Fashion Cents: Tips for Buying Cheap Clothes

Written by Alexis Gauthier Good-day Lovely Ladies! Alexis here :D I’m so excited to be part of the new Fashion ¢ents campaign, because a good fashion bargain is fashion that just makes sense. Today I wanted to share with you my heart behind this fashion feature and even give you girls a few tips on how to work the thrift store bargains!

Imagine yourself at a holiday party, fun friend outing, or even just walking the halls of school. No matter where you are, your desire is to look and feel confident, however with the pricy trends that have made their way to the runway and front covers of magazines, it is difficult to afford diverse outfits, let alone one astounding look! I’ve been there. We all have, however I was lucky enough to jump on the thrifting train at a young age.

Once I learned that I could get the same looks at thriftier prices, I never went back. Why? Because my clothing items were original and affordable. Sometimes it takes a little more time and effort, but I also get more for my money, so I have more options to choose from! Here are some of my thrift store secrets.

Salvation Army – 50% off Wednesdays

A lot of Salvation Army stores discount all of their shoes, clothing, and accessories 50% off all day on Wednesdays. I love this sale because I get twice for a price that’s already a bargain.

A couple of my favorite items found at a recent Salvation Army 50% off sale!

Ask for discounts!

You never know how much money you can really save until you try. One time, I was shopping with a friend who was in an especially particular time financial crunch because her wedding was just weeks away. It was to the point that she couldn’t even afford the thrift shop prices, so I explained her situation to the cashier, and the sales clerk was sweet enough to add an ADDITIONAL 50% off. Another time, I had picked out a shirt with a lot of holes in it, which I didn’t mind because I know how to sew, and I showed the lady the holes and asked if I could have a discount. I ended up scoring the shirt for 50 cents!

Color of the day discount

Goodwill and Salvation Army ALWAYS have a color of the day. If you find clothes tagged with that color, you get a discount. It’s always like a treasure hunt, but definitely worth the search.

College discount

If you’re in college, almost every location honors students with a 10% off discount. I’ve been using this discount since high school by presenting my dual-enrollment ID. If you’re not in college, check your local thrift store for similar discounts like senior discounts etc. and plan a thrifting adventure with a college mentor or grandparent so you can use their discount.

99cents a pound

Okay, so here is one of my BIGGEST thrift secrets. There’s select Goodwill locations that are called Goodwill Headquarters. These locations are usually very large buildings with two sides: there’s the normal store with a very large selection, and then there’s section that is 99 cents a pound. You need to have a lot of time on your hands to sift through the tables and buckets of clothes, but it is so affordable in the end. I’ve been twice, spent $7 both times, and left with about 15 items on both occasions. That averages out to about 50 cents per item. My favorite buy was a sequin pair of Express shorts.

Plato’s Closet grab bag sale

This is one of my absolute favorite discounts, however it only happens once or twice a year, depending on location. Every summer Plato’s Closet draws in crowds of fashionistas with the alluring temptation of gently used name brand clothing combined with extra low prices. How? They have a grab bag sale! The object of the sale is to stuff as much clothing and accessories into the bag as possible so that it can still tie, and then all the contents of the bag are yours for just $20. I’ve lined up for this sale before, in which the line wrapped around the building and girls of all ages ran inside when doors opened. I ended up leaving Plato’s Closet spending $20 and getting 25 items of nearly new clothing, all because I strategically folded and stuffed.

So, there you have it: some of the best discount tips from the bargainer herself! I hope you enjoyed. Leave some feedback so I know what YOU want to hear about in my next Fashion Cents feature.

The possibilities are endless.

