Stylized Wannabe: March 2014

Touches of Spring

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

It's cold again. It's officially Spring and it snowed here yesterday. Boooooo! Thus, I'm dressing weather-appropriately with Spring-y touches in pink and mint, with black, denim, and olive green to ground the look. Et Viola:

I combined distressed jeans with edgy booties, my utility jacket, an old tee, my pink scarf, pink Kate Spade bag, and a bunch of pastel colored bracelets.

You may notice this jacket looks similar to my utility vest. That because they are EXACTLY the same. I didn't even think about it! They both come in other colors, but I was set on a utility jacket AND vest in olive green. Why couldn't Old Navy make the jacket with removable sleeves and save me some cash?

I am in love with this because it's totally me on an off-duty day. It's comfy, pretty, functional, a bit sexy with the shoes, and it has the perfect amount of pastels to let everyone know that it's Spring!

Jacket: exact.

Top: Old, Dots.

Jeans: Target, can't find online but still in stores.

Booties: Dots

Scarf: H & M

Bag: Kate Spade, exact & on sale!

Earrings: Elephants are from Target and Scrolls are VERY old Forever 21.

Bracelets: Kit from Michael's.

Necklace: Made it myself.

58 comments

Basics

Saturday, March 15, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Everyone knows you build your wardrobe with basics and add fun, trendy accessories to round it out, right? I agree 100% to this rule. However, it's taken quite a bit of time to build my wardrobe basics back up. After a heinous lipstick/dryer/denim issue, I lost most of my jeans, my chambray shirt, and a few other clothing items. I wanted to find my EXACT items to replace them, and I finally did! I also finally bought the utility vest I wanted when Old Navy had 30% off recently. Now, I feel like I have most of the items my wardrobe needs, and I can focus on the fun things like statement necklaces and splurge handbags.

Here I feel I've illustrated an easy way to use just the basics and still have a fun, classic but still on trend outfit. I'm simply wearing a chambray button down, skinny jeans, utility vest, slip on sneakers, and my Coach tote with my Mickey Mouse watch and layered necklaces. But because my sneakers are leopard print and my tote is vibrantly colored, my outfit is still interesting and fun, and I don't automatically blend into the crowd,

*When your nose is so big it has it's own shadow.* :(

Thoughts on the shoes? I feel like they are SUCH a Mom shoe! I know I AM a Mom, and I know they are leopard, but the shape! We called this type of shoes buddies when I was a kid, and all the Moms had white buddies. Thoughts please ladies. I'm torn.

So how do you ladies kick your "basics" up a notch?

Top: Exact-Old Navy

Vest: Exact-Old Navy

Jeans: Gap Perfect Skinny Ankle Zip Jeans, can't find online, these are similar and on sale!

Shoes: Exact-H & M

Earrings: Exact (in coral) from Forever 21,

Compass Necklace: Exact (on back order) from Urban Outfitters

Amethyst Geode Necklace: The Eliza (it says sold out but just click it)-Crafts and Love

Big Thanks to Jackie from Something About That Thing for my geode necklace. I spotted hers in my instagram feed and had to have it! You can follow Jackie in instagram here. Prepared to be jelly, she's awesome.

Bag: Coach, not longer available. This is a pretty red option.

Alas, the only thrifted items in this ootd are my Mickey Mouse watch and vintage cat eye sunnies! I try to incorporate one thrifted item into every outfit, but sometimes you just want to wear all your new things!

57 comments

The First Sunny Day

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

The sun is out! It's 71 degrees! IT'S 71 DEGREES! Need I say more? I purchased this top and shoes about a month ago, and today was the perfect day to bust it out.

I chose this mint crocheted top over a mint cami, distressed ankle-zip skinnies, gold open weave pointy-toe flats, a coral purse, mint and gold bangles, a gold compass necklace, and gold aztec print earrings.

Yay sun! I was so happy, so warm all day today. And tomorrow they are expecting the temperature to drop and we're gonna get 6 inches of snow. Da Fudge???!!!

Cami: Dots

Top: Catos

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Dots

Bag: H and M

Earrings: Forever 21

Necklace: Urban Outfitters (still available!)

Bangles: Mint from Dots, Gold thrifted

32 comments

Handbag Hoe

Tuesday, March 04, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Everyone that follows my blog knows I am a hoe for handbags. Yes, I just said that. In fact, I wanted to call this post "Handbag Hoe," but I thought it would be minorly offensive to some. Anyway, recently I did a major closet purge to make room for some expensive splurges and b-day gifts, so I donated a bunch of bags to my Mom and Sister. Hope you guys love them! There's only one I regret unloading and it was a giant mint and forrest green bag...but I digress.

The bags I chose to keep are the ones I use the most. They have the most functions, but also they just make me happy. Can you believe I only kept one for truly sentimental reasons?! You'll notice most of these are totes or satchels that have handles and additional cross body straps. What can I say? I like what I like. These are the bags I kept in my closet:

My 15" chocolate brown leather, initial embossed Cambridge Satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Company. I actually don't use this a lot. I'll tell you why. It's REALLY big, and the leather is so nice that I don't want to mess it up. Also, I had it embossed with my initials. I didn't capitalize my initials, and also I have my initials on it instead of ASH. Boo. I didn't even think about it till later. Still a gorgeous bag though.

This was a 28th birthday gift from my Husband. It's a Michael Kors zebra striped calf hair and leather bag. My daughter, London, picked it out. It's GORGEOUS and I love it!

My Phillip Lim for Target Satchel. It's still cute, but as it's not leather I don't love it as much as I used to. It scratches easily. It's perfect for when I want to look polished but I don't want to necessarily risk messing up an expensive bag.

Christian Siriano for Payless color blocked tote. I bought this in January. It's a good everyday bag.

One of my very few colorful bags. I noticed all of my bags were neutral so as a birthday gift to myself I bought this "radiant orchid" Coach tote. It's roomy, bright, fun, and functional!

Merona fringed vegan carry all. This I bought purely because it's fringed. I can fit my LIFE in this bag. It's a perfect carry on for the airplane. It fits my 17-inch laptop! Plus it appeals to my inner flower child.

My classic Coach logo monogrammed tote. This one I had made to say ASH when Coach offered free monogramming a few years ago. One of my favorites, but I bought it before I was really into leather.

Strawberry Kate Spade bag. This one NEVER gets used but I love to look at it! It's patent leather and patent scuffs SO easily. It's such a fun pink color though!

I adore this Kelly Green Kate Spade bag. Another item that was bought to brighten up my accessories wardrobe, it is a little small for what I like to carry day-to-day. I bought it from the manufacturer website and I guess when I picture the dimensions, I pictured it bigger?

Color Blocked Messenger bag. This is from a brand called Street Level that I got for a steal from Piperlime. The snap was broken so I fixed it. Et Viola: The perfect day bag when you're on the go.

I bought this white leather bag from Goodwill for $3. It's definitely worn, but I needed a white bag and I like leather. It has that weird lock thingy on it, but it adds interest.

You've seen my vintage Dooney and Bourke Doctor's bag before. I still love it, and I use it mainly on days I know I won't be out long since it just has the little handles.

You've also seen my vintage red Dooney and Bourke cross body that Roger's Grandma gave me. It had belonged to his Grandma's sister and she knew I would take care of it.

My first "designer" bag. Roger bought this impractical little thing for me as a gift after I had our daughter in December 2005. The laminated canvas is really discolored now and IDK how to clean it. I can't bear to get rid of it though!

This is from Wet Seal. No brand, I got it on the buy one get for for a penny clearance so it was one cent! It converts into a back pack, and I use it on trips to the zoo, museum, etc.

Very Bradley clutch. I used to be really into her bags. I'm not so much anymore but this is cute for girl's luncheons and such.

This is an OLD Forever 21 clearance item. It's a faux leather and denim shoulder bag but I use it in places that I cannot take the back pack purse but don't want to take an expensive bag with me.

This is new! My black Rebecca Minkoff mini mac. Thank you to my Husband for the 10th anniversary gift! I bought him a leather Coach iphone case and a Coach wallet in case you are wondering :)