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/

A La Modest Interview! Introducing...Rachel Dahl!

I was given the honor of interviewing Rachel Dahl via the Internet. I have not met her in person, but as all of you can attest, you sometimes feel as if you 'know' someone from reading their blog. Rachel's high standards for modesty, and love for God shine true and bright through her blog. Rachel describes her blog as being "geared towards modesty and high standards in indie fashion. It showcases photos of everyday wear for inspiration. Rachel is a modest fashionista, indie music and arts enthusiast, living aphrodisiac to the hubby, believer of the invisible, avid fan of the intellectually funny and artistic. She is married to a handsome stud, Rob. He is also the copy editor of a la Modest." You can visit her blog at www.alamodest.com




Natasha:First of all, thank you for being willing to do this interview! I admired your style and character as soon as I found your blog! I've been reading your blog for quite some time now, and the first time I found your blog, I actually read all of your old posts! Which is a rare thing for me to do!

Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and tell us a bit about yourself?


Rachel: I am Rachel E. Dahl, and my initials are R.E.D! I like telling people that because it explains why my engagement ring has rubies. A lot of people think it's my birth stone. Mine is actually emerald because I was born in May. Anyway, there goes a random fact about me because Natasha has already introduced the obvious! I am the person behind à la Modest, a personal modest style blog.

Natasha:Why do you think modesty is so important?

Rachel: Well, this is kind of a big question. My whole blog is based around why I know modesty is important, and the Bible speaks about it. Ephesians 5:3 says that as God's holy people, we must not show even a hint of sexual immorality and impurity. Clothing that is designed to attract sexual attention undeniably causes lust among men and women. A woman may still be lusted after even if she is covered up, but modesty makes things a lot easier on the eyes of the man trying his best to avoid that sinful lingering thought of her or even the man who doesn't even try at all. A lot of girls blame the guys for acting inappropriately when they allow themselves to dress with lots of skin exposed. I think what girls might not know is that clothing like that begs to be gawked at. By wearing cleavage shirts and mini skirts, they are indirectly asking to be lusted after whether they like it or not. That's why I don't buy into girls' excusing their skin-tight clothes by saying they don't act slutty, so they should be okay. We cannot completely control the reaction of others, but we can help minimize guys inappropriate acting or thinking towards us by wearing decent clothing---something that God would approve of because he wants us to be pure and holy.

A lot of people come to me and say that they like my modest style and that it suits me well when I believe modesty is so much more than just a "style". It's a lifestyle, a mentality, and constant devotion to not contribute to the world's lustful living.

Natasha:You've expressed a strong desire to honor God in your wardrobe, was anyone -or anything- heavily influential in instigating this?

Rachel: My husband Rob of course was of great help to me! I honestly didn't think modesty was a big deal before I met him because it was even rare to see modestly dressed women in church! I didn't realize how much of a problem God-fearing guys go through everyday because they struggle to keep their minds and bodies pure around women and images of women. I knew that other guys like my brothers had issues with pornography, but I didn't do anything about it on my part until I met my husband. I care about him more than anything, and God used him in my life to open my eyes to how women's clothing contribute to the bigger picture of sexual immorality. I had to be broken before I really understood what His Word was clearly teaching me. I loved expressing my individuality through my clothing, and God shook that part of me up and made me a better person.

Natasha:Your style is un-deniably daring, stylish and modest! A mix of modern and vintage pieces, can you tell my readers where your favorite place to shop is?

Rachel: To be honest, my favorite place to shop are thrift shops because I am the thriftiest person I know and also because I like buying vintage. Vintage pieces that fit my budget and aren't hand-me-downs are hard to find! I like to buy non-vintage items either online on Ebay or Amazon or discount retail stores such as Ross or Burlington Coat Factory.












Natasha:What are some ways my readers can stay 'stylish' without sacrificing their modesty?

Rachel: I like the word "stylish" because it sounds more personal than the words "fashionable" or "trendy". The problem with a lot of trends is that they often aren't modest. Creating your own personal style is something more intuitive than following what's hot at the moment. I personally don't like to blindly follow trends except when I think they fit my personal style--- being retro, eccentric, and of course, modest!


Natasha: In a world saturated in im-modest clothing, have you ever been ridiculed for being "too modest"?

Rachel: Ah, yes. Of course. I get criticized both online and offline especially because people who hear about my stand often think they are being indirectly looked down upon. Often times they get personal, conscious of what they are wearing when they're around me, or highly defensive when I'm not even attacking anyone in particular at all.

Natasha: What are some sites you frequent and recommend?

Rachel: I have a lot of sites I frequent! To make my recommendations more suitable for your readers, I like to read RelevantMag for controversial Christian topics to get me challenged, so I am warning you to read with caution! I also like to listen to Ravi Zacharias' Just Thinking online broadcast or Stand to Reason's radio.

Natasha: On a more personal note, how long have you been married?

Rachel: I have been happily married to Rob since March 21, 2009 :) To date, it's been a year and a half.


Natasha: Any advice to my older readers 'waiting for their prince charmings'?

Rachel: A good book I often recommend is Joshua Harris' I Kissed Dating Goodbye or Boy Meets Girl. I have definitely read more courtship books than these two, but Josh seemed to have made the biggest impact both on Rob and I's lives. We both read IKDG before we even knew each other, so it was a good starting point for us as singles dealing with purity issues. When we decided to court, we both picked up copies of BMG and started reading together. My personal advice from experience is to let go the mysticism of waiting for the "right one". That means no looking out for signs except when there is an obvious red flag in the person's character. There is no perfect guy out there, and God gave each of us our free will and wisdom to choose our partners mostly based on our unique personal preferences. 1 Corinthians 7 says that marriage is a "concession not (as) a command" by God for controlling our lust. That is why dating around without the purpose of marriage is a dangerous thing because couples are putting themselves in a tempting situation of mutual sexual attraction without giving in to the concession of a lifetime commitment that God provided for those who "burn in passion". I had incredibly strict parents who controlled my dating life or non-dating life, I should say! I dreaded it of course when I was a teenager, but when I look back on it, I am glad I never dated anyone else but my husband-to-be. It was for my protection. I think that girls shouldn't "date" unless they want to be married pretty soon. I went through courtship when I was I think, 20 or almost 21. I got married when I was 22, so it was a short courtship. It was a good enough time to get to know each other but not too long to burn in our passion because we set strict boundaries on our physical affection while courting! We just couldn't wait to get married after lots of prayer, biblical meditation, and godly counsel!


Natasha:Thanks so much for spending this time with my readers and I! Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Rachel: Nothing, really! I do want to thank you, Natasha, for interviewing me and for being such a loyal reader! I like reading a lot of blogs too, and my absolute favorites are from people who have a passion for more than just their clothes. I like that you stand behind your faith so proudly on your blog!



Photos courtesy of Rachel Dahl http://www.almodest.com/

CHECK THIS OUT!

Please head over to A La Modest and read this article! Its very encouraging and totally awesome! A great reminder of how God can reach each of us in a different way!