Ashley

In the vault

FOREVER FEMME

May 10, 2017 1 Comment

Fashion and style in many ways are a universal reflection of our society, and because of that we sometimes see trends appear that directly correlate with the climate of the culture. For decades women’s rights have been a huge topic in politics, and recently it seems as though we have entered a new age of feminism where the notion of “girl power” is at an all time high. That said, it is no surprise that slogan tees with feminist messages have been quite popular among various designers and brands. As a young woman I fully understand and can identify a lot of the challenges we still face to this day in terms of inequality, and because of that I was hesitant to jump on this trend and perpetuate turning this ongoing fight into a shallow fashion statement. After much thought however, I realized that many creatives use their artistic self expression to take a stand and when I purchased this t-shirt I was determined to wear it proudly. I’ve had this distressed denim midi skirt for a few months now so I was absolutely thrilled when I finally found a top to pair it with. Because both pieces are pretty casual, I decided to dress up the look by pairing it with white pumps instead of my go-to sneakers (which I would still totally wear any day, lol). For accessories, I threw on a simple black choker and my prescription frames, but honestly still felt like something was missing. Up until minutes before I was going to shoot this look I felt like I needed a bag or a piece of outerwear to complete it. Finally, I decided to keep it simple and let the ensemble speak for itself. In this case, less was definitely more and I was quite pleased with how it turned out. Leave a comment below on your thoughts about worldly events overlapping with fashion. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Mango

Skirt- Zara

Heels- Zara

Glasses- Versace

In ASM Shop

CHOKER TEES

May 4, 2017 No Comments

Choker tees have become quite popular in the realm of edgy streetstyle lately. I personally love them because they fall right in line with the distressed trend while still adding a casual and effortless vibe to any look. Check out a few of my picks below and don’t forget to click the images for direct shopping links. Until next time!

In the vault

CASUAL FLARE

May 2, 2017 1 Comment

“April showers bring May flowers,” and much needed sunshine! This time of year is always slightly melancholy for me because the excitement of summer is constantly overshadowed by teases of warm weather and mostly grey skies. Unfortunately, when dressing for this season, light coats and jackets are still pretty mandatory so I decided to incorporate one with this look. It was a no-brainer for me to reach for my trench coat as I’ve basically been wearing it consistently on a daily basis. It has definitely become a staple in my wardrobe, (which I love) because it’s neutral tone doesn’t clash with my brighter Spring pieces and it’s the perfect weight for adding a layer of warmth on breezy days. I wanted to keep this look pretty casual overall, so I thought a muted blush graphic tee and mid-wash jeans would be the perfect combo. Both of these pieces, though fairly simple, provide elements of interest with their trendy details. Cut-out graphic t-shirts have been quite popular since last summer and kick-flare trousers are definitely not going anywhere any time soon. Recently I’ve noticed that I have been been attracted to cream shades, so when I saw these suede heeled sandals I had to have them! At first glance, I instantly began thinking of all of the outfits I could style around them and how they would literally go with everything. (TIP: Light colored footwear is the easiest way to transition a look from Fall/Winter to Spring/Summer.) To finish off the look, I threw on my aviator sunglasses which subtly complimented the gold hardware on my coat and was out the door! For me, this is the perfect Springtime weekend look and I look forward to styling many more this season. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Coat- Massimo Dutti

T-shirt- Topshop

Jeans- Zara

Heels- Zara

In the vault

CREAM-POP

April 27, 2017 2 Comments

With the temperatures in the northeast finally starting to consistently feel like Spring, I thought it was only right that I take advantage of the warmth and sunshine and break out a few new pieces I’ve recently purchased. It’s no secret that the ruffle trend is literally EVERYWHERE and not going away any time soon. Retailers and designers have done an amazing job creating pieces that can suit the style of the more subtle fashionista, to the most dramatic. Since I find myself to be somewhere in the middle, I gravitated towards this flowy blouse with layered, ruffle sleeves. While this piece came in many different variations, from button-up options to even A-line dresses, the movement and simplicity of this top had me sold. The great thing about white tops is that they can go with just about anything; the downside however is that it leaves you with endless options when trying to style an outfit. After a few weeks of pondering, I came across this beautiful cream colored, woven skirt and fell in love! This piece incorporates so many of my favorite details, from the length, to the laced up drawstring, and raw unfinished hem; I just couldn’t resist! Because I wanted to tailor this look to our current season and not go too Summer-y, I decided to style it with ankle boots instead of any open-toed footwear. I loved how the brown tortoise heel added some warmth to the ensemble while still contrasting nicely with the lighter tones. To complete this look, I threw on a hot pink cross-body bag for a fun pop of color and was ready to roll! I was actually pretty shocked by my interest in this bag as I’m usually not the “pink,” type of girl. That said, it’s always nice to step outside of your comfort zone every now and then and try something new; you might be surprised. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Skirt- Mango

Boots- Topshop

Bag- Calvin Klein

In diary

“THEY”

April 25, 2017 2 Comments

“Nothing worth having comes easy,” is what they say. That said, the impatient part of me can’t help but feel as though I will never reach the level of success I am striving so hard for. So what does one do? “Never give up,” is what they say, but being terrified of failure and disappointment sometimes distracts me from my goals. So, now what? ‘”Good things come to those who wait,” is what they say, yet at this point the frustration is unbearable. As a creative, it becomes draining when you begin to feel as though your efforts are never being recognized and appreciated in the way that you think they should; but then you realize why you started. I started my blog to give myself and others an outlet that can provide positive inspiration and hopefully fairly useful information on a topic that I am passionate about. That being said, I am also human; and trying to thrive in an over-saturated, highly competitive industry can sometimes breed feelings of insecurity and doubt. I heard an individual say once, “In order to be successful, you must learn from your peers and compete only with yourself.” That stuck with me because a lot of times, especially in the age of social media, it’s easy to get thrown off your course by following someone else’s progression and losing sight of your own. Coming into the second year of running A Styled Mind, I can proudly say that I have learned so much and grown in ways that I never could have predicted; all from doing something that I love. While I continue to be a work in progress, I will remain focused and optimistic about my blogging journey and appreciate all of the checkpoints (no matter how minuscule they seem, lol) along the way. Because like they say, “if everything came easy, there would be nothing to appreciate;” right? Until next time!

In ASM Shop

BLEACHED DENIM

April 20, 2017 No Comments

On the heels of the distressed denim trend, it seems as though the fashion world has decided to take it one step further and add bleach to the mix. While this is not something I’ve seen consistently since the early 2000’s, it seems as though bleached denim pieces are reappearing in retailers and planning to make bold statements for the Spring & Summer. Check out the pieces I’ve gathered below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Happy shopping; until next time!

In the vault

BACKIN’ OUT

April 18, 2017 1 Comment

Have you ever styled and wore an outfit that you felt was so perfect, nothing could affect your mood for the entire day? Well, that is exactly how I felt the beautiful morning that we shot this look! I am regularly shopping for new pieces to showcase on my blog and during one of my more impromptu trips, I came across these bleach dipped jeans. To be honest, I was a bit unsure about them at first as I didn’t know how much wear I would realistically get out of them. That said, after a few at home try-ons and a second trip to exchange them for the correct size, I had fallen completely in love! I may go on record to say that these are probably the chic-est pair of jeans I own. From the straight fit, to the raw hem and unique eye-catching details, there are endless possibilities with these denim beauties and I can’t wait to wear them throughout the Spring and Summer months. While I was off to a good start with my bottom piece, I knew that trousers this good needed a special top to pull the look together. I had been eyeing this blouse online for a few weeks and watched it go in and out of stock several times before taking the plunge. For me, when I decide to splurge on pricier garments they have to meet the following criteria: fit, fabric, and versatility. There’s nothing wrong with spending a little extra on an item but it’s important to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth and that the construction of the piece is in fact worth the inflated price point. Seeing as how I really wanted to make sure that this was the best top to compliment my jeans, I did something I rarely do and tried on both pieces together in the dressing room. While I hate the hassle of trying things on, I loved the instant gratification of knowing that I had two amazing pieces that looked great together and could easily mesh with the items already in my wardrobe. In efforts to keep the look light and fresh, I stayed away from black accessories and opted for nude heels along with my navy cross-body bag. To finish off the look, I threw on my gold aviator frames complimented by a bright orange lip and was ready to enjoy the day. There’s nothing much left to say about this look except for the fact that I am just as obsessed with it now as the day I wore it! If you like this look and you’re excited that it finally feels like Spring, leave a comment below. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Topshop

Jeans- Zara

Heels- NastyGal

Bag- GiGi New York

In ASM Shop

SWEATSHIRT DRESSES

April 13, 2017 No Comments

When in a hurry or just not feeling up to styling multiple pieces, a sweatshirt dress can easily become your new go-to. The over-sized sweatshirt has become a staple among streetstyle trends and definitely a new favorite of mine. I love the sporty and casual vibe it brings while still being simple enough to pair with any shoe or accessory in your closet. Check out some of my picks below and don’t forget to click the images to shop! Until next time!

In the vault

HOLY CAP!

April 11, 2017 2 Comments

If I had to describe “streetstyle” in three words I would probably say edgy, cool, and effortless; and if I’m being honest, these were the words that I had in mind when styling this look. I bought this sweatshirt dress a couple months back and while I knew I absolutely loved it, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with it. What I did know however, is that I wanted to save it for a sunny Spring day and this past weekend ended up being the perfect opportunity to bring it out. After toying back and forth with ideas of dressing this piece up and down, I finally decided to go for a more casual look. In my opinion, nothing screams warm weather like a pair of white sneakers, so I pulled out my all time favorite leather high-tops to compliment this look. While I would totally rock this look with bare legs, I felt like something was missing so I grabbed my fishnets for bit of edge and interest. To balance out the skin being shown on my lower half and be prepared for the still slightly unpredictable weather, I grabbed an old light wash denim jacket with lace detail. Finally, to complete this look and add to my “cool” factor, I threw on a mauve toned suede cap and was ready to go! I love ensembles like this because they prove that you can take a few basic items with minimal effort and still head out into the world feeling confident and stylish. If you’re a fan of this look as much as I am, leave a comment below and tell me your thoughts! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Urban Outfitters

Dress- Zara

Tights- Urban Outfitters

Sneakers- Converse

Hat- H&M

In ASM Shop

PATENT PIECES

April 6, 2017 No Comments

Patent pieces have become increasingly popular and trendy in the fashion world lately. Whether on the runway or at your local retailer, you can find this fabric on almost every garment from major statement pieces to accessories. Check out the pieces I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Happy shopping!