Ashley

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

In ASM Shop

Neck-Tie Blouses

November 5, 2015 No Comments

As a kid, blouses and other “dress shirts” seemed to be one of the items of clothing I hated to wear most; funny how things drastically change with time. Neck-tie blouses have been a huge trend within themselves, as well as with the 70’s trend, and have been popping up in pretty much all high street fashion retail stores. I love them because they serve an easy way to add more dimension and interest to a look without having to pile on the accessories. Tops like these basically do the work for you and are full of variety depending on how you chose to tie them. There are endless possibilities with neck-tie blouses and they are another chic piece that every fashionista needs! (Don’t forget to click the images to shop the items shows!)

In the vault

SHOPPER CHIC

November 4, 2015 1 Comment

When getting dressed, while I am a lover of intricate outfits, I sometimes forget that basic pieces can also be just as chic. On the days where it seems almost impossible to find something to wear, a simple t-shirt can be a lifesaver. For this look I decided to pair an over-sized, mesh detail slogan tee, with leather biker trousers for a relaxed, yet edgy look. While this ensemble could easily be worn with flats, booties, or sneakers, I chose to add a little more detail with these iridescent single-strap heeled sandals. Throw on a nice fall coat, and you automatically look put together and effortless with hardly any time or energy wasted. For me, looks like these are pretty much my weekend uniform. Whether you are running errands, shopping around, or meeting friends for brunch you can never quite go wrong with this look. I think the key is to choose pieces that are simple but have subtle, eye catching details. Don’t forget, it IS possible to be comfortable and make a statement, so give it a try!

Outfit Details & Links:

Coat- Topshop

T-shirt- Missguided

Pants- Urban Outfitters- Similar Here

Heels- Zara

In ASM Shop

Combined Shoes

October 29, 2015 1 Comment

As someone who is a lover of mixing and matching different textures when putting together outfits, this trend is right up my alley! Combined shoes of all styles have been popping up in almost every trendy retail store and pretty much every major designer from Dior to Tom Ford has a version. Aside from outerwear, I think adding dual textured shoes is the best way to add some interest to your outfit especially when facing the colder temperatures. So what do you think about this trend? I personally can’t get enough! 🙂 (Reminder: You can click the images to shop the shoes below!)

In the vault

TAUPE TONES

October 28, 2015 5 Comments

This autumn season there has been one color that I have been utterly obsessed with, TAUPE! I have never quite appreciated all of the amazing qualities about this tone, but lately, it has been making a constant appearance in my outfits. I personally love this color because it allows for so much versatility (considering it goes with EVERYTHING) without being too harsh. As it gets colder we tend to wear darker shades, and for me, it has become a great alternative to black while still being neutral. From my previous “thirsty Thursday” post, I gave examples of a few leather pieces I have been lusting over, so when I finally purchased these taupe culottes I HAD to build a look around them. I also took this as an opportunity to challenge myself by creating a monochrome look using similar shades and to my surprise I loved how it came out! Since I was essentially using one color palette, I decided to play around with textures. While the leather pants made for a great base, I thought it would also be cool to add a textured funnel neck top and a fur scarf. The fur piece definitely tied the look together for me and added a little extra glam as well. 😉 Taupe has definitely become a statement color in my wardrobe and I look forward to creating new outfits with it as the season continues.

Outfit Details & Links:

Top- Zara

Culottes- Zara

Heels- Asos

Scarf- Online

In the vault

GOTH GLAM

October 23, 2015 6 Comments

Another one of my favorite fall trends is dark lips. So for me, it was only right that I build a look around them. After applying such a bold lip color I decided to stick with the “dark” theme and intertwine another trend, GOTH. The gothic look is one that has been popping up all over runways as a tribute to the culture for a few years now. Celebrities like Rihanna and Rita Ora wear the look often and seem to be in full support of it; so I finally decided to take a stab at it myself. Naturally, it would be obvious to include a lot of black pieces, and I did, but I also chose to soften the look by wearing a tunic with navy and white stripes. By doing this, it broke up the harshness of the leather jacket, shorts, and thigh high boots. Tall boots are a fall essential because you can get away with showing a little skin while also staying warm as the temperatures drop. Looks like these can also be modified for winter with a quick addition of tights and a heavier coat. So how do you like the look? I personally think it’s one that I will continue to experiment with, in the following months. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think! Until next time. 😀

Outfit Details & Links:

Tunic- Zara

Turtleneck- NY & Co.

Shorts- Urban Outfitters

Boots- Aldo

Jacket- Urban Outfitters

In ASM Shop

Leather Bottoms

October 22, 2015 1 Comment

When it comes to fall/winter fashion, it can sometimes be a daunting task to balance keeping warm and still looking put-together. While layering is the most obvious solution, it also helps to deal with heavier fabrics. Leather is definitely one of those go-to textures in the cooler seasons and many stores like Zara and Asos carry a wide selection of pieces that work perfectly to keep you cozy and on trend. Here a few of my favorite leather bottoms I will be rocking this season! (Don’t forget to click the images to shop the items below!)