GOING NATIVE

As a proud Kansas Citian and lover of all things local, I jumped at the chance to sample a toxic-free skin care line from KC-based Native Atlas. The brand embodies beauty in every way possible by producing all natural, organic skin care products while honoring the earth in production ethics.

I tried out a two-step toner and clarifying oil process for two weeks and LOVED the results. As a woman with blemish-prone skin, this line was perfect for controlling oil under hot, humid conditions and protecting my skin from makeup wear and tear, stress and my daily 3-miles.

The toner helps with anti-aging by correcting dark spots and fine lines, a feat I noticed progress in within a week! My favorite of the two was the clarifying oil that make my face feel soft and smooth and appear more hydrated. Check out my results below in my first makeup-free photo... ever.



Native Atlas offers a full line of products for a variety of skin types and purposes.
Shop the line locally at Standard Style or online at nativeatlas.com!

MANUS X MACHINA

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to make a trip to NYC for another Metropolitan Museum experience. Lucky for me, my Met Gala invite was lost in the mail and I was able to view the show in something a little more comfortable than an evening gown. The Met's exhibits never cease to amaze and just like fashion, they evolve with time. Manus x Machina is the Costume Institute's presentation on designer's way of creating balance between hand (manus) and machine (machina) made couture. Couture presentations range from infamous red-carpet looks to 3D printed masterpieces yet to be viewed by the public eye. Below are my favorite looks by coveted designers.

Dior creations from the new millennium. 

Corset-based creations by a variety of couture houses.

Wedding couture by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. AW 2014.

To read more about the exhibition and see additional photos go to: www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/manus-x-machina

VIVA LA VEGAS STYLE

While vacationing in Arizona, I was introduced to the new and exciting online shopping experience, Vegastyle Boutique! After learning further about the brand and the owner, I was enthralled in such a fabulous company and received a few looks to try out. Below are featured dresses from the boutique, with a few personal touches. Shop these looks and more on vegastyleboutiqe.com and get 10% off your purchase with code 'Ashley10'! Share your favorite finds in the comments below!

The Faith Dress in Blue Multi

The Elise dress in Dark Green

USE YOUR NOODLE

Senior year presents Strategic Communication students with the most challenging task thus far: campaigns. This class acts as a capstone for a taste of the real-world and an opportunity to work with a living, breathing and opinionated client. Not mentioned in the course catalogue... it's not for the faint of heart.

Students are put into groups that function as agencies. Everyone has a job and we regularly report to the client. In the end, a completed marketing campaign with digital, in-store and budget entities is presented first through a book, then face-to-face. Weeks of all-nighters and late night phone calls with my partners occurred to create a campaign for Noodles & Company. They came to us with a will to reach out to college students and young families. With few guidelines and an immense amount of background information, our minds were welcome to run wild.

In the end, it was the individual's merit that impressed the client and ultimately got us a grade. Chartered Creative set sail on an adventure in taste and we did not disappoint. Check out the campaign in my featured work above!

C H A R T E R E D  C R E A T I V E