Meet Our Lakeland TB Representative

 Lakeland: A Homeschooled Dancer with a True to Self Style

[bra_dropcaps style='dropcap1']I[/bra_dropcaps] am a dancer and have been homeschooled while living in the Lakeland area my whole life. Sometimes I hear that being homeschooled means you have no social skills or just don’t connect with your peers.  I couldn’t disagree more!  I love meeting new people and being a part of teams that are into the arts, dance, fashion, and yet still I have the freedom of getting my school work done as I want to.

I’m really looking forward to being more involved in Top Buttons through their  Modesty On The Streets (MOTS) Campaign because it is difficult to find fashion tips without all the other stuff attached to it.  I mean, I’m not interested in learning about celebrity  break ups while looking at fashion magazines, I want to see different ways to coordinate the clothes in my closet and recommendations on where to find things.

[bra_blockquote align='']I have seen some really fashionable and modest styles online, but most of these outfits would make me pass out if I wore them in this Florida weather! [/bra_blockquote]

With that being said, I have found that my greatest challenge with dressing modestly has to do with the Florida weather.  Due to the heat and the country influence, here you will find cowboy boots and miniskirts are quite common year round.  I like the cowboy boots, but I’m not into miniskirts. I personally am a variety kind of girl. I love comfy Levis with a baggy sweater, or on some days, maybe a fancy print with some heels.  Accessories are the key for me to change it up and make old things feel new.  From a young age I set out to create true-to self, unique styles. One of my favorite things about fall is the layered look.  The whole idea of wearing shorts with vintage leggings and boots, I find stylish. And I have experimented with this look myself.

After a much anticipated trip to New York City, I became inspired not only to experiment with my own outer style, but to consider my inner style as well.  Modesty is the goal. Modesty helps me keep a clean reputation and shows respect for myself and others. It also attracts others who share this same value. Keeping it modest can be extra fun because in our current culture you will actually get to stand out (in a good way of course). Many times kids get locked into the peer pressure of their Middle Schools or High Schools, settling for becoming a copy rather than an original.  Many fear that being who they are will lead to isolation.  Although seeking acceptance is a natural desire, if you can learn to expand your vision, the options for your look and life will be limitless.

— Kenady

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