Ashley (43) from Fancy Stuff and Pretty Things lives in the Detroit metropolitan area. She is a busy Mum of two, and a Human Resources Manager with a business casual dress code. Our blogger is a neutrals loving Modern Classic dresser who believes in quality over quantity. She is a pro at making her small, skillfully curated wardrobe work for her lifestyle, and uses statement jewellery and interesting footwear to switch things up. She has a very relatable polished casual style mixed with on trend accents. Ashley regularly sports flats, and loves tunic tops and bright red lipstick. She is also a fan of Coach bags, of which she has a few in constant rotation.
“Over the past five years my core personal style, which I’d describe as classic with a bit of quirkiness, hasn’t really changed that much. I’ve always been drawn to classic shapes and cuts, although, I have honed my skills regarding knowing which of those work best with my body type. Additionally, I made a conscious decision to stop buying cheaply made “throw away” clothes. I would rather have one quality piece in my closet instead of 3 or 4 shoddily made pieces. The actual number of items in my closet is really quite small, but what I do have can be mixed and matched in multiple ways. I work full-time in a corporate environment, am a mother, wife, and friend, etc., so I’m really busy! I need clothes that can do everything. I love that I can start with a few basic core pieces and change up the look by adding different accessories, shoes and handbag. If anything, expanding my accessory arsenal has been the biggest area of change in my style. Sparkly necklaces are my friend!”
I am picking this relaxed Summer denim look as my first favourite. I love the blue colour palette, textural interest, and the easy polished vibe. Doesn’t our blogger look fab in blue? Ashley cut her hair into a short bob earlier this year, and it adds such spunk to everything she wears. The fluid fit short-sleeved sweatshirt tee is marled navy with black grosgrain ribbon trim. The open neckline and diagonal sleeve are very flattering for a broader shoulder line. The relaxed fit boyfriend jeans are rolled for structure, and showcase Ashley’s fantastic flat sandals with fringe detailing. She’s been sporting them often this Summer, and I can see why. They’re eye-catching, fun, versatile and look super comfy to boot. A chunky chain-link bracelet, gold bangle and pendant necklace from Ashley’s wonderful jewellery collection provide the finishing touches.
I’m still really into wearing dark blue with black, there’s just something very chic about it. So I was immediately drawn to the easy minimalism of Ashley’s outfit: an ink blue sweater worn over black stretch skinnies. This stylish yet simple pairing allows the luxuriously dark colour palette to take centre stage. The sweater is a fluid fit, and a great length to wear with the skinny pants silhouette. Our blogger is 5’7″ and her legs seem to go on forever. The skinnies are tucked into shiny black boots, which adds textural depth. It also gives the look a relaxed equestrian vibe that is close to my heart. A big statement necklace with colourful stones provides a glam touch, arty interest, and some lightness near Ashley’s face.
Ashley is a fan of a small yet versatile wardrobe with quality pieces that can go the distance. Collecting interesting jewellery and changing out accessories are her go-to solution to create different looks with the “outfit building blocks” in her closet. Clever and fun! Here she is wearing a black pencil skirt with white button-down shirt. The mini dots on the shirt are a subtle way to add pattern. Ashley wears flats and low heels often, bless her heart. If you are worried about shortening your leg line: opt for a just-above-the-knee skirt, tuck in your shirt, and go for a flat with pointy toe. The denim jacket and playful baseball cap provide casual contrast against the dressy skirt and shirt. Our blogger’s arty necklace makes its second appearance, and works beautifully with the dark red cap and neutral colour scheme.
The happy retro kicks make this look for me. They give this casual trench with jeans outfit its on trend Sporty Luxe vibe. Beige and light grey isn’t the easiest colour combo to pull off, but Ashley’s bright red lip, blond hair, and the black piping and buttons on the trench make it work. Plus the bright blue and coral sneakers further liven up the outfit. The long-sleeved tee is semi-tucked into slim-fit straight leg jeans. The roll shows some ankle skin for extra structure. The brown leopard print belt adds subtle pattern. When our blogger takes off the trench, the stripes on the tee’s sleeves are revealed. A fun detail that introduces a second pattern into the outfit. A long gold pendant, statement rings and bracelet, and one of Ashley’s beloved Coach bags are the accessories of choice:
“Having quality handbags in neutral colors is absolutely key for me. I tend to match my bag to my shoes for a more put together look and I think every woman should own a great black, brown and nude colored bag.”
Look at Miss Legs rocking her “disco dress“. A glam look that is perfect for a party or special occasion. The black dress hits Ashley at a flattering just-above-the-knee length. It emphasizes our blogger’s waist, and the flutter sleeves are split to show subtle allure. The clever design up top turns a simple black dress into something truly special. The cowl neck dips down to show off some skin, while the soft fabric drapes artfully over the bust and shoulders. It has that ’70s glam integrity, but is timeless at the same time. Modern and simple black ankle strap sandals show a large part of the foot, which elongates the leg line. A chunky turquoise necklace, and daintier bracelet, ring and earrings bring just the right amount of colour to the look. The bright red lip and toenails make it extra festive.
Ashley loves tunic style tops, and I love them on her. She does the long tunic over slim pants look to perfection, and this on trend silhouette accentuates our blogger’s beautiful tall figure even more. Today, I’m showing you two variations on this theme. Ashley is new to high-low hem styles, but absolutely rocks this sleeveless blouse. Pairing the black with dark denim creates a long, lean line. The cropped jeans show ankle skin, which together with her bare arms adds structure and balances out the flowy silhouette up top. The black leather sandals bookend the tunic, and as always, Ashley has picked just the right jewellery to subtly jazz things up. The second iteration is a great look that I would wear in a heartbeat myself. The navy cropped trousers are a slim fit but not tight. Ashely has paired them with a long-sleeved white tunic shirt that has pockets. Love that! But it’s the footwear and accessories that make this look for me. The dark red sandals are stunning with the navy and white. Plus the darker colour helps to offset the horizontal line created by the ankle strap. The big gold buckle echoes the colour of Ashley’s jewellery and the hardware on her vintage Coach bag. Its rich brown colour complements the dark red beautifully without being matchy-matchy.
Let us know what you think of Ashley’s marvelous Modern Classic style. Be sure to check out the rest of her outfits over at Fancy Stuff and Pretty Things as well, or have a peek at her fun pinboards.
