The Modern Southern Belle

[Dress: Shabby Apple]

Garden & Gun magazine recently wrote an article, "Southern Women: Redefining the Southern Belle" and I for one could not be happier that someone is bringing to light the strengths and qualities that define a Southern woman. Continuing this tradition is of the utmost importance.We are living in a time that is testing our faith, our traditions, and our resolve. Time is showing us the importance of embracing the traditions many of us had instilled. The "modern belle" has to see to it that these traditions endure.

While the "modern belle" is busy traveling, making a life, a career, and/or raising a family, there is a certain mystique that personifies a Southerner. Whether she is applying makeup, applying to college, or applying diaper rash cream, she knows by putting her best self forward that she can accomplish or overcome almost anything. There is just an undeniable "something" that keeps us women going. With a smile on our face we are polite to both strangers and kinfolk. But most importantly, we persevere with grace when we need to be strong. We extend warmth and graciousness at all times, but we can pitch a fit when need be. Hissy fits aside, there is an underlying strength that each of us carries with us wherever we go and an alluring charm that attracts people.

Having lived in six different states and nine different cities within those states, I have come to realize that when you're in the South, you're home. You're made to feel at home. No other place in the country does this. When I'm away from home and on the road, whether I'm visiting or just passing through a Southern town or city,  I am received with a smile, a wave hello, and hospitality. And yes, life is becoming increasingly busy, these are the "rules" that the South still honors.  "Redefining the Southern Belle" reiterates the importance of the South's valued and time-honored traditions, mixing the new with the old, the modern with the time-honored. It doesn't hurt to dress the part either. The image above shows a dress by Shabby Apple and I think it personifies the Modern Southern Belle to a "T."