Fall Plaid

 

Hello again! It's been a little while since I've posted here and honestly, it feels good to be back. Work has been busier than ever and it's been so incredibly hot that any time off has been spent keeping cool at home. I had a morning to myself last week and I wanted to wear one of my favorite new fall pieces: these suspender pants! The straps are removable so you can wear the pants without them and the fit is so good. Even though it still feels very much like summer, I'm just going to wear my favorite fall outfits and manifest the cooler weather that way. A girl can hope!

Top- Vixen by Micheline Pitt

Pants- Modcloth

Shoes- Modcloth (similar)

Hat- Modcloth

Collectif is one of my favorite places to purchase clothing and I love that they do exclusives with Modcloth. Since Modcloth is here in the USA and Collectif is in the UK, I prefer to shop closer (for that near instant gratification). Collectif, in my opinion, makes the best pants and I pretty much own every single pair of plaid pants they own. They are so good! I waffle between a UK8 and UK10 in Collectif pants and I opted for the UK10 for these. They have elastic in the back for comfort and they seriously are one of the most comfortable pants I own. Plus, they are currently 40% off! Some sizes are sold out so shop them while you can!

Last time I posted I eluded to some personal issues. At the time, Bianca had some health concerns that her doctor thought may lead to a cancer diagnosis. Thankfully, after some testing, she's totally fine and we ruled that out. I was pretty out of sorts at the time but I'm glad that we were able to move past that and get back to normal life. This year has been quite a ride so far! Now I can just focus on my favorite time of year: spooky season!

xoxo

Ashley

Pumpkin Spice

 

All things are better when they're pumpkin flavored... including this Vixen by Micheline Pitt dress!  Her Halloween collection this year is to die for (pun intended) and her classic Bardot dress got a bit of a pumpkin spiced treatment.  While the Bardot has been around for years, I've never actually tried one on until I ordered this dress.  Now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long!

Dress- c/o Vixen by Micheline Pitt

Shoes- Modcloth

Hat- The Beheaded

Lipstick- Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in Pumpkin Spice

The Bardot is made from a thick cotton sateen and features cap sleeves that can be worn up or down, a wide neckline with lace and bow detail, below the knee length gathered skirt with pockets, back zippered closure, and a removable black grommet belt.  I'm almost always a size small in all Vixen pieces and I happily took a small in this dress.  It's super comfortable but also structured, so you get that vintage inspired fit without the need of vintage undergarments.  As you probably know, I am obsessed with this Halloween color way but it also comes in a black and white and pink and white gingham as well.  All Vixen's offerings are available in sizes XS-4X and they're currently having a sale on certain Halloween items!  If you live that spooky life everyday like I do, this sale is an absolute treat!

Today is my BFF Sammi's birthday!  She lives on the other side of the country and I haven't seen her in years (thanks to the pandemic) but her day is always worth celebrating, near or far!  She hosts a birthday giveaway on her blog every year, so make sure to check out what she's offering this year.  Hint: it's really awesome!  You can read her blog and enter her giveaway HERE!

xoxo

Ashley

Squad Ghouls

 

Feeling those Halloween vibes and Snag Tights just released the cutest collection of tights for the spooky season!  Snag Tights is a European company that believes in inclusivity over everything.  All their tights are available in sizes 2-32 and they strive to create ethical and affordable products for everyone.  Snag was kind enough to send me a couple pairs from their new Halloween collection and I styled them with some of my favorite outfits below!

Dress- c/o Sister Jane

Tights- c/o Snag Tights

Shoes- Strange Cvlt

Hair Clips- c/o Unique Vintage

Dress- c/o Modcloth

Tights- c/o Snag Tights

Shoes- YRU

Hat- The Beheaded

I chose both the Skele-Fun and Squad Ghouls tights because who doesn't love dead things?  The Skele-Fun tights are a perfect addition to any little black dress when you want a spooky twist.  The Squad Ghouls tights are more vibrant and fun, great for when you want to make an entrance.  Both these tights are thick and sturdy but also comfy to wear.  They're pretty high waisted so they sit nicely and don't ride down.  I can see myself wearing these all through the spooky season (and every other season if you know me well).  You can shop the entire Halloween collection HERE and the rest of their amazing products HERE!

xoxo

Ashley

Bride of Frankenstein

 

As I write this blog I am enjoying my very first pumpkin spice coffee of the year.... I guess that means spooky season is finally here!  While I'm taking some time before I start decorating, my wardrobe has switched over to all things Halloween.  As a huge fan of Loungefly and their clothing line Stitch Shoppe, I was so excited when they released a Universal Monsters collection.  This velvet Alicia dress is everything a monster girl could want!  Both cute and spooky, it's the perfect dress to add to my collection.

