Being a mother is one of the most difficult but most important jobs in the world. Your children can bring you the greatest blessings and most rewarding challenges. One challenge not to be underestimated is getting through the teenage years, especially in today’s world.
You remember what it was like to be a teenage girl… too young for this, too old for that, intense emotions you don’t understand, figuring out how to navigate high school, trying to get your parents to understand you and being convinced they never will. Some things never change, and yet in today’s digital social world, it seems like everything has changed.
Now young girls are being targeted by companies selling not-so-age-appropriate clothing, being influenced by twenty-something social media stars, and are constantly connected to their friends around the clock through social media that you have little to no control over. It’s tough to navigate as a teenager, and it’s tough helping your teenager navigate.
This is why it is never too early to start teaching our daughters good moral values by encouraging them to find their worth, and confidence in their relationship with Christ. No, this won’t prevent those rebellious teenage years, but by encouraging them to present themselves in a way that others see Christ in them first will help them find purpose in their actions.
It is up to us as mothers to teach our daughters what to do (Song of Solomon 8:2), and this starts by setting an example you would be proud for them to follow. Talk about modest clothing choices - why you make them and how you glorify and focus on God without showing off your body. Talk about the decisions you see influencers make and why they may not be the best example for her to look to. Talk about and show her how to turn to God for help through hardship and making every decision she will face. Even though they won’t admit it for many years, daughters look to their mothers to set an example and be a role model.
None of this means bad decisions won’t be made, arguments over clothing and make-up won’t happen, and no tears will be shed over boys and fights with best friends. Stumbling and mistakes are a necessary rite of passage into adulthood that all teenagers must go through. Our best advice to all mothers is to start talking to your children as early and as often as possible, to teach them to follow Christ and empower them to make their own good choices.
]]>Think about the most confident women you know… A teacher? Your Mom? Your best friend? What about someone famous? Where does their confidence come from?
Let’s break down the definition of confidence first:
Confidence (noun): a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s own appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities
In other words, confidence comes from your own appreciation of your abilities and qualities. It has nothing to do with anyone else, much less their opinion of you. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
It’s easy to think confidence comes from people liking what you wear or what you do, or that it comes from having the most followers on Instagram or the most likes on TikTok. Having those things feels good, right? But in reality, none of those have anything to do with confidence. Unfortunately, sometimes those things can actually have the opposite effect on your confidence, and make you feel insecure if you don’t get as many likes as someone else, or lose a few followers one day.
So if it doesn’t come from people liking you, where does it come from? Well, it comes from within. Remember the definition of confidence: it comes from your own appreciation of your abilities or qualities. Think about those confident women from earlier. They probably don’t have thousands of followers, or post TikToks every day, or wear the trendiest clothes… and yet they radiate confidence in everything they do.
Don’t get confidence mixed up with being self-absorbed. Being confident is a truly wonderful thing, while being self-absorbed isn’t so great; they are very different traits. You can be confident without being cocky. In fact, the bible even encourages your confidence, saying: “do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Hebrews 10:35) because “the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). When we love ourselves for who we are and cherish the abilities and gifts God gave us, it radiates throughout and makes us confident in everything we do.
]]>The clothes we wear send a powerful message about who we are and how we view ourselves. There are also some nuances as to how our peers (and potential employers!) might interpret the message your clothing sends. When trying to make a fantastic first impression, your attire is one of the first messages received, and depending on your outfit choice, potentially the loudest message you send.
When making situation-specific fashion choices, consider your audience, and their expectations and potential interpretations. If you’re heading into a job interview, your interviewer likely expects to see business-appropriate attire, and will jump to a negative conclusion before you ever shake hands if you show up wearing a short skirt and jean jacket. Or if you’re walking into your first day at your new job where the dress code is ‘business casual,’ you don’t want to show up wearing a crop top and tennis shoes. Both of those outfit choices are relaying messages you don’t want to be sending in those situations.
Our style experts are sharing their most fashion-forward advice about what your interview outfit might be saying before you even say hello. Keep reading to find out:
Consider Your Colors
It may not seem like a determining factor when choosing an outfit, but consider the psychology of color and how it will impact the message you’re trying to sendr. Red is a bold color that signals energy and power, but is also proven to be viewed as aggressive and should therefore be worn conservatively in an interview setting - it may be a great choice for your first day in your new role though! Navy, grey, and black are classic staples in business fashion, but can also be viewed as cold and distant if not paired with a softer shade or fun (but not outrageous) accessory.
