~ MEN, MEN , MEN! ~

*Places headphones in ears and hit’s play on Iphone, cue song! MEN MEN MEN MEN, MANLY MEN MEN MEN MEN! J*

Yes the wait is OVER my next issue is here and it’s all about MEN. WHY? Because I felt I never did them any justiceL. In issue 2 “Body Simplicity” I gave small snippets of what type of woman they would want, however I decided to go deeper with this issue and let the beloved Male species take centre stage while I stand back and work the curtain ha-ha. I wanted EVERY FEMALE YOUNG AND OLD to see into the mindset, the psyche and the inner workings of the male mind. What makes them tick? What do they really think of Modesty? And what type of female would they bring home to Mother?

I must say it proved most enlightening to do this interview over this past week, and what I can say is everyone super exceeded my intentions! I tell you ladies we have some heavy hitters here, just like Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali POWW! THEY’LL KNOCK YOU OUT WITH THEIR ANSWERS!

Now I know the question is posed what about Marriage? How do they REALLY feel about it? Well I did the leg work for all those enquiring minds, and I think (well I hope) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would be proud! (Side eye! O_o  who the shamrock is she I hear you say!)

Born 15 September 1977) she is a Nigerian novelist and short story writer. She has been called "the most prominent" of a "procession of critically acclaimed young Anglophone authors that is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. Still not ringing a bell? WELP she also features on Beyonce’s popular song FLAWLESS (yes I hear you say OOOHHHHHH YEAHHHHH). So what does she have to do with this Men’s issue, well she made a very valid point in the song in which she said;

“ …But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage, and we don’t teach boys the same?” STOP!!!

^^^^^^^^^ THIS IS SO TRUE^^^^^^^^ RIGHT!

Well I think over time this dynamic is slowly changing. There ARE those in this world that want to get married who aspire to marriage, however what is the problem? Well I think these men who I have interviewed will give you a small insight into why. Even celebrities(although you can’t take some seriously) they are gradually taking that step, as they slowly realise that having sex with every Jane, Carmel and Rosalina isn’t working. Yes they are “FUN” for a reason and a season, but when it comes down to “jumping that broom” so to say, they begin looking for deeper qualities for that Wife material.

The first to the stage, (as I direct the HOT LIGHTS in his direction) is Tyrese! I follow him on instagram and I must say he is very down to earth, wise and obviously handsome <<< but that’s not the point teehee. He posted on his insta a few weeks ago …

“ I will find her- this ring means nothing without a heartbeat to go along with it. Nothing more attractive than a smart, sexy, independently successful woman whose been through some “stuff” in her life and she hasn’t allowed a thing to steal her JOY- I want my wife to be so committed to God that I would have to commit myself even more to seeking HIM in order to win HER”

Now isn’t that beautiful! He doesn’t just want a pretty face, no he wants a woman of substance, spirituality and a sense of self! Slowly you are seeing men in the film industry, music industry and so forth settle down because they understand to a degree the importance of community building, family building and sharing your life with the right person. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, J Cole, Ludacris, Kevin Hart, Dwayne Wade are some of the stars who have either settled down recently and or are engaged. Let’s hope this doesn’t become a “Hollywood Trend” and they actually stick together.

Now that, that’s all said and done, let’s get down to business. I stumbled across this article on PINTREST called WHAT MEN REALLY THINK ABOUT MODESTY by thefulltimegirl.com. It wasn’t an interview per say but more so a testimony from all men religious and non religious. So I’m going to let them take the wheel!!

 “Modesty is the attitude of what you want to draw another person’s attention to. It has every bit as much to do with how you carry yourself as it has to do with how you clothe yourself. What attitude do your eyes wear? What attitude do your hands portray? Don’t kid yourself – you could be completely covered and still be immodest. Where immodesty draws attention to temptations, a modest person draws attention away from temptations to the valuable things of life that build another up. Beauty is not contrary to modesty; how that beauty is used in the service of others is where the focus should be. Check your heart – where do you want to draw another person’s attention to? You in all of your temporary human glory of God in all of his majestic glory?” –Tony

“I think that modesty is one of the most important ways that women can respect both themselves, brother’s AND other sister’s in Christ, and other men and women in culture.  Modesty helps men to see you for who you are and not just your outward appearance.  Every man struggles with lust and women can either help or hinder them by how they dress.  Modesty is most importantly biblical as read about in 1 Timothy 2:9-10!  Modesty also does not just include the clothes you wear but the way you carry yourself.  Just because God gave you a beautiful body doesn’t mean you can show it to everyone.  Your body (just as with your virginity) should be saved and shown only to your husband.” –Craig

“As a college-age guy, I would totally rather pursue/date a girl who dressed modestly. I find that so attractive. I don’t know why, but there’s so much more to a modestly dressed girl than one who reveals too much skin. Modesty reveals so many things about a woman. It reveals her courage, her true beauty and her confidence; things that real, Godly men want, things that will make men respect her”. –Jonathan

“I feel like in order for women to respect themselves and their bodies, they have to live a modest lifestyle. They have to love being modest because any man in his right mind should know what’s appropriate for women to wear, how they carry themselves, what they say and what isn’t. I personally prefer to associate myself with women who know what it means to be decent, especially out in public.” –Rashaun

“I’ll often make a judgement on who a girl is by what she is dressed like. I know this is not right but simply put I don’t want to be with a girl that dresses for attention. I want to be with a girl that is aware of how her dress affects men and is sensitive to that by understanding it’s typically a man’s biggest weaknesses.” –Jeremy

“The most beautiful girls are the ones who dress modestly. Yea, there are really attractive girls who don’t dress modestly, but when you see a beautiful girl dressed modestly there’s something more about them. There’s this illuminating light that shines through them that’s more attractive than anything else, and it causes you to step up and be a man if you want to have a chance with her”. –Brian

“One definition I saw that caught my eye of the word modesty was “lack of vanity.” Most people relate it to how we dress or speak. I just wonder why most women would want to be so open with the way present themselves.  The women I’ve seen like that get accepted by all kinds of guys.  You look at how the relationship turned out, they are hurt and the man stole something from them very valuable that can’t be given back.  Their dignity. To me, being modest is more attractive than a girl in a low cut tank and some booty shorts.” –Preston

“It’s difficult to ask a girl to be modest in this culture. We are a culture in which sex sells. Literally. But if sex appeal sells, why would you want to sell what God has already bought and redeemed?” –Zach

“As a guy, it’s always disturbed me how subversively male driven female identity is today in terms of appearance and modesty. Take Sports Illustrated for instance. Every year they produce the swimsuit edition, easily their most popular. Female models and sports celebrities are paraded solely for the enjoyment of men. What is the message the (male) editors of the magazine are saying? That the greatest possible thing women have to offer is not their intelligence, not their beliefs, but simply the size of their chests and complexion of their skin. Ladies, dress modestly to show the world that it is your soul and your mind that has immense power, and that you don’t have to fit some sex-crazed culturally driven standard in order to be successful, appealing, and independent.” –Kent

“Ladies, the truth is that men like seeing skin. Men enjoy seeing you flaunt “what you’ve got.” Your popularity may rise. Your “likes” and “shares” may even skyrocket the more pictures you post of yourself showing more of yourself. With Christmas approaching think of how you present gifts to those you love. I know this example may not be applicable to some but I think most of you reading this plan on wrapping gifts. You conceal the gift and that somehow makes it more special. Your body is a gift that you can present to your husband. Keeping it “wrapped” might just make it more special to him and to you. Which is more valuable, that which is easily attained and seen or that which is rare and hidden?” –Adam

WOOOOOOO WHAT CAN I SAY!!! ARE THESE TESTIMONIES FIRE OR WHAT!!!

Now based on this article I decided to do my own investigation. I tried my best to find a balanced medium of men some religious and non religious lol either way the consensus  was all the same of what they wanted and was looking for. I formulated 7 questions and expressed that my disclaimer was that they tell the truth from their heart and not what they “thought” I wanted to hear for my blog. Some of the answers are very honest, but REAL, and this is what I loved. The questions are below, along with some of my highlights!

Interview Questions

1.       What does Modesty mean to you? Dictionary terms define it as

The quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc.

Regard for decency of behaviour, speech, dress, etc.

Simplicity; moderation.

However what does it mean to YOU personally? (In reference to females)

2.       In reference to females and their styles, which one stands out for you personally? I.e. Tomboy, Classy/Elegant, Everything Revealing, Nothing but Name Brand etc. And Why?

3.       What qualities would a female have to have in order for you to bring her home to your Mother?

4.       Over the past 5 years, and now that we’re in 2015, what has and is your perception now of the Female Species? (Please Answer Honestly)

5.       Based on your perception of the Woman, do you think or believe there are women worth marrying?

6.       What does Marriage mean to you? And what marriages inspire you personally?

7.       Do you want to get married? If Yes Why, If No Why?

“I think modesty means having a natural look and not having the looks of this world but dressing/acting respectable. I would have to put this in there, I don’t necessarily think dressing/acting respectable is all just Muslim dress but for an example India Arie, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill etc. Modesty means that you don’t have to prove anything to the world that we are living in and that you know that you’re a Goddess so your being expresses enough.”

“…5 years ago, I may have thought “Beyoncé” is BAD! But as I grew and evolved in spiritual wisdom, I realise a lot of our women including the celebrities lack the knowledge of self. Alicia Keys and Beyoncé as beautiful and influential as they are; they can really harmonize on a soundtrack and have excellent marketing skills but if I asked them about themselves they probably couldn’t tell me. And now on the mainstream it is getting worse and worse. Look at Nicki Minaj, she is talented and has made a lot of money but it seems like the more famous and popular she becomes the less clothing she wears. So Satan has strategically manipulated the minds of our women to make them become sex symbols and this is what distracts us as a people from waking up and raising her. So it’s our duty now to elevate our women and show her in a more positive light.”..

“The style a man gravitates towards in a woman is directly reflective of the quality of his relationship with Allah God. If he wants what Allah wants, which he should, then since Allah’s requirements are that the woman should be covered then he’ll desire a woman that is covered. So, covered for me. That’s in public though. If I were married, I wouldn’t mind her being revealing because she is in her domain and has a right to impress, arouse and seduce her King.”

“Marriage to me when done correctly is as close to Allah (God) that any to people can be. Marriages that inspire me are the ones that just work. And how I know there working is because I can tell the marriage makes the individuals better personally”

“The marriages that inspire me are all marriages that are not understood from the outside eye.

Like we can condemn Beyonce and Jay Z until we are black and blue but within their marriage only they know what they have.”

“I want to keep it short and sweet but for me to introduce you to my mother I have to see my mother in you, do you understand?

Like when someone says to me your Well spoken or etc that to me is a reflection of my mother’s upbringing so I would never introduce my mum to someone who is not worthy and never get it twisted I'm not introducing them to my mum I'm introducing my mum to them

There's a very big difference”

This is just some of the handsome men I interviewed for this issue, however I couldn’t put all of their answers up BUT!! (WAIT FOR IT!!) I did put all interviews with PICTURES in a PDF format that one can download and read in their own leisure time! Trust me ladies and gentlemen you will enjoy, just make sure you put on the kettle for some tea ;).

This can be found attached to this blog issue.

In conclusion I hope and pray we have learned something today about the man’s psyche, even though we may “think” it’s simple because they have simple needs, they are very deep, considerate, loving and at the end of all the craziness they do, when it comes down to it they all want a Beautiful, Smart, Elegant, Respectable Young Woman…in the words of Aaliyah “Tell Me Are YOU that somebody?”

“When a culture of Ladies arises…a culture of Gentlemen will follow” Jason Evert

Until Next Time My Lovelies

Fashion.Silhouette. 

~ There Is No Spoon ~

BOOM! THE MATRIX what a way to start this week’s blog huh? This was exactly my intention, why? Because it contributed to the path of Neo finding himself, the moral, not to limit yourself to a box, as En Vogue once said “Free Your Mind And The Rest Will Follow” << once the mind is free, you as an individual begin to access your limitless CREATIVITY! Within the word Creativity you get the word (CREATE). I know you’re probably asking why do I always give the definitions of words in every blog? Well it’s to make sure as my beautiful readers, that you understand, see and are able to relate to the words being expressed. A word can never really become engrained in your psyche, if the life of the word cannot be understood. COMPRENDO MI AMIGO’S, BUENO! Let’s clear this word>>

(CREATE): Verb 1. To cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. 2. To evolve from one’s own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.

CREATIVITY: Noun 1. The state or quality of being creative 2. The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create new meaningful ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination;

WHICH DEFINITION DEFINES YOU? :D

~ QUANTUM LEAP ~

(ATTENTION CLASS!) Teacher screams from the front of the room, white chalk in hand, we’re going to take a little time travel history lesson, papers at the ready! >>>>>> Modesty is usually associated with religious backgrounds i.e. Islam, Christianity, Judaism etc. and along with this stereotype comes the robotic thought of ugly dark clothing, loose and unflattering. This doesn’t just include the religious world oh no no, throughout the world from as far back as Egyptian times every individual had a sense of style with a modest flair attached to it, because in some aspect they understood and knew who they were as separate entities. However with every roll over in the generation system the moral code regardless of religious background or lack thereof,  had and has dwindled down to the point where NOTHING IS LEFT TO THE IMAGINATION! (SWEET DAFFODILES IN MAY LOL!) The question is asked how do we fix it? I can honestly say with every generation of Christian and Muslim Women (mainly), each group has exceeded to change history. Outdoing their former counterparts every year, Month, Week, Day, Hour, Minute and Second!  Don’t believe me aye! Well let’s have a LO-OK!

~ Christianity ~

The Bible expresses {King James Version}

1 Timothy 2:9-10

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness & sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls or costly arrays; but {which becometh women professing godliness} with good works”

Proverbs 31:

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil”...

Throughout the bible’s stories and those re-made for T.V. many a prophets wives covered themselves with modest garments, head covered, loose fitting garments etc. but it was never very attractive (yes I see you having flashbacks! Lol) Most of the time such a religion was forced on us by our parents, forever dragging one to church and encouraging one to keep such women in mind as role models and examples, but when it came to marrying the style to the now NEW MILLENIUM, one was like ERRRR NAHHHHH MATE! Throughout time I can honestly say I have seen three stages to the RE-INVENTION OF C.M (Christian. Modesty) Past.Present.Future …..You need visuals right…ok I got you!

PAST/TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN

PRESENT CHRISTIAN

FUTURE CHRISTIAN

The visuals are pretty self-explanatory right, with the exception of the Present (Short skirts, too tight dresses, and Vatican Raising Hell, believe me people it’s real I read the article via NEWSER link >> http://www.newser.com/story/96732/vatican-raises-hell-over-short-skirts.html ,) anyhu the POSITIVE about this, is that we have a FUTURE to look forward to in these growing women, who are not afraid to push the boundaries on their faith and loving it so much that they have made a name for themselves, let alone re-vamping the expressive art of Modest Christianity. They are definitely one to watch along with Victoria Beckham herself, who always looks Elegant and Classy. My main star in the middle goes by Folake Huntoon, a Nigerian native but grew up in FABULOUS New York City, she has been working in the fashion business for 14 years and has a popular fashion blog @ www.stylepantry.com as well as her Instagram page @STYLEPANTRY I urge you all to follow her and get inspired!. The second starlight goes by NASHAMBER and she is a beautiful sister striving to inspire the world one modest step at a time. The London beauty lives her faith through and through and aim’s to help others whenever in need, she can be found on Instagram @SETAPARTSTYLE. 

~ Islam ~

The Quran expresses

Surah 24 Verse 31

“And say to the believing women that they lower their gaze and restrain their sexual passions and do not display their adornment except what appears thereof. And let them wear their head coverings over their bosoms…”

Now Islam has always had the MAJOR STEREOTYPE, however it is simply a religion of peace, regardless of what has been portrayed, I simply ask that you look at your Muslim friends if you have any lol and judge them by their character, their nature. If we all want universal peace we have to start somewhere right? sooo why not start with your neighbour! {ANYHU ENOUGH POLITICS} The women of Islam have always been looked at as docile, mute, no voice, no rights, terrible clothing and so on and so forth. HOWEVER one would be surprised to know that, just like time changes, the perspective that Prophet Muhammad started with (Peace Be upon Him) this too has been changed by culture and miss-interpretation. I hear you say what do I mean? And what does this have to do with fashion?? WELL I’M GETTING THERE, GIMMIE A MINUTE SHEESH :D as Mother Tynetta once expressed in an interview done by Susan Barber and Carol Hiltner titled “The Wombman & The 28 Day Cycle” they, the two female journalists’ and Mother herself explain...



Islam and the Divine Feminine? “ When we first approached doing this article, that phrase seemed to us an oxymoron a contradiction in terms. If there was any group in the world that ritually dishonored the feminine principle, we believed, it was the followers of Muhammed. We were shocked to find how totally false was this belief. In fact, as we have learned, despite the historical degradation of its original intent, the sacred core of Islam is female, not male. Islamic women first wore veils and black robes of concealment for protection from foreign soldiers. Muslim women were enshrouded not because they were despised, but because they were so precious so deeply treasured. Today, the sacred shrines of Mecca also are veiled and shrouded in black.

Though the culture in which he was born was exclusively patriarchal, Muhammed elevated women to positions of importance, and sought to enshrine the Divine Feminine at the heart of the religious practice he taught. When asked what human being he honored above all others, the Prophet replied: "My wife." We learned all this and more from Mother Tynnetta Muhammad as she is affectionately called by the devotees of the Nation of Islam. She is the widow of Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam's founder. We wanted to talk with Mother Tynnetta because of the incredible power she projects. How, we wondered, had she come to have such an aura of radiance from within a religious culture that persecutes and disempowers women? We were surprised and totally enchanted with her answers.”

Mother Tynnetta: “It's true. If you look at the society around Muhammed, you will find that males and females would sit with him in public. Women even joined in the battles that were fought. Women were educated and taught to recite with the men the verses of the Qur'an. In that time, there were no restrictions like those you see today…

… Egypt is the key. In 975 CE, the Fatamid Dynasty was established in Cairo, and Al-Azhar University, the oldest university in the world, was founded there at the same time. That university was the last citadel to honor the nobility of women. There, women helped develop the courses of study they still have to this day, mathematics, music, all the subjects we would consider today to be part of a good curriculum.”

The rest of the article can be found via this link! http://www.melanin6.com/13th-tribe.htm

Knowing this little bit of history, how does this tie into fashion? SIMPLE, we have all become accustomed to the traditional garments of the Muslim Women with the full covering also known as the ABAYA, however throughout time, JUST LIKE CHRISTIAN WOMEN, every new generation has sought out to re-define the image of beauty with creating new designs and styles for the traditional woman old and present. Just like their ancestors of years back being at the forefront of Islam their style is their way of saying I LOVE WHO I AM, Islam is BEAUTIFUL! The transition itself is a beauty to behold. CUE THE VISUALS

TRADITIONAL MUSLIMAH

PRESENT MUSLIMAH

FUTURE MUSLIMAH

~ 2000 + ~

PHEW! Now that we’re back in present time class, I hope you learnt a little something in our history lesson. Nevertheless it is not about religion per say, this blog is aimed at all my beauties around the world, being modest is a way of life, from the way you speak, carry yourself, your character, your essence and so much more. Yes we’ve seen scripture quotes but for all of my readers who don’t have a religious preference, generate inspiration by what YOU SEE, HEAR, FEEL, TOUCH and SMELL. All of this encompasses the 360 degrees of Femininity and Masculinity, then again don’t take my word for it here are a few famous peeps who feel the same way I feel about that beautiful M word.


“ I think they all went too far. Their jeans got too low, their tops got too see through. Personally, I think that sexy is keeping yourself mysterious. I’m really an old-fashioned girl, and I think I’m totally sexy” ~ Stevie Nicks


“She guarded herself like a secret” ~ Jodie Lyn Anderson


“Classy is when a Woman has everything to flaunt, but chooses not to show it” ~ Hugo Chavez


“Seek RESPECT not ATTENTION, it lasts longer” ~ Author Unknown


“Immodesty catches the EYE, modesty catches the HEART” ~ Author Unknown

In closing my dears, the words that I share wouldn’t be anything of substance, if I did not live such a life. With that said below is a simple shirt I bought from one of my favourite online stores, and jazzed it up with my own flare. Details of everything I’m wearing will be below!

· Black Pashmina ~ EBay


· Black Shirt ~ New Look (Now the shirt itself is two sizes bigger than my original size, this is due to the material being chiffon. Chiffon is very clinging and because the material does not stretch if you buy your size it would usually come up looking "small". This doesn't mean in ANYWAY you're getting fat, lol it's about understanding material, so I got two sizes bigger than me for this shirt so it could hang looser. (All of these handy tricks I have learnt from working in Retail for 5 years and Life experiences ;D) I SHOULD ALSO STATE IF YOU KNOW YOUR BODY (BODY SIMPLICITY) THEN THIS WILL ALSO DETERMINE IF YOU NEED TO GO A SIZE UP OR GET YOUR USUAL SIZE WHEN IT COMES TO MATERIALS LIKE CHIFFON OR SIMILAR <3


· Black Undertop ~ Primark (Undertops are always handy and cheap, especially if you are wearing tops that are see through, it gives you that extra foundation. I myself usually get the basic colours and then branch out to others. In terms of quantity I get 2 of every colour.) 

· Trousers/Pants ~ EBay


· Boots ~ Primark


· Assortment of Jewellery ~ Primark/Peacocks

The close ups are so you can see the detail of the jewellery, and how the simplicity of a shirt or anything for that matter, can be changed by a GREAT NECKLACE AND PAIR OF EARRINGS

In my upcoming blogs I will deal with more creativity in Fashion, how this inspires me to create the ensembles that I do, which in turn I hope inspires you, and picking one of my followers to dress, showing all how the art of simple things can go on to create a MASTERPIECE. In the end I leave you with this...

“An Artist is an explorer; he should begin by seeking himself, seeing himself act. Then, not restraining itself. And above all, not being easily satisfied” ~ Henri Matisse


Until next time my lovelies

Fashion.Silhouette.

~ Body Simplicity ~

~ Body: The physical structure including, the bones, flesh and organs, of a person or an animal.

~ Simplicity: Simplicity is the state or quality of being simple. Something which is easy to understand or explain is simple, in contrast to something complicated. As Herbert A. Simon suggested, something is simple or complex depending on the way we choose to describe it.

Body Simplicity is quite a title however for this venture I wanted to journey into the simplicity of the body, how well do we know our bodies and do we love it? As you can see from the definition, the body is a beautiful sight to behold, created, moulded and sculpted in the complexity of bones, organs, nerves and flesh; it is an art form in itself, a special gift from the creator. So it is our duty as the special beings we are to treat this vessel in the best manner possible. Agreed? J right! So where does simplicity come into it, as many other definitions also define simple as being boring, plain etc. Well in reference to this blog, simplicity is simply, understanding ourselves and the art of our bodies.

I hear you saying what does this have to do with Modesty and Fashion? Well my fabulous readers it has EVERYTHING to do with those two words! The blending of the two first begins with knowing your body and what works for you. I promise you ladies and gentleman, there’s nothing more appealing to both sexes than knowing what works for your body, your body type and adorning it with the right clothes, (trust me, I’ve done the leg work and surveys!) so the question is asked how much do you LOVE your body, loving means knowing every stretch mark, flab and all that jazz, it means knowing your body so well that if you gain weight you know where and which part of your body has gained or lost a few pounds, and this means looking at yourself naked in the mirror! I make a plea to you all that I’m in no way trying to be vulgar lol HOWEVER it is VERY important that you do this at least 4 times or twice a day out of your week! Not as a sign of vanity but be that scientist I KNOW you are and study your body, DISCLAIMER THIS IS FOR MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE LOL. I know for some of you this may sound unorthodox and you only look at yourself when you’re stepping in and out of the shower, however you will never know the beauty and uniqueness of your body size if you don’t study it, it’s an exercise for you to become comfortable, and as the famous OLAY advert says “Love The Skin You’re In” (wink) plus if you don’t love yourself then who will?

To get you started I took the liberty of doing the first part of your homework for you, find out your body type. TAKE A LOOK O-O

Another important factor to take into consideration my readers is the sizing standard. The core sizing standard the mainstream world uses is the European size chart. If it’s not the main guideline that is used by the world, then I think it’s safe to say it is one of the options up there on the scale. The “European Stereotypical size” type of mentality is something we need to destroy, so we can grasp, that if and when we do go shopping in different stores your size may vary, there’s nothing wrong with going a size higher it doesn’t mean you’re putting on weight!

During my blog research for this week I stumbled upon an article by John Haltiwanger -The Science of Simplicity, in which he spoke about the success of mogul entrepreneurs like the late Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg and why one of the reasons they were prosperous was due to the fact that they wore the same clothes day in and day out in different variations, which left room for more imagination and creativity to flow. Although it’s more logical and convenient to wear the same thing in many variations and hues of colours, the expression of fashion enables one to be creative, comfortable, confident and bold. Although uniformity is great at the best of times, you cannot deny the creators eye for colour, texture and design.

Since this was a male perspective I felt it my responsibility to go on a mission and find out what a handful of the male species thought about fashion, success and how they would want their women or potential wives to look like or in which manner to carry themselves. I have to be honest and say it was quite refreshing to delve behind the smoke screen, and while some gave straight to the point answers others gave a very humorous but very realistic view. The overall consensus was a suit and tie or bowtie wins every time over anything else. Keeping it smart, clean and sophisticated emulates the aura of respect, discipline and power, and when it came to women one of my interviewee’s said it best when he said “I love women who keep their fashion game up without compromising our principals, there’s nothing more beautiful in the world to me than a covered woman who has confidence. A woman can dress modest and still be fashionable” << I say AMEN to that, BUT don’t trust just one man can we bring another brother to the witness stand! >>>

" I've always been taught that your significant other, whether it's your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend or whatever is a reflection/representation of you. So i definitely want her to carry herself with respect and dignity. Also say you two go out, there's no greater feeling, as a man, than knowing you have a gorgeous/beautiful wife and only you know it. That way you can enjoy your night without everybody "gawking" or staring at her body or beauty. NO MAN wants an easily accessible or overly friendly woman. Being covered will help nullify the temptation of infidelity before it can even take root as well. Our queens can be covered and still exhibit their own swag"  <<hmm PRICELESS

Now one could say I’m not into fashion like that, I don’t care what I wear, fair enough, however looking good, being stylish and presenting yourself in a manner befitting to you doesn’t mean you’re all about yourself, conceited, vain, narcissistic etc. etc. etc. lol << this only applies if you’re completely brain dead within, have no soul and are shiny, cold hard plastic (mean girls) lol remember its more so the inside that count’s, if you have a beautiful heart and soul, I promise you this glow will exude like a STAR, your clothes and style will just be the bonus ;)

~ The Art of Simplicity ~

In both blogs we have covered words such as MODESTY, FASHION, BODY & SIMPLICITY. The aim is understanding, all of them blend together, like a perfectly tailored suit or a beautiful ombre’d scarf.  All you need are simple and basic statement pieces which make an outfit stand out. It’s not at all necessary to buy designer brands to make yourself look good, as the media pressures you to be, as we can see not every celebrity who wears designer looks “expensive” there is nothing wrong with treating yourself to a designer bag, shirt etc. but do not let it define or bankrupt you. If you can afford it then that’s great kudos to you working man & woman!!, however if you know it’s going to break your bank don’t do it to yourself, a good knock off is just as great IF you take care of it well lol,

Here are three examples of mainstream celebrities (Emma Watson, Kim Kardashian, One of the Fashionista’s from Kuwait Instagram name MRMR_4) all of whom are wearing designer labels but who looks more modest, fashionable, classy and elegant? 

But it doesn’t stop there you can look just as good as them if not better, you just have to have the right eye, passion and drive! Modesty, Fashion, Body & Simplicity doesn’t just cover the Muslim population it spans across the world and throughout time. You can draw inspiration from Christianity, as these beautiful gems demonstrate, as well as some old pictures I came across of black people in the 1930’s, now can we say dapper! What can we learn from those in the 1930’s, well in a time of struggle, race and segregation our ancestors didn’t have much however whatever little they had they made it work, stepping out into the world with Modesty, Class, Elegance and Loving Self.

In conclusion! (See I know the end was somewhere! Ha-ha) I set a challenge for my fellow readers, MALE (EVEN IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DO IT, GET SOMETHING SIMPLE FOR YOUR MOTHER, SISTER, NIECE, AUNTY) and FEMALE, to experiment with simple things, like a plain shirt, or statement necklace etc. and build a modest garment around it. After you do this, take a photo and send it into me so you can be my special guest on the next blog! (All pictures should be sent to this email: modestmodels@hotmail.com Thank You!)

 I shall start you off first by showing you the shirt I purchased and then jazzed up with a large necklace and matching scarf.

“In a world where everyone is over exposed, the coolest thing you can do is maintain your mystery”

Until Next Time My Lovelies...

Fashion. Silhouette. 

~ All Aboard ~

Saturday 03^rd January 2015

My story starts in London, the city that never sleeps and a place everyone has on their bucket list, that’s if you’re not from London of course (smile). The history of castles, moats and crown jewels salad tossed with a modern twist makes this place that much more unique, and maybe this is the reason why it is one of the fashion capitals of the world. So, where do I fit into this conveyer belt of expression, well right down in South East London, this is my home. London, a place that allows you to be as diverse as your heart desires.

 As far and wide as the sky goes, that is as limitless as your creativity should expand.

So what am I trying to say? What is the purpose of this neatly engraved Pandora’s Box of a blog? Well it is a service to those Seeking Inspiration, Life and Love, all wrapped in the art of clothing. Fashion and Modesty isn’t just two separate terms floating in the spectrum of the worlds’ memory bank of words...no both are a match made in heaven, once we understand what they mean.

~Fashion: The prevailing style or custom, as in dress or behaviour, something, such as a garment, that is in the current mode.

~Modesty: Root of the word Modest: Origin 1555-65 Latin from the word modestus meaning restrained, decorous, equivalent to modes.

Definition: Reserve or propriety in speech, dress or behaviour

•       Lack of pretentiousness, simplicity

•      The quality or condition of being modest

•      { Clothing & Fashion} designed to prevent inadvertent exposure of part of the body

So now that we’ve cleared the boring part lol we can see that fashion only seems to be something that comes and goes it never stops to appreciate time because it’s always looking for the next best thing right? Well if we marry Modesty with it then we get to have TB! (No not Tuberculosis people lol *rolls eyes*) but Timeless Beauty.  You see Modesty doesn’t just mean dressing drab just to cover the special bits God gave us...no, it’s more than that, it’s your whole character...it’s a lifestyle. It’s only then when you look at it in this light; you will then be able to connect the dots. Because you strive to live a Modest Life…Fashion and clothes doesn’t just become material fabric you put on your back day in and out, no...Fashion becomes you because of the LIFE you put into the clothes you wear.

In the famous words of PINTREST lol

“Modesty isn’t about a dress code. It’s an attitude of the HEART”

Until Next Time my lovelies. Signed

Fashion. Silhouette