What's in Your Beach Bag?

With the start of the school year again, I have spent the last couple of days cleaning, reorganizing and emptying. I've cleaned the guest closet. I've reorganized the pantry. And I have emptied out and packed away the summer Beach Bag. As sad as I am to see summer leave and school start again, I got a real and genuine kick out of the memories that accompanied each item that came out of that beach bag. Keeping in mind that my daughter likes to be prepared for anything, likes to take her favorite toys along so they can experience "real" life and likes to save all kinds of "precious" things from where ever she goes...here's what I found:

1. Sunscreen 40 spf, with it's lid broken off when my teenage son threw it at his younger brother at a family reunion in Las Vegas.

2. White goops of 40 spf sunscreen that leaked all over because of said broken lid and angry brother.

3. Seven hair clips and rubber bands of various colors, several of which are sunscreen coated. Apparently my daughter must have her hair loose and free in the water so she can be a true Mermaid.

4. "Amy" the Webkinz koala who accompanied us to the local Rec Center swimming pool one day in August and who we were positive we had left behind. Now I don't have to fork out $16.95 so we can "adopt" Amy all over again.

5. A whole lot of sand from the Oregon Coast. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to see that one of my children still had some of this Oregon Coast sand either in an ear or up a nose.

6. A beach towel that smelled vaguely of rotting starfish and sunscreen.

7. Four smashed and melted Peanut Butter M&M's...the BEST candy ever! Smashed and melted but yes-siree they were good!

These are bits and pieces from the summer now in memory form: The name my son called his younger brother as he launched the sunscreen at his head. My daughters desire to adopt a starfish: "no honey, the starfish can't live in our bathtub in Utah!". Four solid weeks of sweltering and sweating on a recliner at the Rec Center pool for swim lessons, keeping a watchful eye so as not to miss giving the energetic Thumbs-Up for each and every dunk under the water. Memories that I really ought to scrapbook but which I blog instead.

So...what is essential in your swim or beach bag? Sunscreen? Extra towels? A swim skirt? Let me know by commenting below!

Modesty is New? and Shocking? wha...?

According to an article in CNN todaythis article written by Eileen Putnam I should be shocked to see teens wearing modest clothing. In the article Eileen describes her daughter's choice of choosing a strapless dress topped with a white cardigan to attend a friends Bar Mitzvah.

Personally I don't think that the idea of topping a previously immodest strapless dress with a cardigan, shrug or jacket is anything new. This is what women who have wanted modesty have been doing for years. In fact I seem to remember wearing a lace "jacket" over my Gunnesax by Jessica McClintock Prom dress. But back to the point: it's not a new concept. Unless it IS a new style and I was just way to trendy for my time. I'm sure that framing it as "new" will help make it all the more "hip" to today's high-fashion followers. If the author had called it "old" or "stale" who would want to wear it?

The author also quotes Stephanie Meyerson from Stylesight, a company that "forecasts" fashion as saying:
Covered up can mean put-together (think "Gossip Girl") or disheveled (a bit of Mary-Kate-and-Ashley grunge meets Amy Winehouse). And even that look can have sexual connotations.

"It's the one-night-stand look," Meyerson said. As in the disheveled morning after, clothes with a slept-in feel."

I have to completely disagree that our teenagers, in their modest fashion choices will look either put-together or disheveled ala Mary Kate Olsen. The 'One-night-stand look'? Seriously? 'Sexual connotations'? Uhn-uh! Why is it that even modest fashions MUST have a sexual connotation to some people? Why can't modesty just simply be modest? That, I believe is in the eye and the mind of the beholder.

Besides the fact that if you are "shocked" by your daughters modest choice of clothing then I'm sorry but you have not been guiding her towards modesty. Not if her modesty "shocks" you. If you guide your daughter's (and son's) choices towards modesty from early on, you will not be shocked when they actually do choose modesty.

Yippee for all of us camisole, capsleeve-wearing high fashion women...we are finally right up there on the fashion scale with the Olsen Twins! Makes you just want to don your hole-y tights, big bug-eyed sunglasses and ratty scarf doesn't it?

Model Modesty for your Senior Pictures!

A daughter's Senior year can be a time of great stress or the best time of her life. Seniors get to participate in many activities that are geared towards only them, celebrating their successful leap from child to adult. Senior Prom, Senior Skip Day, Graduation and Senior Pictures are all part of the process of graduating High School...along with passing grades, of course! Senior pictures can cause both mother and daughter stress as they search together for the perfect outfits that will be immortalized in photo form forever. Often moms and daughters are at odds in determining clothing her daughter wears every day, but especially for Senior Pictures. Mothers of high school seniors are looking for the perfect outfits that advertise their daughter's style and sparkle but not her figure. With the following tips you can guide your daughter to being remembered for her uniqueness and beauty not her body.

Senior pictures are in the thoughts and minds of just about all Seniors nationwide right now. The "in the know" mothers realize that schools and yearbook companies do not wait until the end of the school year to ask for senior portrait submittal. Therefore Senior pictures are generally taken in the heat of the summer or the warmth of fall, which too easily allows for memorializing many senior girls' choices of immodest clothing. Yet modest clothing can be modern and hip enough for even the pickiest of teenagers if you know how to put a modest outfit together and where to look for modest clothing.

First, think of the latest layering trend. Hopefully this trend is here to stay, but unfortunately like most fashion trends it will phase out eventually. BUT...take advantage of it now! Camisoles, cap-sleeve shirts and long-length T-shirts have been around for a while and some have probably made it into your closet. This is a great start! Layering a colored camisole underneath what would normally be a too-short shirt, jacket or sweater not only gives modesty, but also adds texture and color to an outfit. Choose a lace-edged camisole and you've added even MORE texture. Some teens even put together outfits with several layers: two camisoles of different colors, one lace one plain, topped with a shirt and then a jacket or hoodie. This look gives color and variety to the waist area when all the different layers show.

Camisoles will also add interest and draw the eye upward to the face when used underneath a shirt or dress that may have a too-low neckline.

No wonder teenagers love the styles that layering provides and better yet, moms love the modesty. It's a win-win for both moms and daughters!

Cap-sleeve shirts are a quick fix to any sleeveless shirt or dress. So called babydoll style tops are in style this year, however many are sleeveless or have spagetti-straps. Throw a cap-sleeve tee underneath and you've created a modest ensemble that is colorful AND trendy. Just what your daughter wants. And maybe, hopefully...even you!

Second, think of skirt and shirt options. Skirts can be modest without bringing Grandma and her knee-hi stockings to mind. A knee-length skirt with a matching blouse or T-shirt is more modest than a dress of the same lenght. Many seasoned fashion-conscious women have realized that the dress that is knee-length when worn standing is only mid-thigh when sitting or bending over. A skirt and shirt combination changes this problem from being potentially immodest to being modest, adding versatility as well, since most skirts will have several shirts that match it, altering the look and the style. A skirt can go from semi-formal to semi-casual with the quick change of a satin blouse to a T-shirt and denim jacket. Plus many different looks in-between.

Of course you can find the styles mentioned at Diviine ModesTee, since this is Diviine ModesTees blog. Check out the store website since many of the items mentioned are on sale or even clearance. What could really be better than a clearance cami? Even better your daughter will make a statement in her Senior yearbook by being remembered for her style and hip fashion, not her sexuality. Of course, if she wants to be remembered for her sexuality then you've got a problem!

Fashion Consultant Opportunities

I really need to put a quick plug on here for our Diviine ModesTee Fashion Consultant business opportunities.  If interested, you can become a Fashion Consultant for Diviine ModesTee for a small investment initially of a clothing/swimsuit kit.  You are able to work on your own time, around family or another job...whatever!  You can work as much or as little as you want, it's entirely up to you.  

While the main purpose of this blog is not to advertise for Consultants I'd be very remiss if I did not at least mention it.  If you think this is something you  might be interested in learning more about fill out the little form below and to the right and hit "submit" or email me at sandy@diviinemodestee.com and I will be thrilled to send you some more information.  Also check out Diviine Modestee to see our clothing, skirts and swimsuit lines.  

Introducing Diviine ModesTee Company

Diviine ModesTee is a women's clothing company that is devoted to offering women modest clothing: swimsuits, dresses, skirts and shirts, even more!  But enough of that "official" stuff... Diviine ModesTee rocks!  While there may be many companies that specialize in modest clothing Diviine ModesTee's products are truly awesome.  Not only do the swimsuits fit the strict standard of modesty that the owner adheres to...the styles are to die for!  Such cute fabric styles on the swimsuits.  Adorable pattern designs for the skirts that flatter all body types.  Chic dresses that will make all your friends ask "where on EARTH did you get that gorgeous dress??"

OK, sure...I work at Diviine ModesTee so you might say "she's a little biased".  Or "a lot biased".  However I have not worked for Diviine ModesTee long enough that I haven't purchased and owned products from other modest companies.  I'll just say I am sold on Diviine ModesTee's products.

So...the blog.  This blog's intent is to chronicle Diviine ModesTee in it's growth and progress, to discuss modesty issues, swimsuits, clothing, fashion, and the retail and internet business.   You may see guest authors, announcements of sales, previews of upcoming merchandise, tips on tanning...who knows?!  

Welcome!