Tag Archives: it’s in the bag

Essential Accessories For a Sizzling Spring/Summer Wardrobe

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Essential Accessories For a Sizzling Spring/Summer Wardrobe

Spring has arrived and soon we’ll be basking in the glory of blue skies and warm climes. If you’re starting to think about your new season wardrobe, don’t get too carried away with expensive clothing because this season is all about the accessories. With the right accessories, you can ensure that you’re right on trend with every look without buying a different outfit for every occasion. If you’re after a sizzling spring/summer 2017 wardrobe, here are the accessories you need now:

The Embroidered Bag: Embroidery is massive this season and if you don’t want to walk around in patched up jeans or floaty folk tops, an embroidered bag is the perfect addition to your closet. You’ll find every style out there so you can choose from embroidered fringed backpacks or cross-body bags for festivals or patterned clutches for a chic evening look. Florals are hugely popular, but you’ll also find swirls, exotic birds, beads, and jewels. For a fun take on this trend, look out for bags emblazoned with customized patches or slogans for a cheeky wardrobe staple.

The Platform Shoe: A firm favorite in the 80’s and 90’s, the platform is back with a vengeance for spring/summer. Many designers mixed chunky soles with ultra-feminine touches on the runways to create an eclectic, fun vibe. Think sturdy heeled sandals teamed with frilly ankle socks and flatform sliders paired with skater dresses. The beauty of the platform is that you can add height without committing to walking around in stilettos all day. Platforms tend to be comfier and they’re usually easier to walk in. And did I mention that they are a Lil Red Favorite?!

sizzleHello, 90s fab!

The Earrings: This season is all about going large with your earrings and embracing the trend of mixing, rather than matching. On the catwalks, models were spotted with dramatic, hanging gems and masculine ear cuffs, which were embellished with a series of different studs and rings. This year, anything goes, so don’t be afraid to wear two different pieces or even just a single earring on its own. You can go girly with stylish chandelier earrings or keep it cool with a tragus ring or multiple studs.

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SO. Cute!

Rose Gold: Rose gold has been around for a while, but in the warmer months, it really comes into its own. This shade flatters everyone and it suits all ages. It also complements spring pastels brilliantly. Add a rose gold pendant necklace to a ruffled blouse and a pleated midi skirt for a beautifully feminine smart cashe look or team a tailored blazer, skinny jeans, and a silk cami with a statement watch for the perfect Friday night drinks outfit. If you’re looking for styling tips, have a look through some magazines, check out what your favorite celebrities are wearing, and have a browse online at sites like Frost NYC. With rose gold, you can be as playful or as formal as you like and your accessories will totally make the outfit. Dress up simple basics or vary your look by swapping between statement earrings, classic watches, bangles, and Bohemian stacking rings.

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 Love pocket watches!

The Miniature Bag: Gone are the days of hauling your entire collection of possessions around with you in an oversized hobo or tote bag. This season, it’s all about scaling things down and carrying the bare minimum with you. Miniature bags are a cute addition to both smart and casual looks and you’ll find a variety of options to suit your style and the occasion for which you’re dressing. Go for a tiny but incredibly sophisticated box clutch for an evening out or keep things casual with a mini backpack or even a bijou shoulder bag for a trip to the outdoor shopping centers.

Dramatic shades: If you’re a perennial aviator wearer, it’s time to step up your shade game and try out some different styles and shapes. This season is all about making a dramatic entrance and letting your sunglasses do the talking. Think oversized hexagonal frames, bold colors, and cat’s eye glasses for a bold “look at me but don’t look at me” look.

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 MeeeOW!

Spring is officially here so it’s time to crack open the boxes full of skirts, dresses, and tees and start thinking about how to incorporate them into your wardrobe. When a new season arrives, it’s tempting to buy a load of new clothes but you don’t have to go crazy to make sure that you’re on trend. Using accessories is a great way to create stylish looks without spending a fortune on new outfits. This season, embrace the new trends and have fun putting different looks together. Make a statement with some eye-catching shades or some dramatic earrings or keep things simple with elegant rose gold touches or a chic miniature clutch. No matter how you style for spring, let your accessories make a splash and head outdoors to show off your warm weather looks!

It’s In The Bag – Embroidered Beauty Edition

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It’s In The Bag – Embroidered Beauty Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a new edition of It’s In The Bag! It’s been a while since I purchased a new purse and it hasn’t exactly been a priority of mine to get a new one until my latest online buy. My newest bag is from Imoshion and all of their products are made from PETA approved vegan materials which is very important to me. My Embroidered Beauty purse was unintentionally introduced to me by my mom who was showing me an outfit that she thought was cute in Redbook magazine. The outfit was fine but my eyes went straight to the accessories. A gorgeous dusty teal, floral embroidered, fringed purse better known as Imoshion’s Bertie style bag. Take a look:

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^^^ SO. PRETTY!

Like all things in my wardrobe from clothing and shoes to accessories is that when I see something, I know right away if I like it or not. If I don’t like the item, I won’t even give it a second glance. However, if it falls into the like category, there’s a ninety-nine percent chance that the heels, hat, or bangle bracelets are going home with me. This beautiful bag definitely fell into the more than like category because I freaking loved it.

What sold me initially on the bag was actually the color. I have another purse that is a similar shade to my Bertie bag and it is one of my favorites. You would be amazed at how difficult it is to find a purse in that hue so when I first saw it, I was instantly drawn to it. The amazing embroidery, fringe, and somewhat bucket style shape was just a nice afterthought. The fifty dollar price tag was also something that I considered really reasonable and the free shipping was a great added bonus.

It took a little over a week for my bag to arrive all the way from LA to little old Akron, Ohio and the anticipation was freaking killing me! So, needless to say, when my package from Imoshion arrived yesterday, I was over the moon. I was really impressed with the care that they took to pack the bag safely in the box. It was kept inside a laundry style bag and tucked inside hot pink tissue paper and bubble wrap which made me happy. There’s nothing that I hate more than when a company does a poor job on shipping their products so Imoshion definitely gets an A+ in that regard.

So the shipping was great but the beautiful bag that was hidden beneath the paper and bubble wrap was simply divine. The quality of the purse was so high and it was just beautiful to look at. The suede was soft, the embroidered flowers were vibrant, and the teal shade of the bag was even more amazing in person. As soon as I walked in the door with the package, I was already dumping out everything in the purse that I was using to transfer into my new bag. I am SO excited to have such a stunning accessory hanging from my hip and I am prepared to recommend the Imoshion website to everyone who compliments it. I would without a doubt shop with them again and their Bertie bag is truly the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

So there you have it, the latest issue of It’s In The Bag: Embroidered Beauty Edition! What is your favorite store to shop at for accessories? What does your favorite purse look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What’s In My Bag?

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What’s In My Bag?

Hello all and happy Sunday! Today’s post in my fall guest bloggers series is compliments from my friend, Natasha, at Ninjette Natasha. In Natasha’s post, we get the breakdown of all of the goodies that she stores in her most gorgeous Gucci purse! Take a look and try not to drool too much:

What’s In My Bag?

Hey everyone, so I’ve never done a ‘Whats in my bag?’ post before and I absolutely love reading them. So what better opportunity than to do this as a guest blogger on LIFEWITHLILRED’s blog!

To start with I recently got the Gucci Dionysus bag in blue suede which is stunning and so beautiful. You can find the review of the bag over on my blog here. It is very roomy, and has a few compartments to keep things in so you can fit quite a bit in there. The chain is very sturdy and the bag itself is quite heavy. This can be off-putting to some, however I prefer it as I feel it really reflects the quality in the materials used. I bought this bag from a concession in Harrods in Knightsbridge. I couldn’t find a link to the exact bag online but here is a link to the tan version. I’m sure you could go down to your nearest Gucci store and ask them if they have it in stock.

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I always keep my purse with me as it’s a standard handbag essential due to the fact it has all of my cards and money inside of it. I also like to keep my points cards in there, as well. The make of my purse is ‘Floozy’ by Frost French, this brand is exclusively sold in Debenhams. Its made from polyurethane and I’ve had it for around 6 months. It’s held up pretty well and there hasn’t been too much wear and tear apart from the metal branding at the front which has gotten a little scratched.

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I always make sure I have some kind of lipstick or lip product in my bag when I go anywhere, so the lip balm ‘Smooch Operator’ by Soap and Glory is a must have. It makes your lips feel all tingly and plumped up and I love that feeling. It also doesn’t make your lips feel too sticky which is a godsend especially when it’s windy outside. The lip balm is also completely transparent.

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Another lip essential is a trusty lipstick. I have recently ventured back into my MAC collection and have had this old favourite in my bag ever since. ‘Faux’ is a beautiful mauve pink colour and works on any skin tone and with any outfit. I absolutely love it.

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Then I have a whole concoction of different little bits that I keep handy in my bag. Apart from another obvious essential being keys, I also keep a little cat mirror which was bought for me from Tiger as a gift. This is great for applying makeup and for looking at yourself after you’ve eaten a big lunch to make sure you don’t have food on your face!

I also keep a Tokidoki pen which can change colour, just in case I ever need to write anything down. Note – I don’t have a notebook to use said pen, I usually use my hand haha.

Unfortunately I am asthmatic so I keep my inhaler on me just in case I need it. My train pass as I use the train all the time so this is essential for me to get around. Paracetamol for any aches and pains. Gum for after lunch, tissues for…well…to blow my nose. A hair band, specifically the ones that don’t leave kinks in your hair, I use this for when I go to the gym, karate, or if I just want to keep my hair out of my face when it’s windy. Last but not least, my earphones. I got these in Tokyo last year so I’m not sure what brand they are, but I bought them from Tokyu Hands which is a bit like Japan’s version of TK Maxx.

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I really hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it! What would you say is your favourite handbag essential? Let me know in the comment section below.

Ninjette Natasha xx

^^^ Thank you so much to Natasha for such a wonderful post! Once again, please make sure to check out her blog and give her some love! What is the most random thing that you have in your purse? What is one thing that you could not leave your home without? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What’s In My Purse?

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What’s In My Purse?

Hello everyone and welcome to a What’s In My Purse? guest blog compliments of Miss Rehma from Glamorous Etoiles. Rehma is one of my regulars here on lifewithlilred and I am always so happy when she joins me on my page. Working with Rehma is such a joy and I just love her blog so please be sure to check it out! Now let’s find out what Rehma keeps in her bag when she’s on the go this summer:

What’s In My Purse?

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  • Pop or water
  • Victoria’s Secret body mist
  • Victoria’s Secret moisturizer
  • Rimmel Stay Matte foundation
  • ABH That Glow palette
  • Baby Lips chapstick
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Powder brush
  • Sunglasses
  • Books

I love that Rehma has books at the ready to toss into her bag and hit the beach. She’s definitely a woman after my own heart! I also think that she’s brilliant for keeping some matte-fying foundation handy to freshen up with in the summer heat. Even though girls don’t sweat, they glisten (duh!) – we all need a little touch up from time to time!

Thanks again to Rehma from Glamorous Etoiles for emptying out her summer tote for my readers! What do you keep at the ready in your purse? What item can you not leave the house without? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

It’s In The Bag – Nine West Edition

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It’s In The Bag – Nine West Edition

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! First of all, I want to wish a very happy birthday to my older brother, Andrew! I love you! Second of all, I want to talk to all of you about the most gorgeous purse that I added to my collection this weekend. My mom and I had a gift card from TJMaxx (shocker) so we decided to pop into the store and take a look around. I ended up with two pairs of shorts which you can see on Wednesday’s post “A Short Story” and a beautiful Nine West tote bag. Take a look:

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^^^ IT’S SO PRETTY!!!!

I admit that I am not an animal print fan in the slightest. I don’t do leopard, nor cheetah, zebra, or any other print that you can think of. However, I freaking LOVE snakeskin…Fake snakeskin, of course. I think that snakeskin is the most edgy, cool, and rocker chic pattern on the planet. It screams luxury mixed with rebellion and I can’t get enough. So it shouldn’t surprise you when I tell you that as soon as I laid eyes on my new beauty that it was love at first sight.

I took a tentative glance at the price tag and was astounded to see that it was only thirty dollars in contrast to the Nine West tag that was still attached and boasting a ninety dollar original price. Once I saw that the bag was reasonably priced, I plucked it from its hanger and slung it over my arm. Usually I don’t like carrying big bags but this one was different. It was made so narrowly that it didn’t look bulky but rather sleek and slinky. I loved that it fit comfortably between my arm and body and of course, the color palette was pure Lil Red perfection.

Although I was so enamored with the Nine West purse, I had a hard time justifying buying a new one since I had just recently got one from Kohl’s. For the entire shopping trip I debated on if it was worth it to bite the bullet and make the purchase. Despite how much I loved the bag, I decided that it wasn’t something that I absolutely needed. But my beloved mother wasn’t having that.

Because my birthday is right around the corner she offered it as an early birthday gift from her and I just couldn’t say no! It was just so perfect and the fact that the price of it was the exact amount of our gift card made it seem like it was meant to be. I love my new purse so much and I can’t wait to use it for work, school, and my internship. Thank you so much, mom! And happy early birthday to me! 😀

So there you have it, the latest issue of It’s In The Bag – Nine West Edition! Has anyone done some shopping recently? What has been your latest purchase? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

It’s In The Bag – Lost & Found Edition Update

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It’s In The Bag – Lost & Found Edition Update

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! About a month ago my boyfriend brought me a makeup bag that was sitting in the lost and found of his restaurant. I wrote about it in my post, It’s In The Bag – Lost & Found Edition, and all of you seemed interested in what I did with the products next. In case you forgot, here’s a pic of the contents of a complete stranger’s makeup bag:

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So what did I do? Nothing, really. Like all of the comments suggested, I ditched the lip glosses which kind of hurt because I’ve heard so many good things about Hikari. I also sanitized the stick makeup with rubbing alcohol and cut off the used portion which was something that I discussed in the comments, as well. I also threw away the nail file because 1) I don’t use them and 2) even if I did, I don’t think that I would be okay with using it considering all of the nail particles on it! (Is that even a thing?)

I kept the mirror, the creams, and the sanitizer but I just haven’t gotten around to using the products yet. As you might have gathered from my reviews before, I’m one of those people who has to finish what I’m already using before I start a new anything. Honestly, it’s going to take a while because you guys have no idea how many beauty items I have on back stock!

I look forward to trying all the different creams as soon as I finish the Jergens hand cream that I keep in my purse. I also love having the cute little mirror in my bag! Quite a few of the lipsticks will be going to my sister because if you can’t tell after close to two years of my blog being up – I only wear red lipstick! And the shades that the lost and found bag contained would look much better on her, anyways.

As soon as I can add a new product into my beauty routine once I finish something, I will try to make it an item from the makeup bag. But until then, rest assured that most of the contents of my stranger friend’s left behind beauty products did not go to waste! Thank you to whomever forgot to take their makeup bag home with them, wherever you may be!  ❤

So there you have it, an Update on my post, It’s In The Bag – Lost & Found Edition! What do you keep in your makeup bag? How would you feel if you left all of your go to beauty products behind somewhere? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

It’s In The Bag – Sonoma Edition

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It’s In The Bag – Sonoma Edition

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! Last week, I had to run into Kohl’s for my mom to return a few things before I had to pick up my brother from work nearby. I was running a bit early so I had some time to browse the store before I left and found the most darling canvas purse on the planet. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I fell in love. I envisioned myself toting it around to my internship this summer and packing it full of necessities to use as an overnight bag on vacation.

Despite my daydreams, the purse didn’t come home with me because I didn’t have any Kohl’s coupons with me and I was certain that they would send some in the mail within the week. In the meantime, I told my mom about the bag in vivid detail and raved about how cute it was. Over the weekend, I decided that I still really wanted the purse so my mom and I ventured off to Kohl’s to make the purchase. By the time we returned, there was only one of the bags left so I quickly plucked it off of the hook and into my loving arms. Take a look at my newest little beauty:

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^^^ I LOVE IT!!

The best part about this sweet tote? It was marked down from thirty dollars to fourteen which was a total steal. AND, my mom was kind enough to purchase it for me as a congratulations gift for the internship I landed this summer. I’m so happy with my latest addition to my accessory collection especially considering that I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I saw it and there was only one left when I made my way back to the store. That’s how you know that you and a clothing item or accessory were meant to be!

So there you have it, the latest segment of It’s In The Bag – Sonoma Edition! I can’t wait to incorporate my new favorite purse into my spring and summer wardrobe and I am so totally obsessed! Has anyone scored any good deals while out shopping recently? What warm weather item are you looking forward to wearing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

It’s In The Bag – Lost & Found Edition

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It’s In The Bag – Lost & Found Edition

Hellooo everyone and TGIF! Welcome to a brand new month here on lifewithlilred. A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend told me that a lady left her makeup bag at his restaurant and that she never came back for it. Apparently, the bag has been sitting in the restaurant’s Lost & Found ever since until my beau came up with an idea. He told me that he’s going to bring me the makeup bag because he thought it would make a great blog post to empty it and see what’s inside. I thought that this was the sweetest thing ever so after I was reassured that the lady wasn’t going to return for her bag, I told him to bring it on over. This post is admittedly kind of strange considering that I’m rummaging through a total stranger’s makeup bag. But it’s all in good fun, so let’s take a peek at what lies inside:

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^^^ Lots of good stuff!

My boyfriend, my sister, and I all took a look through the bag and I must say that my sis and I were very impressed with the contents. Lipsticks and chunky balms. Hand creams and sanitizers as well as the cutest pocket mirror ever! Kristen and I were both ogling over the colors of the lipsticks that the Lost & Found bag contained and had to laugh because I actually have one of the Covergirl matte balms in the bag. So obviously, this little Ipsy makeup purse was meant to fall into my hands.

So the real question is this: Now that I have a bag full of a stranger’s makeup – what exactly do I do with it? I’m totally fine with getting some use out of the creams, sanitizers, and the pocket mirror but what about the rest? What kills me is that some of the lipsticks literally look brand new so I hate to throw them away. I feel bad that this lady is out of her must have makeups for when she’s on the go and the last thing that I want to do is let them go to waste now that they’re in my possession.

What do I do? What should I do? I toyed around with the idea of just slicing off the used parts of the next to new lipsticks but is that even sanitary? Lol, my boyfriend and I never discussed what we would do after the makeup bag was in my hands and some snaps were grabbed of the products inside! So until I figure out this dilemma, I guess that I’ll be stuck with the Lost & Found makeup bag for a little while longer!

So there you have it, the latest segment of It’s In The Bag – Lost & Found Edition! What would you do if you were now stuck with a bag full of a stranger’s makeup? Is there any way to sanitize makeup after it has been used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What’s In My Bag?

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What’s In My Bag?

Hey everyone and happy weekend! I’ve been meaning to do a What’s In My Bag? post for the longest time – they seem like so much fun to do! I was switching what purse I was using anyways so I figured that I might as well snap some pics of the innards of my bag as I do so. (Remind me never to say the word innards again.) I decided to break out my beautiful Betsey Johnson telephone purse to tote around so take a look at what lies inside:

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The Purse: When I saw this darling Betsey Johnson stunner at Macy’s, I knew that I had to have it. I love all things Betsey and this little baby is no exception. My parents got it for me as a gift for my 21st birthday and I’m so obsessed…And yes, the telephone handle really does work! You can plug it into your iPhone and chat away! So cute.

The Contents:

  • Mustard Yellow Wallet: This was a find from Target and I always manage to get compliments on it. I’ve had my wallet for about three years now and it still looks great – I wish it were a little fuller though! 😉
  • Sequin Coin Purse: I got my little coin purse as a present for being a Victoria’s Secret Angel Card member. My mom, sister, and I spent our way to their credit card with the best rewards and this purse was one of them. I think it’s too cute! I was going to put it in my stockpile of freebies to gift to someone but I liked it so much that I kept it for myself.
  • Marlboro Smooths: Yes, I smoke. Whoops!
  • Car Keys: The keys to unlock my beloved Little Red Love Machine AKA my 2012 Mazda2 hatchback. My favorite keychain on there is of Despicable Me’s Agnes and her unicorn which my sister got for me at Universal Studios! We match because she got one for herself, too. 🙂
  • Envelope Makeup Bag: My sister gets a monthly beauty bag from Ipsy and her February goodies came in this precious purse. Obviously, she gave it to me and I adore it. Plus, it matches my Betsey bag perfectly! All of the next items listed are stored in my Ipsy bag.
  • Four Lighters: Yes, I’m a lighter hoarder. Whoops!
  • Five Chapsticks: I also appear to be a chapstick hoarder, as well…
  • Tide To Go Pen: This thing is a life saver! It has saved me from the grief of coffee, pop, and food stains when I’m on the go.
  • Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitizer: I got my Apple Harvest sanitizer as one of my B&BW freebies. It’s nice to have when there isn’t a way to wash your hands close by. I wish I would have gotten it in a different scent, though, because the smell is way too strong.
  • Plastic Heart (on top of the lighters): I sort of kind of snagged this from a restaurant that my boyfriend and I ate at recently. The candle holders on the table were filled with them and I couldn’t stop myself from stealthily dropping one into my purse!

*** Fun Fact: My purse wouldn’t stay standing up in the picture above so I put one of my Minnetonka moccasins in it to weigh it down! #clever

Ahhh! This was so much fun! It made me feel like one of the celebrities who empties out their purses contents for People magazine. You guys found out What’s In My Bag and now I want to hear about what’s in yours! What is one of your must have products when you’re on the go? What is something unusual that you carry in your purse? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Trades Of Hope

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Trades Of Hope

Hellooo everyone and welcome to a very special article here on lifewithlilred about a wonderful company that one of my good friends works for, Trades Of Hope. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sarah White to discuss her work with the company and some of her favorite accessories that are offered through her Trades Of Hope party to kick start the holiday shopping season. For those of you who don’t know, Trades Of Hope employs women artisans in third world countries so they can earn a fair living wage to help provide for themselves and their families. Take a look at part of our interview conducted by yours truly and then stick around to see some of Sarah’s gorgeous fall favorites:

  • Lil Red: Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been passionate about volunteering your time for programs that help women world wide. What would you say is the most rewarding part of being involved with Trades Of Hope?
  • Sarah: I’ve always wanted to have a tangible way to help women coming out of poverty but I specifically have a passion for women coming out of trafficking, like many of the Trades Of Hope artisans. I’ve been involved with various programs that help raise money for women, but Trades Of Hope isn’t a charity – these women are hired, paid a fair wage, and are then able to take care of their families in a long term way. Trades Of Hope is an organization that helps women stop their cycle of poverty and betters their lives, I think that’s the best part.
  • LR: If you could say something to the Trades Of Hope artisans, what would it be?
  • S: I think it would just be…Thank you for what you’re doing. Thank you for making these products to support your families. We care about you and we love you…I would keep it pretty simple.
  • LR: You actually introduced Trades Of Hope to me one afternoon over coffee. If someone wanted to get involved with working for the company, what should they do?
  • S: To become a Compassion Entrepreneur, which is what we call ourselves, anyone can reach out to me for additional information! (Sarah’s contact info will be posted below.)
  • LR: Trades Of Hope offers an abundance of beautiful handcrafted accessories through catalog and on their site. It must be hard to pick a favorite!
  • S: It is! Of course I love the Mosaic Clutch and the Mustard Infinity Scarf but out of the jewelry the Julia from Guatemala is one of my favorites. The necklace was made from a young artist aging out of her orphanage and it’s simple but so pretty. If you look closely on the silver pendant the fingerprint of the artist is engraved in it.
  • LR: Are there any items on the site that are considered a fan favorite by the shoppers?
  • S: Definitely. The Eternal Seed necklace is very popular (it’s a Lil Red favorite too) as well as the Haiti Signature Bracelet which is made out of cereal boxes. (The pictures of the accessories mentioned can be seen below, as well as the Kala necklace, which I’m the proud owner of!) Not only does the bracelet help support our artisans but it’s great for the environment as well.

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Mosaic Clutch: I got to see this cute clutch in person and it’s even better in real life, if that’s even possible. Sarah is a self proclaimed “bag girl” and the Mosaic Clutch, made by Trades Of Hope artisans in Guatemala is one of her must have staples for fall.

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Mustard Infinity Scarf: This beautiful scarf was made by TOH artisans in Cambodia who have survived acid attacks. Despite such horrific events, the amazing women making these scarves have found joy again in their craft and they truly do it so well. Sarah has also deemed this scarf as one of her must have autumn pieces because of how much she likes the color! My friend has great style and would pair this infinity scarf with a hat of the same color, a sharp dark green jacket, dark wash denim, and a tall pair of boots for a fall OOTD. I’m a fan!

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Sarah will be hosting a party to ring in the holiday shopping season and it promises to be a lot of fun! Anyone who places an order through Sarah’s party has the opportunity to win free or half off items as the “hostess rewards”. The shopping extravaganza will be up and running for at least two weeks, so you’ll have lots of time to make your purchases and maybe get lucky by winning some rewards! Unfortunately, Trades Of Hope only ships in the US, but if you live abroad and are interested in any of the products seen on the site, you can email Sarah who will do the best she can to get you your accessories.

Sarah’s contact info and party links:

I had so much fun chatting about Trades Of Hope with my dear friend and before we parted ways, she gave some terrific ideas on stocking stuffers for the holiday season. Not only does Trades Of Hope offer chic accessories but you can also find items for kids, men, home decor, and beauty. Sarah recommends the soap and chapsticks from the site as a sweet and small gift but she’s partial to the jewelry! “All of the Trades Of Hope jewelry comes in a pretty bag and you can wear it and think of the person who got it for you” she says. I, for one, would love to find the Eternal Seed Necklace under my tree! Sarah can be seen below sporting some Trades Of Hope earrings and a mega watt smile! I see you!!

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Writing about Trades Of Hope was such a blast and I encourage all of you to do some shopping at the links provided above! What is your favorite item on the website? Do you have any questions about the company for Sarah? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah