Category Archives: Fashion

Sep19

Cleaning Out My Closet

Posted on September 19, 2017 by lifewithlilred

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! Okay. We all know by now that I am a clothing hoarder. Everything from accessories and shoes to purses and a closet full of gorgeous duds – I have a lot of it. It’s no secret that I love to shop, BUT it’s also not a secret that I rarely do a closet overhaul because I never know when I might need that five year old cardigan!!

My clothes make me happy to look at, but even I have to admit that it was becoming a chore to squeeze new purchases into my overflowing closet and dresser. It really had me wishing I had a team like those at Closets Etc. to help me organize the clothing chaos! Alas, it was left to little old me so I made an effort to go through my clothing collection and take the rejects to Plato’s Closet and then donate the items that they didn’t want. I have to say – it was really hard!!

During my closet clean out, I tried to follow the “if I haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it” rule. However, this proved to be pretty difficult since I really do wear everything that I own. When I go on shopping trips, I purchase things that I know that I will get a lot of use out of. I am mindful of the quality of the piece that I’m considering and if it will still be in excellent condition one, two, or five years from now. So, with that in mind, you can see how this overhaul was a struggle. It was seriously almost like trying to decide which one of my two beloved dogs that I like the least. Lol, as you can see – I really love my clothes!!

Despite what myself and the good lord knows was a difficult task, I was able to manage filling up my vacation bag with clothes and accessories to take to Plato’s Closet. Although I do try and wear all of the pieces in my wardrobe as often as I can, there definitely were some items that haven’t been in the spotlight for quite some time. Maybe not an entire year’s worth of time, but long enough that I could picture myself without having the top, bottoms, etc. So, into the bag it went.

I would be a liar if I said that I wasn’t pleased with myself. Even though I had a hard time with my closet clean out, I still managed to purge a decent amount of stuff. With an “I just finished a marathon” smile on my face, I made my way to Plato’s Closet to see if I could get myself at least a tank of gas with my fallen clothing friends. I had a pretty good feeling about this, because I take excellent care of my clothes to the point where my wardrobe looks like it’s filled with brand new pieces. But:

APPARENTLY PLATO’S CLOSET DIDN’T THINK SO!!!

Plato’s Closet baffles me – which is why I don’t even like going into the store. They always seem to take the clothing that I wasn’t confident that they would want but threw in the bag anyways, rather than the actual nice pieces that I have to offer. Out of the lovely fall coats and sweaters that I was willing to part with, they ended up taking the random odds and ends of my unwanted items, instead.

It was just confusing to me as to how I only received seventeen dollars for clothing that I know will be marked up to an ungodly price. Does this sound petty? Yes. But it’s okay, because everyone who has sold to Plato’s Closet before has thought that so it definitely needed saying. Of course, I’m happy to be rid of some if the items collecting dust in my closet, but there’s always going to be that “wtf” confusion when an old T-shirt was chosen rather than something with the tags still on it (Gifts! I buy my clothes to wear, remember?)!

Am I bitter? I’m always bitter. But, I did get a tank of gas out of my closet cleaning Plato’s Closet excursion, which is what I set out to do, so it’s cool. (It’s not.)

Cleaning Out My Closet proved to be immensely difficult and the payoff was minimal, but I’m glad to have gotten it over with! What are your closet cleaning tips? What are your thoughts on Plato’s Closet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: PopKey

Sep17

Pajama Party: My Calvins Pt. 3 Edition

Posted on September 17, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing weekend. As you guys know, one of my major guilty pleasure purchases is pajamas. To me, there is absolutely nothing more luxurious than taking a nice, long bubble bath, snuggling up in some darling PJs, and crawling into bed. It’s a cheap evening in, but it always leaves me going to bed feeling like a million bucks.

There is really no better time for cozy pajama purchasing than the present, because the fall chill has definitely hit Ohio. With that in mind and the whopping twenty dollar price tag from TJMaxx, it was hard to say no to this Calvin Klein shorts and Henley sleep set. Take a look:

^^^ Peep that perfectly folded top! Compliments of four years of retail work, baby!

So a shorts and thermal set seems pretty counterproductive for a crisp fall evening, right? WRONG. This set is actually perfect for me, because one of my favorite things in the world is sleeping underneath a mountain of blankets but having the ceiling fan on and the windows wide open. This long sleeved shirt and short set is basically the clothing equivalent of that feeling and it is So. Freaking. Comfy!!!

My pajama collection is admittedly hitting maximum capacity, but one more Calvin Klein set never hurt anyone! Seriously, next time I’m at TJs, remind me not to step foot in the pajama department, because this always happens. Lol, I can’t say that I’m all that mad about it, though! 😉

So there you have it, another Pajama Party: My Calvins Pt. 2 Edition style! What are some of your guilty pleasure purchases? Who else is an avid lover of pajamas? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep14

Faux Fur Fabulous

Posted on September 14, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and happy Thursday! Once upon a time, I bought a faux fur vest from TJMaxx three years ago. I actually think that it was right before I started college in 2014. It was deep purple, black, and freaking amazing…And I returned it. I had high hopes of strutting around campus with my new statement making vest, but I didn’t have the confidence to pull it off. I was too nervous in my decision to begin school and leave a world of working retail behind, and didn’t want to stand out more than I already thought I did in my head.

Bad. Decision. Horrible decision. See, this is why I don’t return anything anymore, lol. I still think about that vest, the outfits that could have been, and the confidence that I have now to be able to wear it and feel fierce in it. SMH. Ever since remembering my fallen faux fur vest, I have been on the hunt to find a replacement for a wardrobe staple that my clothing collection lacks.

Unfortunately, I have never been able to find a worthy replica to replace my grave mistake of a returned vest. The midnight sky colored fabulousness has never been seen of again and, of course, it’s difficult to find faux fur vests in any other time but the fall. During a recent trip to TJMaxx, I found a gorgeous, unique blue ombre vest that I really like. BUT, rest assured, that it will never come close to my “one that got away”. Take a look:

This Thread & Supply brand vest was the only one of its kind that I saw at TJMaxx and, lucky for me, it was in my size (Obviously!)! Blue is a color that I don’t wear very often, although I do have a bit of navy in my wardrobe color palette. However, I loved the cream to midnight blue hues in this vest and it was like nothing that I have ever seen before, which is a major selling point for me, as you all know!

I’m really eager to put this piece to use in my wardrobe because I’ve never owned a faux fur vest before (Aside from the one that I owned for one day, lol.). Of course, you can go the classic route of wearing a faux fur vest with a great pair of skinnies and ankle booties. But, I’m more looking forward to styling this vest with maxi dresses and skirts, as well as mini and midi dresses with thick tights for the fall season.

Despite being forever in mourning for my vest that could have been but never was, I’m happy with this Thread & Supply purchase. The unexpected color palette puts a fun twist on a classic piece, and it will be exciting to experiment with styling something that I’ve never worn before. BUT, I already know that if I find the right black faux fur vest or one in a different, funky color, that it will more than likely be coming home with me, as well!

Vests are a great item to invest in for wearing year round. This one will surely be making an appearance in my looks next summer for a sassy, glam OOTD with short shorts and platform heels. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to adding a chic, rocker vibe to any outfit with a faux fur vest and I’m so happy to finally be able to have one to play with! 😀

So there you have it, a little touch of Faux Fur Fabulous! Do you have a similar story to a piece of clothing like my “one that got away” vest? How do you incorporate a faux fur vest into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep13

Cardi Party: Dream On, Kid

Posted on September 13, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hey everyone and happy Hump Day! One brand that I’ve always really liked but never explored to an extent is American Eagle Outfitters. I like their classic style, muted colors, and the fact that their clothes can definitely be viewed as appropriate for a twenty something. Despite an appreciation for the brand, their clothes are just way too expensive for my taste.

Don’t get me wrong, my frugality doesn’t exclude the knowledge that you get what you pay for. But my frugality DOES include the fact that, often times, you can find amazing brands elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. This is why I am a tried and true Maxxinista. TJMaxx is a store that I shopped at from a very young age. I can remember browsing the aisles hand in hand with my mom or grandma when I was little and thinking that it was the most fantastic place on earth – and I still do!

TJMaxx allows me to live out my rich girl fantasy by providing me with brands for purchase that I would never buy in my wildest dreams for full price. TJs dwindles down the cost of clothing, shoes, and accessories to a price that I’m fully comfortable paying. When people ask me where I get my clothes, it makes me proud to say that I get a majority of it from TJMaxx, which proves that I look sharp at a budget price. Check out my latest purchase, which happens to be an American Eagle Outfitters cardi at a TJ’s discount, and let’s discuss:

It has been a long, long time since I stepped foot in a mall. And when I do, it’s rarely for myself, but for gift shopping during the holiday season. But, even then, I still prefer to do my shopping elsewhere. However, when I do find myself in the mall, I like to take my time, look around, guffaw at costly price tags, and take note of the things I like for when I do my bargain shopping later.

This adorable, prep school style AEO cardi cost me THIRTEEN DOLLARS, and I know for a fact that it would have been at least fifty had I bought it at the mall. Somehow, this made my new cardigan appear even cuter to me! It has been a good, long while since I bought myself a new cardi – probably back in 2014, actually, when I was still working at PacSun and got a nice employee discount.

I love the cardigans that I do have because they’re older, but I can’t help feeling like everyone and their brother will have the cardigans that are in store right now. And if there’s one thing that I hate, it’s feeling like a million other people have what I’m buying. This is why I usually shy away from purchasing a cardigan, but go for something like a cool jacket or comfy chic sweaters, instead.

However, this AEO cardigan was too cute to pass up. It features my three favorite colors – black, red, and white and it’s SO comfy. I normally don’t dress for comfort, but there’s nothing better than wrapping yourself up in a nice, cozy cardigan to combat the autumn chill. And, of course, the “Keep On Dreamin'” embroidered back made me smile.

If you must know, I was totally “sadness shopping” after a rough day full of questioning myself and just not feeling good in my skin. The sweet, inspirational surprise on the back of this cardi made me happy and it felt like a message from the shopping gods telling me that I’m going to be okay. You can’t beat finding something totally adorable, affordable, and confidence boosting on a really blah day. Needless to say, it was a total TJMaxx cardi party!

So there you have it, my recent Cardi Party: Dream On, Kid! What is a purchase that you made recently that made you smile? How do you ball on a budget? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Taqplayer

Sep8

If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition

Posted on September 8, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Helloooo everyone and TGIF! As you all know from yesterday’s post, the arrival of autumn spells out big trouble for my bank account. A recent trip to Kohl’s and Target with my beloved mother left my wallet a little less fat but my wardrobe all of the better for it. Take a look at my new boots from the brand Candies, which Kohl’s offers, and let’s discuss:

First of all, in my defense – I haven’t bought myself a non ankle or combat style boot in literal years. The last time I bought actual knee high boots was on Valentine’s Day in 2015, so this purchase was a long time coming. Why, you might ask? The answer for a long hiatus between boot purchases, is that I actually have a really difficult time finding “actual” boots that I like. Why, you might ask? It’s not like I have a problem buying anything else! Lol, sigh. Let me explain. Ahem:

I have expensive taste. Sue me for it. The boots that I do happen to like are usually close to or above one hundred dollars. As much as I love shoes, I’m not comfortable spending that much.
This is a really personal preference when it comes to footwear, but I absolutely despise rubber soles on shoes. I’m well aware that many of the shoes featured on my If The Shoe Fits series has them and, believe me, I’m not thrilled about it. But rubber soles on boots are a bit of an eyesore for me, and I refuse to purchase ones with them.

