Meet the Author: Ashley Hutchinson (of SedBona.com). Ashley is one of our contributing authors for women’s fashion, lifestyle and culture. Check out her author page here.
SEE FULL INTERVIEW, Transcribed Below
1. What are 3 words that best describe you?
It would probably be artistic, genuine, and a little playful.
2. How do you define your style?
I’d like to say it’s classic with a little twist. I like to look for pieces that are feminine and tailored, that also have some unique surprises to them.
3. What inspired you to start your Blog? Do you do it full-time? If not what else do you do?
I was inspired to start my blog, Sed Bona, after I spent a few months making fun images for my Instagram account. I got a lot of positive feedback from people and I wanted to start to tell a story behind the images that I was creating. So, the blog evolved organically from my pictures in that sense. I do it full-time; if I wasn’t blogging I would probably be shooting photography full time. But I do love the blogging — It’s a lot of fun to tell a story and to evolve my images with the blog.
4. Where do you go for fashion inspiration?
I tend to march to the beat of my own drummer when it comes to where to find my fashion inspiration. But I love to look at more classic celebrity dressers like Olivia Polermo, Victoria Beckham, and Kate Middleton — They’re all women that I draw a lot of inspiration from.
5. What do you think about women’s fashion in the U.S./Chicago?
Here in the U.S. I feel like women have a tendency to dress in really trendy items. I see a lot of neon here in Chicago, or they live in their workout gear, and I wish there was something a little more in between — A more classic tailored focus that would accentuate a woman’s natural shape. I would love to see Americans’ dressing more towards their shape and less towards a trend.
6. What are your favorite Websites to shop?
My Favorite websites to shop right now are definitely L.K. Bennett (although that one is quite dangerous), I love to shop Nordstrom, Zara for cheap but chic items, and Massimo Dutti is my newest favorite website to shop.
7. What perfume are you currently wearing?
I’m currently wearing Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne; which is a really heavenly unisex scent that I’ve just recently discovered and I plan on wearing pretty much a lot in this year.
8. What is your go-to outfit? Colors you wear?
My go-to uniform is often skinny jeans and a comfortable top or a sweater. When I want to look polished but I’m in huge hurry I throw on a wrap dress. I tend to wear neutral colors with a little pop of red, for example [pointing to her red lipstick she is wearing], or a little pop of another fun color for the season. And I love to wear just really basic pieces that have hidden details about them that make them more unique.
9. Describe your “Getting Ready” routine?
When I’m getting ready in the morning I like to keep things very simple. I use just a creamy concealer. I don’t use foundation or a tinted moisturizer to even out my skin. I fill in my eyebrows, put on some blush to warm my complexion, and then throw on some mascara, maybe a little eyeliner, and I’m out the door.
10. What’s your idea of a perfect way you would like to spend your Sunday afternoon?
My perfect Sunday afternoon would probably be just staying in with my husband, cooking a delicious meal from scratch, and spending time with our pugs. This one here this is Apollo [Ashley has Apollo sitting on her lap through the entire interview] and just keeping things simple, spending time with the family and having a good meal.
11. Who’s your fashion muse or celebrity style crush?
My celebrity style crush would definitely have to be Kate Middleton. I love that she focuses on good quality tailoring. She dresses to her shape, she sticks to what she knows, and she reuses her clothing in unique and fun ways. So, it feels a lot more accessible to a fan I guess.
12. Whats your favorite vacation destination?
My favorite vacation destination… I’m not really sure I could answer that. I love to travel and I really haven’t met a place that I haven’t fallen in love with and every place is different. They all have their unique charms and I love to go exploring new places. Maybe my favorite vacation destination would be “fill in the blank” — any place I haven’t been.
13. Coffee or Tea?
Coffee
14. Heels or Flats?
Definitely heels
15. Skirt or pants?
Probably Skirt
16. Favorite “Treat” Food?
My favorite treat or dessert would be the macadamia turtle pie from Gibson’s, a restaurant here in Chicago. It’s got a delicious buttery graham cracker crust, and a giant dome of vanilla bean ice cream covered in the richest most decadent chocolate sauce, and whole macadamia nuts. And it’s so big they actually need a stake knife to slice pieces; and they won’t let you do it yourself, they do it for you. It’s Heavenly!
17. Favorite Cocktail/ Drink?
My favorite drink is certainly champagne. It was actually invented on my birthday, so it seems appropriate.
18. Your Favorite app on your phone?
My favorite app on my phone is definitely Instagram! I spend a lot of time on Instagram.
19. What’s your binge, cant miss show saved on your DVR?
My binge can’t miss show is probably, right now, Parks and Recreation. I’ve Been re-watching the entire show and it’s quite addicting.
20. Buy / Save/ Toss
My Buy item for this fall is definitely to find a nice versatile burgundy colored dress to bring in a little rich jewel tone to my wardrobe. My splurge item, right now, would absolutely be a cashmere Burberry Trench Coat. And my toss item is the two sweaters that I just shrank in the dryer last week — unfortunately they were casualties of my absent mindedness.