A Styled Mind
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Ashley

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ASM X REEL

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Can you believe it’s already August?!?! The Summer is flying by and it won’t be long before we’re all transitioning into our layered looks and craving pumpkin lattes; but let’s enjoy the moment, shall we? I purchased this white frock a few weeks ago and honestly had no immediate plans of styling it. I simply loved the minimal nature of this piece and how it combined the classic elements of the collared shirt with the modern twist of an asymmetrical hem. Finally, the right moment presented itself and I knew that I had to act fast if I wanted to showcase this tunic before the season came to an end. It’s no secret that I prefer heels to flats majority of the time. That said, if I’m going to wear a flat shoe chances are it is a neutral sneaker of some kind. I now have three pairs that I rotate within my day to day wardrobe and they are all either black, white, or a combination of the two. After a few months of contemplation, I bit the bullet and decided to jump on the Van bandwagon. I was initially hesitant because I wasn’t sure if this style of sneaker would suit me or work with my personal style– needless to say, I was completely wrong. Funny enough I felt like such a “cool kid” wearing them, I couldn’t believe I had waited so long to give them a try! With my look nearly complete it was time for accessories. I recently collaborated with the brand called Reel which is a platform designed to promote guilt-free shopping while helping you save for the items of your dreams! I tried this service out for myself and couldn’t have been more pleased with my experience. I loved that I had full control over the amount I was putting aside as well as the length of time I planned to save for. This truly made for a low-stress and pressure free environment to spend at will. I decided to save for a new card holder and with constant email updates every step of the way, I had my luxury item in my possession before I knew it! I highly recommend giving Reel a try and for some added incentive you can use my code ASM15 for a $15 credit on any Reel of $100 or more! To really show off my new gem, I thought it would be fun to have it displayed front and center through this vinyl clutch. To further coordinate with the clear accents, I added a pair of rounded sunnies which really tied the look together and solidified the effortlessly casual look I was going for. I hope to get in a few more Summer looks while the weather allows it, so stayed tuned for what’s to come! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Zara

Sneakers- Vans

Bag- Zara

Card Holder- YSL

Sunglasses- & Other Stories

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In ASM Shop

DARK FLORALS

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When styling prints I’ve always had a preference towards darker florals. They always seem to create eye-catching moments while still remaining neutral enough to wear in a variety of ways. Below I’ve rounded up a few pieces that have caught my eye lately. Don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

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In the vault

FOREVER FLORAL

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While I consider my style to be pretty versatile, there are a few pieces that I tend to repeat and can’t seem to get enough of. I’ve never been one to shy away from prints; the most prevalent in my wardrobe probably being florals. I honestly don’t know what it is about a dark floral pattern that always seems to pull me in and immediately want to style whatever item they are featured on. Most commonly, and probably the easiest garments to style would have to be dresses. I don’t think I need to reiterate exactly what makes them one of the most effortless pieces you can wear, but it’s no secret that a floral frock can have you looking put together in a matter of minutes! This one for instance had all the eye-catching elements I would look for when purchasing a focal piece; so much so that I barely had to put in any additional effort to complete the ensemble. The patchwork print, scoop neck, and neutral buttons down the front really made this dress everything I could have asked for and more! The only detail that I was not so keen on was a sash that came tied around the waist. In my opinion, the idea of a belt for this look was totally unnecessary and slightly overkill. Luckily, it was removable so I decided to use it as an extra accent on my bag strap to further compliment the dress. I wanted to keep the Summery feel while still adding a bit of edge, so I felt like this structured wicker and leather cross-body was the best option. I then completed the look with my favorite minimal mules and was out the door! While I do love dressing up, every now and then I like to style easy looks that require minimal thought and easily come together without a lot of fuss. This outfit is the epitome of that and I was absolutely thrilled with how it turned out! I’m also looking forward to styling this dress with thigh high boots and a leather jacket in the Fall, so stay tuned. Until next time!

 

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Free People

Bag- Free People

Heels- Topshop

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In ASM Shop

PENDANT NECKLACES

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Though I’m not the biggest jewelry wearer, I’ve recently begun experimenting with new pieces and broadening my accessory horizons. I’ve always been the type who preferred to let the clothing speak for itself without all the add-ons. That said, I can now see a place for them in my personal wardrobe, if done subtly of course. Below I’ve rounded up a few pendant necklaces that have caught my eye and I could see myself styling on a regular basis. Don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

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In the vault

SUMMER FRIDAYS

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In the corporate world, the Summer season is a time where the office finally begins to calm down a bit. Everyone is scheduling their vacations, leaving work early for happy hours, and if you’re lucky, making the most of Summer Fridays. While I tend to keep my work life and blog separate, I wanted to style a look that intertwined the two and represented my day to day attire. I decided to create an ensemble that gave a playful take on the business casual look, but was more fitting for social events after hours. More times than not, I usually gravitate towards trousers for the workplace. I’ve also noticed my collection of dress pants rapidly growing over the years with various styles that all seem to contain some form of interest whether it be through color, pattern, or even texture. When I came across this vibrant salmon colored pair, I was immediately intrigued by the classic tapered silhouette and knew they would be a wonderful closet addition. Another popular article of clothing I always reach for is the button up shirt. In my humble opinion, you can never have too many white button-ups (or downs), and I have more than enough to prove it! I love that they each have their subtle differences that make them unique and give a different vibe to each look they are paired with. For instance, it was only until I got very close that I noticed the faded stripes of color that gave a refreshing modern twist on an otherwise basic wardrobe staple. Because I was working with an overall pastel palette, I wanted to accessorize with something that wouldn’t darken the look and add an unnecessarily harsh contrast. Instantly, my favorite pair of metallic heeled sandals came to mind and ended up being the perfect piece to complete this look. To further play off of the shiny accents, I threw on some silver bangles and a gorgeous turquoise pendant necklace for some final feminine touches. I was gifted these pieces by my Father from a recent trip to Mexico, and while I was unsure of how I would style them at first, I don’t think I could have picked a better outfit to showcase them with. Let me know in the comments how you spend your Summer Fridays and how you would describe your go-to style at work. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Shirt- Topshop

Trousers- Topshop

Heels- Zara

Necklace- Similar Here

Bracelet- Similar Here

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In the vault

SUMMER SALES

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Living in the northeast, Summer styles and trends are not very practical year-round. That said, I always like to take advantage of the annual sales and use it as an opportunity to finally purchase the seasonal items I’ve had my eye on for a fraction of the price. Below I’ve listed 10 brands (that I personally love), whose sales are still ongoing; thank me later! Until next time! 🙂

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In ASM Shop

CROCHET LACE TOPS

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Crochet lace, and lattice tops have been popping up in most retailers lately and have become quite the trendy item this season. Though skeptical initially, I can now say that I am definitely a fan of these intricate garments! Especially during the warmer seasons, they provide a chic edge to any look while instantly looking put together and staying cool due to the perforated design —so what’s not to love? Below I’ve rounded up a few variations that have caught my eye recently. Don’t forget to click the images to shop my pics; until next time!

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In the vault

HEATWAVE

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After experiencing a Winter that felt like it would never end and wildly inconsistent temperatures, it appears that half way through the year we have FINALLY received the stable Summer weather we’ve all been looking forward to. At this point, while it can become slightly unbearable at times, I choose to not complain and make the most of it! In my personal experiences, I’ve found that most fashion lovers are generally not very fond of this season when it comes to styling outfits; which is totally understandable being that staying cool and comfortable tend to be top priority when getting dressed. While I do share the same sentiment, I also love a good challenge! Upon finding these printed shorts I initially knew I liked them, however I wasn’t sure how they would look with my skin tone or what I would pair them with. That being said, the paper bag waist and thin linen-like fabric definitely made them a potential staple when it came to shopping for this ensemble. Because the bottom half was fairly muted, I wanted to make sure that I completed the look with pieces that would pop and create a contrast that also highlighted the pattern on the shorts. Recently I’ve noticed a lot of lattice cut out tops and blouses on the market and while I wasn’t sure if they’d actually fit my personal style, I was willing to give this one a try. To my surprise, though these two pieces may seem like an odd pair, somehow they provided the exact juxtaposition I was looking for! Due to the abundance of intricate details in the top alone, I knew I didn’t have to worry about accessorizing very much. I kept it simple with a pair of stud earrings and some white heeled sandals to tie everything together. Personally, I am quite a fan of how this look turned out and am definitely looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and pairing pieces that may not seemingly fit together at first glance. Let me know in the comments how you would’ve styled these shorts and if you would rock my look. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top: Mango

Shorts: Zara

Heels: Topshop

 

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In ASM Shop

BARDOT DRESSES

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Whenever I think of the Bardot silhouette, the romance of Spanish culture comes to mind. There are very little styles in fashion that look flattering on a variety of people, and this is definitely one of them. Below I have rounded up a few frocks that I would definitely enjoy styling this season. Don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

 

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In the vault

NEUTRAL GROUND

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After about a month’s break from my usual photo shoot routine due to recent collaborations, I’d say I was a bit nervous to get back into the swing of things. Per usual, I let my anxiety get the best of me and had a few doubts that I would be able to jump back into the groove and produce outfits that I loved. That said, the worrying was in vain and I was completely thrilled with the outcome! It’s ironic because I had been holding off on shooting at this specific location as well as styling this dress for a few months now. Luckily, it seemed like the “right” time finally presented itself and everything came together seamlessly. As I was working with a pretty neutral color palette, I knew I wanted to keep my accessories toned down without being overly “matchy,” yet still eye-catching. On a separate shopping trip however, I came across this brown cross-body with gold details; and it was then that I decided to coordinate with the metallic accents to complete the ensemble. I found a gorgeous pair of strappy heeled sandals that fully encompassed the dainty, feminine vibe I was going for. I was also able to make use of a pair of statement earrings from my own closet that pulled everything together with ease. I’ve mentioned in the past that I tend to go through phases where I collect a certain item of clothing or accessory with each season, and recently I couldn’t help but notice my sunglasses collection rapidly expanding before my eyes. Of course, with it being Summer, sunnies are pretty much a staple with every ensemble and this one was no exception! As soon as I saw this pair of tortoise cat-eye frames, I knew they’d make the perfect final touch for this look and I couldn’t have been more right (if I do say so myself, lol). I loved the way this look turned out and quickly regained my confidence with regard to this whole blogging thing. I think it’s important to take notice of our strengths and remember that while breaks may occur, talent will never waiver so long as the passion is there. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- WAYF x Nordstrom

Bag- BP. x Nordstrom

Heels-  Zara

Sunglasses- Zara

Earrings- Aldo

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