Select Your Shoes Carefully
Shoes may seem like the least important piece of your outfit to consider, but they can easily step your outfit in the right (or wrong) direction. You can never go wrong choosing a conservative, neutral shoe with a low heel that says you’re mature, professional, and ready to get down to business. You could also pair a bright peep toe pump with a classy pair of slacks and a neutral button down to make your personality pop a little more. Carefully consider your shoe choice - it should be an appropriate accessory, comfortable to walk in, and easy to wear. A spiky stiletto, or shoes that pinch your toes and cause you to trip shout that you don’t make practical choices and care more about your appearance than doing the job and are better left sitting at home.
Cover that Cleavage
Our fashion experts always recommend modesty as the best policy. Everything God gave women was created “very good” (Genesis 1:31) but that doesn’t mean we need to show it all off - especially at a job interview where the focus should be on your skills and personality. Choose tops with conservative necklines, and consider pairing your shirt with a fashionable sweater or blazer to add an extra pop of personality.
The message you send with your outfit is a powerful one, and is a key part of the first impression you give a potential employer, so you want to ensure the message you’re sending is the right one. Our style experts are here to help if you need it, reach out any time to learn about how we can help your interview outfit say that you’re the person for the job.]]>First impressions go a long way - this is true in any scenario, and especially true for job interviews. While the decision to hire someone will be based on a lot more than just the first impression, first impressions still play a part. With that being said, a candidate’s interview outfit is one of the first things a potential employer will notice when they walk in the door.
Professional presentation goes a long way, and is something all interviewers take note of for all candidates. Someone who obviously spent time and energy putting together an outfit that compliments their personality and shows their professionality while not being too flashy is a candidate who will stand out in all the right ways. This is where the importance of dressing with modesty comes in.
Dressing with modesty doesn’t just mean keeping an eye on silhouettes, hemlines and necklines - it also means taking into account colors, patterns and accessories. You want your outfit to highlight your personality and style without overshadowing your personality and skill set.
A modest outfit doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel great and stylish in your outfit - you want to feel comfortable and confident. Women are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), which is something to be celebrated… even during a job interview. An interviewer is looking for someone who is confident yet humble, skilled yet willing to continue learning, and professional with a great personality to fit in with their team. They want to focus on getting to know you and why you might be a good fit for their team, and not be distracted by what you’re wearing.
If your outfit is the thing the interviewer remembers about your interview, chances are slim that you will get the job.You want an outfit that allows you to highlight your best features: your skills, experience, ideas, and personality. When strength and dignity are her clothing, she laughs at the time to come (Proverbs 31:25).
Picking an outfit for your upcoming interview is an important part of preparing, but it doesn’t need to be scary and overwhelming. Our experienced stylists are here to offer advice and feedback on how to dress to impress and highlight those key features employers are looking for (your skills, experience, ideas, and personality!) at your job interview.
]]>This concept of dressing for the job you want, not the job you have, should never be forgotten when choosing your daily work outfits. But even more importantly, it should be considered when choosing an outfit for the job interview.
Regardless of what job you’re interviewing for, or at what level or company it’s at, treat it as if it’s for your dream job. You never know what the path to getting there may look like, and every opportunity should be approached with the same thought and respect as that dream opportunity.
It’s true that even formal office settings have a much more casual dress code than they did ten, five, or even two years ago. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pull out all the stops for the interview. It’s important to choose an outfit that you feel good in - you don’t want to be self conscious and undermine your confidence. Besides, you’ll already be nervous enough!
While you want to choose an outfit you feel good in, make sure it doesn't take away from the true star of the show: you! Your personality, skills, experience, and ability to solve a problem for that company are the most important aspects to showcase during your interview, and you want the interviewer to pay attention to what you’re saying, and not what you’re wearing.
This is why we always recommend a more modest approach to interview outfits, and workplace attire in general. Women are beautifully made in God’s image, which is something to be celebrated to the fullest extent.
We are all designed by God and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), and everything God gave women was created “very good” (Genesis 1:31). This means everything God gave women, including our bodies and our minds, should be celebrated, cherished, and used to glorify Him.
Just as in church, where we wear more modest clothing in order to keep the focus on God and off of ourselves, we should remain modest in the workplace. The focus should be on your mind, on your achievements and skills, and on your contributions… not on what you’re wearing. The last thing you want is for there to be any questions or speculation as to why you got the job, or that promotion or big project.
This doesn’t mean you should wear frumpy clothing that you don’t feel confident in - we encourage you to choose clothing that makes you feel good and confident! There are plenty of incredible styles to choose from that have longer hemlines and necklines that don’t plunge too low, or clothes that celebrate your womanly curves without being too clingy and promiscuous.
In fact, we can help you find them! Stop by our boutique or message us online if you, or someone you know, needs assistance in any way in finding that perfect interview outfit to not only give you that feel-good confidence boost to ace the interview, but also enables you to best showcase that amazing mind and skill set God graced you with. ]]>