Tag Archives: maxxinista

Nov16

First Snow OOTD

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First Snow OOTD

Hi! This past weekend, Ohio treated us to some snow. Although we’re barely in the middle of November, it is full fledged winter temps here and I’m already fed up. But, despite the many things in life that we can control, the weather is not one of them so we all just have to keep on truckin’ – myself included!

When it comes to dressing for the winter, I prefer to layer as opposed to walking around with a huge coat on. I love faux fur, cold weather accessories, and boots and, when worn properly, a well layered outfit can be just as warm as a puffer jacket. Take a look at how I style for the cold months ahead and let’s discuss:

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Who? What? Wear?

Now, I’m sure that for some of you, this outfit looks nowhere near warm enough for a blustery winter day. But, keep in mind, that I have enjoyed spending my free time at a cold skating rink for over a decade and the winter weather really doesn’t phase me any more. So, this OOTD was just right for me to be comfortable outside for the amount of time that I was in and out of different places throughout the day. If I had gone on a hike or something like that, though, trust and believe that I would have bundled up a little better!

Anyways, I like this look because it offers a really unique shape while still looking chic. The fairly tight fitting jacket and sweater along with the jeans and boots look nice and crisp while the kimono that balloons out underneath adds an unexpected element to the look, and I love that. The floppy hat also mimics the shape of the kimono, which adds cohesiveness to the OOTD and keeps my pretty lil’ noggin warm. :*)

Winter accessories are a definite must in any good OOTD during the cold months, so don’t be afraid to go a bit crazy with them. Had it been colder the day that my boyfriend took these pics, I would have opted for a scarf, too. But, the hat and driving gloves did the job just fine. Also, do remember that jewelry is important in the drab winter, as well. With bleak weather and grey days a little pop of bling goes a long way. I love black and gold together, so I went with a long chained pendant from Urban Outfitters to complete my look.

Although winter is a time to be bundled up, it can still look oh so chic so style never has to be sacrificed… Thank gawd! 😀

How do you stay warm in the winter? What is winter weather like where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov9

Poshmark, Please

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Poshmark, Please

Hi! Have you ever thought about a piece of clothing or accessory that you didn’t buy, but really really wish that you did days, months, or years later down the line? No? Maybe it is just me. Anyways, that’s what this blog post is about today and how my memory of an elephant, some help from a blogging friend, and an obsession with getting some cheetah print reunited me with this beautiful Kensie moto jacket:

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^^^ Thank you, @sundaygirlpicks !!

Once upon a time, I found this jacket at TJMaxx and I have no idea why I didn’t buy it. I guess at the time (Say, two years ago) I just wasn’t interested in cheetah print. And, then, a few days ago, I became obsessed with all cheetah print everything. It’s funny how people’s tastes and opinions can do a complete one eighty in time! I began scouring TJMaxx’s website and all I could find was faux fur cheetah print which, sadly, would make me look like a (Very high class) hooker. You may laugh, but it is oh so true.

After inspecting the site further, I realized that, for once, I was out of luck on TJ’s website. And, like magic, a memory of me trying the above coat on in the TJMaxx fitting room went through my head. All I could think about was how I wish that I just bought the damn thing and began a new quest for a moto or denim style cheetah print jacket. It was so on. I looked through Asos, Nasty Gal, Shein, Romwe, Nordstrom Rack, and Zara but I couldn’t find NOTHIN. I was crushed. And I was desperate.

In this state of frenzy, another little ditty popped into my head, because a similar situation has happened to me before. This took place in the form of a faux fur vest that I had bought years ago, but didn’t have the self confidence to wear. And, once I gained an improved self esteem, I wanted that vest back REAL bad. A fellow blogger left a comment on the post that I linked to and recommended that I try Ebay or Poshmark, because they might have it. And that is exactly what I did with my Kensie jacket…

But, at the time, I didn’t know that the brand was Kensie. So how the HECK did I find it, you might ask? Well, my friends, the revelation came to me in a place where I do my best thinking. On the toilet.

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The toilet. The john. The loo. The porcelain throne. Whatever you may call it, is where a vision came to me. Before doing my business, I was typing brands into Poshmark willy nilly hoping that I would strike gold, but it just wasn’t working. I tried Carolina Belle and Sanctuary and a handful of other brands that TJ’s carries and was having absolutely no luck. I thought that my search was nearing its end when, all of a sudden, I had to WHIZ like crazy.

