The Young Women's Conference You Must Attend For 2015

On April 10-12, The Church of Rockford First hosted an event called Original Women's Conference where nearly 2,000 ladies were in attendance. This three day span of time was jam-packed with several sessions centered around God's Ever & Always kind of love.

Enjoy this brief recap video as seen on the Original Conference website.

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Top Buttons had the honor of bringing a fun and dynamic team of ladies to this conference.

After a long morning of travels on Thursday April 10th, our TB team went straight to the conference site at Rockford First to set up our promotional booth.

We not only offered information about our organization, but we also sold hand-crafted button earrings and consignment clothing. All proceeds went straight to the Top Buttons' fund.

Our booth was conveniently located right next to the Teen Room so tons of young ladies were constantly stopping by our table. In addition, we neighbored another amazing organization called Sak Saum. They sell a variety of hand crafted accessories in efforts to raise money to fight against human trafficking. "Sak Saum exists to set captives free through rescue, restoration, rehabilitation and transformation," says their website.

Night one's sessions kicked off the conference with inspiring every lady to make a "In It For Good" commitment to Christ. Just as lover's forever latch locks onto Lover's Lock Bridge in Paris, each lady was provided with a lock and key to initial and forever lock upon fences labeled In It For Good.

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Day two held just as many adventures as day one. We came across so many stylish ladies, we just had to document their outfits. Here's just a few:

Sarah (pictured top right) was visiting Rockford on a pastor's wives retreat when she came across this red Jones New York maxi dress. She shared with us that she wasn't purchasing anything new for a whole year, so it was to her luck that our items were all consignment. Scared that the red dress might clash with her hair, she tried it on anyways and came out glowing with excitement. It was made for her!

When night two finally came, our Top Buttons team had the opportunity to speak about fashion and modesty at the scheduled After Party in the Teen Room. Each team member passed out book marks with pictures and information on where to purchase key items in their outfit.

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We loved connecting with so many new friends over common interests like our love of God and fashion. Amanda (pictured below in the hat) recently started her own consignment shop called Worth Royalty where her goal is to provide an affordable and appropriate shopping option that shows young women that they are worth royalty.

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Day three included life-changing sessions; last-minute sales; and lots of coffee, good-byes, and travel.

Our very own Molly Dodd and Alexis Gauthier got to meet and hand deliver custom button earrings to one of the guest speakers named Charlotte Gambill.

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For outfit details on what our Top Buttons' team wore to the After Party, here's the scoop:

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Taylor Murray fashioned what she likes to call a "Tomboy-meets-Feminine" look! Growing up, Taylor always leaned toward her tomboy tendencies, however, as she's matured, she's learned to incorporate her unique flair and sophistication to create a wardrobe similar to this outfit.

To purchase key items from Taylor's look:

Blazer | Boyfriend Jeans | Silver Necklace | Tortoise Watch

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Betsie Amendola keeps it simple by representing her every-day "Tribal Print-Chic" look. On a typical day, you can find Betsie wearing neutral colors paired with over-sized sweaters to stay versatile and comfortable. Betsie loves shopping at Ross because it offers a more affordable selection of trendy name-brand clothes.

To purchase key items from Betsie's look:

Aztec Cardigan | Riding Pants | Bangles | Wedges

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Alexis Gauthier's style changes almost as swiftly as her moods. To let you all in on a secret, for this "Classic Black & White" look, Alexis actually purchased all her items at thrift stores! Her black jumpsuit was 50% off at Salvation Army, which tallied up to about $3. While on Spring Break, a white blazer made it to the top of Alexis' Spring Must Have list, so she quickly grabbed this one off the Goodwill racks for just $6. Thrifting may take a little extra time, but with the added effort you can get current trends (as linked below) for just a fraction of the cost.

To purchase key items for Alexis' look:

White Blazer | Black Jumpsuit

There you have it! Three completely different styled looks from the hearts of the Top Buttons team to yours!

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All in all, attending the Original Women's Conference in Rockford, IL was a magical experience. From the performances, to the decor, to the sermons and worship, every detail was intentionally taken care of. Our Top Buttons team had such a blast attending the sessions, representing at our booth, and even speaking to the ladies in the Teen Room at their Friday night After Party.

We had a blast, left feeling empowered, and want to encourage all of you to be at the Original Women's Conference in 2015!

Trends with Tiffany: A Classy and Sweet Style

Tiffany Hammer is a Pennsylvania-raised fashionista currently studying as a freshman at Southeastern University. Not only is she an amazing pianist, but her style is just as classy and sweet as her personality. Top Buttons had the pleasure of capturing two different outfits while Tiffany was out on the town with some friends. (Check back later this week for more details on their looks too!)

[blockquote]A gold watch is essential to any wardrobe. I got this one at CottonOn for super cheap![/blockquote]

[blockquote]My favorite article of clothing is the pink blazer from Charlotte Russe. I love taking a risk with a bold color that makes an outfit pop![/blockquote]

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[blockquote]I really like my lace dress from Urban Outfitters! Pairing a jean vest with a neutral color creates an Indy look.[/blockquote]

For a similar look to Tiffany's lace dress, make sure to check out our article featuring Zooey Deschanel's Look for Less, where she also wears a cute lace dress and some black tights.

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This is a sneak peak of some of the other styles from our Top Button's photo shoot that we'll feature in upcoming articles.

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For more insider scoops inside the lives of everyday ladies, check out our recent posts called A Winter Wardrobe with a Southern Belle, and a A Western Winter Look on a Budget

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Menswear Fashion

A woman's role in the corporate world has come along way. Women continue to gain respect on a professional level, and now we are taking it to the NEXT level with a menswear inspired wardrobe.

Dress suits and close toed pumps have always been a staple for women in the workplace. Now, thanks to the heavy influence of fashion, the barrier between a man and woman's closets has disappeared. Everything from vests, loafers, and trousers are making their way into a woman's wardrobe (and we can't say we are not a tad excited).

Below is a prime example of a revamped 9-5 look. We stuck with slimming black trousers and a simple (but elegant) undershirt. *Keep in mind the camisole is for a profession, not a night out. Be aware of how low cut your blouse is.* Then there is the fun part, adding a twist to the original oxford and blazer. Both blazers are boyfriend style, but each offer a different look...the black is traditional and the muted grey adds a touch of flare. As for the oxford pump, it is close toed AND office appropriate. Add the finishing touch of a statement piece, a delicately molded, yet bold necklace.

For a more casual work environment or out-of office occasion, go for the classic button down and tuxedo pant. The rich blue button down pops against the black pants, and the tuxedo pant detail pays homage to it's original design. Add a dressy loafer, edgy clutch, and bowler hat to the mix and you are ready to face the day, in and out of the office! P.s. bowler hats are adorable and complete any menswear affect!

The challenge is yours for the taking. We dare YOU to try menswear inspired fashion!

-Jenna O.

*Links are suggestions, not exact items*

What To Wear On Easter Sunday

Haven't found an outfit for Easter yet? No need to worry! We have got you covered. We have taken the time to scout out outfit inspiration to help get you on track. Whether you want to wear a dress or pants, we have some great options for you. If you have your heart set on wearing a dress, the six dresses pictured above are styles that are not only adorable but, right on trend. Pastels, lace, and florals are all perfect for Easter. Not only that, but they are perfect for Spring. They are dresses that can still be worn after next weekend. No wasted money here!

If dresses are just not your thing, floral pants are a great option. Pair them with a peplum top and a blazer and you are straight off the runway!

We hope you are charged with inspiration and ready to put an outfit together that fits your personality and unique style! Whether you find styles like this in your own closet, your friend's closet or the store down the road we are confident you will hit a home run with your Easter Sunday look!

Have a happy stylish Easter!

Rebekah

Links to dresses above, left to right.

1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6

Links to pants outfit:

top| blazer| pants| shoes| purse| earrings| bracelets

A SHOPPING SPREE WITH PURPOSE

The team would agree that our favorite part of the Top Button's Project is being able to Give Back.  In addition to providing cute and modest clothing styles online for young ladies to get ideas from, we take young women on shopping sprees who would not otherwise be able to do so for themselves!  As our organization continues to grow, we look to offer the Top Buttons Wardrobe Makeover opportunity for young women across the country- and more often.  At the bottom of this post are details on how to collaborate with us on this project if interested.

This month we partnered with The Core; a youth group from Epic church in Lakeland, FL.   Anastasia Malone, the host who nominated the teen chosen to be on this shopping spree, began as a leader for The Core a little over a year ago.  She shared a bit about why she volunteers to mentor youth by saying, “I do it because I have a passion for young ladies between the ages of 12-16 to see, understand and grab hold of what God has called and purposed them to do! I just love that age in general, so why not take time out of my week to just love on them!”

