BALLERINA IN BLACK

Posted Aug 02 2010 @ 11:31 PM

On the other side of the country, the younger Simpson sister Ashlee Simpson-Wentz was spotted enjoying time with her family over the weekend in Los Angeles on July 31. Ash and husband Pete took their son Bronx Mowgli out for an outdoorsy day at the park, bringing along a tote bag filled with toys and snacks as they made their way to the playground. Despite her sunny look a few weeks ago, Ash was back in black head-to-toe over the weekend, covering her newly dyed chestnut tressed with a black rimmed hat, dark sunnies and a black tunic tank (try Soul Revival's Andy Tank in Black). Ashlee wore a teeny pair of denim shorts under her top (like True Religion's Bobby Cut Off in Point Dune), adding a playful perfume bottle necklace (add a girly element with Michele Michel's Hammered Heart Pendant in Silver) and carrying a black messenger bag at her side (check out the similar shape of Linea Pelle's Dylan Messenger in Black). Ashlee completed the look with quirky lace-up ballet flats. What are your thoughts on her darker look, do you prefer it when she lightens up or do you like the edgy playfulness of this look? While you might find Ashlee's footwear unusual, her pointe-shoe look alike flats might be explained by her new fitness addiction: Cardio Barre! Ash elaborated on her fitness regimen recently, which is evident from her super skinny legs here: “I have lots of stairs at my house and my son [Bronx] is 33lb now, so I carry him up the stairs a lot.” She continued, “I definitely hit the gym. I’ll do 30 minutes when he’s down for a nap. I’ll do 30 minutes of cardio and I also like a class called Cardio Barre [aerobic-ballet workout].” A friend of mine recently tried this class and raved about what a great workout it was – have any of you ventured into a studio to check out this new fitness trend for yourselves?

Ashlee Simpson seen in Los Angeles, CA on Jul 31 2010.