In my perfect world, literally every heel or sole on a shoe would be covered with cloth or made with funky material like wood, cork, or see through plastic. However, I know that this is just not feasible, because rubber soles on boots during inclement weather is a nonnegotiable staple for obvious reasons. I realize that, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it! Therefore, I’ve always avoided buying, and even looking at boots to purchase because it’s just too damn hard to find what I like for a price that I’m comfortable paying.

(This is the part where the world pauses for a second, because the boot world as I know it is about to change forever.)

Pre Mind Blown Monologue: I love the shoe department at Kohl’s. I would say that about forty percent of my shoes are from there, forty percent are from TJMaxx, and the remaining twenty percent is from other various locations. I think that Kohl’s has a fantastic selection of brands and styles and the prices are, for the most part, extremely reasonable thanks to sales and coupons. While browsing through the shoe selection, I wasn’t really anticipating buying anything until…

MIND BLOWN.

My leisurely amble through the shoe department led me to my new boots from Candies. Guys…It really was love at first sight. These boots had EVERYTHING that’s important to me in my “Buying Boots Guidelines”:

Must be black
Must be at least knee high (These go up to the lower part of my thigh.)
Must be made from non-animal materials (These are pseudo-suede and man made.)
Must be heeled
Must not have a rubber sole

These Candies boots checked off literally every single thing on my Buying Boots Guidelines. Not only that, but I got these babies that were originally about one hundred dollars for sixty bucks. Fifty to sixty dollars is my cut off point when it comes to buying anything, but I prefer to stay well under that. However, because I own a whole two other pairs of boots, one pair that is two and a half years old and another that is four years old, I was okay with spending up to my price limit. This doesn’t happen very often, but it really has been a while since I found a pair of boots worth buying and I realize that around sixty dollars is very decent for a new pair of such high quality.

What I love about these boots, aside from the jet black color, CLOTH COVERED HEEL, and cruelty free material, is the length. I’ve never owned an above the knee pair of boots before and, I say this very rarely, but these boots made me feel sexy. These babies hit solidly at my lower thigh but are shorter than mid-thigh. I’ve always wanted a high, heeled pair of boots but never found one that I liked so much until now.

These boots made me feel good. Sexy is a look that is never a priority when it comes to how I dress but, man, I felt it in these shoes and it was definitely a new feeling – but I liked it. I was wearing a mustard yellow maxi dress and a moto jacket when I tried these on and I loved how I looked. These boots were edgy and cool but they gave off a glam and sultry vibe because of their length and, I don’t know…I felt good in them.

Another plus to these boots is their shape. They’re form fitting without being skin tight, but they have just enough slouch to give them edge as opposed to more sex appeal. Had they not had that extra give, I don’t know how comfortable I would have been in them.

Of course I’m looking forward to pairing these with one of my many black skinny jeans from my black skinny jeans collection for a sleek silhouette, but I never thought to pair boots like these with a maxi dress. I absolutely loved it and I genuinely can’t wait to style these with maxi and knee length dresses in the fall. And a cool moto or distressed jean jacket is a definite must with these bad boys, too!

I realize that I just wrote a freaking novella on these boots but I just couldn’t help it. I’m really happy with this purchase and they are going to look absolutely stunning with my new coat from yesterday’s post, to boot! (AYYY, see what I did there?!) 😉

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition! How would you style these boots? What are your own guidelines for boot shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep7

A New Day, A New Jacket

Posted on September 7, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Boy, does it feel great to be back on lifewithlilred after my vacation in Asheville, North Carolina. Thanks again to all of my fabulous Falling For Fall guest bloggers for holding it down while I was away! ❤

The fall is a very dark time for me. With all of the gorgeous cool weather clothing, shoes, and accessories that the stores have to offer, I turn into a woman possessed. I forget my name, where I am, and the fact that I don’t need any more clothes and go credit card crazy. I JUST CAN’T HELP MYSELF. If you guys pay an ounce of attention to my page, you’ll know that cool weather clothing makes up a solid ninety percent of my wardrobe. I love it all. Ahem:

Peacoats
Flannels
Sweaters
Skinny jeans
Thick tights
Moto jackets
Trench coats
Knee high boots
Thigh high boots
Ankle booties
Combat boots
Hats
Gloves
Scarves
Layering ALL THE THINGS
Sadly, the list goes on.

With this list in mind, it’s easy to see how I lose my bearings literally EVERY TIME I step foot in a store that sells clothing. It’s my cross to bear, I suppose, but hey – it could be worse!

The splendor of fall clothing, aside from the gorgeous jewel tone hues, is that if you style it properly, you can get away with wearing some of the pieces year round. Fall clothing gives you options. To me, there is nothing better than buying something that I can get away with wearing during most weather conditions (with the exception of heavier coats and sweaters). I always consider the Cost Per Wear (CPW) with everything that I buy, and year round appropriate clothing dwindles the CPW down significantly. You guys know by now that I try to get the most bang for my buck, which is why my wardrobe gravitates so heavily towards all autumn everything.

Blah, blah, blah – Just get to what you bought already, right? Sigh. Okay. Enough trying to justify my spending. I dug my grave and now I must lie in it, but first, let me show you my new jacket from Target’s brand, A New Day:

Have you ever had a spiritual connection with a piece of clothing? You know, that feeling of “I could buy this right now and not even bother trying it on”? I had that feeling when my eyes landed on this magnificent knee length A New Day coat. And, I have to tell you guys, I was nervous. To me, this jacket looks expensive as far as Target goes. Come winter, their coats can reach up to eighty dollars. And, despite my love for this beauty, I would not be comfortable spending that much for it. So, imagine my relief when I took a peek at the price tag and saw that it was half of that – forty bucks. Yeah, I can swing that.

The jewel tones, the length, the possibility for layering, and the warmth level between light and medium, ON TOP of a forty dollar price tag made this jacket such a steal. Frankly, I couldn’t believe it, because it really just seemed too good to be true. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and that purchase price sealed the deal. I ripped my moto jacket off, set my purse on the ground, and got the coat on all in under five seconds. It then took a literal glance of myself in the mirror to verify that this jacket was mine.

I absolutely LOVE the colors of this coat. The deep navy, violet, and mustard yellow are all shades that look stunning against my red hair and pasty pale skin. It makes everything that makes me, me pop. But what really got me about this A New Day piece is the shape of it. It has that shabby chic college professor vibe to it and I just love that. It’s just the smallest pinch oversized which gives the coat such gorgeous movement as well as the option to layer a thick sweater underneath it during the winter.

And, finally, this jacket will last me from the beginning of fall until it warms up in the spring because of its relative lightness. This piece is perfect. It’s the epitome of what fall clothing is all about and why I love dressing for the season so much. And also why I basically wrote a love letter to my new jacket in this post.

A New Day provided me with A New Jacket and I can’t thank the brand enough for it! I never knew what true love was until now and whatever. What do you love about fall clothing? How would you style this coat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep5

Forest Green Fabulous OOTD

Posted on September 5, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hellooo everyone and welcome to the final post in my Falling For Fall guest bloggers series, brought to you by Nida of Shopaholic Blogs. I am so excited to welcome Nida back into the blogging world after a brief hiatus here on my page because she is just my absolute favorite! I missed her terribly in the blogosphere and I know that all of you did, too, so let’s take a look at the gorgeous fall OOTD that she created for us all the way from the UAE:

Forest Green Fabulous OOTD

Hello Bloggers!

Welcome to a fabulous fall guest bloggers series courtesy of who else but my blogging BFF, Sarah, the lovely lady with a love for all things red️! (I LOVE YOU! -Sarah)

I have been totally absent from blogging for quite a while now owing to a multitude of reasons, which I will address in detail in a post coming soon. Till then, let’s focus on today’s blog post which is about all things fall, which sadly doesn’t apply here in UAE because we have an abundance of summer ️year round.

So when Sarah asked me to be a part of her fall guest bloggers series, I was left scratching my head because temperatures here were at boiling point!

Nevertheless, I am not one to let down a friend, so I picked a day when the heat was not as deadly as usual and tried my hand at creating a Fall Look in the desert for you guys.

I worked really hard to fake a breezy fall look, so I hope that all of you enjoy it! Much love to Sarah, as always!

Here’s presenting a how to fake fall in the summer️ without melting OOTD:

Outfit Details:

Dress: Loft petites – I adore this Grecian style dress. The pleating at the waist is so figure flattering and the color is spot on for fall.

Scarf: Zeen – This is a Pakistani brand that does gorgeous scarves at a budget friendly price. I love the color combo on this scarf and it doesn’t hurt that it matches my lippie perfectly!

Shoes: Charles & Keith – I love the pompom detailing on these sandals, which are right on trend for summer and fall.

Accessories: Pottery Barn – I know the pumpkins were a little cheesy, but hey! A little improvisation just adds to the look don’t you think?

Don’t forget to show me and Sarah some love️ by liking this post and commenting down below!

Okay, so all of Nida’s pictures are always beautiful but how freaking cute is that last pic with the pumpkin?! Just dying!! Thank you so much again to my Shopaholic Blogs babe for concluding my Falling For Fall guest bloggers series with a bang! Tune in tomorrow as I wrap things up and show some love to all of my amazing guest bloggers who helped make this fall celebration so special.

Does your location have all four seasons? How do you style a warmer weather fall look? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep1

Autumn Layers Wish List

Posted on September 1, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a post in my Falling For Fall series compliments of Sycamore from SavageStyle. When the seasons change, it is so smart to create a wish list of the things that you need (and want!) to accommodate the weather in your area. Wish lists can stop you from the over spending that comes with buying clothes and accessories that you may not necessarily need, so that you can have some extra cash to splurge for the items that you’re lusting over, instead. Today, we’re going to look at Sycamore’s wish list for her fall wardrobe:

Autumn Layers Wish List

Vogue’s September issue just landed in my mailbox, and the stores (both brick-and-mortar and online) are full of velvet, wool, and leather boot lusciousness; it’s evident that Autumn is drawing near.

This season always stirs up excited nostalgia for me. I guess it probably stems from a mix of going back to school – and the new wardrobe that came with it – seeing all of the new Fall collections, and DEFINITELY my memories of layering up and stalking coffee shops on the high streets of London to caffeinate & steal a cigarette with my classmates before Art History class.

It’s the season that makes me wistful for stashing an umbrella in my purse, riding the tube to the Eastside and back, getting forever lost in the streets, and relinquishing my sorrows in a new pair of kid leather gloves from Selfridges. Not to mention that lovely contrast of sipping a hot coffee while walking through crisp evening air and the crunching leaves beneath my boots.

While I will always have a place in my heart for bohemian florals and that “easy breezy” vibe (I am a sun sign, after all), the current over-saturation of that look has got me yearning for something edgy, new, and layered.

I saw Atomic Blonde recently, and it sparked my first craving for colder weather. Charlize Theron wore so many great looks in that film, but I think the one that takes the cake is this look from the kitchen fight scene:

You go, girl!

Knee-high boots and mini skirts are one of my favorite cold weather combinations. It’s all the sexier when you add garter socks, a giant sweater, coat, and gloves on top. This is how you do fall/winter French girl sexy – you only have a few inches of skin showing but that goes a long way!

Some of the new pieces on my wish list this season are:

Prada fur-trimmed wool-blend coat (mytheresa.com)

Isabel Marant Heina printed mini skirt (M’oda ‘Operandi)

Zara sweater with contrasting cuffs

Stuart Weitzman Alljill over the knee boot (Nordstrom)

MONSE shearling bomber with belts (M’oda ‘Operandi)

Zara short sleeve sweater

Courrèges wool multi-color mini skirt (M’oda ‘Operandi)

Tibi Alexis boot (M’oda ‘Operandi)

This whole look from Zara

It’s still pretty hot here in LA, so I don’t think that I’ll be layering up for another month or two, but at least that means I have ample time to plan. I hope I’ve inspired you during the colder weather to create some layered looks of your own!

Xx~ Sycamore

Thank you so much again to Sycamore of SavageStyle for sharing her Autumn Layers Wish List with us! What is on your cold weather wish list? What store supplies most of your fall wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image From: Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron

Aug30

A Tale Of Two Scarves

Posted on August 30, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and welcome to an ode to one of the it staples in every girl’s fall wardrobe – scarves! This piece is written by my friend, Embery, over at Cozy And Sage and I just know that all of you are going to love it. Please be sure to check out Embery’s blog for more if you enjoyed her post for my Falling For Fall series! Take a look:

A Tale Of Two Scarves

Scarves have always reminded me of fall. The cool crispness of the air and the snuggly warmth of a well-worn stole under my chin as I sip a warm caffeinated beverage and watch the autumn breeze play with the falling leaves is my ultimate pastime. Scarves work just as well for me in the office as they do out on the town. I always feel like I (hopefully) look not only a bit more sophisticated, but perhaps also a bit more prepared for the day enveloped in a proper scarf.

Every scarf that I own seems to have some sort of narrative attached to it, a little snippet of my life that is evoked every time I pull it from my closet. These are two of them:

The Paris Scarf

My scarf obsession was born on an overseas trip to Paris almost a decade ago now. This burgundy and green darling emerged from the hustle and bustle of the shopping scene along the Seine as my very first scarf purchase. Desperately attempting to fit into Parisienne life, I purchased several stoles while I was there and wore them with gusto about the city during that September. In many ways, my very intentional nod to French fashion paid off, and I was often accepted as a local, initially. Of course, my obvious accent and my clearly American quirks gave me away almost immediately after I opened my mouth, but I found the people there to be quite forgiving. At least I felt more French draped in my new acquisition.

This “Paris” scarf, as my husband and I now refer to it, has accompanied me to many days at work, as well as countless trips to local coffee houses in pursuit of something (or anything) containing pumpkin and nutmeg. Whenever I wear it, I am reminded of those chilly fall days in Paris, seeking out coffee and Cȏtes du Rhȏne. This particular scarf is a polyester blend, I believe (although it did not come with a tag) and wears lightly, yet quite warmly, perfect for the cooler months. I generally wear it looped around my neck twice, sometimes twisted just a little, and then add a simple knot.

The Professional Look

My next scarf investment came years later from Macy’s at a time when I had finished school and was just becoming comfortable in my career. After years of studying and working in the trenches as an intern, I was finally beginning to grasp what being a professional meant. Rather than toiling away, working based off of other’s scientific decisions, I was at last making my own. After surviving the gauntlet of my internship, I was consequently being seen as an expert in my own right, rather than a lackey. To this day, I feel more scholarly and a little more erudite (optimistically, I realize) when I adorn myself with this piece.

Although the color is not particularly fall-ish, this scarf wears much too warmly for spring and is definitely a cold weather staple for me, as most of my wardrobe gravitates towards blues, browns, and black. This is an infinity style-scarf from Calvin Klein and is 100% acrylic. This one layers beautifully over light sweaters as well as long sleeve t-shirts. At times, this scarf can feel a bit bulky and occasionally I will use a pin or broach to keep it closer to the body and prevent it from interfering with my favorite fall beverage. I like to wear this one a bit twisted, as well, as it tends to keep the look slightly crisper and cleaner.

These scarves are still in my rotation, and every autumn when I pull them from their summer sleeping area, I am reminded vividly of these times in my life. Every scarf of mine bears a story, and these have been two of them. I hope you have enjoyed my post and thanks so much to Sarah for the opportunity to share it here! (You’re welcome! -Sarah)

Stay cozy! 🙂

Many thanks to Embery of Cozy And Sage for sharing her Tale Of Two Scarves with us! How do you style scarves into your outfit? What color is your favorite scarf? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug29

What DO I Wear?!?! The Fall Transition

Posted on August 29, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the first post for my Falling For Fall guest bloggers series compliments of one of my blogging BFFs, Kate, from Ankhor You. Kate is one of my literal favorite people on the planet and I love when I can have her on my page with one of her amazing fashion segments. Please take some time to check out her blog and click that follow button! You won’t regret it!

What DO I Wear?!?! The Fall Transition

“Fashion is ultimately a form of self-expression. That’s why I love trying out new things.” ~ Ashley Madekwe

All the Feels of Fall

I am so honored to once again have been asked to collaborate on the Falling For Fall series by Sarah. I always have so much fun coming up with outfits and working with this beauty. She is so incredibly talented not to mention insanely witty! (THANKS!!!!! -Sarah)

Fall has always been the season that gives me all of the feels and lets me dig deep into my inner nostalgia. I grew up in the White Mountains where the foliage resembles something out of a Monet painting, and apple and pumpkin spice creations rival Trader Joe’s selection.

It is the one time where going home is always imperative because as Dorothy says “There is NO place like home” and that is exceptionally true in the Fall.

Alas, Mother Nature doesn’t always agree. The leafs might have turned vibrant shades, but the temps can still be a boiling seventy or eighty degrees.

Come September, I am ready for the basic girl wardrobe: Sweaters, leggings, and boots. Yet with Mother Nature having a Hot Flash, it makes it a bit difficult to don the Fall Wardrobe that makes Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice lovers rejoice everywhere. Which is why I have have to get artistically and fashionably creative.

Army Green

Truth time: This might be the real reason Sarah and I are friends, let’s be honest. We both adore this color. There is something about this darker, yet slightly muted color that screams fall. Although people tend to shy away from this color, labeling it too grungy or military-esque, it literally looks good on everyone, from blondes to brunettes and our very own lifewithlilred redheads. (That’s me!!)

The neutral color makes it easy to style with almost anything. Black, brown, I have even worn it with blue before and, of course, there is my favorite combination of Army Green with blush.

Yes peeps, army meets ballet in the most fantastic color scheme! Badass Boneheads rejoice! (AYYY!)

Crop Tops

It might come as a surprise, but the belly baring trend of the summer has transitioned its peek-a-boo self right on into fall.

// Hat & Skirt: Anthropologie // Brami: Free People // Jacket: J-Crew // Necklace: SeaMilliganDesigns //

With layering as the key essential ingredient – mixed with a little Pumpkin Spice, of course, crop tops actually make perfect sense.

They are the new camisole, and companies like Free People are even calling them bramis, which sounds like an act by Houdini, but who am I to argue with the word when they are a staple in my wardrobe!

The Outfit

It would be a dream (seriously Twilight zone stuff) if I could have a new wardrobe. Yet, I can’t deny part of the fun of being a fashionista is recycling pieces of clothing from season to season and not just re-imagining new looks, but using them in a way that makes them fresh and trendy.

Back in June, I had gotten this black maxi skirt from Anthropologie that was part of a set. Transitioning it into fall, I paired it with my army green brami to add a pop of color, and channel those cooler days.

As much as I love leather – and nothing screams fall more than leather – it can be hot! So sometimes, you have to go with an oldie but goodie. In this case, it’s the denim jacket. This jacket is distressed, giving it an edgy flare. It is the perfect layering piece over the brami (I just really like that word!) and for those cool autumn nights.

Accessories

Nothing completes a look better than the right accessories. Not only that, but they help transition an outfit from season to season. Hats always make me think of fall, and my felt ranchers hat from Anthropologie seemed like the obvious choice to go with. With a subtle yet glitzy jeweled band, this wide brim adds the prefect pizazz for any fall day. Pair it with a scarf for chillier nights and you have a fashionable yet transitional look.

Lastly, for this shoot I decided to channel my inner Ferngully, letting my bare feet dance amongst the leaves and moss. Ferngully moment aside, pairing black or nude booties with this skirt completes the boho Autumnal vibes, because you can’t go barefoot everywhere!

Thank you so much again to Kate of Ankhor You for kickstarting my series with some OOTD perfection! I LOVE YOU. What is your favorite color to wear during the fall? What is your go to accessory to sport during the cooler weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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