Empowered Traditionalist

To read “On Loving Tunics” Part 1, click: here

The question was: How can you put a tunic and pencil skirt together? (or even more generally…any skirt?)

The Samples, below are 3 different tunics shown with a pencil skirt or straight fitting dress, such as a shift.

The thing to remember is the overall shape you are trying to attain. Balance is key, if you have a full or billowy tunic, pair it with a more body-skimming skirt. It would be difficult to pair a full, pleated skirt with a tunic because you are pairing fullness on top, with fullness on bottom, losing your shape entirely.
I belted these three to draw added definition to the waist.

This pulled this more summery tunic from the closet and paired it with a straight fitting corduroy skirt .

Notice, we are still maintaining shape by adding the belted waist.

This is a longer tunic, even more of a dress, but it can still be worn with a black pencil skirt.

This red striped tunic, is paired with a straight fitting sleeveless dress.

(You will have to give us grace on these ones…we aren’t professional models

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…continued from: Part 1
she is, as the French so aptly put it, “comfortable in her own skin”…
There’s something I love about getting all dolled up, hair done, makeup just right, feeling just perfect. But then again…can I feel confident and beautiful without all the primping and curling and scrinching? That is when true beauty glides into the spotlight.

Here’s 2 of 5 steps to becoming bien des la peau~

KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Where do you find your value? In your pretty face or nice figure? Most of us will get to spend time with our Gramma’s over the holidays. Now picture her in your mind…I’m sorry to break it to you- but sooner or later, we are all going to look like our Gramma or great-Gramma. It is a life-long achievement to become truly beautiful, but it is never too soon to start working at it.

Know who you are, what you want, what you are capable of. Discovering your authentic self provides a core identity to work from. Are you a classic girl? Chic? Bohemian? Modern? A woman comfortable in her own skin is confident about who she naturally is and isn’t afraid to enjoy that individuality.
As one commentator wrote, “American girls worship the cult of the ‘ideal woman, no part of the face seems to be forgotten. And when you use too much makeup, it means you are hiding from yourself.”

Ms. Laura Mercier, in an article on makeup in the New York Times elucidated,

“It really astonishes me the way American women wear so much makeup,” said Laura Mercier, the French creator of a line of cosmetics and skin care who lives in New York. “In America, even teenage girls are overly made-up. And when you are overly made-up, you send out the message that you are overly sexual, that you want to be visible to attract men.”
By contrast, Ms. Mercier said: “French women are not flashy. They must be subtle. The message must not be, ‘I’m spending hours on my face to look beautiful.’ “

NURTURE YOUR MIND AND BODY
Though this seems like a private and solitary act, the woman who takes prodigious care of herself can’t help but glow externally. What you put into your mind will come out in everyday conversation and experience. Are you thriving on excellent books and resources or are you merely surfing the web? Are you exercising your mind (just like your body) through challenging literature or are you twiddling through romance novels?

But don’t neglect that body- “Self-nurturing is directly connected to self-respect. When you start taking care of yourself, whether it’s taking care of your skin or carving out a precious half-hour to call your own, you start to feel better, become more connected to life, and surprisingly even become more productive” answered Simple Abundance author Sara Ban Brethnach. Occasional necessary treats aside (read: dark chocolate), care for yourself with a healthy diet, LOTS of water, a multivitamin and exercise. A wholesome lifestyle decreases health risks, lengthens life expectancy, provides more physical and mental energy, less anxiety and better self-esteem.

Who wouldn’t want that?

-written by Margaret Everton, revised and expanded by Christa Taylor

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I’m going to introduce you to a few new faces, women, working for the common goal of raising modesty awareness and encouraging style in the process. They are currently involved in a new Canada based program called TRENDS. After talking over the phone and via email I get to share some background and why they think modesty and fashion is so integral.

Ulricka, from Montreal coordinator explains more about their mission:

Me: Tell us a little about who you are and what you do…

Ulricka: My name is Ulrika Drevniok and I am the coordinator of TRENDS Montreal and completing my final year of a Master’s in Nursing at McGill. But, what does the coordinator do, right? As coordinator, I work to organize various aspects of our group: everything from searching for guest speakers for our meetings…to choosing fashion show outfits and ordering pizza! That is to say, there are a lot of different things that I do. However, my main task (and the one I like the most) is leading the discussion sessions that we have at our monthly meetings. We talk about things like the human person, love, self-respect — even our dress code! I am the coordinator, but I know where TRENDS gets its real fuel: TRENDS is run by teens, for teens.

Me: Can you tell me a bit more about the vision behind TRENDS?
The vision behind TRENDS is based on the idea that fashion should communicate who you are as a person. We think of ourselves as rebels. We want fashion that reflects our worth and dignity as human persons, but we need style, too! TRENDS was formed as a means of informing ourselves, and others, about what should really be important in fashion

More answers on the way…

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Two young gentlemen recently asked me the same question, in fact they posted their queries on an online chat room…and believe me, the response was far from positive. If we filter out the obscenities and vulgar remarks (from the so called “ladies”) the answer came down to two contentions.

1.) skirts aren’t comfortable
Now this must be taken with their veiw-point in mind. I would completely agree, a mini skirt, is NOT comfortable. But thank heavens there are more options than that sad excuse for a covering.

It takes a paltry 3 minutes to put on a pair of tights (or in my case a chic pair of trouser socks/knee highs) and the air of class and refinement is definitely worth it.

2.) They aren’t in-style

Who says they aren’t “in”, just because you can’t find them at your typical American Eagle doesn’t mean they aren’t in style. The very nature of the skirt makes it always in style, it’s your base pallet for layering on some creative color.

With that said,
Let it be known, far and wide- You are completely and utterly free to wear skirts! I give you full permission to be as feminine and attractive as you like!

More on skirts:

There’s something about them, that delightful thrill you get when it’s swishing around your calves, or when the man nearby recognizes the fact that you are a lady and kindly opens the door for you, or when you feel so flattered by it’s graceful lines…it’s always fitting, always appropriate.

Where have all the skirts and dresses gone?

I do find it rather tragic that skirts and dresses are so difficult to find, (except of course, the above mentioned mini) even large retailers such as Kohl’s and Target have completely removed their dresses department. Not a dress in the place. With the “casualization” of America few retailers see the need for a “classy” refined look outside of business wear. (We’re out to change that…=)

I was recently attending a Musicians summit in Seattle, WA. Five thousand men and women crammed the place, but I saw only 2 women in the entire contingency who were wearing skirts. If women, conservative or no, would wear skirts at least once more than they would usually – we would see quite the change in “femininity” category and be more flattered in the process.

Now, I wear pants fairly frequently (and was wearing them on this occasion) but I always try to pair my denim/slacks with something very feminine. Something a guy would NEVER wear, such as a cute tunic, or flowy sweater etc. I’m happy to be a woman, and happy to show it.

“Never in the history of fashion has so little material been raised so high to reveal so much that needs to be covered so badly.” -Sir Cecil Beaton on mini-skirts

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Meet an Empowered Traditionalist…

Veil designer, Dorene Vandermeer,is another ET in action, not only does she love “creating”, but she’s committed to doing it for the right reason.

“My background in Art, my love of sewing and my deep appreciation for the gifts God has given me are poured into each piece I create. I long for each of my patrons to know this; each veil I create I make, I am feeling God’s pleasure. I love God and His Son Jesus Christ and I also want for you to see how much He loves you. When I send off a veil I really do it unto my Heavenly Father.So unto Him I give my very best, so that you may see His Glory.”

Dorene Vandermeer, at Unveiled Bridal Designs, is the artist behind our stunning hat veils featured in several of our fall/winter photographs. She designed 4 unique veils exclusively for Christa Taylor- and I think you’ll agree she did a fantastic job. Thank you Dorene!

I will certainly not let those veils just sit on the shelf, I fully intend to wear one or two of them this Christmas season to one of our holiday events!

(not to mention that they would be the perfect unexpected accent to your prom/formal events!)

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Christina Morgan, from Relate Magazine, recently called to talk about our vision behind Christa Taylor, curious on how it all began. (She is really nice)

Read the article

and give us your feedback…

(we love hearing from you!)

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