Is it Ok to Ask a Guy Out?

 

Tired of waiting on your crush to step up to his rightful position as the man of your dreams? It's tempting to want to kick off the relationship by asking him out on a date, but is that the best way to get a guy?

What to Pack for a Cold Weather Trip

Traveling to a cold climate? Looking for some great winter wardrobe ideas? Check out these tried-and-true packing tips to help you look stylish and have a great time.

Is It OK to Date a Non-Christian?

Dear Melissa,

Is it ok to date a non-Christian?

What to Wear to a School Dance

Dear Melissa,

What should I wear to my school dance?

Fashion Advice for Top-Heavy Girls

Dear Melissa,

Do you have any fashion advice for girls with bigger chests?

Dealing with a Racist Friend

Dear Melissa,

My friend is very racist and makes fun of people's nationality and their body. What should I do?

4 Ways to Make a Skirt Less Girly

Dear Melissa,

I wear skirts all the time. How do I make them look less girly?

Guy Advice: Why Is He Avoiding Me?

This guy I like texts me stuff like "u looked beautiful at church today" or "u r so pretty" but when we see each other at church, he avoids me. Does he like me? If he does, why does he avoid me? Should i tell him i like him? - girls for god fan

Getting Fit While Having Fun

I am not good at sports, and I don't like exercise. What can I do to get active?

Makeup For Chocolate Skin Tones

Dear Melissa,

I have chocolate colored skin. What makeup should I use?

With beautiful dark skin, you want to bring out the rich tones in your complexion instead of covering them up. This means finding the colors that work for you while avoiding white setting powders or using too much foundation. These tips will also work for caramel-colored skin.

How to Keep Wavy Hair Straight

Dear Melissa,

I have wavy hair, but I straighten it. My hair gets wavy after it gets wet. Is there a way to permanently make it straight?

Wavy-haired girls are stuck in the middle between unattainably bouncy curls and perfectly pin-straight strands. I have wavy hair, and I've spent years trying to figure out how to deal with it. After spending so much time straightening your hair with a flat iron, it's frustrating to see your hair frizz and bend after only a few hours. Keeping it straight is a challenge -- and it won't always work out -- but I have some tips to help you achieve that silky smooth hair you've been craving.

Dear Melissa: (Modest) Little Black Dress

Q: “I’m going on a cruise to sunny Florida. There’s a dining room on the ship that’s very formal. Where can I find some modest, stylish black dresses, and the shoes and accessories to go with them?” – Maggie

A: Thanks for asking, Maggie! The little black dress should be a staple in every girl’s wardrobe, but it can be very hard to find one that is both modest and fashionable and one that reflects your personal style. It took a lot of research, but it is possible to find beautiful dresses that don't show too much skin.

It’s a basic rule of real-world fashion that your clothing should have balance, and this applies to black dresses as well. This means if the dress is a little short and sleeveless, you can balance it with a high neckline. Pair this with a fitted waist and you have a classic, timeless look that’s been mastered by fashion icons for decades.

I searched all over Forever 21 but could not find a modest (and non-cheapy) black dress to save my life, so I turned to Modcloth. I found slightly better luck here although they are pretty pricy compared to F21. (The dresses featured in this post are from here.)

As for accessories, pearls look amazing with formal wear. Faux pearls will work just as well as real ones. When it comes to shoes, it’s all up to you. If you’re not into sky-high strappy heels, try something with a sleek low heel. If you can’t see yourself wearing something like that, a nice pair of flats will work just fine.

When it comes to makeup and hair, do something chic and beautiful that you wouldn’t normally do. You can try curling your hair and then sweeping it into a pretty up-do or just let it hang loose and shiny down your back. Be sure to wear mascara so your face isn’t overpowered by the black dress.

You can also check out this older post on little black dresses here.

Dressing for Your Body Type: Long Torsos

When it comes to looking good, the goal is to play up your assets and play down any areas that you don’t like. With a long torso like yours, your legs are probably shorter in proportion to the rest of your body. The illusion of longer legs will balance your figure.

Girls with your body type don’t look good in capris or crop pants because they cut a straight line across your legs. If you wear shorts, go for styles that fall at your mid-thigh rather than knee-length styles as long as you make sure your shorts aren’t too short.

Since most clothing today is made for girls with perfect silhouettes and long legs, you may have a hard time finding clothes that fit you. Blouses may be too short and pants may be too long and loose at the hips. It’s a good idea to learn how to do basic alterations on your clothing, such as hemming pants. If you aren’t the sewing type, pay someone else to do it for you. Alterations should be made to make your clothes fit you perfectly.

