PINTEREST LOOK FOR LESS

Hello! Leah here, Alex's assistant, and I'm bringing you this week's Pinterest look for less. As a college student always on-the-go, I'm loving the sporty look featured in this top performing pin. My personal style is very eclectic and I'm a big fan of mixing and matching different looks to create contrast in an outfit. For example, give a simple, pastel look some edge by throwing on a black leather moto jacket. Then, add some classic white sneakers to complete the "cool girl" vibes. Adidas Superstars are having a big moment, and while you could shell out $80 for the real deal you can also head to Topshop and grab a similar pair for half the price! Here's how I managed to pull together this look on a college budget:

Romwe Moto Jacket - $35

Uniqlo Crewneck - $8

Chicwish Skirt - $37

Topshop Sneakers - $35

Amazon Purse - $29

Total: $144

There you have it, all for under $150! I'm a firm believer that you don't have to shell out big bucks for major style. In fact, I challenge you to recreate whatever pin you've been swooning over lately. Share the results with us by tweeting us @AVEstyles!

PINTEREST LOOK FOR LESS

In need of a new go-to fall look? This week we’re swooning over the subtle menswear influences from this chic pin. I love the way her classic oxfords and cream blazer are paired with more bohemian accessories like her floppy hat and suede booties. (Although, the look would be just as cute with loafers or a menswear fedora!) This just proves how important it is to have great, flattering basic pieces in your closet that can be styled with whatever you’re feeling at the moment. Don’t be afraid to do something unexpected.

Boohoo Blazer – $30

Chic Nova Button Down – $21

She Inside Jeans – $20

Kohl’s Floppy Hat – $18

Amazon Sunglasses – $7

Charlotte Russe Ankle Boots – $25

She Inside Satchel – $25

Total: $146

OFF THE SHOULDER

To me there's nothing sexier than an off-the-shoulder top or dress. Some women like to show a little cleavage, some like to show some leg and me...Well, I like to showcase my shoulders. It makes me feel feminine, sexy and it's modest. 

I love this easy, femme outfit of an off-the-shoulder top, midi skirt and hat for fall. I styled this last fall for part of a workshop led by Ale Vidal. This look is still current this year. It's still in the 80's here in Arizona, but if it's chilly in your neck of the woods you can easily add a denim jacket or leather jacket along with some boots to warm it up.

Get a similar outfit: off the shoulder black top, midi skirt, hat, shoes, bag

Photography: Ale Vidal
Styling: Alex Evjen, AVE Styles
Makeup: Stephanie Neiheisel, SN Makeup Artist
Hair: Jessica Gallegos
Model: Agency AZ

LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Scrambling to throw together a costume for your friend's last minute Halloween party? Maybe you've been so focused on getting the kids' costumes together that you've completely forgotten about your own? Whatever the case, Halloween has definitely snuck up on us here at AVE Styles. While store bought costumes are simple, they never look as good as they do in the photos on the bag. Sometimes they're just plain scary. Nothing beats getting creative and crafting your own look for the evening, and we knew just where to head to do so. My assistant, Leah, and I ran to our local Savers and found a treasure trove of costumes.

While we assumed that we'd be too late and the store might be picked over, it was quite the opposite. The store had an abundance of Halloween costumes and an array of accessories very neatly organized. After a little digging, we decided on two costumes each. In fact, our choices came as no surprise because they involve two of our favorite things: social media and coffee! LOL. Here are our last minute costume ideas, featuring both new and used merchandise straight from the racks of Savers:

Pinterest: 

Of course I wanted to be Pinterest for Halloween! It only makes sense, right? This costume was a piece of cake to make. I found a plain red shift dress at Savers, printed out a big Pinterest logo, and simply hot glued it to the dress. Add a "Pin it" button and there you have it!

Snapchat:

Sticking with the social media theme, Leah decided to be Snapchat. She found the most perfect felt ghost headband at Savers along with her bright yellow dress. All she had to add was a print out of her Snapchat ghost, which is actually a QR code meaning she can walk around the party and have people add her on the app with the snap of a photo!

Starbucks Frappucino: 

I am at Starbucks on the daily. Seriously. Which means my friends will get a kick out of it when they see me dressed as this Starbucks frapp! I picked up the mocha colored dress, green sash, and white feather boa at Savers. Next I printed out the logo, glued it to the sash, and cinched in the waist of the dress. Lastly, the outfit wouldn't be complete without the notorious green Starbucks straw. For this I rolled a piece of green card stock into a tube, made two slits in the bottom, and slid a headband through. Voilà!

Emoji Unicorn: 

This last costume was actually inspired by the latest Apple iOS 9.1 update that was released this past week in which Apple added 150+ new emojis, including a unicorn! Among the other fun new emojis are a taco, champagne bottle, and some cute new furry friends. (All of these could make great costumes, too.) The unicorn was especially simple because all it really required was the accessories. The unicorn headband, rainbow tail, and pink wig were all purchased new at Savers. Leah also found a great rhinestone choker to add some bling, because unicorns obviously need bling... She dressed in all white, added a pink belt and pink lipstick, and rolled on an excessive amount of body glitter for kicks and giggles. This costume could easily be turned into a couples costume with a partner dressed as the emoji princess. How cute is that!?

If you need more ideas, Savers has put together a great inspiration board, to help spark some Halloween creativity. Happy thrifting!

This post is sponsored by Savers.

BEST MATERNITY FASHION

I’m so excited to introduce you to Hatch Collection. If you already know this clothing company pat yourself on the back because, sadly, I didn’t discover them until the end of my third trimester and they have to be the COOLEST fashion line for pregnant women.

What I love is that you can wear so many of their clothes after baby and have the easy of looking fabulous while breastfeeding. My favorite piece is this army green, silk shirt dress. I love the high low line of it, as well as the fact that it’s loose. My stomach still has a ways to go, so I’m still wearing a lot of loose clothes after the birth.

Hatch Collection also makes wonderful basics that every new mom needs. Great leggings, nursing tanks and bras. They are so simple, yet so current. You will find something for yourself for every stage of pregnancy, and you’ll feel like a million dollars because you will know you are in style if you wear their clothes.

Go check them out, and in the mean time let’s celebrate that we can finally wear boots! Woohoo! So happy!

Photos by Gina Meola; clothing sponsored by Hatch Collection.