Six Steps to the Perfect Summer Look + Glitter Eyeliner

by  Make-up Artist Ashley Carrel 

Step one: Use skin type appropriate toner and moisturizer. It's great for oil control, and helps makeup go on smooth and evens texture. A good skin care routine helps enhance and create a great canvas for your everyday makeover. Used on this lovely model, Danielle: BC Spa Facial PHA Regenerating Tonic and BC Spa Facial Moisture Lotion with SPF link

Step two: Choose correct formula of concealer and primer.  Usually for teens an oil free non-comedogenic formula is best. I used a very light and smooth formula in yellow to cover up dark circles under the eyes. I used a bit thicker formula for coverage of breakouts. There are three basic color primers choices:  1) yellow for dark and sallow skin, 2) green to cover pink and red, 3) and mauve (pink) to cover yellow tones common in Asian skin types. Used on Danielle: Secret Agent yellow primer for dark circles and Extra Help concealer in light for breakouts

Step three: Choose skin appropriate foundation. For FL summers I always recommend BC Wet/Dry Perfecting Foundation. It has a perfect balance of powder to the formula, and it blends and soaks up your natural oils throughout the day. Also it has great natural coverage for all skin types and is available in a huge variety of shades. Used on Danielle: Y-2 BC Perfecting Wet/Dry Finish

Step four: Use a good matte bronzer for contouring blush application and a good “pop” color for apple of cheeks. Bronzer is for areas you want to shadow and for the apple of your cheeks. Color may vary for skin types. Used on Danielle: Tuscan Sun Bronzer for mid cheekbone and out to ear applied in circular motions/ Pink Mineral blush for apple of cheek to create that sun kissed, fresh face look.

Step five: Eye primer, eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara. It is especially important for summer to use a good eye primer.  With oils of the day, your shadow can crease and smear. A good primer will keep that from happening. I recommend urban decays primer potion and for a more affordable option, BC control crème.  A good shadow should come with a full palette to work with like BC Color Shadow Trio’s. It provides three colors to accent the different parts of the eye. For a summer fun flare and a fun pop of color I chose a hot pink glitter eye liner! Used on Danielle: BC Control Crème in Taupe /BC color eye shadow trio in Au Natural /Perfecting Eye liner in black /Glitz Hot Pink Glitter /and Glitz Eye Glue to adhere glitter (water based, it's a one of a kind formula)/ for Glitter Eye Liner use angle tip duo shadow brush to apply (press on, not rub on)

Step six: Finish with a nice natural Lip Liner, Lip-gloss and Hydrating spray to set foundation. You can't go wrong with a nude lip for everyday wear! Bright lips are all the rage this summer, but may work best with a softer eye look. Used on Danielle: Nude Lip Perfecting Pencil /Bare BC Color Lip Gloss / and BC Herbal Hydrating Mist to set foundation.  It's also great for a cool down mist for a Hot Summer day. Keep it in your purse and on hand; it’s a hot day life saver!

Article and Makeup by: Ashley Carrel

Photo credit: Elizabeth Garrard

Images Edited by: Jen Duarte

Get This Look: Jenna's Bold Eye Makeup

The colors of this season are soo exciting for a makeup artist like myself.  Bright and bold, just like me! LOL!  Pops of color have always been a great way to play up your makeup. However, pairing a bold lip and bold eye without looking like a clown, can be tricky.  To recreate Jenna’s fun Bold Eye Look, follow these easy steps: When using bright and pigmented colors, it essential that you prime your skin properly to ensure the makeup stays put!  On Jenna we used the Glo Conditioning cream to hydrate, then immediately primed her skin with the Glo Face Primer, and more importantly, the Glo Lid Primer.  The lid primer ensures that eye shadow stays put.  It also removes any discoloration and mattifies the eye area.  Other popular brands for priming the eye before shadow include  Urban Decay’s Primer Potion and Two Faced Cosmetic’s Shadow Insurance  which can be picked up from Sephora.

I wanted Jenna’s skin to have that “airbrushed” look so I applied Glo Minerals Satin II Liquid Foundation with a dampened foundation brush and lightly dusted her face with Glo Minerals Perfecting Powder to set.

To give her a soft glow I applied Glo Liquid Highlighter to her cheek bones and down the center of her nose with a taklon fiber fan brush, such a pretty sheen!  I then applied a soft rose pink blush to the apples of her cheeks.

On to the star of the show..the eyes!  Any bright richly pigmented color will work for this look.  I chose a jeweled green.  Apply a pale highlight color (white or cream works best) to the brow bone and inner corner of the eye.  Next apply the color of your choice to the eyelid and just above the crease.  Pat on a little extra color to make sure the color is deep!  Use a clean crease brush to blend the crease and soften edges.  Use this same color and a smudge (or pencil) brush to smudge just underneath the lower lash line.

Next, line the upper and lower lash line. I used Stilla’s smudge pot in black and dragged the upper lash line out a bit to create a little wing.  Then smudge a little black shimmering eyeshadow directly onto the upper and lower lash lines directly over the cream, gel eyeliner.  And finally, add lots of black mascara!

For her lips I tried two different Lip Colors and both looked great with her bold eye.  First I tried Glo Minerals Lip Stick in Socialite, a pale soft pastel pink.  Second, my favorite, I applied Glo Minerals Lip Color in Treasure, a bright intense hot pink - loved it!!

Jenna said she loved her look so much she was going to have to plan something to do that night!!!

Article and Makeup by: Melissa Kinsey

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Garrard

Images Edited by:  Jen Duarte

A Natural Look for Summer with Cream Based Makeup

We live in Florida... hot, humid, sticky Florida.  Make-up during the summer in this kind of climate is tricky, very tricky.  Here are a few tips to make your look stay all day without looking like you are melting: Crème based makeup during the summer is a great way to keep the skin looking fresh, hydrated and glowing and has staying power even in hot + humid weather.  When applying a cream, liquid or gel based makeup it's best to apply with a synthetic brush. Not only will it be much easier to clean, but you will get a much softer and even application. I started by prepping the skin with a light oil free moisturizer (Glo Emulsion).  Rather than using a heavy foundation, I used Glo Minerals Sheer Tint in Golden to even out her skin tone. Brow Powder in Taupe was added with an angle liner brush just to lightly fill them and define the brow.

Following the brows, I applied Glo Mineral’s crème bronzer to warm up her skin and crème blush in plumeria to the apples of her cheeks (soo pretty!).  To give that gorgeous glow we often see on celebrities, I applied Glo Minerals crème highlighter (a pretty sheer shimmery pink) to the tops of her cheek bones and down the center of her nose.  To do this I used a synthetic fan brush.

After using a lid primer, I applied Maybelline’s Color Tattoo, these little magic pots of crème eyeshadow are smudge + crease proof +very water resistant. Trust me when I tell you, they will last all day!!!  The color options in this line are awesome!  I used a brush, but you could use your finger as well.

To finish her eyes, we applied Glo Minerals Crème eyeliner in ebony to the upper and lower lash line.

Since we love love love the bright pink trend of this season and wanted to give her look some “pop”, we used Maybelline’s Lipstick from their “Vivids” line in Brazen Berry! (You can purchase Maybelline's products from any drugstore.) I love this line soo much that I purchased several of the colors and love them all!

To finish her look I lightly dusted Glo Mineral’s Perfecting Powder in her TZone to prevent shine and set her makeup.

You could tell Emily felt very comfortable in this look and she commented that she didn't even feel the makeup!

Written by Melissa Kinsey 

Melissa is a licensed skin care specialist who offers facials and complete skin care, waxing services, makeup consultations and bridal/formal makeup applications (using airbrush or Glo Mineral Makeup). To purchase Glo Mineral Makeup, you may visit the Glo Mineral website or connect directly with Melissa through her facebook page.

Photo Credit:  Elizabeth Garrard

Images Edited By: Jen Duarte

Donate Your Jewelry and Help Prevent Human Trafficking

With your BROKEN, unused, or unwanted jewelry, YOU can help prevent human trafficking in the Dominican Republic. Top Buttons is working with an organization called FIGHT Ministries (Freeing Individuals from the Grasp of Human Trafficking) based in Jarabacoa, which is in the center of the D.R.

Their purpose is to restore hope, healing, security and safety to the children of the Dominican Republic who live in an oppressed society where human slavery is rampant. As they move towards gaining the means to rescue and rehabilitate young women, they are currently working diligently on prevention.

TRAFFICKING IN THE D.R.

In a 2009 report from the U.S. State Dept for Trafficking in Persons, the D.R. is ranked 4th in the world as a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Also noted was the fact that parents often push their children into prostitution to help support the family. You can read more about the difficulties in assessing the actual number of Haitian and Dominican children being trafficked by going to this link at the UNICEF website.

