Tag: Fall Fashion

OOTD: Thanksgiving Cover-Up…

by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment on OOTD: Thanksgiving Cover-Up…

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Whenever people ask me what Thanksgiving with my family is like- I’m always honest. It’s a lot of fun- with minimal political talk, occasional roasting of one another, and either football or Christmas music as the background noise to a lot of conversation and even more eating.

My mother, who has hosted the holiday every year since I was a little kid- always goes above and beyond for a house filled with people- making enough appetizers, main courses, side dishes and desserts to feed a small and very hungry army. It’s absolutely insane- and you will always go home with at least a few containers filled to the brim with leftovers. It’s just a given.

Of course, as fitness-oriented as I try to be- I still indulge on Thanksgiving- which is the ultimate “cheat day” anyway. And for this reason- I want to be as comfortable as possible for when I slip into my inevitable food coma. Gone are the days where I would wear nice jeans to the meal (buttons and zippers are essentially post-dinner torture devices that cause the ultimate discomfort) and although I can embrace an elastic waist as much as the next person- I still want to look put together and “dressy” during a big holiday with a lot of my family in attendance.

I’ve embraced layers in recent years- which both keep me warm and help hide what I’ve affectionately named the “pie paunch” after a big meal- and I’ve been loving pairing big, slouchy sweaters over loose-fitting and cozy cotton dresses over the course of this fall.

My short-sleeved little black dress for example, looks a little more dressed up and chic when I throw on this baggy white knitted sweater over it. Paired with some black, fleece-lined leggings for extra warmth and my black knee-high boots- I look presentable for dinner but remain perfectly comfy while I go for seconds on the stuffing and sweet potatoes.

If you’ve got any Thanksgiving styling tips for maximum comfort- feel free to share! The more suggestions, the better!

A little later on this week I’ll have a Thanksgiving-inspired recipe to share (it only requires a handful of ingredients and about 25-30 minutes of your time- so I have a feeling you’ll all enjoy it!) before we break for the weekend.

Until then, enjoy your “Hump Day,” everybody!

xx

– Ashley –

Favorites: October 2019!

by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment on Favorites: October 2019!

Good Evening, everyone! I hope you’ve all been having a wonderful day so far!

Tonight’s post is arriving a little late. I’ve said it before, I’m sure- but even the most carefully thought out plans or the strictest of schedules can get a bit delayed or botched up a bit when life throws us a curve ball. I had wanted to get this post up a little earlier today, as is my typical way of running “Blondie Birdie”- but a day filled with meetings, phone calls, and back-to-back commitments kept me a little preoccupied throughout the morning and early afternoon.

But, I’m here- and October is winding down (I can’t believe it either!) and although I’ll have my monthly recap up this coming Thursday morning- I promise! – I wanted to share a few of my favorite things from these past few weeks that have helped make my non-stop countdown to Halloween a bit more comfy, cozy and healthy!

That’s right, y’all! It’s a late night edition of “Favorites” for October 2019!

This month’s list isn’t particularly lengthy- but it’s a good one for sure. So, without wasting any more time- let’s take a look!

Back in 2016, a day before a departing flight to Las Vegas- I picked up a super cheap pair of moccasins to wear on board so I wouldn’t be uncomfortable and so that I could slip them on and off with ease while getting through the TSA checkpoints. They ended up being the most comfortable pair of shoes I’d ever owned- and I wore them constantly.

Earlier this year, they finally gave out after years of wear and tear- and I haven’t been able to replicate them since. This sherpa-lined pair, while a little bit bulkier- are still super comfortable and still look very cute with a pair of jeans and a flannel, or a pair of leggings with a long sweater. They’re perfect for the sunnier Fall days we’ve had where I don’t want to commit to boots but still want my feet to stay warm!

Although I try to eat healthy, work out regularly and follow a pretty hardcore skin regimen- sometimes it helps to have a little extra boost working on the inside to keep me looking and feeling as radiant as I’m striving for. Earlier this month, I started taking these daily skin-boosting vitamins from EVOLUTION_18 (by Bobbi Brown)– and I can say that my skin looks brighter, clearer, and smoother after only a few weeks.

Loaded with collagen and Vitamin C- this is my new miracle vitamin that I’m swearing by now and forever! My skin has never looked better- and that’s coming from someone who has tried pretty much every mask, cream, spa procedure- and everything in-between!

Of course, my face isn’t the only thing that needs a little extra TLC this time of year- especially since I’ve been wearing heeled boots pretty much non-stop. Although I stick to my mani/pedis every few weeks (despite the weather outside)– sometimes you need some additional self-care in-between spa visits.

I love this pumpkin-infused foot scrub from ONYX– which smells delicious and smooths out my heels in no time at all. I like to use these packets after a long day at work on my feet or on the weekends when I’m indulging in some lazy, Netflix and Chillin’ on my own. They just relax me so much!

And finally- even though I like to be spooky 24/7- some days I don’t have time to pull off a costume or horror-inspired look. That’s why I’ve embraced ultra-soft and knotted headbands with fun and festive prints on them to give me a fun Halloween vibe without all the time-consumption AND keep my curls away from my eyes when I’m busy working out/running errands/getting things done.

This one in particular, which features bats and masks- was designed by my boss’ fiancé- who is starting her own accessories business in the coming weeks ahead. I love it!

And that’s it for the photogenic things- but I’ve got a couple more things on my list this month!

– MUSIC/MOVIES/TELEVISION –

“Joker” – Controversial? Sure. Entertaining? You bet! I was in the majority of people who truly enjoyed this movie and celebrated Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in it. Despite all the fears of violence surrounding the film’s opening day- I had a great time watching this in theaters and would absolutely see it again!

“Big Mouth (Season 3)” – My favorite raunchy comedy about raging hormones and teenage angst returned for it’s third season on Netflix earlier this month- and I binged the entire thing over the course of an evening. Just like the seasons before it, “Big Mouth” delivered another dosage of “too close to home” humor surrounding all the awkwardness that comes with puberty and adolescence.

And I think that just about does it for October, my lovelies! My favorite month filled with some of my (new) favorite things!

I’ll let you all get some much-needed rest now, and I’ll be back on Thursday morning before the Halloween hi-jinks officially commence to take a reflective look back on the month that was.

Have a great night, everybody!

xx

– Ashley –

OOTD: Keeping Up with the Addams-es…

by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment on OOTD: Keeping Up with the Addams-es…

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I’ve been a firecracker of productivity this week- slaying at work and getting all sorts of things done post-office before I eventually fall asleep at night. I had said before that October tends to be a busier-than-usual-month for me, what with all the Halloween-related festivities and all- and this year is no exception to that tradition. It feels like I’ve been going non-stop!

After work tonight, some friends from the office and I will be venturing down to Rhode Island to enjoy some hard cider and see a famous annual Jack-O-Lantern exhibit I haven’t been able to make it to in a couple of years- so I’m pretty excited. It’s a fitting event for the final days before Halloween.

But today I thought I’d share one of my coziest, warmest, and potentially spooky ensembles I wore earlier this week to work. Between the over-sized black and white sweater and matching socks- a friend who had recently seen me try this on in my apartment joked that I looked like Wednesday Addams. I think it may be a combination of her and Lydia Deetz from “Beetlejuice”- but either way- it’s super comfy.

I wish I could remember exactly where I got this sweater from, but knowing me- I think I can safely assume it was Primark and I was probably getting ready to go on a trip or something when I bought it!

And the faux-leather boots are from Vera Wang. They’re super comfortable, match well with anything and everything- and have a bit of a chunky heel on them that gives me a little height and makes my posture look much better than it normally does when I’m standing/walking.

I’ll be back on Friday with some photos from tonight’s festivities before we break for the weekend and I take some time to put the finishing touches on my Halloween costume(s). I’m very, very excited to share them with you all!

But until then- enjoy your “Hump Day” and stay warm and spooky out there!

xx

– Ashley –

OOTD: All The Right Cords…

by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment on OOTD: All The Right Cords…

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I’m coming off of a late night and an early morning after finally catching a screening of “Joker” last night (phenomenal, by the way!) and heading into the office at the crack of dawn as per usual- but I wanted to share a hidden gem I’ve had tucked away in my wardrobe and only recently brought out now that Fall is here and the fabric is making a long overdue comeback!

I know that when many people think of corduroy, they think school uniforms or toddler-sized overalls- but it’s everywhere again (in adult sizes!) and being used in new and fun ways this season- such as pants, blazers, and skirts. This camel-colored, high-waisted mini-skirt is one of my favorites- since it’s comfortable and can be matched up with pretty much anything I have in my closet.

Earlier this week I paired the skirt with a dark red-colored billowy shirt, black knee-high faux-leather boots, and a long black sweater. It gave me a definite “foliage” vibe with the color palette- but I thought I looked chic and very “in” with the Autumn-inspired shades and textures!

If I could find the same style skirt but in an olive green or a chocolate brown color- I’d be all over it!

A little later on this week, I’ll have some more photos from the ever changing scenery in New England (it’s breathtaking!) before we break for the weekend and I head home to stop by “Rock & Shock” for what I think may be the millionth year in a row!

But for now, I’ve got to get some things done around the office and prepare for a dinner date tonight!

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful “Hump Day” ahead! I’ll be back on Friday!

xx

– Ashley –

OOTD: Feminine Flannel

by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment on OOTD: Feminine Flannel

Good Morning and Happy Monday, everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I know I sure did- and I’ll be posting up all the details, photos and shopping splurges a little later on this week. Before I do that, though- I wanted to show off a simple, comfortable, but oh-so-cute “Summer To Fall” transitional piece I sported this past weekend during a family outing in New Hampshire!

Certain fabrics have always screamed Autumn or Winter to me- wool, cashmere, fleece, so on and so forth- but one fabric I’ve noticed regularly goes underappreciated in these “not too hot, not too cold” days that fall between late August and early September- flannel.

I’m a self-proclaimed aficionado of flannel sheets and the occasional over-sized hoodie as the temperatures begin to drop- but sometimes it’s nice to have a lightweight shirt you can throw on for early-Autumnal activities with a simple pair of leggings and comfortable moccasins. Such was the case with this long-sleeved, button up flannel shirt I recently picked up in the Valley that has a bit of an unexpected twist to it- a lace cutout along the back to allows for an easier time keeping cool under the sun.

The varying shades of brown and red scream “Fall!” to me- but the lace is a nice little reminder that it’s still warm out, too. I wasn’t pouring sweat in this thing- but I also wasn’t shivering by the time the sun began to set, too. It was the perfect top for perfect weather!

I’m sure I’ll be wearing a lot more of this as we continue to gradually move away from Summer’s heat and humidity- and I know it’s going to look great with a pair of fitted jeans and some new ankle boots, as well! I love pieces I can easily mix and match with other things in my wardrobe- and this shirt definitely fits the bill.

But with it being a Monday and my scheduled time at the office beginning right about now- I’ve got to head on out for the day. I’ll be back with a weekend recap this coming Wednesday- highlighting this year’s Seafood Festival and sharing the incredible deals I was able to find during my sidewalk sale perusing.

Until then, enjoy the start of your week, y’all!

xx

– Ashley –