Fashion Friday: Kira's Spring Wishlist

Spring Wishllist by akablog 

Spring is here!  Let there be shorts and dresses! This Spring I'm ready to be all about simplicity, light layers, and being comfy but put together! I'm on the look out for a great striped shirt dress and easy comfy pieces that are as effortless as the Spring breeze. I'm very excited to do some Spring cleaning especially of my closet and to make room for new pieces. Wednesday we did a great Interweb Goodies on Spring cleaning that has got me super motivated. I have also been doing well selling my unwanted items on Poshmark! AKA I'm making room in your closet and making money! What could be better? 

Happy Spring!

-K

Fashion Fridays: Ashley's Spring Fashion Buys

Happy First Day of Spring!! Something about Spring makes me want to go through my closet and really decide want I want my look to be for these upcoming warm months. I recently took a look at my closet and decided what I want to completely update my wardrobe! 

- Floral printed pants - perfect for work or the weekends, paired with a basic white button up or t-shirt

- Statement earrings - I think they would be great to pair with a more basic outfit to glam up my look

- Black maxi dress - I have a black maxi dress that I love, but I think it's time to update it

- Floral romper - I'm loving the idea of a light weight floral print romper for parties and brunches

- Simple grey dress - Perfect for running errands on the weekends with a pair of sandals

- Nude envelope clutch - Great for have for going out with friends

- Simple rings - I don't want my jewelry to be too fussy in Spring and Summer, simplicity is key

- Light sunglasses - These would add a touch of glam whenever I put them on

- Striped Espadrilles with laces - Super specific but I think they would be great for day trips!

What's on your Spring Fashion list? 

-A

Fashion Friday: Black Friday

The holidays are officially here! To kick off the season we have put together some fllyyyyy fits to wear while doing all of your early morning shopping today and during the rest of the season.... yea fanny packs are a must.

Cabin Essentials

This weekend I am heading up to my family's cabin with my college BBF/ "my person" Amy. I am so excited to get away for a weekend and simply do nothing. Plans for the weekend include movie watching, nail polish-ing, reading, sleeping, wine drinking, and every other relaxing things that you can end in -ing. I have put together a little "Cabin Essentials" list, however this can be used for any time you wanna have a relaxing weekend with your girls!

Anything I'm missing that you would bring? Let me know in the comments!

-A

Fashion Fridays: Fall Accessories

Fall is officially here! Time for scarves, pumpkins, Halloween, boots, sweaters, falling leaves, and everything in between! There is something about the fall air that brings a new life into things.
Ashley's favorite author F. Scott Fitzgerald once said "Life starts over when it gets crisp in the fall" and we are truly feeling that way right now.

This weekend Ashley is headed to a family wedding, Kira is spending time with her Mama and on Sunday we are super blogging, look for some fabulous new posts coming up soon!

Following Ashley's cold weather wants from last week, we put together a list of our favorite fall accessories.

1. A good cream knit scarf can keep you warm and can go with everything

2. Plaid can add a fun print to any black outfit

3. Any sort of animal print is great for fall, Ashley is loving this leopard print scarf

4. This gold leaf necklace brings a little fall with you wherever you go

5. Loving this wide-brimmed hat for any cold day!

6. Beanies are perfect for a bad hair day or too add a little something extra to any fit

7. Black boots are a must for any fall outfit, we are loving the quilted detail on these

8. These taupe booties look super comfy and stylish 

9. You can never have enough black flats, these would look great with skinny jeans and a sweater or a dress and tights.

-A&K

Fashion Fridays: Tracy

Happy Friday!

This week we are talking to one of Ashley's most fashionable friends from college, Tracy! Ashley and Tracy met in Ashley's Freshmen year of college (Tracy was a Sophomore) and they instantly clicked. Throughout their time in college, they spent endless nights talking about clothes, fashion, and blogging (yes they even had a blog together at one point... please don't look it up as it's kind of embarrassing). They also completed in a Nation-wide Macy's fashion marketing challenge in 2011 in which they came up with a new way to market Macy's clothes to a college generation.Tracy has always had a style of her own - purple hair before it was "cool", menswear tops over strapless dresses to a party, and comfy clothes that look effortlessly chic.

Heading to an "Ugly Sweater Party" (ignore my messy house) via 2010

We had Tracy show us some of her favorite items in her closet and talk to us a little about fashion below!

Franco Sarto ankle boots, Last Chance Phoenix

Men's purple flannel shirt, Uniqlo

Clover Canyon dress (gift from my mother/sister)

Alexander Wang dress, Last Chance Phoenix

Sandals from Zara ($15 on clearance!!)

Who is your favorite fashion icon? 

Huge fan of Diane Kruger, Kate Bosworth and the Olsen twins. If they're not considered icons yet, they will be! They always rock the unconventional with a load of class.

Where are your favorite places to shop? 

Last Chance in Phoenix all the way! It's where all the Nordstrom returns get sent and discounted, which is great for a stingy lady like me. Also I enjoy Necessary Clothing online for trendy basics.

How would you define your personal style?

Ever-changing. Right now on my off days, I'd call it tailored hipster I guess? I like wearing skinny cargos and half tucked in shirts to keep my waist small. But I'll throw on a crazy pair of heels. But when I was 18, I loved men-inspired wear for women. Untied ties, button ups, billowy jeans, vintage looking t-shirts.

Any bloggers or Instagramers out there with impeccable fashion that you believe everyone should follow?

Style by Nohea is my favorite. She's very much her own brand (and also AZ based!)

What are some of your current favorite trends?

I love the peeping midriff trend. It's the only 90's throwback I can truly get behind, I just need to get to trying it!

What is your favorite item in your closet?

I wear the crap out of Uniqlo leggings. I wear the "insulated" ones year round and they are endlessly durable.

If money was no object, what is the item that you would love to have?

Let's be real... it would actually be a carbon fiber, tennis ball yellow Mercedes. It's completely electric, no fuel. I saw it on Top Gear. Fashion girls can love cars, too, you know. 

***I only say this because I am THIS close to buying myself a pair of Valentino Rock studs in nude (after lots of saving and fitness motivation)!

Make sure to follow Tracy on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for more fashion inspiration!


-A&K

Fashion Fridays : Simple/Feminine/Glam

Fashion Fridays : Simple/Feminie/Glam by akablog featuring ballerina shoes

It's Friday!!! And, also my birthday weekend! I love a good birthday weekend don't you?! Tonight I'm heading to Happy Hour with my roommate and probably going to have a night in - drinking and movie watching. The rest of the weekend will be spent, shopping, drinking, dancing, and spending time with friends and family before the big 2-4 on Monday!

Anyways...

After Kira's inspiring post last Friday, I went into Polyvore, (um obsessed) and created a little set of my own to showcase where I want my fashion and style to go.  I have decided that my look is simple/feminine/glam. I love the idea of mixing and matching basics with feminine pieces. A good sweater, simple shoes, and good accessories are definitely on the list. I'm also looking for good investment pieces, that I can wear with something I found at a vintage store or Marshall's. I have recently started a new job, figured out some more passions in my life, and really started to have a good vision of who I want to be and how I can showcase that through my fashion.

Ladies and gentleman, if you have not created a Polyvore account - do it! I have found that it is really helpful when figuring out what you like and outfits you want to put together.

Have a fabulous weekend!!! And make sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter for all of the AKA Blog fun!

-A

Fashion Fridays: Minimalism

Fashion Fridays: Minimalism by akablog featuring a black white poster

How it is Friday already I am unsure, but I will happily accept it and welcome the weekend!

I have been thinking a lot about life lately and about what I want and all these other great philosophical things. I will not bore you with those details, however, in this search for life's purpose I realize how much unnecessary shit I have acquired over the years. While some items are precious and valuable and meaningful in my life others are simply just there. I want less emphasis on things and more on living. I want my life to be simplified and so I am making a move to MINIMALISM!

I realized over the last year, that when it comes to style I love and appreciate style across the board. I love a crazy print, bold jewelry, bright hair and countless others. However I also noticed myself gravitating to a simpler style. I have such a hard time getting dressed sometimes because I feel like my closet is all over the place rather than a cohesive style.

Through Pinterest, I've really been able to hone in on a look, without even trying. I simply picked outfits I liked, stepped back and realized the clothes I wanted to wear were all minimal looks, very simple, streamlined but fantastic. I wanna build a wardrobe of great basics, but still with signature pieces and personality.

I am excited to edit my current wardrobe. I mean most people have closets that are overflowing with items they never wear. To me that is a waste of time and money. So I shall instead, have less, wear more and enjoy the process of getting dressed.

*Images via Pinterest

Here are a few great sites, bloggers that can teach you a thing or 2 about the minimal life!

13 Bloggers With the Best Minimal Style via WhoWhatWear

a minimalist approach to personal style

My fave minimal style instagram: @b_minimalistic

Happy Friday and have a beautiful weekend!

-K

Fashion Fridays: Finding Your Style

Happy Friday!! Kira is enjoying some time in San Diego this weekend and Ashley is super excited about her cousin's bridal shower on Saturday that she's been planning!

This Fashion Fridays isn't about a particular style - it's about refining your own style. We have been talking a lot recently about how we want simplify our looks and dress a little more "grownup". Our styles have changed a lot over the years (we both went through a super preppy phase!) and I think we are both feeling like we have found our looks.

So it's super exciting when you have found the look and an idea of how you want to dress moving forward but how do you come to this conclusion? And how will you afford a whole new wardrobe? And how do you prioritize your purchases?

We have both found that we have been gaining a lot of inspiration from other bloggers, magazines, and especially Pinterest. We will look at our Pinterest fashion boards (Ashley's and Kira's) and take note of the trends throughout. We are both leaning more towards classics with a twist. Ashley is a little bit more feminine and romantic while Kira has more of a bold/geometric/pattern vibe. Looking at your Pinterest board as a whole will give you a really good idea of what you gravitate towards.

So once you have realized that you want a change and there are certain things that you want to purchase (or many things) how will you change up your look without going totally broke in the process? Shop the sales and shop the basics. Always start with basics, little black dress, new top, basic jacket. Once you have the basics down then it will be easier to add in your new fun elements. That fabulous printed jacket is to-die-for but will you wear it that often? And will you be able to wear it with everything? Mix and matching is key when shopping on a budget for a new wardrobe. Also, shop the sales for those fun unique items. The sales rack can be a great place to find those quirky items in your closet, and since they don't cost too much it won't be that bad if you only wear it a few times.

And lastly, make a list. Like really - sit down and write down all of the items of your dream closet. You can begin to form outfits in your mind and it will keep you focused on the items that you really want vs. the things that are on trend. Ashley did this and it really helped her when out shopping, she could look at a list as a reminder of things that she knew would make an impact on her wardrobe. She kept it on her phone and crossed things off as she purchased them.

What are some of your tips when trying out a new style or shopping?

-A&K

Fashion Fridays: All Palm Everything

Florals... for Spring? ...groundbreaking...

If you don't know that quote, Google it and get learnt!

This Spring/Summer I could care less about florals, I'm all about the palms!




Palm print is popping up every where and I'm loving it. I first started to fall for palms when a couple of months ago I bought some palm printed pants and then I was completely smitten when I discovered Cameo The Label and their gorgeous Boogie Nights Collection. Crisp whites punctuated with a bold palm. I'm all about it. Plus the non palm pieces in the collection are killer too. If you don't know this label check them out! Cameo creates beautiful clothes and will hopefully reside in my closet soon!

Here are two of my favorite looks from the Boogie Nights Collection

Images via cameothelabel.com.au

Happy Friday!

-K

Let's Sail Away

Something about summer approaching makes me want to be outside on the water. I am also loving stripes and all things nautical right now and it is really putting me in the summer mood! Below are some of my favorite items that I have found!

Loving white dresses for summer, a crisp fresh look 

These sailboat printed shorts are to die for! 

Loving these stripped espadrilles - you can dress them up or down

This fedora is not only stripped it also has a fun nautical knot on the brim 

Seahorse earrings are a must for a day at the beach 

A knotted necklace is a great nod to sailing without being over the top 

A tray with this old-school whale print is great for carrying your drinks outside to friends 

This anchor print scarf will look great with a bright colored dress and wedges! 

I love a bright red lip in summer, this Mary Kay color does not fail

These tumblers and napkins are great for an outdoor BBQ 

Trying to brighten up your outdoor space? This candle holder is perfect  

Follow along on Twitter and Instagram for more nautical ideas! 

-A&K

Fashion Fridays: Spring Sneakers

I love shoes, especially sneakers, especially hi tops. Unfortunately the selection for ladies is usually smaller and sadder, but I am happy to report that the tide is tuning and that Women's sneakers are finally getting the representation they deserve!

This Spring brings a bounty of women's sneakers in fun and funky prints. I'm so excited to see these styles in stores and even happier to see them on my feet, I just bought the palm tree espadrilles from H&M! Here are some of my favorite sneakers of the season! Enjoy, and let us know which ones your diggin.

P.S. Don't forget to follow us on Insta and Twitter for more AKA goodness


-K

Monthly Mood: April

Welcome to our new series Monthly Mood! Each month we are going to talk about what we are looking forward to, what is inspiring us, and what is to come on the blog!

Monthly Mood: April by akablog featuring Pier 1 Imports

We have a lot of exciting things coming up in April, however it is a quieter month for us to lay low and hang out with friends and family, because it always seems like May is crazy! This month Kira is headed to New Orleans, so look forward to a fun post about that and make sure to follow along with her trip on our Instagram. Ashley is excited for the return of Mad Men and Baseball! We are looking forward to some floral prints making their way into our closets - and hopefully California will get some rain which means we can wear some cute rain worthy accessories! Earth Day is April 22nd, and we are going to be posting about some of our favorite up-cycled items. We are also going to be attending a fun Up-Cycle event at a local Art Center. Easter will bring some fun brunch recipes to the blog - and maybe some DIY crafts! One of our best friends has a birthday in April, and I think we are going to be having some outdoor fun to celebrate. As the weather gets nicer, we hope to go on some more hikes and mini-adventures around the Bay Area! 

-A&K

Reading Celebrity Style

I was recently reading my December issue of InStyle (I know a little late) and I read that both Cameron Diaz and Drew Barymore have new books. Cameron's is a book all about the body, eating healthy, and the real science behind staying fit. It seems like a great read - perfect timing too as many people have New Year's Resolutions that they might be now slacking on and want to start up again! Drew's is a photography book in which she finds hearts in un-expected places. These both sound like such fun books and I will definitely be checking them out!

When I read this article I thought about all of my other favorite books written by some celebrities and I thought I would share them with all of you and to hopefully to inspire some reading this Spring!

The Honest Life - Jessica Alba. This book is all about living organically and pestisite-free! She has everything from what ingredients should or should not be in your shampoo to what fruits you need to purchase organically. It has given me a whole new outlook when shopping! Plus is has adorable pictures of her whole family and easy-going lifestyle. 

Celebrate - Pippa Middleton. Pippa’s fabulous book is all about what she does best - party plan! She gives you great tips for different parties during each season. From children’s parties to a Scottish style highland tea, she covers everything from food to serve to decorations and color themes. 

Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible - Tim Gunn. As a huge Project Runway fan I think that automatically means that I am a big Tim Gunn fan. His book covers all things fashion and it isn't your typical “don’t wear this, wear this instead” book. It truly discusses the history of each item that he covers. 

Decoded - Jay-Z. I am a huge Jay-Z fan and this book does not disappoint. It is a great one to have on any coffee table as it has a very interesting cover and great stores inside. It covers his time growing up and rise to fame, while dissecting his song lyrics along the way. 

Style and Beauty - Lauren Conrad. I love love love Lauren Conrad’s books almost as much as I love her. It is the perfect go-to guide for everything. Lauren goes through the basics of fashion and beauty in an all comprehensive guide for any girl. 

-A

Must Have Shoes for Spring

We were recently talking about all of the shoes that are both on our wish-lists. Below are some of our picks. 

What shoes are on your wish-list for Spring? 

Perfect shoes by akablog 

-A&K

Holiday Wish List 2013

The holidays are coming!!

Is everyone as excited as I am? Every year my Mom asks me, "What do you want ? Send me a list" I put together a list this year of things that I love and thought I would share it with you!

Bow Tie Clutch from Anthropologie to enhance any outfit

Go-to decorating guide from the beloved Domino

A cute "A" clutch from Anthropologie

Martha Stewart craft glitter - perfect to add to nails, crafts, and homemade cards!

An ode to 2003 with The OC on dvd

Oliva Pope's wine glasses from Crate and Barrel

Wedding planning is my dream job, so the Style Me Pretty book is perfect inspiration

A classic Kate Spade handbag

Happy shopping!

-A