We love our alma mater!

 Hi friends,

It's only Tuesday? We feel like it could be Thursday already, that's how jam packed this week is. Plus, the rain doesn't help. This is definitely an ash&dans-infinity-wrapped-as-a-hood kind of day. 

Ashley and I are both super obsessed with our alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, a.k.a. WashU. So we couldn't be more thrilled when we found out WashU undergrads started an awesome fashion magazine, Armour.  After a recent WashU "Fashion Road Trip" to NYC, in which Ash and I spoke to motivated young fashion majors about the art of starting your own biz, we were approached by Brittany Katz and Chantal Strasburger who asked us if we would answer a few questions for them for an article in an upcoming issue. Well, the issue just came out and we couldn't be more thrilled to be featured in it and couldn't be more proud of fellow WashU students for creating such a professional and chic magazine. Bravo!

Check out the article HERE (flip to page 30 to read our article, or just flip though the whole e-mag and enjoy!)

xoxo,

a&d

Spring is here!!! (At least online...)

Summer Sanders Stays Warm and Stylish in Our Scarf!

Hi friends,

Happy Hump Day! Hope you are all having a good week. Whenever Wednesday gets tough, just throw on a bright ash&dans scarf to put a little pep in your step! And remember Friday is just around the corner. 

We love how she opted for our bright DYLAN neon pink cutout and navy jersey infinity on this snowy winter day. This color screams happiness! We all know that by February everyone feels (and sometimes looks) drained, drab and dreary. So when that happens, don't hide in grey and black- throw on some bright colors and get yourself excited for spring. Trade in drained, drab and dreary for energized, ebullient and enthusiastic. Fake it till we make it to warmer weather!

Summer Sanders is such an inspiration. Looking at her motivates us to put down the chocolate and put in time at the gym. If you need a little motivation, follow @SummerSanders_ to see her pics and updates. It looks like she is gearing up for a half marathon. Go Summer!

xoxo

a&d

Do Valentine's in Style with ash&dans

Hi friends,

To all of our northeast friends- hope you survived Nemo! The snow here in NYC was simply beautiful. We went out on Friday night at midnight to play in the untouched snow and it was fabulous. Nothing makes you feel more like a kid again than playing in the powder. We hope you all embraced your inner child and threw a snowball or two like we did.

As you all well know, Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. Do you have any fun or romantic plans? We plan on celebrating by rocking our favorite red ash&dans ADDY scarf (pictured below), and, of course, eating lots of dark chocolate. Yum! We also have a "business" lunch scheduled with our good friend Alex, so he'll get to have two Valentines- Ash and Dans! 

We know that most people buy chocolates, sugary sweets and/or flowers for Valentine's Day, but we know that you would vastly prefer a festive gift you could actually use or wear after the 14th. So we've decided to share the love and offer 20% off our current collection. And not just on our maroon, red and pink styles- but on every color scarf! You're welcome- because we know you are not all girly girls and you might just rather wear black on Thursday. 

In case pink is your thing, we have some great bright hues right up your alley on sale! Happy shopping!

xoxo

a&d

Get the Trend with ash&dans: METALLICS

Bling, bling! Metallics are a mega must-have for Fall. From platinum to bronze to rose gold to silver, metallic hues are all major. And we're not just talking jewelry; we're talking everything from nail polish to dresses to sweaters and, of course, to scarves. This trend was huge on the runway, but it is also easy to achieve on the street. 

Photo credit: Tom + Lorenzo

From left: Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier, Michael Kors

If a full-length gold ensemble is not your style, we've got you covered. Get the trend with the ash&dans metallic ADDY scarves. Go for the gold with our cutout gold/black jersey option or stick with silver with our silver cutout/heather grey jersey wrap scarf. Dress it downs with jeans and a tee or throw it over a little black dress at night. With this pop of metal, you don't even need jewelry!

This weekend, I was pleasantly surprised when my grandma showed up wearing the same silver nail polish as me! Talk about style; that's some serious grandma swag! Now it's your turn to get the look!

xoxo,

a&d

Get the Trend with ash&dans: SKULLS

Hi friends!

While we are still not ready to admit that summer is almost over, we are secretly excited for that delicious, crisp Fall weather right around the corner. Fall means transitional layers, new trends, and, of course, a&d scarves!!!

There are so many fun and playful trends for Fall that we can't wait to try. Skulls are so hot right now. No longer reserved for Halloween, skulls now serve as a style standard. These chic craniums catapult a look to goth chic. Synonymous with skulls is Alexander McQueen, who always saw the glamour in this look. From sweaters, to necklaces, to clutches, to scarves, skulls are a must-have. 

Photo credit: Sara Tavasolian, Black by Sara

You can get the look with ash&dans! Our new RACHEL printed mesh skull scarf is the perfect way to get the look. In fact, you can kill two trends with one stone- red and skulls! This scarf is perfect if you love the look but don't think you can pull it off because the repetitive, small print appears more like nebulous polka dots (another Fall trend!) from a distance. Wear it with a tee and jeans to achieve Marina's look. 

Enjoy!

xoxo,

a&d

Lena Dunham Instagram Photo and Controversy

Hi friends of a&d,

So last night I was out at dinner at Crispo in the Meatpacking District with a group of friends. As dinner was finishing up, one of my friends pulled out her cell phone to check her Instagram feed, of course, and gave a little shriek. "OMG is this your scarf?!?" She held her phone up to me, and lo and behold, Lena Dunham had posted a pic of herself wearing our Addy black cutout wrap scarf.  

Those of you who don't know who Lena Dunham is, shame on you. Lena is a young, brilliant, hilarious rising star and the brains behind the HBO show, Girls. She writes, directs and acts in this series about four post-collegiate girls living in Brooklyn, navigating the tumultuous new phase of their lives. The girls of Girls are filming season two right now, so if you missed season one, we definitely recommend watching it on demand now.

xoxo, 

a&d

***For those of you who have been following Lena on Twitter or in the news, Lena has officially issued an apology for a comment she made about this photo and accusations that post was racist. Lena has since removed the post and inappropriate comment from Twitter and has tweeted the following:

"Been in production and completely not reading the news. Didn't realize what a bad time it was to make a joke like that."

"Not a good excuse you guys, but an excuse nonetheless. I'm glad you keep me informed and I'm deleting those tweets."

"Will spend tonight reading my pile of old NY Times, contemplating the boundaries of humor. I try and learn something new every day. xxLena"

Behind-the-Scenes at the ash&dans Photo Shoot

Hello friends!

Long time no blog! It has been a while since our last post, but we are back and better than ever. We're excited to give you a sneak peak at our new fall collection, launching soon. We can't wait to show you all of our new styles. Of course, we have oxblood red, shiny metallics, bold gem tones, stunning sequins and crushed velvet. You're going to LOVE LOVE LOVE the new looks. Of course, our basics are back, so have no fear if simple is more your style. We have you covered.  

Our photo shoot was superb! The shoot took place at top NYC photo studio Root Drive In with the very talented photographer Jim Bearden. We cannot wait to show you all the final product. Bridget Lembo was the makeup artist responsible for the final masterpiece- just flawless! We love the subtle smoky eye she achieved on our model. Now, Ash and I are trying to find an excuse to have her do our makeup like that. 

Our new model, Marina Theiss, is our latest obsession. Total girl crush! Not only does she have a gorgeous face and incredible body, she has a beautiful personality and a kind heart as well. What a winner! Marina made us love our collection all over again. Every time she tried on a scarf, Ashley and I would look at each other and say, "That one's my favorite." Then she'd try on another and we'd go, "Oh no, that one's my favorite." She just makes ash&dans look so good- thank you, Marina!

We can't launch our site just yet, but take a sneak peak at one of our favorite looks from the shoot. Marina is rocking the Addy cutout wrap in silver mesh with silver grey jersey. 

Enjoy! xoxo,

a&d

Happy Almost Father's Day!

 Hi everyone,

Hope you've been enjoying your summer so far. Today it is finally beautiful and sunny, but it has been slightly rainy and chilly here in New York for the past month- scarf weather indeed! 

Besides the perfect weather, today is a very special day- it is my (Dans) dad's birthday! Happy happy birthday and happy early Father's Day. And yesterday was two of my closest friends birthdays: shout out to Elana Karp of First Helpings and Emily Schorr. Hope it was a good one!

Here at ash&dans nous aimons le francais et tous les choses parisiennes! Therefore we were super pumped to stumble upon Skyrock.com, a french website that features American celebs, namely Jessica Alba and her many looks including her wearing yours truly. Why does everything just look and sound cooler in french? Voila!

Ready for a little french lesson? Scarf in french is "echarpe" (pronounced AY-sharp). I love my ash&dans scarf in French is "J'aime mon echarpe d'ash&dans!" Try it, don't be shy. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend and don't forget to wish your dad a happy Father's Day on Sunday. Make sure you get him a gift, or at the very least hand-write a card. Trust us, it will make his day.

A bientot!

a&d

ash&dans Zumba-ing this Sunday for Power of Pink!

 Hi everyone,

Happy Friday! Doing anything fun this weekend? We have a great event this weekend that we are psyched for! This Sunday, May 6th, is the first annual multi-generational Zumba in the fight against breast cancer. 

The Zumba event is planned, organized, and executed by Power of Pink! (POP!), formerly Tickled Pink: Teens for the Cure, a group of NY teens and their mothers who seek to bring support and awareness to others who share the journey of life after breast cancer diagnosis. POP! empowers young women to become advocates for themselves and for others in the fight against breast cancer. POP! celebrates life in honor, celebration and memory of all those who have fought their battle with breast cancer. If you are in New York City, you should definitely come! 

POP! was conceived by my sister, Niki Dankner, and mother, Iris Dankner, in response to my mother's diagnosis with breast cancer. Thanks to early detection, proper treatment, and compassionate care, my mom is now a 15-year breast cancer survivor and counting. Early detection saves lives, thus we are committed to bringing awareness and practice of self-examination and mammography through education and facilitated support. 

ash&dans on New York Live, Price is Right, and more!

 HI everyone! 

Hope you've been well! Please forgive us for the delay- it's been a while since our last post and a lot has happened for ash&dans. If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you are probably up to date. If not, don't fret, we'll catch you up right now.

Last week, Ash and I made an appearance on NBC's New York Live. We are huge fans of the show, suffice to say we were overjoyed to be featured in one of their fashion segments. We were happy and honored to tell the story of ash&dans and show how to wear the hottest spring scarves. If you missed the segment, you can watch it HERE!

The lovely Lauren Scala (left) conducting the interview with Dans, in the STEPH camel cutout wrap, and Ash, in the NATALIA denim blue infinity (right). 

How pretty is our office?! Of course, we made sure it looked pictured perfect for the day of filming, but it's always this gorg. See that amazing mirror table? Guess what, Ashley made it herself. Once upon a time it was a brown wood table, now its a silver/mosaic-mirrored masterpiece. We're huge fans of white and mirror (with, of course, a pop of neon), can you tell?

ash&dans also had another fun TV appearance in the past month. Did you catch it? We were on one of our favorite classic shows, The Price is Right! Our scarves were a prize on the show and one of the contestants actually guessed the exact dollar value of the scarves- $771.00!! Great job. Bob Barker would be proud. Our favorite moment in the segment was when the winner finds out she guessed the exact value. What a nice collection of ash&dans scarves she now has. Literally made us the happiest people in the world. To see ash&dans on The Price is Right, click HERE!

From top left, clockwise: NATALIA jersey infinity in black&grey stripe, NATALIA jersey infinity in denim blue, TAMARA black lace overlay wrap with camel jersey, NIK orchid jersey raw edge wrap, ALEXANDRA denim jersey ruched chiffon wrap. 

For more updates, tune in later this week as we catch you up on all things ash&dans. 

xoxo,

a&d

Lucky Magazine: ash&dans Lucky Breaks!

 Hi a&d fans,

Want our yummiest, mushiest, most delicious basic oversized jersey wrap scarf? Want it for half of the retail price?!?!

Quick! From now until 11:00AM EST tomorrow, you can go to Lucky.com to get the special discount code to get the Nik for $50 (usually $100). When you get the code, you can enter it on our website AFTER you enter your credit card and shipping information. But hurry, this deal doesn't last long. You don't want to miss out- this is the perfect spring transition scarf. Big enough to ward off the chill, but light enough to even wear in the summer. It's the perfect way to incorporate the pastel trend into your wardrobe if you don't have a great light staple.

If you haven't seen all the fun colors we're offering the Nik in, check it out here, or take a look at some of these thumbnails.

xoxo,

a&d

Jessica Alba: I Really Love My ash&dans...

ash&dans' DailyObsessions.

Happy Monday everyone!

It feels like spring has officially hit NYC today. Loving life!

Check out our interview with TheDailyObsession. They asked us what 5 items we were obsessed with. Of course, an ash&dans had to be one- but what about the other 4? If you know us, you might be able to guess a few of the others we listed. Check out our obsessions here:

What are five items that you're absolutely obsessed with? We always love hearing people's quirky loves. 

Hope all is well!

xoxo,

a&d

It Ain't Easy Being (Stylishly) Green!

Hi everyone,

If you are in New York like we are, how happy are you right now? Seventy degrees in early March. Holy moly! We're in heaven! This is the perfect weather for a light jacket, and, duh, an ash&dans scarf. We kind of like wearing a chunky scarf with a lighter jacket in this type of weather, because a March 70 never feels like a true summer 70. 

In other news, St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. This year it falls on Saturday, March 17th, 2012. We are always fans of the "Kiss Me I'm Irish" shirts and other standard St. Patty's Day gear. (Side note- my mom's name is Iris so every year she would buy one of these and cross out the "h" so it would read, "Kiss Me I'm Iris"). We're not Irish, but it's still a fun holiday to celebrate. 

But what if you want to celebrate with a little more class and style this year? Why not accessorize with green. TheFashionStyle.com did a fashion roundup for just this- accessorizing with green. The a la mode neons and elegant emeralds are colors you'll be able to wear all spring, not just on this one thematic day. 

Obviously we're into the ash&dans scarves they picked, but we are also loving the emerald-hued earrings, very Angelina Jolie. If we choose to celebrate St. Patrick's day this, it will definitely be in this style. 

xoxo,

a&d

More Blog Lovin'!

Hi friends!

Check out the latest blog posts featuring ash&dans. We have a cute write-up on the SkinnyPurse blog. SkinnyPurse writes:

It is now March, and here in Seattle, the signs of spring are not very apparent. However, blustery days and brief pockets of sunshine bring hope and excitement for spring. One accessory I wear on a daily basis is a scarf. Whether worn indoors our outside, a scarf adds a pop of color, and pulls together any outfit.

Ashley Cook and Danielle Dankner are a team that has taken scarf design to the next level. Adding embellishments like chains, fringe, laser cuts, lace and studs, to soft jersey scarves, the designs have created a line of unique pieces that add a fashionable element to any outfit.

Cook and Dankner's friendship began as roommates in college, and in 2008 they moved to New York City to run with their dream. Their designs are classic and edgy at the same time - a perfect combo.

Adhering to their motto of "keep it simple," the jersey pieces feature details that you won't find on many scarves. I love the way they combine chains into their scarves for instant jewelry. The laser-cut pieces feature pops of neon, enough to brighten any outfit (and mood). Seen on celebs like Vanessa Hudgens, Jessica Alba, Leighton Meester and more, ash&dans scarves are clearly what the cool kids are wearing.

We also got another shout-out on StyleSolutionsNYC. This time, Sydney rocked the ADDY cutout scarf for a chic NYC look. 

Enjoy!

Best,

a&d

Blog Lovin'!

Hi everyone,

Happy leap year day! Are you doing something special or quirky on this extra day? 

We're definitely feeling the love on the blogs recently. Savvy style bloggers have been featuring ash&dans and we'd love to share their posts with you.

GetitWhit.com wrote a great write-up titled, Scarves Galore. Here are some highlights of the piece, but you can see the complete post here. 

Scarves — the perfect accessory to any outfit and a lifesaver on a cold day.

Here at Getitwhit our necks would be naked without ash&dans. Trendy but classic, this line prides itself on being fashionable without the fuss. It all began with two young females: Ashley Cook, a color-loving Coloradan, and Danielle Dankner, the nothing-but-black-wearing New Yorker.

Whether it’s lace, tassels or a trim of bright color, these simple additions are what make us fall in love. And this season, ash&dans is all about neon!

                                     

I can’t stress how important it is to wear scarves, their so easy to throw on and they’re fun to collect. I own a great amount of scarves, and would own more if I wasn’t living in Florida. Which is why I’m introducing ash&dans and their collection of uber wearable accessories. They’re giving scarves a new lease on life with their sassy details. One thing I adore most about scarves is the way you look and feel once your wearing one. Since it’s practicallycold everywhere any scarf can come in handy. So why not throw in something cute into your wardrobe, and splurge a little. Meaning create a little fashion frenzy and become the realattention grabber you was meant to be.

Their choice of mixing lightweight jersey blends was their starting point into the fashion world.Ash & dans accessories can become prominent fashion staples to any outfit. Since creating thesavvy brand their concept for keeping scarves tasteful, steams from adding intricate details. In their latest collection of scarves it’s all about popping colors, dancing chains/trim and a dash of prints.

Check out the rest of the post for more words of wisdom and cool collages. 

xoxo,

a&d

Pop of Neon!

 Happy Monday everyone! 

Did everyone watch the Oscars last night? Who did you think was the best dressed celeb of the evening? We can't wait to see what Joan Rivers thinks tonight on the Fashion Police! She's our favorite part of awards season.

Who doesn't love a pop of color? Especially in February when we're sick of winter and spring is almost in our grasp, but not quite yet. Well if you love a pop of color, you'll definitely love a pop of neon- it takes the wow factor to another level! Check out Sydney on. She rocks the MARGO neon ombre mesh infinity scarf with all black. Pairing a bold color with all black is a totally chic way to pull of the bright trend.

If you're more of a risk-taker and like the all-out bright look, check out the models in LATINA Magazine rocking our neons with other bold colors. It's pattern blocking, the redux. The model below is wearing the ROSE cutout infinity scarf in neon pink.

How do you take your brights- all out or just a pop of color? Tweet us pics of yourself in your brightest ash&dans scarf, we love to see how you rock it. 

xoxo,

a&d

The New York Post Deems ash&dans' Neons Jock Chic.

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Presidents Day weekend. After a nice, long weekend we were happy to return to work with a wonderful surprise- a feature in The New York Post. We love their fashion battle- jock versus frock. Are you more of a "preppy sportster or pretty princess"? Luckily for you, ash&dans can help you get either look. 

You can jock out with an ADDY neon cutout wrap or frock it up in a MIMI ivory petal wrap. Both looks are totally in for spring, so whether your style is sporty or flirty, ash&dans has got you covered.

xoxo,

a&d

InStyle, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, and Time Out New York!

Hey a&d followers!

February has been a great month for ash&dans! We have had some unbelievable features in some of our favorite magazines. People are really taking to our pastel and neon collection. Here are our some of our top features of the month:

1. InStyle Magazine: Get Jessica Alba's look with ash&dans.

        "The scarf: the neutral hue of an ash&dans infinity scarf enhances Alba's chestnut locks."

2. Destination Weddings and Honeymoons: ash&dans goes bridal!

      "This label's comfy, chic scarves, made of a lightweight rayon-jersey blend, have the feel and charm of a vintage tee - albeit dressed up with wedding-worthy materials like lace, ruched chiffon and velvet. Mix and match for your bridesmaids, or add one to your own bridal look for a breezy outdoor reception."

3. Time Out New York: neon chic neutral with highlighter lace.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @ashanddans to get live updates on latest press, celeb sightings, styles and more!

xoxo,

a&d

Britt Robertson, Glamour Magazine and more!

Hi friends,

Happy belated Valentine's day! Did you do anything special? Wear your blush or red a&d scarf? This year we had a neon pink pop of color for the festive day.

We've been extremely busy here at ash&dans the past week! Between our PIX 11 segment (did you catch it?) and our placement in our favorite mag, InStyle, we've been fulfilling orders and talking to new stores. If you are in Indiana get excited because ash&dans is coming to  Kurr Med Spa located at 222 West Main Street in Carmel, Indiana. 

Also, Glamour Magazine ran the pic of Jessica Alba in the camel NATALIA infinity as a "DO"! 

DO! Number 2: "The scarf= every star's best trick for days when you don't want to cover up your cuteness with a jacket."

We also are happy to share this picture of one of our favorite young actresses, Britt Roberston. If you don't know Britt yet, you should! She's definitely one to watch. Former star of Life Unexpected, Britt is now the star of The Secret Circle on the CW network. Britt is a huge fan of ash&dans and she wears our scarves so well! She looks gorgeous no matter what- but we think she looks extra gorgeous in our CAITLIN tassel scarf. Also, speaking of Secret Circle, we'd love to get Britt's secret to that flawless skin! 

We just love her! Check out her official site here. 

Thanks for checking in!

xoxo,

a&d

Bright Start for ash&dans Neons.

Hi friends!

Are you loving the new neon trend as much as we are? Especially in the middle of winter, a pop of color just defies the drab weather. Magazines have been picking up on the ash&dans neon trend. NYLON Magazine featured the STEPH cutout wrap scarf in neon orange and STAR Magazine featured the DYLAN neon yellow cutout infinity with camel jersey (coming soon). 

 

 

ash&dans in Accessories Magazine.

Happy Friday! 

It was a beautiful day in NYC. Fifty degree weather in January- insanity! Excited for more of the same tomorrow. It makes for perfect scarf weather with a lighter winter jacket. It means we can go to the Hells Kitchen outdoor flea market tomorrow and even drink an iced coffee outside. The simple pleasures in life...

We have some great press to share with you today. Our Francesca infinity with geometric trim from our spring collection was featured prominently in Accessories Magazine. We love how they styled the model. Mixing patterns is fresh and bold when done right. The colors and patterns in the Francesca trim pair nicely with black and white stripes.

The Francesca will be available online and in stores in February, but if you're interested in placing an order earlier, email us at ash.dans@gmail.com.

Have a great weekend!

Best,

a&d

Closet Vanity Interview and Teen Vogue.

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all off to a great new year. Things are going well here at ash&dans. We are gearing up for a very exciting photo shoot next week. We just got our new samples in and you are going to DIE when you see the new pieces. Neons, lace, beads, studs- get excited!

We also have some press to share with you. Our interview with Closet Vanity is up and Teen Vogue mentioned us in their "Who, Wore, Wear" section about Vanessa Hudgens. Check out the articles here:

Closet Vanity Interview

The warmer-than-normal weather has been a huge topic of conversation recently. Today hit over 50 degrees and one year ago today the boyfriend and I were snowed in at JFK on our way to Argentina. Needless to say, each morning has been a guessing game as to what to wear. I caught up with Ashley Cook and Danielle Dankner, the lovely ladies behind the ash&dans line, whose gorgeousscarves are the perfect accessory for this “what’s it like out today?” weather and are the definition of all-weather wear. Their cutout wrap with jersey scarf would have been perfect to wear while shopping yesterday afternoon!
How did you meet and what led to the decision to launch ash&dans?
Ashley and I were set up as roommates our freshman year of college at Washington University in St. Louis.  We quickly became best friends and lived together for all four years, but never discussed the idea of starting our own business until after graduation.
I was born in New York City and moved back after school in hopes of finding a job. Ashley was born in Colorado and moved to New York to pursue a career in acting.  While Ashley had some luck breaking into the industry, I was not so lucky. As the hiring freezes started, I became frustrated with the fruitless job search.  Ash, an entrepreneur and optimist at heart, decided it was time to be proactive and to create the job/business we had always dreamed of.  She knew we had the work ethic, will power and creative edge to make it happen.  When Ashley brought up the idea of starting our own business together, it seemed too good to be true, but the more we thought about it, discussed and planned, the more we knew ash&dans was going to become a reality.
When it came time to develop our business idea, we were instantly drawn to scarves.  Not only are they our favorite accessory, but we recognized that they were one of the few products that women were still buying when the economy took a turn for the worse.  From the day Ashley brought up the idea of starting our own company, we have put our all into developing our brand and have been enjoying the results of our hard work ever since.
Where do you find inspiration for your scarf and accessory designs? How would you describe the ash&dans girl?
We find inspiration in everything around us. I always wonder what it would be like to live in Ashley’s brain. She comes up with the most amazing ideas. Sometimes we get inspiration from looking at fabric and materials in the garment district.  It’s fun to watch her in action browsing through all of the colored jerseys and embellished trims. Sometimes we are also inspired at by things at home and seek out the fabrics and trims to make our visions reality.
The ash&dans girl is all about the fashion without the fuss.  We consider ash&dans to be an affordable luxury.  Our scarves are made from the most mushy, comfortable jersey (that makes them as soft as a vintage tee), and then we embellish them with lace, tassel, brooches – you name it!  Our scarves always incorporate the latest trends, without going over-the-top.  Whether you’re 15 or 50, we make it so that every woman can accessorize with ash&dans.
How would you like to see ash&dans grow? Do you have plans to expand the line?
We would love for ash&dans to be a lifestyle brand someday and would also like to branch out into home design, or something along those lines.  For right now though, we are focusing solely on our scarves.  The fashion market is so saturated, that it makes the most sense to fill a niche, and do it well, so that we have the staying power to someday expand into the other areas we’d like to try.
Can you share your own wardrobe staples?
Ash’s wardrobe staples include a scarf (obviously), Hanes ribbed tanks, Hanky Panky, a Rag + Bone leather coat, and lots and lots of jewelry.
Dans’ wardrobe staples include black skinny stretch pants, black cashmere sweaters, embellished tanks and Frye boots. Complete with an ash&dans scarf, of course!
What five items do you always keep in your purse?
Ash always keeps lip gloss, hand sanitizer, a peanut butter Think Thin bar, sunglasses and business cards.
Dans never leaves home without Aquaphor, bobby pins, mini Snickers, an ipod and Stila matte red lipstick (you never know when you’re going to need to take your look from day to night, without being able to stop back at home!).

What did you think of Vanessa's outfit? 

Hope all is well!

Best,

a&d

End of Year Wrap Up- Top 11 of 2011.

Hi friends,

What a year this has been! We are so thankful for all of the health, happiness and success we've had in 2011. We hope that everyone had a great year and is taking the time to reflect. We have big things in store for 2012, but before we get there we wanted to share our top 11 favorite ash&dans moments of 2011. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. New York Times features ash&dans in the Style Section: "Shifting out of Neutral."  

2. Jill Martin models our NICOLE sheer infinities for the Steals and Deals segments on NBC's Today Show. 

3. Oprah chooses the LISA wrap scarf as a must-have scarf for fall in O! The Oprah Magazine. 

4. Celebrities love a&d: Vanessa Hudgens and Jessica Alba are photographed in their ash&dans scarves. 

5. Our RAYNA knit brooch hat features prominently in the first 2 minutes of ABC's Body of Proof. 

6. The incredible Alex Chung and Shae Kuronen revamp our website. 

7. Time Out New York, Health Magazine, Redbook, Accessories Magazine, Life&Style and more feature ash&dans in print.

8. The beautiful and genuine ANTM alumna, Jaclyn Poole, serves up an unforgettable photo shoot, courtesy of photographer Niki Dankner. 

9. Gilt and Lucky Magazine runs ash&dans sales on their websites. 

10. Gansevoort Park hotel carries the line and we are quickly addicted to Exhale Core Fusion. 

11. We wake up every morning and do what we love with our best friend (love you Ash). 

Thanks for checking in with us. Hope everyone has a wonderful, and safe, new years celebration. Make sure to wrap yourself up in an ash&dans of your choice to keep warm and fashionable this NYE. Enjoy!

xoxo,

Ash and Dans

ash&dans in Health Magazine- Crimson's In!

So close to the holiday break! Almost there. We just sent out all of our orders from today- some people are going to get some very, very nice gifts this season.

We just got a nice gift ourselves- placement in the January issue of Health Magazine. They featured our LIZ double-sided infinity in red and camel.  

xoxo

a&d

ash&dans on Body of Proof

 Holidays are just around the corner. We can feel it in the air, and in the increase in number of online orders :) How much fun is online shopping when it is cold outside?!

Any Body of Proof fans out there? Our Rayna knit brooch hat was featured on an episode of Body of Proof of ABC. Did you catch it? The adorable and talented Mary Mouser rocked the hat in ivory. The blinging hat stirs up an intense mother/daughter conversation. You can watch the episode and see for yourself here, we're in the first two minutes. Here are some screen grabs below, too.

Also, for all of you Gossip Girl fans out there, check out Dorota (Zuzanna) wearing her LIZ double sided infinity in black/navy below. She looks great!

Have a great day!

xoxo,

a&d

ash&dans in Redbook

Happy Monday everyone! 

ash&dans was just featured in Redbook Magazine. They paired our red jersey NATALIA basic infinity with a pleated skirt, striped shirt, a tailored jacket, and black leather accessories. Check it out!

xoxo,

a&d

ash&dans on Just Jared and "Body of Proof"

 Hi everyone,

ash&dans is still feeling the love from the Jessica Alba photographs and the New York Times article. Check out the latest coverage of Jessica Alba rocking ash&dans on Just Jared, one of our favorite celebrity site. Jessica paired our camel NATALIA basic infinity scarf with a Madewell polka dot sweater. 

In other exciting news, our fun and blinging RAYNA knit brooch hat is going to be featured on the hit ABC show, Body of Proof. We are so excited to see how our hat will be used in the plot, are you? Tune in at 10/9 central to ABC to catch our hat in action when the new episode airs. 

All the best,

a&d

ash&dans in The New York Times!

ash&dans was featured in today's Style Section of The New York Times. Erica Blumenthal wrote a great piece on our new neon collection. Scarf season is most definitely upon us. Happy happy, joy joy. Make sure to pick up your own cutout ash&dans from Exhale at the Hotel Gansevoort on 29th Street and Park Avenue!

Shifting Out of Neutral

“I GREW up in New York thinking beige was a color,” said Danielle Dankner, who with her friend Ashley Cook designs the ash&dans scarf collection. The onetime college roommates have made soft jersey scarves since 2009, mostly in neutral shades until now, with the introduction of their neon collection. Seriously vivid, the new line includes two-sided cutout infinity scarves backed with jersey (shown here), $150; bias-cut wraps in neon orange, pink and green, $165; and an infinity style in sheer neon mesh, $140. “They will definitely pop with a muted winter wardrobe,” Ms. Dankner said.

Scarves from ash&dans at Exhale Spa at Gansevoort Park Avenue, 420 Park Avenue South, (646) 380-5330; and atashanddans.com.

JESSICA ALBA wears her camel Natalia ash&dans!

Hi everybody!

The stunning Jessica Alba looks extra gorgeous wrapped in our beige NATALIA jersey infinity, walking around LA. Our infinities are perfect for warmer Cali and freezing NYC, and every place in between. Jessica opted for the triple loop look, which brings the circle scarf closer to the neck and perfectly frames the face. This neutral color complements any skin tone, as long as you make sure to pair it with a peach or pink blush.

We also love the way she rocks the polka dot trend. If you want to interpret her spotted look in a scarf, try our LULU crushed velvet polka dot infinity. You can't go wrong with the beige NATALIA or black LULU. 

To see more pics of Jessica rocking ash&dans, click here to see Jessica Alba's official fan site or Celebuzz.com!

xoxo,

a&d

Cyber Monday Sale! Last Day for 35% Off!

Happy Cyber Monday everyone!

Just a reminder that today is the last day of our sale. Enter the code Thanks 35 at checkout to receive 35% off your purchase! Our scarves always make great holiday gifts for even the pickiest shopper, so make sure to get yours while the sale lasts! Whether it's for your little cousin or your boyfriend's mom, our scarves are perfect for all ages, shapes and sizes. If you are not sure what your gift recipient/Secret Santa would want for herself, play it safe with a double-sided basic infinity, or go for the Ellie or Tamara scarf, a black lace overlay on camel or silver jersey in the infinity or wrap style, respectively. A neutral scarf with lace is a must-have for everyone and looks good on every skin tone and hair color.

It's a Glam Thing just posted about the TAMARA black lace open bottom wrap scarf today. Check out the write-up here or read below:

Ideally, this Ash&Dans Tamara scarf should be in every fashionable woman’s wardrobe. With a double sided Bias Cut and Black Lace Overlay this Wrap Scarf is really beautiful. It’s available in Black & Silver and Black & Camel. The Black & Camel is my “fave”. I saw an image of this and just fell in love with it. As of the time I am writing this, there is a sale going on and I am purchasing this magnificent piece at 35% off! $189. 

Our beautiful model, Jaclyn, from America's Next Top Model, rocking the TAMARA scarf backed with silver grey jersey.
 

Happy shopping!

a&d

a&d on WeddingDresses.com

It's almost Thanksgiving. We can't wait! Don't forget you can still use the code Thanks35 to get 35% off of our entire website for a few more days only. 

ash&dans was just featured on WeddingDresses.com as a perfect gift for your bridesmaid. They loved the JACLYN beige lace scarf as a bridesmaids gift. It has the perfect blend of pretty, chic and versatile. Check out the write up here:

 xoxo,

a&d

Get the Code: a&d Thanksgiving SALE.

 Hi everyone,

 

11.11.11. Happy Veterans Day.

What a wonderful day! 11/11/11 and Veteran's Day. Ash and I are both pretty superstitious ladies. We make a wish every day at 11:11 and have some other odd superstitions (we won't even go there); needless to say, we have been looking forward to this very lucky day for a very long time. 

Happy Veterans Day everyone! We are working right next to the parade on 5th Avenue right now, and it is amazing to see the outpouring of love and support for our veterans. ash&dans thanks everyone for their service to this country.

We had a great meeting this morning with an awesome up-and-coming accessories company, Eleanor Kalle. The fabulous and fashionable designers are still in college and already have a great concept and business in the works. It is so inspiring seeing all of the young entrepreneurs out there who are taking the leap of faith to make their dreams a reality. We know firsthand how difficult, but also how rewarding it is to start you own company at such a young age with so many factors and naysayers working against you. It is so important to go for the gold and do what you love, regardless of what people say, regardless of the fact that it is not the "common" path to take. So kudos to the ladies of Eleanor Kalle. Keep your eyes peeled for this company, we hope you'll be seeing them in the future.  

Have a great weekend everyone! And don't forget to bundle up in your ash&dans of choice.

xoxo,

a&d

ash&dans Neons in Accessories Magazine

Sneak peak at Spring. One of our spring scarves was just featured in Accessories Magazine. For those of you who haven't heard, neon is the "it" thing for Spring. We have reinvented our Dylan cutout scarf in a variety of neon colors, but Accessories Magazine loved the neon yellow cutout with camel jersey infinity. 

Get excited to see the rest of Spring!

xoxo,

a&d

Happy Halloween and 303 Magazine

Happy Halloween a&d fans!

What is everyone dressed up as for Halloween today? We're pretty lame, we're not in costume, but we're still enjoying the holiday spirit.   We are so excited for fun-sized Snickers, mini Reese's and candy corn- love this holiday! We don't know what we love more- the candy or the costumes. We'd love to see how you guys rocked it out this Halloween. Did you guys dress up for work, school, fun today? Please send us a tweet of you dressed up in your a&d scarf and we will retweet the best of the best!

In other news, ash&dans' peach&ivory stripe Natalia jersey infinity scarf was just featured on 303 Magazine's website.  Today is the last day of October, which means it's the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Tomorrow we will tally all of the sales for the peach striped infinity and donate 20% of total sales to Susan G. Komen foundation. Love shopping for a cause.

Have fun trick-or-treating tonight. 

xoxo,

a&d

Celebuzz.com Giveaway

Congratulations to Natalie Harris who just won the Celebuzz.com ash&dans giveaway. In order to participate in the giveaway, Celebuzz readers had to tell us what perfect outfit they'd pair with this Gemma red infinity scarf with black tassel trim.

Natalie gave the following stylish response: "The perfect outfit to wear this scarf with would be an all black look, very fall, with jeans, a blazer, and cute boots! The red and the fringe totally give your outfit a little edge!"

Sounds like a great outfit Natalie. Don't forget to send us a pic of yourself wearing the scarf with this outfit. Can't wait to see you rocking it! If you want to read some of the other participants answers, check them out here!

xoxo,

a&d

ash&dans loves Dana Rebecca Designs

The Importance of "Me" Time

Hi Friends,

Do you ever feel like there simply aren't enough hours in the day? That's how we feel right now. Every day is just so jammed pack that the days and weeks are flying by. If only there were 30 hours in the day, life would be so good. Right now Ash is finishing up our Spring 2012 line sheets (the new styles and colors are amazing- can't wait to show you!) while I am blogging and filling online orders. We are so lucky to work together- we always say we feel like machines when we stop and look at we accomplish in a single day together. We feel so lucky because we love every minute of every jam packed day (except for this moment when Pages is giving Ashley a hard time and keeps unexpectedly quitting, stupid technology!). 

You know the saying: If you do what you love, you never work a day in your life? That's how we feel- truly lucky and blessed to be doing what we love. The thing with starting your own business, though, is that it is sometimes hard to shut it off, so to speak. ash&dans is our baby, our brainchild, and sometimes it's difficult to tear ourselves away from our baby. Even when we're out at dinner with friends, we sometimes can't help but talk about ash&dans- Ash will always have a new idea for a new style or event at any given moment. 

But with all the busyness and craziness, it is important to take time out for yourself. We have finally started to embrace the concept of "me" time, something that is easy to forget when you are so entrenched in work. Our favorite activity for "me" time: taking Exhale's Core Fusion class. For one hour of the day, we put all of our thoughts, stresses and work aside (and finally turn off those cell phones!) and just focus on ourselves. Sure, it's an intense workout, but it feels so good physically and mentally to do something to better yourself. A special shout out to Anna Gagie for today's class- you kick our butts in class and really know how to make us challenge ourselves. 

Weather permitting, we like to take morning walks on Fridays for "us" time. Getting outside, walking along the Hudson, we get some of our best inspiration. Peeling ourselves away from our computers, we often find creative and business ideas flow more freely. What do you like to do for "me" time? Is it spending time with a friend, reading a book over a cup of coffee, getting a manicure, taking a walk? We like to know what our fans like to do. Just hope you're rocking an ash&dans scarf while you're doing it.

Have a great day everyone and check in tomorrow!

Best,

a&d

ash&dans in Style: People Style Watch and StyleCaster

ash&dans in Essence Magazine.

Hi everyone! 

This overcast sky is bumming us out. We're happy it's scarf weather and all, but where's the sun? Hopefully the forecast is right and this weekend we'll get to see some blue skies. Perfect flea market weather!

We are happy to share that we are featured in this month's Essence Magazine. We couldn't be happier to be featured in the issue with Idris Elba -Stringer from one of our favorite HBO shows, The Wire- on the cover. In the magazine they suggest wearing our black velvet tube scarf as a muff with our signature brooch to dress up an evening outfit. Always great to think  of innovative ways to wear our scarves- the more versatile, the better!

We would love to hear all of the ways you wear our scarves. Have you thought of an interesting way to loop and infinity or wrap a shawl scarf? Better yet, send us your pics. We love to see our fans rocking ash&dans!

ash&dans sample sale THIS SUNDAY!

 Happy Friday everyone!

We can't wait for our sample sale this Sunday, October 9th, from 2:00PM-4:00PM at the Brooklyn Winery in Williamsburg (Bedford stop on L Train, Metropolitan stop on G train). See invite below, courtesy of Kristen O'Neil.  

We are so excited that we will be doing our sample sale with Beirn and Porter Grey. They have gorgeous bags and clothing that will be offered at amazingly discounted prices! We might have to just pick up a few items for ourselves! 

Make sure to get to the sale early because it's been getting a lot of buzz and our scarves will sell quickly! Even Time Out New York covered the sale in print! 

Whether used to combat the autumn chill or merely to make a fashion statement, these scarves pack a punch, and with prices this low, you can stock your wardrobe with one of each. Bundle up with crushed-velvet tube scarves, cropped from $150 to $25, and crystal brooch–adorned infinity styles, pared from $150 to $35. Wear-with-everything sheer lace circle scarves are marked just $20 (usually $88).

http://newyork.timeout.com/shopping-style/shopping/2002727/ash-dans

To all of our Jewish friends out there, have an easy fast tomorrow!  And to everyone else, enjoy the beautiful, unseasonably warm weekend! See you Sunday!

xoxo,

a&d

Happy Monday!

Wow, it is chilly out today. Time for a chunky scarf. You know which scarf is absolutely perfect for today? The ADDY, open bottom cutout wrap scarf. 

Pair this baby with a pair of skinny jeans, chunky boots, and a thin leather jacket, and you are the epitome of fall chic. What is your fall go-to outfit with your favorite a&d scarf? Send us pics of you wearing your favorite looks to ash.dans@gmail.com or post to our FB page so you can share your inspirational look with all a&d fans. 

Make sure to check in tomorrow for some major updates re: ash&dans sample sale. This event is getting bigger and bigger every day. So excited for Saturday!

xoxo,

a&d

ash&dans in Star Magazine's Breast Cancer Awareness Guide!

Hi everyone!

For those of you who don't know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. As I'm sure you already know, ash&dans are huge supporters of the Komen Foundation and BC research. That being said, we have great news! ash&dans was just featured in Star Magazine's Breast Cancer Awareness guide. From now until the end of October, 20% of all sales for the peach&ivory stripe Natalia basic infinity scarves will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

So please, buy your peach&ivory stripe Natalia today! 

And finally, l'shana tova to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashana. Have a sweet and happy new year!

xoxo,

a&d

The Pleat loves a&d.

Happy Monday!

We have an exciting post to share with you. ThePleat.com, an amazing website, featured ash&dans- not just our scarves, but the story of a&d! Click here to read the article: http://thepleat.com/2011/09/designer-spotlight-ash-dans/

We have some exciting news and events coming up, so be sure to check in every day for the latest updates.

Hope all is well!

a&d

ash&dans hits Tokyo's Velower Boutique.

Happy Friday Friends!

We feel like we're always starting with "rain, rain, go away"- but it just won't stop raining! At least this is the perfect time to rock the infinity scarf as a hood. 

We had a great time yesterday at Exhale's NamasDAY special event. Thanks to Lee and everyone at Exhale for putting on such a great event and inviting us to participate. 

This has felt like such a long week for us. We were busy running around the garment district finding amazing prints, patterns and colors for our next collection. We know you guys are going to LOVE it! We're also shipping to one of our favorite Japanese boutiques today, Velower in Tokyo. Velower is such a beautiful store- if you can't actually get to Tokyo, check it out here: http://www.velower.com/

They are obsessed with our brooch hats- both fedoras and knits. So those of you in Tokyo, get ready for some amazing head candy. 

Tomorrow is one of our favorite days of the week because it's our official FLEA MARKET DAY!! We love going to the Chelsea and Hells Kitchen flea markets, both for inspiration and for finding great items for ourselves.  Hope we find some good jewelry tomorrow!

Have a great weekend everybody and we'll see you next week.

Stay dry!

a&d 

a&d NamasDAY Trunk Show at Exhale Thursday!

ash&dans will be holding a trunk show at one of our favorite places in the world- Exhale in the Gramercy Gansevoort hotel. We are absolutely obsessed with Exhale's signature Core Fusion class, so we are so excited to be able to give back by participating in their annual NamasDAY event to celebrate National Yoga Month. We will personally be presenting a selection of our latest styles at the chic Gansevoort hotel. Details:

Where: Gansevoort Gramercy, 420 Park Ave South @ 29th Street (closest subway, 6 train)

When: Thursday, September 22nd from noon - 4:00 PM

Why: Shop til you drop! And...take a free Exhale Core Fusion Yoga class (regular price, $40)

But hurry up, classes are filling up. Make your reservation for a FREE class today here: 

http://www.exhalespa.com/default/Yoga/NamasDayFree.aspx 

Make sure to stop by- you may even get a glimpse of some very kool and konfidential celebrity guests. Hint hint. Don't know who we're talking about? You'll have to come by to see for yourselves, if you can push through the crowd of eager paparazzi. To our chagrin, we quickly learned that the paparazzi isn't hanging around the Gansevoort for a&d. Tear.