My name is Ash Campion and I am a Transfer Studies major at Anne Arundel Community College. Luckily for me, AACC is right outside of the crazy beautiful Maryland capital of Annapolis.
I have lived in Annapolis for most of my life. I grew up looking over the calm waters, teaming with sailboats and mega-yachts alike. Believe it or not, Annapolis has a distinct preppy style that is very much affected by the water around it. Here in “Naptown,” Lily Pulitzer is not just a designer, but a lifestyle. You cannot walk past a girl or guy who isn’t decked out in some crazy nautical pattern in neon or pastel and don’t even get me started on the Annapolitan reaction to Lily for Target.
In her defense, the pure idolization of Lily Pulitzer in Annapolis changed the way I thought about fashion. Even as a kid, I would never be drawn to the loud patterns or bright colors that many of my classmates wore. I always went for something vintage, soft or simple and then tried to add a statement piece or a pop of color. Since I didn’t see many people who liked to dress like me, I sought out style inspiration from the many fashion blogs I found on the internet. My favorites are Gary Pepper, The Chriselle Factor and The Blonde Salad. The women behind these blogs are so confident in what they wear and their outfits were stunning. After that, I knew that fashion wasn’t just a pipe dream for me. I could make fashion my career. I even started my own blog in 2014 called The Ash Blonde. (Note: I did have to change my hair color because I am a natural brunette).
Right now, if you caught a glimpse of my closet it would be a complete mess, but you would find a few staples and a lot of vintage one-offs that always inspire me to think up some awesome, if not crazy outfits. The outfit I am donning today is my take on simple summer staples with a pop of color. I am in love with this cream sweater I found at Target a few summers ago; it’s simple but interesting to look at, plus it was affordable. I am a fashionista on a budget, after all. Next up is my Michael Kors Selma Satchel. It’s one of my favorite things in my closet. The combination of simple design with a bright primary color makes it able to transition from season to season effortlessly. Then we have my go-to high-waisted jeans, which I cuffed. I found them at NASTY GAL for a steal. To top it all off, I added a summer staple that is coming back into style at full force—a black pair of Birkenstocks.
I can’t wait to start this internship and share all of my finds with you fashionistas and fashionistos! I can already tell it is going to be an epic summer!
