Tag Archives: free people

Jul28

Maxi Dress, Max Style OOTD

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Maxi Dress, Max Style OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! After getting my hair done, I could not wait to shoot ALL the content and was so excited to break out one of my favorite recent purchases: A gorgeous Max Studio maxi dress that I tried on a whim during an impromptu TJMaxx trip with my mom. As a short queen, maxi dresses are either a hit or a miss. There is no in between whatsoever so the dress you are about to see was a total toss up. You have no idea how happy I was when this pretty little number not only worked but elevated me to feeling myself status! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Maxi Dress: Max Studio, TJMaxx

Platforms: Free People, TJMaxx

Earrings: Sincerely Jules, TJMaxx

Maxi dresses are such a magical summer staple. They provide the most wonderful movement, are lightweight, and incorporate fash-ion into a season when basic essentials reign supreme. This Max Studio dress is, easily, the best maxi dress I have ever owned. The pattern is bold and bright, the ruffle sleeves and tiered ruffle skirt make me want to dance, and that rouched waistline provides an hourglass silhouette to keep me from drowning in fabric. From top to bottom, this dress is IT. The only thing it requires are accessories that enhance because this dress does all of the talking.

With no need for anything else in the wardrobe department, the remainder of this look was simply shoes and accessories. Normally, I like to get funky with my shoe choices but this was not the dress to do so with. With the name of the game being enhancing the maxi dress, there was only one obvious option in my shoe department: My Free People platforms with basically the same color of red as the flowers in the dress for the straps and a buttery caramel heel. These heels gave me extra length to keep the dress from dragging and the colors I needed to prevent this look from feeling cluttered.

Last but not least was accessories. As the pattern of the dress was an accessory in itself, I only wanted to wear earrings. Rather than keep it simple, I went for a pair with some flashy sparkle to extenuate my neck. Outside of my arms, my neck was the only open real estate and it was important to draw attention to it to create the illusion of length. I put on one of my most beloved pairs: A dangly, tier diamond shape with crystal sparkles that my sweet niece got me for my birthday. They have the most delicious movement that danced, just like the dress. With that, I was ready to show off my new duds AND my new do!

This Maxi Dress, Max Style OOTD was so simple in its styling but screamed “look at me”. It is one of my favorite OOTDs of recent memory and I am so in love with my maxi dress! ❤

What is your favorite style of dress to wear? Did you get any wardrobe updates this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May29

Cute & Comfy OOTD

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Cute & Comfy OOTD

Hello! This past Saturday, my bestie and her beau came over for a dinner party and a wonderful time was had by all. I made my world famous Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo taste alike and we ate like kings! As I was going to be cooking and hosting, I didn’t want a fussy OOTD that I was going to worry about getting dirty. So, I went the Cute & Comfy route so I could run around making preparations while still looking (And cooking!) my best. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Color Block Hoodie: Mossimo, Target

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Platform Boots: Free People, TJMaxx

Cigarette Earrings: Punk N Junk

The weather in good ol’ Akron, Ohio has been anything but good and it’s getting old lol. It has been rainy and cold and I have been basically living in hoodies to combat the chill and keep my hair dry. The cropped hoodie from Target I picked definitely wouldn’t have kept me toasty outdoors but it was just what I needed to be cooking in a hot kitchen. The material is nice and light, it provides some ventilation in the tummy (lol), and it’s just so darn cute! I absolutely adore the color block palette and it turned a basic staple into something with a bit more pizazz.

Black skinnies were the obvious move, so it was onto shoes and accessories next. Typically, I wear this hoodie with a funky, huge gold necklace that belonged to my grandma. However, I didn’t want the weight of it on me while I cooked so I opted for some funky earrings instead – long, dangly cigarettes! I got these from a local vendor when Johnny and I went to a Punk Rock Flea Market and I think they are the bees knees lol. They also always get a compliment whenever I wear them because they are so unique! For shoes, I picked a pair of platform boots by Free People that I just love, particularly because it reminds me of tying ice skates when I put them on. With that, I was ready to be the hostess with the mostest for out big evening in!

Cute & Comfy was the name of the game and this OOTD had it in spades. I can’t wait to have another dinner party soon!

Do you like to cook for your friends? What is your favorite thing to make? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec7

Thanksgiving Pt. 1 OOTD

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Thanksgiving Pt. 1 OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! For Thanksgiving, Johnny and I had a two part celebration. We went to see his family on Wednesday and went to mine on Thursday. The food coma was intense, but it was so nice to be all together and we had the best time. At Chez Miller, we did what we always do – eat, chit chat, and play a game afterwards. Since I knew it wasn’t going to be a super active visit, I wanted to wear something to be cute and comfy in. Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Cardigan: O’Neill, PacSun

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Boots: Free People, TJMaxx

The earrings are Lucky Brand!

When I think of comfy and cute, my mind always gravitates towards cardigans. They are soft, cozy, and are so perfect for just wrapping yourself in them like a cocoon. I have quite a collection of cardigans so I started this look by browsing in that department. Out of all of my different options, I decided to go with the oldest one in the bunch. The O’Neill cardigan was purchased at PacSun over FOURTEEN YEARS AGO when I ended my first stint as a seasonal worker. It has always been one of my favorite purchases from my extensive tenure there and I simply can’t part with it. I love the colors and the fit and, although it is a well loved cardigan, I still think it looks great!

With my cardi selected, the rest of the outfit pretty much built itself. The O’Neill cardigan is incredibly warm – so much so that I had to take it off at dinner lol. With that in mind, something light underneath was the way to go and I selected a black cami by mittoshop. And, with such a bold pattern on the cardigan, all that was needed was my go to black skinny jeans to form the base of the outfit.

Next on the agenda was shoes and accessories. For jewelry, I opted for a dangly pair of turquoise teardrops and that was just right. Between the pattern and the huge collar of the cardi, anything more would have been too much. Then, I chose one of my favorite pairs of heeled boots by Free People. They please me so much because they remind me of lacing up ice skates whenever I put them on! The creamy hue of the boot and pink laces added a fun color pop to the mix and I was ready to sit around the house looking awesome lol.

Thanksgiving Pt. 1 was a wonderful day and I can’t wait to show you more from the rest of our celebrations. Keep it posted!

What is your go to comfy cute item in your wardrobe? What is your favorite holiday food? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep22

Hello, Yellow OOTD

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Hello, Yellow OOTD

Hi hi!! This past week, duty called as a social media manager to take part in a meeting for a new project. This was on top of what is already my busiest day of the week and I was wiped out. Regardless of being tired, it is always important to me to put together an OOTD that makes me feel my best so I can put my best face forward. The said project was an art driven one so I wanted to create a look that was business casual with some funky flare. And, of course, I wanted to be comfortable. The Hello, Yellow OOTD you are about to see was so comfy, in fact, that it felt like wearing pajamas and no one was the wiser for it! Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Yellow Cardigan: A New Day, Target

Navy Blue Crop Top: This was a hand me down from my sister

Pinstripe Slacks: Free People, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Pattern Kitten Heels: Splendid, TJMaxx

Retro Headband: TJMaxx

The turquoise earrings are Lucky Brand!

Honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted to wear to this meeting and it was quite the mad dash to throw together. I was on a time crunch, had a decent drive ahead of me, and it felt like every idea I had sucked. So, I scrapped them all, took a breath, and did a restart with something that I knew for a fact would work. This began with my pair of pinstripe slacks by Free People. I love the modern take on business casual that they offer with the wide leg and soft cloth material. These slacks also helped set up a neutral base when paired with the navy blue crop top so that I could enhance the look with pops of color.

Speaking of pops of color, cue the mustard yellow cardigan by A New Day! The weather in Ohio has still been really warm and this was a perfect option as it was nice and light. Because navy is a neutral, I could wear this cardigan with no repercussions to the overall outfit. I am a huge fan of anything yellow and the cardi turned the very basic base into something special. It also provided me with some midriff coverage for the little bit showing between the crop top and high waisted slacks. This was great because it kept me worry free about any peek a boo moments for the duration of the evening.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I decided on a pair of snakeskin pattern kitten heels. Had the pinstriping on the pants been more bold, I would have went with something different. However, it was so light that introducing a new pattern wouldn’t clash. This was further assisted by the fully neutral palette too. Next, it was time to browse the accessory department. My hair was not behaving whatsoever, so a headband was in order. I chose a lovely retro hued headband with yellow that closely mimicked the cardigan and popped on a pair of dangly turquoise earrings for good measure. With that, I was ready to go!

There is no rule stating that business casual has to be boring. This Hello, Yellow OOTD is my take on office ready vibes with my signature Lil Red aesthetic!

How do you dress for work? How do you dress for play? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul19

(Lil) Red Hearts OOTD

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(Lil) Red Hearts OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today we’re going to take a look at a fun little fit that I put together this past weekend when we had some company over. It features a darling button down that I got for Valentine’s Day this past year, which might seem like an odd choice for summer. However, this top was so easy, breezy that it kept me cool and comfortable all day. Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Heart Embroidered Button Down: Jane + Delancey, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platform Sandals: Free People, TJMaxx

Lego Stud Earrings: AbbieDabbles

As I mentioned, I got the Jane + Delancey button down for a Valentine’s Day OOTD. Despite the fact that I bought it in the middle of winter, I thought that it would look so adorable for summertime wear. The stark white with the bright red hearts paired with little denim shorts seemed like a winning combination. Whenever I buy clothes, I gravitate towards pieces that can be worn for multiple different seasons so that I can appreciate them year round. I wanted to put the outfit that I planned in the fitting room all of those months back to the test and I am glad I did. I loved this look!

The jean shorts from American Eagle Outfitters were, of course, a given. I went with a non distressed pair since the pattern on the button down was so bold. The top is also just sweet as can be which would have clashed against edgy cuts and slashes on the shorts. As the button down had a slightly oversized fit, I tucked it in to give myself some shape and to prevent the issue of people thinking “does she have shorts on underneath that top?” Lol, the potential was definitely there without the tuck in. 😀

For shoes, I selected a pretty pair of platform sandals with stud embellishment by Free People. These are such a perfect summer shoe and the shiny cherry red straps gave another eye catching pop of color to the minimal palette established. Between the red on the shoes and button down, the look was tied together from head to toe. Finally, for earrings I chose the cutest pair of studs made by Lego leaves and ladybugs. I got it at a nearby Brick Convention last year and they were just right for this OOTD to let the open real estate on my neck do the talking. My three neck tattoos and chin tattoo are like necklaces in themselves so why add more?

Nothing pleases me more than what an outfit I have in my head goes accordingly to plan. My (Lil) Red Hearts OOTD was months in the making and it couldn’t have turned out better!

What is something in your closet that you can wear for multiple seasons? What is your favorite pattern? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar16

Peek A Boo Pop OOTD

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Peek A Boo Pop OOTD

Hello everyone!! Ohio went from a really mild winter with fairly high temps to freaking freezing these past two weeks. I thought spring was just around the corner and I’m beyond over it! Because the weather has been less than amazing, fall and winter clothes are still the move. However, I want warm weather so badly that I styled an outfit with a peek a boo pop for some summer fun. Remind me of this statement in a few months when I start complaining about how hot it is! Lol, check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Army Green Button Down: Beautiful Stories, TJMaxx

Embroidered Crop Top: Target

Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Heeled Boots: Free People, TJMaxx

Hoop Earrings: Argentino Vivo, TJMaxx

With summer on the mind but nowhere to be found, I wanted to create a look that would be appropriate for cold or warm weather with a few modifications. When the Beautiful Stories button down is buttoned up, you still get an adorable pop of the red violet crop. But could you imagine this outfit styled for the heat? All you need to do is keep the button down open and trade the jeans for shorts and BOOM – you have a perfectly summer OOTD. 😀

I have several army green button downs and decided to start building my outfit from there. I chose the Beautiful Stories one primarily for its shape. It is a standard cut and style whereas the other ones I have are either too long or or too bulky. Not only is the one I selected ideal for what I needed, but it really is gorgeous. The pattern on the back is so striking and the colors used closely mimic the orange and yellow on the crop top underneath.

When I picked out the Beautiful Stories button down, I instantly thought about my Bollywood inspired crop from Target. Everything about this combination worked in my favor. Purple and green are complementary colors so pairing them together was no issue and, of course, the colors in the patterns helped too. The crop top also had the wow factor I wanted once the button down was open. Sure, I could have worn a simple black crop underneath but where is the fun in that?!

Since I refuse to wear anything but black skinny jeans, we will move right onto accessories. For this look, I wanted to keep these to a minimum because the bold patterns on top served as an accessory in themselves. My Free People heeled boots spoke to me immediately as the winner in the shoe department. These are one of my faves and the cream base and tan heel paired beautifully with the color palette I was working with.

To complete the look, I put on my huge gold earrings by Argentino Vivo. These were such an amazing TJMaxx find and I love them so very much. The oversized style brought attention back to my face, which was needed as the tops were both fairly loud. And, obviously, the gold color was just right to enhance the patterns and jewel tones featured in this OOTD!

My Peek A Boo Pop OOTD is a look that is very easy to recreate, whether in the snow or sunshine. I can’t wait to rewear this outfit with summer modifications as soon as winter finally decides to be over!

What is the weather like where you live? What are you looking forward to as the seasons change? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov28

Comfy Cozy Thxgiving OOTD

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Comfy Cozy Thxgiving OOTD

Hello everyone!! Thanks to celebrating Thanksgiving three separate times this past week, I have three brand spanking new OOTDs to share. Thanksgiving humors me so much because everyone gets dressed to the nines to just sit and eat but, hey, that’s my kind of holiday! For my Thanksgiving look book, I wanted to put together outfits that were cute (Of course!) but comfortable enough to lounge in when you feel like your stomach is about to burst lol.

This first OOTD was from actual Thanksgiving when Johnny and I went to my mom and dad’s and just chilled. It was a wonderful day filled with the best company and this is what I put together:

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Who? What? Wear?

In my humble opinion, there are few things that invoke comfy cozy more to me than a soft, chunky sweater. Not only is it great to snuggle up in but it also gives you some wiggle room after having a big meal! With that in mind, I went shopping in my closet to see what I could find and decided on my patchwork sweater by Monteau. I probably wouldn’t have selected it if I was cooking that day because we just ordered Bob Evans for dinner and it would have been a shame to stain it! However, this was perfect for the lazy day we shared watching Lego Masters, catching up, and vegging out.

With a top picked out, it was time to move downward in the outfit to the pants department. This part was a no brainer and I went with one of my favorite jeans in one of my favorite patterns – my Wit & Wisdom snakeskin skinnies. I am a huge fan of snakeskin in any color palette and these jeans paired just right with my sweater thanks to the grey, taupe, and cream pattern. Not only was it a match made in heaven but these jeans also feature an elastic waistband, which definitely assisted in providing maximum comfort on Thanksgiving day.

The base of this outfit was quite simple so once it was assembled, accessories were the final step. It took me a minute to decide on which shoes I wanted to wear but once I put my Free People boots on, I couldn’t believe I didn’t go with them from the jump. These are one of my favorite pairs of winter boots and they remind me of putting on ice skates every time I wear them! Although each shade of cream in this look is slightly different, it was all close enough for it to be completely cohesive and I loved how it tied together from top to bottom.

Finally, for a pop of color since this look was almost fully made of neutral pieces, I chose my dark green Argentino Vivo hoops. Argentino Vivo hoop earrings are the absolute best and while I love my huge gold ones, I think I might be a bit more partial to my green pair. Of course, for no other reason than because they pop amazingly against my hair! ❤

This Comfy Cozy Thxgiving OOTD was just what I pictured for a laid back Thanksgiving day. No muss or fuss, just pure comfort and some wiggle room to boot! Keep it posted here on lifewithlilred for more from my Thanksgiving look book!

How was your Thanksgiving? What is your favorite holiday to put an outfit together for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Oct13

Pumpkin Patch Party OOTD

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Pumpkin Patch Party OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday, Johnny and I visited the Heritage Farms pumpkin patch and had such a wonderful time. For an activity that is so autumn, I wanted to style a really classic fall outfit. I drew lots of inspiration from fashion stories in magazines and clothing catalogues and this is what I came up with:

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Who? What? Wear?

This outfit is, honestly, a far cry from my usual OOTDs and I think that’s why I liked it so much. I was channeling my inner 1940s fall queen and I definitely felt like it too! I had been planning out this look for a while but was waiting for the right outing to wear it to. The pumpkin patch seemed like the perfect place to wear a classic fall fit and Heritage Farms delivered with so many scenic areas to snap some shots.

Figuring out the base of this outfit with the button down and pinstripe pants was easy for several reasons. I adore the ladybug button down from Zara and had been wanting to incorporate it into a fall OOTD. As you all know, I refuse to buy anything but black skinny jeans and we can agree that blue jeans would have been the better option for the top.

However, I did have my navy pinstripe pants and I knew that I had found a match. These Free People slacks feel so vintage and I don’t get to wear them as often as I would like. They embodied the vibe that I was going for and it also teaches a little something about mixing and matching patterns. With the ultra thin vertical striping on both the top and bottom, it created cohesiveness rather than a cluttered appearance. If one of the pieces featured a thicker stripe, it just wouldn’t have worked the same. Pulling from the same color family of shades of blue also made this an ideal pairing.

I had a bit of difficulty choosing shoes for this look but ended up going with my Vince Camuto snakeskin heeled boots. I originally had on a shorter heel but with the breezy pants on my shorter frame, I needed the extra height. These boots added a unique pop to the look without going overboard. Again, had the pinstripe on the pants not been so paper thin, the snakeskin pattern wouldn’t have worked. Happily, that wasn’t the case and because this OOTD featured almost all neutral colors, the rich brown snakeskin pattern was a winner.

For accessories, I decided to keep things simple and added my medium sized forest green hoop earrings by Argentino Vivo. I love all shades of green and thought that these complimented my hair and the rest of the outfit so well. These earrings provided movement when I was wearing my grandma’s gorgeous hat and also gave me an extra non-neutral color once I took my handmade scarf off.

Our date day started out with cooler temps and I knew just what I wanted to wear: My Lucky Brand topper jacket. This is one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe – it is so pretty AND soft! It also helped add to the vintage inspo because of its classic shape. And, of course, no fall outfit would be complete without some mustard yellow, which my scarf had in spades! It is beautiful and knitted with love. After our first round of pictures, I got warmed up enough to take the jacket and scarf off. It all went together exactly how I wanted it, though, and I got compliments on my outfit the entire time at the pumpkin patch!

This outfit was an absolute blast to style and shoot. It took me out of my comfort zone and I loved it. I can’t wait to figure out what to wear next weekend!

What is your fall style like? Where do you get OOTD inspiration from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Tune in tomorrow for bonus pictures from this look!

Jun1

If The Shoe Fits: Free People Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Free People Edition

Hellooo everyone and welcome to the last issue of If The Shoe Fits from my most recent TJMaxx haul. One brand that I always admire from afar is Free People. 1) The brand is expensive. 2) The clothing truly doesn’t look that good on me. But, I love the idea of the brand and I LOVE their shoes. So, whenever I see a FP pair that I like when browsing on TJ’s website, I almost always jump at the opportunity to make a purchase. And, these candy cane red wrap up clogs with a wooden heel were impossible to say no to. Take a looksee:

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After the last two black pairs of wedges that I purchased, adding a pop of color into the haul was a must and these were just the right pair to do that with. The blonde wooden heel matched with such a vibrant red makes for a perfect cherries and cream vibe while the distressed studs add that Lil Red touch of edge that I need in my wardrobe. The shape of the shoe is totally sweet but the color combo and embellishment give it some sassafras for an ideal summer staple.

Normally, I don’t care for shoes that wrap, but the lengthy strap is made to go just around your ankles, which I like. Because it’s not going all the way up my calf, I can still wear shorts, skirts, and dresses without feeling like I have snakes coiling up my legs! These Free People clogs are going to be so darling with a floral sundress, straw hat, and oversized tote. A slammin OOTD for walks on the boardwalk or just around your local TJMaxx during a hot summer day! 😉

Which brand name do you admire from afar? What is your favorite color to wear during the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov19

New Free People Pinstripe Pants

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New Free People Pinstripe Pants

Hello! I will tell you what, I have been on PANTS PATROL lately, because all of my black skinnies are fading into grey and I just won’t stand for it. Luckily, TJMaxx has got my back with all of the best fashions and I’ve been able to restock the bottoms department in my wardrobe so I won’t have to run around in my SKIVVIES! Although these new Free People pants seen below are navy instead of my beloved black, I still like them just the same. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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TJMaxx began carrying Free People shoes and clothing within the past year or so and my quality of life has increased tenfold since this happened. As you can see from the price above, their clothing is nowhere even close to my budget, so I just admire them from afar. But, a new pair of SLACKS for twenty bucks was a deal that I couldn’t pass up on so here we are now chatting about them!

I have been on the prowl for a paper bag style of pants like these for a while now. And, the nice thing about my Free People pair, is that they are made from a cloth material instead of that weird filmy kind that the paper bag style uses. That material does no favors for my body type and I wouldn’t want it close to my skin, anyways! I also like that the fit of my pinstripe pants isn’t high waisted like the paper bag style traditionally is. These are a normal rise pant with a baggy fit and a dipped crotch so they are obviously crazy comfortable but, they still manage to look chic, which is important.

I’m looking forward to pairing my new pantalones with a plain white T-shirt and my black Urban Outfitters boyfriend blazer for a cool and relaxed look. I then plan on dressing up the outfit with a long in length gold necklace and rings for a pop of bling. And, to finish it off, a nice pair of heels will do for a look that is perfect for a day at work or a night out for drinks with the girls.

What is a brand name that you admire from afar? How would you style these pants? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah