For the girl who always wants to get dressed, even when dressing down

THOUGHTS ON HOW TO KEEP IT CASUAL AND CLASSIC




Monday, August 30, 2010

Ashley vs. Ashley

I am the Queen of NEVER FINISHING ANYTHING.  I have been constructing clothing since I was about 16 and designing even before that.  I gave up on my dream of becomming a fashion designer mid-college and decided that I just wanted to make money.  Any time you sell out for money, you will always be chasing it and you will never find true happiness.  I know that sounds cheesy and it's a huge cliche, but it really is true.  This blog has taken me back to the creative part of my life and I am ready to pursue being a designer again - even if it's just for me!

A couple months ago my boyfriend and I flopped on our couch and watched the movie Julie and Julia.  The movie wasn't the most amazing thing I ever seen, but it was cute.  The movie is about a girl approaching 30 and still no where near where she wants to be in her life.  Her boyfriend encourages to write a blog about something she's passionate about - cooking.  She finds a world famous cook book by Julia Childs and challenges herself to cook every recipe in the book in 1 year, and then blog about it.

That movie encouraged me.. to make 4 garments, casual in style and current to Fall in 1 month, 1 garment a week for 4 weeks.  The first will be a playful party dress, with the current style of the full, flirty skirt.  Let the challenge begin! Feel free to give your encouragement and input by commenting on the blogsite!!!!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Destination France - An evening with Kristin Haskins Simms


Kristin Haskins Simms and I

Last night Philadelphia Fashion Week hosted another wonderful Happy Hour at Le Bec Fin in honor of Philadelphia's own Project Runway designer, Kristin Haskins Simms. Obviously Le Bec Fin was to die for, my boyfriend and I only had drinks, but we took a look at the bar menu and it was intense! It was a very small and intimate crowd which was wonderful, we all got a little time with the woman of the hour and it was an amazing experience!

Ms. Haskins Simms was originally a graphic designer until she stumbled upon apparel designing. She never realized she had a talent for it until she began experimenting with men's t-shirts and created her first t-shirt jacket. She has since then created a label she calls Strangefruit and it is an awesome collection. It's filled with bold and domineering styles. The clothing itself screams strong, fashion-forward woman, and I love it! Ms. Haskins Simms was just recently eliminated from Project Runway in Episode 4, which totally blew me away - she said it was a great experience and we shall see her again on the reunion show! I'm sure we will be seeing tons more from this designer through Strangefruit, so check it out! http://www.bestrangefruit.com/

Matty and I
New Tee Shirt and Pearls Friend!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

This Season's Fashion For your Body type

Body Types can be difficult. Trendy fashions really accentuate tall girls that are skin and bones. Oversized shirts on girls with a big chest really don't work, they just make you look heavy. However, with a little bit of creativity and understanding which part of your body to focus on, you can pull almost anything off!

You can always find those random style guides in magazines that tell you here and there how to work your body type, but my secret is to find a trendy celebrity with your same body type and style-watch her! For example, I style-watch Blake Lively; she is about the same height as me, and we both have a tush, thighs, and some really long legs. Our torsos are on the shorter side and we definitely aren't...overly endowed in the chest area. Magazines are constantly catching that girl in James Jeans and they look perfect on her. So, instead of spending hours in a dressing room at Barney's, trying on every jean in the store to see what works best, I already know because either Blake or her stylist did the work for me - It's genius.

Let's say your 5'1 and EVERYTHING is tiny. Style-watch the Olsen twins - probably more Ashley then Mary-Kate (I can appreciate her rocking the homeless look because we all know she's a billionaire). When you are that small you want to wear more mature things so people don't think your a little girl. Stay away from stores like Holister and Abercrombie and find your way to Urban Outfitters or Bloomingdales. Oversized t-shirts, boyfriend blazers, mini-skirts, skinny jeans - pretty much everything that is trendy you can rock. The exact same goes for 5'10 and tiny... the world really is your oyster.
The hourglass girl: God blessed you with the most feminine figure, I don't know if fashion is jealous of you and they are just being vindictive but you have to watch what you wear when it comes to trendy clothing. All of these oversized trends really don't work for you because they are not acccentuating your waist and that's the key to pulling off your look. This fall, designers are paying attention to the female form again and designing clothes that are reminiscent of the 1950's women. The skirts are long and full, accentuating the waist. This is an incredibly flirty look and also very classy. These types of skirts can be played casually by weaingr a tight little v-neck tee. When it comes to pants and jeans, absolutely stick with skinnys! This really brings out the hour glass. If you are on the shorter side stick with a heel when wearing them. The key to your body style is to stay away from oversized and style-watch Scarlett Johansson - she is 5'4 and the queen of beautiful hourglass shapes, she'll show you the way!





For all you curvy chicas out there, follow Miss Jennifer Hudson. She's awesome, and rocks her figure better than anyone in Hollywood! You might be scared to pull out the skinny jean, but don't be! It looks great on her, coupled with a cute pair of heels, and a flowy blouse that lets your 'girls' shine, you will be knockout gorgeous!


Thursday, August 19, 2010

Fall Preview for the Casual Girl

                          


Fall is my most favorite season for style. It's filled with beautiful colors, lots of layers, and cozy fabrics. This fall we have a lot of continuing styles such as the skinny jean, and the boyfriend look. However, fall has twisted everything up and now what was short is long, what was tight is full, and what was nude and natural is filled with color!

In the past, all colors associated with fall fashion were tones of red, orange and brown, inspired solely by the beautiful colors that fall leaves turn into at the changing of the season. This year, Fall's fabulous color palette are "Jewel Tones". Garnette, Emerald, Ruby, Amethyst, and Sapphire. It's a beautiful and rich color palette - incredibly regal, and I am so excited to start wearing it!

The most important fall pieces are your jackets, coats, blazers, and sweaters. We all know that as the weather begins to change, our wardrobe becomes increasingly larger, and much, much warmer. This fall season we are still seeing leather biker jackets and bomber jackets. Boyfriend Blazers are also a thumbs up for the season as the "boyfriend" trend is still in full swing. Coats are looking very tailored and with very little going on with detail. Sweaters are over sized and heavy. They are very full, chunky knits, not like the cashmere cardigans that we have been seeing in the past. This season, Fall is preparing you for a very warm winter and it's not because the temperature will be higher!

Skirts and dresses have made a complete 180. Last Fall and Spring they were short, tight and high-waisted, this fall a 1950's inspired women will be all the rage. High-waisted full skirts to the knee bring back a more conservative look from the past. It's an incredibly classy and glamorous look - very feminine and flirty.

The fifties are also the inspiration for all the sportswear designed for women this Fall. A baggy, tapered dress pant with rolled cuffs and a sexy heel or boot is one of my favorite looks for the Fall; embracing the idea of the boyfriend style and applying it to work-wear.

The Past is rearing is GORGEOUS head this Fall and I can't wait to go shopping!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Shopping In Philly

Barney's Co-Op
Rittenhouse Square

Barneys is the magical land of fashion-the mothership, everything that is right with the world.  It's not quite Barneys New York, but that just leaves more things I can purchase and less time admiring the unaffordable.  When you walk in you can just smell the Marc Jacobs leather, you can feel the fine fabrics of Diane Von Furstenberg, and wrap yourself up in the cozy cottons of Splendid and Ella Moss, mmmm I just love it.

Zara
Walnut Street

Zara is an internationally recognized chain developed in the Southern Regions of Spain.  Its European influences make their product stand out in the crowded world of fashion.  My first trip to Zara was during my visit to Granada, Spain-even though their was one right here in Philly!  I immediately fell in love with the store and I'm still loving Philly's little touch of Spain today!

Urban Outfitters
Walnut Street

Urban Outfitters is Philadelphia's claim to fame.  The company was born and raised here and has now expanded all over the United States, Canada and Europe.  The hipster-esque designs really represent a large part of Philadelphia Style.  Not only does Urban carry clothing, but furniture, fun and quirky gifts / books.  Urban Outfitters has become not just a store, but a lifestyle.

Boyd's Department Store
Chestnut Street - Rittenhouse

Boyd's began in 1938 by three brothers and was a men's department store.  It wasn't until 1993 that they decided to add a women's department.  Now they carry such brands as Just Cavalli, M  Missoni, Diane Von Furstenburg, Dolce and Gabbana, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, and Catherine Malandrino.  It's a great department store and it is ONLY located in Philadelphia. 

Just a few amazing stores to check out!