consignment stores. If your formal outfit is for anything other than a bridesmaid dress, you can shop second-hand shops to find a great deal on a dress that’s only been worn once or twice.

Be careful with the accessories. Whatever you save on the dress can easily be offset in the accessories. Use a little creativity. Shops that specialize in formal wear generally charge a lot of money for their shoes, jewelry, etc. Look at Payless or a department store clearance section. Better yet, swap with a friend, or purchase neutral shoes and jewelry that you will be able to wear for your next formal occasion.

Know the return policies. If you are unsure of a dress, don’t think that you can just return it if you change your mind. Many stores don’t allow returns on formal wear. The better option would be to ask an employee to hold an item for you, and come back after you’ve looked at your other options. Especially be aware of a return policy on online dresses. Generally, even if a company allows returns, you will still have to pay shipping to return the item, and that cost can add up.

Consider re-selling. Instead of letting your used dresses hang in a closet to never be worn again, think about selling them to a consignment store, or on ebay, to make some money back before the dresses go out of style. That money can be used to help cover the cost of a new dress, it can be placed in a college fund, or donated to a worthy cause.

Where to shop

www.modestbydesign.comDavid’s Bridal has a few modest formal wear choices. Again, once you’re in the store, make sure to check the clearance racks! I once scored a bridesmaid’s dress for $60, and the only alteration it needed was a little hemming (which a local seamstress did for a fraction of the David’s Bridal cost).

Beautifully Modest is full of great formal wear dresses! Modest By Design also has a great, modest selection, and they aren’t just limited to formal wear. Their selection includes several casual dresses, some of which are perfect for church, graduation, summer group dates, or attending weddings. Both of these stores are a little pricey, so keep that in mind, and check to see if there’s a store near you that may be running a sale.

You can also do a google search for modest formal dresses, search on ebay, or check your yellow pages for local formal wear consignment shops.

Remember

Above all, we should want to glorify God with our lives (1 Peter 4:16), and that includes what we wear. More than fitting in, more than wearing the style everyone else is wearing, and more than wanting to attract attention at the events we attend, we need to remember that we are Christians first. We can look pretty without compromising our values. Most importantly, we want people to remember us by our kind words and pure heart, not by what we wore to a formal occasion. This year, dress to impress – Christ that is!

By Davonne Parks

Formal Wear: Part One

Chloe Parks (right)With warm weather approaching, many of us begin to think about formal wear. Whether we’re going to graduate, be a bridesmaid, or attend a formal event, we will probably want to purchase a new dress. Some of you may be planning on attending a school formal dance, but before you decide whether or not to do so, please read our article about dances.

Later we’ll talk about shopping basics, but today we’ll cover a few things about modesty (these also apply to normal clothes, not just formal wear).

God’s take on modesty

We are instructed in 1 Timothy 2:9 to dress modestly and discreetly. We’re told in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that we are to glorify God with our bodies.

Exodus 20:14 and Matthew 5:27 tell us that committing adultery is a sin. Lust (an intense sexual desire toward someone we’re not married to) is also sinful. We know lust is a sin because we’re told in Matthew 5:28 that “everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Since adultery is a sin, and since, in God’s eyes, lust is equivalent to committing adultery, that means lust is also a sin.

I know that lust sounds like the guys’ problem, not ours, right? Well, 1 Corinthians 8 (especially verses 9 and 12) talks about how sinful it is to be a stumbling block to others. We’re told not to do anything that can cause someone else to sin. If wearing an immodest dress causes a guy to lust over us, then, yes, he is guilty of the sin of lust, but we’re also guilty of the sin of being a stumbling block. When we dress in enticing clothes, the lusting guys aren’t the only ones sinning. We’re also sinning by not dressing modestly (1 Timothy 2:9), and by being a stumbling block to the guys around us (1 Corinthians 8:9-12).

www.modestbydesign.comWhile it can be tempting to want to be the best (or least) dressed girl at an event in order to attract attention, it’s not worth it. Care enough about the souls of the guys there, and enough about your own soul, to find a dress that doesn’t tempt them to sin because of you. If you don’t care about their souls enough, pray for your own heart, and ask God to help you start to care. If you’ve sinned in this area in the past, make the decision to stop sinning, ask God for His forgiveness, and choose to begin wearing only modest clothes, including formal wear, from now on (1 John 1:9).

Now that your heart is (hopefully) open to modesty suggestions, read on!

Modesty basics

Avoid strapless. While a strapless dress might look pretty (although generally too revealing and suggestive) in the dressing room, spending hours at an event tugging on the neckline just isn’t attractive. Not tugging at the neckline could be worse though, which brings us to our next point.

Cleavage should never show. If the dress shows any cleavage whatsoever, even just when you bend down, find a different dress. Cleavage tempts guys to lust. There are thousands of great, stylish dresses that don’t show cleavage.

Skip dresses that accentuate the bust. Even if there’s no cleavage in sight, but the dress has beading, ribbon, or anything else that outlines the bust line, skip it, because that means your chest will be the first thing guys will notice, and not in a godly way.

Wear a bra. If the dress is too low, too strapless, too backless, or too anything else to wear a bra, then it’s too revealing. Period. Guys will definitely notice the lack of a bra, and this can be even more tempting than a little bit of cleavage showing.

Don’t wear a backless dress. Having a few criss-cross straps on the back of the dress doesn’t make it modest. The dress needs to have a real, solid back. This is a problem area for guys, too, especially if it’s the lower back, and we need to help them out!

Skin tight = too tight. While formal-wear dresses can fit in a flattering way, they should not look like they’ve been painted onto our skin. Find a dress that flows nicely away from the body once it reaches the hips to allow for more modesty and comfort.

www.modestbydesign.comTo the knee is a must; below the knee is better. Short dresses are also tempting for guys, so the shortest part of the dress needs to be knee-length or longer. If you prefer a shorter formal-wear dress, opt for one that hits right below the knee so you’ll stay covered even if you’re moving around during your event (and especially if you’re a bridesmaid on some sort of platform).

If you know it’s immodest, don’t try it on. If you see a dress on the rack that’s just way too cute, but strapless, or backless, or low cut, or too short, or too something, put it back immediately. Don’t let yourself think about how great you’d look in it! If you try the dress on, you may be even more tempted to purchase it, so don’t allow yourself to do so. Put the dress back on the rack and move on to a more modest section.

Move around in the dressing room. Bend over in front of the mirror – if cleavage or underwear shows, try on a different dress. Twist your body, raise your arms––just move! If the dress doesn’t stay in place for the five minutes you have it on in the store, it’s not going to stay in place for the entire afternoon or evening you’re wearing it.

Coming up

Tomorrow we’ll discuss shopping basics, as well as include a few links to places that sell modest formal wear. For now, print this list of modesty basics, and share it with your mom (or whoever is going to take you dress shopping) so you can decide and agree upon modesty standards before hitting the stores.

By Davonne Parks

Costume Party!

fab5Autumn is a beautiful time of year. The trees look amazing with all their shades of oranges, reds, and yellows, and the weather feels wonderful. There’s a refreshing crisp, clean feel in the air.

Many people celebrate Halloween during this time of year and attend Halloween parties, but the Bible is very much against any type of witchcraft, which Halloween is often associated with. Read our October Friends article for more facts about Halloween.

Instead of celebrating the witches, goblins, and gore, why not celebrate the autumn season with a fall costume party? Bob for apples, roast marshmallows and hot dogs over a fire (use hay bales instead of chairs for seating), make caramel corn, and have good, clean autumn fun.

In previous Style Sense articles, we’ve discussed the importance of modesty, and as Christians and soldiers for Christ, we are to set an example and be the shining light for the world (Matt. 5:14). Autumn, and costume parties, are supposed to be fun, so make sure your modest costume reflects that. Use your imagination and be creative. Encourage your friends to dress modestly too. A good way to do that is to pick a theme for your group, such as a fruit basket or pigs in a blanket. If you are hosting the party, you can make the entire night a specific theme, such as influential people in history, favorite Bible characters, favorite (clean) movie characters, favorite candy bars, or anything else clean and fun you can think of.

Cheap and Easy Individual Costumes

  1. 1950s Woman: Wear a tea length black dress with black pumps. Dress it up with pearl earrings, a necklace, and white elbow-length gloves. Use mega hold hairspray to style your hair into that classic 1950’s look. Add bright red lipstick and you’re ready to go!

  2. Strawberry Shortcake: Wear blue pants and a blue skirt with a pink and white striped shirt. Borrow or Chloe Parks (right)buy a really big hat and tape cut-out strawberries onto it.

  3. Princess: Wear an old formal or bridesmaid dress and heels and simply add a tiara.

  4. Gymnast: Buy or borrow a leotard, throw gym pants over it, wear your hair pulled back into a scrunchie, and wear a medal around your neck.

  5. Pippi Longstocking: Purchase a jumper from a thrift store, then hot glue square fabric remnants to the jumper. Put on a solid t-shirt under the jumper and wear mismatched knee socks. Shape a wire hanger to your head and braid your hair around it to make your braids stand out, then spray it orange with temporary spray die.

  6. Ballerina: Wear a leotard with a knee-length tutu, ballerina slippers, and pink tights. Put glitter on your face and wear a tiara!

  7. Bunch of Grapes: Wear black sweats as a base. Find a small remnant of green fabric and cut out leaves as you would with paper dolls. The leaves will come out in a long strand that will wrap around your neck. Then take a brown paper lunch bag and attach it to a party hat with staples. Twist the bag to make the stem. Use purple face paint to make your face a grape. Blow up about 20 purple balloons and attach them to the sweats with safety pins (through the lip of the balloon).

  8. Raining Cats and Dogs: Sew stuffed dogs and cats onto an umbrella.

  9. Black-Eyed Pea: Put black make-up around one or both eyes, and hot glue a letter “P” cut from felt to the front of your shirt.

  10. Cowgirl: Put on jeans or a knee length denim skirt, boots, and a cowboy hat. Bonus if you use yarn and Stephanie Bowlinga marker to make a face on a paper bag and put the bag over the straw part of a broom for a horse.

  11. Kindergarten girl: Wear jeans or capris with a pink shirt and pigtails. Put on a pink backpack or grab a pink lunch box and you’re ready to go!

Cheap and Easy Group Costumes:

  1. The Seven Seas: Sew a length of sailing rope to the front of a blue shirt in the form of the letter C. Put on a sailors hat, and enlist six friends to do the same.

  2. Pigs in a Blanket: Buy pig snouts from a costume store, and have everyone wrap themselves in a blanket.

  3. Forest: Make costumes out of refrigerator boxes and washer boxes. Tall people can be different sized trees and shorter teens or younger siblings can be bushes. Paint the boxes to look like trees with holes cut out for the eyes. Supplies needed: cardboard boxes (trunk), paint (to paint the trunk and leaves), brown shirts, and crepe paper (leaves).

    Have a happy autumn, and feel free to e-mail us with pictures of your costume!

    By Alicia Sargent

When Short is Too Short

How to Dress Modestly at School

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9

These days provocative clothing is everywhere, on television, in shop windows, and everywhere on the street. Mini skirts and short shorts are the standard summer-wear, along with halter tops and spaghetti straps. Most girls wear such provocative clothing because they want to fit in or because they like the attention others give them. After all, they say, everyone else is dressing this way, so there’s nothing wrong with it. Right?

It’s hard for young girls not to fall into this trap. Abercrombie and Fitch boasts its “highest-quality, casual, all-American lifestyle clothing for aspiring men and women.” I want everyone to look closely at the following pictures from their website and ask yourself, what would people who wear these clothes be aspiring to be?

Now read the following Bible verse and see if any of these clothes are appropriate according to God. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but which becometh women professing godliness with good works” (1 Timothy 2: 9-10). Would you feel comfortable wearing these clothes in front of your minister? (Especially considering the first one is a dress!) What’s really sad is that all of these clothes are a very common sight anywhere you go. Even in school, girls are dressing more provocatively. How can we expect our young men to learn anything when girls wearing only two inches of material are constantly distracting them? Mini shirts and short shorts are everywhere, from popular teen stores at the mall to Wal-mart. If you refused to shop at any store that sold clothing like this, there would be nowhere left to shop! The key is to always keep in mind how God wants us to look. Christian girls can shop at most stores; we just can’t wear everything that store sells. American Eagle sells tiny shorts, but they also sell capris. The same holds true for almost any store. Just keep in mind that you have a choice in how you dress, and that what you wear reflects who you are and how people perceive you. The world judges us on how we appear, and so we are to be a light to the world, leading them to God. The problem is, how can we lead people to God when all they notice is the skin that should be covered up? We must consider God in everything we do, say, and wear. Everything reflects upon us, and when we tell people we are Christians, it reflects the congregation you attend and, most importantly, God himself. Keep this in mind the next time you’re talking to your friends. How do your friends really see you?

We all want to look cute that first day back to school; we just have to remember that we can look great and please God at the same time. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30). Remember that while what you wear may seem like a big deal today, life goes on, and in ten years you won’t even remember or care about what you wore in middle and high school. Your clothes make a statement about who you are, so let your statement be for God.

Let’s look at some cute—and modest!—clothes (and accessories) that are perfect for going back to school.

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Wal-mart Bermuda Shorts $14.72

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American Eagle Demin Capris $39.50

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American Eagle Empire Waist Dress $19.99

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Kohls $25.20 Tops $24.00

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JCPenney $39.99 Active Wear $19.99

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Payless $19.99 Shoes $11.99

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Old Navy $12.50 Bags $19.50

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By Alicia Marie Sargent

Mixed Swimming

My mom doesn’t want me to go swimming with my guy friends this summer because she says it is hard for a guy to keep his thoughts pure when he’s around girls in their bathing suits. What’s worse is she won’t even let me get a bikini! All of my friends are wearing them! She says she’s just concerned for my purity, but I think she’s being way too overprotective. Can you please explain to her that it’s not a big deal??!?!!

–Dying of Heat in Georgia

I know how you feel—you think your mother is being way too restrictive and doesn’t have any idea what’s cool now. While that might be true, she still has your best interests in mind. It’s not that she doesn’t trust you; she obviously just understands teen boys. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to help much with the fashion side of things—check out Alicia’s article for that—but I do think I can help with idea of both sides of the situation and give you a direction to go.

What’s the big deal about a bikini anyway, right? “It’s just a bikini and everyone else wears them.” Or, “That’s just the way things are today.” I’m sure these thoughts have crossed your mind, so let’s think about it for a minute and decide what the real issue is here. If we take a look at 1Timothy 2:9, it says, “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control….” So, girls are supposed to be modest. Anyone can take an honest look at this verse and agree that bikinis aren’t modest. The verse also mentions respectable apparel. I think respectable apparel would be clothes that allow the wearer to be respected.

So, what about swimming with boys? In the appropriate situation, I think this is just fine, but I’d definitely not swim alone with a boy. Even if your intentions are pure, his might not be, and even if they are, he can easily be severely tested. You can help out by talking to your mom and setting up some rules–don’t forget to cover all the bases. Important situations to talk about would include the public pool, pool parties, going swimming on dates, swimming at camp, and swimming at the beach. Taking responsibility for yourself can often be met with greater trust. Of course, in the end, you must obey and respect your parents’ decisions. If they have clearly stated that you may not swim in the company of boys, then don’t. It doesn’t matter if everyone else is, or if you feel uncool, or if you think it’s simply just unfair and too old-fashioned. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1 ESV). This verse in Ephesians does not include the word unless. (This means no switching swimsuits after leaving the house and no lying about who all will be attending that pool party!)

Now for the second half of that question. I will confirm that if you get that bikini, you will get attention. However, it isn’t going to be the attention a Christian girl should be looking for. God designed guys to be visual. We can’t help it; it’s just the way we were made. God made us that way so we can enjoy our wives after we’re married. We are made to like what we see, and to want more of what we see. When God designed us that way, he wasn’t intending for females to walk around in skimpy clothes or bikinis. He was intending for us to have fun with our wives at home. Read Song of Solomon chapter four if you need a better explanation of this! When girls dress immodestly, they are dressing in a way God does not approve of, and they are tempting men to lust over them. All men are tempted in this area—Christians, non-Christians, married, and single. It doesn’t matter who the man is—God designed all of us to be visual! You will be respected more when you’re dressed modestly, and we’ll appreciate you for your godliness and consideration.

Remember that your mom is just trying to protect you because she understands men a little better than you do; so try to listen to her and be patient with her, because she’s doing her best. It might require a little more work and some well-thought-out shopping, but you can find alternatives that will keep both you and Mom happy. Just a simple google search for “modest swimsuit” yields tons of results. You can also try your local mall or other stores, but finding one online that suits your taste might be a little easier.

When looking for a suit, keep a few things in mind:

1. Does this swimsuit cover a lot more than your normal underwear? If not, then call it what it is; don’t believe a name change makes it acceptable to wear in public.

2. Is the suit family friendly? What if you wore this swimsuit with your family at the beach? Would you feel comfortable?

3. Are you embarrassed? Try the suit on and walk outside the changing room. Just how red your face turns is a good indicator!

4. Is it functional? Look for something secure enough that it’s not going to malfunction (think strapless or too loose) if you take a jump off the high dive.

You can look attractive and modest at the same time, so please do all men a favor this summer and cover up.

“And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.” Isaiah 25:11 (ESV)

By Nathan Parks