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Deseret News

Dressed to impress, modestly

By Emily W. Jensen

Mormon Times
Published: Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009

OGDEN, Utah -- "OK ladies, you need to be dressed in 10 minutes!"

The many high school-age girls chatting excitedly about the modest dress designs on the backstage table sprang into action, rushing to finish last-minute touches on their hair and makeup and help one another into their dresses.

And these aren't your run-of-the-mill prom, wedding and casual dresses. These are modest dresses. And the clothing company that makes them is Modest by Design. Each year for the past seven, owners Eddie and Heather Gist have hosted a modest-fashion show, held usually at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. For the first time the show this year was at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden. More than 40 teenage girls participated in the Modesty in Motion 2009 fashion show Saturday afternoon, showcasing semiformal gowns, bridesmaid gowns, church dresses and even ball dresses.

"I really like the Modest by Design dresses because they make you pretty without showing anything else," explained Sammi VanFleet, one of the models.

"We just wish there were more modest clothing lines. It's hard to find hot modest dresses," another model complained before hurrying off, "but these are hot modest dresses."

Heather Gist explained one of the reasons they hold the modest show: "I love to watch the girls do their fittings. They wouldn't have done this, but we asked them to volunteer. And when they walk out onto that stage, they just shine."

Amid the glittering lights, the girls took turns dancing, twirling, posing and obviously having fun as they strode around the stage smiling. Some dresses touched the floor, others went over the knee. Some dresses were fancy prom outfits, while others were subdued enough for church. The dresses came in a rainbow of colors, including bright yellow, gold, metallic pink, bright red, blues, greens, white and more.

The fashion show culminated in announcing the winners of the modest-fashion design contest. Each year, girls are invited to submit drawn dress designs and essays explaining why modesty is important.

Gist explains, "It not only lets us know what the girls want, it gets them thinking about what modest means to them."

Eddie Gist added, "It's a great way for the girls who believe in modesty to see some really great designs and now that you don't have to give up fashion to be modest."

The contest winner's dress design is made for the winner, and she gets a photo shoot in her new dress. Last year's co-winners, Leslie Gerber of Centerville, Utah, and Tomoko Goddard of Orlando, Fla., were at the show, modeling their new prom dresses. Goddard's is bright yellow, with twirling tulle falling to the floor. Gerber modeled her pink creation that includes an intricate bodice.

This year's winner is Krista Purser from Murray, Utah. Her dress design will be made for next year's show. Purser explained in her essay: "There is power in confidence. Immodesty is no part of confidence. It is, instead, the mask of confidence, an outward appearance that hides insecurities. ... Modesty is courageous."

And on Saturday as the teenage girls modeled across the theater stage, they looked fashionably confident in their modesty.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705275039,00.html

Ogden Standard Examiner

Teen girls at event say conservative clothes are beautiful

Sunday, January 4, 2009

By JAMIE LAMPROS
Standard-Examiner correspondent

OGDEN -- Teenage girls can look beautiful without flaunting their bodies.

Nearly 40 of them wanted to get that message across Saturday afternoon as they modeled dozens of modest dresses during a fashion show at Peery's Egyptian Theater.

"We are representing our Father in Heaven in the way we dress," said Kathryn Hanks, 16, of Bountiful.

"I think it's horrible the way society makes the body more important than the mind. Dressing modestly shows you have confidence in yourself, and it also helps boys maintain their focus."

Hanks was a runner-up in the Modest Prom Dress contest this year, sponsored by Modest By Design Clothing Company. She will receive a gift certificate for designing her own modest prom dress and writing an essay on the importance of dressing modestly.

Grand prize winner Krista Purser, of Murray, will get to have the dress she designed made by the company and will have it just in time for prom this year.

Last year's winner, Leslie Gerber, 17, of Centerville, said the dress she designed couldn't have turned out any better.

"It's so beautiful. It's a princess cut with a huge skirt. I got to wear it to the prom last year," she said. "I was really scared because everyone knew I won, so they were all watching to see me come in the dress I had designed."

Two fashion shows were held for the girls to show off the latest semiformal and formal dress designs made by the company, which has stores in Layton and Murray. Dozens of dresses were shown, made of shimmery silk and satin fabrics in an array of colors -- coral, sapphire, hot pink, emerald, yellow, lavender. Some had simple sashes, while others were accessorized with sequins and lace.

Brooklyn Bown, 16, of Layton, said that when she dresses modestly, she feels happy and positive.

"I see a lot of girls who dress immodestly at dances, and the whole time they are there they are pulling their dresses down or pulling up the top," she said. "I think the way you dress also reflects your actions."

Seventeen year-old Alycia Altom said the way a girl dresses also earns her a certain reputation.

"The way people view you is reflected in the way you dress. I don't want to send the wrong message about myself," she said. "You can look really pretty while keeping your values high."

Eddie and Heather Gist, along with Jeff and Elaine Ferguson, opened Modest By Design Clothing Company in 1999. Gist said since the time he began sewing in the seventh grade, he wanted to have his own clothing line.

"You know, you have to take home economics when you're in the seventh grade, and I really liked it. When you're a boy in seventh grade, the most important things to you are food and girls," Eddie Gist said. "There were only three guys in the class, so it was a really great thing for me."

Gist said he played football and was on the wrestling and track teams throughout junior high and high school. At the same time, however, he continued sewing without announcing that fact to any of his friends.

"I actually got a wrestling scholarship but couldn't go to a big tournament because I had to go to a fashion show," he said. "I got my fashion-merchandising degree on a wrestling scholarship."

After graduation, Gist went to work in retail in New York. While living there, Gist joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his focus in fashion started to change somewhat.

"I was real concerned with modesty, and there was definitely a need for it," he said.

Fifteen year-old Kelly Glad said she is grateful Gist opened up the store.

"I'm involved in pageants and we always go to their store, and they help me find beautiful modest dresses to wear," she said. "Dressing modestly gives me confidence in the way I look, and it makes my parents proud of me. I know I look good because I am presenting myself in a positive way. When you dress immodestly, guys start looking for other things besides your personality."

http://www.standard.net/live/news/160439

...and more pictures at:

http://spotted.tofuscene.com/galleries/index.php?id=1627