Oh, the Places You'll Go...Modestly

WILDLY MODEST ADVENTURING

If you've been following my Facebook lately, you'll probably have seen photos like this...

 ...and this, during the Napier Art Deco Festival...

 ...my solo busking debut...

 ...and this rocky experience on New Zealand's national day, Waitangi Day.

 Outdoor delights like this, cycling with Dad...

 ...walking the gorgeous avenues at the Tree Trust in Rotorua...

...swimming in the lake with my sister (brrr! refreshing!)...

 ...and filming piano improvisational videos
(you can view the playlist here).

You may also be aware of the reason the Boutique Narelle blog hasn't been updated for a while. In November 2015, I experienced a dramatic change in my life circumstances, moved suddenly to a different city, and have been focused on adapting to my new situation and environment. I'm posting this update now because I'm about to lose access to WiFi for an indeterminate period, and there are a couple of important things I want you, visitors and faithful supporters, to know.

WHERE IT'S HAPPENING

I've been posting regularly to Facebook, so if you want to keep in touch or see the modest fashion projects I model or create, that's the place to find me at present. My data allowance should enable me to continue with this.

HOW TO MAKE MODESTY MALL LINK REQUESTS

If you've contacted Boutique Narelle requesting that your shop be featured in the Modesty Mall and didn't get a response, it's likely because your email was swallowed into my message system and I couldn't find it when I was available to process it. Please, when you make a request, include the following:

1. a clickable link to your site,
2. the regions you service,
3. the categories you service,
4. a short list of the type of garments you offer (view Modesty Mall for samples),
5. and make sure you put "Modesty Mall" in your email subject line.

Thank you so much to those who have alerted me to online stores that have closed. If you discover a link in the Modesty Mall that doesn't work, it would be greatly appreciated if you could post a comment on the page letting us know.

Until the next time, be the beautiful and unique you that God created you to be with grace and confidence, living modestly, loving femininity, and leading your heart toward true beauty. You are precious, and you have value needed by those around you. Walk tall and smile from the heart.

Fiat lux!
Narelle

EASTER DELIGHT: A Modest Woman's License to Dress Up and Thrill

An ode to the happy power of feminine fashion

Narelle after a musical outing at a small-town rest home, wearing an outfit she designed and made. The dress is cotton sateen. The bolero jacket is satin-striped chiffon lined with crushed cotton knit. In her hair is a wired organza "nellaflower". Her shoes are patent/elastic open-toed wedges by Linea Avanti.

Distributing handpicked flowers was a success. We'll do that again.

The team-of-3 were a little bit hypo at tea time Sunday evening, pleased with how our Rahiri Rest Home Easter service went, and what a good time everyone had.

The residents who came were an unusually sharp and sassy crew, responding to Dad's questions and witty remarks with enjoyment.

"And Pharoah said to the Israelites, Get out of my sight!" Dad bellowed. "I'm going! I'm going!" twinkled the lady next to me, as she exited to join her grandson who'd just arrived for a visit.

It really was an entertaining hour. Dad was in fine form. And so was his audience. "...Israel were slaves in Egypt," he said. "That was 3500 years ago...does anyone remember back then?" Response in chuckles, and someone piped up, "Not quite."

I particularly loved seeing what happened when the residents chose their favourite hymns...even if they couldn't hold a hymn book or see to read the text, they knew every word and sang it with passion. Especially "God Will Take Care of You." Having experienced how an hour of hymn singing on a Sunday afternoon sustains and guides me through the week, I could see the words uplifting and empowering them.

Mum's program arranging worked well, putting my song, "Rock of Ages", near the beginning, which meant that by the end, I had regained enough energy to comply when they asked me for "Amazing Grace". I'm thankful for Mum's marathon summer project of upgrading the Rahiri song books, meaning I had the lyric sheet for whatever they chose.

And, as I do every time I go to Rahiri, I dress in a fancy outfit. Once upon a time I worried that my enjoyment of clothes was frivolous, but I don't now because I've learned how other people are effected by my appearance. When the ladies see me, they smile with delight and comment on what I'm wearing. I think the men like it too. They feel special when I dress up for them.

I sat down beside one sweet lady to hold her fragile hand. I had to lean in close to hear what she was murmuring to me. The only words I could understand, as she gently fingered the fabric on my shoulder, were, "Beautiful. Beautiful."

Yes, with my health challenge it's a big effort for me to go, and will take a while to recover, but I feel privileged to be the harbinger of joy. It makes me happy to know that I'm making them happy.

And how blessed I am that under such circumstances I get to do what I love--sing songs of hope in a pretty frock. May you, too, discover the freedom, power, and joy of being feminine while doing what you love.

Fiat lux!

Narelle

Design preparations for adding the special touches to the dress. Here's a glimpse of my craft room that's been taking shape in a former bedroom since we moved back in after our house fire (13 April 2014), and the sewing machine paid for by insurance. I spend a lot of time in that room, and I'm always happy when I'm in there. I think I should call it the Happy Room!

This outfit was a month's work for me, plus I had some help from my friend, 80-something-year-old Carol, to get the tailoring right. One of these embroidery rows took 45 minutes to stitch. Any guesses which one?

The lace was a gift from a neighbour. It came out of her 90-something-year-old mother's sewing room which contained fabric, notions, and project scraps dating back more than 50 years.

The Longing to be Beautiful, and how one black woman has opened dialogue on it

Black, white, or in between, if you've ever wished you look different than you are, watch this video.

If you've ever wished God gave you some-one else's features, I urge you to listen to this compelling 5-minute speech. If you know a girl or woman who makes negative comments about her skin colour, hair type, body type, or intellectual capability, watch this and share it with her.

Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong'o shares her journey from self hate to gracious representative of womanly confidence. Her honesty and insight into the core of beauty reportedly left her entire audience speechless.

http://youtu.be/ZPCkfARH2eE

This is so powerful! Watch and share! I've listened to Lupita Nyong'o twice already.

I hope this inspires more professional photographers to choose women of color as their models. Here at Boutique Narelle and the Modesty Mall we serve a readership from many nations and cultures, and our vision is to provide an "everyman" median representation. A very little calculation of world population will tell you that's not going to be pale. When not restricted by store promotions or having to model my own illustrations, I look for brown and black skin istock.

We also required neck-to-knees coverage and non-sensual styling, making the hunt thus far limited to images I can count on one round of my fingers. If you're reading this and you're producing this kind of resource, or want to, I'd love to hear from you.

Ladies, we have the ability to restore balance to the world of women's imagery. It starts in your heart and mine. Let's do it.

The Purpose of Modesty

The Purpose of Modesty: "I believe we women need to understand the role of womanhood, embrace our God-given femininity, express our Designer-uniqueness, and as ambassadors, radiate the love and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ to a dark, despairing world." Narelle Worboys

What is beauty? Can I be beautiful? How do I do it?

Boutique Narelle is excited to signpost for you a webinar that’s not just skin deep, seven one-hour sessions with Anna-Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin which you can watch at your convenience.

“Reclaiming Beauty: A New Look at How to Glorify God in Your Body” covers topics ranging from such practical issues as skincare, fitness, posture, voice, modesty, home-made beauty products, and color analysis…to subjects as penetrating as personal identity, insecurity, comparisons, worldliness, vanity, idolatry, our attitude toward others, and the state of our hearts before the Lord.

Click here for full details.

Misleading our Girls about Beauty

"Never Too Young? Misleading our Girls about Beauty" by Dr. Albert Mohler


The New York Times reports that even the youngest of girls are being targeted as consumers of cosmetics and beauty treatments. The elementary [primary school] set is showing up in trendy salons for pedicures and manicures.

The intense self-focus that many young women display and their attention to how they present themselves is affecting 6- to 9-year-olds. “We live in a culture of insta-celebrity,” Ms. Skey said. “Our little girls now grow up thinking they need to be ready for their close-up, lest the paparazzi arrive.”

You can read the article by Dr. Albert Mohler here, or listen to or download the audio version here.

Are you training yourself in True Beauty? Are you sharing what you've learned with your daughters, nieces,  younger sisters or friends? Or, are you and they, through neglect, wide open to the destructive influences of the pagan culture in which we live?

Girls are never too young to start learning, and if wise women do not take up the mantle of instruction, they will automatically assume the prevalent characteristics of their environment which flood insidiously from television, movies, the internet, books, magazines, and urban graphics, and are cultivated as attentively in churches as they are in the world. Suicides, eating disorders, and early promiscuity are just some of the tragic results. Now that you're warned, what are you going to do about it?

Modesty Isn't About Rules

I know you love getting girly with like-minded girls.  It's a precious thing to have sisters and/or girlfriends who share our values and make time to be with us.

In those girly times, has one of you brought up the topic of modesty? How did it go? It's so easy for friendly discussions to turn into arguments over hemlines.  Were you able to get past the technical do's and don'ts and dig to the core of the matter?

If you did, you know that modesty isn't about rules. Modest is a heart issue, and it effects our relationships.

I know you care about your relationships with the people around you. Take six minutes to find out how you can enhance yours by listening to Elizabeth Inrig in this video answering

What is modesty? who cares? why bother?

A Prince's Dream Girl

Are you internally breath-taking?
Drop-dead gorgeous on the inside?

The physical beautifying obsessions of men and women demonstrate they are not willing to grow old gracefully or fearlessly. We all grow old (27 is the scientific age which this process begins), and we all know physical beauty doesn't last. Surely, if we want a healthy investment portfolio, we will devote our energies to amassing the treasures of a beautiful heart!

She is the most acclaimed and celebrated woman of the world's all-time best selling book, the Bible. Prince Lemuel's dream girl became the millenium Ideal for others to aspire to.

"His princess was loving, faithful, diligent, financially astute, encouraging, disciplined, healthy, positive, compassionate, generous, prudent, stylish, creative, strong, dignified, wise, responsible, and humble. She loved Lemuel, but most of all, she feared God."

Is this the sort of Dream Girl you aspire to be?
What do you need to change in order for that to happen?


Thispost was inspired by Mary Simpson's book 31 Girl. Grateful acknowledgement to Hannah Harward for introducing me, and thanks to Mary for permission to quote a paragraph from the closing chapter of the book.
Ed. Note: While I consider the written content of "31 Girl" to be excellent, many of the photographic illustrations do not meet the standard of modesty this website strives to promote.

Pause at the Mirror: How to Be Confident in Your Appearance

"I looked in the mirror," said the woman, "and it was not my friend."

How often do you encounter a passing mirror and grimace in distress at your image? How often do you apply a quick pat, a twitch, a tweak, a dab of paint, and hope that the world will somehow overlook your flaws and be enchanted by your beauty?

I've learned to laugh at myself and not take my appearance too seriously. I have a chronic illness, I see the accruing damage it's done, and I've had to accept the possibility that the vision of gorgeousness that's surely hidden in me somewhere may never be revealed to the world.

CAN I BE CONFIDENT IN MY APPEARANCE?
Have you ever met a girl who was unwaveringly confident in her appearance? I mean in her private moments as well as the public ones. I've met cocksure gals whose pride in their appearance is a cover for their secret insecurity, and I guarantee there's not a woman on this planet who when honestly examining herself does not flinch. How, then, does a woman develop confidence in her appearance?

THE SECRET I DISCOVERED
The good news is that a priceless, timeless value lies in my inner beauty, beauty that reflects the nature of Christ. Placing primary significance on this gives me a confidence in who I am and how I look that cannot come from what I see in the mirror.

The body passes away. The soul is eternal. When was the last time you peered at your soul? Did you grimace? What attention did you give to it?--as much and as often as you do to the preparations of your outward appearance?

I pray that we'll develop a passion to "put on Christ" as our inner beauty treatment, and be as devoted to it as we are to our outer body care.

Image No. 1: Shadows distort shape and highlight flaws.
Image No. 2: No makeup, just positioned at a different angle to the light source.

Check how you're positioned to the light source, Jesus Christ!


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Note: We are very sorry about the missing images in this post. They were tragically and irreversibly gobbled by Google+.