fall's must-have accessory

THE LEOPARD CLUTCH

yep, leopard went from being trendy to a staple in everyone's closet in a matter of a few years. and i'm ok with that! i say every girl needs to invest in a leopard clutch for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. you'll get a ton of use out of it and it'll go with damn near everything. 

leopard + chambray + pencil skirt

great for a night out or even a work day. 

plaid button up + statement necklace + leopard clutch

image via prosecco & plaid

my goodness i just love mixed patterns. especially leopard print and plaid, there's just something so perfect about it. plus, plaid is quintessential autumn attire.

jumper + leopard clutch

yes, please. i know it's past labor day and there's an age old rule about not wearing white pants. there's also an age old saying that rules were made to be broken! ammiright?!

flowy blouse + wide leg trousers + leopard clutch

see above comment.

blazer + tee + leather mini + leopard clutch

in my last post i believe i said something about every girl needs a leather mini in her closet. case in point, ladies. 

blazer + tee + ripped jeans + leopard clutch

comfy casual all the way. actually maybe the blazer makes it dressy casual? is that a thing?

fur + leopard clutch

ok, so i guess this is more late fall because typically it's not cold enough for fur, but i couldn't leave this beauty out of the mix. 

comfy sweater + leopard clutch + red lip

image via color me courtney

just perfect. and her blog is insanely adorable.

jean jacket + stripes + leopard clutch

stripes and leopard print go together like sprinkles and frosting.

flowy blouse + strappy heels + leopard clutch

this is a great combination of colors. i love all the neutrals and the way the ripped jeans give the outfit an edge.

all images are found via pinterest unless otherwise noted.

well everyone, i hope you guys like fall as much as me because for the next two months i'll be posting non-stop autumn related things i'm pretty sure. i hope you all had a fantastic weekend! 

xoxo, 

ashley

fashion friday : 10 flawless black & white outfit combos

the older i get the more i appreciate the classics and black paired with white is about as classic as it gets.  fall is on the way and that means it's time to pull out some layering pieces, neutral colors and fun coats. (not really for southern california where it's just like one long neverending summer, but hey i can pretend.) fall is my favorite season and i'm sure sad to miss out on that crisp air and those vibrant leaves this year. major sad face over here.

ok, these are just perfect. for work i could totally see someone wearing the esemble on the left and the outfit on the right is so versatile you could wear it for basically anything. ok, maybe a liiiiittle dressy for hitting up the grocery store, but you know.

uhmm...why can't i mix three different patterns in one outfit and not look like a crazy person? i mean, she really nailed it with the outfit on the left. it's so interesting with the layering and pattern combos. it'd be great for work, a date or even a night out at an art show or something. the outfit on the right is easy breezy and works well for a casual workplace or grabbing a drink with friends. i think every girl needs a black leather mini in her closet.

black jumpsuit + cream blazer, yes. and that clutch! either of these outfits would be so great for day to evening outfits. you don't even have to change after work for your date unless you just really want to. 

ripped jeans, i love you. forever. especially when you're so flawlessy styled. i don't know about you, but give me either outfit and i'm as happy as a clam. (where did that saying come from anyway...how are we supposed to know if clams are happy?)

ok, if these don't make you want to run out and buy a cream wool coat for winter i don't know what would. these outfits really show it's all about mixing and matching what you have because the coats themselves are very similar, but one outfit is super girly-chic while the other is a little more tom-boy-meets-NYC-business-woman.

and that's it for today everyone. thanks for reading! 

XO, 

ashley

fashion friday : cute summer haircuts

happy friday everybody! i hope you all have some great plans for the weekend. i've decided to do a little feature called 'fashion friday' for my blog. it'll be anything from hairstyles to outfits every, you guessed it, friday. i've been toying with the idea of chopping all of my hair off and in the process i've found so many cute styles that i thought i may as well share some of them with you. i know as both a stylist and client that it always helps to have a picture of what you want so maybe this will be just the inspiration you were looking for! 

the classic bob

nothing fancy here, just your classic one-length bob just above the shoulders. this can be styled with a middle part or side part for some variation and looks great straight or wavy. it's just long enough with careful placement of a few bobby pins you can still put it up and out of your face. big plus!

textured bob with full bangs

omg, i love this cut. always have always will. too bad bangs look like an atrocity on my round face or i would go for it. anyway, for those of you without my unfortunate dilemma, this is a really stylish cut that's again still long enough to put back if needed. it's all about the textured ends for this wavy look. you're stylist will know just what you mean.

pixie with long side swept bangs

why don't ya just chop it aaaall off? i mean, a pixie should probably be on every girl's bucket list.  this version gives you length in the front so that it feels feminine and has a softer look.

chin-length bob

i had my hair this length a couple of years ago and i loved it. it's so liberating to have short hair sometimes. none of that getting caught in zippers or seatbelts mess. just me? okay. anyway, this looks great once again wavy or straight. it's really up to you.

super short textured pixie

let's face it. whoever these ladies hairstylists are, they're killing it. i mean really. this is a gutsy cut, i'm not going to sugar coat it. if you have the nerve, as for a textured super short pixie reminiscent of twiggy.

short asymmetrical cut

this my friends, is the kind of haircut a stylist gets excited about. the daring, offbeat haircut request can be few and far between. this style works with lots of hair textures. it's similar to the long pixie, but this is more dramatic. make sure your stylist leaves one side quite a bit longer than the other and emphasize that you want it piece-y. 

the lob (aka, long bob)

possibly summers hottest cut, the lob is flattering on almost everyone. it bridges the gap between short and long. it works on most any face shape and it's most definitely easy to style. 

and that concludes the summer cut round up! i hope you all enjoyed these styles!

xoxo, 

ashley

how to style a midi skirt

it's kinda funny, the one article of clothing that i love the most looks the very worst on me: the midi skirt. i'm not sure if it's my short legs or my full calves, but it's just hysterically frumpy. 

however, the midi has been around for a couple of season's now and it looks great for pretty much any occasion if styled appropriately. i've rounded up some outfit ideas for you all. 

for work:

this skirt is great for work being that it's a modest length and just dressy enough without being over the top. it would work at a creative environment or a more conservative workplace as well. just tuck in your favorite button up shirt or t shirt and add a pair of heels. accesorize with red lipstick and a cute bag. 

for a night out:

my faaavorite look is a fancy midi with a crop top. it's such a fun, but classy combo! this would be so cute for a date night or a night out with your girls. if you're going for classic, pair your skirt with some stilettos and a black top. if you're going for a more fun look, wear a pair of cage heels and a high pony like the girl in the middle. 

for everyday:

for a more casual look, pair your midi with a casual striped tank, graphic tee or chambray button down. either tuck your shirt in or tie it in a knot over your skirt. you've got options.

well, that's the roundup for today! maybe these ideas will give you the confidence to try this trend and if not, it's still fun to look at pretty pictures, right? i think so! 

images via kendi everyday, pinterest and un-fancy.

xoxo, 

ashley

spring wardrobe essentials

i find that when shopping, especially for clothes, it's best to have a list. otherwise, i get completely overwhelmed and either leave with things i already own or nothing at all. odds are if you're going shopping it's because you're wardrobe is lacking in some area so why not make life a little easier and go prepared? 

that being said, the best thing to spend your money on is....wait for it....BASICS. this has taken me a lifetime to learn. literally. i've always had a closet full of nothing to wear and it's because i have always avoided spending my money on plain jane basics. come to find out, they are a lot easier to mix and match to create a variety of outfits than statement shirts with crazy patterns or bright colors. that shouldn't have been that difficult for me to figure out, but it was. so, maybe i can help you get the most out of your wardrobe without fighting the uphill, nothing to wear battle. 

TOPS: 

1. every girl needs a basic white blouse. it's the essential of all essentials and can be mixed and matched to no end. find it here.

2. a chambray shirt adds color to an outfit, but is still very versatile and can be paired with everything from florals to neons. find it here. 

3. some sort of polka dot blouse is necessary in a girl's wardrobe. This shirt would look great tucked into shorts or a skirt. find it here. 

4. if you are interested in mixing patterns in your outfit, a no brainer would be beginning with a striped shirt. find it here. 

bottoms:

1. white jeans will change your life. ok, that was dramatic. but, they will add so many options for your wardrobe and help make use of shirts you never wear. find them here. 

2. i think most people think of florals when they think of spring. at least i do. this is a closet staple that you'll get lots of wear out of. find it here.

3. colored denim will add options to your wardrobe and give you a pop of interest. there are a lot of shirts that just simply look blah with regular denim. find these here.  

4. i know a black pencil skirt doesn't seem like a spring essential, but with the right shirt and shoes it can be great to have. it can be dressed up or down and would look great with any of the above shirts. find it here. 

shoes: 

1. nude heels are a must. they go with anything and can add that polished touch to any outfit. find these here. 

2. who says ankle boots have to be just for winter? a neutral ankle boot in a gray or tan will go with anything. find these here. 

3. it may be your instinct to go with black or nude flats, but metallic flats are fun and act as a neutral that will pair well with basically anything. give them a whirl and add some interest to your outfit. find these here. 

4. ok, if you're going to invest in any wardrobe essential it should be a basic, everyday pair of sandals. splurge on genuine leather and something of quality in this department. find these here. 

outfit ideas:

okay, so that's the roundup! you probably already have many of these items in your closet, honestly. if not, i hope this helped. now for the fun part, here are some outfit ideas incorporating each of these basics:

white jeans + striped top

this outfit is so simple, but chic. you can pair virtually any of the shoes in this post with this outfit. you can bring in color either with your accessories or a bright pump that you may already have in your closet. this outfit is from stylecaster.

white jeans + polka dot top + metallic flats or nude heels

so this outfit can easily be duplicated with the essentials in this post. pair a polka dot top with white jeans and either the metallic flats, nude heels or neutral ankle boots mentioned earlier. this image was found via pinterest. 

striped top + floral skirt

i love an outfit with mixed patterns! you can never go wrong with florals and stripes together. just make sure your floral skirt has some of the same tones as the shirt. this image was found via pinterest.

white top + red, pink (or any) colored denim

does lauren conrad ever have a bad outfit? i have yet to see one. she's always so fresh faced and adorable! anyway, pair your white blouse with pink denim and either the nude heels, ankle boots or metallic flats from this post. you can't go wrong. image found via pinterest.

polka dot top + black pencil skirt

whether you opt for a black pencil skirt or midi, this outfit looks great with a classic black and white polka dot top. this is great for work or a lunch date with someone special. image found via pinterest.

white blouse + floral skirt + ankle boots

even thought this outfit has a gray shirt and polka dot skirt which weren't on the list of essentials, we can definitely borrow ideas from it. this outfit can be achieved with the white blouse, floral skirt and ankle boots from the essentials list. i love this look! image found via pinterest.

chambray shirt + black pencil skirt

ahh, i love this look! it's so simple and wearable. i would wear the neutral ankle boots with this outfit for a casual look or black pumps for a dressier occasion. this look was found on ellesappelles. 

so there are some ways that you can mix and match these wardrobe essentials into super cute, practical outfits. these are some great pieces that can go with you into cooler weather with the right layering as well. now all i want to do is go shopping! 

xoxo, 

ashley