Category Archives: Fashion

Jul15

Fun In The Sun OOTD

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Fun In The Sun OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! For the Fourth of July weekend, Johnny and I enjoyed a lovely little getaway to Geneva On The Lake. We stayed in a fantastic Airbnb with a few of our friends that was literally right on Lake Erie and it was like having our own private beach! On the Fourth, we posted up on our oasis on the water and had a blast soaking up the sun all afternoon. The sunburns that resulted in our lake day were anything but!! Take a look at what I wore before busting out an itty bitty bikini and my skin wasn’t fifty shades of Lil Red. It simply screams Fun In The Sun!

Who? What? Wear?

Kerchief Top: Altar’d State

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platform Sandals: Sbicca, ModCloth

Sunglasses: Lucky Brand, TJMaxx

Dagger Earrings: These were bought on vacation in the Poconos!

When I was packing this outfit for our trip, I didn’t even put two and two together that it would be featuring a red, white, and blue motif on the Fourth. I was in no mood to celebrate America, lol, it just happened and that’s okay because I love this look and it is a super easy one to replicate. Normally when I am building an outfit, I start from the top down. This time, however, I started smack dab in the middle with the jean shorts from American Eagle Outfitters. I absolutely adore this high waisted, distressed pair and they are oh so sweet with any summer OOTD. They are such a classic summer staple with some extra flare, fit like a glove, and go with anything meaning you can’t go wrong with them!

Next on the agenda was visiting the top department and I knew exactly what I needed: My gingham kerchief top from Altar’d State. This was my first kerchief top I ever purchased and it certainly started an obsession because I can’t get enough of them. They are sassy but not overly sexy and such a unique take on summer clothing. You can only have so many tanks and spaghetti strap tops! This little number paired beautifully with the high waisted shorts and just as I love the Gingham line from Bath & Body Works, I loves me a gingham pattern too. This top gave a somewhat retro pattern a modern update and will always be one of my favorite summer tops.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I opted for a delightful pair of platform sandals by Sbicca. Yes, they were a pain in the butt to walk on the sand in but beauty is pain and I couldn’t imagine a different pair with this look. The straps are an almost perfect match to the blue in the top and they both feature a flower motif. It was like they were made to be worn together! Since I was going to wade in the water as I refuse to get my hair wet, I kept jewelry at a minimum with a pair of cream colored dagger earrings. Sunglasses were a must, of course, and I wore my beloved pair by Lucky. And, no, I didn’t lose them this time! 😀

This fit was Fun In The Sun, fashion fun, and vacation vibes to the T and I felt like the star of our private beach in it!

Are you going on any getaways this summer? What was the best vacation you have been on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

Brunch Babe OOTD Bloopers

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Brunch Babe OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Brunch Babe OOTD! There is nothing better than wearing new clothes and I was so excited to bust out my new top featured in this look by Caroline Constas. It was the ultimate Brunch Babe, farmers market fierce little number I needed for a late morning trip to First Watch! Before I could ever so carefully dig into brunch to avoid a spill on my new duds, pictures were in order. Take a peek at these yikes pics and let’s discuss an instance that simply delighted me this past week:

Apparently REALLY deep in thought or sleep

Hanging on for dear life

The queen of brunch making an appearance

Hanger may or may not have been setting in

Flipping the hair to shake off any negativity

When I was little, I prided myself on being the best “finder” lol. Someone in my family was always losing something and I was excellent at finding where the misplaced item was. In my old age, however, I fear I may be losing my touch. My eldest niece decided to put together a scavenger hunt with Bluey toys for her little sister at chez grandparents. Lil sis ended up finding almost all of them, but big sis forgot where she put two of the toys (lol) and my parents asked if I would look for them. I searched high and low for the members of the Bluey gang for what felt like forever and, sadly, had no luck. Luckily, I manifested finding something else instead…

For Christmas, I got my mom a gift card to Elysian Nails. Fast forward a few months later when she was ready to cash in her manicure and we couldn’t find the gift card anywhere. Like the Bluey toys, I looked everywhere and ended up convinced it might have been thrown out on accident. When I was on my own scavenger hunt for Bluey’s friends, I thought about how awesome it would be to find the gift card too. A minute or two later, I took off the lid of a decorative pot in the kitchen and gasped at its contents. The Elysian Nails gift card was sitting three feet from my usual spot at the kitchen table this entire time! It was a Christmas in July miracle but I am not hanging up my detective’s cap yet. I will not rest until the remainder of the Bluey toys are returned back to my nieces!

It took seven months to find the missing gift card so maybe in seven months the Bluey toys turn up? Either way, I am on the case!

Have you found anything that has been missing for a while? Where was it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

Brunch Babe OOTD

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Brunch Babe OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I had a highly successful shopping trip at TJMaxx this past month with my mom and have been so excited to break out all of my new clothes! I had just the occasion to do so this past weekend because Johnny and I enjoyed a lovely birthaversary celebration brunch with my aunt and uncle. We went to First Watch and ate like kings and I did so VERY carefully to avoid a spill on this fabulous, flowery, flowy number. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Embroidered Top: Caroline Constas, TJMaxx

Bubble Skirt: A New Day, Target

Kitten Heels: A New Day, Target

Skull Earrings: Sirius Woods, these were a birthday gift from my BFF!

The piece de resistance of my TJs haul was truly the flower embroidered top by Caroline Constas. I literally clutched my pearls when I saw it and knew in an instant that it was coming home with me. I had been dying to wear it and thought it was just perfect for the weekend brunch we had planned. It’s bright, quirky, and fun and it sounds weird but it just felt like the top to wear to sip mimosas in a trendy restaurant. This top offers so much delightful movement with the huge bell sleeves and I knew I needed a skirt to match that energy. Luckily, I had exactly what I needed compliments of my Valentine’s Day date with Johnny!

In the skirt department, I chose my beloved bubble skirt from Target. I have wanted one for forever and was so happy to have finally found one! This skirt provided the volume and movement that I required to form a cohesive silhouette with the top. I wanted a bold shape and I got it in spades! The high waist meshed well with the fairly close fit of the top’s bodice and then both pieces branched out into flouncy fabulousness. It was so hard not to twirl my way through the streets with this combination!

Last but not least, was shoes and accessories. I went for a darling pair of kitten heels that were also a part of my V-Day ensemble and feature an adorable heart on the toe. These were ideal for the outfit as the slingback strap gave an unbroken leg line. This helped add length to the look by accentuating my legs as the base was quite fabric heavy. I didn’t want to go overboard with jewelry because the shapes of the clothing were eye catching enough. To keep things simple, I chose the gorgeous pair of dangly pearl skull earrings from my bestie and was ready to get my brunch on!

I absolutely love my Brunch Babe OOTD and wearing my Caroline Constas top for the first time was everything I wanted it to be and SO much more! ❤

What is your favorite brunch spot? Who is your go to brunch date? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul7

Feeling Lucky

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Feeling Lucky

Hello! At the beginning of April, I was in need of some new sunglasses and bought two new pairs at TJMaxx. I was especially partial to the pair by Lucky Brand because it is one of my favorite brands and the sunglasses fit me to the T. In fact, I loved them so much that I almost considered buying two pairs of them. I wore those babies everywhere and I just felt so cool in them! Because I wore them everywhere, it’s no surprise that they accompanied me to the Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson concert. It was one of the craziest nights of my life and I ended up losing my beloved pair of Lucky Brand sunnies in the mix. I was absolutely devastated. I went from wearing them every day to not having them at all and I was kicking myself in the butt for not buying that back up pair.

I was feeling fairly confident that if I went to TJMaxx, they would not have another pair of my beloved Luckies. It had been well over two months since the initial purchase so why would they? However, I just had to see for myself so I made a pit stop to the happiest place on Earth. Rather than browse through the store, I made a beeline to the sunglasses department and began scouring the shelves. I started at the left hand side, looked through the rows from top to bottom, and was seeing nothing. I continued the hunt to be one thousand percent sure and, as luck would have it, one pair of Lucky frames remained at the very end of the display. I couldn’t believe my good fortune and snatched them up!

Had there been more pairs of these sunglasses, I would have bought the lot of them. Sunglasses can get broken or lost so easily and I have experienced both firsthand. So the moral of the story is: There is no shame in buying back ups of anything you really love. It could be a great pair of ballet flats, your favorite T-shirt in different colors, and yes – sunglasses too. I learned my lesson when my favorite pair of sunglasses I have ever owned almost got away from me and I am not making that same mistake twice!

The fashion gods were truly smiling upon me when they returned my Lucky frames to their rightful owner. I was feeling so lucky I should have played the lottery! 😀

Do you buy back ups of anything in your wardrobe? Have you ever lost a favorite fashion item? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

Country Cutie OOTD Bloopers

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Country Cutie OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Country Cutie OOTD! This look was worn to Outlaw Fest to see Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at Blossom Music Center. Honestly, the whole night was a blooper reel in itself and Johnny and I are still laughing about the antics we got into. I haven’t had a night that wild since the after party at our wedding lol. The bloopers didn’t begin at the concert but during the photo shoot beforehand so take a look at some yikes pics that really helped set the tone for the festivities:

Tinkerbell just hanging out on my nose

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting ready to practice my hoedown

So sick of constantly wiping away upper lip sweat SMH

This hoe was almost down lolol

A measurement of how lit I got at the concert

As you can imagine, Johnny and I were definitely feeling the hangover blues the day after the concert. Luckily for us, we have concocted the perfect cure – AKA: A Day of Lay. Lay days are exactly what they sound like: Staying in bed, watching TV, and moving as little as possible lol. And, luckily for us, we have discovered a new “warm blanket” show (Johnny’s definition of a comfort show) to enjoy. A few weeks ago, we started watching Fresh Off The Boat and have been plowing through it at a speed of light pace. It is absolutely hilarious!

Fresh Off The Boat is based off of a book of the same name by Eddie Huang (I can’t wait to read it!). Eddie’s family is Chinese American and the book and show documents their move from Washington D.C. to Orlando, Florida to open a steakhouse in the nineties and get their own slice of the American Dream. The Huang family is comprised of proud parents, Louis and Jessica and their three boys named Eddie, Emery, and Evan. Louis’s mom, Jenny, also lives with them. She speaks no English but lives for Garfield comics and cruising in her electric wheelchair. 😀

From start to finish, every single episode has Johnny and me in stitches. The Huang brothers are all cute as can be and the littlest, Evan, is our favorite. He is just a doll! We also revel in the pure “Louis and Jessica” of our own relationship. Johnny is a Louis for sure. He is spontaneous, silly, and always has a new big idea. I am one thousand percent Jessica and I own it – strategic, thinks in black and white, never backs down from a challenge, and tears it up in a game of Scrabble. Fresh Off The Boat is the most delightful mix of funny and downright heartwarming and when we aren’t in hysterics, we are going “aww” at how sweet it is lol. It was easy to forget how hungover we were during our marathon when we were laughing the entire time!

Our daily viewings of Fresh Off The Boat are something I really look forward to and it came through in the clutch the day after the concert. We finished a full season in one day! 😀

What is your favorite comfort show? How many times have you seen it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul3

Country Cutie OOTD

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Country Cutie OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Johnny and I have a spectacular summer concert series lined up and this look was for Outlaw Fest to see Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan at Blossom Music Center. We went to this show in the middle of a full fledged heat wave here in Ohio so I had to make some changes to my original plan which was to wear a Western button down of Johnny’s. Instead, I went with an itty bitty brand new top and shorts to keep me cool and rockin’ all night long. Take a look:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Crop Top: Bozzolo, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Heeled Boots: These were purchased forever ago from Target

Sunglasses and Cross Earrings: Lucky Brand, TJMaxx

The bracelet ring was purchased forever ago from Claire’s

Although I had to swap out shirts to accommodate the weather, this was no problem because I had a back up in mind: My new crochet crop top by Bozzolo. I got this cute crop a few days before the concert during an impromptu TJs trip with my mom and it truly couldn’t have happened at a better time! This crop is oh so sweet and I love the creamy color and the buttons down the front. It also provided beaucoup ventilation which was especially appreciated while being in a sea of people in ninety degree weather. Not only did this top keep me comfortable weather wise but I just feel so comfortable in it in general. The thick tank straps are exactly what I like to keep my bra straps concealed so I didn’t have to worry about them playing peek a boo all night!

Next on the agenda was shorts and I went with a darling pair of blue jean shorts from American Eagle Outfitters. As always, their shorts are the best and I live in them all summer. I couldn’t imagine wearing anything other than classic blue jean shorts to a country show. This pair is pure Americana, Girl Next Door perfection. I like that they are short but not too short and they provided the leg length I needed to make the tall boots I wanted to wear work.

Shoes and accessories were all that was needed to wrap up this look and that was easy peasy. When we got tickets to Outlaw Fest, I already knew I wanted to wear my heeled boots from Target. They are as old as dirt but they still look great! They are a fun twist on a classic cowboy boot and I love being able to put a Lil Red spin on staple items. How fabulous is that sunset coloring and big ol’ buckles?! For accessories, I wanted to drive the Western aesthetic home with turquoise. I put on a pair of turquoise dangly cross earrings as well as a huge turquoise cross ring that connects to a bracelet and I was ready to go!

Outlaw Fest was such an amazing time from start to finish. I adored this OOTD and felt like a boot scootin’ star all night!

What are some of your summer wardrobe staples? Are you going to any concerts this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

B-Day OOTD Bloopers

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B-Day OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my B-Day OOTD! Johnny and I have been celebrating our birthaversary big time all month long and this lil look was worn to lunch at the Olive Garden with my family. It was the best gift! We still have beaucoup plans lined up in our roster and it is honestly kind of overwhelming lol. We went from never doing anything on the weekends to nonstop plans and I am exhausted! But, hey, the birthaversary is a monumental occasion so let the good times roll because when I can relax with a new season of my guilty pleasure show, it is going to be oh so sweet. 😀 Take a look at these yikes shots and let’s discuss:

Style, grace, poise

Your girl really knows how to stick the landing!

Perfecting my flamingo impression

Taking a minute to think about the Olive Garden. It’s never far from my mind!

When you think someone is waving at you but they weren’t

Preparing to speak some truth to Johnny

Straight up barrelling to my phone

Am I the only one who feels overwhelmed by streaming services? Lol, every single day there are a million brand new things. Some might be good, a majority is crap, and it is just a pain in the keister to figure out what to watch. I am one of those people that will spend a solid twenty minutes trying to find a show or documentary and then just end up turning on Superbad! For once, however, I know exactly what I am going to watch whenever I have time to spare. That’s right… A new season of America’s Sweethearts on Netflix just dropped and I am SO there for it! 😀

America’s Sweethearts is all about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the audition process, prepping for games, and all that good stuff. I remember when the first season came out vividly because I was sick and I watched it all in one day! I was hooked and you have no idea how happy I was for season two to be released – reality TV is my guilty pleasure and America’s Sweethearts serves on every level. Pretty ladies for your favorite bisexual, insane dancing, hardass coaches, drama, and sisterhood. What could be better?! Do I care about football? The hardest NO ever. Do I care deeply about the cheerleaders? You’re damn right! This new season is a bonus birthaversary gift and I cannot wait to revel in it. Go team!

A new season of a favorite show really is a treat and during my binge-a-thon of America’s Sweethearts, I plan on treating myself even more. I got a Taco Bell gift card for my birthday and am going to have a one person fiesta. Let those birthaversary good times roll on, baby!

What is one of your guilty pleasure shows? Have you watched America’s Sweethearts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

New Max Studio Maxi Dress

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New Max Studio Maxi Dress

Howdy!! The final item from my TJMaxx summer wardrobe refresh haul is truly the piece de resistance. Other than a couple of new tops, I was really hoping to find a sun dress or two. What I ended up with, however, was a maxi dress that caught the corner of my eye. I walked past it while I was heading to the dressing rooms, did a double take, tossed it into the cart, and knew it was a winner as soon as it was on. This Max Studio maxi dress is serving all of the Midwest Princess vibes and I am a thousand percent there for it! Check it out:

^^^ Peep that original price tag! Talk about a STEAL!!! 😀

During a recent trip to Bath & Body Works, I noticed a new scent called Heirloom Tomato or something or other. It smelled like ass, but the packaging was so pretty. It featured deep reds and greens for the fruit/vegetable and was the first thing I thought of when I saw this dress. The color palette is almost identical! When I put it in the cart, I honestly didn’t think it was going to work out. As a petite gal, maxi dresses can be hit or miss for me. If they are not the perfect length and fit, I will drown in fabric. The maxi dress has to be “just right” and they have been few and far between in my extensive shopaholic tenure. My rule of thumb when shopping has always been to try clothes on anyways. Regardless of fit, style, or assumptions, if I like what I see, I am going to try it on. I am so glad for that because this dress would have been bypassed and I never would have found my new favorite thing!

From top to the flowy tiered bottom, this maxi dress is dynamite and I was so delighted when I fell in love with it in the fitting room. Not only was the length of this dress questionable to me, but the pattern was as well. As a heavily tattooed chick, loud patterns can look cluttered over all of my artwork. The full coverage on the legs and torso that this dress offered put a limit on my own color palette and allowed for the pattern to fully do the talking rather than work against the tattoos. I felt like a country music star in it and couldn’t help but do a twirl in the fitting room! I cannot wait to pair it with a deep blue denim jacket and a pair of heeled cowboy-esque boots. This dress is so different than anything I own and I know I am going to have a total blast styling it!

There’s a new country cutie in town and her name is Lil Red! You already know an OOTD with this Max Studio masterpiece is coming so keep your eyes peeled! ❤

Do you update your wardrobe with the change of the seasons? What are your summer wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

New Bozzolo Crop Top

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New Bozzolo Crop Top

Howdy!! As you all know, I am not a summer girl whatsoever. I do not handle the heat well, I detest dressing for summer, and it is an all around miserable time for your favorite vampire. Although I am not happy in the slightest about the hot weather, I am extremely happy about the new clothes I got during my last TJMaxx adventure. That is always going to be a surefire way to perk me up! Cool and cute clothes were the name of the game and this eight dollar crop by Bozzolo certainly checks those boxes. Check it out:

Black will forever be my favorite color and a majority of the clothes in my wardrobe feature it. In stark contrast, I also adore white clothing – especially cream hues. These shades make my tattoos pop and I love being able to enhance my artwork accessories. I already have several cream crochet style crops in my closet so, unsurprisingly, this little number by Bozzolo caught my eye. It was an instance where I knew immediately that it would work, the price was nice at under ten bucks, and into the cart it went.

As expected, this cute crop was perfect when I tried it on. The material was soft and light, the thick straps were ideal for covering bra straps, and it looked like it was made to wear with the high waisted shorts I had on. Although this top is fairly simple, it has more to it than my typical tank tops and is a great option to just throw on and go about the day. It also provides the opportunity to dress up or down. It was already fabulous with shorts but would be oh so sweet with a flowing maxi skirt. This is definitely going to be one of my summer go tos and I won’t be giving it up as we transition to fall. It will be totes adorbs under a chunky cardigan too!

There is nothing better than finding clothes that are just right and this top was exactly what I needed for my summer wardrobe. It also might make a cameo in a concert OOTD soon so stay tuned!

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

Jun25

New Caroline Constas Flower Power Top

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New Caroline Constas Flower Power Top

Hello! My mom and I have had TJMaxx gift cards burning a hole in our pockets and decided to have an impromptu shopping trip during my break this past Tuesday. It was just the little pick me up I needed and we had so much fun. I absolutely love going shopping with my mom, I always have and I always will and she is my partner in crime. Normally, I like to stock up on skin care when I have gift cards to spend. This time, however, I was on the hunt for new summer clothes. As a gal who loves dressing for the fall, my warm weather clothes are lacking and I have recently been lamenting over having “nothing” to wear. Happily, I found three amazing new pieces to update my summer wardrobe and I can’t wait to show all of you! Let’s get started with this gorgeous top by Caroline Constas:

When I am at TJMaxx, I browse in the junior and women’s department alike and tend to have good luck across the board. Other than a super cute crop that you will see soon, the junior’s department was doing nothing for me during this trip. Everything was so small, so short, plain ugly, or featured a tie in the front of the tops which I freaking hate lol. The women’s department was much more like it and I literally GASPED when I saw the flower power top by Caroline Constas. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful top at Urban Outfitters that I was obsessed with. It was very expensive and it didn’t come home with me. I honestly couldn’t even tell you what it looked like now, but for some reason the idea of it came to my head when I saw my new top. It was like getting a second chance at the one that got away and I was not letting it slip through my fingers again.

This cropped number is everything and it is so unique and adorable. The poppy embroidered flowers and red border over a stark white base remind me of an artist’s smock in the best way possible. And, of course, I loves me anything with balloon sleeves! This top screams fun in the sun and I cannot wait to pair it with sweet denim shorts and wedge sandals. It was a bit more expensive than I usually will spend for a top at thirty-five dollars, but it was worth every penny. There was no original price tag to compare to so I looked it up online and saw it for sale on Poshmark for one hundred and twenty-five smackers. Whatever it originally costed, I got it for a fraction of the price and you can’t beat that!

I have a feeling I will be wearing this top all summer long and it is officially one of my new favorites. Stay tuned for a brand new OOTD soon!

What is your favorite designer brand? Which stores or websites can you get the best bargains on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah