Dressing well does not have to mean maxing out your credit card.

So how do I look chic and modish for less?

First:
Your checklist for savvy shopping

~ Know yourself. Be honest about what style flatter your body type best and appropriate for your age

~Redefine the idea of a “bargain”. A low price doesn’t necessarily equal a good buy, especially if you never wear the item

~ Think of shopping as a treasure hunt. Smart, cost-conscious shoppers live to find that diamond in the rough.

~Shop often (within reason of course). Even if you don’t need anything, frequenting the stores on a more than “every six months” will educate you about style and what’s out there.

How to shop:

Invest in the classics
The pros agree: you need to see those classic “never go out of style” pieces like an investment. You will spend more on a great coat, black pant, good basic handbag, even your denim. “To save money, figure out which pieces you need for your lifestyle and then shop sales to find them, says celebrity stylist Kate Young. “You will avoid having a closet full of stuff that you only wear once.”

Your closet should be 70 percent classics, 30 percent trends. When buying a few choice trendy pieces shop cheaper- Forever 21, etc.

“Think about the cost per wear. If you see a black dress you love, divide the price by the number of times you’ll wear it. This equation forces you to think of the value. If you got something on sale for $5 but you don’t use it, you just wasted $5.” -Kathryn Finney, author of How to Be a Budget Fashionista

Check the fundamentals first:
When second hand shopping or even at your favorite boutique, one of the most important strategies for searching for quality it checking the fundamental construction of the garment. Is the stitching good quality? Are the buttons cheap or loose? While replacing them could alter the piece- if the stitching is not good quality it doesn’t matter how cute the piece might be. It’s time to move on!

Anticipate Sales:
Most department stores mark down merchandise six to eight weeks after it his the floor. End of the season sales are also fabulous…keep your eyes out for classics that will work for next years season. Bathing suits, coats and boots are especially good.

Take Notes:
I was shopping with two of my friends, Harlan and Jocelyn Edlin (our Director of Photography) last week at Nordstrom and I absolutely fell in love with a pair of denim jeans there. This is where taking notes can really pay off. Bring a notebook along when shopping and jot down the SKU, UPC or style number and the designer or retailer name. Then look it up online and see if you can find it a better price. I’m still looking for my denim, but I’m confidant that my “notes” will pay off. =)

Mix it up:
The smart shopper knows how to pair a quality/designer piece with affordable pieces to create you own look while maintaining that classic look. Wear you quality bag and necklace with a cheap dress…get the picture?

To you my readers: Do you have any shopping secrets? Tips, techniques? What do you consider a good steal?

(This article was found on Modestly Yours, a blog dedicated to the discussion and support of modesty. It is written by Alexandra Foley, one of the 20 ladies who write for the blog. It is a fabulous article and continues to demonstrate the growing “modesty movement”

How tickled I was to inadvertently tune into Good Morning America’s piece on Girls Gone Mild last Friday. The story began with clips of young girls complaining about how hard it is to be modest: “Sometimes it’s so short you can see their underwear,” and “We can’t help it. That’s all they sell these days.” But despite the challenges of being a modest girl in an immodest world, the ABC piece showed that there is a movement afoot and Wendy’s book is a big part of it. What I really appreciated about the story was that it showed modesty as a viable option for girls and women who are sick to death of the expose-it-all look — without any lame sneering that usually accompanies such stories. Cheers.

Then, after the initial piece, they did a live fashion show of Girls Gone Wild vs. Girls Gone Mild looks with Allyson Waterman, Special Project Director of Lucky Magazine.

Here is what Allyson had to say about the modesty movement in fashion:

Allyson Waterman: Well, I think it really is a movement towards conservatism. I think it is a backlash against what we’ve been seeing in Hollywood. Let’s face it, whether we like it or not celebrities have become our role models. There is media covering their every move. And I do think that America is reacting to this over-the-top behavior, in style and behavior. We don’t need to see young celebrities’ business all the time. I think people realize we’ve hit a limit and fashion is mimicking this reaction.

Robin Roberts: Enough is enough and the two of us love this movement.

Allyson Waterman: This is not about being frumpy or dumpy. This is not about covering up or not being sexy or hiding under a lot of fabric. This is about embracing a woman’s body in an elegant way with decorum. We never saw Jackie O’s underwear, we never saw Grace Kelly… we never saw Audrey Hepburn behave this way. And these are the women who have maintained themselves as style icons throughout history.

Then the Wild vs. Mild looks. First a girl in super low-ride jeans with an extremely tight tank top that. Then, a girl in higher-rise, wider leg jeans and a tie-front yellow blouse.

Next the mini-skirt: “It’s just not appropriate for work. It’s not good. But if you want to wear a skirt and show off your legs and celebrate your look, there is the pencil-slim skirt. You can see what she’s got, but she’s not giving it away,” said Waterman. I really liked this look.

Then dresses: First they showed a spaghetti-strapped slip of a dress. “We don’t want to see a bra strap anymore,” said Waterman. Instead they showed a beautiful silky Burberry dress with short sleeves and a poofy bottom.

I thought this approach was brilliant. Instead of just talking about modesty and complaining about what an inappropriate culture we live in, they gave concrete advice and a modest makeover. Maybe the “after” looks aren’t for everyone, but they sure beat what one usually sees on T.V.

Eliza Magazine is featuring 4 designers in the Fall issue, I am honored to be amongst them. Here is a few interview questions they asked me via email. Is there anything you would have added?

Name: Christa Taylor
Religion: Christian
Position in Company: Designer
Company: Christa Taylor
What does “Modesty” mean to you?: For me, modesty is foremost an issue of the heart In essence, it’s humility of heart, expressed in dress. My clothes are a public statement of my private motivation. I typically ask myself with any given outfit: Why am I wearing what I’m wearing? Once my heart is in the right place, my attire follows.

What does your religion say about how you should dress? What are the specific guidelines that you follow? (knee, wrist, fit, etc)
The Apostle Paul in the book 1 Timothy, chaptor 2, explains how the Christian woman should dress. “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness–with good works.” The issue isn’t braided hair, or pearls, or costly attire in and of themselves. The issue is the association through this attire with values that are clearly worldy and not godly. As a Christian I desire to be noticed primarily for my good works not my latest fashion purchase.
Whereas there are no universal modesty guidelines in Christianity, each is to do the hard work of analyzing their wardrobe in light of what honors God. Sadly, because of the pressures of our morally decayed culture, many girls are unaware of, or willfully ignore, the impact their wardrobe has on the hearts and minds of men.

It’s true…there is a wave that is beginning to surge upwards. I’ve seen article after article on modesty, or Wendy Shalit’s book: Girls Gone Mild. Two of my favorite bloggers, Tim Challies and Carolyn Mcculley both have noticed and discussed this recent phenomenon.

I lately finished Shalit’s book, and although I strongly support her mission and literature, I found myself a little averse to the blatant discussion of things I would really rather not read about.

I have found this movement intriguing and am eager to see it flourish. My friends over at the Rebelution are in a way also involved in this movement, thought they focus on a different side…It’s a backlash against a morally decayed culture.

What do you think about this movement?

Hey girls-

We just added four new skirts as well as a few new accessories including white leggings and camisoles! I’m really excited about those.

In their article entitled Girls Gone Mild(er) author Jennie Yabroff, for Newsweek, outlines the ever expanding “Modesty Movement” and a brief history of “female liberation” since the flappers of the 1920s.

What caught my special attention was the “Pure fashion shows” described. This is not the first time I have heard these shows mentioned and my increased curiosity has led me to contact the organization that puts on these events.

We should have local Pure fashion show…have any of you ever been to one of these events?

Yes, plaid is going to be quite popular this fall. Large plaid, mind you…not tiny plaid. You’ll find it on trousers, Bermudas, skirts, and dresses…haven’t seen any plaid on tops yet, but that is also a possibility.

Second big trend I’ve seen so far is the silky, satinish fabric. Also known as Polyester. We saw a little of it last season, but it’s going to be heavy on tunics and blouses in the fall.
This silk tunic gives you a good idea of the look and feel of the fabric- My only contention against this fabric is that it looks too much like lingerie. What do you think?

Rachel Dodes for the Wall Street Journal says, “Liz Claiborne is cleaning out its closet.” The fact that Liz Claiborne is trying to sell 16 of their 36 brands is not necessarily what interested me. What piqued my interest was the observation Dodes makes later in her article,
“Traditional department stores have been closing as chains have consolidated, leaving mainstream brands with far fewer customer. That has led them to open branded boutiques, a business that requires more capital investment than simply selling goods to department stores.”
This is in essence what Christa Taylor is doing…we are a “branded boutique”. I like that phrase. We are branding ourselves as fashions for the Empowered Traditionalist, someone who stands for the traditional values of modesty, femininity and respect.

Bodes goes on to write,
“The shift is being driven partly by shoppers, who no longer want to wear matching ensembles from widely distributed labels and instead are seeking a more individualized look”
So true. But then again, it’s makes shopping so much easier when you have 2-3 wracks that all mix and match. =)

I came across an excellent carnival ring of articles all centered on the topic of Modesty. The carnival is put on by MInTheGap. It’s first edition was published at The Space Between my Peers , both are excellent blogs chuck full of interesting articles.

Celebrity Sighting:

There was the paparazzi, the cameras, the crowd of gaping onlookers…all heading straight for me.
Then I realized that there was someone else between me and the blinding flashes of twelve cameras simultaneously. Paris Hilton herself. Yep. I saw her. She was a mere 10 feet away from me.
Dad and I were out on a hot date after an exhausting day tramping the filthy streets of L.A. After exploring West Hollywood we ended up at the most gorgeous outdoor mall I have ever beheld. L.A. in all it’s glory seemed to meet in one local. Palm trees, fountains, stunning restaurants, gorgeous Italian tile underfoot, music drifting on the breeze, and me on my Daddy’s arm. What could be better?
We were heading out of our movie theatre when she was there in front of me.

I saw Paris Hiilton

I was at first in awe of the fact that me, ME, I was looking at a real live celebrity. Then my amazement turned to pity…what a life, everyone on your tail constantly. My thoughts then turned more introspective. What do I want to be remembered for? What do I want to be known for? Do I want to be known for fashion, beauty, popularity and success? Or do I want to be known for having made an indelible mark on those around me? Do I want to be remembered as another Paris Hilton or do I want to be known for changing hearts?

The label “fashion designer” sounds so elite and professional. It’s highly romanticized.

All I want to do is provide lovely, decent clothes for girls who are fed-up with the one option our culture provides: sexy.

This job is not easy, in fact, it is so complicated and challenging and frustrating and disappointing- sometimes I just wanna give up. But no, we keep strainging forward, pressing on, knowing that our goal can and will be reached if we don’t give up.