Ashley

In the vault

WOMEN’S MONTH!

March 25, 2021 No Comments

WHO RUN THE WORLD?!! GIRLS! I personally could not let March, better known as Women’s month, come to an end without dedicating at least one blog post to all of the powerful female influences that have raised me, shaped me, encouraged me, uplifted me, and continue to fight for me so that I can live my life freely today. I was honored to have been contacted by a fellow blogger babe, Gail, who suggested we collaborate on this shoot and it truly could not have turned out better! While we could have gone in a variety of directions, we decided to take a more classic approach and tap into our inner “girl boss” by showcasing complimentary styles in gorgeous pastel suits. What stood out to me the most were how much these shots truly captured the plethora of juxtapositions that all women possess. We can be soft, yet powerful, structured but also relaxed, bold and demure all at the same time. As women, we are such multi-faceted beings and it brought me so much joy to capture that essence while doing something I love. Because we are heading into warmer months and my suit was already oversized, I chose to layer it with a knit bralette and minimal tan heeled mules. As a final touch, I added my favorite chandelier earrings and a few gold rings for extra sparkle. Collaboration will forever trump competition and I look forward to making more magic with other incredible female creators, while hopefully inspiring others along the way! Happy Women’s Month!!

Outfit Details & Links:

Blazer- Zara

Trousers- Zara

Bralette- Simonett

Heels- Mango

Earrings- & Other Stories

In ASM Shop

CROPPED BLAZERS!

March 23, 2021 No Comments

As a blazer lover, I enjoy every style from the most oversized to the latest, more cropped versions. This nod to the 90’s has me more excited than ever for Spring and Summer suiting! Whether worn casually with jeans or as a full co-ord set, these pieces can seamlessly elevate any look and keep you looking chic in the most effortless of ways! Comment below if this is a trend you’d be interested in exploring and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

In the vault

SUITED & BOOTED!

March 18, 2021 No Comments

If I had to choose one ensemble to reflect my personal style, a strong contender would definitely be a suit or co-ord of some kind. It’s no secret how much I love tailoring as well as matching sets mainly because they are always timeless and chic. For quite a few years now I’ve noticed how much suiting has really become a staple as we move into the warmer months, specifically in brighter colors. That being said, I’ve also greatly appreciated the more retro takes on these garments like the version I shared in this post. While I could have absolutely gone for a bolder shade, I was instantly sold when I saw the neutral option. This set was extremely reminiscent of the popular 90’s fashion trends, featuring a cropped jacket and mini skirt. I also loved that it came in a shade that would pair seamlessly with nearly anything! That aside, I still played it a bit safe and complimented the look with what seemed like the most obvious color option; black. I had been gifted a pair of tights that I was excited to try out mainly because they are made to be much more durable than the average pair; and for us long nail wearers, this was right up my alley! Additionally, I was also waiting on the perfect opportunity to style my new knee-high boots that I had actually been eyeing since the holiday season and just recently went on sale. To lighten up the look a tad, instead of layering a solid, dark top, I chose a striped fitted turtleneck instead. Lastly, for a subtle pop of color, I decided to complete the outfit with an olive green bag, my silver geometric frames, and matching jewelry. Comment below your favorite featured item and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Blazer- Zara

Skirt- Zara

Turtleneck- Free Assembly x Walmart

Tights- UNBRK

Boots- Mango

In ASM Shop

YELLOW PIECES!

March 17, 2021 No Comments

It seems as though yellow has truly become one of the go-to shades for Spring this season! I have honestly bought into this trend more than even I expected to, and am beyond excited to style my “ray of sunshine” pieces once the weather officially warms up. Below I’ve rounded up a few items to incorporate this color into your wardrobe from the boldest to most subtle styles. Don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks and until next time!

In the vault

YELLOW GORGEOUS!

March 11, 2021 No Comments

As Spring approaches, there always seems to be an excitement that comes along with this time of year. Warmer temperatures, outdoor activities, and cleansing my personal space to make way for new positive energy, are just a few of the things I look forward to most. In addition to that, I’d be lying if I said refreshing my wardrobe wasn’t also at the top of the list! While I don’t buy into every trend, I love to see which ones are making a statement and resurfacing as the year progresses. Though I wouldn’t say it’s “new,” I definitely think we’ll be seeing an abundance of color in 2021. Aside from the fact that bolder, brighter shades can be seen as an energy/mood boosters, I think that just about everyone is ready to step out of their comfort zone and experiment with fashion after being confined to loungewear for over a year. Personally, I’ve already noticed shades of yellow seeping into my closet more than even before; and I’m not mad at it! While browsing some of my favorite online retailers, I stumbled across this wool sweater dress and was instantly drawn to it. Often we associate these type of frocks with the Fall/Winter seasons and are used to seeing them worn in darker or more neutral hues. Needless to say, I decided to give it a try and couldn’t be happier with my choice! Being a lover of pastels, this eye-catching piece was definitely a seamless fit for my style, not to mention how flattering the silhouette was overall. For an element of contrast, I chose to layer the dress with a plaid blazer featuring a variety of cool grey tones. I also added a pair of brown knee-high boots and matching sunglasses in efforts to warm up the color palette, which in my opinion really helped balance the ensemble. I opted to keep my jewelry dainty yet striking with layered gold necklaces and a couple chunky rings. This outfit definitely exceeded my expectations and has me ready to step into the next few months more daring and playful especially when it comes to my styling choices. Comment below which piece was your favorite and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Blazer- Zara

Dress- Nanushka

Boots- Sam Edelman

Necklace- Ana Luisa

Earrings- & Other Stories

In the vault

SNOW DAZE!

February 25, 2021 No Comments

If I’m thinking optimistically, it might be safe to say that this will be my last Winter styling post until later in the year. This season has been a pretty brutal one weather wise, and while it was quite beautiful to see, I think I can wait until the end of 2021 before witnessing another snowflake fall. I’ve noticed a lot of brands coming out with Spring and even Summer items; and though it feels a bit too soon to purchase, it won’t be long before those seasons are directly upon us. I saw this neutral tube dress and initially looked at it as completely unwearable at the present moment. That said, I still listened to my gut and decided to buy it anyway. Understandably, it may have made the most sense to just wait to style it, but I couldn’t help myself! Instantly I began brainstorming different ways to make this piece more weather appropriate and layering was probably the most obvious solution. Because the frock was already a knit material, I didn’t want to pair another sweater-like garment underneath. As if the timing could not have been any better, I remembered that I was recently sent a pinstriped shirt which became the perfect complimentary piece. I decided to really lean into this preppy style by fastening all of the buttons for a more classic and modest vibe. Though we still have a few more weeks left of cold, I’m officially ready to embrace the lighter colors in my closet so I chose not to weigh down the outfit with black shoes. Instead, I reached for a pair of cream-colored ankle booties, which seemed to elevate everything quite nicely. For added warmth, I threw on an old longline denim jacket which I surprisingly still get compliments on every time I pull it out of my wardrobe. As far as accessories go, I opted for an opalescent pair of sunglasses and chandelier earrings featuring pearl accents which really tied the two together seamlessly. Lastly, I grabbed a navy bag for a slight contrast and my ensemble was complete! I loved how this look turned out and was happy to challenge myself by creating a cold-weather outfit that didn’t feel weighed down by an abundance of dark shades. Comment below your favorite featured piece and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Shirt- Hunky Dory

Dress- Zara

Boots- Looks Like Summer

Bag- Jeff Wan

Sunglasses- Dezi

In ASM Shop

SPRING BLAZERS!

February 24, 2021 No Comments

As the days get longer and the temperatures slowly begin to rise, we can finally begin transitioning our wardrobes to remove some of the heavier layers. During these transitional seasons, I still like to have some form of outerwear and blazers have always been a timeless go-to. Below I’ve rounded up a few styles that would be perfect for Spring styling, in my opinion! Comment below which piece resonates with you most, and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

In the vault

GIRL BOSS!

February 18, 2021 2 Comments

As the Winter season lingers on it has become increasingly difficult to find outdoor locations to shoot where I don’t run the risk of being absolutely freezing. What makes this task even harder, is that I’m slowly introducing more Spring appropriate items and I’m running out of coats to style them with! After some serious contemplation, shooting underground seemed like the perfect loophole to avoid the harsh temperatures and peel back some of the layers that would otherwise completely cover my outfit. Lately, I’ve really been taking account of the basics that seemed to be missing from my wardrobe. For Christmas I purchased a black coat as a gift to myself, and just recently I ordered my first black blazer. I’ve been looking at this hourglass style for over a year, and finally decided to pull the trigger! What initially intrigued me about this piece was that it seemed to be the perfect balance of classic and modern. It’s no secret that blazers are a timeless outerwear staple, but the shape and structure truly make it a standout item regardless of what it is styled with. In the midst of refreshing my closet with some newness, I also bought a gorgeous blouse that I thought would make the perfect statement as we move into warmer temperatures. However, since we’re not quite there, I decided to pair this printed top with some wide-legged faux leather trousers. I absolutely loved this combination because I feel like the overall ensemble displayed complimentary, yet distinct, masculine and feminine elements. To complete the look and incorporate more colors from my shirt, I added a bright yellow satin mule to further accentuate the juxtaposition of dainty and more tailored garments. After reaching for a few pieces of gold jewelry and my aviator frames to accessorize, I was feeling like the ultimate girl boss! Comment below your favorite featured item and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Blazer- The Frankie Shop

Top- Ulla Johnson

Pants- Zara- similar

Heels- Sam Edelman

Sunglasses- Zara- similar

In the vault

ELEVATED SWEATS!

February 10, 2021 No Comments

I think by now this “quarantine life” has gotten to all of us in some way or another. Up until this point, I had never really worked sweat suits into my everyday style, but now, they’re probably what I wear the most! Being comfortable and casual is pretty much the only way to describe my style these days, so I figured why not lean into it and create a look based on the pieces I find myself in majority of the time. This beige co-ord happens to be one of at least four loungewear sets I’ve purchased over the last 6 months. The neutral color and soft cozy fabric instantly attracted me and I knew I had to have it! While I would easily wear this set around the house as is, complimented by my fuzzy slippers, I decided to challenge myself to style it in a way that was a bit more presentable in the event that I was actually leaving the house. I also recently ordered this hybrid faux leather and camel trench coat which I was dying to style before we transition out of the Winter season. Initially when pairing these items, I was concerned that everything would just blend together because of the similar neutral shades. To prevent this from happening, I knew I had to integrate more contrast so each garment could shine on its own. I started by layering the sweater with a thin grey knit. This broke up the tan hues making a clear distinction between the pieces even though they were so close together. To further separate the coat, I added a chunky gold chain-link necklace to really emphasize the stacked fabrics and add a pop of interest since I was working with a very muted palette. Lastly, I knew I didn’t want to opt for basic black boot, so instead I reached for my favorite snake-print style which added some unexpected color and texture to the overall look. To further elevate the ensemble, I kept on my leather gloves which I felt brought a sense of sophistication and practicality. While I was initially hesitant that this outfit would be too plain, I loved how it turned out and look forward to doing more sweat suit styling challenges as 2021 progresses. Comment below your favorite featured piece and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Coat- Asos

Sweater- Zara

Pants- Zara

Boots- Jeffrey Campbell- similar

Necklace- Zara

In ASM Shop

SPRING TRANSITIONAL PIECES!

February 3, 2021 No Comments

Reaching my limits with this cold weather so to lift my spirits, I’ve been mentally preparing my pre-Spring wardrobe. I still foresee comfortable knits, light layers, and pastel shades making a comeback as they do every year, but I’m also excited to see what new trends come about! Don’t forget to click the images below to shop my picks and until next time!