Ashley

In the vault

BEACH PLEASE

May 3, 2018 1 Comment

Now that the temperatures have FINALLY begun to remain consistently warm and “Spring-like,” it’s only natural that thoughts of vacations and summer Fridays become more of a priority. As a person whose mood is greatly affected by the weather, I am definitely excited for the increase of sunshine and abundance of social events that these next few seasons bring. While browsing the shops for inspiration, I didn’t even plan on buying anything but of course ended up spotting a piece that I couldn’t resist! This blue and white striped blouse fit so perfectly, I was actually tempted to wear it out of the store (after paying for it obviously, lol). There was something about this piece that just made me want to book a weekend getaway and relax by a beautiful body of water. I also loved the trendy under-wire design that added a chic structure and uniqueness to the top; setting it apart from the average button-up. Since I felt like I had already found the main focal piece of the ensemble, the challenge now was to find complimentary items to complete it. At first, I thought about settling for a pair of jeans or a cream colored skirt to highlight the stripes, yet after trying both of those options I wasn’t quite satisfied. Since I liked the look of the mini skirt however, I thought that a black version would make for a better contrast; and after trying it on I was instantly sold! Having a darker piece on the bottom really allowed the top to stand out while still adding balance to the overall look. In efforts to keep things streamlined and sleek, I chose to incorporate my new pair of black flatform sandals for casual touch. I also want to point out that these may be the most comfortable pair of shoes I own to date! Though I loved the look as is, I definitely wanted to add a few accessories to emphasize the Spring/Summer vibe I was going for. It took me quite awhile to jump on the straw bag trend because frankly, aside from being cute in photos, I couldn’t justify them as a practical investment. That being said, when I came across this round version and saw the intricate detailing, I figured it was finally time to get on board. Since I had the beach element down, I also decided to add a pair of black chandelier earrings for some unexpected sparkle. Lastly, on the day of my shoot, I completed the look with a pair of geometric sunnies and I couldn’t have been happier! I’m a HUGE fan of how this look came together and know for a fact I’ll be wearing it again, as well as the pieces individually, for as long as the weather will allow. Let me know your favorite item from this look in the comments below. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- & Other Stories

Skirt- Urban Outfitters

Sandals- Cole Haan

Bag- Topshop

Sunglasses- Quay Australia

Earrings- Aldo

In ASM Shop

WARDROBE STAPLES

May 1, 2018 No Comments

What’s one thing a t-shirt, jeans, a blazer, and white sneakers all have in common? Well aside from being articles of clothing, I think they also share the commonality of being wardrobe staples. In my opinion, both men and women should keep these 4 items in their closets at all times as they can easily be the foundation to any ensemble for most occasions. Check out the items I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

In the vault

UNCONVENTIONAL BASICS

April 26, 2018 4 Comments

I don’t know about you but whenever I’m having trouble deciding on what to wear for the day, I like to go back to my most basic pieces and build from there. In this case, I opted for a classic pair of light wash denim jeans, and a white button up; something I’m pretty positive we all currently own. I also feel like this is one of the fool proof combinations perfect for entering the spring and summer seasons as it always looks refreshing and timeless. On my search to find pieces to complete this look, I honestly didn’t have much in mind but knew I wanted something vibrant and different. It didn’t take long before I stumbled upon a multicolored beaded bralette with intricate embroidered details. Because this piece had so much going on, I figured it would it would be the perfect item to layer over my stark shirt to give the ensemble a bit more interest. Another plus to styling heavily embellished garments is that you can easily eliminate the hassle of finding accessories, as the focus will remain on that eye-catching piece. Though I opted to forgo a bag, I still wanted to complete the look with something that tied the ensemble together seamlessly. I suddenly remembered a pair of satin heeled sandals I had purchased last year that perfectly highlighted the bright tangerine hues in my top; and with that final touch, the look was complete! All in all, this look was pretty easy to pull together and it just goes to show why certain pieces have remained the foundation of a lot of our wardrobes (including myself). At the end of the day you can never go wrong with jeans and a top! So let me know in the comments below how often you incorporate these closet staples into your weekly looks! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- H&M

Bralette- Zara

Jeans- Topshop

Heels- & Other Stories

In ASM Shop

BOLD SNEAKERS

April 19, 2018 No Comments

Truthfully, though I am a person with a fairly limited sneaker collection, I can absolutely appreciate the effortlessly cool vibe they can bring to any ensemble no matter how formal. Whether with dresses, skirts, or even suits, I can honestly say I’ve become a fan of the juxtaposition they bring and plan to experiment with more trainers when styling my looks this year. Check out the pairs I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

In the vault

MODERN MATCHING

April 18, 2018 4 Comments

There’s something about the combination of feminine and sporty that I’ve really grown to become a fan of. I think it’s something about the juxtaposition of pieces that adds an unexpected twist to any ensemble, leaving it slightly more intriguing than a look containing one cohesive style genre. I came across this particular dress during one of my visits to see my parents and knew instantly it would make for an incredible blog post. The bold color, dainty floral pattern, cut and fabric, really checked off every box for me in terms of being an item I knew I had to have. Though I didn’t leave with the gorgeous frock that particular day, I made sure to pick it up as soon as I got back to NYC! Upon trying it on, I was instantly drawn to the romantic feel of the piece as well as the effortless movement the dress created as I walked. That being said, since it was such a feminine item, I knew I wanted to incorporate something that was a little different; however I wasn’t exactly sure how it would manifest. After a few trials of different heeled shoes that were either too obvious or in my opinion underwhelming to the look overall, I remembered I had also just ordered a few pairs of shoes (thanks dad) that would be coming in the mail soon. After receiving the different styles of footwear, it wasn’t until the day of my shoot that I decided to take a chance and finish off the look with a pair of bright tomato colored sneakers. For me, this was a risky move because I wasn’t sure if the ensemble would become over-saturated with color; yet to my surprise, it was the perfect touch! At this point everything was pretty much to my liking but I wanted to add something that would complete the look as well as break up the red hues. The round ring-handled bag I chose was the best accessory I could find as it pulled out the cream shades in the dress’ print and really gave the outfit the pop I felt was missing. With so many favorites to choose from it would be impossible to rank, but this look may definitely take the lead for the Spring/Summer seasons. Comment below your opinion about mixing clothing styles and if you would try a similar look yourself. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Topshop

Sneakers- Cole Haan

Bag- Zara

In ASM Shop

SUMMER SEPARATES

April 16, 2018 No Comments

There’s something so chic and effortless about separates. Aside from automatically having a built-in ensemble, unlike other pieces like dresses or jumpsuits, co-ords also allow immense wardrobe versatility and the option to create a wide variety of looks by mixing and matching the pieces. Below I’ve rounded up some examples of separates I could definitely see myself wearing during the warmer months. Don’t forget to click the images below to shop my picks; until next time!

In the vault

SUMMER SUITING

April 13, 2018 3 Comments

While we have only just begun to get a true taste of official spring weather, the anticipation has prompted me to think of what other clothing items may be on my summer wardrobe wish list. I’ve definitely been loving suits lately and knew that a light co-ord was exactly what my closet was missing. Luckily for me, retailers are quick to display their collections for the upcoming seasons so it didn’t take long to find exactly what I had envisioned! This neutral colored striped suit was right up my alley in terms of tone, fit, and overall design. The double-breasted blazer allowed for a more masculine structure, while the paper bag trousers provided a trendy yet vintage detail. Being that both pieces are so striking together as well as individually, they can easily be worn with other items I already own, which made me love the suit that much more! To keep the focus on the striped set I chose to keep it fairly simple by layering a cut out ribbed t-shirt under the jacket. At this point I was really enjoying the subtle monochrome vibes I was getting from this look. In efforts to keep everything streamlined, I decided to wear a pair of metallic mules which perfectly added a bit of interest, without overwhelming the ensemble. Finally, to continue playing off of the warm golden tones, I grabbed my round frames for a final touch. Overall, I loved how this look came together despite freezing during the actual photo shoot. The sandy hues definitely made me want to go on vacation and relax in the chicest way! Let me know in the comments below how you feel about summer suits and if they’re something you would rock this year. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Blazer- Topshop

Trousers- Topshop

Mules- Cole Haan

Sunglasses- NYS Collection

In ASM Shop

SPRING JACKETS

April 7, 2018 No Comments

I love the mildly temperate seasons because they still call for light layering which can elevate an outfit without it feeling too weighed down. Below I’ve rounded up a few Spring jackets that have caught my eye and resemble styles I may already have versions of in my current wardrobe. Don’t forget to click the images below to shop my picks. Until next time!

In the vault

PASTEL POWER

April 5, 2018 2 Comments

Despite Mother Nature being extremely uncooperative, it has not stopped me from attempting to style some Spring ensembles. Once again I collaborated with another fellow blogger, Jahira, and we chose to stick with the theme of pastels. It’s to be expected that every year around this time, retailers everywhere become flooded with colorful pieces that get everyone excited for the warm weather to come. After a bit of shopping, I decided on a mini-dress with a multicolored print and lace detailing on the sleeves. Though fairly dark overall, I knew this would be the perfect frock to layer under my over-sized parka. Surprisingly, I ended up purchasing this blush colored jacket back in December during a major sale, and just knew it would come in handy once the weather finally broke. To keep a sense of cohesiveness, Jahira and I both let our pastel garments remain the focal point by pairing them with other black pieces. For footwear, I chose a simple sock bootie with an exaggerated zipper for a bit of extra edge. I also grabbed my favorite aviators because despite it being fairly cloudy on this particular day, I am definitely looking forward to embracing the sunshine soon. All in all, I loved how our looks complimented each other and look forward to the day when I can comfortably wear this outfit without shivering. Comment below your favorite pastel color to style and how you’d wear it. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Zara

Dress- & Other Stories

Boots- Topshop

Sunglasses- Celine

Earrings- Express

In ASM Shop

LAVENDER LOVE

March 31, 2018 No Comments

It seems as though the color lavender has been the hue of the season and possibly the year thus far. While I am not the biggest pastel wearer, I love this soft feminine shade and have definitely stepped outside of my comfort zone to incorporate it into my Spring wardrobe. Check out some of the pieces I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!