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Ashley

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When styling outfits, I’m definitely a fan of mixing textures and recently satin has become one fabric that I’ve been consistently drawn to. Satin shoes in particular always seem to add a delicate, yet feminine element to any look no matter what they’re paired with. Below I’ve rounded up a few options that have recently caught my eye, so don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

I typically put a lot of thought into my locations in efforts to make sure that they really add a level of cohesiveness to the overall photo shoot. On this particular day, I honestly wasn’t feeling my best and felt that my look was somewhat lacking. In efforts to boost my own moral and add interest to the ensemble, the first thing that came to mind was a flower stand. Ironically, in the 3 and a half years that I’ve been blogging and with 99.9% of my shoots being in NYC, I’ve somehow never managed to use this type of setting as a backdrop– but I’m sure glad I finally did! For this look, I decided to go with a color-blocking theme which was surprisingly pretty unintentional. During this shopping trip I wasn’t really sure which direction I wanted to go in so I just ended up grabbing a bunch of pieces that caught my eye and ran to the dressing room. By the time I got there, I had about 7 pairs of trousers and 2 tops. I quickly realized that this pale blue option was my favorite and kept it on as I continued to try on the pants. It actually caught me off guard when I saw this pairing in the mirror as I didn’t expect these hues to go together, but somehow (at least in my eyes) they complimented each other pretty well. At this point, I was a bit stumped on footwear options as I didn’t have anything that exactly matched either piece, and I felt like a neutral like black or white would’ve simply dulled down the entire outfit. That said, on a another spontaneous shopping expedition, I stumbled upon a pair of hot pink satin pumps and instantly fell in love! Though beyond excited about my purchase, even more so because the shoes were on sale, I was still hesitant about whether or not they would look good with my ensemble. Luckily, everything worked out and the heels provided the extra pop I was looking for without clashing with the other colors. To complete the look, I decided to add one more funky twist and threw on my tortoise shell eyeglasses. Being that animal prints can be worn as a neutral, these frames were perfect for adding another unexpected element, while still tying everything together seamlessly. By the time we were done shooting, I was definitely pleased with how this look turned out and would absolutely consider using more floral arrangements in the future! Let me know in the comments your favorite piece from this outfit and if you would’ve styled anything differently. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweater- H&M

Trousers- H&M

Shoes- & Other Stories

Glasses- Miu Miu

While I’m not the biggest jewelry wearer, I was pleasantly surprised when I was invited to the Kendra Scott store to view their 2018 Winter collection and get more familiar with their brand and style. What I loved most about the pieces I saw was the uniqueness of the designs, as well versatility from the most ornate to the minimal and more timeless options. Below I linked a few of my favorites so don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks and if you’re in the NYC area, head to one of their locations to shop first hand. Until next time!

My favorite season is officially here and I am currently embracing all of the Autumnal vibes! This time of year is all about the various brown, orange, plum, and burgundy tones, so it was only right that I kick off this look with that color palette in mind. Though I have been quite vibrant lately, I decided to scale it back and dabble in some deeper shades. As soon as I spotted (haha, get it?) this frock, I knew that it would be the perfect piece to add to my Fall wardrobe. Though mostly black, I thought the addition of the rust colored polka dots, really elevated this dress and made it more eye-catching. The combination of short sleeves, high neck, and asymmetrical hem also added a chic sophistication that truly made this garment a “must-have” for me. In efforts to show off the open-back detail, I decided against a jacket but stayed seasonally appropriate with a pair of heeled sock booties– which are surprisingly a lot more comfortable than they look! At this point I felt like the ensemble was nearly complete, however I still wanted to add something that was a bit of a wild card. Luckily, I stumbled across a small structured bag with a giant tortoiseshell ring detail that perfectly coordinated with the pattern on the dress. To finish off the look, I chose to keep my makeup slightly more vampy with a dark lip and bronze eye.  My final accessory was a pair of emerald statement earrings by Kendra Scott, which added another pop of color and added to the Earth tones I featured with this outfit. Let me know in the comments whether or not you’re excited for the change in season, and what Fall/Winter essentials you can’t wait to pull out of hibernation! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Topshop

Boots- Zara

Bag- Free People

Earrings- Kendra Scott

It’s so fascinating to me how often trends evolve and circulate throughout the years in different ways. In the past, I never would’ve reached for a neon piece especially outside of the Summer months. Lately however, I’ve been feeling experimental and gravitating towards vibrant colors more than ever! Check out some of the neon garments I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

I feel like this season more than ever, I’ve been really open to trying out different trends. It just seems like a lot of the popular statement making pieces thus far have been right up my alley, and it’s been very easy to incorporate them into my current wardrobe. Honestly, every item in this look can be classified as “on-trend,” so let’s just start from the top and work our way down, shall we? Vibrant colors were HUGE this fashion month, so much so that even neon made a come back! Designer brands like Prada incorporated a variety of these shades into their recent designs, with green seeming to lead the pack. For me personally, I like to find pieces that fit the mold without being so trend specific that they can’t be worn once they’re no longer “in style.” Because I’m not the biggest fan of neon, I opted for a chartreuse turtleneck that was just as bold and eye-catching. To compliment this minimal top, I chose a textured snake print mini skirt that served as the perfect neutral. While that statement may be hard to believe, there’s not much that animal prints can’t be paired with as they all usually tend to incorporate shades of black, brown, & occasionally grey. To finish up the look I chose to add stark white accessories instead of my usual darker pieces. (FUN FACT: I bought this clutch in college and it’s made an appearance on my website every year since I’ve started blogging.) With the colder months slowly approaching, I love the idea of including lighter colored items into my Fall/Winter ensembles, aside from the typical black boots and bags. These sling-backs were so interesting to me and the round wooden heel really helped to pull the warm tones out of the skirt and balance the look. To play off of the silver hardware, I threw on my favorite pair of geometric earrings and a pair of clear frames for an extra cool factor. This was definitely one of my more fun looks that really just made me…happy! The vibrancy truly uplifted my mood and made me feel like risk-taking rockstar that could conquer the fashion world– slightly extreme, but you get the point, lol. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried, or are interested in trying any of the trends discussed and list your favorite. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top – & Other Stories

Skirt- Zara

Shoes- Topshop

Clutch- Zara

Earrings: & Other Stories

While I’ve never been one to completely shy away from color, with the exception of floral prints, I generally tend to stick it to one bold shade at a time. Recently however, it seems as though multicolored pieces as well as rainbow patterns have become quite popular on and off the runways. Whether you choose to incorporate this into your ensemble as a whole or with just a few accessories, I decided to round up a few options that could make testing out this trend fairly easy. Don’t forget to click the images for direct links to the products featured and let me know if this is something you would try in the comments below. Until next time!

Coming off the heels of NYFW, I can honestly say that I was truly inspired. So much so, that I wanted to challenge myself by incorporating the vibrant colors I saw on and off the runways into my current Fall wardrobe. I bought this dress in particular for a girl’s trip to Miami, and unfortunately ran out of time before I could wear it. Previously, I would’ve never thought I could style a wrap dress like this, let alone considerate it appropriate for the cooler months in NYC. That being said, I decided to give it a go and ended up being completely in love with the result! Clearly this frock was the focal piece, yet despite the various colors throughout, I decided to play off of the subtle black stripes in the design. Though we are still getting a few glimpses of Summer with the inconsistent forecast, I chose this as the perfect opportunity to dust off my leather thigh-high boots and see if they could still handle these city streets. Styling dark accessories can sometimes become overpowering and make an ensemble feel too weighed down. In efforts to prevent this issue, I made sure to space out the black accent items and find pieces that varied in texture. The belt bag I purchased, while incorporating leather, also had an unexpected suede layer beneath the clasp. Additionally, I also decided to add a hat– I know what you’re thinking, “SHOCKING!” I think it’s pretty evident that I have no problem taking risks with my style or stepping out of my comfort zone when I find a piece that I feel will suit me. The “baker boy” hat trend has been popular since the last Autumn/Winter season, and while I wasn’t the biggest fan at first, this vinyl version really peaked my interest enough to try it for myself. Quite frankly, I’m just happy I was able to make this dress work now instead of having to store it in the back of my closet until next year. With silk & satin also being popular fabrics at the moment, I’m already thinking of ways to re-style this dress for the colder months. I can already picture it with either a blazer on top and/or a thin turtleneck underneath for some extra layers. Let me know in the comments how you would style this dress, or if you have Summer pieces from your own closet that might make their way into your Fall wardrobe. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Asos

Boots- Zara

Hat- Topshop

Belt Bag- Zara

Day 4 started off very grey as the weather was definitely not on our side. During NYFW looking chic pretty much trumps any ounce of practicality, however since the rain came as an unwanted accessory I chose to style an ensemble that had elements of both. After strutting around in heels the last 3 days, I was more than happy to throw on a pair of leopard print booties. To keep up with my theme of incorporating bold colors, I added a red patent leather mini to the mix, and a cream colored open back blouse for a more delicate touch. After grabbing my over-sized leather jacket and cat-eye frames (despite the lack of sunshine), I was ready to head to my first show of the day by the brand, Nonie. It was quite the coincidence that the designs incorporated similarly structured elements to what I was wearing, as well as more feminine pieces such as silk blouses and vibrant wrap dresses. I could honestly picture myself in every garment displayed from this collection and am excited to see what new creations the upcoming seasons bring.

After taking a break for brunch and catching up with more familiar faces, I was able to get a behind the scenes look at all of the preparation that goes into setting up for a runway show. This was my first time going backstage and to have the opportunity to do so before the Ruby Fang presentation, was beyond exciting. Surprisingly, though there was so much going on from making up the models, steaming the garments, and rehearsing the actual order of the walk, there was also a calmness among the room which gave a sense that everyone knew exactly what they needed to get done to have a successful production. I honestly still get amazed by all of the genuine connections I’ve made just from being a part of the blogger/fashion industry and I’m truly grateful for the experiences I’ve had thus far as well as the knowledge I’ve gained along the way.

My last day ended with another fashion week favorite of mine, Dan Liu. He always incorporates theatrics and creates a true story with his shows that make them truly memorable and for me, the perfect note to end my NYFW on. For this show I wore my boldest outfit yet; a bright magenta suit paired with red sneakers and sunnies to match. I layered a lace top under the suit and for maximum color saturation, added a hot pink bag to finish the look. This may have been my most enjoyable season because I told myself from the very beginning that I would not stress myself out. I made it a point to only take on what I could handle and if I missed a show or two, I didn’t allow the fomo or guilt to consume me. It was due to this mindset that I was able to get through the week relaxed and level-headed from start to finish. I’m definitely looking forward to what February has in store as well as the possibility of checking out a few new cities for fashion week next year. I hope you enjoyed my recap and until next time!

 

 

It’s absolutely insane how fast NYFW always seems to creep up on me, take over my life, and then just like that come to an end like nothing ever happened. For me, this season started off pretty mellow with a fun show called “Texture On The Runway” which highlighted both fashion and hairstyles representative of the natural hair brands that wanted to showcase their creativity on the catwalk. This show was all about unity and embracing the unique features that make us all beautiful. I left this event feeling empowered and appreciated by a room full of men/women I didn’t even know, and I wouldn’t have chosen to start my hectic week any other way!

By day 2 the ball began rolling and I was ready to bolt out of work to attend my first official designer shows of the week. Because I have a 9-5, I have to be incredibly strategic with how I plan my schedule so that I don’t become overwhelmed, yet am still able to fit in as many shows as possible. The first show was by the brand, “Afffair,” and the pieces were stunning to say the least! There was a lot of intricate beading and sequins on almost every piece, paired with delicate textures like chiffon which really created a beautiful contrast of structure and movement on the runway. The second presentation was by a more modern brand called, “Athanasiou,” and honestly it was probably one of the most memorable for me. I loved how each piece came with an element of surprise which included either a cheeky slogan, or an elaborate portrait of what appeared to be Renaissance art. There were several pieces from this collection I could’ve easily seen myself styling and turning heads along the way!

Day 3 was my busiest day as well as my most anticipated because it started off with a brand that I was dying to see, “Taoray Wang.” I loved EVERY. SINGLE. THING. about this show! From the tailored co-ords, bright colors, funky belts, and blazers galore, this show displayed feminine chic in the best way possible! This was also the first day I was really able to connect and network with a few fellow blogger babes that I never really get a chance to see outside of this environment. While attending shows maybe the highlight of NYFW, meeting new people and sharing experiences is really the most important part, and what will keep your brand expanding in the long run.

If I had to give another crucial piece of advice for tackling NYFW, I would say, take advantage of the breaks between shows! While it is easy to get caught up in wanting to get the best photos and making sure you are seen as much as possible, forgetting to eat can quickly turn this chaotic time into a nightmare if you don’t make sure to refuel. I personally make it a point to set a budget for food expenses as well as travel because I engage in both more than usual during this time of year. [Sidebar: If you’re in the city I highly recommend trying BEC, whether its fashion week or not; your taste buds will thank me later!] My last few shows of the day were a part of a collective in which several designers (at least 4-5) showcase their clothing lines and/or jewelry on the runway consecutively. I enjoy these shows because you get to see a variety of brands in one location without having to worry about rushing to the next venue across town. The downside to these shows however, is that because there are so many styles coming at you at once, it can be hard to process all of the fine details. All in all, I was beyond satisfied with my first three days of fashion week and I look forward to recapping the following days in part 2! Until next time!