A Little {Leopard} Dress & A Little Red Clutch!

July 30, 2014

Hi dolls!

Happy Wednesday! A while back in May, this little leopard print dress caught my eye while I was out shopping at Ross. An entire dress in a pattern as bold as leopard print is tricky territory because it can definitely venture into the territory of a fashion "don't." However, the longer length of this dress with the lace detail around the waist and the fuller skirt made it more classy. After trying it on, I loved the way it fit and decided it was a must have! To add some color to the neutral palette of leopard print, I added a bright red clutch. I bought this ADORABLE clutch last week at T.J. Maxx (with a $50 gift card I won for being a "Maxxinista" daily pick contest winner on Instagram here). I especially love this clutch because it also has a gold chain link strap so it can be worn across the shoulder/body or just carried under the arm (as you can see below in my pictures). I love bright handbags because they really can add that special "pop" to an outfit. I also have always loved the way red looks against a backdrop of leopard print! To top it off, I of course had to put on some red lipstick :) Hope y'all enjoy!


















 {Outfit Details}
Dress: Casting (not online, similar option here
Clutch:  MMS Design Studio (not online, but LOVE this adorable red bag at T.J. Maxx here)
Heels: Isola (here)
Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson (couldn't find my version online but found them in black here. Also love Karen Walker's style here & Urban Outfitters version here)
Bracelet: Stella & Dot (here

Thank you so much for reading & commenting dolls! I love reading your sweet comments so much!

XOXO
Ashley

Turquoise Love & My New Favorite Sunnies!

July 29, 2014

Happy Tuesday dolls!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to your week :) This summer I have seriously fallen quite in love with turquoise everything. From home decor to fashion, I can't get enough of this bright summery color! I love how fresh it looks with white & how dramatic it looks with black. As y'all read about last week here, I recently picked up a pair of crochet shorts in both coral and turquoise (of course!). Today I wanted to show you an outfit I've been wearing a lot lately featuring my new turquoise shorts. Also I have to discuss these ADORABLE new Betsey Johnson sunglasses I picked up recently at T.J. Maxx. I love the wayfarer shape and size of them...so glam!! Here's how my OOTD turned out...















{Outfit Details}
TopThe Hanger (not online, similar here)
Jean Jacket: Old Navy (here)
ShortsDelusive (this is a brand that you can only buy as a store owner, & in that case my shorts are online HERE but you can buy them in local boutiques which is where I found mine. Also found similar ones online here and here)
Wedges: Rue 21 (on sale now! here)
Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson (couldn't find my version online but found them in black here. Also love Karen Walker's style here & Urban Outfitters version here). 


Thanks SO much for reading dolls! Have a great day!

XOXO
Ashley




Channeling My Inner Elle Woods....

July 25, 2014

Happy Friday beautiful readers! 

I hope everyone has had a great week & a weekend full of fun ahead :) As you might could guess from the title of this post, the look I'm sharing with you today is incredibly girly and incredibly....pink :). Legally Blonde has been one of my favorite movies ever since it came out as I could relate so much to Elle Woods' love of fashion, and all things pink, blingy, fluffy, and girly. I put the outfit together to go shopping with a couple of my best friends and realized that it definitely gave an "Elle Woods" vibe. I bought the light pink lace top recently at an upscale consignment boutique (and it was new with the tags!) and to play up its feminine detail, I knew a hot pink blazer would be the perfect addition. I love pairing blazers with shorts because it gives shorts a tailored look...and the shorts give the blazer a more relaxed vibe! For the cherry on top, I layered my favorite Purple Peridot crystal cluster necklace with my Sophia Pearl Bib necklace from Stella & Dot. Don't be afraid to layer those statement necklaces ladies, the more the merrier :) Here's how my look turned out....






















{Outfit Details}
Top: Poof! (not online, similar & cute style here)
Blazer: Forever 21 (not online but LOVE this one HERE)
Shorts: Express (old, similar here)
Bag: Louis Vuitton (here)
Necklaces: Purple Peridot (here) & Stella & Dot (here
Heels: Forever 21 (here)

Thank you so much for stopping by & reading! :) I hope y'all have a fabulous weekend :)

XOXO
Ashley

My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Favorites!

July 24, 2014

Hi dolls!!

If y'all follow other fashion blogs & are as obsessed with finding good deals as much I am, then you probably have heard that it's that time of the year again...time for Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale! While other stores have their summer items going on clearance, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is on a different level because the sale features current items for this upcoming fall/winter season!! How exciting is that!? The sale opened last week for card holders and went public last Friday. As soon as August 4th rolls around, all these items will go off sale and back to regular price. Hence, don't walk but RUN to your local Nordstrom (or better yet, just click the links at the bottom of this post to shop online!). I've put together a list of my favorite things on sale right now :) Hope you enjoy my picks! :)


Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Favorites!




1. I love how a lace dress is perfect for the summer but is definitely a great look for an evening out in the fall/winter. This Diane von Furstenberg dress in maroon is pure perfection!

2. So, I have a slight obsession with changing my phone case...literally all the time. I've had a Kate Spade polka dot case before when I had my old iPhone, but I seriously would love to have this clear polka dot one for my iPhone 5s. How cute would it look with a gold iPhone!? 

3. Kate Spade. Leopard. Need I say more? How gorgeous would these be this fall paired with skinny jeans or a little black dress. Swoon! 

4. LOVE this leather jacket. I may have to invest in a little nicer one considering mine is from Forever 21 :). This one by Treasure & Bond is perfect!

5. LOVE THESE SHOES. I have seriously been crushing on this cobalt blue color for the fall. I have loved incorporating pops of turquoise into my outfits this summer, & I think that pops of this deeper shade of blue would be pure perfection this fall and winter. 

6. This watch is SO gorgeous; it is by Michael Kors after all. How perfect would it look with an arm party!? I've been wanting a Michael Kors watch for a while. Maybe now is the time (no pun intended....)! 

7. This little Kate Spade initial necklace is to die for! And it's a great deal! :) Would be perfect to layer with other statement necklaces as well! 

8. I am for real in love with this Rebecca Minkoff bag (again with the cobalt blue color). I love the zipper details. This would make the perfect going out bag for the evening!

9. I love this wallet by Tory Burch!!! As y'all know, I have a slight obession with all things leopard print so I'm thinking I definitely should add a leopard print wallet to my animal print collection :) 

10. These Kate Spade sunglasses are ADORABLE (yes I know I have a slight Kate Spade obsession haha!). This cat eye shape is one of my favorites for sunglasses. So glam!

11. Finally, I love this polka dotted sweater by Wildfox. A good classic sweater is such a fall staple. I would love to style this with jeans, heels and a statement necklace or with a skirt and boots. Love love love! 


Thanks so much for reading dolls! Let me know if y'all shopped this awesome sale & what your picks are! 

XOXO
Ashley

Summer Braids!

July 22, 2014

Hi dolls!

One of my favorite things about being a girl is playing dress up and experimenting with hair/makeup. Is there anything better!? Ever since I was little long hair has been my obsession. I used to have the longest hair when I was 4...like down past my waist & I didn't get my first hair cut until I was in 3rd grade! Maybe my love for long hair ties into my life-long love for Disney princesses too. I mean those princesses have the most gorgeous, long hair! While I like to keep my hair as long as possible I obviously get it trimmed to keep the split ends away and honestly sometimes it just doesn't seem to grow haha. So, to add volume and length to your hair in this modern day age, there are clip in hair extensions, my new best friend! 

Bellami makes some awesome extensions with 100% real human hair (you will see them on some of my favorite fashion bloggers like Cara Loren and A Spoonful of Style. After watching the video I linked for Cara Loren, I ordered myself some!). I have the longest ones available, the Bellissima 220g 22" (check them out HERE). It comes with 10 pieces total and it is SERIOUSLY a must-have for anyone who needs some natural looking length added to their hair! So today I wanted to share with you a look for a casual summer night with a super fun braid. The great thing about the Bellami extensions is that you don't have to use all 10 pieces to achieve the look you want. It's so fun to experiment with different pieces! So with the look below, I used only 2 pieces from my set. I paired my braid with a fun print blouse I bought at T.J. Maxx earlier this summer and my favorite Marc Nelson Denim jeans! 














{Outfit Details}
Top: TJ Maxx (not online but this is cute here)
Jeans: Marc Nelson Denim (here)
Sandals: Body Central (no longer online, brown version here)
Earrings: Body Central (not online, cute here and of course love Kendra Scott ones here)
Extensions: Bellami Bellissima 220G 22" in Ash Blonde (here)

I hope y'all have a great Tuesday! :) Thank you for reading!

XOXO
Ashley
Copyright © Life with Ashley Joy
Design by Fearne