Well, the first week of school is officially here and it's just as bittersweet as I imagined. After talking to my fellow teacher friends last night, it was fun to reminisce on the past 6 years (see my classroom here, here and here), share crazy stories, and laugh about good times. I am just reminded of how amazing all of you teachers are. I wish all of you the best of luck with your new classroom and a wonderful start of the year!
I have received many emails regarding back to school fashion, from both teachers and students. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite looks for back to school, keeping in mind that they can be for both teacher or student. Almost every item is under $100. These are great because they can be mixed and matched with things you probably already own. Plus they make great transition pieces for Fall.
My personal favorite is this striped dress. It's so soft and perfect for work. I plan to wear this with an oversized cardigan (like this or this) and a pair of booties similar to
Necklace Layering 101
After organizing my jewelry collection this past week, it's very obvious I like simple and delicate pieces. I found the occasional statement piece but more often than not, I prefer to layer delicate necklaces, rings and bracelets instead of one large piece.
These necklaces from Charming Charlie immediately caught my eye. They are delicate, affordable, and perfect for layering!
When layering necklaces, there's a few tips I like to keep in mind.
1. Pick Your Favorite Short Style
Look for pieces that are minimal, and hit right at your collar bone. I love the Bria Vertical Bar Necklace. It's versatile and looks great with just about any stack!
2. Layer On a Chic Mid-Length
When layering, don't be afraid to mix metals. I love the idea of mixing rose gold with gold or even throwing in some silver.
3. Add an Elegant Long Piece
Charming Charlie has made this look so easy and effortless with their new necklace layering collection. I had such a hard time picking just three! See more from the collection here.
Best. Necklaces. Always!
If you like jewelry and accessories as much as me, I invite you to come out to Charming Charlie in Preston Park Village on Friday, August 28th from 6-8pm. I will be sharing style tips and there will also be ...
The Fringe Bucket Bag
As a long time fan of Rebecca Minkoff I am so excited to share with you one of her latest handbags from her exclusive collection with Nordstrom. You may have noticed fringe is a huge trend for fall and winter fashion and after seeing this trend all over the runways, I couldn't wait to see how I could incorporate it into a realistic, everyday look. Not limited to jackets, we are seeing fringe details on skirts, dresses, and my favorite... handbags.
This fringe bucket bag by Rebecca Minkoff was exactly what I wanted. I love the size and the fact that the strap can adjust for a cross-body or shoulder bag. The fringe details are the right amount of "trend" without being over the top and I have found that this bag goes with so many prints, solids, and textures.
Rebecca Minkoff is one of my favorite designers and I have been carrying her purses and accessories for years. I was thrilled to see that this bag was part of her collaboration with Nordstrom (and couldn't wait to get one for myself). The bag also comes in brown and green. See more from Rebecca Minkoff here.
Thanks for stopping by! xx
Grey Popover Tunic
Simplicity is always number one in my book and this popover tunic (now 40% off with code FALLGAP) is no exception. Not only do I love the texture, but the relaxed fit makes it versatile for many occasions. It's one of those pieces that looks great tucked in or left untucked for an effortless vibe.
As we start seeing more fall pieces come into the mix, I try to find clothing that can be worn both now and later. This top is great to wear now with these shorts, but thinking ahead, I love the look with black leggings (my favorite) and tall black boots.
On a side note, I need to say thank you again for the kind words, emails and comments regarding this post. It was not easy to share, and honestly I was very scared to be so open and transparent. You guys are awesome and I genuinely appreciate each of you.
Thank you!
Outfit Details: Gap
The Softest T-Shirt
One of my favorite items hanging in my closet now is this t-shirt. It's just one of those tops where I wish I had it in every color. I recently purchased this top simply because of the fit and color, but when it came in the mail I was surprised at how soft it was. Not only was I crazy about the comfort, but I love how the shirt fits. It a little longer in the back (which I'm always for) and the rolled sleeves make for a unique look.
I've worn this top with jeans, but I love wearing it with these white pants. The color combo is one of my favorites and I have always been a fan of neutrals. I actually just ordered this top in the "fatigue" color and black. I figure I will always need a black v neck and this sand color will look amazing with these white pants or green pants this fall.
On another note, I'm heading to the design district today to work on a fun project with Peacock Alley that I will be sharing with you guys later this fall. I will be posting some behind the scenes footage on my snapchat (theteacherdiva), be sure to check it out!
Thanks for stopping by! xx
Drop Waist Dress
Hi everyone! Today I wanted to share a look from our trip to Napa last week. This Coral Drop Waist Dress (cream version here) was perfect for cruising through wine country and visiting a few vineyards. We traveled to Napa for a wedding and loved getting to stay a few nights in wine country. It is so pretty there. I had a few of you ask about vineyards, restaurants and places to stay...a post will be coming soon!
As you know, packing for trips can be tricky because of limited space and wrinkled clothing. This dress was ideal for traveling. It's one of those that doesn't wrinkle and it's very comfortable.
We are heading back to Dallas today. We have had a great time in California, but are ready to get back into the swing of things at home. Not looking forward to the 107 degree weather though...ha!
Thanks for reading! xx
Outfit Details: 1. STATE Drop Waist Dress -comes in cream too (FIT GUIDE: runs true to size, I am wearing a small. Fully lined, not sheer!) | Tory Burch Mini Robinson Satchel (I love this bag, it's the perfect cross-body and shoulder bag) | Hinge Lace Up Heels | ...
Boho & Fringe
A few weeks ago, my family and I traveled to Seaside, Florida. We had the best time and I can not wait to go back! While we was there, Megan (my sis-in-law) and I spent one morning exploring the town of Seaside and Rosemary Beach. We loved grabbing coffee at the local market and stopping by Willow and Willow + Woods for a little shopping. The Tory Burch, Trina Turk, Rebecca Taylor labels caught our eye in the window so we were excited to pop in and see what goodies we could find.
When we stepped inside Willow at Rosemary Beach, I immediately feel in love with this dress by Rebecca Taylor (among many other things). With fall on it's way, I am starting to think about transitional outfits that are practical, yet on point for the new season. I love this dress because it can do just that and the boho print is very fun for fall. I paired it with these fringe heels (also found at Willow) by the brand,
Instagram Lately .03
Greetings from California! You may have seen some of our snaps and my recent instagram pictures, but we ditched the 107 degree temps for beautiful California. We left Thursday for Sonoma for our friends wedding and are finishing our trip in LA visiting my grandparents. We are planning to hit up Disneyland tomorrow and I am so excited about it. I grew up in Orange County so it is nice to come back and see family and friends.
I received quite a few emails about these outfits, so I wanted to share some details on sizing and fit below. Let me know if you have any questions!
Also, thank you so much for all of your kind comments and encouraging words regarding my post from last Thursday. I genuinely appreciate each of you.
Have a wonderful day! XX Ashley
This top is old from Gap, but the one I linked is the updated version and fits very similar. I am wearing a medium for a more relaxed fit. The jacket runs TTS and I am wearing a small. This
The World Is Your Oyster
The saying goes, “There’s nothing so stable as change.” But that doesn’t mean I’m a fan of it. In fact, I really don’t like it. However, no matter how hard we try, change is always around the corner.
As many of you know, I started this blog nearly three years ago. It began as simply a hobby. The Teacher Diva was merely a creative outlet to share thoughts and moments in my life with my family and friends. I wanted my content to focus on my life with Austin, our traveling adventures, fun hair and beauty tips, and the occasional outfit post. From the beginning, I wanted this blog to be a place to share my daily inspiration with the world and to serve as a creative outlet.
Never did I think this site would provide such amazing opportunities. Over the past three years, I've had the chance to work with some of my favorite brands, travel to new places and meet some truly inspirational people. It has been an incredible (and scary) journey, but something I have loved every minute of. Each day, I look forward to sharing my new post with you.
But the journey hasn’t been easy. As my name suggests, I have also been teaching full-time while blogging part-time. Since I was eight years old, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. Whenever someone would ask what I wanted to be when I grow up, my answer was "teacher” without a second thought. As I made my way through college, receiving my Bachelor and Master of ...
Back to the Basics
If there's one thing I look for in my everyday outfits, it's simplicity. There's something so refreshing about a crisp white blouse, a great fitting pair of jeans, and some strappy heels. While I like to play up simple pieces with fun jewelry or a bold clutch, I also like to stick with the core items that get me from season to season.
If you follow along, you probably already know how much I love the brand Equipment. They make the best silk tops on the market...period. When I first saw an Equipment blouse, I was a little shocked by the price tag. (I know, it's silk, but still) I tried to find similar pieces but nothing really compared to the fit, style and over all look that Equipment has.
I finally broke down and bought a blouse last spring, and loved it. I got the Nude Signature Silk Blouse and was thrilled that it wasn't sheer, and was just the right amount of "relaxed" (if you are have a more petite frame, the Signature Slim Blouse would be a good fit for you). Since then, I have splurged on two more, black and you guessed it, ...
