Category Archives: Fashion

Mar28

A Night At The Theater Pt. 2 OOTD

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A Night At The Theater Pt. 2 OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! My last Night At The Theater OOTD was from about a month ago when Johnny and I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar. This time around, we are going to be taking a look at my look from when I went to see Pretty Woman: The Musical with my mom. We had the best time getting all dolled up together and having a night on the town and I love the outfit that I came up with:

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Who? What? Wear?

I bought my new floral jogger pants the day before my night at the theater and knew that I definitely wanted to wear them to see Pretty Woman. After such a long winter, the flower print inspired me to create a spring style OOTD and my joggers provided the perfect base for it. This OOTD was actually super easy to create because I had one piece of the look already figured out and my options for tops and accessories was limited to what would work well with the pattern.

For my top, I went with my oyster shell colored flowy cami by Mittoshop. I wore it tucked into my bottoms and I thought that it looked lovely. The color of this top is so elegant and the lace detailing on the front added such a girly touch for a girls night out. Originally, I had on a black tank top but it bored me and I am so glad that I changed it up.

Since it was a chilly night, a jacket was a necessity and I wasn’t sure what to wear. I played around with a couple of different black blazers but the sleek shapes didn’t pair well with the flowy vibes of this look. After some trial and error, I settled on my Ci Sono jean jacket which is an oldie but goodie from a past TJMaxx Haul.

Once the jean jacket was on, I don’t know why I didn’t go with it in the first place! Jean jackets scream “spring” to me and it looked just right with the rest of my outfit. While I love a crisp, tighter fitting jean jacket, my Ci Sono one is a bit baggy without being completely over sized and complimented the style of the rest of the outfit rather than hindering it.

Finally, it was time for accessories and I knew just what shoes that I wanted to wear. I have been dying to break out my Barbie pink Marc Fisher platforms since I got them this winter and they were everything that I wanted them to be AND MORE. These platforms were made to be worn with my OOTD and the added height was much needed. I wouldn’t have bought my new joggers if they were too too long but they are pants that definitely need to be worn with heels.

For jewelry, I chose my SJ pearl necklace in a gorgeous pale blue. Although I love flashy, bright jewelry, my outfit was such a muted palette and my necklace had to follow suit. The length of this necklace highlighted the lace detailing on my top and I think it tied the whole look together perfectly.

My Night At The Theater Pt. 2 OOTD is one that I can picture myself wearing all spring long. Two pretty women seeing Pretty Woman: The Musical required a fabulous outfit and I think that I delivered!

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

Mar27

One By Chapter One Jogger Pants

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One By Chapter One Jogger Pants

Hello! I had a few dollars on a TJMaxx gift card left from Christmas and I wanted to make a quick trip before work to buy some add on prezzies for my sister’s birthday. Little did I know before entering the store that my beloved TJMaxx in Chapel Hill was closing down because a new one is opening in Stow. While I’m excited for the shiny new TJs to open, I will miss the Chapel Hill one dearly and have many a fond memory of shopping there with my mom and sister.

Most of the store was already pretty picked over when I went and I wasn’t able to find anything that I liked for my sister. However, I did find some stuff that I liked for me! Check it out:

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^^^ These joggers look so bad hanging up lol.

Tomorrow, you can peep these One By Chapter One joggers in a brand new OOTD but I thought that we would discuss them first! I have wanted pants like these for forever and when I saw them hanging up on the rack, I didn’t expect to like them as much as I did when I tried them on. I love the idea of printed bottoms but I have never found just the right pair. Some patterns are too loud, others make me look bottom heavy, and most of them wouldn’t go with anything else that I own.

I liked these joggers when I saw them hanging up because they were more like slacks than your traditional pair of joggers and I had an abundance of tops that would work with them. When I tried them on, I was sold by how comfortable they were and how well they fit. My new joggers are a straight leg fit and they have a bit of bagginess to them without looking like parachute pants!

The pattern against the pewter grey background is bold without being too much and provides lots of options for what can be worn on top. For my OOTD, I went with an oyster shell colored cami but you could wear burgundy, light pink, taupe, or black on top and get away with it. When it comes to patterned bottoms, you might only have one or two pieces in your wardrobe to make it a cohesive look. Thankfully, I have plenty of choices to wear with these pants and I wouldn’t have bought them if that wasn’t the case. I am so happy with them! 😀

Be sure to tune back in tomorrow for a new OOTD featuring these joggers and then we will move on to two more purchases from my TJMaxx trip. See you then! ❤

What is your favorite pattern to wear? How would you style these joggers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Staircase Photo Shoot OOTD

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Staircase Photo Shoot OOTD

Hello! This past Saturday was an absolute delight filled with dear friends, family, and delicious food. Johnny and I met up with two of our favorite people for lunch at Barrio, which is one of all of our favorite restaurants. Barrio is a build your own taco restaurant and they also have the literal best Margaritas that I have ever had:

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The food and drinks were divine but the company was even better and Johnny and I had such a fabulous time! Since Johnny and I don’t go out too often, it makes every lunch or drink at the bar an occasion to get dressed up for. I had grand plans of having him take my pictures in downtown Kent but, unfortunately, it was SO. Freaking. COLD!!

It truly is such a Midwestern statement but it wasn’t the temperature that made it cold, it was the constantly blowing wind. And, for once, I even agreed that it wasn’t the day for outdoor pictures, which is really saying something. I was disappointed because I loved the outfit that I was wearing so I just had him take some shots on the staircase in our apartment, instead:

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Who? What? Wear?

I will be the first to admit that this outfit was definitely not appropriate for the weather but that has never stopped me before lol. While selecting my outfit, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to wear and, then, I remembered my Scotch & Soda blazer that I am obsessed with. Although it is a recent purchase, I kind of forgot about it because it has been too cold to wear it. Granted, it was way too cold to wear it on Saturday so I am looking forward to warmer weather even more so I can rock it without freezing my nads off.

The Scotch & Soda blazer is very light, making my black cami the obvious choice to wear underneath. Anything bulky would ruin the way that the blazer lays because it’s so form fitting. My distressed jeans were also, admittedly, not the best choice for a cold day because the holes in it are huge but I never get to wear them during the work week since they’re not the most appropriate!

With the base of my outfit complete, it was time for shoes and accessories. I chose one of my favorite necklaces by Mia Fiore to add some visual interest and it played beautifully against the deep gold accents in the blazer. I also liked the bold chain against such a delicate pattern. Normally, for earrings, I always rock dangly pairs but that wouldn’t work with the necklace so I went with some small studs, instead.

For my shoes, I toyed with a lot of different options but most of them would have broken up the sleek silhouette that I was working with. I finally ended up with my original thought of my platform loafers by ModCloth. They are not in the best shape because they’re pretty old but I loved how they looked with my OOTD.

With the loafers selected, I knew that I needed some type of sock with them because I am nothing if not sensible lol. I had a sheer white pair with daisies on it in mind but I couldn’t find them anywhere. It was all good, though, because I think my black ruffled ones looked even better. I thought it was so cute how you could still see the ruffles with the jeans I had on, which made for a really fun touch!

Was this a good outfit for the weather? Absolutely not. But was it still a good outfit? YES! I fricken love this OOTD and just had to share it with all of you, even if it was just pictures in my apartment! 😀

What is the weather like in your neck of the woods? How would you style my blazer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb20

A Night At The Theater OOTD Bloopers

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A Night At The Theater OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to some bloopers from my Night At The Theater OOTD! Before Johnny and I hit up Playhouse Square to see Jesus Christ Superstar last Saturday, we went to Lakewood for a delicious dinner at Pepper’s. When driving to the restaurant, we passed the skull adorned doorway that I posed in front of and I wanted my pictures taken there SO badly. Johnny told me that it was a bar called the Funhouse and if we had time, we would go there for a drink before the show.

Good to his promise, we stopped at the Funhouse after dinner and like the amazing blog husband Johnny is, he braved the cold to snap some shots – The good, the great, and the yikes lol:

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Our big night out just happened to be a frickin freezing one and So. Many. of the pictures that Johnny took ended up being blurry because he was shivering! This provided for a lot more not so muches than stellar shots and is also why there aren’t any bonus pictures for this OOTD. While scanning through the pictures he took when we got our drinks, I was less than satisfied and this sweet man of mine took even more pics once we were done even though it had started snowing. Best blog husband EVER! ❤

I wish that we had more time at the Funhouse so you all could have seen the inside because I wanted to take all of the pictures. It was basically the coolest place ever and their alcohol slushies were nothing to sneeze at, either. We are both itching to go back when we visit our friends in Lakewood because the bar also has arcade games and a huge basement that we didn’t get to explore. Johnny and I also love playing ski ball and were so disappointed that we couldn’t squeeze a match in, which is also a main selling point for going back. 😀

Although crunched for time and freezing cold, Johnny always manages to make my OOTD shoots happen and I am so appreciative of that. We had the best time on our date night and have still been reminiscing about it as if it just happened yesterday! ❤

What is your favorite arcade game? What is the coolest hang out in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb18

A Night At The Theater OOTD

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A Night At The Theater OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD post here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday, Johnny and I had an amazing date night to see Jesus Christ Superstar at Playhouse Square. This was our first big outing since the pandemic began so, of course, we had to step out in our very best for A Night At The Theater. For this super special occasion, I had just the dress in mind thanks to my last TJMaxx Haul:

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Who? What? Wear?

  • Dress: Talia Benson, TJMaxx
  • Platforms: Bamboo, TJMaxx
  • Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters
  • The necklace belonged to my grandma

Ever since getting my Talia Benson dress about a month ago, I had been looking forward to mine and Johnny’s night out even more because I couldn’t wait to wear it! For an evening at the theater, it was important for me to wear something with some drama and I can’t think of anything that fits the bill better. My Talia Benson number is daring and sexy while still being perfectly appropriate for a special event.

As you can see, this dress didn’t need much in terms of accessories because of its loud pattern. I didn’t want to take away from its beauty but only enhance so I kept things simple. For a pop of color, I went with my red embroidered platforms by Bamboo. My dress moved so incredibly in the wind or just when walking so it added a great little peek a boo with every step.

For jewelry, gold was the way to go and it tied together with the gold accents on my shoes. I chose a small dangly earring from the multipack that I purchased at American Eagle for my wedding and a statement necklace that belonged to my grandma. Usually, I opt for long dangle earrings but it would have been way too much with such a bold necklace. The necklace that I wore is, easily, one of my favorite pieces of jewelry and is very sentimental to me so I loved being able to wear it with this outfit. I think she would have loved it too. ❤

When it comes to a typical OOTD for me, I jam pack it with accessories until it feels perfectly complete. However, this Night At The Theater ensemble truly spoke for itself with minimal effort and I felt like a starlet stepping out in it with my husband. As we made our way into Playhouse Square, we both had blue surgical masks on and a fabulous employee told us we needed black ones, instead, in outfits like what we were wearing. She handed us two and it made our almost all black everything looks even better!

What is your favorite accessory? How would you style this dress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb11

Lil Red’s In Store & Online Shopping Tips

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Lil Red’s In Store & Online Shopping Tips

Hello everyone! I consider myself to be an excellent shopper both in store and online. After a wildly successful winter haul with TJMaxx, I thought that today would be perfect for sharing my pro tips to make the most of your in store or online shopping sessions. These helpful hints have been curated as my personal style developed to turn each shopping trip into a GREAT SUCCESS! Now, let’s get to it:

Online – Know Your Measurements:

Prior to getting married, I had absolutely no idea what my measurements were. That, of course, had to change when I was ordering my dress online so my mom and I visited our local tailor shop to get that taken care of. I keep my measurement cards by my computer so that I can always have them available when online shopping.

Knowing your true measurements will eliminate the need to buy multiple sizes of one item because you can compare and contrast to the brand’s size chart. This used to be the norm for me when online shopping because I am in between a small and a medium and it’s so nice to now be able to get my size right the first time around!

Online – Do Your Research:

If you enjoy shopping with websites that offer multiple brands like TJMaxx or Poshmark, it is so crucial to do your research. We all know that women’s sizes vary drastically. For example, in my closet I have clothing in extra smalls and larges alike. A universal size chart, unfortunately, doesn’t exist so you will have to go to the original brand’s website to find out their sizing for yourself.

When shopping with TJMaxx, this has become my standard practice and is why knowing your measurements is so handy. Remember, take note about the features of the item you wish to purchase too. Does it provide room for stretch? Do the reviews say to order a size up? These are all things that should also be taken into consideration.

Online & In Store – Promotions, Please:

Apps, rewards cards, store credit cards, and special deals like a percentage off or free shipping plays an important rule in the shopping process. Although the constant emails from my favorite stores are annoying, saving money on your shopping is always worth it. If you have a particularly large order, you might want to consider applying for the store credit card. Typically, the store will offer you a percentage off of that purchase, which is awesome!

In Store – Dress For Success:

With the pandemic, I rarely do in store shopping anymore. However, when I do, I make sure that I am dressed and made up for success. Wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable and easy to slip on and off for dressing room efficiency. And, depending on what it is you need, it might not hurt to do your makeup accordingly. It’s hard to get the full picture of a dress you are trying on for a special event if your makeup doesn’t reflect it.

In Store – Try & Try Again:

Shopping in store gives you the luxury of trying on whatever you want and it should not be taken lightly. Expanding your horizons with styles, shapes, and colors that you might not normally wear will give you brand new possibilities. And, so what if it doesn’t work? Trying on a variety of different things will also help with your online shopping because you won’t be limiting yourself to “safe” options that you already know will work.

In Store – Have A Game Plan:

Hitting the mall or multiple different shops in the area can feel a bit overwhelming because of the endless options you’re seeing all at once. I recommend browsing for the items that you know you need first before beginning your window shopping. I don’t go to the mall too often but when I do, I always go to Victoria’s Secret for new undies and a bra and American Eagle for new skinnies first to get it out of the way. Then, when the “fun” shopping begins, I already know what I have spent for necessities and can budget my additional purchases accordingly.

Online & In Store – Shopping For Others:

I know some people who begin their holiday shopping for the next year as soon as their celebrated holiday is over to get the best seasonal deals. While you don’t have to go that extreme, it never hurts to get a little prep work done for holidays and birthdays when making your rounds. And, if you score a great deal on it, then it’s even better. We all have had that one gift that we were going to buy a little later only to find that it was sold out when we were ready to make the purchase!

With these tips, I hope that you have the best online or in store shopping session yet! They are my tried and true methods to the success behind all of my hauls and I’m sure that they will work for you too. ❤

What are some of your shopping tricks and tips? Do you prefer in store or online shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb10

If The Shoe Fits: Marc Fisher Platforms Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Marc Fisher Platforms Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last post from my TJMaxx Winter Haul! Today is another new edition of If The Shoe Fits where we will be talking about the most adorable pair of Barbie pink platforms by Marc Fisher. I love them so much and can’t wait to step out in them all spring and summer long! Let’s get to it:

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When online shopping with TJMaxx, I fell head over heels for these platforms and added them into my cart immediately. I was so charmed by the color and the shape is, easily, one of my favorite styles which made them a must have. While waiting for my order to arrive, I was already making grand OOTD plans with dresses and skirts come warm weather.

I couldn’t wait to try my new platforms on but that actually proved to be a huge challenge and they almost didn’t make it onto my feet. The way that they were carefully wrapped and stuffed with tissue made it really hard to get them unbuckled. I sat on my bedroom floor for a good five minutes trying to make it work but my efforts were ineffective because I was so worried that I would break a nail!

When I had given up, I brought the shoes downstairs to Johnny to assist and he had a tough go of it too! I had pretty much made up my mind that they would go in my return pile no matter how much I wanted them. A two person job to unbuckle them seemed excessive and I figured I would have issues getting them on. However, once Johnny triumphed in the shoe struggle and I got them on with no further issues, they became an instant keeper.

I seriously can’t get over how cute these shoes are. I wouldn’t say that I’m the most girly girl when it comes to my personal style and my new Marc Fisher numbers make a welcome addition to my shoe collection because of how different they are from anything that I own. They will add a feminine touch to an All Black Everything outfit but I am most looking forward to pairing them with floral dresses and a sun hat for a totally sweet OOTD.

I am so pleased with all of my purchases from my haul and am ready for winter to be over so I can wear everything without freezing my nads off! 😀

Have you updated your wardrobe recently? Do you have anything that you are looking forward to wearing when the weather permits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb9

If The Shoe Fits: Olivia Miller Chained Platform Boots Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Olivia Miller Chained Platform Boots Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of If The Shoe Fits compliments of my TJMaxx Winter Haul. I am proud and, somewhat disappointed, to say that I haven’t purchased a pair of shoes since my wedding so it has been a long time coming for some new ones! Today, we will be discussing a pair of platform boots by Olivia Miller that I scored for twenty bucks on clearance. And, tomorrow, you can tune in for the grand finale from my haul with a darling pair of Barbie pink platforms. Now, let’s get to it:

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When I first saw these shoes while scouring TJMaxx’s website, I wasn’t initially sold on them. However, I figured that for twenty dollars it wouldn’t hurt to at least try them out and return them if need be. As you can all assume, I absolutely loved the bold chain accent popping against the matte black boot but they didn’t necessarily fall into the “must have” category.

Upon receiving my order and checking out the Olivia Miller platform boots in real life, I was much more impressed because they looked way better in person. Online, they looked somewhat cheap but holding them in my hands made all of the difference. Everything about these boots spoke to me and I was enamored with the taupe stitching that I didn’t even notice during my online shopping.

Although I ended up keeping this pair, I actually did almost put them in my return pile before I got them on my feet. The back zipper was incredibly tough to coax down and I thought to myself that it was probably why they got marked down in the first place. I just had to try them on, though, and once I got the zipper down the first time, I had no further issues.

As soon as my boots were finally on, all of the styling possibilities started swimming in my head and I knew that they were a keeper. I would never wear these in the winter to avoid salt and water stains but come summer and fall it is ON! These little babies will be so fabulous with short shorts, fun socks, and a flowy top and I can’t wait to trudge through the leaves with them in the fall. 😀

When it comes to shopping, normally, my first impression will make or break whether I bother with something or not. In the case of these Olivia Miller platform boots, my first impression was not everything and I am so glad that I took a chance on them!

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

 

Feb8

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Marled Reunited Clothing Cardigan

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TJMaxx Winter Haul: Marled Reunited Clothing Cardigan

Hello everyone and welcome to the last piece of clothing from my TJMaxx Winter Haul! Today, we will be discussing a darling heart adorned cardigan by Marled Reunited Clothing – so perfect for Valentine’s Day. Then, we will dive into some brand new editions of If The Shoe Fits so keep it posted here on lifewithlilred! Now, let’s get to it:

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My mom loves anything and everything with hearts on it, which makes me especially partial to the same sentiments too. When I saw this cardigan in store when I was making my online returns, I knew that it was going to be coming home with me just in time for Valentine’s Day. I didn’t really plan on making any clothing purchases and was trying to limit my shopping to skin care and birthday prezzies. Well, that’s not entirely true – you know your girl always kind of plans on that and it was just this one cardigan, I swear!

This Marled Reunited Clothing cardi was just too cute to pass up. The oatmeal base paired with the bright pops of red hearts is oh so sweet and is certainly not limited to being only worn on V-Day. My new cardi is nice and soft but it isn’t super warm which opens it up to being a four seasons piece. It will be great for a brisk spring day or a chilly summer night having drinks on the patio of mine and Johnny’s favorite bar.

My cardi will, of course, be so charming paired with a skater skirt and tights but is also ideal for throwing on with my go to black skinny jeans with front pockets. I have already done this several times already and it really helped to spruce up a basic work outfit. Pair with some adorable red booties and everyone will feel love in the air!

What is your favorite pattern? How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb7

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Japna Tie Back Top

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TJMaxx Winter Haul: Japna Tie Back Top

Hello everyone and welcome back to my TJMaxx Winter Haul! Today, we are going to be discussing a top by Japna that is, admittedly, not appropriate for winter at all but I can’t wait to rock it come warm weather. This new top is identical in shape to one of my favorite purchases from Altar’d State so I knew that it would be a winner when I saw it. And, if it wasn’t, it would have been no harm no foul because it was only seven bucks on clearance! Check it out:

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When first trying on a top like my new Japna one during my Altar’d State haul, I wasn’t so sure about it:

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My main fear about this kerchief style top was that it would be too much skin, too much bra strap, and that it wouldn’t be flattering in the slightest. So, imagine my surprise when I was in the Altar’d State fitting room and it worked perfectly. The tie back covered up the back of my bra completely, it wasn’t too revealing in the midriff, and best of all – it showcased all of the tattoos on my back that never get seen.

This top was one of my absolute faves to wear last summer and I have been on the hunt for more like it ever since. I never had any luck finding a similar top until my past TJMaxx haul and I was So. Freaking. Excited. about it. Not only was it the same shape but it was black and snakeskin patterned which made it EVEN BETTER! 😀

As you all know, I love snakeskin anything and everything so I felt like I won the lottery when I found this little Japna number for under ten bucks. As soon as warm weather hits, it is so on and I might just alternate between it and my Altar’d State top all summer long. Not really, but I am pretty stoked about it lol.

Pairing my Japna top with my black shorts from American Eagle Outfitters and my new Barbie pink platforms (Which you will see soon!) will definitely be the move. To accessorize, multiple bracelets, huge sunglasses, and a big tote bag are a must. Can it be summer now or?

What is your favorite animal print? What is your ideal summertime outfit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah