Category Archives: Fashion

Mar25

New Orleans Wedding OOTD

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New Orleans Wedding OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The weekend of Friday the thirteenth was a fantastic one as my sister, Kristen, and I were in New Orleans to celebrate our cousin’s wedding. We went to a wonderful pre wedding party on Friday and then the big show happened on Saturday evening. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and we even got to parade through the street after the happy couple said “I do”. It was way cool! It was such fun to get dressed to the nines with my sister and be with our extended family and new friends. Take a look at what I wore and let’s discuss:

Who? What? Wear?

Floral Dress: ModCloth, Coconinno

Fringe Shawl: TJMaxx, Laundry

Gloves: These belonged to Johnny’s grandma!

Heels: Steve Madden, Kohl’s (I think!)

I think the earrings are from Target!

Outside of going to Playhouse Square for a play or musical, I rarely have the chance to get super dressed up and definitely took advantage of the wedding to do so. Styling formal wear is something that I get to do maybe once a year and there is no better occasion than a wedding to get all dolled up! For my wedding look, I started with a gorgeous dress by Coconinno. I actually wore this when my oldest brother got married over ten years ago and am very glad it still fits lol. From the fitted top to the a-line skirt and the stunning medley of colors, this dress is so charming. This Coconinno number is also quite light making it ideal for a summer wedding or an early spring one in New Orleans. I just love the movement of the skirt and it was perfect for dancing the night away!

Next up was shoes and accessories. For accessories, I added a little bit of everything! First was an adorable fringe shawl by Laundry which is oh so pretty and unique. Although the dress could have been worn without it, the shawl covered up the bra area and I really appreciated that as I could attend the wedding without worrying about bra straps being visible. It also added movement to the top half of the look with the fringe bouncing with every step I took. I also decided to wear a pair of gloves that belonged to Johnny’s grandma which I thought looked so elegant. If you look closely, you can see that there are ruffles going around the wrist and it was yet another sweet detail that elevated this fit.

Last but not least for accessories, I added a pair of dangly three tiered black gemstone earrings. I styled my hair in a chignon inspired do and the gems looked so pretty as they danced around my bare neck. For shoes, I went with the very first pair of heels I ever owned – a strappy little pair by Steve Madden. I will never part with them and that is a good thing because they were exactly what I needed to wrap this OOTD up. That wooden heel is so funky and it was a thrill to hear them clacking across the brick sidewalks! With that, I was ready for a night to remember at the most lovely wedding. ❤

I felt like a star in this look and am so in love with how it turned out. The dress was already great but the accessories took it over the top!

Are you going to a wedding this year? Do you get the chance to rock formal wear often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar24

New Orleans OOTD Bloopers

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New Orleans OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my New Orleans OOTDs! Be sure to stick around this week to see the actual OOTD post for what I wore to my cousin’s wedding. 🙂 Without my resident photographer, Johnny, my sister pulled through in the clutch to take my pictures and TikTok videos. It took a little bit of coaching for Kristen to get them just right but she was a quick study! Huge shout out to her for putting up with my nonsense not just with OOTD shoots but for always taking a selfie with me every other minute lol. Hey, sister time is a rarity for us so I had to milk it for all it was worth! Let’s get to these yikes shots:

I’m a star, baby!!! Out here doing the most as per ushe

Practicing my dance moves for the wedding and looking GREAT

Kristen’s OOTD shots were a work in progress but her bloopers were on point

My face when Kristen asked if we were done yet lol the answer was NEVER

Looking SO cool (said no one ever)

A strong preface to the Blooper Reel story time…

After my cousin got married, we paraded around the street and it was absolutely amazing. The entire block was going freaking nuts and I think we all felt like celebrities during that five minute trek! Because the experience was so exciting, I wasn’t looking where I was going whatsoever. In the streets of New Orleans, that is a big mistake because their walkways definitely need some love. As I strutted my stuff, I was so unaware that I walked right into a pothole with a huge cone in it lol SMH. It was a shock to the system but I think I recovered beautifully and made the rest of the parade without further incident. That was to come later…

When the dance floor opened up after dinner and speeches, my uncle and I were cutting a rug. My cousin’s dad is the literal coolest and he is very tall and very broad. For the beginning of our dance, we were in perfect step and it really was lovely. Then, came the spin. Oh, that spin lol. We were dancing on brick and combined with that, my heels, and my uncle’s sheer strength without even trying, I completely ate it when he spun me out. I went from being on my own two feet, to in flight, to on the ground in two seconds flat. You guys, it was SO embarrassing I can’t even put it into words. In my defense, however, literally everyone said that my uncle straight up hurled me and that made me feel a lot better… Kind of. Once again, SMH!!!!!

Weebles wobble and in this case they fell down. But, hey, all that matters is that I got up again, right?!

Has anything embarrassing happened to you recently? Would you consider yourself clumsy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

Wedding Party OOTD

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Wedding Party OOTD

Hi! After my sister, Kristen, and I landed in New Orleans on Friday we were whisked away in an Uber to get to our hotel. We stayed at the Chateau Orleans and it was absolutely gorgeous. The staff was so wonderful, the decor was stunning, and the location couldn’t be beat as it was right in the heart of the French Quarter. We arrived at our digs around three thirty and relaxed until it was time to partay at a pre-wedding party for my cousin and his beautiful bride at the Napoleon House. It was such fun to get glammed up and let the good times roll! Take a look at the little look I put together for the celebration:

Who? What? Wear?

Polka Dot Slip Dress: Talia Benson, TJMaxx

Faux Fur Collar: St. Tropez, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: Bamboo, TJMaxx

The earrings were a Christmas gift from my blogging bestie!

I wanted to bring the drama to the pre-wedding party and I couldn’t imagine a better dress than this fabulous number by Talia Benson. It is one of my favorite dresses I have ever owned and I love it so much that I don’t even care about the slight difficulty getting it on and off. Those connected slip dresses can be tricky! This dress invokes my edgy girly style to the T and I felt like a star in it. That sheer mesh overlay, the dropped waist, and ribbon ties to cap the sleeve truly allow the eyes to dance as there is a lot going on but it still feels so cohesive. It was also the perfect dress to wear in the warm weather of New Orleans as the fabric was so light and breezy!

While this dress provided an excellent base, I wasn’t done yet and felt like something was missing. As I racked my brains on what I could add, I landed on faux fur and decided to pair it with an amazing lavender collar by St. Tropez. Regardless of if the dress had a pattern or not, it was still a neutral piece which meant that I could have some fun with accessories and I sure did! The faux fur collar elevated the dress to a whole new level and the silhouette it created was so striking. I have never paired this dress with the collar before and I can’t believe it took me this long to think of it smh.

For the remainder of my accessories, I chose a pair of sword earrings that my bestie gifted me with and it was like she was there for the party too. She is always very close to my heart! Finally, it was onto shoes and I went with a killer pair of platforms by Bamboo. They might have taken up a ton of space in my suitcase but it was so worth it because wow. That pop of red with the colorful embroidery made this look special from head to toe. With that, I was ready to celebrate good times in New Orleans!

There is a lot more fashion fun from my trip so stay tuned on lifewithlilred!

What do you normally pack on a vacation? Where is your favorite place to travel to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar16

Navy, Baby OOTD Bloopers

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Navy, Baby OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Navy, Baby OOTD! I am dead tired as I type this and am fantasizing about a crispy Diet Coke from McDonald’s. However, the blog must go on and I am nothing if not dedicated. Hello, six and a half year blogging streak! Perhaps I need a laugh to perk me up and maybe all of you do too. So, let’s take a look at these yikes shots and discuss why this chronically sleepy gal is extra sleepy today!

LOL Johnny brought up something that apparently made me want to throw up

This was the picture that was taken immediately after which isn’t bad for just hurling

Here’s looking at you, kid

Just out here doing my best!

The face of a gal who loooooves spring!

Looking at you from across the room like

Has Daylight Savings time thrown you for a loop? It most certainly has for me and your girl is dying! Johnny and I have a pretty unique schedule. We are both up for work around three AM and go to bed at six thirty or so. In normal circumstances, this is a-okay. In Daylight Savings time world, however, it is a massive problem. I am one of those people who simply cannot fall asleep unless it’s dark out and it throws a wrench in the plan when it is still light until eight PM. Eventually my body adjusts to this new rhythm but it is hellacious until it does.

When my alarm clock went off this morning, all I wanted to do was hit the snooze and keep snoozing until I got back to baseline. What motivated me to get up? The bunnies, of course! I know I would hate if I was hungry and my breakfast was late and, although my schedule has been unwillingly adjusted, there’s doesn’t deserve to be. While my mind screamed more sleep, my heart screamed “but the bunnies” louder and so here I am… Typing this post while half asleep! Zzzzzzzzzz

Can we all just make a pact to do away with Daylight Savings time because WOOF. Mama needs her beauty sleep!!

Has Daylight Savings time effected you? When do you normally go to bed? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar15

Navy, Baby OOTD

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Navy, Baby OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I don’t want to jinx it, but I feel like spring is officially here and it has been glorious! Frigid days and snow turned into balmy rainy days and I have been loving it. It is just SO nice to leave the house without it hurting my face and, although I enjoy dressing for winter, I was definitely over bundling up! This past weekend had sixty degree temps and I couldn’t wait to shoot some outfits without having to tap out from the cold. I knew exactly what I wanted to wear thanks to my last TJMaxx trip with my mom! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Collared Top: Truth By Republic, TJMaxx

Skater Skirt: This was a hand me down but it’s from Rue 21

Snakeskin Pattern Boots: Vince Camuto, TJMaxx

The turquoise cross earrings were a gift from my mom and are Lucky Brand!

I tried on several different blouses at TJMaxx that were gorgeous for spring. However, none of them spoke to me as pretty as they were. What screamed at me was the fabulous collared top by Truth By Republic. I just think it is the coolest and is the epitome of a basic staple with a twist. The denim detailing is incredibly stiff and it’s such an interesting juxtaposition to the soft as can be remainder of the top. I love the colorblocked blue and this top is a perfect example of unique and simple details that go a long way.

Oftentimes when I am trying clothes on at TJs, visions of OOTDs come swirling into my head that feature the pieces that are coming home with me. That was very much the case for this top and my outfit turned out exactly how I imagined it. I love it when that happens! In the fitting room, I pieced together the top with my navy skater skirt to turn it into a pseudo dress. The colors in the skirt and top might not have been an exact match but it was close enough and that’s good enough for me. This skirt provided some flouncy movement as the top was quite form fitting and helped to create a sweet for spring silhouette.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. As navy is a neutral, I could have fun with my shoe choice and went for a pair of snakeskin patterned heeled boots by Vince Camuto. I am very partial to a grayscale snakeskin print but those rich brown tones were too good to pass up and looked great against the navy base. For accessories, I simply popped on a pair of dangly turquoise crosses as there wasn’t much open real estate for necklaces or bracelets. That was no matter, though, because I wanted to let that crisp denim detailing do all of the talking!

This Navy, Baby OOTD can easily be replicated and is so fab for a spring day. Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel tomorrow!

What is your favorite season to dress for? Are you updating your wardrobe for spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar13

Cute In K-Pop OOTD Bloopers

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Cute In K-Pop OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Cute In K-Pop OOTD! As you all know, not every picture taken is going to be a winner and rather than instantly hit delete, I like to celebrate them. For every good picture I take, there are several bad ones to go along with it and I never miss an opportunity to poke some good old fashioned fun at myself. They may be yikes shots, but they are my yikes shots so let’s check them out and have a laugh:

Why isn’t everyone posing like this when they get engaged?

Ha ha ha ha ha…. NO!

Scratching at my imaginary beard

Holding my imaginary ball

The literal face of oopsie daisy!!

Lol say cheeeeeeese!!!!

While bloopers are a sure fire way to make me laugh, the most common way that Johnny and I get our yucks is through workplace comedies. We just love them! Like many people, shows like The Office, Parks & Rec, and Superstore are consistent background noise at chez nous when we are just hanging out or going to bed. However, we have seen each of those shows a thousand times apiece and needed something different. Thankfully, I feel like we are in a workplace comedy renaissance because we have added so many to our roster and have really been enjoying them.

For the past several months, Johnny and I have been watching Stumble, St. Denis Medical, Abbott Elementary, Animal Control, Strays, and Shelved. I actually don’t normally care to watch a lot of different shows at once because it’s so much to keep up with. But all of these are so funny that I’ll give it a pass! With a majority of these programs currently airing on TV, it gives us a daily show to look forward to and it has been so nice – especially since The Traitors and my beloved Olympics are all done. These shows have been the perfect way to settle in after work and no matter what the day has been like, we are always ending it in stitches!

If you haven’t given any of the above workplace comedies a try, we can’t recommend them enough. They are a hoot!

What is your favorite workplace comedy? Do you have a favorite game show (We are loving The Greatest Average American!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar12

Cute In K-Pop OOTD

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Cute In K-Pop OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Johnny and I had such a nice weekend and part of it came from celebrating our birthday girl niece. I got to spend a wonderful morning all together with my girl squad and I knew exactly what I wanted to wear – my K-Pop Demon Hunters cropped tee! The girls are avid fans of that movie and, damnit, so am I. It is SO good. The music is SO catchy. And I am never going to turn down a dance party to the soundtrack! Take a look at this fun little fit and let’s discuss:

Who? What? Wear?

