… with what is already in your closet. Is your blouse too low cut? Shirt too short? Skirts too short, slits too high? Too many pants? Clothes too tight? Miss Gibson has great suggestions for fixing these problems without spending any money!

How to Create a Modest Wardrobe with What Is Already in Your Closet
By Julie Ann Gibson

If you are feeling convicted on the issue of modesty and are ready to make the change over to wearing modest clothes, you may be wondering how you can do it without spending an arm and a leg for a whole new wadrobe. Here are some tips and tricks to help you save money or save your favorite clothing that may need help in the modesty department.

Is your blouse too low cut? Wear a high-necked shirt underneath. I prefer tank tops for this. Do you have a shirt that has a high neckline but exposes your belly? This shirt can be used underneath a low cut blouse also. Just think, two shirts that were created to be immodest can create a very modest look when paired together. You can also raise your neckline by sewing in a piece of fabric at the top. Just make sure your head still fits through after doing this.

Do you have skirts that are too short or have high slits? Short skirts can be lengthened by sewing on more fabric at the bottom and creating a border. A denim mini skirt can look really cute when you add on some pretty material to make it longer. A floral or bandana print would look very nice. If you are really brave–and good at sewing–you can take several short skirts, cut them up, and create one long patchwork skirt. Leftover material could be used to make matching scrunchies or whatever else you can imagine.

High slits in skirts can be fixed by just sewing them up. If you can sew a button on a shirt, then you can sew up a slit. You may be thinking, “Isn’t that slit there so I can walk easily in my skirt?” Not neccesarily. So far, I haven’t run across a skirt I could not easily walk in after sewing it up. If you do find it hard to move after sewing a slit, then maybe the skirt is too tight.

Do you have a sleeveless shirt with large armholes? Wear another shirt underneath. If you use a tight shirt underneath, it not only fixes the problem with the armholes in the one shirt, but it also covers up the tightness of the other shirt.

Are some of your outfits a bit sheer? A sheer skirt can be fixed with a solid colored slip. A sheer blouse can be worn with a shirt or shell underneath. Camisoles usually do not work too well, since they do not go all the way up to your neckline and usually have a lace trim at the top that can easily be seen through the blouse. Another alternative is to wear a vest or jumper over the sheer blouse.

Do you own a lot of pants? If you know how to sew you can open up the inside of the legs and sew the material back together to create a skirt. I have never done this before, but I have seen a lot of teen girls do this with blue jeans.

Are some of you clothes too tight? A tight shirt can be covered with a vest or a jumper. A skirt too tight at the top can be covered with a long shirt or sweater. Another alternative is to buy a girdle or a minimizing bra. You may wonder, “Why spend money on that when you could just buy larger clothing that fits?” You could buy a larger size, but if you are amply blessed in only one area, then the rest of the outfit looks saggy and baggy. These undergarments can allow you to buy clothes that fit well everywhere without having to worry about the tightness in one area.

I hope that with these tips you will feel more confident about making such a big lifestyle change, knowing you do not have to break the bank to do it!

© Copyright 2002-2009 by LAF/BeautifulWomanhood.org. Reprinted with permission. Original article: How to create a modest wardrobe with what is already in your closet