What styles look best on you? To balance your proportions, look for feminine silhouettes like sarong-style skirts, A-line skirts, wrap skirts, and wide-legged pants, as long as they are not baggy. Pants and skirts with high waistlines (which is very chic right now) will make your legs look longer. Long trousers covering the tops of your shoes will also give the illusion of longer legs, especially if you wear heels. As for jackets, find shorter styles that end just below your waist or styles that go past your hips and shy away from jackets that end in the middle of your rear.

As for shirts, leave them un-tucked. Empire lines, with the waistband just below your chest, are a great way to disguise the length of your torso. A-line garments also draw attention away from your waist. Wide necklines and flowing tops will also distract eyes from your waist. A shorter top paired with a long skirt or pants will balance you out. I’ve mentioned layering before as a modest way to flatter your shape, and I’ll say it again. Layering your tops will break up your upper body. Trés chic!
You can experiment with different looks to find exactly what you like. Wide belts look best on girls with your body type. Pants and skirts with interesting waistbands or adornment look great on you because they make your waist look shorter and your legs appear longer. If you like embroidery, try stitching some pretty details on your clothing.
Your jewelry, hair, and makeup can also make a difference. Draw attention up to your face with a chic new haircut, tastefully-applied makeup and pretty jewelry, like a fantastic necklace or pair of earrings. It will be a whole new you!
The most important way to balance yourself? Keep your eyes on the great things about your body, such as your enviable blonde hair or your sparkling blue eyes, and remember that no matter what you wear, you have a gorgeous God-given figure!

Dear Melissa: Makeup for olive skintones?

I have dark hair, brown eyes, and olive skin. What makeup advice can you give me?

The great thing about your features is that you can look great with or without makeup. You can go without and let your bold features and natural beauty do the talking, or you can pretty things up with some great mascara and a good lip gloss.

Take a good look at your skin. You say you have an olive complexion, like me. If you look carefully, you can see little hints of olive, brown, russet, and gold all smoothed perfectly into your skin. God designed every inch of that beautiful face, so let's make the best of it!

The idea here is to take the natural earthy colors that are already blended into your skin and use them in your makeup. Think warm, rustic colors like rust, olive, and chocolate. Of course, you're very lucky -- brown eyes go with almost all colors -- so feel free to have fun and break the mold! I like trying a little blue or green in the summer and a soft smoky eye in winter. Try new things and don't go overboard.

I consulted a Covergirl makeup consultant for some extra advice. She suggested that you: "Extend sparkly eyeshadow across your eyelids, apply eyeliner and mascara, line lips carefully and blot, and finish with matching lip gloss." She also suggests CG Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Shadows in Shimmering Sands or Dance Party for your skin tone.

YOUR BASIC MAKEUP BAG:

• Black mascara. It was made for you. If you still don't feel comfortable with this, go for brown-black.
• Plum lip gloss. It looks great on everyone.
• Black eyeliner (optional). Use just a little bit on the outer corners of your eyes (no wings) to make them instantly pop!
• Natural eyeshadow. Brown, neautral, olive, and a little plum or dark pink. Rust is also good, but not with the plum or pink.
• Extra eyeshadow (optional). Blue, green, or purple.

Standing Up for a Friend

It’s good that you’ve decided not to join in on the bullying, because though it may seem crazy, people do that.
If the people are harassing her physically, you shouldn’t get yourself in the fight, but instead, you need to tell a trusted adult in charge right away. For the most part, boys are the ones who physically harass, while girls…well, you know.
Cruel personal attacks, blatant insults, gossip, rumors – this is the way girls attack. Your friend isn’t the only one being harassed. Every school has a group of girls who are just plain mean.
Don’t stand by watching your friend get hurt – but fight fire with fire, either. Remember the saying: WWJD? You can get a "What Would Jesus Do" bracelet to remind you to respond in a loving, sincere way. Every time you get angry, look at that bracelet and say a quick prayer.
Next time your friend is being harassed, stand up for her. Don’t chose a fight, but try to resolve it. If you hear gossip about your friend, walk away. If things get out of hand, tell an adult.
Remember that anyone who’s mean to someone else is just insecure. There’s no more to it. You’re still trying to find out who you are, but they see you’re farther ahead than they are. They’re trying to find themselves but are looking in all the wrong places. By making you or your friend feel bad about yourselves, they are assured that you won’t be able to find yourself. By tearing you down, they build themselves up. This world is broken by sin, greed, and confusion. Pray for those kids, that they’ll find their true selves in Jesus Christ.
Let your friend know that you don’t care what they say; you know the real her and that’s what matters. It would also be great to start a weekly/every-2-weeks prayer group with her and maybe a few other girls to that you’ll see the mean people how Jesus would see them, and you’ll know how to deal with your problems. This last suggestion is probably the best. Pray, pray, pray. "Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened for you."