express – Page 2 – A Styled Mind

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 Collabs

ASM X JORD

December 6, 2016 1 Comment

I’ve stated time and time again that I am not your typical “accessories girl.” I love creating looks with garments that make their own statement and don’t necessarily need a bunch of bells and whistles to come alive. With that being said, when I do come across an accessory piece that I feel would be a nice addition to my wardrobe I look for two key factors, uniqueness and versatility. When I was contacted by the lovely sponsors at Jord to showcase one of their timepieces, I took one glance at the website and knew instantly it would be something I could incorporate into my style. In the past, ironically, I spent a decent chunk of my retail career working for a watch company and not once have I ever come across one made almost entirely of wood. What I like about that feature, aside from the fact that the wood provides an earthy-rustic vibe to any look, is that it’s also surprisingly lightweight and extremely comfortable on the wrist. Another bonus is the neutral brown tone of the band which allows it to be worn with just about anything and perfectly compliments the warm, seasonal Fall colors that we all love! With a wide selection to choose from, I decided to go with a gorgeous mid-toned zebrawood watch with a champagne colored face. I love its over-sized yet sleek, classic appearance that is simple enough to be worn by both women and men. With the holidays quickly approaching and the spirit of giving in our hearts, Jord has taken their generosity to the next level and provided a contest link for all of my readers and subscribers! ALL entrants will receive a $25 coupon code that will be available for redemption until 12/18/16 and will expire 2/28/17. If you’re running out of gift ideas, or simply want to treat yourself, I highly encourage taking advantage of this contest and checking out one of these timeless Jord watches; what do you have to lose? Until next time!

Contest link: https://www.woodwatches.com/g/astyledmind

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweater- H&M

Jeans- Zara

Heels- Express

Watch- Jord

***This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches***
Wooden Wristwatch

In ASM Shop

LACE-UP TOPS

November 17, 2016 No Comments

At this point, most designers have found a way to incorporate the lace up trend onto basically every garment imaginable. For this time of year however, I’ve seen an abundance of tops and sweaters incorporating this trend and fashionistas everywhere (myself included) rocking it to its full potential. Check out a few of the pieces I’ve gathered below, and let me know what you think of this trend! Until next time!

In the vault

LACED UP

November 15, 2016 3 Comments

We have seen the lace-up trend take the fashion world by storm since spring/summer 2015. It was first introduced in the form of bodysuits, but has since expanded into other pieces including dresses, trousers, and a popular favorite, sweaters. Like most, I was quite a fan of this trend and appreciated the extra edginess it gave many otherwise traditional garments that we already know and love. This sweater in particular incorporated a few other trends that made it a “must-have” for me, including the high-low hem, super soft fuzzy texture, and mauve hue. To keep the sweater as the focal point of this look but still add a bit of interest, I decided to pair the top with my vegan leather biker trousers that have remained a fall staple in my wardrobe for about 4 seasons now (sadly, I may have to replace them soon 🙁 ). I decided to keep the rest of my accessories minimal with a solid black choker necklace and my single strap heeled sandals. In order to lighten up the color scheme and balance out all of the black, I decided to throw on an over-sized vintage denim jacket which gave the look a cool, effortless feel. As I’ve stated a million times before, I love allowing my garments to speak for themselves and play up the eye-catching details that make them unique. This is definitely a look that I will be rocking in many different variations this season whether with boots, sneakers, jeans or a trench. That’s the fun part about fashion, the options are endless! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweater- Express

Pants- Urban Outfitters

Heels- Nasty Gal

Jacket- Vintage Gap

In the vault

COURT CHIC

January 19, 2016 2 Comments

This honestly may have been one of the most fun shoots to date. After a gloomy, rainy day, we decided it would be fun to go to a local court and shoot, while shooting…(get it..basketball?). Anyway, we took advantage of the empty space and changed up the dynamic by adding some intense action to our usual photo shoots. The concept actually came together quite nicely since I decided to wear sneakers, (something I’ve been surprisingly doing quite often) and had a very casual vibe going. Looks like these are pretty much my weekend uniform. They allow for you to still be on trend, with the textures and accessories, while also remaining comfortable if you decide to run errands or simply grab coffee with friends. I’ve mentioned before that I love nothing more than a chunky knit sweater during the fall and winter months. They bring such a cozy vibe to any look and provide a great foundation to build upon. Though I wouldn’t classify myself as a “sneaker girl,” I like to have staple kicks in my wardrobe that go with everything, and these Hurraches have become my new favorites. Obviously, you can’t go wrong with black, but they are also extremely lightweight and stylish. So if you like to be weekend casual like me, comment below and tell me your must-have pieces. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Hat- Express

Sweater- Zara

Leggings- Zara

Sneakers- Nike Hurraches

Backpack- Topshop

In ASM Shop

COZY COATS

January 7, 2016 2 Comments

During this time of year it is crucial to stay warm; but who says you can’t look chic and trendy while doing it?! Here are some of the fashionable coats that have caught my eye recently. (Don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks!) Enjoy!

In the vault

DENIM FLARES

October 19, 2015 48 Comments

One of the reasons why I love fashion so much is because it allows for freedom of expression and an overall fun, confidence boosting experience. Yet with that being said, still, “the fashion gods that be” try to attach rules and regulations; but we all know rules are meant to be broken 😉 . For a long time one of the major fashion DON’TS was denim-on-denim. Currently though, it is a trend that is highly celebrated and much less despised…if done correctly of course. In my opinion, the key to successfully executing an all denim look is pairing together pieces that provide enough of a contrast in color, so as not to look like the dreaded “Canadian tuxedo.” I wanted the focal point of this 70’s inspired western look to be my dark wash flare jeans. In order to compliment the warm tones associated with the fall and keep the retro vibe, I used my Mom’s suede embellished headband as a scarf and my tan block heels for height. I must admit, I am quite pleased with this trendy look and look forward to more mildly cool days so that I can continue to provide some fall fashion inspiration!

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Urban Outfitters

Jeans- Express

Heels- Zara

Scarf- Vintage