In a world where revealing, provocative clothing dominates, Rebecca Lord stands out.
“True femininity for me is ... a natural, very fundamental trait placed in a woman by God,” Mrs. Lord told The Epoch Times. “This is exactly what distinguishes a woman from a man.”
The young fashion designer says that traditional feminine virtues of softness, tenderness, and a sense of care, as well as the old-fashioned complementary differences between men and women, have been forgotten. In addition to erasing “the uniqueness of an individual,” Mrs. Lord says, modern fashion with its unisex styles tends to equalize the two genders by erasing the boundaries between a man and a woman.
Giving credit to her faith and upbringing for the way she dresses, Mrs. Lord feels hopeful when she sees young women choosing modest, feminine fashion over skimpy, attention-grabbing styles. She says one doesn’t have to be of a particular faith to embrace a style that is elegant, graceful, and yet non-provocative.
“Modest fashion is for everyone,” she said, adding that the world will eventually come to see that “modest fashion is not a restriction, but a conscious choice that we present with dignity.”
Traditional Upbringing
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Mrs. Lord moved to Israel with her family during her early teens.“I was raised in religious family by loving parents, who were a classic example of masculinity and femininity in a good healthy way. This for sure had a great impact on my worldview, moral values, and perception [of gender roles],” she said.
She studied psychology and social sciences at university, but had always loved fashion and taught herself dressmaking; spending ten years designing and sewing clothes before deciding to complete a formal course. Today, she’s married and a full-time homemaker who loves dress designing and modeling.
Adhering to upright, traditional values is the key to a beautiful, harmonious life, says Mrs. Lord.
“I believe in God,” she said. “This faith helps me to always strive to work on myself to improve my character, helps me not to give up in ‘dark times,’ and to believe in goodness, kindness, and love.”
Basic Rules of Modest Fashion
Strongly influenced by styles of dress in the Renaissance and Romantic eras, as well as the fashion of the 1950s and 60s, Mrs. Lord focuses on clothing that emphasizes “the fragility and beauty” of women. During these periods in history, she says, female attire still adhered to values of “modesty, piety, and non-provocativeness.”“Modesty for me is non-provocative, dignified behavior, and purity of thoughts and actions that do not evoke obscene thoughts in people around,” she said.
The way she styles herself is truly more feminine and creative but does follow certain principles. Her rules of modest clothing are: not too deep a neckline; sleeves resting below the elbow; skirts that don’t reveal the knees; covered shoulders, stomach, and back; no see-through fabrics without any layer underneath; and no slim-fit dresses that feel like a second skin.
Her favorite ensemble is a fitted top with sleeves, paired with a gathered, pleated A-line skirt. Curating the perfect modest wardrobe need not be expensive, she says, advising other women to check out the many “amazing” small brands specializing in this style that focus on sustainable production and natural fabrics, plus trusty thrift stores.
When it comes to men’s clothing, Mrs. Lord says her husband is “the great example” of this fashion.
Clothes Reflect One’s Inner World
Mrs. Lord began sharing her modest fashion journey online back in 2016, posting historically-themed outfits as well as those she'd made herself on her Instagram page, @rebecca_lord_art. She also started her personal blog, RebeccaLordArt.A lot of women responded positively, but there were also those voicing their disapproval of more traditional values. As time went on, Mrs. Lord realized she could limit sharing her thoughts to a narrower circle of like-minded people, and now she almost exclusively enjoys genuine surprise, interest, and approval.
For Mrs. Lord, not only does it encourage a respectful and restrained attitude from others, but dressing this way helps the wearer experience a special kind of harmony.
Modesty Is Not a Restriction
Nostalgia is definitely back in style, she says. The return of interest in old films and fairy tales, the emergence and popularity of the “cottage core” style, and the romanticization of simple, humble home life are all indicators. But rather than being a fad, modest fashion holds deeper meaning.Mrs. Lord thinks the reason why many women are gradually shifting to modest clothing is largely down to over-satiation with the explicit trends of the 90s and 2000s when the main emphasis was on sexuality. The rise in “modest fashion” is also being aided by social networks, she says, which has helped women of diverse backgrounds share their personal style and vision, in turn influencing others.
“Now a woman is a person with her own attitudes and worldviews; an active unit that lives an active life, her clothes should be comfortable for this life,” she said, adding that there are a multitude of benefits to dressing modestly, such as “beauty, mystery, more respectful attitudes from others, security, and reconnecting with your femininity.”
“I really hope that those who were hesitant will be encouraged to take action and see that they are not alone in their desire for femininity and modesty,” she said.
