Insiders Guide to Spring Accessories

FridayFridayFriday Happy Friday! I thought this week I would share an article I wrote recently for the blog over at my good friend Jia's boutique, Studio15. Now that our closets are finally being turned over to shorts and dresses and all things spring, it's the perfect time to try out some funky accessories to add pop to your spring outfits.

FUN SHAPED BAGS

​Girl​, put away that giant tote you've been lugging all winter! Anything that's large enough to conceal a small child is way too heavy this late in the springtime. Try trading out your usual bag for one that's not only smaller, but colorful and an unexpected shape. Kate Spade has been leading the charge this season with their line of wicker animal-shaped handbags, but I'm also in love with this fun watermelon bag from ban.do that's perfect for picnics and beach trips!

​Images from katespade.com

​ & ​

purseblog.com

​Image from thetomkatstudio.com​

UNEXPECTED EARRINGS​

Going along with the less-heavy-more-funky theme of the season, swap out your larger chandelier earrings for more petite styles that hug the ear. ​Especially popular this season are ear jackets, which have a small crystal or round post at the front of your lobe, and spikes or jewels hanging down from the back of the lobe. Another trend resurging are ear cuffs, especially those with spikes or delicate fringe-like chains.

​

​Images from baublebar.com & southbysoho.com​

HEADSCARVES

If you're a long-haired lady like me, spring and summer means ponytail season to get that hot hair up and off of your neck. My #1 go-to accessory when I'm running late on time ​(​and want to make my hairstyle look so much more elaborate than the two seconds it took to put it together​)​ is a headscarf. I own all three of the scarves below! Anthropologie is my favorite place to find them- they have great bright colors for spring and intricate beading that adds an extra luxe touch I've yet to find on scarves elsewhere.

​Images from anthropologie.com

​Image from southbysoho.com​

​​

SPIKES

The spike trend is still going strong this season - look for small, delicate spikes on earrings and bracelets, but also as a great detailing on sandals and flats. Those ​$900 ​Valentino rockstud sandals of Kat Tanita's might be out of reach for most of us, but brands like Ash, Dolce Vita, Rebecca Minkoff and Vince Camuto all have great options for this season.

​Image from withlovefromkat.com

​​Images from revolveclothing.com, shoes.com & shop.nordstrom.com​

ROUND MIRRORED SUNGLASSES

Last but not least, the quintessential spring accessory is a great pair of sunglasses. In lieu of the tried-and-true wayfarers and aviators, this season go for a mirrored pair (I'm loving blue and purple mirrors myself) and look for a large, more rounded shape with a plastic frame.

​​Photos from gorgeautiful.com & southbysoho.com​

What is your go-to accessory this season?

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Weekend Casual

SWEATER: H&M (SIMILAR SAVE & SIMILAR SPLURGE) // JEANS: J. CREW // 

NECKLACE: DIY (SIMILAR) // BOOTIES: DV BY DOLCE VITA (also available in size 6 HERE) // 

EAR CUFF: REBECCA MINKOFF (SIMILAR) // BACKPACK: THRIFTED (BEACON'S CLOSET) // 

SPIKE BRACELETS: BENEVOLENT JEWELS & C. WONDER (also love THIS)

Being an always-slightly-chilled lady myself, this outfit combo is pretty much my go-to in any season. My comfy skinny jeans, oversized lightweight sweater, ankle boots and some bling.

My latest addition this year has been this awesome thrifted leather backpack. I've been carrying it a lot on the weekends when I'm heading to the park or the farmers market, or shooting for the blog: any time I'll be carrying a lot of stuff. It's unbelievable the different between carrying weight in a purse on one shoulder vs. splitting it between two with a backpack. It makes me feel 10 lbs. lighter! 

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Another Weekend, Another Wedding

DRESS: KATE SPADE (on sale!) // CLUTCH: MICHAEL KORS // EARRINGS: ANTHROPOLOGIE (SIMILAR) // HEELS: J. CREW (old, similar Vince Camuto HERE) // RINGS: BANANA REPUBLIC (SIMILAR)

Cute boyfriend. Cute family. Cute dress. What more can you ask for?

The 2015 outdoor wedding season has officially started and I've got one down and 4 more to go before the fall! I am so glad I took the plunge and bought this Kate Spade dress (not that I didn't agonize over the decision for days) because (a) it is totally worth the investment to get one designer piece instead of a different $100+ dress for each wedding and (b) navy, I repeat NAVY, is my go-to neutral to start a formal outfit with. I paired the dress with nude heels (with a bow detail to match the dress) and yellow accessories to match Papa G, but I plan to switch it up with all blush pink, crisp white, or orangey red accessories at later weddings this year. If you're looking to invest in a good dress, I can't recommend navy in a thick, shiny fabric enough - it's the perfect year round color - not as heavy as black, but not as summery as a blush pink, and it can be paired with almost any color accessory, making it super versatile. 

Momma G's outfit:

DRESS: MARC NEW YORK (similar HERE and HERE) // CLUTCH: KATE SPADE (still available in black; similar Kate Spade pink HERE)  // NECKLACE: KATE SPADE (SIMILAR and on sale!)

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Never Ending Summer

Holy Moly September is here already! So naturally it's over 90 degrees in NYC, by far the hottest day this summer. Well bring it on I say! I'm gonna ride this lovely summer-fall train as long as long as I can.

DRESS: STUDIO 15 c/o + NECKLACE: BEVELLO (old - IDENTICAL HERE for only $15!) + 

BRACELET: MICHAEL KORS + WEDGES: MICHAEL KORS "DAMITA" (on sale!) + PURSE: KATE SPADE COBBLE HILL (sold out in Grace Blue but available in new fall colors - I love the Highrise gray color)

I love buying from companies that value giving back, and Studio 15 is my newest fave. For every purchase, Studio 15 donates money to aid women in third world countries starting their own businesses. And get a load of this dress! I was so excited when their Creative Director Jia asked me to model it on the blog.

Since shift dresses don't cinch at the waist, I like to draw attention to two other areas when styling them: (1) my neck and (2) my legs! It's a great opportunity to go bold with the biggest statement necklace you've got. As for shoes, I always always try to wear heels with my shift dresses, even if that means my favorite comfy wedges. Since shift dresses aren't skin tight, you can generally get away with wearing them shorter than most other dresses in your closet, and when paired with heels your legs look skyscraper long! Cheers to that.

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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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Overalls

Yes. I will grant you that most summer days are all about some flowery sundresses or high waisted shorts. But when I'm knee-deep in DIY projects on the weekend, there is nothing I love more than my overalls. Fun fact: When I was in high school, I was convinced "skirt-alls" were about to be the next big thing, so I bought a god-awful pair of overalls at Old Navy (sorry old navy, but what were you thinking when you stocked a mid-calf length overall-skirt?) But I digress. I purchased said skirt-alls (and remade the skirt portion into a mini skirt) and proudly wore them to school ...mmm twice? before being unable to endure the ridicule of my rather conservatively dressed mother as I got ready in the morning. Obviously I was merely 8 years ahead of the trend because OVERALLS ARE BACK BABY.

So I'm a bit excited. 

Just a quick break to terrify some bystander by freaking out over her tiny dog. 

BUT SERIOUSLY. LOOK AT HIM!

TOP: ARITZIA (SIMILAR) + OVERALLS: AQUA (BLOOMINGDALE'S) + BOOTS: DV BY DOLCE VITA + HEADWRAP: FOREVER21 + NAIL POLISH: ESSIE "TART DECO"

And check out the sweet headband- perhaps you recall my obsession with THIS beaded Anthropologie headscarf that I wear to work, no joke, at least once a week on what I like to call Ashley-hasn't-washed-her-hair-in-too-long day. Since I love headscarves, but try not to wear my nice ones when I'm sweating or getting dirty, I picked up a few new ones recently at Forever 21. 

Anthro headscarf = $30. This headscarf = $3. 

So throw on your overalls and be a badass this weekend. Just call me Beyashley the Riveter. Rosie Ashyoncé? Who knows, but the moral is obviously that all the cool kidz wear headwraps and denim onesies. And this picture is solid solid proof.

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