PARTY SEQUINS 2 WAYS

So, depending on the party, how dressy you want to be, and the kind of crowd you run with, you may want to take sequins in a couple of different directions. In the first look we showed how the Modest Girl can get in on the biggest party-dressing-fashion-trend happening now. Some black tights and sky-high heels are all you really need to add to sequins because the dress is the star of the show. Any added jewelry could send you into pageant queen territory, in a bad way. In the second look we showed how you can tone the star quality of a sequin dress down. With lace-up booties and a vest you can really wear this to almost any party. Layer this look with some sweaters, scarf and an anorak and you have street wear...just saying...

Trick divulged - I actually had this dress made by my seamstress because I was having trouble finding a sequin dress with enough coverage. Me being a Modest Girl with determination to wear some sequins, I took the fabric and a couple photos to the seamstress and told her I just wanted a basic t-shirt dress made out of sequins. And there you have it, a sequin dress that is long enough and has some sleeves.

THE FLARE

OK, so obviously we love our skinny jeans and have no intention of abandoning them any time soon, but the newest fashion trend right now is the 70's style flared jean. This new breed of jean, although it is a throwback, is not synonymous to the bootcut jean of recent years past. Look for a jean that is tight through the hip and thigh and then flares extravagantly from the knee down. I've paired these here with a loose blouse, but just a simple not-too-long sweater would also do. Oh, how I'd die to steal a pair of these from my mom circa 35 years ago... but, alas she gave them all away. Still, I'm going to be scouring vintage and second hand shops on the off chance I may score a legit pair of 70's flare jeans.

BLUSH TONES

I think blush tones are universally flattering on every complexion and skin tone. Think of celebrities from Nicole Kidman to Zoe Saldana (who we have pictured here) to Frida Pinto. All gorgeous in blush tones. And there are fashion forward dresses with sleeves out there so don't settle. Some of our favorite go-to brands and labels that frequently have dresses with sleeves are Diane von Furstenburg, Alice+Olivia, BCBG, Catherine Malandrino, Marc By Marc Jacobs as well as our old stand-bys like Anthropologie, H&M and Zara. There are so many beautiful options out there for pretty party dresses, believe me! And we will be featuring many here on this blog. There is no need to sacrifice any amount of style to be a Modest Girl. The necklace is Badgely Mischka.

COZY KNITS

Hm, how to make cold weather wear more interesting than just throwing a down coat over everything... The neutral camels and grays this season are a really lovely way to go. We like ours with a splash of color for interest and love the warmth of a cozy knit hat. I adore scarves, can't get enough of them, and have a very large drawer stuffed full of them. They are inexpensive and yet the style options are endless. The Modest Girl can take an outfit so many ways just by changing, or adding, a scarf.

THE NEW RETRO

We are totally in love with the new 50's mid-calf length skirt. The Louis Vuitton and Prada Fall 2010 runways inspired this look. We like our longer skirts paired with sweet retro sweaters that hit at the skirt's waist or can be tucked in, but you can also wear them with a baggy t-shirt or blouse tucked in. A fun high pony tail finishes the look. I can't tell you how excited we are to have the most fashion forward shape and length of skirt be one that Modest Girls everywhere can wear. Modest Girls can find the new long skirts at Urban Outfitters and Topshop.

BEYOND BASIC

Sometimes the difference between a basic dress and something special is just the right belt and scarf. We're loving a little leopard at the moment and love to use it in unexpected ways. Alone, this dress is sweet and pretty, but with this thrift store belt and Banana Republic scarf it's much more edgy and interesting. The Modest Girl doesn't need to show skin for attention, all she needs is a leopard scarf and some attitude. The dress is Robert Rodriguez.