Introvert's Introduction: august

Our beautiful blogger of the month is none other than Ashlyn of Triple Thread! I only recently discovered Ashlyn's blog, and already her gorgeous photography and eloquent writing have whisked me away, making her one of my favorite bloggers and August's blogger of the month! Read on to discover a little bit more about this fabulous girl.

First things first, can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself?

I’m Ashlyn from Tennessee and I have my toes dipped in many different waters. I run collegiate cross country, write for my college newspaper (and was promoted to assistant editor this school year!), search for new music constantly, and of course blog about fashion on my blog. In my free time I love driving around the back roads of Maryville, TN, where I live, and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains.

And happy birthday! How does it feel to be turning twenty?

It feels great! I’m not one to fear getting older as my soul feels much older than my body. I know a lot happens in the next decade of my life, but I know I have the power to make it a positive experience.

I've loved exploring your blog and looking back on older posts, and it's really fun to see how your style has evolved. What's the most significant change you've seen with your style?

I think I have stopped relying so heavily on emulating a “romantic” or “vintage” style and have gotten more comfortable with the idea of a casual wardrobe. I still consider myself a classicist in a lot of aspects of style, but I’m not afraid to push the boundaries I once made for myself.

Can you tell me a bit about the meaning behind your blog name?

Sure thing! When I decided on the name of my blog, I was mainly interested in three arenas: writing, photography,and fashion. These categories have expanded since then to include everything from scientific illustrations to book cover designs and everything in between. My blog name is supposed to reflect taking what you are interested in aside from fashion and incorporating that into a unique personal style. And it just so happens that three is my favorite number, making “triple” even more appropriate.

Photography is a big part of your blog. Do you have any future plans for your photography?

I used to be dead set on being a big name editorial fashion photographer; however, after finishing up the photography program at my school, I’ve changed my mind. I still shoot weddings as well as assist other photographers, but I know that’s not where my passion lies. I’m glad to be able to incorporate photography into everything that I do. Being multifaceted really does make a difference so I plan on using photography as a support beam to my other aspirations.

What is your favorite outfit featured on Triple Thread?

One that I think of a lot is when I paired what can only be called a “bro tank” from Urban Outfitters over a classic white shirt dress with some clunky black heels and my vintage Dooney & Bourke purse. I loved combining classic elements that I wear a lot with some more modern, edgy pieces.

A completely non-style related question, but what is your favorite book?

I have several books that have a special place in my heart, but for a favorite it’s a tie between East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Until I Find You by John Irving.

One thing I really love is that you're dedicating 85% of your clothing purchases to thrift, made in US, and small/independent businesses. How has making this goal helped/hindered your purchases? Also, how has it helped in the evolution of your personal style?

I’ve slowed down on my shopping incredibly since I’ve made this promise to myself. Luckily, there are great local second hand and consignment stores for when I do have the itch to add something new to my wardrobe. As far as apparel that is made in America, a lot of bigger retailers are taking notice of the new demand for these products. American Apparel is great, but I can actually still shop at places like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and especially Modcloth to find things made here. Where I run into trouble is with the accessories, but that is really where local stores come through. It’s so hard to find shoes and handbags and even jewelry made in the US. Secondhand is a great option, but there isn’t always the best variety. Fortunately, there are several boutiques that I rely on in the Knoxville area as well as exploring local businesses when I travel. The other 15% of my purchases are usually reserved for trendy items from places like Forever 21 or pieces I truly love from my favorite stores like Madewell.

Do you have any advice for people who wish to convert their wardrobe to these types of companies?

At the end of the day, it isn’t about shopping ethically as much as it is taking the time to appreciate the items that are already in your closet. What my manifesto has taught me more than anything is just to slow down my rate of consumption. I won’t settle for anything less than the perfect version of what I have in mind. Persistence is key and putting an actual percent value with it has helped me the most. It is also beneficial to get very comfortable with the idea of shopping online for new items. Second hand shopping is always a fun, in person way to get your shopping fix, but occasionally that won’t always yield the results you need. Online shopping has been the biggest lifesaver in that regard. Simply searching “Made in the USA” on my favorite shopping websites has given me a surprising number of results!

Thank you Ashlyn so much for letting me interview you!

You can check out Ashlyn's blog and leave her some love here!

This is my second "month in review" post, and it's really awesome to go back to goodbye July and see how much I've grown even in just one month. A month ago I was scared to death of going to college, I was sad, I was ready for summer to be over, I never wanted summer to end; and now I'm at college and I am so happy. Sorry mom, but I really love living life on my own, especially at a place like George Fox. I do miss my family though, and Matt a lot, but thankfully things like Skype and texting make it not so bad.

But August was definitely a month of changes. Here are some of my favorite posts! You can click through to look at each post.