Interview With Amanda Beth!

I was blessed enough to be able to interview my very first fashion inspiration-Amanda Beth! Being the very first fashion blog (or blog for that matter!) That I ever read, you can thank her for inspiring my blog! Whether that be good or not! Without further ado:

Natasha:First off, thanks so much for doing this interview with me! Can you tell my readers a bit about you?

Amanda: Thank you Natasha for this opportunity! :) I was fortune to be born and bred in New England and love it with all my heart. My large family lives in Massachusetts and I love the adventures that come along with the change of seasons, being near the city of Boston, and the ocean.

I am the oldest in my family and am still living at home at the present, while pursuing a career (keep your fingers crossed!) in writing, and also indulging my passion for music in a folk band and musical theater. Of course, my interest in fashion influences all of those pursuits.

Natasha:Who is your biggest fashion inspiration (designer, person, family member etc.)

Amanda: Audrey Hepburn. She's obviously had a huge impact on the fashion, entertainment and culture of the last century, and her influence continues today. I like the fact that when she started making movies she was a stark contrast to the voluptuous screen sirens that were popular in the 1950s, and managed to create her own brand of ladylike class and style. Besides becoming a huge fashion icon and one of the most recognized faces of the 20th century, she was a beautiful woman inside as well, and had a heart of service and compassion that I admire so much.

Natasha:Was there someone in particular that has encouraged you in you quest for dressing modestly?

Amanda: When I was around ten or eleven years old, I had two girl friends (still my best friends today! :) who wore skirts and dresses exclusively and played a big part in my first thoughts about modesty. Of course, looking back, I see that the way I dressed was more out of peer pressure and just plain liking long flowing skirts (cause they made me feel like "Anne of Green Gables" ;) than any real or serious convictions on modesty.

Over my teen years my views changed and swayed with the emotional tumult that occurs in that period and I am thankful that God and my dad kept me dressed presentably, when there were times when my heart was not modest at all. Over the past few years, now that I am settling comfortably into my twenties, I have had a real passion for taking modesty back to the Bible, seeing what God says about it, and how to apply His word to our lives. As you may know, there aren't many clear cut clothing "standards" laid out in scripture, and it really comes down to the state of our hearts. We can dress as modest as anything and still be incredibly rebellious and immodest inside. I know from experience. ;)

Natasha:Any fashion events on the horizon for AmandaBeth Online?

Amanda: The themed events have been a huge success in the past, so I certainly want to do more of them. I've had a few ideas in my head, but this past year has been so full that I haven't had time or energy to do anything since the "Secondhand Fashion Week." Hopefully I'll be able to pull another one off next spring.

Natasha:What are your future plans for the blog?

Amanda: Actually, this is a really pressing question in my mind right now. I feel like I've written so much about fashion over the past 2 1/2 years and lately have been wanting to incorporate more personal pieces, about what I am creating and the things that are important and inspire me. So, there may be some changes over the next few months, but I'll really have to see how it all plays out. As always, the reader's opinion and suggestions are very important to me!

Natasha:What are some websites you frequent?

Amanda: Actually not a whole lot in the fashion department, although I do like to see what Michelle Obama is wearing - http://michelleostyle.blogspot.com . I may not agree with her politics, but I sure love the way she dresses! :) I'm also an avid follower of figure skating, so http://icenetwork.com is one of my favorite places to get all the news. I could go on, but I'll leave those two for now... ;)

Natasha:Any modesty tips for my readers striving to be modest?

Amanda: Think outside the box! I hear from so many people who feel that it is impossible to find modest clothing in the stores. Well, maybe it's not all laid out nicely for us on the displays, but if we dig, there are lots of great pieces hiding. And not to mention that so many pieces can be made modest with a little creativity. You don't have to know how to sew... I'm talking about layering! I think it is the modesty movement's secret weapon. You can check out my blog for more thoughts and discussion on this subject.

Natasha:How would you describe your 'style'?

Amanda: Hmm... well, I used to be more of a Grace Kelly; conservative, only gold and pearls, et cetera, but over the past few years I have fallen in love with bright colors, bold designs and funky details. Oh yes, and I enjoy a lot of the trends (as long as they're not too crazy!). Eventually I would love to be described as "quirky" or "eclectic." I think that being a writer adds a little bit of it's own madness to my life, and the way I dress.

Natasha:Anything else you'd like to add?

Amanda: I'd just like to encourage any young ladies out there to think seriously on what they believe about modesty. We can't just take someone else's word for it, unless it's God's word, and if we are saying that a piece of clothing is or is not modest based on someone else's opinion or interpretation of Biblical principles, instead of how God has convicted us on a personal level, it can be dangerous. We must remember that we are never to slaves of fashion. Jesus' opinion is the only one that truly matters.

All images courtesy of http://www.amandabethonline.blogspot.com/

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