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

hot hairstyles for spring

warm weather is here and it's time to tame those tresses! spring is a great time to refresh your look whether it be by updating your hairstyle, makeup routine or adding a few new pieces to your wardrobe. getting a haircut instantly revives my interest in styling my hair. i get lazy with my hair if it gets too long and just  blah. adding some highlights, a glaze or a new cut will make you feel so much better and rejuvenated!

if you're on the fence about changing your look (as i often am) maybe these styles will give you the inspiration and nudge you were needing. 

angled lob

wondering what in the world a lob is?  it's essentially a long bob. this look is great if you're somewhat conservative about chopping all of your locks off. it gives your hair shape and body, but leaves those longer pieces in front so that's it isn't too much of a change too quickly.  image via brit + co.

to style this look add a root volumizer and texture spray to damp hair. rough dry with blowdryer and use a 1" curling iron or wand to add waves. take random sections and curl midshaft leaving out the ends for 3-5 seconds. remember, any longer and you'll have curls not waves. 

bob + bangs

ahh, i love this so much! if only my cheeks weren't so full i would totally rock a bang. if you're going for this look just ask your stylist for a textured shoulder length bob and bangs. just really be sure that you're on the same page with your stylist. explain you would like the bang and bob textured as opposed to a blunt cut. also, talk to your stylist about bang length. this looks best if they fall just below your eyebrows. image via nasty gal.

to style, use a root volumizer applied to damp hair along with a texture spray. rough dry hair and use a 1" curling iron or wand to curl the midshaft. be sure to take randomly sized sections and only apply heat for 3-5 seconds. to get the messy look just scrunch hair with your fingers while spraying with a light hold finishing spray. tame any crazy hairs with a wide tooth comb.

long pixie

why not just go ahead and take the plunge? this cut is so stylish and modern. it would be great for a lot of face shapes and hair textures as well. image via pinterest.

to style add volumizing mousse to roots of damp hair. use a vent brush to lift hair at the root while drying. barely wave the ends of hair with a 1-1/2" curling iron or wand. lift hair at bang area and crown and spritz a dry shampoo on the roots. tease slightly for messiness and lift. 

long + layers

have long hair that you're unwilling to part with? ask your stylist to throw some layers in there. for this look, request face framing layers that start at chin-length. image via pinterest.

for volume, add a root lift to damp hair and style with a ceramic round brush. apply vanishing oil to midshaft and ends while hair is still damp. section your hair into three horseshoe sections and begin drying from bottom section upward. finish with light hold hairspray.

one length

this cut is a little more preppy and polished, but still lovely. for this style you'll just really want to ask for a one-length cut just below your shoulders. image via pinterest.

to style, start by adding a smoothing serum to midshaft and ends of damp hair. if you'd like a little oomph add some volumizing mousse to your roots, but it's not a necessity. rough dry turning your head over and focusing at the roots for some natural lift. flip hair back over and finish drying with a paddle or vent brush. smooth ends with a flat iron and spritz a shine spray to finish. 

asymmetrical bob

want something really different? opt for a chin-length asymmetrical cut. talk to your stylist about adding texture and a side bang. this look is best with a mid-length side bang hitting just below the eye. image via keiko lynn.

to style, start with a texture spray on mids and ends of damp hair. spritz a volumizing spray at root area. turn your head over and rough dry focusing at root area. use a 1" curling iron leaving out the ends to get the barely there wave. tuck one side behind your ear to focus on the asymmetrical style of this cut. finish with a light hold texture or finishing spray.

modern shag

this haircut takes us back to the 70s, but in a good way. let your stylist know that you'd like to keep the length, but add lots of layers and textures to achieve a modern version of the shag. your bangs should be long and textured for this look. ask for the length to be just above your eyelids. image via brit + co.

to style just spritz a texture spray on damp hair and rough dry. start waves closer to the root for this look using a 1-1/2" curling iron or wand. spray dry shampoo at roots for lift and finish with light hold finishing spray. 

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

my beauty must-haves

i don't know about you, but personally, i love to see what real girls have in their makeup / beauty arsenals. i thought i would share a sneak peek into my stash. these are a few of my essentials and the perk? they're all pretty inexpensive. 

almay smart shade lipbutter

this is lipstick for the girl who is afraid of lipstick. aka, me. i love a bright lippy, but i'm intimidated by them at the same time. these provide a sheer coverage with just the right pop of color. they are super moisturizing and feel great on your lips.  i recommend berry light and berry light medium. 

physicians formula eye booster eyeliner + serum

this stuff is just amazing! it gives the most precise line on your upper lid. it takes out all of the guesswork. no dipping a brush into an eyeliner pot or trying to get the tip of the brush at just the right point.  i do recommend an eye shadow primer before applying this. it doesn't have all day hold without a primer. 

VERB leave-in conditioner

so if you've ever doubted the need for a leave-in conditioner, try this stuff! what i love about VERB is that their products are paraben-free and sulfate-free, but still amazing. spritz this onto damp hair before styling and it will smooth split ends and act as a barrier for heat damage.

colorstay gel envy by REVLON

i am obsessed with nail polish. if you know me, it's no surprise. i am a reformed nail biter and the cure was always keeping my nails polished. it kept me from biting them and i've just continued along with it ever since.  after trying polish after polish, this is my favorite. it dries almost instantly and although it doesn't last the 7 days that it claims, it will last a good 4 days. that's for people like me who are tough on their hands. for anyone else it may last longer. for $16 it can't be beat.  as far as shades, i'm a big fan of high roller.

ecotools brushes

these are the best drugstore makeup brushes. i'm always happy with their blending abilities and something about the bamboo handles just make them feel a little more posh than other brushes at this price point. my favorites are the retractable kabuki brush and the blush brush.

well, that concludes the beauty round-up for now! i may make this a regular thing. it's fun to share my findings. hopefully you found this helpful!

xoxo, 

ashley

messy bun tutorial

two key pieces of advice for achieving the perfect messy bun or topknot: 

1. DO NOT LOOK IN THE MIRROR WHILE STYLING. it sounds odd, but if you're looking in the mirror you'll get the overstyled, perfect, ballerina bun which is not what we're going for. i've watched many a messy bun tutorial and surprisingly i've never heard them mention this. so avoid the mirror at all costs and it'll help you achieve that messy, i don't care look.

2. MAKE SURE YOUR HAIR IS UNWASHED. i usually just skip washing a day and use conditioner only. seriously, don't even try this after just washing your hair. it won't come out right. i've tried and tried, but there are just no styling products that will duplicate unwashed hair. the reason for this, is that unwashed hair has more natural hold and texture. 

what you'll need: 

light hold finishing spray

dry shampoo

comb of some sort

bobby pins

hair ties

steps: 

1. start with wavy or air dried hair for some texture, then spray roots with volumizing dry shampoo. make sure to spray from a distance or it will give you white roots. (if that happens, the next step will usually make it go away.)

2. begin teasing sections of the mohawk area starting from the front and working your way back. this will give you some volume. 

3. take all of your hair into a high ponytail and secure with hair tie. tease the pontytail for some texture and volume. start twisting and wrapping your ponytail into a bun while securing with bobby pins at the same time. make sure to keep this loose and fun. (and of course don't look in the mirror during this part.) 

4. take your fingers and massage the hair around your face in circles. this will give it the undone, messy look. massaging your hair like this should free up a few pieces around your temples and ears, if not just be sure to leave a few pieces out framing your face for the messy look. 

5. now look in the mirror and adjust as necessary. use the wide tooth part of the comb to smooth out any crazies. then secure the look with a light hold finishing hair spray and there you go! 

 i usually just leave those flyaways that fall down in the back. it just adds to the messiness of it all! i hope this tutorial helped.

xoxo, 

ashley