Cropped Tee: 5 Below

Bejeweled Boyfriend Jeans: Banjara, TJMaxx

Lavender Platforms: Olivia Miller, Walmart

Earrings: SugarFix By BaubleBar, Target

With my K-Pop Demon Hunters cropped tee already in mind, this outfit essentially built itself. And, let me tell you, it was SO nice to simply wear this outfit out sans jacket because we had a glorious sixty plus degree day. Spring, is that you?! Can we talk about how fab this tee is, though? The picture of the Huntrix chicks is just adorable and it fits like a glove. It’s snug without being overly tight which is exactly what I like when it comes to my clothing. The material is soft as can be and I have a feeling I’ll be living in it this spring and summer!

In the pants department, I went with a cool pair of bejeweled boyfriend jeans by Banjara. Try saying that five times fast! I just can’t get enough of the distressing with the big fat rhinestones and these are one of my favorite pairs even if they aren’t skinny jeans. The relaxed fit of these jeans with the form fitting crop was a match made in heaven and while this look was super casual it still provided an interesting silhouette. A baggier piece paired with something tighter always makes for a good look. 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories which was an incredibly easy decision. For shoes, I chose a lavender pair of platforms by Olivia Miller. I got these shoes for a whole five bucks and talk about a steal! They are so sweet for the warm weather and comfy enough to walk for miles in (Maybe one or two lol). Although it wasn’t a true match to the colors in the cropped tee it was close enough and that’s good enough for me! In my jewelry box I selected a pair of glittery circular earrings that also fell in the pastel purple and pink category. It really tied the look together from head to toe and with that, I was ready to go!

I am so loving this Cute In K-Pop OOTD – stay tuned for the Blooper Reel tomorrow! 🙂

What is your favorite song from K-Pop Demon Hunters? Have you been treated to spring weather yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar10

Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD Bloopers

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Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD! This little look was worn to go to a minor league hockey game in Cleveland and it was just the best. We were blessed to see FIVE fights and I felt at least ten pounds lighter by the time the game was over. I guess I had more pent up frustration than I thought! I had to laugh because later that night a star from Heated Rivalry hosted Saturday Night Live (It was a great episode!). Unfortunately, no one at the Cleveland Monsters game we went to kissed and made up after getting into their tussles. Maybe next time! #fingerscrossed Let’s take a look at some of these yikes shots and discuss another instance that gave me the giggles:

Don’t mess with me!!!!

Using my sense of smell to guide me. To Taco Bell, perhaps?

Why so serious?

A quick power nap before the big game?

Doing what I do best: Making content magic, obvi

Sassy lady!!!

When I think of the apartment community I live in, several things come to mind and raccoons are always high on the list. They are literally everywhere – in the dumpsters, roaming the property, in the walls, and making guest appearances on porches. I kid you not, I once had a neighbor who left food outside of her door for them. But, hey, it’s home and I still love it all the same. Almost every night and early morning, several trash pandas visit mine and Johnny’s porch. Sometimes they do a pop in and move on, sometimes they hang for a while, and other times they eat pizza that they rescued from the dumpster. I’ll tell you what, my mind was blown when I witnessed that!

This past Wednesday was freaking crap lousy at work and I was still in my feels about it when I worked from home on Thursday morning. As I was at my computer, I saw a couple of raccoons taking their morning constitutional on the porch. An hour or so later, I got up to look out the window because it was raining buckets. However, the weather wasn’t the first thing that caught my eye. What I clocked immediately was a Taco Bell wrapper on my porch that one of the raccoons salvaged in the trash. I’d know those wrappers anywhere. 😀

As you all know, T-Bell is my absolute favorite and despite being in a bum mood, I just had to laugh. I know it isn’t true but I like to think that the raccoons knew I was having a tough go of it and brought me something to cheer me up. In reality, I’m sure they were just having their breakfast. It did make me smile, though, and gave me a moment to take joy in the little things. I told all of my clients that story when I saw them later in the day and they all got such a kick out of it too. Everyone I work with knows that Taco Bell holds a special place in my heart so they saw it as a gift from the raccoons like I did. It might not be flowers or diamonds but I’ll still take it! ❤

My early AM raccoon visit was a silly reminder to smile and a sign from the universe that Taco Bell is in order like yesterday. If you are feeling some type of way – look for the little things, cash those happy checks, and feel better soon! 🙂

What kind of wildlife visits your home? What is something funny that has happened to you recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar9

New Truth By Republic Top

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New Truth By Republic Top

Howdy! Being able to spend time with my mom is just the best and we had a blast getting our nails done and going shopping on Tuesday. Ever since I was little, TJMaxx has always been my favorite place to go with my mom and literally nothing has changed. In fact, I feel like we still shop the store the exact same too: Start with the handbags, move onto jewelry and skin care, browse through shoes, make a round in home goods, and end up in the clothing racks. There were a lot of pretty spring clothes to pick from and I tried a handful of tops on. All of them were so so except for this super cool little number by Truth By Republic. Check it out:

^^^ You can’t beat that price!! 😀

While I love bold and quirky statement pieces, I am also extremely partial to classic clothing with a twist. Timeless staples that have been freshened up. IE: A trench coat in emerald green, a blazer that’s actually a cape, or sweet kitten heels with some bling. There is something about these classic pieces with a modern update that really speak to me. At the end of the day, fashion comes and goes. However, I always know that my upgraded wardrobe staples will forever be in style! Which is why I went with my new Truth By Republic top amidst all of the billowy blouses and pastel shades of spring.

When I saw this shirt, I instantly knew it was going to be a winner as a collared long sleeve top is a universally flattering shape. The bonus points were scored with the stiff denim collar and cuffing on the sleeves. How awesome is that?! Something as simple as a navy top was elevated into statement status with the addition of that blue jean color and material. This shirt fit snugly without being tight, was soft as can be, and is perfect for work or play. I plan on wearing it with a navy blue skater skirt for a pseudo dress appearance and a gorgeous pair of brown toned snakeskin boots. The movement of the skirt will provide some sass and the snakeskin and form fitting top will add in a dose of sexy for a fun take on a date night ensemble!

Keep it posted for a brand new OOTD featuring this fab new top soon. See you then! ❤

What is one of your favorite classic fashion staples? Do you like to follow fashion trends? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar5

Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD

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Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! As you read yesterday, we attended a minor league hockey game this past Saturday and this is what I wore to the big event. I knew we were going to do a fair bit of walking to get to the arena and our seats so I decided to err on the side of comfort. I am SO glad that I did because the seating situation left a lot to be desired. They were incredibly cramped and while it still wasn’t ideal even with what I was wearing, I couldn’t imagine sitting through the game in stiff jeans. Hey, it was a small price to pay for a good time and it felt heavenly to make the walk back to the car and stretch my legs afterwards! Take a look at this Jammin Jumpsuit fit:

Who? What? Wear?

Jumpsuit: Fervour, ModCloth

Tank Top: Rachel Zoe, TJMaxx

Moto Jacket: Zara

Heeled Combat Boots: BCBG, TJMaxx

Cross Earrings: EmLeigh’s and Mama B’s

As I went through my mental Rolodex for this outfit, I was trying to think if I had any clothes that fell under the “sporty” category. My options were, admittedly, very limited and I kept circling back to my Fervour jumpsuit. While it might not be Sporty Spice, it was casual, cool, and comfy and I decided to go for it. This jumpsuit is just so damn cute! Of course, I love the embroidered skeleton motif but the shape is ultra trendy with the dropped crotch and armpit area too so you can pair it with a fun bralette. Since we were going to a hockey game, I didn’t go the bralette route because cold. So, I paired it with a white tank underneath to keep that region covered. I actually like this jumpsuit better with the tank top so I never have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions!

To keep warm in, I opted for my go to moto jacket by Zara. I am all about the industrial studs and cloth hood. This jacket also has a heaviness to it without being overly warm which worked for the fifty degree temps outside. Surprisingly, not so much for inside the arena. As we walked to our seats at the hockey game, I was overheating! Despite the ice, it was also a very comfortable temperature when we took our places and even sans jacket I was a-okay. All the cheering, stomping, and clapping kept me nice and toasty! But, hey, you never know when you are going to need a jacket and now I know I don’t need anything too heavy for next time. And there will definitely be another hockey game in our future. 😀

To wrap this look up, I went for a pair of army green heeled combat boots by BCBG. These boots are so sturdy and were made for walking! That’s just what I did in them and I could have kept on going for miles. Well, maybe two or three lol and they added a muted pop of color to an otherwise All Black Everything OOTD. For jewelry, I didn’t want to be bogged down with anything other than earrings and chose a pair of black gemstone adorned crosses. These were purchased at an adorable boutique in Marietta, Ohio and are a lovely reminder of an amazing Valentine’s Day weekend Johnny and I spent there! ❤

Not quite sporty but close enough, this Jammin Jumpsuit OOTD was just right for an afternoon of minor league hockey!

Do you wear athletic clothes often? What is your favorite minor league sports team? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah