Neat Shirt Tutorial

If you're like me and you really hate the high-collar aspect of t-shirts, but love their comfort, I've found a great tutorial that teaches you how to combine the best elements of a button-down and a t-shirt.

Head over to Cut Out + Keep for an awesome tutorial on how to make this comfortable, classy shirt.

Sale on Formals at Great Lengths

And, we're back. Sorry again for the extended hiatus, but I promise that December will be full of fun winter-appropriate tips and tricks. Today I would like to share with you the news that Great Lengths Shorts is having a sale on their formal dresses - 20% off of already modestly-priced dresses. For those of you planning on a winter formal, winter ball, or New Year's dance, you might want to take advantage of this awesome sale. Here are a few of my favorites. Click on each image for pricing and ordering information.

Taking November Off

I think what it's come down to, folks, is that I cannot handle too many things at once. I've decided to participate in National Novel Writing Month this month, so I am trying to channel all of my creative forces toward that. That means I will not be posting on this site throughout the month of November. So, while there will be no Modestify posts, you are more than welcome to mosey over to nanowrimoexperiment.blogspot.com and see how things are going, maybe leave an encouraging comment or two. Thanks for putting up with me!

Last-Minute Ideas: Twilight Costumes

So, sorry for the lack of postage lately. I have been busily working away at building our costumes for this Friday. It has not been easy, but I think we're going to pull through this with something decent. (I promise to post pictures.) Hopefully, none of you are such bad procrastinators as I am, and you've had your Halloween costumes since Nov. 1 of last year. But for those of you who are more like me, here are a few last-minute ideas for Halloween costumes:

The Twilight Theme

I debated for a while about this one, just because I am not the biggest fan of the novels. I don't hate them - I just don't love them. But I figure the Twilight series would make for a great Halloween theme (what with all the vampires and werewolves and all that), so I decided to just go ahead and shoot off some ideas:

Bella
Be Bella at the prom from Twilight by simply wearing your old prom or formal dress. Bring crutches. Carry a sign that says "I hate Forks" or "I wanna be a vampire when I grow up." Ok, the signs are silly, but the prom dress idea is a good one. I'm sure of it.
Be Bella from New Moon by wearing a motorcycle jacket.
Be Bella the bride from Breaking Dawn by wearing a wedding dress, or by going all vampy with white/pale makeup, glitter all over you, and dramatic eye makeup. You could probably wear anything dramatic.

Edward
Be Edward (or convince your best guy to be Edward) by wearing pale makeup, glitter, and very dark/dramatic/semi-preppy clothes.


Cullens
I am of the opinion that the best costume would be to go with a bunch of friends/family as the entire Cullen family. Basically, look hot. :P No, seriously, pale makeup, your best dark clothes. Pick your character and try to fit the description the best you can - Here's a movie pic for inspiration.



Jacob
My favorite character of them all. I really don't know how you could pull off Jacob, unless you really wanted to go the whole werewolf route. Or you know - look hot.

Well, those are my ideas. Anyone else have some brilliant suggestions? The best thing about the Twilight costumes is they can be pulled off with little to no monetary investment, and very little time. Just... you know, look hot.

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Ghost busters!

I've always been very much intrigued by the idea of getting your family/friends together and all dressing up in some kind of team costume. When I was fourteen, I went as the Tin Man, one friend was Dorothy, another was the Scarecrow, and our other friend was a Cow. We also had a nerd in attendance. So, while I haven't always had much success with this idea (though, this year will be different!) that doesn't mean you can't!

Instructables member Honus has an awesome tutorial on how to make yourself and all your friends into an elite team of evil-fighting Ghost Busters!




Warning: This tutorial is not for the faint at heart!

Crown Tutorial

Are you, like me, dying to just be something pretty for Halloween? Well, Bitter Betty Blogs offers us an easy solution for all those wishing to be princesses this Halloween - a tutorial for how to make a gilded crown out of lace:


Have fun!

Halloween Inspiration: Fairy Wings

So, Halloween is coming up, and I am already getting super excited for my costume. The Husby and I are going to be Link and Zelda! Kind of like these guys (I only hope our costumes will be as awesome.):



What are you guys going to be? In case you are still looking for inspiration, I will be featuring Halloween costume ideas on the site for... well, until I get sick of it. :) Here's an awesome video from Threadbanger on how to make fairy wings (butterfly wings, ladybug wings, pegasus wings... really any wings you want) out of wire hangers, tights, and embellishments. You could really go any direction with this. In my family, we are going to use this tutorial so my awesome sister in law can be Navi, Link's little pet fairy. Tee hee.



Anyway, here's the tutorial: enjoy!

Modest Tip: "Unshrink" a Shirt

Sometimes you have the cutest t-shirt, but it's just too small - it rides up, it constricts, and all in all it just ain't modest. Well, the Household Hacker has come up with a solution for us. Here's a tutorial on how to "unshrink" a shirt, using vinegar and heat.

Etsy Love: Modestmaven

Ok, I was going to try to post a tutorial today, but then I was bumbling around on Etsy and I found something I absolutely had to share: Etsy seller Modestmaven. I saw her stuff, specifically this shirt and just fell in love:

She has several modest, creative, endearing shirts for sale and two beautiful modest dresses, including this one, which happens to be in my favorite color:

So, go check out modestmaven :)

Formals for Men: Bow Tie and Cummerbund Patterns

So, my husband has been getting on my case about this blog being so female related. Well I can't help it, I'm a female. Well, today I found something to post for the guys, and hopefully that will keep the husby happy for a while.


On Burda they have two new patterns available, just in time for homecoming and formal seasons. One for a bowtie and one for a cummerbund (did you know that's how that word is spelled? I sure didn't.). So, hopefully this made it to you in time to get creative with your men's formal wear - if not, heck there's always next year.... and

Make Your Own Layering T-Shirt

So, they're a big deal these days - shirts made specifically to go under other shirts/dresses/tank-tops/what have you. The problem for cheapskates like me is that, heck, they can get kind of pricey. All for a shirt you're only going to see the bottom of, or maybe the sleeves. So, what can a cheapskate do about it? Well, if that cheapskate has a sewing machine, that cheapskate can now take advantage of (dun dun duuuuuun)

The Great Layering T-Shirt Tutorial

Step One: Find yourself a big ole t-shirt that has your desired color, stretchiness, and softness. Maybe someone in your family can donate one to you, maybe a trip to your local Goodwill/DI/Savers will do the trick. I got mine at Savers. The t-shirt should be many sizes too big for you.


Step Two: Remove the sleeves. Cut them off, leaving about an inch beyond the seems.


Step Three: Turn the shirt inside-out. Find a shirt or tank top that fits you well and line it up with the t-shirt so that the collars are in pretty much the same place (I think the picture makes it easy to understand). Trace the sides and pin.


Step Four: Sew along the lines you drew, then trip the excess.


Step Five: Iron down the seams, so that they are open. Then, sew a top-stitch on either side of the seam. This gives it a nice detail and makes the shirt fit you more comfortably, with no bunchy seams.


Step Six: The sleeves. For this, just fold down the inch of sleeve material, then fold it under. Or you could fold it halfway, then fold it again. Just look at the pictures, hopefully it will make more sense. Then, sew down that hem.


If you want, you're done! You can also cut off the collar to make the neckline more to your liking (as I did) and you could also shorten the t-shirt if you feel it's too long. But there you have it - your very own layering t-shirt.

Getting Ready for Fall: Hoodie Tutorial

So, I love Threadbanger. Love, love, love Threadbanger. And today's episode was no exception. They took us on a fun tour of the American Sewing Expo, then taught us how to make a hoodie out of an old flannel and an old t-shirt. I am thinking I'm going to have to raid Savers/D.I. and find an old BYU T-shirt and blue flannel and make mine soon! Fall is here, and I am anticipating the cold. Anyway, here's the video so you can get to creating yours:

I Heart Aprons

I really do. They are so useful. I've always been (to my mother's great annoyance) one of those people who wipe their hands on their clothes constantly. Wearing an apron is the perfect way for me to avoid getting junk all over my jeans, and plus they're so adorable. I found an awesome tutorial through sewing republic that teaches you how to make an easy and adorable apron that you can wear around your kitchen or (as I do) in the sewing room. Enjoy!

Embellishing Cheap Gloves

And the winner is...

So the drawing happened today! Thank you to everyone who entered - you truly made my week!

I don't have a printer, so I wrote all your names on little pieces of paper


Then, I put all your little names in a little hat (yeah, I went with the hat instead of the bag. I think it was a bold choice)


Then came the moment, but first we had to shake things up



And then we actually did the drawing (is this suspenseful to anyone besides me?)


And the winner is...

Yes, the picture is doctored - I admit, I added those dinosaurs. Congratulations to Bunny B - you won the dress! As for the rest of you, you know what? You warmed the cockles of my little heart, so I'm working on some consolation prizes for you. Especially you, Todd. My mom and all her friends are very sad you did not win. They were rooting for you. You will all get an email about it shortly.

Awesome Pattern Alert

Hey check out this new pattern available for free on Burda.com. I think it's absolutely beautiful and the best thing about it is you can totally make it your own by choosing your own fabric, shortening, lengthening etc.



Check out this beautiful dress!

Homecoming Under $50 Etsy Style

In case anyone missed it over the weekend, the dress is finished and the giveaway has begun. Don't forget to enter The Homecoming Dress Giveaway, ending Friday. :)

In the hunt for a modest homecoming/formal dress, there is one place that maybe many of you have not thought to look yet. Etsy. It's a website where sellers and buyers of handmade goods have an absolute heyday. You can find anything there - and it's all handmade. I found tons of great dresses there just searching for formal dresses. I only picked the ones that were both modest and under $50, and I found so many I just had to stop. Definitely go check it out if you are still looking for the perfect, unique dress.

My favorites:

This classy, vintage-style number is from etsy seller CassiesAttic for only $34.99



This one, from seller cutiepieboutique, is going for $42.00


But I love this one (going for $40) from the same seller even more. It's fun, it's flirty, it's way different, and let's face it, it's adorable.




This dress (for $45) is amazing, but you've got to see her other stuff. It's a little more expensive, but not nearly what it's worth. Seller LeTreMadine has beautiful renaissance, period, and even elven dresses. I'd say this one is so worth shelling out the extra bucks.


There's also this fun forties piece from the same seller, for only $35.00:






Those are only some of the gorgeous, handmade dresses out there available through Etsy. Definitely go check it out! You can also find gorgeous handmade jewelry to match your gorgeous handmade dress.

Homecoming Dress Giveaway: Starting Now

So, I finally finished it! It took way longer than the week I had planned, but I'm actually very happy with the results. I put it on today and felt giddy. Tee hee. Happy day. So, without any further ado, here it is:

Front:


(ladybug not included)

And back:




Sorry the back picture is a little weird - I didn't have anyone here to help me fix the bow. But you can get the idea right?

My mom pointed out I need to mention the size. It fits me, so it's about a size 6 - 8. The dress and the lining are both made of stretchy material, so it could possibly work for a 10. The best thing is the cut of it is quite forgiving to us large-hipped types, but would also look good on the not-so-large-hipped types. :)

See the original dress and post here.


Ok, so here are the rules for the giveaway.

1. Anyone can enter.

2. You can enter more than once.

3. To enter, comment on this post, saying something along the lines of, "hey there I'm entering." I will print out all the comments, cut them each out individually (because I'm awesome like that) and then draw one out of a hat (or bag, still haven't decided that crucial point) and the one I draw out will be the lucky winner.

4. Please don't post anonymously, because then I won't know who the prize goes to.

5. After I choose the winner (randomly) I will post that person's name with a great congratulatory message. That person can then contact me privately and give me the information of where to send the dress.

6. You can enter the drawing from now until next Friday, when I will do the drawing. Good luck!

More Modest Homecoming Under $50: Vintage Style

For the second installment of homecoming under $50, I thought I'd get a little creative with my searches and find some vintage dresses for you ladies. Here are a few I found on ebay:

I'm not sure how vintage this one really is, but it has a sort of throwback to that era style. I thought it was cute anyway, and its starting bid is 23.99



What I thought when I saw this one was "Holy awesomeness!!" Wow! It's got only 4 hours left for bidding and it's going for $30.00. I wish I had somewhere to wear it!


This one makes me think of some southern belle or something. It's here on ebay, with a starting bid of 19.99 and the bidding ends Saturday.


This pretty and simple ebay item can be found here. With three hours left on the auction, it's going for just 3.99.


This vintage number from the 70's can be found here on ebay for the "buy it now" price of 39.99.


This is not vintage or period, but I found it and thought someone might appreciate a $10 homecoming dress:

This little black dress from Target is a steal at 9.99. Dress it up with pretty jewelry, maybe a slip from vintage hem, fancy hair, and you've got yourself a cheap, modest homecoming outfit.



And one more non-vintagey one. I found this one for 46.50 in the sale section of Shabby Apple's site (such cute dresses) It's a little more casual, but it's so cute:

Modest Homecoming Under $50

So, I'm still hiding from the dress, but not idly. I'm formulating ideas and things should be done soon. Meanwhile, since I noticed that many people are finding my site on a search for modest and cheap homecoming gowns, I decided to go on a little search of my own and see what I could round up for under 50 dollars. I know how incredibly frustrating it is to find a modest dress without spending a lot of money. So, I've done a little of the legwork for you and hopefully something will strike your fancy. The links will take you to the site where you can buy or bid on the dress.

The worst first:

If you're looking to really stand out at homecoming and have a little fun, you might try this eighties style dress on sale for 29.00 at cybernet plaza




Then there's this cute, sort of baby-dollish dress from PromGirl for 38.00.


Now for the ones I actually like:

This one comes from Discount Dressup, and I think it's quite cute, nice color and simple design, selling for 39.99



And if you want to go for the classic little black dress, this one from Chadwicks is on sale for 39.99. Pair it with a slip like this one from Vintage Hem and you could fancy it up a bit and make sure it's long enough.

Don't forget to try ebay for a unique dress and possibly really good deal. Here are some current auctions I found:

Someone still looking for a kimono-style dress? Well here's one going for a starting bid of 39.99 or you could skip the auction and buy it now for 49.99.


I also really love this classy formal that has a starting bid of 9.99 and two days left on the auction.



This one is probably my favorite of them all, but you're going to have to act quick. The bid closes in four hours. The going price is 39.99.



Well, hopefully these gave you some ideas of some dresses or some places to look. I wish you all success finding something that makes you feel beautiful on your special day.