A few weeks ago, I attended Building the Queendom, a beautiful event created by my friend Gabrielle Burton to bring women together to encourage, equip, and elevate one another to walk boldly in our God given callings.
As a certified girls’ girl, I was immediately sold on the premise. Any event dedicated to fostering genuine sisterhood already has my attention, but when Christ is at the center and the dress code gives me a reason to get dolled up, I’ll practically materialize out of thin air.
So let me tell you about the event, and show you what I decided to put together.
Outfit Details
Dress
For the event, I chose this vibrant red satin abaya that draped over me from my collarbone down to my ankles. It tied in the back to give a little shape and felt like butter against my skin. I was covered head to toe, but, truly, I’ve never felt more elegant and regal.
The dress code for the event said cocktail attire or gowns and I did not want to waste this opportunity to wear this dress I’d been waiting months to wear. Gabrielle explained that she wanted us to dress up and wear beautiful attire, not only because we are queens, but because we are a royal priesthood and she wanted us to dress the part. Yes and amen to that!
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Accessories
One thing I appreciated about the event was the intentionality behind every detail. From the decor to the conversations, everything pointed back to purpose, beauty, and encouragement.
Since the dress was already making a statement, I wanted the accessories to complement it rather than compete with it.
Depending on the outfit, the recipe is typically:
simple outfit + eye catching accessories = ✅
loud outfit + dainty accessories = ✅
I wanted this dress to do ALL of the talking. So I chose:
minimalist outfit + simple accessories = ✅✅ ✅
Outside of the 1 ring that stays on my hand, I only had one piece of jewelry on. And it was all I needed.
Tiara
One of the most beautiful things about this event is how Gabrielle provided tiaras for each one of us ladies, and we were crowned and inducted into the Queendom. It was such a beautiful touch. I mean, the evening was already memorable, but that made the night that much more special.
Handbag
There was worship, laughter, encouragement, and meaningful conversation throughout the evening. It was one of those gatherings where women genuinely wanted to see one another flourish.
The room itself was full of color, beauty, and thoughtful details, and I’m glad I brought a bag with a little personality to match. I needed some contrast to make the look pop, so I went with my Brandon Blackwood Kendrick Trunk in puffer blue.
The color, the softness, and the style of this bag is perfect. However, friend, this isn’t exactly an affordable recommendation. It was around $300 when I bought it years ago. Most of my wardrobe is much more budget friendly, but every now and then I come across a piece I love enough to save for and keep for years. This bag has been one of those pieces.
Shoes
The event featured a panel of five Christian women who spoke on friendship, healing sisterhood wounds, purpose, and calling one another higher. One of my favorite parts of the evening was listening to women share honestly about their experiences and the ways God had met them through community. They also offered practical wisdom on building healthy friendships, pursuing genuine sisterhood, and allowing ourselves to be known and supported by others.
As for the shoes, you could only catch glimpses of them when I walked, but I loved the color and pattern they added to the outfit. They picked up the blues, reds, and warm tones from the rest of the look without competing with the dress.
I’ve had these for years and haven’t come across anything quite like them since, which makes me appreciate them even more.
Building the Queendom was such a beautiful reminder that Christian sisterhood is a gift. We need women who encourage us, challenge us, pray for us, and remind us of who God says we are.
The outfit was fun.
The conversations were better.
And leaving as a crowned member of the Queendom alongside so many lovely ladies made the evening all the more memorable.
These are the kinds of gatherings that get my full attention. The kind that remind me that we need our sisters in Christ by our sides as we pursue Him. God often uses friendship, community, and faithful women to encourage us as we walk out our callings.
Needless to say, when Gabrielle hosts another one, I’ll be there. And yes, I can’t wait to find an outfit for it.
