Tag Archives: crop top

Sep28

What Is The Weather? OOTD

Posted on September 28, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I have been daydreaming of fall weather since last fall and Ohio is simply not delivering. It has been hot AF here and still feels like summer and I genuinely can’t stand it lol. It flip flops from needing a hoodie in the morning to wanting to be in a bikini by mid afternoon and it begs the question of what the hell to wear! As I refuse to shave my legs once fall hits (Even if it doesn’t feel like it!), my formula is jeans on the bottom paired with an itty bitty top. Just like this new look! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

He Loves Me Not Crop Top: This was purchased FOREVER ago when I worked at PacSun as a teenager!

Bedazzled Boyfriend Jeans: Banjara, TJMaxx

Lavender Platforms: Olivia Miller, Walmart

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

After a long summer of shorts and shaving, you can catch me posted up in jeans even if it is ninety degrees on a fall day. So, in the case of this OOTD, I started styling with the pantaloons department. As you all know, I am a skinny jean girl through and through. However, my favorite pair has got to be my bedazzled boyfriend jeans by Banjara. Try saying that five times fast! I adore the slouchy fit, the distressing, and the blingy surprise and I have never seen a pair like them before – which is exactly how I like it! These jeans are uber cool and unique and make something special out of a basic essential. Boyfriend jeans are made to be worn with a close fit top and I knew just what I wanted to pair it with…

The cutest little crop top from PacSun! This top is old as dirt but I just love it so much. How sweet is that he loves me, he loves me not pattern?! I vividly remember doing shipment at work when we received this crop and bought it immediately after my shift. It’s one of those items that I can’t part with and I’m glad I held onto it for all of these years because it’s perfect with my boyfriend jeans! It provides this OOTD with some shape to balance out the baggy jeans and shows some skin too. That’s ideal because it keeps me cool when I am forever questioning What Is The Weather? 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with a pair of lavender Olivia Miller platforms from Walmart. These babies were only FIVE DOLLARS – talk about a total steal! As my jeans were pretty long in length, I needed that extra height to keep them from dragging and it provided a pastel pop of color to the All Black Everything look. Since a lot of my tattoos were on display, I kept jewelry minimal with a pair of dangly turquoise cross earrings and was ready to step out in whatever climate Ohio found itself in!

Not quite fall, not quite summer but one hundred percent fashion fun! What Is The Weather? A forecast of hot days and hotter OOTDs!

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

Aug2

Summer Breeze OOTD

Posted on August 2, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to take a look at a cute little look that I wore for a cute little date day with my main squeeze. Whenever Johnny and I are stepping out over the weekend, trust and believe we are showing out. Throughout the work week, our uniforms consist of jeans and a T-shirt so we take every opportunity to get dressed up very seriously and I love that for us. I am so lucky to have a partner that enjoys fashion as much as I do! Take a peek at my Summer Breeze OOTD and let’s get to it:

Who? What? Wear?

Crop Top: Bozzolo, TJMaxx

Trapeze Pants: Patrons Of Peace, TJMaxx

Lace Up Heels: BCBG, TJMaxx

Cuff Bracelet: Aerie

Spike Earrings: These were a birthday gift from my Mother-In-Law! ❤

It was an insanely hot day for mine and Johnny’s Date Day and it took a fair bit of browsing in my wardrobe to decide what I wanted to wear. All I knew was that I was sick of wearing shorts, I didn’t feel like shaving my legs to wear a skirt, I don’t have a ton of sun dresses to pick from, and oh yeah – I wanted to be as cool and comfortable as possible too. It was a tall order! Then, my eyes locked in on my pair of tropical patterned trapeze pants by Patrons Of Peace and I knew we were in business.

For as gorgeous as these pantaloons are, I don’t break them out very often because I have like two shirts that would go with it lol. The pattern is so bold and it really does require a basic essential that is close to a perfect match to a color in the pants to pair with. All of my basic essentials are either a stark white or black and that simply wouldn’t do. Then, I remembered one of my newest TJMaxx purchases – a crochet cream colored crop top and I could definitely work with that! These two pieces together were easy breezy and so crazy comfy. It might look it, but these pants are not as heavy as they appear. They are made from the lightest fabric and it barely touches my legs. It’s almost as if I was wearing a maxi skirt and it was a great option to break free from the norm of summer basic staples!

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. Honestly, I feel like I could have worn any pair of shoes and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. These pants totally have maxi skirt length and were mere inches away from the ground after my BCBG lace up heels were on and you could barely see them. #shortgirlproblems ! For jewelry, I put on the prettiest gold cuff bracelet that has a palm leaf etched into it from Aerie. It fit the vibe of this look so well! I kept things simple with my earrings and chose a dangly pair of silver spikes and I was ready to step out on the town with my boo thang! 😀

Listen, I am getting downright fed up with dressing for summer but this Summer Breeze OOTD was such a fun way to shake things up. Can it be fall now, or?!

What is your favorite pattern to wear? What are some of your summer wardrobe essentials? 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

Posted on June 26, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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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

Apr25

Living For Lilac OOTD

Posted on April 25, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! After getting my hair and tattoos done, I was feeling like a whole new woman and couldn’t wait to show it off. And, what better way to do that than with some OOTD pics?! With pink lemonade hair, I wanted to invoke all of the warm, spring vibes and sported an adorable matching skirt and top set. This look was pure fun to wear and with matching sets being so incredibly popular, it is very easy to replicate. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Crop Top: Altar’d State

Bodycon Skirt: Altar’d State

Jean Jacket: Ci Sono, TJMaxx

Speech Bubble Heels: LFL, TJMaxx

I have no idea where the daisy earrings are from!

When I began styling this outfit, I had skirts on the mind because I wanted my tattoos to be visible. I browsed the several bodycon skirts in my collection and was coming up blank. Honestly, what you see above is a last resort because I wasn’t sure it was still going to fit. I purchased the matching crop top and skirt set three years ago from Altar’d State! Despite having a few butterflies in my basket about trying it on, I gave it a go anyways and it fit like a glove. Not overly tight, but not loose either which is exactly what you want for a matching set.

The beauty of a matching set is that your whole outfit is basically styled with minimal think work. This made for a very easy outfit building session for your girl! Before I moved onto shoes and accessories, I wanted to add one more piece to the outfit for variety and in case it was chilly out. I went with a patchwork jean jacket by Ci Sono, which fit the girly sweet vibe of the outfit perfectly. The lighter wash also complimented the soft lilac of the matching set. A good jean jacket is a spring staple and it’s also a neutral so you can wear it with almost anything and get away with it!

With the base of the outfit settled, it was time to wrap things up with shoes and accessories. For shoes, I chose a pair of speech bubble heels by LFL in cobalt blue. These added a punchy pop of color, length, and also didn’t break up my leg line too extremely with the low ankle strap. Since a ton of my tattoos were showing and that serves as an accessory in itself, I kept jewelry minimal and put on the cutest pair of daisy earrings as a nod to the beautiful blooms of spring. With that, I was ready to show off my brand new look!

I absolutely love my Living For Lilac OOTD and can’t think of a better look to introduce Lil Red 2.0 with. Stay tuned for the blooper reel coming soon!

Are you a fan of matching sets? What is one of your spring wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar17

Peek A Boo Pop OOTD Bloopers

Posted on March 17, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Peek A Boo Pop OOTD! Although my best face isn’t forward in the pictures you’re about to see, it is definitely my funniest lol. Saturday is mine and Johnny’s designated picture day and these past two outfits have been pretty casual because tired! So much so that we didn’t even venture out to find a good brick wall and just took pictures at our apartment. But, hey, you do what you can and our streak of Saturday OOTD shoots is still going strong! Let’s take a look at the pictures that didn’t make the first cut and, if we’re all being honest with each other, probably wouldn’t make any cut:

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

Lol, I have no idea what caught my attention in this picture but it clearly took me by surprise

Sending a friendly howdy doo to the haters haha

Beep beep! Sassy lady coming through!!!

Just out here oozing sex appeal and charisma 😉

Not sure what face this is but remind me to never make it again!

Looking nice and terrifying for all of you xoxo ❤

One of the better pictures of me retrieving my phone from the clutches of my husband

My Peek A Boo Pop OOTD was my first time breaking out a crop top since this past summer and it was an interesting experience. Bodies change. During the warm weather, I am extremely active and love to run with the family dog and play outside with one of my clients. I can’t wait for us to hit the pickle ball courts again! During the winter, however, is a completely different story. I am a gigantic freeze baby and it’s not surprising when I gain some hibernation weight as I trade outdoor activities for binge watching marathons!

When I first put my Target crop top on, I was most definitely not feeling myself because my body looked different in it. I was thrilled to button up my button down and vowed to myself that I wouldn’t take crop top pictures if I was still ambivalent. But where is the fun in that? As Johnny and I proceeded with our day, I reminded myself that I planned this OOTD for a reason; to show a cold weather look that could be modified for summer. I also kept telling myself like a mantra that bodies change.

By the time it was picture time, I had hyped myself up enough that I didn’t even care when we got around to crop top pics. So what if my tummy isn’t as toned as I’d like it to be? Once again, bodies change and they can change again. While I originally thought I’d feel self conscious, I felt more confident than anything. There was a time when I would have fought my body tooth and nail over weight gain but that is the old me. Regardless of if I added on a few pounds this winter, it is still my body and I deserve to feel proud of it. And, in that moment, I was.

If you ever feel like you can’t wear something due to changes in your own body, then my best advice is to wear it anyways and rock it. It might be uncomfortable at first, but I know firsthand that it gets way easier and I know that you can do it too! ❤

What is something you are self conscious about? What makes you feel confident anyways? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul20

TJMaxx Haul: Rebellion Again Crochet Crop Top Edition

Posted on July 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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TJMaxx Haul: Rebellion Again Crochet Crop Top Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the next item up for discussion from my most recent TJMaxx Haul! It is amazing what a little retail therapy can do to lift my spirits so who needs regular therapy anyways? …. Me and probably everyone, actually, but I digress! Today, we are going to be talking about a darling crochet crop top by Rebellion Again that I found during my second round throughout the store. Let’s get to it:

In my TJMaxx Shopping Pro Tips post, I talked about the importance of making two rounds in the store. This is essential if you feel like you missed something or you need another piece to build an outfit with something you plan on purchasing. The second example was the case for this top because I found a gorgeous pair of Nicole Miller floral print pants and had nothing to wear with it.

I decided that I wanted a cream colored top to pair with the earthy grey base of the pants and found it in this Rebellion Again crop. It was exactly what I had in mind and knew that it would work perfectly before even trying it on. I loved the floral crochet pattern, the scalloped edging on the bottom, and the tank style straps to hide away bra straps. It looks fabulous with the pants that you will see tomorrow!

Not only is this top ideal for what I needed but it also makes for an amazing summer top in general. As you all know, my wardrobe was severely lacking in that regard and my haul helped remedy this massive problem. This top will be adorable paired with shorts or high rise jeans. I also have visions of wearing it over the top of a dress or a tighter fitting long sleeved top come fall for some layering fun. 😀

Stay tuned into lifewithlilred for more from my TJMaxx Haul as well as a new Lil Red’s Book Club post coming very soon!

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

May30

New Gaze Mesh Crop Top

Posted on May 30, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hey! During my shopping at the new TJMaxx in the area, I made a purchase that I actually didn’t intend on making at all. However, the more that I had the top on in the fitting room, the more I wanted it and it ended up coming home with me. Mainly because it gave me ultimate Jules vibes from Euphoria! Check out my new mesh crop top by Gaze:

While my mom and I were making our second round throughout the store, I grabbed this top to try on with a pair of white bottoms. It is a far cry from something that I would normally wear but I just needed something to go with the pants! I really liked the pattern and the material but I was worried that the mesh would be super see through and I’m just not comfortable with that. It is also a much shorter crop than what I prefer, making it an instant no go in my head.

When I was in the fitting room, I was surprised that you could barely see my bra even with the mesh thanks to the background being black and only the pattern being white. It also fit just right with the high waisted pants I had on, making it much less revealing than what I had originally envisioned. And, oh yeah, it was SO comfy that I genuinely felt disappointed when I had to take it off and put my hoodie back on.

Prior to this shopping trip, I had recently finished binging Euphoria and it reminded me so much of the fashion in the show. I can’t wait to pair it with my favorite black pair of shorts from American Eagle or with my sweet skort by Almost Famous to give a dress like illusion. Pair with some killer platforms, rinse, repeat for a perfectly summer look that will help keep me perfectly cool even in all black. My emo kid dream come true! ❤

While I love a good online shopping sesh, there is nothing like some in store shopping to play around with different styles. This top by Gaze would have been an automatic no had I seen it online but trying it on in person was a totally different story. I can’t wait to incorporate it into my summer wardrobe… with maybe a few more tops for good measure!

What is something that you purchased that you originally thought you wouldn’t like? 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

Feb7

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Japna Tie Back Top

Posted on February 7, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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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:

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

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

Jul25

Flower Power OOTD

Posted on July 25, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! One of my favorite hang outs in July was when mine and Johnny’s friend, Shannon, stayed with us for a weekend. Shannon is an excellent photographer and made the trip from Marietta to photograph Johnny’s band, The Outside Voices, when they played at Musica in Akron. He was also kind enough to snap some shots of yours truly after the show was over! Take a look at some exclusive pics from my Flower Power OOTD:

Who? What? Wear?

He Loves Me Not Crop Top: PacSun, LA Hearts
Floral Bodycon Skirt: Altar’d State
Wedge Heels: Kohl’s, Juicy Couture

My Flower Power OOTD was one that I felt insanely confident in and it feels so good to get all done up and go out with my husband after a long year and change indoors. When Johnny plays shows inside or out in the summertime, it is usually really hot so I like to sport something that is both cool and comfortable while still being cute, of course! This look featured all of the three Cs to the T and I had myself a little superstar moment being photographed at the concert venue.

What I love about this OOTD is its testament to my Summer Wardrobe Refresh. I stand firm in saying that you only need a few new pieces with each season change to keep your wardrobe looking and feeling new. My Flower Power outfit is a perfect example of this because while the skirt is brand new, the top and shoes are both at least six or more years old! Just one new piece in this OOTD had two over half a decade old items feeling like I was wearing them for the first time because they were styled in such a different way.

Another thing that I really enjoy about the Flower Power look is the monochrome palette. No abrupt pops of color in the black and white clothing meant for a long, lean silhouette and I felt ten feet tall rather than five foot one! While no one appreciates a good pop of color more than Lil Red, a minimal color palette like the one seen above can be just as effective.

Something I always mention in OOTD posts is styling a look that makes the eyes dance. This can be achieved by playing with color and accessories. In the Flower Power outfit’s case, however, it came from showing some skin in just the right places. From the peep toe heels to the peek a boo top, this look had enough going on so that one main area wasn’t the focal point of the entire outfit. I like to think people’s eyes were doing the Tango when I stepped out in my Flower Power OOTD!

What is the oldest item you have in your wardrobe? How do you refresh your wardrobe with the season changes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May26

Altar’d State Haul

Posted on May 26, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hi!! I had to run to Summit Mall this past week to pick up a few odds and ends, which was my first visit to the mall since before the pandemic. I finally upped my summer wardrobe game and I would say my outing was hugely successful – primarily in the new(ish) store, Altar’d State. I really had no intention of stopping in the store, but the window displays were just so cute that I had to pop in and see what I could find.

The question is, what didn’t I find? I walked out of Altar’d State with a new dress, two tops, and two skirts and I have every intention of shopping there again. If not in store, then definitely online as I now know my sizes there. I can’t wait to show all of you the purchases from my haul and there is no better place to start than with my favorite find. Let’s get to it:

Upon entering Altar’d State, the first thing that I noticed was this adorable lavender skirt and top set and I just had to try it on. I am usually not one for matching sets but this one spoke to me and I thought it would be so sweet whether paired or mixed and matched this summer. Originally, I only tried the skirt on because I wasn’t sure about the color but as soon as I slipped it on, I had to ask one of the darling employees to bring me the top too because I fell in love immediately.

What I like the most about this matching set is that, despite it being form fitting, it manages to not look overly sexy because of the pastel hue and floral pattern. The skirt also sat high enough on my waist that not a lot of stomach could be seen even with the cropped top. This made me feel completely comfortable as only my arms and legs from the knee down were exposed and I have never felt more like Cher from Clueless than in the dressing room of Altar’d State!

I know for a fact that this set will be one of my go to summer outfits and it felt awesome to try and buy something that I had never worn anything like before. As soon as I left the mall, I called my sister asking when she can go back to Summit Mall with me because I could have stayed there shopping all day. I have been looking forward to shopping for so long throughout the pandemic and being able to treat myself to lots of pretty new clothes made the long wait one hundred and fifty percent worth it. ❤

What are your summer wardrobe must haves? How do you rock a paired set outfit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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