Current high fashion trends and modest apparel don't always go hand in hand. But, occasionally, you will find those rare moments when fashion embodies both style and modesty, creating a level of class that is unique and breathtaking.
Take, for instance, Rose Marie Reid. As a Latter-day Saint and Hollywood fashion designer for stars like Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe, Reid believed that clothing didn't have to show skin to be flattering and eye-catching. As a swimsuit designer during the era when the bikini began making it big, there was no doubt Reid struggled to keep her designs current, tasteful, and modest. But she did— and she became one of the most successful business women in America as a result, having refused to work for companies that sold immodest clothing.
“Tell everyone you meet that you are a Mormon,” she once told a group of Latter-day students, according to the Deseret News, “and then live it to the utmost of your ability.”
Some might argue that Reid's views and standards would not work in today's modern world, but we Mormons know differently. In fact, at this year's Academy Awards we spied some classy and modest gowns that show that Hollywood and high fashion still have a place for modest apparel.
Check out these beautiful, modest gowns from the 2016 Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
And, for more inspiration, check out these stunning gowns from the 2014 and2015 Oscars.
Note: Not all of these dresses are perfectly modest according to LDS standards, but we think they can still certainly provide inspiration for Mormon women who wish to be fashionable and modest.