Ideally, you will want to have at least some shirts, skirts, and dresses that you do not NEED to layer, especially if you will be in a mission with a hot climate, or is hot at least part of the year. Some missions are hot during part of the year and freezing the rest of the year, so you may need to have a range of options. It's good to be versatile. Personally I try to find shirts and dresses that do not require wearing something else under/over it (because it is a hassle), but that isn't always possible... often you will need to add a little something to make a shirt or skirt modest enough to wear as a missionary
Here is a great example of a dress that you could wear with a cardigan or blazer, or you can wear it just as-is. You would not need to wear a layering tee for modesty because of the already-modest sleeve length and neckline and you would not need to wear a skirt-extender because of the missionary-appropriate skirt length:
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| "Anna Dress Navy Dot" found at the MissionaryMall.org (available in sizes XS-3X) for $41) |
Realistically, it is not always easy to find clothes that are modest enough and professional enough (for a full-time missionary) right off the rack. Don't worry - there are some things you can do to ensure that you are dressed appropriately when you arrive at the MTC.
Here are 4 steps for ensuring your missionary wardrobe is appropriate!
#1- LAYERING TEES:
"Layering Tees" are fitted stretchy shirts that are meant to be worn under other clothes. Technically, you could wear them as a shirt when you aren't serving as a full-time missionary, but they are very form-fitting so they might be a little tight looking for your taste. As a missionary, these types of shirts are not allowed as a stand-alone shirt, but can be worn under other shirts (maybe a shirt that is lower-cut or with sleeves that are not quite long enough, or maybe you would like more coverage at the waist for a shirt that is a little shorter). These layering shirts are different than regular t-shirts, they are a little more dressy looking, they are stretchy, and they are not see-through. They are made by a lot of different companies and sold in many stores in the Utah area. If you don't live in Utah (like I don't!), they aren't as readily available, but you can order them online from many different online stores or find them on Ebay and Amazon (search for "layering tee" or "layering shirt").
Here are a few examples of layering tees:
If you only want coverage for the chest/shoulder area for a particular shirt or dress and don't necessarily need more coverage for the stomach area, there are also cropped layering tees. If you will be in a hot mission where you need to limit the number of layers, this would mean less fabric on your torso, which might help you stay cooler if you have to layer for modesty.
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| An example of a layering half-tee from HALFTEE.com |
Layering tees and half-tees are available in a range of colors, necklines, and sleeve types from many different companies/stores. If you need a layering shirt for shoulder/upper arm coverage, make sure that the sleeve length will be long enough for what you need.
Here are some examples of how a layering-tee or a layering half-tee can be used (not specifically for a missionary, but just in general):
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| Examples of how to use layering tees & half-tees (from halftee.com) |
#2- FAUX CAMIS:
A camisole or "cami" is little a tank top that women used to wear (not that popular anymore) under their shirts for added modesty (especially if a blouse was sheer or a little low-cut). Sometimes the top would peek out a little bit, so they often had lace detail. If you need some extra cleavage coverage for some of your shirts or dresses, you might want to try a faux-cami!
Faux-camis are a little triangle of fabric that snaps on around your bra straps - they have a reputation of being kind of a grandma thing, but if it's 100 degrees and your shirt is a little too low to wear without layering, you will pick this piece of fabric over a whole layering shirt any day. They give you the look of a camisole and the coverage at your neckline, without wearing an actual camisole tank top or a layering tee. I wear these faux camis a lot, many shirts and dresses have a dip in the neckline that shows cleavage, especially in plus-size clothes. The only thing I would warn you about is if your neckline is wide, you can sometimes see the sides of the triangle as you move around, so these are best for using when only a little extra cleavage coverage is needed.
If you get some of these, I would suggest neutral colors, especially white and beige, because those colors will go with almost any outfit (and unless you are heavily sweating you might be able to wear these several times between washings).
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| One type of faux cami available from camisecret.com |
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| Another faux cami (slightly different, more expensive) that is available from cleava.com |
I've seen tutorials for making your own faux cami, but honestly unless you are really gung-ho about sewing and have lots of time on your hands, I would just buy them. They are pretty in expensive. I just looked on Amazon and they have 3-packs of "Cami-Secret" faux camis for $5.99.
#3- SKIRT EXTENDERS:
A common issue for sister missionaries at the MTC is bringing skirts (or dresses) that they thought were long enough, but are actually NOT long enough. Apparently this happens a LOT. Everyone gets the same packing list and clothing standards, but it seems that some sisters are not getting the message that the skirt/dress has to cover the whole knee, even when sitting. Test it out - try on a knee-length skirt that you already have (or one that you have already purchased for your mission) and sit in a chair in front of a mirror. If you have to yank down the fabric to keep your knees covered, its not long enough. Yanking fabric during a meeting is not professional.
Before you report to the MTC, you might think a skirt is "close enough," but you will be taken aside at the MTC and asked to change your clothes if you're dress/skirt is too short, because it isn't missionary appropriate. Even then, you might think a sort-of-shortish skirt will be "fine" once you get in the field, but when you are sitting on the dirt floor of a hut or running after a bus, it will not be good enough coverage and you will not have the energy to keep worrying about modesty all day. You will start to hate that skirt and you will end up tossing it.
So follow the guidelines and be on the safe side. It would be awful to have your clothes all picked out & outfits carefully planned (and paid for) just to find out that you have to leave some of your skirts behind at the MTC (and either spend money to buy replacements or try to have your mom send you more clothes because you now don't have enough clothes for the week anymore).
Even if you sneak by in the MTC with a too-short skirt, you will soon arrive in your mission and your mission president will notice. And your trainer companion will notice. And the Lord will notice. You are His ambassador. Do things His way. Obedience brings great blessings. Sneaking by with clothes that don't follow the rules does not.
Yes, its hard to find skirts that are long enough. But its not impossible. You can search online for stores that specifically sell missionary clothing or modest clothing. Or you can search sites like Amazon for a specific type of skirt you want ("midi" is the term for skirts that fall between the knee and the mid-calf, so if you search "midi skirt" you will narrow down your search).
For skirts (or dresses) that you love (or already own) that are too short to cover the whole knee while standing AND while sitting (PS- constantly tugging on them to keep them in place doesn't count as being long enough), you can also try a skirt extender (also sometimes called a layering skirt or a extender slip). Its basically like a slip that goes under your regular skirt that gives it extra length.
"Skirt Extenders" might look like skirts, but they are actually slips that are meant to go under your skirts/dresses.
"Skirt Extenders" might look like skirts, but they are actually slips that are meant to go under your skirts/dresses.
Here are a few examples:
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| Sistermissionaryfashion.com |
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| Vezanie Shop on Etsy |
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| Peekaboo Chic |
Skirt extenders come in a lot of cool prints & styles, but I would recommend trying to stick with neutrals (like white, black, tan, etc) because then they will be more likely to match with more than just one skirt/dress. Also, a lot of the cute skirt extenders are lace, but be careful not to keep a skirt-extender that is sheer (see-through) because that sort of defeats the purpose of a skirt extender that you need because your skirt is too short (i.e., your skirt is hitting mid-knee, so you buy a sheer skirt extender that gives you 3 extra inches of length, but those 3 extra inches are see-through, so the skirt still isn't missionary appropriate).
You can purchase skirt extenders from some shops (especially in Utah), but for the rest of us (and people who like to shop online) you can find skirt extenders of all kinds/colors/sizes available for purchase in online stores, Etsy, Ebay, Amazon, and more.
Or, if you sew, you can make one yourself! Here is a tutorial I found on Pinterest (search "diy skirt extender" on Pinterest and you will find many other tutorials):
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| Click here to go to the lace skirt extender DIY tutorial on the Sisters, What! website |
#4- ADDING LENGTH TO THE SKIRT/DRESS ITSELF:
If you sew (or know somebody who does), you could add length to a shortish skirt by sewing ribbon or fabric right onto the skirt, as in these examples (below):
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| Add ribbon to the hem instructions at OneCreativeMommy.com |
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| Add fabric to the hem instructions at seekatesew.com |
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| Add fabric to the hem instructions at kristinaclemens.blogspot.com |
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