A combination of coffee and Diet Coke that day left my bladder on the fritz, and I ran up the stairs to my bathroom so that I could have some peace and quiet. It was midstream that my final vision of the night came to me. It was crazy because, in my head, I could see the brand tag on the jacket at TJMaxx so clearly and it said KENSIE. I hurriedly finished the task at hand, ran back to the computer, typed my desire into Poshmark’s search bar, and there it was.

I couldn’t believe it. My size. The right price. The right brand. MY jacket. Without a moment’s hesitation, I shot up, grabbed my wallet, created a Poshmark account, and made my purchase. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new Kensie moto jacket and I’m not sure why I felt so inclined to share this story but it was so crazy that I just had to. Yes, this was a rambling post but, goddamnit, I’m so excited that I don’t even care. I DID IT! Long live fashion! Long live TJMaxx! AND MANY THANKS TO POSHMARK!!

Has anyone ever experienced a similar ordeal to mine? Who else uses Poshmark or Ebay to update their wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Edena Fashion

Nov7

Azure Lux Rose Gold Sparkling Oil Serum

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Azure Lux Rose Gold Sparkling Oil Serum

Hiiii everyone! For all of my skin care needs, I frequent the beauty aisles at TJMaxx, which shouldn’t be that surprising! I enjoy trying out new products and will always add a new serum, moisturizer, or face mask to my stock pile if it looks good and the price is right. I use a serum every day before applying my eye cream and moisturizer, and I really feel that no skin care routine is complete without it. So, when I’m scouring the beauty section at TJ’s, my eyes are always peeled for a new serum to try.

During one of my last shopping trips to Heaven On Earth, AKA TJMaxx, I ended up purchasing the serum seen below. How do you say no to rose gold?! Check it out:

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Delightfully reminiscent of the Too Faced Better Than Birthday Sex’s glitter pink packaging and advertising all of the right things for skin care, it was impossible to say no to this Azure Lux serum. Rose gold is perfectly on trend along with all of the necessities that this serum offers: toning, hydrating, and wrinkle reducing. Along with the oh so snazzy flecks of twenty-four karat gold and rose hip (Which is so hot in skin care right now!), six dollars for an entire bottle of serum felt like I was getting away with robbery.

Because I refuse to start a new product while I’m finishing up an old one, I haven’t tried this serum out yet. But, I was so curious about it, that I sampled the serum on my hands and it was AWESOME. It was fun to see the gold flecks on my skin, but it was even better to feel like my hands were one hundred and fifty percent hydrated. This serum absorbed quickly and my skin instantly got a burst of moisture that I feel like I couldn’t get from an actual hand lotion. So, just imagine using it on your face! I can’t wait! 😀

What kind of serum do you use? Which products are essential to your skin care routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov3

Hats Off: Adora Edition

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Hats Off: Adora Edition

Howdy! Is there such a thing as having too much black in my wardrobe? I often ask myself this question and always answer with a big fat NO! Despite my colorful hair, lipstick, and personality, I normally adhere to a fairly bleak color palette of primarily black clothing along with grey, white, and navy. But, I appreciate color just as much as the next person and have plenty of vibrant odds and ends to add a fun pop to the darkest of outfits. So, with that in mind, I had no problem adding on another black hat to my collection. Check it out:

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I purchased this hat along with the Peter Grimm number from yesterday’s post at TJMaxx. I’m not going to lie, the camel safari inspired bowler hat is a bit out of my comfort zone so it felt good to hop right back in it with this fab find by Adora. Was it the jet black Panama style that sold me? Or how about the adorable puff ball and beaded detail around the rim? All good guesses, and they are correct. BUT, I actually got this hat mainly because it reminded me of Stevie Nicks. I had her heavy on the mind ever since my parents saw Fleetwood Mac in concert a few days prior. So jealous!

So, you could totally go full Stevie with this hat and pair it with all of the billowy, flowy things that you can find. Or, you can go ahead and wear it with literally anything becauuuse BLACK IS A NEUTRAL! And, of course, nothing goes better with all black clothing than black on black on black. My new Adora hat reminds me a lot of American Horror Story: Coven and my plan is to pair it with a Wednesday Adams style dress, smart heels, and a clutch purse for all of the witchy vibes. Edgy and cool, but still oh so chic.

What is your favorite color to wear? What is your favorite cold weather accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov2

Hats Off: Peter Grimm Edition

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Hats Off: Peter Grimm Edition

Yo! Aside from shoes, which we all know are one of Lil Red’s major vices, I am definitely a hat girl. This gene was single handedly passed down from my grandma (my mom’s mom), who owned over one hundred hats. I began my own collection when I was fifteen or so with a deep purple cloche number, and it has expanded from there. In fact, quite a few of the hats in my collection are from my beloved grandma, so I know that she’s happy up in heaven that this love for her favorite accessory was passed down to one of her granddaughters. So, I’m positive that she’ll be pleased with my latest headwear purchase – I know I am! Take a look:

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I scored this Peter Grimm beauty from TJMaxx for seventeen bucks and, when I looked on the website for Peter Grimm, it was sixty! It was a total steal for such a cool hat, especially since I don’t own any in the camel coloring. I don’t know why I used to associate tan with being boring, because the color of this hat made my red locks POP. So, major shout out to Mister Peter Grimm for helping me to adjust that major character flaw.

What I love about this hat, is that it’s safari inspired with the faux suede rope and adjustable toggle, but it looks so damn chic because it’s attached to a somewhat bowler style hat instead of a traditional safari one. I can picture this Peter Grimm number with a cargo jumpsuit or romper, obviously. But, because it’s so neutral, it can be worn with literally anything to add some unexpected spice to an outfit. For example, I can totally see myself pairing it with my Fervour skeleton jumpsuit just because for a look that’s quirky cool – my specialty!

Who else is a hat lover? What is your favorite style of hat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Scary Good OOTD

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Scary Good OOTD

Hi everyone! With Halloween coming in hot, I thought that it would be fun to style a Scary Good OOTD. The spooky, dark atmosphere that comes with this time of year is something that I revel in, so I wanted to create an outfit that would invoke that while still looking chic. I had a blast making this elegant goth OOTD and had even more fun clowning around with Michael Myers and my ladybug pumpkin seen below:

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Who? What? Wear?

The first thing that came to mind when I began styling this outfit was breaking out my never been worn cape blazer by Nine West. There is nothing more spooky chic to me than a cape when it comes to actual clothing and not a costume, especially when its jet black! This Nine West number summons the brisk, chilly vibes of a late October night and also Harry Potter so, yes, this was a must for my OOTD.

I wanted the rest of the clothing in this look to be simple, because what makes this outfit pop is the movement of the cape and the bright red shoes. So, I went with my velvet pants from Loft to add some texture and my go to layering sweater from TJMaxx for underneath the cape. The velvet skinnies contrasted really nicely against the faux suede booties and these textures paired well with the tuxedo fabric of the Nine West piece on top. Playing with textures is a great way to add visual interest to the look, because it makes the eyes dance. So, pairing different textures on the shoes, pants, and top created a lot of breakup but still looked cohesive because of the minimal color palette. Very cool!

And, now, accessories! I wanted a pop of color in this OOTD, because it would add a little something something to every aspect of this project. The super pointed toe of the shoe gave witchy vibes without being black. And, the bright red looked striking against the black clothes and the bleak weather, as you can tell in the pictures. For some more spooky sweetness, I attached a huge black bow to my pulled back hair. This was also a nice touch, because the bow has long streamers, which looked beautiful against my bright red locks and also mirrored the contrast with my black pants and red shoes. This was very intentional and added even more cohesiveness to the finished outfit.

For jewelry, I added dangly crosses to both of my ear piercings and a ring on each finger. A necklace was a necessity, too, and I wanted something that was creepy but didn’t look campy. So, I went with my bronze Pinocchio necklace because, from far away, it looks like a little body. It’s only up close that you realize that it really is a beloved Disney character!

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Once I was looking my best for a hang out session with my good friend Michael, snapping some silly pictures was a must. But, I’ve gotta tell you guys, I felt really uneasy exploring the grounds after our photo shoot. I swear, it felt like something was following me and trying to grab me with their hands!

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And when I turned around, this is what was looking back at me. Boo!

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Happy Halloween!

How would you style a Scary Good OOTD? What is your favorite scary movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

October 2018 Finishes

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October 2018 Finishes

Helloooo! With October drawing to a close quicker than anticipated, it’s time to discuss which beauty products I finished up this month. What was nice about this month’s empties is that half of them were totally free, which saved me at least twenty dollars. The Clean & Clear cleanser came from a Walgreen’s goodie bag, the Bath & Body Works body wash was free, and the body wash from The Body Shop was a gift. Sweet!

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Would I Use Again?

  • Lubriderm lotion: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma body butter: YES
  • The Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey shower cream: NO
  • Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel: YES
  • Clean & Clear Acne Triple Clear cleanser: MAYBE
  • ArganiCare moisturizer: YES!!

Why/Why Not?

Lubriderm Lotion: Good ol’ Lubriderm is my go to brand to use upon getting a new tattoo and, as I get new ones fairly frequently, I always keep a bottle of lotion handy. I’ve had this bottle for about six months, which is pretty good considering I use it multiple times a day for a handful of weeks when a new tattoo is healing. I will definitely continue using this lotion and, at six dollars a bottle, a dollar per month cost per use is something that I can totally get behind!

TBS Body Butter: This jumbo sized body butter is compliments of TJMaxx for ten bucks, which sure beats the in store price of thirty! Satsuma is easily one of my favorite scents from TBS and I would have hundreds of these body butters in my arsenal if I could. I got at least ten full body uses out of the jumbo sized butter and hope that I can find more at TJ’s to help with dry winter skin in the approaching months.

TBS Shower Cream: Although I love, love, love the Almond Milk & Honey scent from TBS, this shower cream was a major whomp whomp. It didn’t lather at all, making it really hard to feel clean while taking a shower. Because it didn’t lather, I tried to compensate by using more of it per use, which resulted in me finishing the bottle in three weeks. I would recommend a gel over a shower cream any day, because the gel from TBS lasts me at least five weeks, which is a money saver.

B&BW Shower Gel: On the opposite end of the body wash spectrum is the Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel from Bath & Body Works. I had this travel sized bottle for over three weeks, which should tell you everything you need to know about the one from TBS. It lathered well, smelled amazing, and I would definitely use it again.

Clean & Clear Cleanser: It took me about three weeks to finish this mini cleanser and, if given the opportunity, I would use it again. But, with a normal skin type, acne is something that I don’t really worry about so I would prefer something that is designed for normal skin. However, this cleanser made my skin feel squeaky clean and that is always a plus!

ArganiCare Moisturizer: I LOVED this moisturizer and it was absolutely the MVP of this month’s finishes. I got my ArganiCare moisturizer from TJMaxx for six dollars and it lasted me for over a month and a half. A little bit of this product sure went a long way and, although a small amount was used, my skin was always left feeling supple and hydrated. I would love to use this moisturizer again and would definitely recommend it.

Overall, it was a really successful month for finishes and I would recommend almost all of the products discussed above. And when fifty percent of them were free, it makes this month’s empties even sweeter!

Have you used any of the products above? What were your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Oct25

Vacation Shopping… At TJMaxx ;)

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Vacation Shopping… At TJMaxx ;)

Lol, I know. I’m eyerolling at myself for this post, too. BUT, there was a TJMaxx sitting pretty on our way into town from our cabin in North Carolina and I couldn’t not stop in! But don’t worry, I only got two beauty products and one was a total steal so I just couldn’t help myself! Take a look:

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  • The Body Shop Satsuma scrub: $6
  • Garnier Micellar Water + face wash: $4

For ten bucks, I got two of my necessities that would have originally costed me around twenty-five dollars had I bought them in store. How could I possibly pass that up?! At Target, my micellar water comes close to eight dollars with tax for just the bottle. But, this find at TJ’s included a mini face wash, too. Granted, I’ve used it before and it wasn’t the best, but a face wash is a face wash and using the freebie saves me money and prolongs my preferred cleansers. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled at my local TJMaxx for more of the Garnier micellar water, because that was close to four dollars in savings, which is about one and a half gallons of gas in my tank.

I was also happy to find a Satsuma scrub from The Body Shop because, sadly, the TJMaxx that I live by has not had a lot of TBS goodies as of late. The scrubs are my favorite to use before shaving and it worked just right while tackling the Woolly Mammoth legs this week! 😉

Besides for my beauty steals, I was pretty unimpressed with the TJMaxx that I shopped at in Hendersonville. It was cramped, the aisle ways were small (Which made browsing through the racks difficult.), and the selection there was average at best. Of course, TJ’s giveth and TJ’s taketh away, so I could have just been there on an off week. It was fun to be at a TJMaxx in a different state, but I’ll be happy to shop at my local one again really soon!

What is your favorite thing to do on vacation? Where did you go on your last trip? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct13

Feeling Fall OOTD

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Feeling Fall OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to one of my favorite OOTDs to date! Lil Red loves dressing for fall, this we know. And, to me, my Feeling Fall look embodies the joy that comes with the changing of seasons perfectly. A statement boot and a bold, yet simple, find from TJMaxx created an outfit that was easy peasy to style but looks oh so chic when stomping through the leaves during a blustery fall day. And, also, peep the amazing pictures of yours truly taken by my darling beau! Love themmmmm.

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Who? What? Wear?

When people ask me how I go about styling my outfits, they usually get a response along the lines of “I just throw them together”. And, that’s not a lie. The best outfits come when you don’t think about it, because fashion should be a fun thing – not stressful. That’s why it’s very important to me to completely love every single item that I buy. When your clothing makes you feel confident, you don’t have a second thought when you’re throwing them on. And, that’s why I love this look so much. It was such a cinch to put together, but it looked timeless and fashion forward and you can never go wrong with that.

As gingham is considered the “it” pattern for summer, fall is about all plaid everything. If I could, I would wear this totally cozy and perfectly posh Modena New York poncho all year round. Because I wanted this cool cape to do the talking, I kept things simple underneath with a tighter fitting black sweater. The soft color palette of fifty shades of grey and taupe is just right against the vibrant autumnal colors adorning the trees. And, although this poncho fits closer to the body than most, it still has lots of movement, which beautifully mimics the leaves dancing as the wind blows.

Because the poncho and oversized Argentino Vivo earrings provide such lovely movement, I wanted to keep everything else about this outfit form fitting. As an added bonus, making the top half of your OOTD the focal point makes people more focused on your face, which is a good pro tip if you have any insecurities about your lower half (I know I do!). A looser fitting poncho or sweater also keeps your tummy in check if you didn’t quite get your beach body this year (I know I didn’t!).

Anyways, form fitting. Skinny jeans, as always, were in order. Then, to cap off the look, I wore my absolute favorite thigh high boots by Candies. These sexy little things slinky ink all the way up to just below the middle of my thighs and they make me feel so fabulous that I can hardly stand myself. The heel is high, the fabric is a soft faux suede, and the confidence level is through the roof. These boots hugged against my skinnies just right, which created a lengthening effect and put all eyes on my MUG and way cool cape. Just as I suspected! 😀

This Feeling Fall OOTD can be easily duplicated with your favorite chunky sweater, cardigan, cape, or poncho. The trick is to keep things on your bottom half nice and fitted and, then, you can work that autumn breeze as your cape billows in the wind. Gorgeous, easy, and one hundred percent fall.

How do you style an OOTD that embodies autumn? What is your favorite cold weather accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

Fall Finesse OOTD

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Fall Finesse OOTD

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! Today, we are going to discuss a fall OOTD post to help set the mood for the upcoming spooktacular month of October. My friend, Carlie, who I’m sure you remember from guest posts on my page has also created an autumn outfit so do be sure to head over to Bombshell and check hers out, too! The pictures below were taken by my boyfriend, which is always so much fun, so take a look and let’s get to it:

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Who? What? Wear?

During the fall, there’s nothing better than an All Black Everything OOTD to set some witchy vibes for the day. Once you create your base with a pair of black skinnies or joggers and a black sweater, tee, or jacket, it’s all about the accessories. Because of a mundane palette, you can choose pieces that really pop to decorate your look with. You can always add a pop of color accessory to break up the monotoned look, or you can stick with equally bleak but chic pieces, which is what I did.

To start accessorizing, I began with the main focal point in my look, which is the Printed Village scarf. This lovely little number shows the various stages of the moon in waxing and waning in striking silver, and it instantly added dimension to my OOTD. The best part about this scarf, is that it’s really long and wide so it can be worn in a variety of ways. For this particular look, I wore it as a shawl. But, I have worn it before as a skirt, Parisian style, and as a plain old scarf so it definitely offers a lot of variety!

And, of course, the glistening silver moons wouldn’t be complete without some gold thrown into the mix. I chose to combine the cool metallic colors by wearing my Baroque patterned Bamboo healed booties, which just so happens to be one of my favorites! Some might think that wearing silver and gold together is a no no. And, they are absolutely right if they’re paired with a multitude of other colors. But, when worn with just one other color, the end result is amazing. The shimmering shades danced so beautifully together in the light and, instead of the “don’t look at me” vibe that all black can give off, all eyes will definitely be on you.

To finish styling my outfit, it was time to add some jewelry. To keep with the spooky chic motif, I added in some Halloween appropriate rings like the spread winged owl and the turquoise cross that attached to a bracelet with a skull on it. Then, I went for some of my favorite jewelry in my arsenal for around my neck – my rosaries. I have three in my collection and I love them all equally. They vary in color and length and, when worn together, the effect is effortlessly cool and will complete any look perfectly.

What I like about this Fall Finesse OOTD is that it started out really simple and, then, it was taken to a whole new level by pairing it with the right accessories. Creating visual break up with the jewelry, shoes, scarves, and whatever else you see fit takes a look from zero to one hundred real quick and, the beauty of accessories, is that you can use them as sparingly or as boldly as you like. My look can be easily replicated, but never completely the same, thanks to unique accessories adding their own special flavor to each OOTD!

How would you accessorize an all black everything outfit? How do you express yourself through accessories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah