Modest Apparel
Definition of "Modesty":
noun.
Behavior, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency.
You may have noticed that I no longer wear pants, since October 2011.
After reading Deuteronomy 22:5, I realized that I was cross dressing, against the Father in Heaven's will.
Zemira Israel made a Native Indian inspired dress Fringed with Baby Blue Ribband
Zemira Israel made a blue and silver dress & head wrap
Since the agenda that started around the women's rights movement, cross dressing and every evil spirit that comes with it has slowly and sadly become the norm against God's perfect laws:
Modesty is not just fashionable, but a way of life that starts from within ourselves. Modesty and discretion is ordained by the Heavenly Father for both his sons and His daughters.
Zemira Israel made a red and black leather trim garment for her lord Bezaleel for Date Night
Zemira Israel made a red and gold garment for her lord Bezaleel for Passover
Zemira Made Her Son a White & Gold Garment for a Wedding Feast
Zemira Made Her Son a White & Gold Garment for a Wedding FeastBut on this blog I will be focusing on my beautiful modest sisters 😉
It's like the Father is showing us how to be a sign of dignity even through our outer appearance.
Zemira Israel before her performance at the Afrolisciuos Natural Hair Expo
This way of life has brought me both negativity and positivity. I get the response I rightfully should get as a daughter of Zion when I dress modestly in public from both men and women. But sometimes because of people's own insecurities I can be viewed in a negative light. I'm sure you've had similar experiences when dressed modestly with discretion.
Zemira Israel before her performance at Brandon T Jackson's KOE Studios Film and Music Showcase
Signs of good moral character exude from dressing modestly, or at least it should. Men who are strangers to me like to randomly throw imaginary and invisible red carpets before I walk before them lol That always tickles me. They treat me like the princess I know I am.
Bezaleel & Zemira Israel before Passover day
Zemira Israel Passover 2020
Zemira Israel at the Thank You Israelite Man music video shoot
They even call me queen. I personally don't feel comfortable with that title because I am no where near my foremother Hadassah's (Esther) caliber to be titled queen. I can only pray to be near her moral character as I grow in the holy scriptures' and the Father's will for me and my people. But I understand where the title comes from...it's from a respectable place and I appreciate that much of it. Glory to the God of Israel! But I much rather princess, or simply "Zemira".
Zemira Israel during a Passover week
With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be gods; let them know how much better the Lord of them is: for the first author of beauty hath created them. - Wisdom of Solomon 13:3
Zemira Israel during the feast of Purim
Sometime I do get some displeasing looks from those who do not understand the reason for how I dress. Thank the LORD I've never had to wear pants in the workplace since 2011 due to me standing firm on my faith and making it a respectable point during interviews.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a womans garment; for all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord thy God. - Deuteronomy 22:5
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; - 1 Timothy 2:9 (KJV)
And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. - 1 Corinthians 7:31
I also do my best to wear 100% of whatever fabric I'm wearing, not mixed, as Yah commands...that's why making your own clothes is almost safe. But at the end of the day who knows how the fabric makers are REALLY making the fabrics like they say they are 🤔:
Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.
- Deuteronomy 22:11
You also might notice that every time you see me, I've sewn on fringes and a ribband of blue on the border of my outfits in obedience to God's law. My lord Bezaleel actually helped me master sewing! He was sewing his fringes and ribband of blue on the border of his shirts years before I met him.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: - Numbers 15:38
Try to find a tutorial on Youtube or online. Here are 3 of my favorite seamstresses and store...tell them I sent you:
1. Sew4TMH
Or you can find a sister who knows how to sew to help you get going if you'd like to keep God's laws and learn a new skill while you're at it like I did a few times:
Zemira Israel sewing her high-low skirt
Zemira Israel made a high-low skirt with zipper & button on the side, head wrap & bandana
Zemira Israel made her 1st skirt from her hubby's Black Christ Rev. 1:14 shirt
Zemira Israel made a hooded fringed top from her husband's shirt
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Zemira Israel made red garments for her and her lord Bezaleel for Passover
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Zemira Israel made herself a red garment and head wrap for Passover
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A sister made me and my husband's garments for our wedding. Our colors were blue and orange:
And of course I try to look as beautiful as I possibly can because I am a daughter of Zion AND I am a wife to a comely God-fearing man...just because I am an Israelite doesn't mean that I cannot be fashionable even in modesty from head to toe like my foremother Judith:
Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty took his mind prisoner, and the fauchion passed through his neck. - Judith 16:9
And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men that should see her. - Judith 10:4
The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance, and a man loveth nothing better. - Ecclesiasticus 36:22
I started small with my new skirt/dress wardrobe. I threw away my pants when I read Deuteronomy 22:5. Every week or two with my check from work I would treat myself to a new dress or skirt or headwrap or outfit, and before I knew it, I had a whole new wardrobe of skirts and dresses that compliment my body shape. I buy my skirts/dresses that passes my knees to not show any thigh-action when I sit. I want to be as discreet and decent as possible.
Zemira Israel on a date with Bezaleel Israel at Universal Studios
My clothes are most of the time loose enough to not draw too much attention to my curvy body/buttocks/vagina/hips/breasts shape...for the utmost modesty before the Father in Heaven and before my beloved brethren to not tempt them as much as I can help it, being that I don't know who comes from what kind of lifestyle prior to repentance.
We as women always find money to go towards what is most important to us. So I did just that...I find the older I get, the looser I want my clothes for comfort sake. If I am not comfortable in what I am wearing, constantly tugging down on my skirt/dress to make it longer or even tugging up at the neck line to be sure i'm not showing cleavage...so I try to wear things in public that I am comfortable in. At home I get to be a bit more lax because its mostly just me and hubby in the house.
Thrift stores (in high quality neighborhoods for the best fabric material) have awesome and unique finds! People ask me all the time where I get my clothing and wonder if I even sewed it...pretty soon that will happen with you too if you are struggling in that area and are building your new wardrobe. I love shopping at Walmart for clothes as well. Online is great too like Amazon, and apps like Etsy, Wish...and of course sisters' small businesses etc.
The pic below I bought for only $10 at a dollar store near my home! I bought two, the other one has a black base.
I'll keep providing pictures in this blog for inspiration on what and how to wear dresses and skirts...at least how I do. I'll even throw some head wrap styles...
Zemira Israel in a gold head wrap getting ready to sing a bride down the isle
Zemira Israel in a leopard head wrap singing at a wedding to a bride and groom
I tend to be a moody dresser, meaning I dress the way I feel after a nice shower/bath. That might work for you too. So if I'm feeling laid back, I'll throw a one piece comfortable dress on that I can move easily around in. If I'm extra joyful, I'll wear something bright and pretty...etc.
Be creative! You can put the fringes on the border of your top as well if you'd like. Have lots of fun being yourself in whatever you wear in the will of the Father in Heaven in Christ!
Happy modest-living daughter of Sarah! 😉
Peace, Love & Blessings,
Zemira 🕎 ✍🏾 🎶🎤