THE CULTURE

Naomi Ostberg, one of the FIGHT Ministry's Team Members, described the people of the Dominican by saying, "They are loving, generous, and don't seem to meet a stranger. Unfortunately, they have a very strict history of religion which doesn't include a relationship with Jesus. Church is seen as a place one goes weekly to hear a set of rules, not a place for worship and personal growth. Religion can't save or fill the void within us all, only Christ can. We see young women reaching out for attention seeking to fill that void. Along with the challenges of Human Trafficking, sex is accepted here for even the very young. Sexiness with clothing and in attitude is commonly a dictator of who is considered beautiful and is encouraged in order to attract a possible rich spouse. Teaching young women to understand the importance of dressing with proper fitting clothes in order to protect themselves from traffickers, is a part of the FIGHT Ministries prevention plan along with teaching other life skills. These girls are lovely. We want them to know who they are on the inside is what makes them beautiful." She continued by saying, "We are working to show young girls the love of one man, Jesus, is more than enough. He is our Savior. He is our hope. Helping young girls understand this principle will be a stepping stone to encourage change and will help them overcome the challenges they face."

NEW CREATIONS JEWELRY

"New Creations" was started as a part of their fight against human traffickers in this country. As they teach young girls in the community how to make and sell jewelry, they are less likely to believe the lies of the traffickers who try to lure them into slavery with promises of financial security.

FIGHT ministries has partnered with a local church in Jarabacoa. It is through this church that they have found some solid women in the community who their organization has taught the skill of making jewelry. Soon these women will be teaching this trade to their daughters and other children (mostly female) in their neighborhoods.

They want to "re-make" old and broken jewelry into "new creations". Just like Christ has done with us. Of course making money to feed one's family is a must! But the benefits of starting this project are so much bigger than simply putting change in their pockets. They want to equip these women to fight off their intruders with knowledge, a solid community, with an activity that will keep kids off the streets, and see God's provision at work in their lives as they strive to honor Him!

Did you ever imagine that your UNWANTED jewelry whether old or new could be upcycled to prevent Human Trafficking?! We all debate what to do with our tarnished, broken, or unworn jewelry pieces. Please don't throw them away! They have requested:

*buttons, gems, or beads

*broken, new, unwanted, or unworn jewelry

*jewelry making supplies (like clasps)

*any other small items that could be used for jewelry making

We will be collecting jewelry pieces during July and August! Please send items to our office

256 North Kentucky Ave, Lakeland, Florida, 33801, Suite #105

Soon Top Buttons will take a few team members to the Dominican and deliver all the jewelry pieces we have collected. If you have any questions or would like to read more about FIGHT ministries. Please check out their website at fightministries.org.

The images are of Naomi Ostberg and some children of Jarabacoa. Naomi is one of the 5 team members who founded FIGHT Ministries. She was an ESE teacher in central Florida before she and her husband (who had his own construction business) felt called to leave it all one year ago and move to the Dominican Republic to help fight against human trafficking.

Where to Find Modest Shorts: Trendy Vs. Appropriate

Whether a girl is 5, 9, or 16 years of age, she can purchase the same style of super short shorts. Shorts literally can't get any shorter than they make them now.  With the combination of summer heat, the  fashion industry promoting, and clothing stores lining the shelves with these super short shorts, it's no wonder the trend has caught on. One might ask, "so what does a pair of  MODEST SHORTS look like?"  Well, when comparing a 0'' inseam to a pair of shorts with a 5" inseam, the 5" inseam would be considered more modest than the 0" inseam.  We can all agree on that.  But we know everyone's definition is different on the matter.  And truthfully, a modest length can't be based on the length of an inseam, because the height of a young lady affects where the short will hit on the leg.  With that being said, we are working to find shorts that provide more coverage than most of the current trends offer.  Since a mid length is still fun, reasonable, functional for all body types,  and provides more coverage, this is our starting point.

Questions to think about

When it comes to the length of my shorts, what is my boundary? Do I have one?  Should I have one?  When someone sets the boundary for me, Do I get frustrated? Why or why not?  Are there environments where longer shorts would be more appropriate than others?  What are those places and why would this be so?

A thought to consider

The fashion industry is not encouraging us to have healthy boundaries out of respect for ourselves and others as they continue to promote clothing that is shorter and tighter than ever before.  Simply put, there is a lot of competition for your bucks and they are doing every thing possible to get us to buy their clothes.  This encourages young women to care more about wearing what's trendy than what is appropriate.

Often what is trendy conflicts with what is appropriate.

But it is possible to have a healthy balance of both...

This doesn't mean the  Bermuda style is the only modest option!  (Although Bermudas are nice too.)  But finding a pair that reaches mid thigh (even for a taller girl, although much more difficult), would be... reasonable.  Shorts that are mid thigh do not inhibit airflow during the summer heat.  They work well with all sorts of trendy tops.  They look great on all body types. Wearing them makes a bold statement... It portrays the fact that just because something is popular doesn't mean you will wear it.  Also, there is no doubt that young women will look attractive in a mid thigh short, just as much as, or more than a super short short, and they are functional for most settings.

At Top Buttons we love a good challenge, and it is quite challenging to find modest shorts.

School Shorts 

If you want to get a head start on getting your wardrobe ready for the upcoming school year, here are our Top Buttons's picks for Fall 2013!  (They would be great shorts for summer too.)  We will provide more Modest School Options as we get into July!

• Striped Boyfriend Roll-Up Shorts
• Gap's 1969 Denim Bermuda Shorts
• Banana Republic's Tie Front Short in Orange and other colors
• Paisley Print Linen Cotten Shorts with 6" Inseam

A MODEST TIP:  Shorts with High Heels

When wearing high heels, the inseam tends to appear shorter as the heel raises you up and elongates the leg.  When wearing Bermuda shorts, a girl can wear heels with no problem.  Even heels with a short that hits mid thigh could look great with the right pair of wedges.  But you might consider wearing a low heel or flat when the shorts are borderline mid thigh or above, otherwise shorts look shorter than they actually are.

Work out shorts

Work out shorts are typically pretty short, or they are bizarrely over the top in length and amount of fabric.  But we found a few that would be TB approved...We would like to find some other options.  If you know of any, please comment below!

• Feel Fit Wear- Braid Workout Shorts with a 4.5 inch inseam
• Asics Women's Abby Long Short in Black
• Adidas Women's Tastigo Short
• Sparkle and Fade Biker Short by Urban Outfitters

Our Favorite Places To Find Modest Short Options: The Limited, The Gap, and Loft

Our Top Buttons Pinterest Account would be a great place to find some other ideas on how to wear shorts that are both current and modest!  We are as excited about summer as you are!  Be on the lookout for some changes coming to our website.  You will be pleased.  

Photo Credit: Beth Carter Photography

Where to find the Perfect Prom Dress 2013

Seriously, trying to find a modest and yet noteworthy PROM DRESS is almost as difficult as finding a modest costume at HALLOWEEN! So while it may seem impossible, trying something new or going your own route just might make you the bell of the ball. Prom is often associated with boys, make out sessions and after parties. There are plenty of magazines with an eyeful of content such as that to read. Our plan, however, is simply to give you some tips on where to find fun prom dresses so you may enjoy your evening in a way that honors your body and your values.

The question is, where DOES a young lady go to find the perfect prom dress these days? Ebay, a local boutique, renttherunway.com, online style magazines, or a department store? Most young women will spend hours, days, and maybe even weeks trying to find the dress that best suits her style. Maybe She'll virtually try on dresses from Seventeen's Prom Dress Gallery. Hoping to complete the look, girls then search for Prom Hair Styles, sparkle pumps, and makeup tutorials! It's too much to fit in one post, but we're aiming to get you on the right track and find THE look that represents YOU. A look that lets your lovely inner self shine through.

BORROW A PROM DRESS FROM A FRIEND

If you're not wanting to break your piggy bank, why pay money for a prom dress at all? Ask your sisters, your friends, your sister's friends, cousins, even your grandmother may have a little vintage number awaiting you. By asking around you might find a number of dress options to borrow for your special night. Aarika pulled together the Prom looks you see in this photo shoot. These dresses were from their own closets or borrowed from a friend.

A little side note to keep in mind: Height matters when you borrow a dress from a friend. If it's a short friend with a short dress, a taller girl might have to refrain. Unfortunately, even though these girls are super close friends, Amelia and Katie can't do much clothes swapping between each other because of the height difference.

You want to know where Amelia's gown is from, right??? It was actually worn on Glee last season. They took off the belt and buttons, chopped the tool off a bit, but it was THIS Betsy Johnson dress that was seen on the program. Betsy Johnson is known for the fun, flashy, and feminine kinda looks. Not all would be Top Buttons recommended, but this one is stunning. We found several dresses on Ebay just like this one.

TRY PURCHASING A PROM DRESS STYLE THAT CAN BE WORN MORE THAN ONCE

Katie on the right (in the picture above) loves classic, preppy styles. This gold dress could be worn after prom is over to a wedding, church event, or even a fancy dinner. We are ALL ABOUT buying PRACTICAL. Being able to wear a dress more than once is always a good thing when spending lots of bucks.

RENT YOUR PERFECT PROM DRESS

What if your friends don't have fancy dresses in your size or their taste isn't similar to yours? Try RENTING A DRESS! This trend is for ladies who want to wear high end fashions at low cost, and who would NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD in the same Evening Gown MORE THAN ONCE! We looked into this NEW TREND of RENTING Luxurious Dresses Online. There are several websites that offer this option. Online rental sites offer dresses at a fraction of the cost + free shipping. Would you ever rent a dress?

A TOP BUTTONS TIP FOR ONLINE PROM DRESS SHOPPING

When searching ONLINE for a fancy dress and a modest style that suits your body type, consider looking for a neckline that cuts straight across the front like the dresses on Ahna and Kenady. A straight, square or box neckline provides coverage for girls with more curves. The one shoulder dress often sweeps elegantly upwards to one side and in doing so lays flat across the chest. Enjoy your evening without a wardrobe malfunction, by securing the right dress for your body type.

Finding the right length can be challenging as well. Dresses are either long or super short. This Dress length hits just above the knee and is very flattering for all body types, especially on Kenady seen below.

FIND LAST SEASON'S DRESSES ON EBAY

The dresses featured in this post are fun, beautiful, and perfect for a fancy evening depending on your personal preference of course! You won't find these particular dresses in the store because they have been worn and passed around within this circle of friends for years. You know it's a good dress, when your friends want to borrow it! With that in mind, if there is a particular dress featured in this post that you like, try searching Ebay for one similar... It is the place to shop for used Prom Dresses! Search for brand, color, and size. Have patience when bidding, though. If you try and outbid too quickly, you will likely pay more for the dress than you originally intended.

BE BRAVE: TRY SOME "OUT OF THE BOX" ELEGANT STYLES

• This high low Chiffon Dress NEEDS A GOOD SLIP UNDERNEATH to your mid thigh, but it's one of our favorites!
• So YES, Let me prepare you... it's OUT OF THE BOX! It's the Brightest RED DRESS you've EVER SEEN!!! It's Noteworthy. It's Modest. It's Modern, and it's priced at 49.95!
• Maybe try a Dress with Beaded Embroidery?! Here is another sweet little number (with a straight, high neckline and knee length style) from H&M that meets our TB standard. It's striking and delicate.
• Anne Hathaway does it Her Way with a formal dress and MOTORCYCLE JACKET! Check out how you can shield your shoulders from the chilly air with an EDGE on Prom Night AND STILL keep the frilly flair.
• Or try buying only a FANCY SKIRT + pair it with a more casual top for a look that shows you are truly confident in your own style.

OUT OF THE 5 STYLES LISTED ABOVE, WHICH ONE DO YOU LIKE BEST? PLEASE COMMENT BELOW!

THE PROM DRESS STEAL: Grab this FLOOR LENGTH, ONE SHOULDER Dress in TEAL OR ANTIQUE ROSE from H&M for only 59.95! You could trade in the belt for something more sparkly to fancify the look even more.

We have created a Top Buttons Pinterest Board for Prom 2013. Check it out and let us know what you think about our recommendations. We would love to hear the details about your Prom Dress Search experience!

Now we didn't offer you makeup tips or hair tutorials yet... KEEP CHECKING back this week and Next for some more helpful tips to make your Prom 2013 better than ever!

Written by: Sarah Powers

Photo Credit: Beth Carter Photography

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

MODUGLY

Fabric that is big, ugly, unflattering, and sweltering hot… Does this come to mind when you think of modesty? In 2013, we'd love to take this old term and give it a new definition. But where do we look to define Modesty? Who should define it? Should cultural standards impact our decision? Should we encourage young women to be set apart from society in how they dress when the options for such are so limited? Should we even have a blog promoting modesty, when “modesty" itself is based on the lack of self-promotion? There are many noble causes, should the way young men and women dress even matter in the grand scheme of things? The answers to these questions vary from person to person. But within the fabric of our society is a thread of faith. Faith should inspire growth, change, and healthy standards of behavior in many different areas. Modesty in conduct, which includes the way we dress, is a Christ honoring principle AND a healthy behavior choice.

How then do we determine what is and what isn’t modest?

There is more than one dictionary to define words and phrases. The Webster’s Dictionary was once the place to look; now ANY online site claiming to be a reliable source is used. The Urban Dictionary is quite crass at times, but I found their definition of the word “modesty” to be humorous and thought-provoking. It states, “Modesty is the art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.” This is a secular view which implies people who aim for humility are really actors striving to draw more personal attention. Why does secular society see a humble or modest expression, reflecting one’s desire to honor God and others rather than oneself, as pretentious? This social media, “like my post,” driven society is desperate for attention. We are so desperate that we buy what we can’t afford, pretend our life is what it isn’t on Facebook, and work to gain a following to feel like we “are somebody.”

Here's a valid thought…Wouldn’t young men and women wear styles that are more modest if their music and television role models dressed in more modest clothing? I believe they absolutely would. The need for ATTENTION we all have, gets a strong fix from shock value. SHOCK VALUE occurs as a response to loud and obnoxious opinions, “in-your-face” behavior, and “I’ll wear what I want” styles. This cycle of attention fulfilled through shock value promotes selfishness and more risky societal behavior.

What to do? We can’t redefine modesty in totality because it represents an ever changing principle influenced by the culture, faith and upbringing of its time. It isn’t a term anyone can give absolute guidelines on.

And the look of a modest woman has changed so much over the years. At Top Buttons, we debated whether or not to even use the term “modest” at all, because of the disgust most teens have when they turn the term over in their mouth. It appears that modesty makes most young people think of layering big ugly clothes and gives the feeling of "being controlled." We discussed whether we should use the word “classy,” but that infers “rich” by many people. We do like the phrase “fashion with extra fabric,” but this is a bit long to replace “modesty” with. We also know some other religious communities might be offended by our standard of the term which does not reflect their own. While we respect modest style expressions, at Top Buttons, we recognize that extreme modest styles could be impractical and not easily attainable for young women who do not sew their own clothes and want to dress in a way that doesn't alienate them from their peers.

In 2013, we resolve to talk about, encourage, and redefine this principle with all who are interested. We would love to have you weigh in on the matter. Is it possible to redefine modesty? Or should we throw it out and use a new term? Can we help young women to see this term in a different light? We’d like to know…what do you see when you think of modesty by today's standards? Do you feel it's reasonable to encourage young men and women to have some boundaries in their clothing styles? Why or why not?

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Garrard

Written By: Sarah Powers

Christmas Wishes and a Pretty Party

Our goal of providing a more modest option for fashion trends seems insignificant as we reflect on the devastation that many are dealing with now as the year comes to an end. The ugly truth is that we can patch up, cover up, and pretty up our face and our culture with programs and good deeds, yet not get to the root of the problem...(I'm not denying the VERY significant value of such.) But what we truly need is a love that is strong enough to work from the inside out. At Top Buttons we believe that the hope and restoration found in Christ Jesus is the only power strong enough to overcome the heartache of this world. We must help, love, show kindness, and serve each other as much as we are able to. For this shows the love of God to people in direct tangible ways. But we are not and never will be the Savior. There is only One that came to "seek and save," and only One with the power to do just that. (Luke 19:10). If we could save ourselves, God wouldn't have sent His son to this earth to die in our place for the redemption of mankind. This Christmas season, we are thankful that we don't have to earn our salvation, it's a free gift.  If accepted, it is more than life changing. We can all attest to that.