As we have done with shopping sprees before, we took Deni into a shop and filled 2 carts full of clothing!  Choosing clothes for Deni to try on was a fun-filled, group effort.  As the shopping progressed, the “no’s” turned into “maybe’s” and the “maybe’s” turned into “YES!”  We did have to convince her to step out of her box a bit to try on a couple items, but once she put them on, the smile of satisfaction on her face told us how pleased she was.  We enjoyed sharing ideas on how to wear different pieces in a way that would express her personal style, work with her body type, and keep her essentials covered.  After a morning of power shopping, Deni went home with several items to create a new wardrobe with!  This sweet young lady came out of the store radiating with positive energy.

And off to Peterson Park we go for Deni's photo shoot in one of her new outfits...

When asked what her favorite part of the day was, Deni said, “picking out the clothes!”  She shared how she felt honored to have been nominated, and we felt honored to have been able to provide her with this experience.

Anastasia Malone is seen below on the left, then Kenady (our TB teen team member), Deni (shopping spree winner), and Anastasia Jones (our TB Give Back Director).

All shopping sprees are funded through donations given to our non-profit organization. If you are interested in donating funds or services to provide deserving teens with a Top Buttons Wardrobe Makeover, please contact Anastasia Jones-Downing at anastasia@topbuttons.org.

Written by: Anastasia Jones

Photo Credit: Shelby Danielle

Molly's OOTW

In our TB fashion posts, we will still be showing off some styles for cooler weather, BUT we have to face the facts!  Spring has sprung according to the groundhog!  Therefore, now is a great time to break out those white jeans that you have been sobbing about not being able to wear since Labor Day!

Pair them with a cute pink pastel shirt and another solid color jacket for a business casual look great for school, work, or play! Below are the links to find these items at the right price.

For the shoes, I would pair something that would tie in the color in the jacket, like these adorable peep toe wedges.

For accessories, to me less is more. I like these adjustable bracelets because they are inexpensive and they come in so many varieties.

Jacket | Jeans | Top | Belt | Shoes | Bracelet

All of these items were found at Forever21.com.  Forever 21 is a popular store with lots to offer, but not all items are TB worthy.  We will provide our modest picks from this store and others like it with our "OOTW" posts!

TRENDS FOR CHEAP

This month we will be featuring fashion posts that are vintage, eclectic, and CHEAP.  To accomplish this look all you will need are a pair of colored jeans, a men’s style blazer, and some riding boots.  It may seem out of the box, but this would look great on most body types.

We would like to say a special thank you to Dana Roquemore. She offered her services to us for this month’s fashion posts, styling our girls in clothing from her own clothing swap shop, Other People’s Property. She does consignment in a way that would make any piece look interesting and desirable, and yet these pieces are affordable for everyone! You can purchase the items featured in this post from her Other People’s Property online etsy shop. Or you can find pieces similar on your own consignment shop adventure!

Resist the urge to buy a “boyfriend blazer” from a department store. Most consignment shops are full of men’s blazers in all sizes that you can buy for super cheap. The shirt under this blazer is a sleeveless style that is tied at the bottom. New clothing styles in shops like Urban Outfitters show vintage looking tops like this for $30 and higher and are often see through! We recommend looking for this style top at consignments.

Tip: If you choose to tie the shirt at your waist and/or wear a see through vintage fabric, we recommend keeping your belly button and bra covered by wearing a light weight undershirt. SAME LOOK. NO SKIN. Reasonable. ☺

Tip:  Skinny jeans and tall riding boots make this outfit work.  Don’t feel confined to wearing tops and jackets that are tailored.  A large men’s style jacket can actually help you feel more comfortable in a pair of snug jeans.  Also, skinnies can often be “painted on” if you buy a size too small.  While skinny jeans are meant to be more fitted than other styles, they should not RESTRICT MOVEMENT.  Buying for your body type is a whole other subject.

Now her clothing is all from consignment, but her accessories are not!  We definitely need to offer alternatives to these accessories which can be pricey!

In place of the exceptional Tory Burch Riding Boot, we have found another super cute riding boot for $48 for you to consider.  We also found a "dupe" Michael Kors tortoise shell watch from Target for $14.99 which is similar watch to Michael Kors in the image above for a less expensive price.

Photo Credit:  Joanna LeMasters and Taylor Flumerfelt

Trail Blazer

 

                                                         Blazer I Blouse I Jeans I Flats I Sunglasses I Purse I Earrings 

Wearing a blazer over any top can easily dress it up; especially a blouse. Worn with dark skinnies, it can achieve a sharp and collected look. A colorful shoe, characterized by small details add a playful touch without stepping away from sophistication.

Photos By: Beth Carter Photography