Gorgeous, unique, and elegant!

While I am certainly not a seamstress (well, not of anything you'd want to wear!), I can certainly point out a great frock when I see one!  

And I see tons of them at Dainty Jewell's!!

Most of you have probably discovered her store but for those who haven't, you simply must check this out!!

From ankle-length to knee-length, from Vintage to ultra contemporary, her styles are boundless and simply adorable!

I have a wish list a mile long...Oops!  I hope my husband doesn't find it!

They have dresses, men's ties, children's clothing, and even shoes!  You've simply got to explore this shop!  I may not be a seamstress or own a store, but I love directing my friends to great resources and this one is amazing!

Check it out at daintyjewells.com!

SKIRTS! Finally!

Surprise! Surprise!

Girls, I've discovered a new shop for skirts of all shapes, sizes, and lengths! 

Style J certainly doesn't possess a stock of 5000 items like some of your main department stores but they do carry what we like!  No more rummaging through countless immodest and cheaply made products!

Style J offers beautiful skirts in just about every length, including tall and extra tall which I personally prefer! 

Check it out today!  For updates on newly available skirts and sales, you can choose to subscribe by email!  Yes, I've done so and am looking forward to less tedious shopping!

These people know what we like and have some great, stylish selections to choose from!

Check them out at http://www.denimskirts.com/!

And The Point Is?

Why does an Apostolic Pentecostal website even care about Fashion?

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal " (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Having included fashion in this ‘Everything Apostolic Pentecostal’ site, I would like to clarify the reason I've included such a topic for Apostolic Women.

Please do not misunderstand my inclusion of this topic as a statement of salvation; God does not look upon the curtains of your house, he looks upon your heart! God does not judge between the well-dressed sophisticate and the hardier tomboy in her denim skirt and sneakers; he weighs their actions for him.

Based on scripture, God is completely uninterested in the color of the couch, the length of our scarf, or whether we serve appetizers at the ladies luncheon!

As a woman, however, I do understand that we are often concerned with these areas of our lives. Some to the point that they will overstep scriptural mandates to achieve the look they desire; my goal is not to provide a stumbling block or a race for fashion, but rather to provide ideas for securing godly beauty and confidence.

How It All Fits In:

Whether you are a tomboy or a girly-girl, chances are you care what people think of you. Every woman wants to be thought beautiful, smart, worthwhile. There is nothing wrong with this. God created us to be feminine and to care about these things. Just because the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s guilted women for being feminine does not mean it is something we should deny in ourselves. We are women.
And looking nice builds confidence!

Furthermore, just because men have over-reacted against the feminist movement as to discourage our women in their ministerial interests doesn't mean you must give up your dreams and ministry. Before the feminist movement, we had countless women ministers in our midst who started churches, lead the way onto the mission field, and held church families together in rough times. Don't allow your womanhood to be despised!

God addressed our love for beauty and how we are to achieve it:

• I Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 96:9, and Psalm 29:2 "worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." Holiness makes our worship beautiful!

• Psalm 149:4 "he will beautify the meek with salvation." Salvation is a beauty that he grants us when we submit to him in meekness!

As far as our outside adornment, women do care about their looks but we don't have to push the boundaries of godliness to be attractive. It's important that we learn to be holy, for then we can be beautiful physically and spiritually!

Wool

My earliest memories of wool was of those itchy, scratchy wool a-line skirts my mother would put on me in the winter.  She meant well but my skin was always so red and irritated by the end of the evening that it was quite some time before I tried the fabric again in my adult life!

I have found that there is such a thing as soft wool which does not irritate the skin!  It just takes time to choose superior fabric and fit!

Wool, of course, was first utilized to make clothing due to its warmth!  Therefore, it should be common knowledge that this is a winter fabric only!

If you are concerned that wool might irritate your skin, one of the easiest ways to incorporate this very warm fabric into your wardrobe is by using it as a cape or coat. 

In that way, it provides warmth while not coming into direct contact with your skin!  This selection is a particularly charming alternative to the ubiquitous coat!

An adorable addition to the cape is this cap, which comes in a variety of colors to accent your outfit!


While this look will not work for everyone, it is a great way to keep your head warm and pull off an adorable look with wool at the same time!



Aside from winter caps and capes, there are also a number of adorable styles!

Of course, there's also Cashmere!!!  Experiment and add this fabric to your closet soon!

Velvet

Velvet, while being a fabric strictly reserved for cooler climates and months, is an essential for the elegant lady. As Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as saying, “A throne is only a bench covered with velvet.”

Just imagine the sophistication it can lend a woman’s figure! In a world where appearances add up to impressions, this is one fabric you should definitely include in your fall and winter wardrobe!

Essentially, it doesn’t matter whether you have a perfect waistline, a huge bust, or smooth hips, it’s all about how you flatter your good points and detour attention away from your weak points. One key method is accessorizing! The other is choosing the appropriate tailoring for your figure.

To accentuate your assets, velvet adds a soft texture that invites touch while adding a warmth to your look.

Casual, Business, Church…Anything Goes!

While velvet is seldom used in casual wear, its second-cousin, corduroy, is often a favorite for skirts and jackets. The ivory velvet blazer below would also pull double duty as a dressed-up separate or as a casual piece when accompanied by a denim skirt and the right undershirt and scarf!

Velvet is more readily added to business or church attire than denim, of course! Being dressed up need not be mundane, however.

Outerwear: Cold Weather Calls for Cozy Measures!

Velvet need not be restrained to carefully planned outfits. It can also be used as a mainstay, such as your winter coat, earmuffs, or gloves!

Being most often viewed as a classic fabric, it can be trendy as well! Just look at this goody by Newport News!

On the other hand, velvet can also be part of an exquisitely planned outfit, such as this wedding cloak in ivory velvet!

One can just envision the front doors of an elegant 18th century church opening as the couple emerges and alights into a beautiful sleigh for their getaway!

Finally, Formalwear

While silks and satins are the usual fabrics utilized for formalwear, why not step out of the status quo and try something new? A large part of being an alluring, elegant, and exciting lady is having that touch of mystery about you.

Does your husband know your style inside and out…or is he never quite sure what you’ll appear in? Perhaps an Oriental influence might be in order….such as this black velvet mandarin tunic.

Of course, adding a mysterious, fanciful flare need not involve purchasing a completely new outfit. Accenting pieces you already have is simple with this fabric. For instance, a sheer black shawl with velvet inlay is a beautiful accent even to the simplest piece as you wrap up for the next cool Sunday morning!

A little more on the trendy side, these black velvet gloves are another quick addition that can add pizzazz and class without breaking the piggy bank!

With and without the animal print, these are winners every time! Who says your winter gloves for going out have to be the same ones with which you shovel the front walk?

Seasonal or Non-Seasonal?
Velvet is most definitely a winter fabric. In recent years, several knock-off designers have actually created crushed-velvet T's that are marketed in the summer months. Unfortunately, the wisdom of our grandparents still stands firm and even a young woman like me wrinkles her nose at the smell of sweat that drenches these garments in the summer sun! This is definitely a winter or fall fabric only! Quite simply, it doesn't breath well so you'll feel much more comfortable in the look during cooler days anyway!

How Do I Care For Crocheted Items?
Velvet is strictly a dry-clean material. It's fibers are so delicate that it cannot withstand regular laundering. It will also not endure a whole lot of sitting! I know from experience as I've finally had to retire my favorite black velvet skirt because the back side is worn down to nubs! Basically, be careful with your velvet. If you spill something on it, only dry-cleaning can save it--if it can!

Suede

Suede is certainly for winter wear!  It need not be in drab colors, however!  From boots to pumps to ballet flats, suede is incredibly versatile.  Do be cautious with snow and rain, however, as suede does not hold up well in moisture!

Suede skirts come in all shapes and sizes but often, due to their texture, look best in earthy tones!  While I am not a fan of the A-Line skirt, I could not resist the one above!  It certainly has flair when paired with heeled boots!

Of course, in the case of suede jackets, there are elegant choices and ... not so classy ones!

I personally would consider all three of these styles above to be a wrong use of suede.  The woman in the tan jacket could pass for a man if her face and hair were not showing.  Why would you want to leave anything to chance?  You are a woman!  Dress like one!  Are you a bounty hunter or a creature of mystery and intrigue?

As for the young lady in the draping jacket, notice how she doesn't appear to have any shape at all!  Keep that in mind when buying this heavier fabric! 

As for the tassled suede jackets, I would simply make certain you live in New Mexico where this is more of a cultural statement.  Elsewhere, it will likely make you stand out like a sore thumb!

Below is a collection of beautiful choices for suede jackets that have real personality, class, and femininity!

Brocade

Brocade, easily one of the most elegant—though stiff and structured—fabrics available! Its origins are steeped in royalty! Used as early as the tenth century in Asia and the thirteenth century in Europe, it boasts a most intricate texture!

Brocade is an interwoven design that yields a pattern of raised figures; the figures can be anything from flowers to swirls to paisley-shaped items! The contrasting of a top yarn with the bottom yarn often gives it a golden, silver, or metallic sheen.

In the distant past, this fabric was largely restricted to the wealthy or to royalty; even for them, it was often reserved for special occasions due to the arduous process involved in making it!

By the 1700s, brocade was being utilized more and more by the middle classes in a number of items, from shoes to vests to purses of the day! It had even spilled over into furniture, being used for chairs, couches, and even curtains. We must recall that they did not use their couches for vegging out watching old ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns or playing video games!

Today, brocade is seldom used in furniture unless it is considered very formal. A number of couches and chairs from the nineteenth century and early twentieth still utilized it quite a bit. Brocade has also been used less and less in fashion as women and men have turned to more comfortable fabrics.

Brocade remains one of the most elegant, sophisticated fabrics, however, and is certainly the way to go should you wish to make a favorable impression!

Good Combinations!

It has been my experience that brocade is often used for full suit dresses, rather than for separates. This example of a brocade suit from the 1960s differs little from those we see today!

Interestingly, brocade items usually appear Oriental in appearance. This particular brocade skirt would look beautiful with a gold jacket with a mandarin collar, for instance. Or, it could be paired with one similar to the black jacket pictured here! And don’t forget the heels! This is definitely ‘heel’ wear!

As you can see by this brocade skirt by Roberto Cavelli, the Asiatic influence is pretty heavy…but don’t worry, anyone can wear it!

With this particular number, there is a slight greenish hue to the edges of the thread, making it a wonderful color with which to accent!

Also by Roberto Cavelli, these boots add class to any outfit!

Warning: I wouldn’t mix heavily patterned brocade boots with a brocade skirt or suit; it will appear too busy and like you are trying to match just a bit too hard.

Instead, keep the outfit simple and let the boots be the item of interest!

Brocade is also often used in longer jackets such as this one! For these items, make certain to balance the length of the jacket with a knee-length skirt. I have seen women time and time again, wearing a long jacket with a floor-length skirt. It just doesn’t work! Think balance!

For this particular piece, I would accent with a dark colored knee-length skirt and either slim-line boots with heels or some pumps that match the jacket’s overall color scheme!

If you happen upon a similar long brocade jacket that isn’t quite as shiny, it can also be layered with a chic cami and a dark denim skirt (knee-length of course)! Don’t forget to pull out one of the colors in the pattern (perhaps gold, yellow, or bright green) with a long scarf and touch it all off with a bag!

As you can see, brocade will work for the more conservative—as in this black and white jacket—or the young lady who likes to push the limits!

If you don’t have brocade in your wardrobe, add it to your Santa list soon!

Seasonal or Non-Seasonal?

As far as seasonal preference, brocade is always a winter fabric. The thickness of the fabric makes it less likely to breath. In fact, living in the South, I save my brocade outfits until there is snow on the ground!

How Do I Care for Brocade?

Just about every article of brocade I own is ‘dry clean only.’ The pattern of the fibers in the brocade are very delicate and throwing them into a washing machine and a dryer will certainly destroy the craftsmanship. Furthermore, to create the metallic sheen they often have, most brocade fabrics have synthetic fibers than cannot be put into heat without shrinking or melting—eww!

 

Accommodating Thick Ankles

Ankles are seldom mentioned in fashion magazines, yet they are pivotal elements of how our calves meet our high heels! A clever turning of your foot—started by your lovely ankle—for instance, gives poise and elegance! Furthermore, the size of our ankles can affect how our calves look.

It can be a bit frustrating, therefore, when they rank among one of our dislikes! Often, our ankles are wider than we would like or our calves aren’t large enough to balance our bone size. While this certainly shouldn’t rank too high in your list of concerns, there are definitely some techniques available for minimizing the appearance of your ankles….and I don’t mean wearing snow boots!

Flattering Choices:

Wear heels with pointed toes as rounded or squared toes stop the continuity of your leg abruptly, making it appear stumpy!

Heels...enough said!  Mules and slingbacks are great options!

Pair dark, opaque hose with the same color heels; the dark color has a slimming effect while the continuity of color draws attention away from the shape, shifting the eyes to other parts of your appearance that are more appealing.

If you're not wearing hose or tights, opt for heels that match the tone of your leg!  Once again, continuity will slim them!


Less Flattering Choices:

The ever-so-fun shoe shopping 'No-No' list:

* No flats or birkenstocks

* No flipflips or loafers

* Keep away from gladiators or lace up platforms

* Clogs and ugs will look horrible...on any woman!

* White tennis shoes or white heels will draw too much attention.

* Sneakers and even kitten heels can detract from your appearance.

* Also, refrain from wearing heels that greatly contrast with your skin color!

Metallic Trench: Who Would Have Thought?

Animal print need not be predictable. In fact, just like ‘lions, and tigers, and bears’ (oh my!) in the wild, the prints in our closets can be pretty adventurous too!

This particular trench boasts a metallic edge, which matches well with my metallic, tiger print, gold heels here! Caution: Don’t overdo it! If your jacket and shoes are a bit on the flashy side, balance them with a solid colored, non-flashy skirt! I go for basic brown with these!

Remember, contrast is powerful! Contrast colors, contrast fabrics, contrast bolds with neutrals! Stay out of the rut and keep experimenting!

Thick Calves...Lucky You!

Our calf muscle can be quite the alluring object if handled correctly. It is for this reason that many were shocked in the early 1920s as women began showing their calves. Contrary to common knowledge, any scholar can attest to the fact that the flapper dresses of the Roaring Twenties came to the knee.

They weren’t these mini-skirt numbers you see creep out for Halloween parties amongst the wilder in our society. Add a bolero over those bare arms and a bra, and the flapper dress would hardly be recognized.

The key, however, is how sexy a calf or a nicely-turned ankle can be. If you notice, most flapper skirts had fringe on the bottom hem. Why? Because such adornment drew the eyes to the woman’s legs for closer admiration!

This being said, you already have gorgeous, full calves or you wouldn’t be reading this page! The key, however, is—once again—balancing the calf with the rest of your body to give a balanced—if somewhat curvaceous—appearance.

To this end, I hope the following tips get you started in the right direction!
Flattering Choices:

Solid colored pumps are best; having too much ornamentation can make your legs look a bit too chunky with items!

Solid color A-line skirts add width to the area just above your calves, adding balance.

Very cute and chic:  black hose (preferably opaque) with dark colored heels to lengthen the leg and slim it!

High heel boots work well as long as they aren't tight enough to cause 'muffin leg'!

Maxi dresses or shorter skirts in darker colors like black, brown, or navy are slimming should you have fluff higher up!


Less Flattering Choices:

Ankle strap heels are a mistake as they often appear to be cutting into your ankles!  Only wear these if you small ankles.

Gladiators are never good; neither are those that lace up your ankle!

Bright colored hose or those with busy designs draw too much attention as does pasty white skin so get some sun!

Steer clear of ugs or furry boots; they don't flatter any woman, unfortunately!

Final 'no-no's: leggings that end at the ankle or fishnet that will accentuate very large calves.  I know putting leggings under your skirt for outdoor activities is common but for dressier events, please refrain no matter what your size!

Slender Legs: Tweaking an Old Favorite

Having slender legs can really be an asset if dressed correctly! They make you look taller and, of course, slim and elegant! The problem usually occurs when the knee shows. No matter how slender the leg, it can look great a pair of heels with patterned tights…unless that bulky, unattractive knee is stealing the show!

Also, wearing clogs or large flip-flops or flats can really look odd with a pair of thin legs. I avoid them entirely for fear of looking like a duck! The point is, your body is fragile and slender; your shoes and even skirt styles need to mirror that.

Remember, it’s about balance!

Flattering Choices:

Pantyhose or tights with designs add interest to your legs, making their size less noticeable.

Skirts at least an inch below your knee are important; any higher and the bulk of your knee will make your legs look even thinner or misshapen.

Boots with built-in calves are great as long as they aren't too wide at the top!

Maxi skirts with cute sandals are always a plus--particularly with heels!

Heels actually make the calf ball up a bit so wear them whenever you wear those knee-length skirts!


Less Flattering Choices:

White, pasty legs look ill when your legs are slender; get some sun and you'll look much better!  They also have spray on tans and vitamins to help if you're not a fake-baker!

Stay away from dark or black hose as they slim; white--if it works with your outfit--or flesh colored is best!

Skirts at mid-calf or mid-ankle are murder for any size or shape of leg; showing the skinny ankle without the pretty calf isn't very attractive.  Opt for skirts just below your knee or at the base of your ankle!

Avoid heavy fabrics that will contrast with your size too much!