I can remember the first time I ever bought anything from Dainty Jewells. It was at the UPCI’s General Conference in St. Louis, MO in 2013. I was 15 years old and so excited to be able to purchase something from this up-and-coming boutique selling clothes that were not only beautiful but modest as well! This was such a novelty at the time because, unlike today, there weren’t very many boutiques carrying modest clothing. In fact, Dainty Jewells was one of the first to do so, and, I would dare to say, one of the biggest influences on the modest fashion movement that sprang up around that time.
That first piece I bought was a cream tulle skirt with a wide panel of cream silk on the hem and a sparkling black elastic waistband. It was part of their “boutique” collection at the time, so not one of their original designs, but I was still so in love with it! I wore it with a red blazer that had black, cream, and gray floral lining (which I also bought on that trip), and it became one of my favorite outfits for a long time.
The following year, I was able to purchase my first real Dainty Jewells outfit, you could say--one of their original designs. It was a tan and white striped maxi dress, and man, did that dress see a lot of use! It was so comfortable and I wore it multiple different ways over the years, all the way up until about a year and a half ago when it tragically got a bleach stain somehow!
The fact that Dainty Jewells sells unique, original designs is one of the things that made me fall in love with the brand early on. Its founder, Charity Jewell Walter, was already a pioneer in the modest fashion industry just by starting the business to begin with, but her impact was made even greater by her desire and commitment to making her own dresses. She started literally hand-making them herself before scaling up to factory production. And to this day, Dainty Jewells stands out as one of the few modest clothing companies producing their own designs! Her ingenuity and business-sense has inspired me so much, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way!
You may have noticed I said I had my first Dainty Jewells dress for literally almost a decade--that’s the honest truth! These pieces are truly made to last, if you care for them properly, and that’s just another thing I love about this brand. I have several pieces that I’ve owned for years that still look brand new! In fact, I’ve had them so long that it’s been so sad to have to clear some of them out of my closet lately. I’m… ahem… not the same size as I was at seventeen or eighteen years old! There’s just some things I know I’m never going to fit into again as I draw ever nearer to my thirtieth birthday. But you see, since I’ve had these dresses for so long, some of my most precious memories have been made while wearing them--hence that feeling of sadness!
I’ve worn a Dainty Jewells dress for my senior pictures, my graduation, my first date with my husband, our wedding shower, and my first book signing after publishing my debut novel. I even wore a dress from the Dainty Jewells boutique line, Peony Street, for my engagement photos. I’m an extremely sentimental person, so I can’t help but tie these special memories to the outfits I was wearing when I made them. Call it silly if you want, but to me, these dresses are more than just dresses. They are memories and moments from this beautiful life God has blessed me with.
When the opportunity arose for me to apply to be a part of the Dainty Jewells blogging team back in 2020, I was over-the-moon excited. I sent in my application right away and selected a couple examples of my writing from my personal blog to share. I sent it all off, hoping I would be accepted but thinking, deep down, that there was a slim chance I would be. But lo and behold, I did get accepted! Receiving that news was one of the highlights of that year for sure (especially considering all the craziness that particular year held)! I’d been such a big fan and supporter of the company for more than seven years at that point, and to actually become a small part of the company? It still makes me so happy, even four years later.
The special beauty of Dainty Jewells isn’t just tied to its gorgeous pieces, the fact that Charity was one of the first to fill the need for modest clothing in our modern era, or the special memories to be made while wearing these dresses. In a world obsessed with fast fashion, Dainty Jewells is a call back to generations past when making clothes was an art form rather than just an industry. When consumers cared more about quality than quantity, and clothiers took pride in their craftsmanship.
Years ago, women everywhere dressed with elegance and femininity. But in our day and age, true femininity is so often looked down upon or even villainized, and dresses like these are a bold pushback against that viewpoint. They are a reminder of the inherent beauty in being a woman as God designed and clothing ourselves with dignity, modesty, and grace, not just outwardly, but inwardly as well.
Beyond even its cultural impact on modest fashion, though, is Dainty Jewells' impact on the Kingdom of God. From the very beginning, Charity has sought to not only build a business for herself and her family, but also build it in such a way as to be a blessing to God’s people. She has provided jobs and creative opportunities to Christian women all over the country–-including myself!--and the company consistently gives to charities and ministry organizations across the world. The Dainty Jewells team has established the Dainty Jewells Foundation, which personally gifts dresses to girls and women in need, both in America and abroad. They’ve been able to bless small church-plants with much needed church vans, and give to foreign missions as well. After fifteen years, the impact of this company has already spread so far, and it grows even more every year!
If you haven’t realized by now, I will state it again: it’s more than just a dress. You may look at your purchase of a Dainty Jewells piece as nothing more than another outfit to add to your collection, or a “splurge” to treat yourself. But that dress signifies so much more.
Your purchase isn’t going to some mainstream corporation that supports things you don’t agree with and doesn’t care about its employees or consumers. You are buying into the dream that was birthed in the heart of a young woman fifteen years ago. A dream that has gone on to influence fashion and culture in our progressively anti-feminine and secular society. A dream that is supporting countless ministries and blessing women just like you across the world. You’re giving to the Kingdom--and therefore, changing the world--one beautiful dress at a time!
I’m so thankful to be even a small part of that. Thank you to Dainty Jewells for fifteen years of impacting my life and those of many others. And thank you to you, dear reader, for your part in making Dainty Jewells what it is!