A Styled Mind
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Ashley

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In the vault

HOT PANTS

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Colorful jeans were a pretty huge trend in the early 2000’s and I can distinctly recall my closet becoming a rainbow of denim, especially during my high school years. Once again however, we are seeing yet another moment in fashion history resurface and fall right back into our wardrobes. Since last year, you may have noticed that yellow has become a very popular statement color, but it’s fellow primary hue, red, isn’t far behind. I never would’ve guessed that I’d find myself gravitating towards a pair of bright red trousers, but I couldn’t resist these fiery beauties. Recently, I feel like I’ve been on a straight leg raw-edge denim binge, so it didn’t take much convincing for me to realize that I needed yet another pair. During the same weekend that I purchased these pants, I stumbled upon these gorgeous black and white buckled heels. It’s so funny sometimes how you can go into a store knowing exactly what you came for, and walk out with something totally different. That said, I personally feel like I made an even better decision and was thrilled when I saw how amazing these pieces looked together. When searching for a top however, I found myself at a standstill. I was completely torn with the style and direction I wanted to go in, so to make things easy I decided on a more “vintage” item that I hold very dear to my heart. I bought this Jimmy Hendrix tee during my first trip to LA when I was only 16 and it still remains one of my favorite items! Even through all of the trends and fashion “rule book” changes over the years, this t-shirt has always found a way to compliment my style and I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it. To finish off this look I accessorized with a gunmetal rhinestone choker and a white slogan clutch for a bit of lighthearted interest. I loved how this look turned out and I definitely plan on making these red hot jeans a wardrobe staple this season. Comment below your all time favorite wardrobe piece, (old or new) and don’t forget to subscribe for notifications about new blog content. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:
Top- Forever 21

Jeans- Zara

Heels- Topshop

Clutch- Zara

Choker- Topshop

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In ASM Shop

SHIRT DRESSES

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Shirt dresses are definitely a Spring/Summer staple when it comes to women’s fashion. On top of being a super easy piece to style on even the hottest of days, they always seems to provide an element of “put-togetherness” with little to no effort. Check out some of the dresses I’ve rounded up below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

 

 

 

 

 

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In the vault

SHIRT DRESSIN’

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Smart, chic, and timeless are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think of the ever so classic shirt-dress. Whether worn conservatively around the office or casually on the weekend, these are definitely one of the leading garments when it comes to women’s Spring fashion. I was drawn to this dress in particular because of the unique wrap detail that provided a cool layered effect, not typically seen with this style. Though I wanted this piece to be the focal point of the look, it was a little too preppy for my style so I added some edge with an over-sized faux leather jacket. Can I let you guys in on a secret?…..IT’S MEN’S! Personally, I see nothing wrong with taking a peek in the men’s department every now and then because you never know what gems you may find. I ended up scoring big with this jacket that was believe it or not, seven, I repeat, SEVEN dollars. The structure and weight alone had me sold from the gate, but the price made it all the more worth it! Recently, I haven’t had the urge to style handbags so I knew my shoes had to pop. I instantly thought of these bright pink mules I had purchased within the last month and knew they would provide the perfect finishing touch. It’s no secret that I’ve never been the type to like a lot of bells and whistles when styling my looks. I prefer to let the clothes speak for themselves with their intricate details and design. Leave a comment below if you’d like to see me style more accessories in the upcoming months. Until next time!

Outfit Details & Link:

Dress- Zara

Jacket- Forever 21

Mules- Mango

 

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In ASM Shop

DISTRESSED DENIM SKIRTS

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Distressed denim has been a leading trend for quite some time and when applied to skirts, it makes for the most perfect combination of feminine edge. While also being an homage to the 90’s style, I can’t see how one can go wrong rocking this look in any variation. Check out the pieces I’ve gathered below and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks. Until next time!

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In the vault

FOREVER FEMME

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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

 

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In ASM Shop

CHOKER TEES

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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!

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In the vault

CASUAL FLARE

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“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

 

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In the vault

CREAM-POP

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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

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In diary

“THEY”

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“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!

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In ASM Shop

BLEACHED DENIM

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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!

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