Ashley

In the vault

BELTED

March 21, 2017 1 Comment

As I knew this was going to be my first blog post of the Spring, I wanted to make sure I styled something weather appropriate and fun. I like this look because it is composed pretty evenly of items that I already had in my closet, and a couple new pieces to freshen things up. I recently bought this shirt-dress and really didn’t think much about posting it on my blog; that is, until I found this belt. Within the last 6 months, I’ve really seen the corset belt trend take off. Whether paired over a t-shirt, blazer, or dress, you name it; this trend is definitely not slowing down anytime soon. Personally, I’ve never been much of a belt person but I also never shy away from trying new things. When I saw this piece during one of my shopping trips, I instantly envisioned this top and began building the ensemble in my mind. I decided on the white accessory because aside from moving into the warmer months, I felt like it provided more of a challenge than the usual black options. I kept the rest of the look pretty simple and sleek with black leather leggings and pumps. As we all know I love adding dimension with different textures, and the smooth matte finish against the lighter fabric of the top provided the perfect contrast. At this point, I knew the look was almost complete but I still felt like there were a few elements missing. I decided to play off of the navy stripes in the shirt as well, and added a dark denim choker for a bit of edge and a light puffer jacket as an extra layer. In all honesty I totally forgot about this jacket, which I’ve had since college, but the navy blue sheen provided the most amazing final touch to tie this look together. I must say, after shooting this outfit, I am beyond excited to see what inspiring style and trends this season brings. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Calvin Klein

Top- Forever 21

Leggings- Zara

Heels- Zara

Belt- Zara

In ASM Shop

TRACK PANTS

March 16, 2017 No Comments

Track pants have been a leading force in street-style lately. I love the 90’s sporty/casual vibe they provide to any look no matter what the occasion is, and the effortless versatility that comes with them as well. Please see a few of my picks below and let me know what you think of this trend in the comments. Until next time!

In the vault

BOLD N’ BRIGHT

March 14, 2017 1 Comment

I’ve been noticing a HUGE trend involving primary colors over the last few months. For me, this was not something I could really ever see myself partaking in as I tend to gravitate towards darker, more neutral tones. That said, I purchased these trousers during my fashion week preparation and thought that they would be a nice statement piece to wear to a few shows. As it turns out I ended up loving them, and after being captured wearing them on a few different street-style blog sites(here), I knew I had to style them for a post of my own. Because these trousers are SO bright, I wanted to keep them as the focal point of the look. This is not to say that you can’t pair them with other vivid pieces, but I wanted to keep the look authentic to my personal style. To keep things fairly casual, I paired the trousers with my medium blue chambray top. I thought the combination of these garments really made for a nice transitional Spring look with a tailored flare. For a bit of dimension, I added a lace bralet underneath the top and had the shirt unbuttoned about half way to expose the delicate details. I continued to play off of the black stripe detail on the pants and added a light over-sized cardigan for some added movement. To accessorize, I opted for my frequently used leather quilted purse and my sleek heeled booties for a bit of height. Though fairly minimal, I was quite pleased with how this turned out. With a peachy-nude lip and my gold aviator frames, I was ready for an outdoor brunch with friends or a chic business meeting. I hope you guys enjoyed this look and let me know what you think of the primary color trend in the comments below. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Cardigan- Tobi

Top- Cotton On

Trousers- Zara

Bralet- Urban Outfitters

Shoes- Cole Haan

In ASM Shop

SATIN

March 9, 2017 No Comments

As we are moving into the Spring, it will soon be time to put away our extra layers and heavy fabrics and opt for some lighter, more breathable alternatives. I love satin because of its movement and the soft & shiny texture that provides a luxe dimension to any look. Check out the pieces I have rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

In the vault

SATIN + SUEDE

March 7, 2017 4 Comments

As a style influencer, it’s important to showcase looks for the upcoming seasons before they actually turn, and unfortunately, a lot of times that requires being improperly dressed for the current weather conditions. This past weekend was a prime example of that as I shot a few Spring looks in the below freezing temperatures. What can I say, anything for the love of fashion…right? Anyway, this cropped biker jacket debuted Fall 2016, and actually ended up being one of my Christmas presents last year. From the moment I tried it on in the store, I knew I had to style it for my blog and showcase it’s beauty. It came in couple different colors, and even more now that we are moving into warmer months, but there was something about the grey that drew me in and completely inspired my vision. Aside from the color, the soft suede-like texture is absolutely a dream and an unexpectedly pleasant surprise that receives an overwhelming amount of compliments whenever I wear this item. I didn’t exactly know right away how I wanted to style this piece, but I knew it had to be good, so I waited a few months and FINALLY found the key pieces I needed pull it all together. For about the last six months, I’ve been loving the combination of navy and grey, and it seems that this pairing will continue to make a statement in my wardrobe throughout 2017. While on one of my recent shopping trips, I found this gorgeous satin midi skirt and knew the contrast in textures as well as structure would make for a chic and eye-catching ensemble. At this point, I was still a bit unsure of the top I wanted to wear, but finally decided on a throwback graphic Guess logo tank. Aside from being a super cool homage to the 90’s, I thought this was the perfect piece to add a casual flair to the look and break up the dressier pieces. To finish it all off, I grabbed my black pumps with silver ankle cuff hardware, to compliment my outerwear, and a leather choker for fun. There were so many statement pieces with this look, I didn’t even bother grabbing a bag. I absolutely loved how it turned out and am even more excited for warm weather and fewer layers. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Zara

Top- Urban Outfitters

Skirt- H&M

Heels- Zara

In ASM Shop

HOODIES

March 2, 2017 No Comments

I have currently been utterly OBSESSED with hoodies! Whether worn as a normal sweatshirt under a leather jacket with skinny jeans and sneakers or over-sized as a dress with heels, I literally cannot get enough. I think it’s the effortlessly cool vibe that draws me in, as well as the slightly tom-boyish look this garment provides that is a nice change from my usual style. Check out the super cool hoodies I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!

In the vault

SASSY STAPLES

February 28, 2017 2 Comments

While it may be a wonderful idea to have a killer outfit every single day, in reality, we all have those moments where we truly have no idea what to wear. During these times I tend to stick to the more staple items in my closet; you know, jeans, t-shirts, button ups, etc. That said, there is so much variety in fashion, even your basic pieces don’t necessarily have to be…BASIC. On this particular shooting day, I was going through this exact dilemma and while I didn’t mind reaching for one of my many white tops, I still wanted my look to have a bit of “pizzazz!” At that point, I remembered that I had recently purchased a shirt that was slightly cropped, had elongated sleeves, and a lace-up detail on the back; it was PERFECT. This leads me to my next staple, jeans. While the skinny-fit is probably still one of the most popular, I find that during the day if not worn with heels, it can also be the most casual. In my opinion, other cuts of denim and darker washes usually tend to elevate the ensemble while making it appear more put together; hence why I opted for my favorite (and only) pair of flares. I absolutely love wearing these nautical inspired jeans because they have the perfect snug fit around the hips and make my legs look super long, which is a HUGE plus for us shorter ladies. Simple looks like this allow a lot of room for accessorizing, but as I am still growing my collection, I just grabbed some aviators and threw on a red lip for a pop of color. A statement bag could definitely take this look to the next level, but if you’re feeling as laid back as I was, a leather tote will do the trick just the same. I finished off the look with a pair of black and brown minimal heels and was ready for a day of shopping, brunching, and a nice walk around the city. Never forget, no matter how “basic” or intricate your look may appear, it’s all in the details. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top: Zara

Jeans: Express

Heels: Urban Outfitters

Bag: Baggu

In ASM Shop

SOCK BOOTIES

February 23, 2017 No Comments

Sock booties have become increasingly popular lately and seem to go with just about any outfit. Whether with a skirt or dress, mom jeans or boyfriend cut, this style of footwear never ceases to disappoint. Compared to the traditional more structured boots, I feel as though the sock feature provides a lighter more subtly sleek look. I have rounded up a few of my favorite pairs and encourage you to shop my picks below. Don’t forget to click the images for direct links to the footwear; until next time!

In the vault

SPRING SWEATS

February 21, 2017 No Comments

Truthfully, I haven’t owned a matching sweatsuit since the early 2000’s and if anyone had told me that I would be wearing one in 2017 a few year’s ago, I probably would’ve laughed in their face. As most trends do however, this is another one that has circled back around and into my current wardrobe. Over the last few years joggers and hoodies have become increasingly popular in regards to the more “cozy” street style look; so I suppose it was only a matter of time before matching sets arrived on the scene as well. I bought this particular co-ord set for NYFW and it was both practical for the crappy weather, and surprisingly one of my favorite looks. Aside from being ridiculously warm and comfortable, the chic off-the-shoulder detail of the sweater and lace up trousers with tapered cuffed pant legs, made for the perfect statement but effortless look. The only thing I actually changed when styling this look that differed from what I actually wore during fashion week was my outerwear. Luckily, I shot this on a beautiful 60-degree day which prompted me to make this look a little more Spring appropriate. I opted for my Dad’s authentic Marine Corps jacket and absolutely loved the extra edge and interest that the camo print added to this outfit. As this was such a casual look, I didn’t find it necessary to grab a bag however I did throw on my clear aviator frames to accessorize. In my opinion, this is one of those looks that can easily allow you to feel like the coolest girl in the room no matter what environment you end up in. I have also tried styling this sweatsuit with other footwear options including loafers and sneakers and I loved it just as much! I look forward to getting a lot of wear out of this ensemble and mixing up the pieces individually for other versatile looks. Let me know your opinion of sweatsuits in the comments below; until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Bottoms- Zara

Heels- Zara

Jacket- Vintage

Glasses- NYS

In ASM Shop

GRAPHIC TEES

February 16, 2017 No Comments

I’d be lying if I said I was in any way surprised that graphic tees have once again resurfaced as a trend. There’s something so nostalgic, effortless, and edgy about them that makes it fun to just throw them on with practically anything. What’s also great about these pieces is that you can find them anywhere from the showrooms of well known designers to your local thrift store. Check out the tees I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time!