Blazer Dress + KC Media Mixer. | LSR

Blazer Dress Vibes + Media Mixer.

Fashion, Fun and Friends, Outfit Post, Prints and Patterns, Spring, Summer, 79 Comments

by Ashley

Ashley Style Blogger + Creative Director

A blazer dress to speak at KC Media Mixer: Lemons to Lemonade.

I love an edgy spin on a classic piece: so this sassy blazer dress caught my eye as I was hunting for something to wear for the KC Media Mixer conference. I wanted a fun take on something professional and I’m pretty sure this hit the mark. After layering a lace bralette on underneath (because, you know, hello low cut), I tossed on a pair of chic sneakers to give it a casual spin. (Sneakers and dresses are my jam right now!)

Blazer Dress + KC Media Mixer. | LSR
For Love and Lemons dress // Free People bralette // Tommy Hilfiger shoes // Shashi necklace c/o Shopbop (similar here and here from the same brand) // Initial necklace c/o Maya Brenner // Garmin smartwatch // Etsy bracelet
A Sassy Blazer Dress. | LSR
Image courtesy of Beth Grim
Blazer Dress + KC Media Mixer. | LSR
Image courtesy of Beth Grim
A Sassy Blazer Dress. | LSR
Hanging with my girl + fellow Media Mixer speaker, Cait Fore
Blazer Dress + KC Media Mixer. | LSR
Image courtesy of Beth Grim

Shop the look:

KC Media Mixer: Lemons to Lemonade

Speaking at KC Media Mixer. | LSR
Image courtesy of Cassie Taylor

I was pretty floored when Bria, the founder of Media Mixer, asked me back in January to close the next conference. She was blowing out the usual drink + mingle social-type event she had thrown in the past and was planning a 5-hour content-heavy conference complete with speakers on various topics like finance, self-care, and how to pitch. To close out a day of learning + networking, Bria wanted 30-45 minutes from me on how I built my brand and tips for other influencers on how to succeed.

Wait, forty-five minutes? That was a long time. And closing the conference? That was a lot of responsibility. And a lot of content.

But I was up for the challenge. I rant a lot about the work of blogging (influencing, content creating, and the like) to my fellow influencer pals. In a nutshell: when you start a blog, they don’t tell you how to really craft your brand. They just tell you to start publishing and publish as much content as you can to keep your audience’s attention.

Speaking at KC Media Mixer. | LSR
Image courtesy of Beth Grim

They don’t tell you things like: you need a content strategy for your brand. (Content strategy: planning for the creation, delivery, and governance of useful, useable content.) That you need to be intentional, authentic, and consistent with your voice and tone. They don’t tell you about the need for an editorial calendar or the honest truth that sometimes the work sucks even though it’s necessary to move your brand forward.

Speaking at KC Media Mixer. | LSR
Image courtesy of Beth Grim

I’ve learned quite a bit since I launched this blog in 2010, and coupled with the skills I’ve honed as a content strategist in my 9-5, I have so much knowledge to share. Content strategy, consistent publishing, dialing in on your key messages, finding your voice– all that and more. And I was so ready to share! Media Mixer gave me that platform and it was amazing to get up in front of my fellow influencers and share what I know.

Speaking at KC Media Mixer. | LSR
Image courtesy of Beth Grim

After my presentation, I participated in a panel and took questions from the audience. We had some good, thoughtful questions about the state of the industry and ways to navigate tricky situations (like when a brand posts your content to “feature you” as payment when they really should be paying for those image rights). Hopefully, this was as helpful to the group as it was rewarding for me– really, that felt like the point of the conference: to provide some actionable knowledge people could apply to their brands. Real answers to their questions, not just inspiration and pretty backdrops (although Media Mixer has the latter in spades).

Blazer Dress + KC Media Mixer. | LSR
Image courtesy of Beth Grim

If you want to catch parts of my presentation, you can check my highlights on Instagram. I’ve saved a bunch of snippets + snaps there for you.

Big shoutout to Bria + Media Mixer for having me!

*Thanks so much to Beth Grim and Cassie Taylor for these images.

Linking up with Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, The Fashion Canvas, I Do DeClaire, Straight A Style + On the Daily Express, Rosy Outlook + Seeking Sunshine, Away from the Blue, and Pumps and Push Ups.

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79 Comments

  7. You totally commanded that audience girlfriend! I love following along on your stories and I am totally about this cool blazer as a dress, such a Chic vibe!

    Reply

    1. You are such a sweetheart, my friend! Thank you for following along- it was an amazing opportunity and I’m so fortunate to have been asked to speak!

  8. what an honor to be a speaker at the conference, I’m sure everyone walked away feeling like they learned a lot and are ready to take charge of their blogging careers. Your blazer dress is such a bold way to mix up a classic piece, and you wear it well!
    Chic on the Cheap

    Reply

    1. Oooh, a blazer romper! That sounds cuuuute! And the sneakers ended up being the smarter choice for footwear- I was on my feet all day and pumps would’ve been painful, ha!

  13. I have never seen a blazer dress, but oh do I love this on you! I have been seeing a lot of people wear blazers without anything under them, which I need to try! You look GREAT and public speaking is such a great skill!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    Reply

    1. This dress was really fun- I love the blazer style, and then later I actually wore it open like a longline version with a cropped tee and jeans!

  15. This sounds like a great event. I miss the Lucky Fabb and other blogging confrences they all seemed to have died off. Your lucky KC has an event like this.

    Maybe we bloggers should band together and create a conference hahaha.
    This blazer dress is killer!

    Allie of
    http://www.allienyc.com

    Reply

    1. They have definitely died off- and it’s sad! I’m lucky KC has an influencer/creative group like this and connecting with people has been great!

    1. It was such a cool opportunity- and so inspiring to be in a room with some like-minded boss babes (and dudes)!

    1. Aww, thanks so much, Jill- it was definitely an honor to be asked to speak! I had fun once the nerves settled down, haha. 🙂

  22. True, many people forget that working with the internet needs strategy, timing, good planning. The conference seems to have been wonderful.

    Your outfits is awesome. Good choice ♥

    Reply

    1. I think there’s a perception that because bloggers MAKE things look easy, their work is actually easy- when that’s 100% not the case! 🙂

    1. This one is such a winner- and wearing a bralette and/or little t-shirt underneath makes it a lot more versatile! 🙂

  31. Your blazer dress looks so good on you, and you styled it perfectly! Congrats girl on your presentation!

    xo, Jackie
    stylemydreams.com

    Reply

  32. Wow, this is awesome! It looks like you killed it and did a great job! Not to mention the way you styled this blazer dress is top notch perfection! I love a good bralette, so naturally, I am obsessed with this look! You go girl!

    Reply
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