Rocking Modesty

My friend Mary and I in college.

I started my journey in modesty back in high school. I knew it had to do with covering myself up. I had always felt uncomfortable letting anything hang out, as I was so large chested. I was repeatedly reminded why I needed to cover up, as almost nothing I wore seemed to be modest. It seems like I even had cleavage in a t-shirt!

A quick pic before going to work at J.Crew.

I high school I usually wore jeans or pants, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. I was a tomboy and it was more frumpy than flattering. In college, I loosened up a lot and wore things that revealed my chest. I got a ton of attention, but later grew to hate it. When I met my husband, it seems that I was modest when I wanted to be. My immodesty caused a lot of problems that ended up hurting us in the end.

As I entered the workforce as a youth minister, I was too casual. I wore jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and flip-flops because I wanted to fit in with the kids. I struggled with being a newlywed and trying to please my husband, and trying to set a good example at church. I had quite a few "fail" moments. I always felt like people didn't take me seriously, that my husband viewed me as an object, and that I was fat.

Stylishly modest at the Country Living Fair, 2014

When I worked for J.Crew after 2 years in ministry, I felt a shift. I no longer felt frumpy, but could put an outfit together. I constantly heard that I looked good. I dressed more modestly and classy too. I saw my weight go down. A year after being at J.Crew I took my next ministry position. I tried to keep up being well-dressed. I did have times that I was in a rut, but overall I was doing pretty well.

A pic of my pixie

2 years into my job, I decided that it was time to change. I was constantly having back pain and I felt immodest just because of my chest. I had a breast reduction right before Christmas and it was the best gift I could have ever given myself. I go rid of so many clothes that caused me to stumble. I felt like I could breathe again.

Since my reduction, I have continued to go deeper in my journey of modest dressing, and have embraced wearing skirts at least 80% of the time. I'd love to wear skirts all of the time, but I'll admit that I'm a bit afraid of it. But I feel so feminine and stylish when I do!

A couple of weekends ago, I went to the Steubenville Youth Conference, a conference I attended as a teen. I've since been taking groups or chaperoning, and this was my 14th time attending the conference. I decided to wear skirts the entire weekend, which is no small feat considering 5 hours in a bus each way, being with teenagers all weekend, and that the campus of Franciscan University is literally uphill both ways. Haha! However, I felt God's peace all weekend, felt carefree, and comfortable. It also made me look like an adult :)

My sister Gail and I

I've also embraced modesty and femininity in other areas of my life. I had a pixie haircut before, which I loved, but I've been growing my hair out over the last year and a half. I've never had hair past my shoulders and my sister asked me last year if I would grown my hair out to her length, which is well past her shoulders. She has super beautiful hair!

I'm all for challenges and have always wanted long hair, just never had the will to keep growing it out. Being broke has helped, as I haven't been able to go to the salon except for one trip to see my lovely friend Meghan Barnes at Bella Rey Salon in Oakley. Totally worth every penny and it helps that Meghan and I are able to chat away the time. I'm looking forward to going back!


My biggest takeaway from my modesty journey has been that I finally feel at peace about myself. I feel like a woman in the truest sense. I'm able to honor my husband more with how I dress. I am dressing nicer, which gains me more respect and clout. I am able to honor God and represent His Church.