Christian Fashion Week 2015

Top Buttons intern Ashley Lumetta and staff member Alexis Gauthier had the pleasure of attending Christian Fashion Week 2015 this past weekend in Tampa, FL.

Our encounter at CFW was one to remember! We love their values that founder and host Jose Gomez presented at the beginning of the show and reminded us all throughout the evening. "Christian Fashion Week wants people to know that we C.A.R.E. about Contextual modesty, Affordable fashion, Responsible usage of natural resources, Ethical labor practices."

On that note, enjoy this recap of some of the runway designs from the show!

---

Noka Posh seemed to trademark her collection with  A-line dresses. Some were over-sized while other dresses had a fitted waist-line, as pictured. Her dresses were feminine and versatile. She paired some with pants, others with tights, and still some with bare legs. Noka Posh is gifted in creating long-sleeve dresses in particular, a style that is becoming increasingly popular.

---

 The "After I Do" Collection took the models on a chronological journey of what a bride and groom might wear down the aisle and then to events throughout their honeymoon. We really appreciated designer Constance's bright colors and detailed seams.

---

Designer Angel Myers (pictured in the bright pink fringe dress) designs with size in mind, and we value that so much! Her attention to body curves in her designs is so flattering for any shape! Again, there are lots of bright colors in this line which is ideal for spring and summer wear. A white dress serves as a nice blank canvas to accessorize with bright jewelry and big hats.

---

 Aleksandra Designs presented a lot of business attire, and while most of her line is made for the workplace, there were a plethora of concepts to appreciate about her designs that can inspire fashion ideas for your own style of attire.

Aleksandra is bringing back the mid-waist belt, as seen in three of the outfits pictured. This trend cinches any outfit in to create a slimming waist with a peplum affect.

---

Messiah Couture blew us away with their elegant detailing of beads, sequins, and fabrics. What surprised us most is that this collection was the designer's very first debut in the fashion world. These gowns are perfect examples of colors, textures, and shapes for the upcoming prom season.

---

Essence Flower's line featured all black-on-black outfits. Each model wrapped tulle around their face, almost like a veil. The outfits were made out of a mixture of leather and tulle with creative one-shoulder or off-the-shoulder necklines. Each outfit was a unique piece of art in an of itself!

---

One of the highlight's from the night was Julia Chew's "Firebird" dress. In 2013, Julia Chew was discovered as a designer at Christian Fashion Week. Since then her career in the design industry has launched forward in success.

---

So, in response to what we saw at CFW, here's eight fashion take-aways trends from the runway:

1. Long Sleeve A-Line Dresses
2. Bright Colors
3. Big hats
4. The color white as a classy & clean canvas
5. Mid-waist Belts
6. Lots of sequins!
7. Leather and tulle
8. BLACK is ALWAYS in style

All in all, our Top Buttons team members had a FABULOUS time representing on the red carpet, making connections behind the scenes, and marveling at the latest trends in the fashion industry.

Another Glimpse into the One and Only Christian Fashion Week

If you were in awe of our first glimpse of Christian Fashion Week, you'll definitely love these looks as well. Pay attention to any common themes throughout each line, because they're just a glimpse into what this Spring season has to offer. [divider_line]

Designer Mikra uses fashion as a ministry tool. As pictured, her line is full of vibrant hues of blue and orange. We think these are great looks for Spring because the colors are so rich and the floral embellishments are just as in tune with the season.

[divider_line]

The designer --  Dali Hernandez of House of Dali -- loves to put God first and fashion next. The first look is a perfect piece to have in your wardrobe because every lady needs a little black dress. Dali loves to play around with colors and textures, as seen in her blue maxi dress and bright pink tutu. While we don't think all of these outfits are practical for a day out and about, we do appreciate their playful nature.

[divider_line]

"Elegant" was the first word that came to mind when we spotted this line by Jessica Rios from All Brides 2 Be. It was so hard to select our favorite four looks because each gown was equally beautiful in its own way. Designer Rios is so gifted in her eye for creating cuts that are flattering to all body types and figures. We love the fabrics she used as she incorporated chiffon, silk, tulle and more. In need of a dress for prom, graduation, or even a wedding? They have it all!

Our Top Buttons favorite definitely has to be the fourth gown pictured. This wedding dress is so intricately detailed with its beading and coordinating veil.

[divider_line]

In an conversation after the show, we learned that designer Angel Myers is a school teacher by day and designer by night. We admire her hard work ethic, because as you can see her designs are flawless. Myers' collection is fun, colorful, and really appealing to the eye. Her designs include a lot of options for plus-size models, which is a quality hard to find in the fashion industry.

We appreciate the bright watercolor canvas of the first look. The A-line mold of the dress compliments any body type. Dress number two features cape-like patterned sleeves that are a bit unconventional, yet it somehow works against the sea-green maxi dress. Outfit number three had us all reminiscing back to the days when the Cheetah Girls was a thing. We love the one-shoulder look which was leveled out by a high-low quality on the opposite side. The leather leggings made it all complete. Finally, dress four speaks for itself with its simple shape.

[divider_line]

If you haven't noticed a common trend between all of these fashion lines yet, look again. Each one features BRIGHT COLORS, which are super popular in the Spring. One thing that makes this designer -- Elaine by EJ -- stand out from the rest, is her high-waisted pants and skirts. The way EJ designs these outfits is so cutting edge and slimming. Also, check out how simple and sleek this line is with its clever color-blocking. Expect to see a lot more of these trends on the clothing racks this Spring!

[divider_line]

Elegantees is a line that is so much more behind what meets the eye. They have a beautiful back story. Many of the women who sew these clothes have been rescued victims of sex-trafficking. Who knew that you could look cute, express your personality, all while knowing that such purpose is stitched into the seams of each article of clothing!

Co-founder of Christian Fashion Week -- Mayra Gomez -- fashions outfit number two! She looks like an Egyptian goddess with her gold headband and gold trimming on her blouse. The cold-shoulder sleeves expose her arms, and her vibrant green skirt is cinched into one side.

Outfit three is just perfect with its red-on-red composition. The tulle tutu isn't just for the runway! We actually saw her wearing this look as an audience member on a different day!

[divider_line]

All in all, we were well pleased with the show from start to finish and we hope that our documentations of the runway made you feel like you were part of the process too!