Mix It Up For Spring

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Spring is in full bloom with vibrant colors and beautiful weather. It's a time when flowers and new beginnings blossom. As for fashion this season, why not begin trying new trends and experimenting with textures and prints.

We decided to take experimenting a bit further by layering a floral crop top over a lace dress. It is a perfect balance of texture and print. Because crop tops can be a hassle to pair "appropriately," this dress is a great solution. So whether it is styling garments in a new way or updating the old wardrobe, Spring is the time for fresh trends.

 

 

 Dress | Jacket | Floral Top | Purse | Bracelets | Ring

 

Photo Credit:  Moments by Jen

How To Wear The Collar Necklace

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Are you a secret admirer of the collar necklace trend? Have you wanted to rock it but, didn’t quite know how? Well this is the article for you! Here are a few tricks to styling this popular statement piece. 1. Collar necklaces look great paired with crew necks. They give the illusion of being a collar, hence the name “collar necklace.” They can transform your average t-shirt or sweater from plain to chic.

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2. Collar necklaces look great worn under a collar. They can be the statement piece that you were looking for to add that “little something” to your button up blouses.

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3. Collar necklaces look great with layers! Pair a collared shirt with a crew neck sweater and add the necklace under the collar. Top it off with a blazer and it looks even more sophisticated!

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Collar necklaces come in a variety of colors, materials, and patterns. Having a couple on hand to mix and match with your outfits is a great investment. They are an inexpensive accessory that have the ability to truly “make” an outfit. Want more collar necklace inspiration? No fear, I created a pinterest board devoted to the trend on our Top Button’s Pinterst account here. Enjoy!

 

Happy Styling!

Rebekah

*A similar necklace to the one pictured above can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine in Borås, Sweden

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Spring is coming surely but slowly in Sweden. The most visible sign of this is the radiant sunshine that peaks through the clouds- on almost -a daily basis. The days are longer and people's moods are getting brighter. This time of the year is altogether joyful but always seems like a new phenomenon every year it comes. It's only now that I realize how long the winter darkness has lasted.

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Ever since I remember, spring brings a radical change to the types of clothing people wear up here in the north. All of a sudden we move from very dark gloomy colors to brighter and happier tones. You can really see the transition and its impact on people's behavior.
godz6 I don't know anything better than to soak up the sun. Just recently, we really experienced some amazing weather here in Borås, Sweden. After many months of being heavily wrapped up in woolen sweaters and knits, I was able to grab a pair of open-air pumps that I have been waiting for so long to wear, paired up with a colorful top + a neat pencil skirt. This is a look I would normally sport back at my home town when going out for Saturday lunch with the girls. Sadly, though, I guess I'll still have to wait for better days to come. It's still a period when you really can't predict the weather. I guess it's just Scandinavia really...

 

Written by Sandra Eneh
(Sandra is a regular contributing team member for Top Buttons and has her own personal fashion blog too!  We are looking for other young fashion bloggers from around the world with a conviction for modesty in their styles.  If you are interested in being a guest or regular contributor, click here.)

A Year Round Trench

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Regardless of the weather or season, jackets and coats are here to keep you comfy and cozy. But when it comes to facing elements of the outdoors, a pea coat or hoodie may not do the job. So with wool coats, hoodies, and leather jackets off the table, the only option that will keep you warm and dry is the trench coat. Not only are trench coats fashion forward, they protect your clothes from deteriorating under harsh or rainy weather. So next time you step out into the cold, snowy weather, or pouring rain, keep the trench coat in mind...it will save you AND your clothes.

Now that you have incentive to add a trench to your wardrobe, the process of finding "the one" begins. If you are looking for a trench that is versatile through all seasons, stick to the usual color palette of tan, black, navy, and often red or other blues. Going for option number two would entail trending colors such as lavender, mint, black & white prints, deep corals, and any trench that goes beyond the standard belted trench, i.e. leather inserts, rubber, hardware.

Here is our take on the trench coat!

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  Trench | DressShoesHandbag | Ring

Makeup Artist: Melissa Kinsey

Photo Credit:  Moments by Jen

Kansas City Fashion Week

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Kansas City Fashion Week is a fashion packed five day event with a kick off party on Wednesday evening and shows Thursday through Sunday. I attended Sunday’s student designer show, which showcased the work of nine extremely talented, young designers. IMG_5463

I was particularly impressed by two, both in their teens: Elda Doamekpo, age 15 and Josh Herman age 17. At such a young age both presented entire collections of gorgeous garments on the runway. According to her bio on KCFW Elda says, “I hope to bring the idea of true beauty back to women all over the world and bring their confidence to a whole new level.”

The fashion on Sunday was a mix of classic glamour and urban chic. Each designer had a different presentation which showcased their unique design styles. Michelle Kleineweber of Little Shell Designs showed a number of dresses that were light and airy. Her polka dot dress was a favorite of mine.

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I particularly loved Yan by Hannah Cusack.  It was full of lace and feathers. Her designs were beautifully constructed.

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Kaity Rathman had glitz and glamour and it was divine. Every designer did a phenomenal job.

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As one who appreciates the art of fashion, being on the front row of an event like this is truly inspirational.  No doubt this is the first of many more that I will attend!  Fashion Week is full of lights, high heels, breathtaking styles, interesting clashes of color, talented people, and a runway of stunningly beautiful people.  As with many fashion sources, there will be looks that might not fit with the Top Buttons Style.  But I left with tons of ideas from these talented young designers that I look forward to incorporating our Top Buttons Styles into.  These designers are making an impact, and at such a young age!  Many of you reading this article are young as well.  Don't think that your too young to influence culture. It is so true that no matter what your age, you can begin to walk in the direction of your dreams. Excellent job KCFW!  KCFW was a success and caused me to walk away ready for the next event.

 

Article by: Rebekah Miura  Photographs by: Reagan Miura

Central Florida Ladies, Join us for the First Ever Top Buttons Swap and Shop!

Not Your 80s Denim

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Trendsetters beware! Shoulder pads and leg warmers have remained in the past but their denim counterpart of the 80's is trending forward! Denim on denim is a must-have look that is here to stay. Granted, denim from the 80's was all about the acid wash and matching denim from head to toe. The current denim trend is mixing denim pieces and washes for contrast. Pictured is a light wash boyfriend jacket paired with a dark wash skinny jean. Now it is quite obvious that the jacket contrasts with the jean, but styling different washes modernizes this 80s craze. As for the blouse, go for prints. Prints offer a bolder look to the denim on denim. Add a vibrant embellished clutch for a pop of color and a "men’s-like" watch to complement the boyfriend style jacket and the finishing touches are complete.

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Erin's Closet Remix

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Meet Erin, a DIY enthusiast from Kansas City, Missouri. Erin wanted a new look without breaking the bank. I was happy to jump in and help put together an outfit made up of her own wardrobe along with a few new items. IMG_2555

While chatting with Erin about what kind of a look she wanted, she said that she loved her summer dresses and would love to find a way to wear them in the cooler months. With this in mind, I went through her closet and pulled a dress, leather jacket, tights and some fun wedges.

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Her outfit needed some polish so we hit up our local H&M in search of some accessories where we found a statement necklace and a fun, unexpected purse. We completed the look with a couple trendy bracelets and a gold watch.

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For Erin’s hair, we gave her some loose curls. For her make-up I kept it light and playful. I did a cat eye, pink cheeks, and a nude lip.

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Erin looks great in her new look! She had all the right clothing, it was just a matter of pairing them correctly and adding the right accessories. Erin is excited to get her summer dresses out of storage and back on the hangers.

 

 

*Below are links to similar items worn above.

