Model Me Girl

Contributor: Allison Summers @ Misses Dressy

With the winter season closely approaching, you’ve probably already begun your search for that perfect office party or New Years Eve dress that will wow your friends and put all eyes on you. Every woman wants to look stylish and up-to-date with the latest fashion trends at parties and formal events, but this can be difficult for those who aren’t keen on showing a lot of skin. As you’ve probably noticed while out and about in department stores, many designer dresses seem to get shorter, tighter and more revealing every year.

If you’re having trouble finding a fashionable, cute yet modest-looking dress for your upcoming special event, have no fear! This doesn’t mean you have to settle for that frumpy-looking frock in the back of the rack that has you looking like your grandmother. With the following tips, you can turn virtually any not-so-modest dress into a cute outfit that will turn heads for all the right reasons!

Problem: Your dress is too short.
Solution: Wear black tights underneath. During the winter season, dark colors like red, black, royal blue and burgundy are all the rage at parties, and black tights are the perfect solution if you feel uncomfortable showing too much leg. Not only will they keep you warm, but they’re also good for making your legs look slimmer!

Problem: Your dress is strapless or shows too much cleavage.
Solution: Wear a bolero shrug or shawl over your shoulders. These are perfect if you can’t find a dress with sleeves or if you feel your dress is too low cut in your chest area. If you don’t want to be bothered with having to look for a piece that matches your dress and want actual sleeves, it may be a good idea to check out the selections of some of the more reputable designers. Many Sherri Hill dresses, for example, have some sort of sleeve, whether long or short.

Problem: Your dress has too long of a slit up your thigh.
Solution: Take the dress to a tailor and have it partially sewn up. Tailors are a great solution not only for this problem, but they can also let your dress out if you feel it’s too tight, add extra layers or beading if you want to spruce up an already modest dress that looks a bit bland.

Problem: Your dress seems too tight or form fitting.
Solution:  Buy the next size up. If you’d prefer not to have every curve and crease on your body shown off, getting the next size up is a great way to give you a bit more room and keep the parts that you’d prefer not to flaunt covered. However, be careful not to go up too many sizes; after all, you don’t want to look like you have no shape whatsoever! If you find later that you may have made this mistake, you can fix it with a nice statement belt at your waist, which can even out a seemingly flat figure.

If you’re having trouble finding a suitable formal dress, the most important thing to remember is not to settle. Despite what many think, you don’t have to sacrifice dressing fashionably to dress modestly! Keep these tips in mind, broaden your search and try to think bit more creatively. You may surprise yourself with the end result!