Ashley

In the vault

PONCHO PERFECTION

December 8, 2015 3 Comments

Prior to this year, I was never a “poncho wearer.” Personally, I really didn’t see the need or use for them in my wardrobe, but after some careful fashion research and experimentation of my own, I finally see what I’ve been missing! Aside from being trendy, ponchos are quite practical when it comes to layering throughout the seasons. While they can serve as light layers in the spring and fall seasons, worn similarly to how I have styled the look for this post, they can also be layered more heavily. For example, during the winter months, you could layer a poncho over a sweater and leather jacket combo for an extra warm, “Lenny Kravitz-esque” look. The poncho I have styled is consisted of warm fall tones that perfectly compliment the fallen leaves around the city but not to fret, if this color palette is not to your liking ponchos come in a variety of textures and colors in almost all trendy retail stores. To balance the loose fit of my outer layer, I opted for a form fitting top with lace-up detail (another very trendy item), high wasted jeans “Mom jeans,” and my favorite Topshop tortoise heel boots. So, if you couldn’t tell by this post I am definitely sold on the poncho trend. I mean, who doesn’t love a blanket they can walk around in all day?!

Outfit Details & Links:

Poncho- Zara

Top- H&M

Jeans- Urban Outfitters

Boots- Topshop

In ASM Shop

HOLIDAY WISHLIST

December 3, 2015 1 Comment

Since I am in full “holiday mode,” I thought it would be cool to put together a little wishlist of a few of the items I will be asking Santa for this year! 😉 These items range in price and hopefully can help if you need some ideas on what to get the little fashionista in your life. With Christmas and Hanukkah right around the corner, the time to find heartfelt gifts for loved ones is now; so what are you waiting for?! Tis the season to shop til’ you drop! Happy holidays!

(Don’t forget to click the images to shop the items below!)

In the vault

HOLIDAY HYPED

December 2, 2015 1 Comment

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am a true holiday fanatic! The weeks leading up to Christmas is probably one of my favorite times of the year, and living in New York I get my full share of the holiday spirit. I am a sucker for all of the decorations, lights, and most importantly the shopping! Though this is not necessarily a “holiday look,” I wanted to show my excitement by doing a shoot in one of the most festive areas of the city: Rockefeller Center. This area truly becomes like something out of a Christmas Carol during the holidays and with the annual tree lighting happening tonight, I just couldn’t resist! Now on to the outfit. This look is minimal and in my opinion consists of a lot of basics that anyone could already have in their closet. The purpose of this outfit was to show that simple pieces can still make a statement. I was beyond excited to debut my satin detailed vest that I was lucky enough to get from the Balmain x H&M collaboration, even after the site crashed. To add a little texture and edge to the look I grabbed my favorite distressed jeans but still kept the look refined with a crisp white button up shirt and closed toe pumps. To me, you can never go wrong with looks like this because they always bring an element of “chic” to any occasion. So are you as pumped as I am for the holidays? Make sure that no matter what your plans are, you enjoy time with your loved ones and look fashionable doing it! 🙂

Outfit Details:

Shirt- Calvin Klein

Vest- Balmain x H&M

Jeans- Urban Outfitters

Heels- Zara

In ASM Shop

Leggings

November 26, 2015 1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving!!! With this being one of the most gluttonous days of the year, I figured leggings would be the perfect piece to focus on this week. I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to feel when reaching for that second or third (or fourth) plate of food is discomfort. The beauty of leggings, aside from their marvelous elasticity, is the fact that they now come in such a variety of textures, prints, and styles that you can always look chic while still being able to breathe. So go ahead and break out your favorite pair of leggings and have a happy holiday with your loved ones! (Don’t forget to click on the images to shop the pieces below.)

In the vault

BOMBER BABE

November 24, 2015 1 Comment

Before it got too cold, I wanted to make sure I styled a true “fall” look and to me, nothing compliments this time of year like a good bomber (or flight) jacket. Bomber jackets have become a true fall fashion staple over the last few years and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a fan myself. I like the edgy vibe that they add to any look, especially when thrown over a dress or incorporated with any outfit involving a pair of heels. I chose to keep my look on the overall casual side by pairing it with a maxi t-shirt dress and accessorizing with a simple beanie and a backpack. For a slight feminine touch and a pop of color I went with a bold red lip as well. To me, this comfy look is great for weekends when running errands, going to the park, or just hanging out with friends and enjoying everything the city has to offer. Bomber jackets come in all colors but I’m definitely a fan of the classic olive green myself. Either way, I definitely think every fashion girl or guy should own one and if you don’t already; what are you waiting for?!?

Outfit Details:

Hat- Obey

Jacket- Urban Outfitters

Dress- Zara

Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell

Backpack- Zara

In ASM Shop

Wide-brimmed Hats

November 19, 2015 No Comments

As the colder seasons draw nearer and less skin can be shown, in order to make a statement one must rely on outerwear and accessories; and one of my favorites has to be hats! I love hats because aside from being practical, they are also extremely versatile and can transform your look in so many different ways. During the fall, you can never go wrong with a sturdy wide-brimmed hat and a wool coat. Below are some eye-catching hats I came across that will be sure to make a statement as well as keep you looking on trend and put together during the fall and winter. (Don’t forget to click the images to shop the product!)

In the vault

BURGUNDY BLISS

November 18, 2015 4 Comments

I feel like “burgundy” is the color probably most associated with the fall season. It almost happens on cue; as soon as the leaves begin to change, everything from lipstick and nail-polish to coats and shoes become this beautiful deep wine color. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m a huge fan of the hue and am certainly not complaining; which brings me to this look. I absolutely ADORE this 3-d patterned neck tie blouse, so much, that I decided to use burgundy as my primary color to accentuate it. In true “ASM” fashion, I decided to contrast the dainty top with an edgy, leather pleated mini skirt. In order to keep the look weather appropriate, I kept my legs warm with my thick cotton thigh-high socks and ankle boots. The booties were the perfect addition because they also contained hints of burgundy, just visible enough to tie the entire look together; and with a quick swipe of lipstick I was out the door! I have to say, while this was one of my more feminine looks, I quite enjoyed tapping into my “girly”side for a change. Without discrediting the olives, navys, rusts, and tans of the color spectrum, burgundy is definitely a favorite of mine when it comes to fall. What’s yours??!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Skirt- Urban Outfitters

Socks- American Apparel

Booties- Zara

Bag- Dooney & Bourke

In the vault

SUEDE STYLE

November 14, 2015 3 Comments

After all of the New York Fashion Week madness, I left feeling super excited and influenced by many of the designer collections. This look in particular was directly inspired by the Balmain spring/summer 2016 line. I was in love with the warm brown tones as well as the primary use of the suede fabric. While this look is pretty simple for the most part, I really wanted to emphasize the contrasting textures. As soon as the saw the faux suede leggings I had immediate flashbacks from the fashion show and knew I would have to create a look around them. Since they are such a statement piece, I decided to keep the top pretty basic with a slogan-tee and a black lightweight blazer to add an extra layer for dimension. To finish off the look I decided to add a two-toned wool hat to expand on the color palette and some strappy black heeled sandals for a chic, feminine vibe. I definitely feel like the suede color and fabric is a huge fall staple and these leggings will absolutely be making some reoccurring appearances in my future outfits. As far as accessories go, we all know I like to keep them minimal, but throwing on a nice wide-brimmed hat is a great way to add a little trendiness to any outfit and look more put together. Balmain has been making quite a bit of noise with this year’s fashion week, as well as with their recent H&M collaboration and all I can say is, I’m loving every minute of it! Until next time friends.

Outfit Details & Links:

Longline Blazer- Urban Oufitters

T-shirt- Zara

Leggings- Zara

Heels- Zara

Hat- Zara

In ASM Shop

Patchwork Patterns

November 12, 2015 No Comments

The patchwork trend has always been a popular design when mixing and matching different prints and/or textures, but this year in particular it seemed to really take off. I first started seeing the patchwork design become increasingly popular in regards to the 70’s trend, mostly on suede mini skirts. Since then though, brands and retailers have been using the pattern on various types of garments and including many different fabrics such as wool, leather, and even fur. So far, I haven’t grown tired of it yet and personally think that there is a patchwork piece out there for everyone no matter what your style is, so go find it! (Don’t forget to click on the images to shop the products below.)

In the vault

LEATHER+KNIT

November 9, 2015 4 Comments

Ok guys, I have a confession to make. I think I might be (faux) leather OBSESSED! Leather has always been one of my go-to fabrics when the temperatures begin to drop but this season my love for it has reached an all-time high and I simply just can’t get enough. I have to literally stop myself from ripping every leather item off the racks and running to the register with it, sad I know. For this look, being that it consisted of three statement leather pieces, I had to strategically assemble it so that it was not overwhelming. In my opinion, a good way to successfully wear items of the same fabric at once is to make sure that the pieces are spread apart and/or differ in color. I attempted to practice both methods in creating this ensemble. Because it was a warmer fall day, I was able to use my bare legs as a barrier between the green leather mini and the leather ankle boots (tights or fun socks could also be added on cooler days). I also added a light grey men’s turtleneck (thanks Dad) to brighten up the look as well as separate the leather texture of the backpack against the other pieces. This look was simple, chic, and comfortable; an all-around fashionable win if you ask me! Unfortunately, I don’t know how I’m going to get past my leather addiction but the first stage is acceptance…..right? 😉

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Calvin Klein (via Dad)

Skirt- Zara

Boots- Topshop

Backpack- Topshop