Dress  Jacket  | Tights  Shoes  | Purse

 

Article by: Rebekah Miura  Photography by: Reagan Miura

 

 

 

sailor chic ootd

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Spring break is right around the corner, and we are loving the nautical look for Spring. It is not only versatile, according to Teen Vogue, but it gives you a simple and clean look. Pairing nautical navy stripes with a pop of color keeps the Springtime interesting and colorful!

 

#1 Oscar Inspired Trend

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With the annual Oscar award show comes fabulous trends worn by celebrities on the red carpet. One of the most popular trends according to Seventeen.com seen this year was floral appliqué. The items shown above are visual examples of floral appliqué sweaters, shirts, bags, and shoes that can be found in your favorite department store, or store of choice. With this trend gaining popularity, you should have no problem finding something floral and spring-inspired to wear this season!

 

Still Trending: Floral Pants

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Ladies, there is no need to look both ways before crossing the street in an eye catching floral look! This edgy take on a floral pant will have people clearing traffic as if the streets were a runway! With Spring on the horizon, patterned and floral pants are taking their place as the latest fad. Even though florals are rooted with a feminine touch, playing with colors and textures can take a once girlie print to an edgy style with spunk. The floral pant shown here is paired with a solid scoop neck and faux leather vest. A cap sleeve tee works just as well as a long sleeve, especially if you live in a warmer climate and the faux leather vest gives the outfit just the right amount of texture. Accessory wise, pick your pleasure: gold, silver, gunmetal, rose gold, etc. Any metal will look great against a floral, just be sure to stick with one type of metal. Add a crossbody in one of the hottest colors for spring such as blush, with an ever so classic Mary Jane pump to your look, and you are ready to take on any sidewalk or street... as if it was your own personal runway.

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Vest  Scoop neck Floral pant Mary Janes Blush cross-body Ring

 

 

Makeup Artist: Melissa Kinsey

Photo credit: Moments by Jen

City Fashion Shoot Video

This video was truly a group effort.  It was directed by Mom Powers, filmed by Delaney, and edited by Taylor Murray.  While Lakeland has some great spots for photoshoots, we loved changing it up by heading over to the streets of downtown Orlando.  This shoot features some looks that we have already posted and some that are coming up in the next couple weeks.  Hope you have a great day!

How To Wear Patterned Leggings

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Patterned leggings are everywhere this season! They are a fun and colorful trend that are definitely worth trying. Here are some tips on how to style them. Rebekah 1

1. Think of leggings as tights, not pants. If you want to rock patterned pants, there are a ton of options on the market to choose from. Leggings, however are meant to be worn under clothing.

2. Pair them with a long top that covers your backside. Chambray shirts, blazers, blouses and boyfriend sweaters are great options.

3. Pair them with solid colors. Mixing too many patterns can look busy.

4. Keep accessories to a minimum. Let your leggings be the focal point. Too many accessories can be overwhelming.

5. Leggings can be worn with a number of different types of shoes. Boots, flats, and heels all work.

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Leggings come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Have fun and be creative when styling them. For more inspiration, check out our "All About Leggings" board on our Top Button's Pinterest account.

If you already have a favorite way to wear leggings let us know in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!

 

Happy Styling!

Rebekah

 

*Below are links to items that are similar to the outfit shown above.

Shirt  Leggings  Shoes  Watch  Bracelet  Purse

Military Chic

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taylor10 Call your friends and family, call everyone in your contact list! Better yet call a taxi, for this army jacket deserves more than one appearance uptown, and here is why. Military jackets and pieces usually give off a casual or grunge vibe. If styled with the proper accessories and paired with a closed-toe pump, the once "grunge" appeal will be booted to the curb. To tie in the feminine touches, go for a bow hair wrap or any other girlie hair accessory that may suit you best. As for jewelry, skip the bangle or two and complete the look with an arm party. All military styles have one thing in common and that is being bold. This preppy military look will not only hail every taxi in the city, it will leave you in the highest ranks of fashion!

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Graphic T | Shoes | Jacket | Jeans | Head wrap | Purse | Gold Arm Party

Written by: Jenna Olinger       Photos by: Moments by Jen