How to Make Formal Clothing More Modest
When attending formal events, it can be difficult to find clothing that both appeals to your sense of modesty and your sense of style. Often, formal clothing may reveal more than some people feel comfortable baring. Fortunately, most clothes can be changed in some way to make it more modest.
- Try on the formal attire and look in a full length mirror. Look for areas that expose areas of skin that you do not feel comfortable showing. This may include bared shoulders, a neckline that exposes too much cleavage or a split in a skirt that reveals too much leg.
- Purchase a matching shawl or wrap. Use this to cover your back and shoulders when wearing a strapless dress. You may choose to pin it in the front to conceal your chest or simply allow it drape over your shoulders if you are comfortable with your neckline but feel that your arms are overly exposed.
- Add a panel of material to a plunging neckline to cover up excess cleavage. The insert may be made using the same material as the dress or you may consider using lace if it complements the dress style. In addition, it should be a color that matches your dress exactly. Attach it to the underside of the dress so that it is not an obvious addition, or take it to a seamstress who can sew it on for you. Another option, that does not require sewing, is to wear a camisole beneath the gown.
- Sew cap sleeves on a strapless dress if you have adequate sewing skills.
- Close up slits that go up to your thigh by partially sewing them up. If you prefer no slit at all, sew them up completely.