Dress- Stitch Shoppe by Loungefly

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Lipstick- c/o Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Olvera

The Alicia dress is made from a soft and very stretchy embossed velvet.  It features an all-over print of stitched hearts and a contrast Peter Pan collar with Frankenstein's monster and the Bride of Frankenstein embroidered on each side.  A removable self neck tie finishes the neckline to create a vintage inspired look.  There are also puff sleeves, an above the knee length skirt with hidden side pockets, and a sturdy back zippered closure.  I'm wearing a size XS, which is a size down from my usual Stitch Shoppe size.  Since the velvet is so stretchy, I was easily able to size down.  Their size charts are accurate and are individualized for each piece.  Definitely go with the size chart if you're having a hard time picking a size!

The Universal Monsters collection also features another dress style, a matching cardigan, and an adorable bag.  Sizing is inclusive, from XS to 4X.  You can find the entire collection HERE!

xoxo

Ashley

Lazy Bones

 

I know today is Thanksgiving but I am forever living that spooky life!  It's finally starting to get cool here and the weather was perfect for my new sweater dress from Lazy Oaf.  It's super comfy and I can't get enough of the skeleton print!  I rarely wear dresses this short but I was feeling it with cute tights and booties.  It was the most amazing fall day and I gotta say, this was the most amazing fall outfit.

Dress- Lazy Oaf

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Tights- c/o Modcloth

Hat- Modcloth

Makeup- Melt Cosmetics Beetlejuice Collection

Lazy Oaf is a UK based company that specializes in unique streetwear for men and women.  I love their small collections, it makes you feel like you truly own something that nobody else has.  While I usually order their puff sleeve dresses (they're my favorite), I'm glad I took my chances on this new-to-me style.  I'm wearing a size small and it has a nice oversized feel.  While this knit is no longer in stock, you can find tons of great things on their website!

Today is our Thanksgiving at home and thankfully, I'm not as stressed as I thought I would be.  I cooked about three of the dishes yesterday so I won't have too much to cook today.  This is the first time we're spending Thanksgiving away from family which means it's also my very first time cooking everything.  I'm hoping it all tastes great, I'm super hard on myself and this will definitely test my ego as a good cook (LOL).  I hope you have a wonderful day, a great long weekend, and enjoy this holiday as best as you can during this very weird year.

xoxo

Ashley

Midnight Jamboree

 

The weekend is upon us and honestly, I couldn't be more relieved.  I've been trying to get adjusted to my new work/teach my daughter from home schedule and it's just a lot.  I don't have much time for my blog right now (which bums me out but I need to adult) but I took a little sliver of time to myself to photograph this amazing skirt from Kitschy Witch Designs.  Stephanie's fall print this year is Midnight Jamboree, a pairing of dancing black cats, the moon and music.  The Gillian style skirt displays the print so well and it was a great companion for my own little dance in nature.

Sweater- Modcloth

Skirt- c/o Kitschy Witch Designs

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Earrings- Your Modern Day Designs

Lipstick- Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Cherry Moon

The Gillian skirt is made in a heavyweight stretch cotton sateen and features a two inch waistband, gathered a-line silhouette, deep hidden side pockets, and a side zipper with two button closure.  I'm wearing my usual XS in Kitschy Witch skirts, which does run on the larger side.  This skirt is comfortable, if not just a smidge too big, so I would definitely recommend sizing down one from your usual size.  The Gillian is available in sizes XS-4X and is made right here in the USA.  The Midnight Jamboree print is also available in a scarf and a button down shirt.  If you're waiting for a dress, there should be one available very soon!  I'd recommend following Kitschy Witch on Instagram to get all the updates!

I've been dealing with a lot of loss right now in my husband's family which has been especially hard during a pandemic.  It's difficult when you lose someone you love, but it hurts even more when you haven't been able to see that person in some time or physically connect with others who are also grieving with you.  It's been a tough week but we're trying to get through it.  This year has been a mess and sometimes it's hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  2020 has taken so much but taught me even more, so I guess I need to keep that in perspective.  I can't wait until it's safe enough where we can feel some actual normalcy, it's just been so long.  How are you getting through these tough times?  I'd love to know how you find some peace among the chaos.

xoxo

Ashley

In The Cards

 
My favorite month is finally here and I can't wait to do all the fun, spooky things!  I know there are plenty of people out there saying that Halloween is cancelled but that couldn't be farther from the truth.  While masks do come into play (and who doesn't love another accessory?), there are so many exciting things going on right now.  We have day trips, pumpkin patches, and even Knott's Berry Farm on our agenda and I'm excited to dress in my favorite festive outfits for these occasions.  This tarot card dress from the ModCloth x Collectif collaboration is fun, incredibly light and comfortable, and worthy of wearing to any Halloween function.

Dress- Modcloth
Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Hat- The Beheaded

Lipstick- Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in English Rose

The In The Cards swing dress is made from a light, chiffon-like fabric and is fully lined, has a button down detail down the bodice, collar with removable black velvet neck tie, swishy swing skirt with a matching fabric waist sash, and a side zippered closure.  This fabric has no stretch so I sized up to a UK10.  It ended up being the right choice because it fits lovely!  I also have the bat version of this dress in the same size and it was HUGE.  Because the bat fabric has stretch, it ran much larger.  The print is gorgeous, subtly spooky and the quality is top notch.  You can find this dress in sizes UK4 to UK30 on the ModCloth website right now and make sure to use my coupon code ModAshley15 for 15% off your order!

I'm so excited for the weekend!  Bianca is officially on fall break, we have a fun weekend planned, annnnnnd I got a job!  I'll be working from home and can work around Bianca's distance learning hours and I couldn't feel more elated.  Being laid off due to Covid-19 was a huge hit for me and I definitely went into a bit of a depression.  I feel most whole when I have an outlet outside the home, and while I'm working safely from home, I'm doing something that contributes to a different place.  Plus, I'm still working in the fashion industry so I'm basically on top of the world right now.  Despite the awfulness of 2020, October is looking to be a great month!

xoxo

Ashley

Pumpkin Dream

 

My pumpkin game is strong this year and I'm loving all the Jack-O-Lantern pieces you can find at Unique Vintage!  From dresses to separates, shoes, and accessories; they have a huge selection of goodies that celebrate your favorite gourd.  This casually cute outfit is one of my favorites this year, mostly because it's so easy to dress these pieces up or down.  You can take this outfit from nature to the couch in no time!

Top- c/o Unique Vintage

Skirt- Retrolicious via Unique Vintage

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Hat- Unique Vintage (similar)

Clutch- Lucky Hellcat

This Jack-O-Lantern sweatshirt is made from a super soft and warm terry fabric, which is perfect for the fall season.  Since it's still pretty hot here, I can wear it comfortably with the sleeves pushed up.  My favorite part?  The double sided Jack faces!  There's a cute Jack on the front and a scary Jack face on the back.  I'm wearing my usual size small and it has a great, slouchy fit.

I paired the sweatshirt with this Jack-O-Lantern skirt because boy do I love a theme!  This cotton skater skirt has an elastic back waist for a tailor-made fit.  It also glows in the dark!  As usual, I'm wearing a small and it was the perfect choice for me.  The only thing that I'm not super psyched about is the lack of pockets.  If this skirt had pockets it would be *perfect*.  Because let's be honest: every woman deserves pockets!

I'm gearing up for another week of distance learning but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Bianca's fall break is next week!  It's been hard for me and really hard for her so we're both looking forward to some time away from the computer.  I'm planning on taking her on some socially distanced adventures so we can feel a bit of (safe) normalcy for a bit.  As always, you can keep up with my day-to-day adventures (as well as our fall break plans) on my Instagram!

xoxo

Ashley

Wonderful Wasabi

Taking a break from all my Halloween content to bring you something kawaii from Sarsparilly!  If you're not familiar with this woman-owned small Australian business, Sarsparilly is dedicated to bringing you all the cute, happy things to your wardrobe.  Once a made to order business, Sarsparilly now offers seasonal collections in sizes XXS-3X.  Their most recent collection is a collaboration with the wonderful, whimsical shoe company: Irregular Choice.  The sushi theme and the adorable collection of dresses, shoes, and accessories is everything you could ever want in a novelty print.  Read more about the Wonderful Wasabi dress below!

Dress- c/o Sarsparilly

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Hair clip- c/o Sarsparilly

Lipstick- Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red

The Wonderful Wasabi dress is covered in a panda sushi print and features contrast polka dot puff sleeves, fitted bodice, swing skirt with hidden side pockets, contrasting fabric belt, and a back zippered closure.  I'm wearing a size XS, which is my usual Sarsparilly size.  In my opinion, their products run a full size large.  I would double check those size charts before you order because you will most likely need a size below your usual.  This dress is super comfy and ridiculously cute!  I love that this dress comes in black but you can also grab it in a gorgeous baby blue color.  You can shop this dress and the rest of the Irregular Choice collection on Sarsparilly right now!

Just wanted to let you know that my giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST tonight!  You can win a spooky tee and a collar from two of my favorite small businesses by entering on my blog post HERE.

xoxo

Ashley

Autumn Storm

 
I am all about autumn (even if I won't actually see/feel it until November) because it brings so many great things to my style: plaid prints, boots, layering pieces and my favorite: cozy cardigans.  Luckily, ModCloth has so many great things to transition your wardrobe to cooler weather wears!  I've collaborated with ModCloth to show you some of my picks from their new arrivals and this outfit is one of my favorites.  It has elements of autumn but is light enough for me to wear here in California "fall".  Check out the details on this outfit below and be prepared to see more of my fall picks in the near future!

Top- c/o Modcloth

Skirt- c/o Modcloth

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Scrunchie- c/o Modcloth

Glasses- c/o Bonlook

Two of my favorite brands came together and created a wonderful range of fall and Halloween goodies.  I am absolutely obsessed with this squash farmer jumper and the rest of the ModCloth x Collectif collection!  This jumper features a nice fall plaid with a high waist, large exposed front pockets, a back zippered closure, and adjustable and removable straps.  That's right, the straps come completely off so you can wear it as a regular skirt!  I'm wearing a size UK10, which is a size bigger than my usual Collectif size.  Since this is a collaboration, the size chart is different and I went with a size up.  I think I could have stuck with my usual size, but it was a nice and comfy fit so I'm happy with it.  My suggestion is to take a second look at that size chart before you order!

I paired my skirt with this amazing thunderbolt print blouse, leopard print scrunchie, and platform heels for a bit of print mixing.  I feel like I used to mix prints a lot when I first started this blog and it was about time to bring it back!  I can see myself wearing this outfit to a job or even to a girl's brunch (if we were leaving the house).  You can find all of these pieces on ModCloth right now and make sure to check out their entire fall collection for all your transitional seasonal needs!

xoxo

Ashley

You've Been Ghosted

 
Well, California is currently on fire so I haven't spent much time out of my home due to the poor air quality.  It's been hard to keep positive these days, and while I'd love to write a whole long-winded blog post why, I'll spare you the details.  Because let's be honest: I think we're all struggling in our own ways, right?  One thing that keeps me feeling good and like myself is getting dressed every single day, even if I don't leave the house.  It makes such a difference!  This outfit definitely sparked some much needed joy so I had to share it with you too.

Sweater- c/o Modcloth
Skirt- c/o Collectif

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Socks- SHEIN

Headband- Nordstrom (similar)

This ghost sweater from Modcloth has become quite infamous because it sold out SO FAST.  I was lucky enough to snag one but don't fret: it's being restocked!  I received word from Modcloth directly that they will be bringing it back before Halloween.  While I don't know exactly when, be sure to get yourself on the waitlist so you'll be one of the first to know.  I'm wearing my usual Modcloth size small and it has a nice, slouchy fit.  I could have sized down but I like my sweaters to be on the roomier side so I can layer if the mood strikes.

I decided to pair this ghost sweater with the ghost stripe swing skirt from Collectif because girl loves a theme!  Collectif just launched their Halloween collection and I have already ordered so many pieces.  It's so good!  This skirt has huge hidden side pockets and a back zippered closure.  I'm wearing my usual skirt size, UK8, and I think it's the perfect fit.  I tend to order a UK10 in their tops and dresses, but only because I have a bigger bust.  I think this skirt will look perfectly dressed down with my many (MANY) Halloween tees as well.

You can shop the Modcloth Halloween collection HERE and the Collectif Halloween collection HERE.  And if you don't already know, Modcloth and Collectif have a collaborative collection too, which you can shop HERE!  If you're shopping directly with Modcloth, you can take 15% off your total order with my coupon code ModAshley15!

xoxo

Ashley