Ashley

In the vault

STRIPES + FRILLS

July 25, 2017 2 Comments

Getting dressed during the Summer can easily become repetitive and boring; I mean, how many dresses and tank-top/short combos can one wear?? That being said, there are ways to keep your outfits fresh and fun and it all boils down to FABRIC. Choosing items made of lightweight, breathable fabrics can allow you to play around with your style and even do some minor layering without overheating. For this particular look, I chose to build around these amazing high-waisted striped culotte trousers. Culottes are a great option for the warmer months because their loose fitting construction can keep you cool while still looking chic. Another bonus in regards to these trousers is that they are made of a light linen fabric which keeps the air circulating throughout the garment. I chose to keep my top neutral and show a bit of skin with a bardot style crop top. Because this piece is made of a thin knit material, I was able to comfortably brave the heat despite the fact that it is more form fitting. Being that my color palette was fairly neutral, I thought it would be nice to add a pop of color with my powder blue heeled sandals. Bright colors are pretty much a staple during this time of year so I thought these strappy shoes added an unexpected, yet eye-catching touch. Lastly, no Summer look is complete without a pair of sunnies and I was thrilled to be able to incorporate one my latest purchases. I’m definitely an aviator girl when it comes to sunglasses and these gorgeous ombre frames were right up my alley! Remember, just because it’s hot doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy experimenting with your style. Stay cool, and until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Pants- H&M

Heels- Nastygal

Sunglasses- Celine

In ASM Shop

RING HANDLE BAGS

July 20, 2017 No Comments

Thanks to designers like Stella McCartney and Chloe, ring handle bags have become one of the leading trends when it comes to accessories. I personally love the sleek minimal edge, and classic vibe they provide to any look while still remaining subtle and chic. As I don’t see this trend going away any time soon, check out the bags I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

In the vault

LADY IN RED

July 18, 2017 4 Comments

The hotter it gets, the simpler I want my outfits to be. When shopping in preparation for this shoot, I really didn’t know what I was looking for, however I was certain that I wanted to stay away from prints. After trying on a few pieces, this bold tomato colored midi dress was the unanimous winner! Aside from the stunning color, I loved how simple and elegant this dress was without being too showy. To me, this was the perfect “I have nothing to wear” garment– one of those items that you can throw on with a few accessories, and instantly look put together. Because I wanted to apply the overall effortless and minimal vibe of the dress to the entire look, I chose simple pieces to pair it with. I’ve recently been seeing these cross-body bags with gold ring handles almost everywhere but I wanted to wait until I found the one that best suited my personal wardrobe before hopping on the trend; and it was well worth it! Aside from going with absolutely everything, this bag provides a chic edge to any outfit it is styled with. For shoes, I decided to wear my nude and black block-heeled sandals, which I felt nicely tied all elements of the look together without creating too harsh of a contrast. I was honestly very pleased with how this look turned out and feel like I may want to add a few more dresses in this style to my collection. After all, there’s nothing like feeling easy, breezy, and beautiful on a sunny Summer day. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Topshop

Heels- Urban Outfitters

Bag- Nordstrom

In ASM Shop

FLORAL TOPS

July 13, 2017 No Comments

Floral prints for summer is one of the annual staple trends that will never get old! This time, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite tops in a variety of styles to keep you on trend no matter what your style is. Whether boho, classic, trendy, or minimal, everyone can rock a print that fits their wardrobe needs. Don’t forget to click the images below to shop my picks; until next time!

In the vault

VACATION VIBES

July 11, 2017 1 Comment

About a month ago I went on vacation to the beautiful Dominican Republic and though I wasn’t able to shoot much while I was there, I made it a point to capture some of my looks when I returned for the blog. I’m sure we all can agree that floral prints are pretty much a staple during the Spring and Summer months, so it was no surprise that I had to bring at least one patterned piece with me to paradise. Unlike the usual florals I tend to gravitate towards, there was something about this Hawaiian inspired top that I just couldn’t pass up. The vibrant inidgo background color really made the white flowers and yellow details pop, so I knew this piece had to remain the focal point of the look. While I could’ve gone in many directions when styling this outfit, I chose to keep the bottom half more subtle with a black pleated mini skirt that provided a bit movement and texture. Personally, I absolutely love basics with any kind of extra detail that makes it a tad more eye-catching than what’s to be expected. In efforts to increase the effortless island feels, I tied up the shirt in the front and threw on my yellow platform sandals for a bit of extra spice. During this entire shoot, I couldn’t stop spinning and moving around so that the playfulness of the ensemble was really captured on camera. For accessories I only chose to reach for my classic aviators since for me, less is always more especially when it comes to dressing up in the blazing hot temperatures. After doing a trial run during my trip, I was so happy to come back and re-shoot this look. Let me know your favorite types of looks to style while on vacation in the comments below. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Skirt- Express

Heels- Zara

In ASM Shop

SEQUINED PIECES

July 6, 2017 No Comments

When looking to add a bit of pizzazz to an ensemble, there’s nothing like a touch of sequins. Especially during the Summer months, the sparkle from the sunlight can definitely add an eye catching element to event the most simple looks. Below I have rounded up a few of my faves, so don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

In the vault

JUMPSUIT GENIUS

July 4, 2017 3 Comments

There’s nothing like the convenience of a garment that requires minimal effort to style while still looking chic and on trend. I’m basically obsessed with all “one piece” ensembles especially during this time of year– anything from dresses, rompers, and of course jumpsuits! This denim number is one of my latest purchases and truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first. Typically when I think of denim garments in this style, my initial thoughts are of overalls, so I was a bit skeptical when I felt the stretchy elastic-like fabric. That said, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried on this piece and saw that it fit more like a comfortable figure flattering cat suit. This is the perfect item that is versatile enough to dress up for a night out or wear casually with sneakers to run errands. Because I consider denim to be “neutral,” I wanted to style it with a bag that had a bit of interest. To my surprise, I found the cutest hand beaded and sequined pineapple purse that in my opinion was the best accessory to compliment this look. Since I had such a glitzy purse, and didn’t feel the need to wear much jewelry, I just finished off the ensemble with my minimal black mules. This jumpsuit is definitely a piece that I see myself wearing all year round and styling for many different occasions. Let me know in the comments below if you would ever wear a garment like this or if you prefer traditional overalls. Until next time and Happy 4th!!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jumpsuit- Bebe

Heels- Topshop

Bag- Zara

In ASM Shop

BACKPACKS

June 29, 2017 No Comments

With all of the outdoor events that coincide with the Spring and Summer months, it’s important to be hands free as well as carefree without having the extra burden of constantly keeping track of your belongings. Luckily, backpacks can provide that security while still remaining trendy when you’re on the go. I’ve been slowly growing my personal collection each season and may be slightly addicted to the look and functionality of this popular accessory. Below I have rounded up a few of my current favorites so don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

In ASM Shop

TINTED FRAMES

June 22, 2017 No Comments

Tinted colored frames and lenses are one of the biggest trends this season and I am personally obsessed! No matter what shape or style, this is an accessory that can instantly add a cool retro vibe to any look. 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

TINTED LENSES

June 20, 2017 4 Comments

Two thoughts came to mind when I first laid eyes on the dress: “It’s absolutely stunning and it totally reminds me of something that would’ve been worn in the 70’s!” As we all know, I am VERY picky when it comes to the floral prints I wear and typically tend to gravitate towards pieces that I can pair with other neutral items. That being said, deciding to purchase this pleated maxi was slightly out of my comfort zone considering there was no way I could really tone down the vibrant head-to-toe print. All in all, I decided to take the plunge and add this gorgeous dress to my collection. Another thing that is pretty common throughout my style is my love of contrast, so a major selling point for me with this garment was the subtle but edgy rhinestone detailing along the bust and arm seams. In efforts to continue embracing the Summer colors and further accentuate the retro vibe, I purchased a pair of aviators with orange tinted lenses that ended up looking pretty cool if I do say so myself. While paying homage to decades past, tinted frames have become quite popular this year starting with yellow lenses and quickly expanding to pretty much any color you can think of. I’m personally a huge fan of this trend and thought these frames made for the perfect accessory to add to this look. I kept my footwear simple with a pair of minimal block heeled sandals and was good to go! After taking a week’s long vacation, it feels great to get back to posting and I hope you guys like this look as much as I enjoyed styling it! Let me know your opinions in the comments below and whether you think there’s such thing as too much floral, lol. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Bebe

Heels- Urban Outfitters

Frames- Urban Outfitters