what works

For my first outfit post since last September (read this post to learn about where I've been for the past 5 months), I wanted to share an outfit that represents where my style is now in one look, the pieces that I gravitate towards most, the things that I know work, & what I always enjoy putting on.

This sweater is from the Melissa McCarthy Seven 7 collection. Did you know Melissa McCarthy had a clothing line, & it is awesome? I have worn this sweater A TON since receiving it, it is fitted at the waist, has the most beautiful forest green stripes, & the mock neck makes me feel chic! 

I also recently added this suede moto jacket to my closet after seeing it on everyone & drooling enough times that I just HAD to have it! For a real suede leather jacket, the price point is great, & I cannot get over the amazing details! One thing to note, it is a pretty heavy jacket, but I like that it feels so substantial when I wear it.

Paired with my go-to jeans (on sale for $29 now!), favorite necklace, clutch & easy to wear booties - this outfit is a no brainer, but I like it because it makes me feel GOOD!

What do you wear when you want to feel comfortable & confident?

jacket: Nordstrom suede moto jacket - I'm wearing the Small, in "coffee bean"

jeans: Old Navy "Rockstar" skinny jeans (now only $29!)

bag: Clare V leopard clutch

top: Melissa McCarthy Seven7 mock neck turtleneck - I'm wearing the XS (similar style also available at J.Crew - shop it here)

necklace: Kendra Scott (old, but I've linked similar styles at the end of this post)

sunglasses: Ray Ban aviators

shoes: Older style Vince Camuto booties from Nordstrom Rack // this peep-toe style is very similar.

All Photos: Noah Berg Photography

{Shop these exact pieces}

relaxed? check!

Tyler & I snuck away to Asheville, North Carolina last weekend to try out their world class breweries, hang out in the mountains & pretend we were billionaires for a day while at the Biltmore Estate.

Tomorrow I'll be divulging packing tips + our favorite Asheville spots, but I just couldn't wait to share my traveling outfit any longer. I've said it many times (sorry not sorry!), but my favorite clothing silhouette is an oversized top + slim bottoms, so this "boyfriend fit" popover top is my dream item! It is the perfect balance of slouchy & feminine with the softest fabric! I have noticed the split back detail on several other pieces for Spring & it might just be my favorite subtle detail of all time.

shirt: Thread & Supply oversized gingham top 

(fit: I ordered a size small, order your regular size for a comfy "boyfriend fit")

denim: Old Navy rockstar skinny jeans

sandals: Jack Rogers sandals 

(the platinum color goes with everything & I swear it looks more gold tone online than in person!)

earrings: Kendra Scott druzy studs

backpack: Michael Kors leather backpack 

(I also love my canvas backpack - also in gray, I *might* have a gray bag problem - from Herschel)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Shop these exact pieces:

buggy

With each new season, comes the changing of the wardrobe & addition of fresh new pieces! This past weekend I folded away the heaviest of sweaters (knock on wood that I'm not cursing myself!), & steamed out some items that have been in hiding, waiting until the weather was just right!

I think the beginning of a new season is so sartorially exciting because you are seeing pieces with fresh eyes, & you have the opportunity for layers - those crisp mornings & warm afternoons force creativity! With my Spring items hanging next to some of my heavier pieces, I am having fun making new pairings that I hadn't thought of before - it's all about shopping your own closet people!

I popped into Banana Republic last weekend on my epic work pants search & not only scored some work pants (finally found a winner with their "Logan" trousers), but was blown away by all the prints & fun things going on with the BR Spring collection. 

A big trend for Spring is - believe it or not - BUGS! This embellished sweatshirt is super whimsical, & bugs are also popping up in the form of pins & jewelry! For this outfit, I wanted to ground the funky sweatshirt with some of my favorite polished basics, but also think this top would look chic under a blazer, or dressed up with these fun fringe heels.

One place where I am finding inspiration for my Spring wardrobe? The Banana Republic #itsBanana feed where they feature how customers have worn their pieces, including some of my favorite bloggers! Preppy basics updated to include fun Spring trends is my JAM!

What new pieces have you been gravitating towards for Spring? Any new places you've been finding inspiration?? Do share!

top: embellished sweatshirt c/o Banana Republic

jeans: similar Banana Republic dark wash skinny jeans

shoes: similar Banana Republic skinny strap heels

purse: similar Banana Republic teal cross-body bag

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Shop these exact pieces:

Banana Republic provided free product in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

basic black

{ What I Wore: hat ℅ Goorin Bros (budget friendly option) // Everlane "Ryan" tank (the only kind of tank I own) // Old Navy rockstar skinny jeans (stretchy, high-waisted, basically the most perfect jeans ever, for so CHEAP!) // wedges ℅  Nisolo* }

*I know I have talked a LOT about Nisolo before, but these new wedges are amazing! Shop through my referral link & get 10% off your next Nisolo order: http://nisolo.refr.cc/JXVHV36 

(I also get $10 for each person that uses the link)

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo

This is where I am right now: It is a million degrees hot in Nashville + 100% humidity, & I feel like all of my Summer clothes have turned on me (nothing fits!)… so this has been my combo for the last couple of excursions out into the elements. I guess black is supposed to be the worst color for hot days, but for some reason this is what I keep reaching for.

What has been seeing you through hot Summer days? Anyone else have the most difficult time ever finding shorts that are longer than crotch length?!?!

P.S. I am on the road back from Charleston today & cannot wait to share the outfits, explorations, & new bloggers that I met while down there! If you are a Southern or Southwestern blogger & aren't a part of the Southern Blog Society yet, you HAVE to check it out!

Bloggers Who Budget: Leopard for Less

{ What I Wore: ASOS leopard coat (similar option for under $70 - shop more styles at the bottom of the post) // J.Crew Factory tissue tee turtleneck // Pour La Victoire purse ℅ Nordstrom Rack // Old Navy rockstar skinny jeans // BCBG heels via TJ Maxx // Kendra Scott Rayne necklace + cuff // Ray Ban aviator sunglasses // MK watch // Lip Stick - The Lip Bar "Crimson Wonderland" ℅ Glossy Box }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo 

The weekend errand run is more fun with a leopard coat & a red lip. Check out how the #BloggersWhoBudget wore leopard for less this month, & be sure to link up with your own leopard look below!

Sharing My Sole | The Style Letters | Let It Be Beautiful | Here&Now | Pearls & Twirls | Stylin in St. Louis | Living in Color Style | The Pumpkin Spot

<center> <a href="http://www.myhereandnowlife.com"> <img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m523/ashlyn_williams/BWB-LINKUP-BUTTON_zpsc4dfb71d.png~original" border="0" /> </a></center>

Bloggers Who Budget Link-Up Details: The Bloggers Who Budget ladies would like you to join in on the fun every 3rd Monday of the month, starting 8 AM EST! The BWB link-up is all about sharing how you shop on a budget. Each month will have a theme, which will be announced ahead of time. We want YOU to join in the fun of styling something around our monthly themes & can’t wait to see it! March's theme is the color of the year, Marsala. And then April will be Spring for Less, featuring your Spring wardrobe staples under $75!

Want to join the BWB link-up? The third Monday of each month at 8 AM EST, you can head to any one of our blogs to link-up your post. We kindly ask that you please follow all of our blogs (via Bloglovin’, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram!). Also, please provide a link to this in your post or add the button below to your blog. If you tweet, please use the hashtag #BloggersWhoBudget

life's a picnic

{ What I Wore: sweater ℅ Front Row Shop // necklace ℅ Yuni Kelley // Old Navy rockstar skinny jeans // ShoeMint heels // RayBan aviators }

all photos | Zipporah Photography

Integrating my Spring pieces back into the mix… the heels are picnic ready!

Paired with this sweater that I have been obsessively wearing this Winter, it's perfect for the crazy March weather.

What pieces make you feel Spring ready?

Don't forget to enter the 2 great giveaways going on right now:

Enter to win $500 cash {here}

March's Blogger Spotlight is giving away a beautiful art print {here}

stomp around

At the end of the Summer OnlineShoes.com reached out to me about a shoe styling competition. The words shoes + styling in the same sentence give me the exiting type of chill bumps, so of course I said YES! And then these gorgeous boots from Merrell Shoes arrived, teasing me during the final weeks of 90+ degree weather, silently taunting me, waiting for me to take them out & stomp around in the woods.

{ What I Wore: Urban Outfitters button down // J.Crew stripe tee (love this) // Old Navy Rockstar denim // Merrell Autumn Haven c/o OnlineShoes.com }

Now that Fall has arrived, these are my go-to boots. Our first excursion together was to a local park with my new friend Zipporah. Thank goodness for Zipporah's fabulous photography skills & for taking these photos! (see her photography blog here).

So back to this little competition. I am going head-to-head with 3 other fabulous bloggers, to see who wore it best (cue Joan Rivers!)

I love this more tom-boyish look, perfect for stomping through those crispy Fall leaves. If you like it too, I would really appreciate it if you could take a second to vote for me in the competition, it is super easy & only takes 1 click! (& you can do it once per day... thanks!!)

You will also be entered to win a pair of your own boots & should definitely check out their fabulous selection of women's boots while you're there!

Recap: please go here to vote for me (once per day!!) & enter to win a pair of boots too!

thank you thank you thank you for all your support!

(the contest runs through November 1st!)

take me out to the Ryman

{ What I Wore: H&M hat & leather jacket // Forever21 top // Old Navy jeans & booties // Rebecca Minkoff purse }

When people ask me to describe my style in 3 words, I get anxiety. How could I possibly limit my style to 3 piddly words?! I am at times preppy, boho, classic, trendy, relaxed, structured, feminine, mens-wear inspired, hipster, uptown, downtown... & so on!
The thing is, I am still on my style journey. Finding things that work & leaving behind what doesn't.
Living in Nashville certainly influences my style & I love introducing this new layer of boots, leather, boho hats & skinny skinny jeans (yup, even the dudes wear them!) to my outfits. Sometimes all at once!

I wore this outfit 2 weeks ago (seen here on Insta) for a spectacular evening at the Ryman Auditorium with my Ty. Back in May I scooped us up tickets to the quickly sold out Alt-J with Lord Huron show. I have been OBSESSED with Lord Huron since their album's debut last year. In fact, we only have one song picked out for our wedding ceremony so far & it is the Lord Huon number below.

After purchasing the tickets last Spring, my dear friend surprised me by putting my sister & I on "the list" for Lord Huron's show at The Webster in NYC during our visit in July. I belted out every single word to every single song & definitely got some chill bumps a time or two! 

it. was. magical.

So seeing them a second time was just the sweetest! Especially with my manfriend in tow to make googly eyes at the whole time... music makes me mushy!

I didn't even know much about Alt-J, the headliner of the show. Boy was I in for a special treat!

I have put my favorite Lord Huron & Alt-J songs below... maybe you will find something you like too! I love sharing & connecting with others over music!!

If you are looking for something folksy, make you wanna stomp your boots & belt it out with the windows down, Lord Huron is your jam. 

On the other hand, Alt-J is kind of trippy, but it seriously gets inside your soul with that beat & the lyrics keep you coming back for more. Let's tessellate: