Tag Archives: love

If The Shoe Fits: Reaction By Kenneth Cole Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Reaction By Kenneth Cole Edition

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! This past weekend I had a lot of fun hanging out with my mom and sister, Kristen. On Saturday night we enjoyed a ladies night out at a Mexican restaurant (Yum!) and on Sunday afternoon we went shopping all together at the “fancier” TJMaxx in Fairlawn, Ohio that my sister works by. Of course, I love my home base TJs that I live closer to, but it’s fun to go to a different one, especially when it has a better collection of more high end designers.

Kristen rarely goes shopping with my mom and I, so it was really exciting when she asked if we would come with her while she did some browsing before work. My sister’s opinion means a lot to me, and it’s always such a high compliment when she likes something that I’m wearing because we have such different tastes in personal style. That’s why when she expressed such a positive opinion of these new twenty-four buck beauties, I couldn’t say no! Take a looksee:

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Although my nickname is Lil Red, I rarely wear any clothing/accessories/shoes that rings true to my namesake. In fact, I don’t own one pair of red shoes (Shocking, I know!), so when I saw these retro inspired brick red Kenneth Cole heels, I had to give them a try. These shoes spoke to me on a spiritual level. The faux suede, the fringe, the buckle, the clothed heel, and the COLOR! And the twenty-four dollar price tag with a “compare at” price of fifty was a price that I was more than comfortable paying.

These shoes looked great with the outfit that I was wearing when I tried them on. I was wearing a pair of tights underneath shorts along with a flannel and a moto jacket on top. Not only were they a hit with my sister, but the two older ladies that were perusing the shoe department were also swooning over them. Everything that I purchase is because I love it but, I have to admit, it is always nice to receive compliments on something as soon as you try it on!

Although these heels made a great addition to a more edgy, street style outfit, I am more looking forward to wearing them for work. I think that the shape and style of my new shoe collection addition is very chic and professional, but the color and the fringe still makes it young and fun for a twenty-something on the go. These will add a sweet pop of color to my work wardrobe and will also be a funky way to complete an OOTD on the weekends. And hey, it only seems right that Lil Red finally has a piece of red anything in her closet!

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Reaction By Kenneth Cole Edition! How would you style these shoes? What is your favorite pop of color to incorporate into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hot Jams For A Cold Day

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Hot Jams For A Cold Day

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! As all of you know, I have a deep love for my iPod and my beloved music collection. Recently, I solidified this passion by purchasing a hot pink 128 gig iPod so that I never have to worry about running out of memory space ever again. I’ve been so happy to add new music onto my iPod after a long hiatus of not doing so because of the memory issue. I even treated my mom to my old iPod so that she can rock out to all of her funky time favorites. And, best believe that I’m rocking out to all of my funky time favorites, too! Check it out:

As you can see, I’ve been really feeling Marilyn Manson lately, but then again – when am I not? His two most recent albums, The Pale Emperor and Heaven Upside Down, are so fantastic to me and although I do love old school Manson, his new music has me swooning. And, I know I’m a little late to the party, but I am so enjoying Glass Animal’s most recent album, How To Be A Human Being. We’ll blame that on not having enough memory on my iPod.

I have had the pleasure of seeing both Marilyn Manson and Glass Animals in concert, so any chance that I get to binge listen to either or is one that I take gladly. It’s nice to listen to a band that you have seen live before, because you get to relive the concert in your head every time you hear them in your car or while you’re getting ready for the day. So, if you happen to be around me and are sick of hearing my main man Marilyn Manson or one of my fave bands, Glass Animals, THEN SORRY NOT SORRY, because I don’t think that my binge listening fix will be ending any time soon!!

So there you have it, some Hot Jams For A Cold Day! Which artists are you loving right now? Who should I add to my must listen list? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: As always, I have no rights to any of the songs or videos seen above.

Scarf Series: Shoot For The Moon Edition

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Scarf Series: Shoot For The Moon Edition

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! I hope that all of you are having a relaxing and restful day to wrap up your week! Today we will be completing the Scarf Series with a gorgeous, black and silver number straight out of one of Stevie Nick’s costume trunks. When I first saw this scarf at TJMaxx, I was totally thinking “Stevie”. And the first words out of my mom’s mouth when she saw it was “It’s just like Stevie Nicks”. So, let’s just say that this scarf is very Stevie inspired. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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This Printed Village scarf features metallic silver moons in various stages of waxing and waning against a deep black midnight sky. I’m not going to lie, I hated my Astronomy class in college, but I freaking LOVE the celestial background of this beauty! The pattern of this scarf is simple, cool, and understated, which is different than what I normally go for. You guys know that I love loud and bold clothing. However, there was something about this scarf that stuck… And yes, it is the fact that my mom and I agreed that it’s very Stevie Nicks. 😉

The best thing about this scarf, though? Other than the shimmering moons and a nod to the White Witch? The styling possibilities – because this scarf is huge. This Printed Village piece is the size of your average picnic blanket, which leaves you with tons of options for how to wear it. The idea that I’ve been toying with lately is wearing it as a sarong style wrap over a pair of black skinnies with a black crop top and my black oversized boyfriend blazer for a sleek All Black Everything OOTD. And, of course, chunky silver and gold jewelry is a must to tie everything together.

The sarong wrap for styling this scarf is an interesting idea that I’m looking forward to sporting. But this scarf is so Stevie that it would be sinful to not style it as such. To emulate the White Witch, I plan on layering my sheer maxi dress (That has a solid black crop style top.) over top of a lace maxi skirt, my new scarf wrapped as a shawl on top, and a Panama hat. My black, thigh high, faux suede boots underneath will complete the look and will be a fun peek-a-boo surprise when I give a signature Stevie twirl!

So there you have it, the last of my Scarf Series: Shoot For The Moon Edition! Which celebrity’s style do you admire? How would you style a Stevie Nicks inspired look? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Scarf Series: London Calling Edition

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Scarf Series: London Calling Edition

Hi everyone and happy weekend! Today we’re going to talk about another scarf from TJMaxx that ignited a newly found passion for such a staple accessory. Because the way I style my outfits is so shoe and jacket oriented, scarves have been a part of my wardrobe that has fallen by the wayside. I have a lovely collection of scarves before these new additions in the Scarf Series, but my newbie purchases have sparked a fire to wear one literally whenever I can now. It’s new, but I’m not mad about it! Take a look at the next scarf segment in this series and let’s discuss:

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If there’s one thing that Lil Red loves, it’s all Europe everything. From a strong desire to travel there to a deep appreciation for the style and culture, this girl is destined to make her way across the pond. Whenever I see a piece of clothing or an accessory that fits my style and has an ode to Europe, whether it be literally in its design or made overseas, I am attracted to it like bees to honey. So, obviously you can see why I loved this scarf at first glance!

I am unsure of the brand of this scarf, as there was no tag. But, I like to make pretend that it came from some darling boutique in London that I could spend a rainy afternoon browsing through. This scarf screams “British Invasion” and I love everything about it. The fun, cartoon like designs, the fact that it’s not an infinity scarf (Hello, Parisian style wearing!), and the muted yet somehow bright colors with an emphasis on black, white, and red makes me go all heart eyes. I honestly can’t even, because this little baby was made for me.

This scarf is cheeky, which is so classic in describing Brit humor, so obviously I’m going to style this accessory with a sense of fun in mind. I’m thinking of throwing this around my neck over top of a mini dress layered with an over sized army green button down on top and a chunky, funky heel on the bottom to bring some London luxe to Akron, Ohio. Cheers!

So there you have it, the latest issue in my Scarf Series: London Calling Edition! Where in Europe would you like to visit? What do you admire most about European style/culture? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hats Off: Cheetah Girl Edition

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Hats Off: Cheetah Girl Edition

Hi everyone and TGIF! Fall finally appears to be in full swing, as Ohio is definitely enjoying brisk, autumn temperatures after almost the entire month of October treated us to summer like weather. With the drop in temperature comes the incessant need to accessorize with all of the fall cuteness, including scarves, hats, and fingerless gloves. A recent trip to Target brought me a darling new pom pom beanie to add to my collection, just in time for the hit of cold weather. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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I’m normally not a huge cheetah print fan, but there was something about this sassy sweet hat that spoke to me. I loved the cream, black, and gold color palette so much that the animal print pattern was something that I embraced, rather than shied away from. I’m also not one for pom pom hats, but the Pittsburgh Steelers colored puff was way too adorable to say no to!

Yellows and golds are both colors that I really enjoy wearing, especially as a top or an accessory that’s close to my face. The burnt gold of this hat looked so lovely on top of my red hair and it made the yellow in my hazel eyes really pop. I also loved that this hat had a cream base color instead of white, which gave this cute little number a more muted, fall look.

During the fall, I normally opt for my oversized floppy hats and Panamas, but I am so excited to throw this new addition on with my navy peacoat and hit the road. This hat is so sweet to me but the cheeky cheetah print adds just the perfect amount of sass, which made it a perfect add on to the landfill that is the Lil Red fall wardrobe.

So there you have it, the latest issue of Hats Off: Cheetah Girl Edition! What is your favorite fall accessory? What is your favorite animal print? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Celebrate Your Anniversary With Style

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Celebrate Your Anniversary With Style

Whether it is the date of your first meeting, first kiss, or your wedding, anniversaries are an exciting and special time that deserves to be celebrated. But how can you ensure that you are truly celebrating your anniversary with all of the style and glamor that you know it deserves? Unfortunately, many people don’t really know how to do this, and it often results in a less than satisfying day for everyone involved. In this post, we are going to take a closer look at how to celebrate your anniversary – of any kind – with true style:

The Difficulty Of Gift Buying: It wouldn’t really be an anniversary without gifts, and it is likely to be one of the first things that you think of when your date is approaching. If you find that you always struggle to find your partner a decent present that you are truly happy with, then you are not alone. Everyone knows this feeling, and it is one that is hard to do away with. So how do you go about ensuring that you end up with the right present? It might actually be easier than you think.

One useful way to do it if you are married is to fall in line with the traditional present buying rules for the years that you have been married. If you don’t know already, it is traditionally paper for one year, wood for five years, tin or aluminum for ten years, crystal for fifteen years, china for twenty years, and so on all the way up to gold for fifty years. If you have reached that genuine milestone, then you will probably want to splash out a little. There are many gold chains for men variations for you to choose between here, and you might be surprised at how easily you can find a fantastic present of this kind.

Even if you don’t want to go by this old rule or you are not married, you might find that gift buying doesn’t have to be all that hard. The trick is in working out what you think they might benefit from but which they would not normally buy for themselves. It might take some time to find something that is absolutely ideal, but the longer you spend on the process, the more likely it is that you will be happy with the resulting gift that you eventually find.

Once you have chosen what seems to be the perfect gift, you will have the issue of trying to come up with when to present it to them. This could be a more difficult concern than you have imagined, and you might end up going for a special occasion which the two of you can have together in celebration of your anniversary itself. If you can find a good time to reveal your gift, you will probably find that it seems to have much more value for the both of you. With the gift buying looked after, you will have dealt with what is often the most difficult part of ensuring that your anniversary celebrations are done with style. But there is much more to consider beside the present, so let’s continue on:

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  So sweet!

Writing A Letter: If you think that buying a gift is not enough, and you would like to express how you feel even more, then you might want to consider writing a letter to your other half expressing how you feel about them. For anyone who would enjoy receiving love letters in youth, this can be a lovely way to bring a little fresh life into the relationship, and at a good time as well. If you find that you often struggle with this kind of thing, then you might choose to take it as an opportunity to practice, as it is something that will always go down well in the future. Writing this kind of letter can be a great way to add a little genuine romance to your anniversary, and is the kind of thing that almost everyone will appreciate.

Depending on how you present it, you can also make this a great way to add some style to your anniversary celebrations. You could consider using old parchment style paper in order to give it an old world feel, for example. Or you might choose to have it delivered in an interesting and exciting way, which makes it more of an event. A letter is definitely worth putting the effort into if you want to make your anniversary as special as you want it to be – Even if you don’t have the best way with words!

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 Letter writing is a lost art.

Mixtapes Are Still A Thing: If you thought that the days of making mixtapes were long gone, think again. While the cassette might be a thing of the past, there is no reason that you can’t create the same kind of effect in a different way. If you are a little creative about it, you might even be able to upgrade the old mixtape idea into something more inventive and enjoyable that your other half will love.

One of the best ways to do this is to get a flash drive and load it with your favorite songs that remind you of them, or which you have enjoyed together in the past. If you present the flash drive in a special way, you will find that it really helps to make it more of a gift, and it is a lovely modern throwback to the old mixtape idea, which really seems to land with people well. Alternatively, you could make a CD, and in this way get a little closer to the original idea.

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#rockinout

Vacationing Is A Must: If you really want to make the most of your anniversary, then you might want to think about whisking your partner away to somewhere exotic for the weekend, or maybe even longer. For the truly romantic out there, you might even want to make it work so that this is the real surprise for them. If you can pull that off, you will find that it has a very strong effect, indeed. Nothing is better than a surprise holiday! Get this right, and it could be the most special anniversary you have had so far.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a low key anniversary, because they are just as special. But if you’re looking to glam things up this year, then the steps above are a great place to start!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Scarf Series: Gianluca Lombardo Beauty Edition

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Scarf Series: Gianluca Lombardo Beauty Edition

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! One accessory that I like a lot but never truly appreciate to its full extent is the scarf. God knows I have a ton of them, but it’s a rarity that I ever wear them. Why? Couldn’t tell ya. But one fateful trip to TJMaxx with my beloved mother changed my opinion on scarves entirely and I’m looking forward to sharing my purchases with you, as well as wearing scarves new and old in the future. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ I ❤ this scarf! 😉

This made in Italy, Gianluca Lombardo scarf caught my eye the moment that I saw it because of its gorgeous color palette. The burnished gold and rust orange spoke to me on a spiritual level because they are both colors that look fantastic on me, if I do say so myself. Not only that, but I loved the doodled heart pattern oh so much! Hearts on clothing is something that both my mom and I adore, so everything about this scarf was such an obvious “yes”.

The best thing about this scarf, though, is that it isn’t an infinity scarf, which gives me a bunch of different styling opportunities. I prefer to wear my scarves in traditional Parisian style over my head and, although you can sort of do that with infinity scarves, it just isn’t the same. I went ice skating this past weekend and wore this scarf Parisian style to the rink and then hung it around my neck while I was skating and it moved so beautifully and I felt so divine the entire time just from one fifteen dollar accessory. So worth it.

This Gianluca Lombardo beauty makes me feel so utterly chic. In fact, I wore it Parisian style to get lunch with my neighbor and “chic” was the word that she used to describe my look and it was such an amazing compliment. I’ve been told that I’m “stylish”, “fashionable”, and that I have “the best clothes” numerous times, but have never been called “chic”, even though that’s what I always strive for. Although, let’s be real, chic is probably not the first compliment that comes to mind in the way that I dress most of the time since I just like to consider myself “grungy chic” lololol.

I feel like in my skinny jeans, boyfriend blazer, oversized shirt, faux snakeskin booties, and a billowing, wrapped around my head scarf, I finally nailed the perfect Parisian look. Having my feelings of chicness confirmed by my neighbor was a huge fashion victory for me and I wouldn’t have achieved it without giving this scarf a try!

In just throwing this scarf on at TJs, feelings of chicness flooded me and I went into a scarf buying frenzy. This Gianluca Lombardo scarf will always be my A-1 but that doesn’t mean that I don’t simply adore the other two that I purchased, so do stay tuned so we can discuss them further, too!

So there you have it, my Scarf Series: Gianluca Lombardo Edition. What is your favorite compliment to receive about the way that you dress? What is your favorite accessory to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Black & Champagne Glitter Nails

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New Black & Champagne Glitter Nails

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! After ten looooong months of having the same set of acrylics on, I finally got new nails this week. I haven’t had a chance to add my gemstone crosses to the middle fingers because I have absolutely no clue where the super glue stash is in my home. But, I do LOVE the champagne pink accent nails against the harsh black on my new set so take a look and let’s discuss:

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Instead of going to my normal salon hang out of Empress Nails to get this set done, I was sort of a traitor and went to LT Nails, instead, which is also close by to my living quarters. Don’t get me wrong, I freaking LOVE my nail tech, Steve. However, he has never put on a set of my acrylics before and I needed to go to someone that I could trust (Not saying that I don’t trust him, but filling nails and applying them is very different.).

I went to Anne at LT Nails all the way back in January to get my last set on and I was long overdue for new nails. I noticed during the last fill that I got that my nails were insanely yellow and because they were so brittle, they were cracking and breaking nonstop. It was miserable. Although it took ten months to finally get new nails, I remembered what a great job was done over at LT and scheduled an appointment at the salon with Anne.

In one hour and fifteen minutes, Anne was able to soak off my old set and apply, shape, and polish my new nails. She worked quickly and efficiently and it was definitely a job well done. One thing that Anne did differently than my Empress Nails techies was that she shaped the nail before the acrylic even went on. This made the shape more sharp and precise and definitely saved a lot of time, as well. The nails are not as long as I would like, but they never are when I get a new set so I am looking forward to them growing out!

I will be getting my nails painted black until the day that I die, but I am so obsessed with the bubbly champagne pink accent nails. Lil Red loves nothing more than sweet colors against punk rock black so this accent nail choice is no exception. The color is as pretty as a New Year’s Eve party dress and I love the bronze and silver glitter against the muted blush pink. I would definitely get another color combination like this again for the holiday season and it is easily one of my favorites that I’ve had in a long time.

So there you have it, my New Black & Champagne Glitter Nails! What accent nail color should I get next? What color of nail polish are you wearing right now? 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: Cry Sanctuary Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Cry Sanctuary Edition

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! As you all know, I’m a dedicated shopaholic, so it might be strange for you guys to hear that I’m not really a purse kind of girl. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lovely collection of totes and handbags in my collection, but I never actively seek out a new purse when I’m shopping. That’s what my shoe addiction is for!

Yearly, I can confidently say that I buy a maximum of two purses, which might seem staggeringly low for those who read my blog. I much prefer to switch out the bag that I’m using with another loved one in my clothing hoard with the change of the seasons or when I’m feeling frisky. Because I don’t swap out my bag very often, it leaves my purse collection feeling fresh and new and it’s fun to feel like I’m going shopping in my own closet!

Am I the number one fan of the purse? Not by a long shot. But do I know an amazing deal on a gorgeous piece when I see one? Absolutely. Take a look at my new Sanctuary brand bag and let’s discuss:

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  • Original Price: $220
  • TJMaxx Price: $60

What instantly drew me to this beautiful purse was the piercing like gold hoops threaded into the crocheted design. Lil Red is a pierced up, punk rock princess so finding a bag that reflects that was really exciting. The craftsmanship that went into creating this Sanctuary sweetheart is so evident just by taking one glance at it. When this bag babe arrived in the mail, it also took me one glance whence it was outside of the box to decide that I loved it.

This purse was an unintentional buy. Seriously. The only reason I put it in my “shopping cart” online was to get myself to free shipping status. Then, I planned on taking it to the store to return it once it arrived. That plan was an obvious bust. *Eye roll* I should know myself better by now to realize that if an item is in the shopping cart, then there’s a 99.9999999% chance that I’m going to buy it. TBH, saying that this was an unintentional purchase makes me feel a lot better because I didn’t mean to like it as much as I did!!!

Regardless of the intentions of this purchase (Let’s be honest, it was intentional.), this bag is totally and completely perfect. It is edgy and chic with a heaping helping of glam and I am so happy to be able to add it to my purse collection. I suppose that I would buy this Sanctuary beauty again in a heartbeat. 😉

So there you have it, the latest issue of It’s In The Bag: Cry Sanctuary Edition! What is your favorite accessory? Are you a purse or shoes girl? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Mules Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Mules Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. So we all have those certain trends that we love to hate/hate to love/yada yada yada. For me, that trend is the mule. Don’t get me wrong, I love the first pair of Matisse mules that I bought and I think that some mules can be totally gorgeous. But, as a heel girl through and through, it’s a rarity that I can put my best feet forward in flats.

Obviously, a heeled mule would be ideal BUT THEY ALL LOOK LIKE CLOGS and I hate those. Lol, it’s not even a mule – it’s a straight up clog. I’ve thought a lot about this style of shoe and realized that what I need is the slipper shape of the top of the mule with a heel tacked onto the back for good measure. Preferably, a heel that’s not made of hard rubber, which makes the shoe look like a pair of clodhoppers if I’ve ever seen them.

I’ve clearly put a lot of energy into imagining the ideal shape for a heeled mule, but have had no luck in finding the pair that was “just right”. So, can you believe my surprise when I found the seemingly perfect pair of Betsey Johnson HEELED MULES while browsing on TJMaxx’s website?! Swoon. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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So, yeah. You can see that these babies above are exactly what I wanted. These shoes are literally a mule with a heel thrown on for funsies. These Betsey beauties are just darling. Mules definitely have the potential to look like shoes for the (very fashionable) elderly, but not these. The black and white striped heel in contrast with the vibrant yellow flowers screams whimsical tea party. These mules are youthful, sassy, and perfect for a twenty-something who considers a night on the town to consist of strutting down the aisles of Target and TJMaxx.

The best part of Betsey Johnson clothing and accessories are the adorable surprises that are in the details. The center of the flowers on my mules are actual metal, beaded, and jeweled brooches – not just some lame-o craft store find tacked smack dab in the middle. All of these hidden delights just show how much joy that Betsey has in creating her brand and why she will always be one of my favorite designers.

These shoes were made for everything from ambling through daily errands to a boozy bar crawl with the girls on a Saturday night. Somehow, Betsey Johnson knew that I was in desperate need of mules just like my new pair, so she snapped her fingers and put these on the market. Love, love, freaking LOVE.

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Mules Edition! What is a trend that you love to hate? Do you prefer flats or heels? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah