young & wild & professional

BLOUSE: ANTHROPOLOGIE // PANTS: RAG & BONE // HEELS: LOEFFLER RANDALL // 

PURSE: MICHAEL KORS // EARRINGS: REBECCA MINKOFF (sold out- LOVE THESE) // 

BELT: J. CREW // BANGLES: ALEX & ANI

As a young profesh in NYC, my everyday work staples start and end with fitted pants, a flowy blouse (my collection of white ones are starting to get out of hand...), a you-can-fit-everything-in-here satchel, and then some bling. These black Rag & Bone pants are my go-to, they're softer than denim and squeeze by the no jeans in the office rule, while still letting me dress for my style. The black and white combo is crisp and classic, and then I can easily switch out whatever accessories I'm currently into- a non-black purse, a metallic or colorful skinny belt (J. Crew has the best selection around) and stacks of bangles and mixed metal rings.

Oh and a fun tip for the stylish-but-money-saavy?

Those gorgeous Rebecca Minkoff earrings: $10 at the sample sale last week. Loeffler Randall pumps: 30% off sale, plus I asked for a discount because there was a pink spot on one and it was the last of my size. They gave me another 10% off. Tassel bracelet: 50% off the sale price at the C. Wonder going out of business sale.

Shop smart. Be patient and check back for sales. Often. Sign up for newsletters from your favorite brands that will send you discounts and tell you when there are pop-up sales. Investment pieces are worth it, but you can almost always find a way to make them fit your budget.

What's the splurge item you're waiting for? Leave me a comment below!

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I'll Have A Blue Christmas

"And when those blue snowflakes start falling
That's when those blue memories start calling
You'll be doin' all right with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue, blue Christmas"

COAT: J. CREW (last season) + TURTLENECK: J. CREW + PANTS: RAG & BONE + 

BOOTS: STEVE MADDEN (SIMILAR) + BAG: MICHAEL KORS + GLOVES: OLD NAVY + 

SUNGLASSES: ASOS (SIMILAR) + EARRINGS: BLOOMINGDALES

Still waiting on those snowflakes here in NYC, but it's blue all the time here with the hottest (pun?) colors this winter - cobalt, navy and gray. I absolutely adore this statement wool coat from J. Crew - it's worth investing in more coats than just your below-freezing-marshmallow-man-standard-black-puffer-coat. Your outfit may be exquisitely styled, but no one's going to see it beneath your coat and scarf when it's this cold out. Make sure you love your outerwear just as much.

Also loving the mirrored sunglasses trend that's coming back... 

pretty sure my dad used to wear almost these exact glasses in 1991.

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Pattern Pop

#longhairdontcare hairflip pic of the day

TOP: J CREW + SKIRT: KATE SPADE + HEELS: LOEFFLER RANDALL + 

CLUTCH: ZARA (SIMILAR) + EARRINGS: HOUSE OF HARLOW

I actually love Piet Mondrian paintings. I also love Kate Spade, so this skirt was one of the easier splurge decisions I've ever made. Because I already own an almost indeterminate amount of solid colored blouses in black, white, navy, etc, I'm really liking patterned skirts this fall. It makes a bold statement outfit, while keeping the pattern away from your face (that can often feel too busy), and you can easily rotate solid tops and blouses you probably already own with one funky skirt.

Shop some of my other favorite printed skirt options for fall below:

BOX PRINT / GEODE / FLORAL

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It's time to play...

I thought we'd do something different today and take a peek into what I've been toting around to all my weekend adventures in the city lately. (Read as: sitting for hours in coffee shops or walking aimlessly around Central Park) Here's my must-haves in my fall weekend bag:

1. BAG // Vintage Leather Backpack. Sooo excited that backpacks are trendy again. My aching right shoulder that's carried giant tote bags for the past 24 years is pretty thankful too. I got this leather beauty for $22 at my favorite thrift store, Beacon's Closet. Win. Having a million pockets for me to fill? Double win. I'd suggest thrifting your own, but if you're willing to take the plunge to buy new, Urban Outfitters has a cool Frye one right now.

2. TECH // I generally leave my laptop at home during the week, but I love working on the blog from different locales (read: again, coffee shops) on the weekend. My old apple case was getting pretty ratty, and I was so excited to get my new UChic case recently! Cute pattern? Check. Fave accent color? Cheeeck. Good cause? Check. UChic is a brand new company that's helping to fund $1000 scholarships for deserving young women through these awesome back-to-school accessories. You guys know I'm all about buying from new fashion brands that give back, but this seriously raises the bar. This case is called the "Gracie" and was designed by Gracie Schram, a 16-year-old singer/songwriter and a recipient of the scholarship. Cool, right? You can buy it here on their indiegogo page: igg.me/at/uchic. I've talked a lot with some lovely ladies at this company recently, and besides having an awesome cause, let me tell you, customer service is not dead! Support them.

3. SUNNIES // Michael Kors, can I ever leave the house without you? Answer: No. No I cannot. Protect your peepers ladies.

4. A GOOD READ // Have you read #GIRLBOSS? I'm only halfway through and damn, I'm inspired. Sophia Amoruso is (a) a little crazy (which I like) and (b) shares some pretty awesome experience/advice for those of us trying to forge our own way in the fashion world. But even if you're not, it's definitely a feel-good, now-I-want-to-go-accomplish-something-today read.

5. WARMTH // It's transition time! Thankfully, it's still been warm enough in NYC to go without a coat, but a lightweight blanket scarf is my absolute must-have in early fall. Lightweight so that you won't feel bogged down if you've got it wrapped around your neck, but big enough that you can open it and drape it around your shoulders if the wind really picks up. The one pictured is a Furla scarf that was a gift from Momma G, but Nordstrom has a similar one too. How does Nordstrom always have everything?

6. MOISTURE // I am obsessed with Smith's Rosebud Salve. I use it as a lip gloss all year round, but it's especially great now that the air (and my skin) is drying out. Apply it to your lips with your finger (there's the slightest hint of peachy-pink) and then wipe the excess on the back of your hand to moisturize your scary knuckles yo. Two-for-one.

7. CRAFTS // I cannot stop crafting, and my latest craft venture is opening my own custom stationary Etsy shop later this month! As if I didn't spend enough time in the Soho Paper Source store already, I'm now constantly carting around envelopes and stamps and color samples and bothering all their employees as I test out my ideas. Their blush pink envelopes & flat cards are hands-down the prettiest color I've ever seen. My blush pink phase might be getting out of control this season. But hey, if you want some pretty pink stationary, you've come to the right girl.

8. GLAM // I do my nails on the go in inappropriate places all the time. So there's usually 1-5 bottles of nail polish in my bag on any given day. My latest buy was this cool gray (called 'Earl Grey' - aren't you clever Sally Hanson) that's feels perfect for fall.

What's in your wallet weekend bag?

(bad mastercard joke)

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Striped Shorts

Ah yes, striped shorts on Spring Street in Soho in the Summertime.
Just doing my alliterative part in my favorite part of town.

TOP: EXPRESS + SHORTS: ASOS + HEELS: KELSI DAGGER + EARRINGS: NORDSTROM (SIMILAR) + 

WATCH: MICHAEL KORS + BANGLES: ALEX & ANI

NAIL POLISH: URBAN OUTFITTERS "BLUE VELVET" (FINGERS) +

ESSIE "MINT CANDY APPLE" (TOES)

This is another one of those great day-to-night summer outfits. Shorts and a tank are pretty self-explanatory daytime-wear, but you can up the style factor of your outfit by picking a blouse in a silkier fabric than cotton and pair with structured, high-waisted shorts. Then you can slip on your heels and be ready for a night out!

. . .

Express is one of those stores I hadn't been to in a while, but it's actually done great things for me this summer. When I realized that I basically only own long sleeved tops, I hit up a major sale at Express and was able to get a whole bunch of sleeveless blouses that were nice enough for work and play and were super affordable!

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Jumpsuit

JUMPSUIT: TARGET + WEDGES: MICHAEL KORS + EARRINGS: BANANA REPUBLIC (SIMILAR) + 

CLUTCH: VINTAGE THRIFT (SIMILAR) + NAIL POLISH: ESSIE "TART DECO"

Oh Target, you fickle mistress. You're a madhouse to even attempt to walk through on the weekends, but every once in a while I happen upon a piece of fashion gold hidden between the tank tops and weirdly colored shorts. While I am normally opposed to spending more than ten bucks on anything at Target, the cost of this rad jumpsuit was hardly a fraction of the price I'd pay for a similar style at any of my usual shopping-go-to's. I've gotten tons of compliments on this sassy summer look, and I even sprung for a matching nail polish to celebrate my savvy shopping.

 ☮♡&ladybugs,

Ashley

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