With that being said, we have much to be grateful for.  The past two months have been a whirlwind as we have worked to create content that is note worthy, Christ honoring, and helpful for young women. We just had to get together one more time before the girls left to spend the holidays with their families in their homelands. Here are some pictures from our TB team holiday soiree that we would like to share with you. This Christmas season, be inspired to dress with dignity and respect as you enjoy the company of family and friends.

We'd love to welcome a new photographer onto the team! She is a budding teen with a passion for snapping photos and it has been a pleasure working with Elizabeth .

Board Member, Katie Deloach (Middle), hosted our Christmas Party.  We appreciate her hospitality!

We will be on a blogging break for a week.  Next year you will see more Modest Solutions posts, Video Tutorials, and also some NEW ELEMENTS to the Blog that will be revealed in January!

Merry Christmas from the Top Buttons team.  May your holidays be filled with love and peace no matter what you face this holiday season.

Photos by: Elizabeth Garrard

Promoting Fashion With Extra Fabric

Because Modesty is not just for winter time, church, and tradition... An idea exists among girlfriends that dressing modestly is “boring” or that it forces you to have to deny your identity.  At Top Buttons we believe a young woman can express a  personal unique style in a way that doesn't have to compromise values or deny personality.  The balance of expressing your style and setting boundaries is possible when you have the right resources to help you do so and the passion to make the extra effort.

We should keep in mind the TV shows we watch, music we listen to, celebrities we look to as role models, and fashion magazines we place in front of our eyes influence our concept of what is “normal” and acceptable.  We are reaching a point where the limitations on "acceptable" behavior are being challenged, and in many cases completely removed.  More specifically we see the boundaries being pushed shamelessly in the everyday clothing styles that stack shelves in our favorite shops.

This whole modesty project came out of a desire to simply encourage a more modest take on current fashion trends.  Researching the presence of modest fashion blogs, we found that there are actually some phenomenal blogs on modesty.  Many of which could be inspirational to teens, but few that specifically focus on teens with their styles and content.

So we are determined to fill this need and provide you with a modest fashion resource put together mostly by young ladies your own age.   We will work to filter out the unnecessary sexual material that is commonly connected with fashion magazines and showcase a Top Buttons version of current fashion trends.  But yet our content will include much of the fun ideas that other magazines hold.

On the website we will have posts that include:

• Current fashion trends with a more modest take.  We call this “Fashion with Extra Fabric.”
• Video tutorials on beauty and fashion
• Modesty Solutions
• Updates on our local Shopping Sprees for underprivileged teens
• Modesty on the Streets (MOTS) representatives sharing their perspective on fashion and modesty from their city or country

While we could criticize some of the popular young celebrities with their immodest styles and glamorized scandalous behavior, instead through Top Buttons, we would like to connect you with some incredible young women who have a different take on life and fashion.

Over the next few weeks you will get a glimpse into the lives of our team members.  Our team is made up of young women who are magazine interns, video editors, journalism majors, fashion bloggers, inspirational writers, etc…  Additionally, we are working with teens who will research, model, and be a part of our Modesty on the Streets (MOTS) Campaign.  We have been meeting and working on the content of the blog extensively for the past 2 months.  We aren’t looking to define modesty through establishing a rule.  We know there are so many factors which influence one’s definition of modesty, from one’s cultural background, to religious preferences and upbringing. We hope to start a conversation of what a more modest take on fashion could look like.

We know that our character is not defined by our outward appearance, but it does create a perception.  How we look does send a message.   Asking ourselves if the outfits we wear send a message which reflects the truth about who we really are, should be a daily practice.  We hope to encourage all young women to place a higher value on inner qualities than on outward appearance.  We look forward to connecting with you through Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Youtube, and our blog posts.  Talk to us!  We want to hear your ideas and see your modest outfits!  Join this “collective voice” ...a movement for modesty. Check out our Give Back and Get Involved pages to see how you too can be a part of the Top Buttons team!

You are not alone.  Together, we'll keep it classy!

Sarah and the Top Buttons Team

Photo Credit:  Beth Carter Photography