Coming Soon: The Healthy and Chic Life

As I sit down to write this post, with my 7 month old Ian jumping in his jumper next to me, I truly realize how many things I have to be thankful for in my life. Although this is a really hard post for me to write, I have prayed and prayed, and I continue to rest assured that this is the right choice at the right time for my family and myself.

A little over 2 and half years ago, I started Hazel and Chic Boutique to pursue my dreams in the fashion industry. The business has truly taught me so much and has been my "baby" for a while now. Earlier this year, a real baby was added to our family, and we have not been happier. Before we had Ian, I never had the thought in my mind that walking away from Hazel and Chic would be an option, but that tough decision is one that I have decided to make. It is definitely a personal decision (one that I may have shed quite a few tears over!) to put my family before my business, but overall it's definitely the right decision.

Although I do not have an "end date" set in stone for Hazel and Chic, it is a day that I know is near. Even though one chapter is closing, I am extremely happy to share that I have started a new chapter with the company Beautycounter. Beautycounter launched in 2013 and is leading the change in the beauty industry with safer, yet amazingly chic cosmetic and skin care products. This company fulfills my love for helping women and their families, which is truly a passion of mine, but it also gives me the ability to stay at home with Ian to keep the focus on our family. It really is something I'm beyond excited about!

I just want to thank each one of you for all of your support, I really would not have been able to live out my dreams without you for the past few years! I cannot explain how much I appreciate the continued encouragement that you all have shown me over the past few years, and I sure hope you will continue to do so. :) With that being said, all Hazel and Chic social media sites will soon be renamed to "The Healthy and Chic Life," so that I can continue to share my journeys with you, as I have been doing with Hazel and Chic. Look out for healthy and safe products,  exercise, ideas, discussions and more. I hope that you will continue to follow along!

xoxo,

Ashley

Work To Play In Less Than 30 Seconds

Work to Play Outfits In Less Than Thirty Seconds

Our busy lifestyles as we get older can be hectic, yet fun! Your outfit can definitely make your life much easier when you have to run from one place to the next without the time to run home a change your outfit. Below are three easy ways you can transform your outfit on the go to fit your busy schedule!

1. Blazer

Being a young professional, you more than likely have to dress in business attire or business casual during the day. This is where blazers come in handy. They can be your best friends when you need to wear a top that isn’t quite work appropriate during the day. If you want to wear a spaghetti strapped shirt that night, just throw on your blazer for work and you can just take it off when you’re headed for your fun night out that evening. This is the perfect essential to keep your wardrobe trendy, yet professional! I might have a blazer obsession and have them in cobalt, gray, black, white, camel and hot pink. There are many options out there so you don’t have to just do the normal black or gray blazer, you can definitely keep it spiced up!

2. Cardigan

A good cardigan is always a must! You can use these like a blazer, but for a more casual look that the blazer provides. It still gives you a professional look, but makes that tank or sleeveless top that you want to wear that evening more business appropriate depending on the environment and vibe of your office. The GREAT thing about cardigans is that there are so many styles, colors and patterns to choose from. This enables you to mix and match and keep the creativity that is so fun when it comes to styling your outfits on a daily basis!

3. Shoes

Shoes are a perfect way to change the look of any outfit. If you’re like me, there are days when I have to walk a lot and heels just won’t work for me to comfortably get my job done, so I have to opt for flat or a kitten heel. When I go out, I LOVE wearing a good heel or wedge to dress up my look and make it trendier. This is the perfect way to switch up your look in less than thirty seconds when you don’t have much time to spare.

What ways do you like to change up your wardrobe when you are headed from work to meet friends or your man for the night?

xoxo,

Ashley

How To: Styling Non-Maternity Pieces During Pregnancy

As many of you have probably seen via instagram, my husband and I are expecting our first baby due at the end of April. We cannot wait to meet our little man, and we are busy trying to prepare (as best we can!) for his arrival. As I watch my belly continue to grow, I have had to get creative with styling my non-maternity clothing, as I refuse to buy more than a couple of maternity basics. I am so thrilled to be able to share some of my tips with you all this week, so I hope you mommas-to-be and future momma’s-to-be enjoy!

The first type of top that I have loved wearing are long, oversized tunics. These are comfortable, yet are long enough to cover my belly (so far at least!), and I can wear them post-partum, as well as once I have my pre-pregnancy body back. I never really wore too many fitted tops prior to my pregnancy anyways, so having a lot of these in my closet already helped me out a ton! 

 The second types of pieces that I have loved styling over my bump are cardigans and vests. These are perfect for layering over the maternity tank top that I got at Target to switch up looks, but still keep the outfits comfortable and chic. I am excited for the warmer weather to hit in April before he arrives, so I can wear even more vests than I have been able to the past couple of months since it has been so cold. 

The final pieces that have been clutch for me throughout this pregnancy are blazers! I still have to look professional when I head into work or to a meeting, so blazers have made my life much easier. I also bought a Bella Band, so that I could wear my dress pants without buying new ones, and that has been a lifesaver as well. So I just throw on a blazer over my maternity tank top, and I am set to go. 

The maternity pieces that I found were a must to buy were two pairs of jeans, the Bella Band for my dress pants (and I used it for jeans up until the middle of my second trimester), as well as a few basic maternity tops from Target and Gap. I caught all of these on sale during cyber Monday, which was fabulous because I love a good bargain! Other than those maternity pieces, I have lived by the non-maternity pieces mentioned above to continue to feel comfortable, yet stylish thus far in my pregnancy. Only seven weeks to go until we meet our sweet baby boy. Wishing all the other momma’s-to-be a joyful and healthy pregnancy, and don’t forget to tag H+C when your style our pieces!

Stay Chic,

Ashley

Fashion Tips and Trends From Nashville Stylist

We caught up with Nashville Wardrobe Stylist Katie Rushton of Effortless Style to get some of her best tips and trends. We love what she had to say, and we know you will to!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

Let’s see…I am an only child. I am married with three dogs (*update: and momma to a sweet little girl!). I love yoga. I also love college sports, especially football, and I REALLY love my job. I am a wardrobe stylist here in the Nashville area, and I absolutely love working with my clients. I offer a variety of services through my business Effortless Style, so every day is different. Some days I’m working in a client’s closet helping them to clean out their closet. Some days I’m out and about doing personal shopping with (or for) clients. Some days I’m working in a client’s closet to help them mix and match to create new outfits with what they already have in their closet, and some days it’s a mix of all of the above!

What are your favorite fall and upcoming winter trends?

Booties! I love ankle booties! They come in all shapes and sizes, and they are such a versatile piece. I’ve worked with several clients this fall that love the idea of ankle boots, but have never purchased any, as they just weren’t sure how to wear them. That’s what I love most about them. They can be worn with jeans. They can be worn with skirts. They can be worn with dresses. So many options!

I’m also loving the faux fur vest trend! The faux fur vest is such a great layering piece, and here in Middle Tennessee layering is such a key part of getting dressed, especially in the fall months. Some days the weather is still pretty warm. Other days it can be freezing cold. Being able to layer is really key to navigating those crazy weather days and what better layering piece to have than a faux fur vest!

When you’re shopping with a client, what is the most important thing you would tell her or him to remember before purchasing an item?

Comfort is key! I always stress to my clients to be comfortable in what they wear. Picking up an item that is on clearance (just because it’s on clearance) isn’t always the best thing if that item doesn’t fit great and the client doesn’t feel good in it. It’s important for everyone to feel good in what you wear. What you wear can really make a difference in your mood and how you feel that day, and if you aren’t comfortable in what you wear, you probably will never wear that item again!

What is one staple piece you would recommend every woman have this fall?

In regards to staple pieces, this may sound boring, but I would say a good, quality pair of jeans. Denim is one of the areas where I encourage women to splurge and get a good brand that is going to last and that also fits well. One thing I run into often with clients is that most of their jeans are at least one size too big, so making sure they have a pair that fits properly would definitely be a recommendation.

What is your favorite item in your closet right now?

This is a hard one, but I’d probably have to say my Dolce Vita black wedge ankle boots. I’ve been looking for a good pair of black ankle boots for over a year now. I wanted a pair that was more on the casual side that could be my go-to, and I finally found them at Nordstrom Rack about a month ago.

Do you have a website or blog that our shoppers could visit to keep up with you?

I do! The name of my company is Effortless Style. You can find us online at www.effortlesstyle.com. You can find our blog on the site as well. We try to post new blog posts a couple of times a week that are relevant topics to what our clients like to read about.

What is one final piece of advice you would give women to help them feel powerful and confident in their wardrobe?

As I mentioned above, comfort is key! I’d also say to love what you wear! If you don’t love an item, you probably aren’t going to wear that item very often, if ever.