Tag Archives: new clothes

Dress Obsessed: BCBG Edition

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Dress Obsessed: BCBG Edition

Hellooo everyone and a happy Tuesday to all of you! I would never call myself a “label whore” by any means. I’m happy as a clam in any brand, as long as the price is right and it looks cute. But, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t more high end brands that I admire from afar. One of them being, BCBG. What I love the most about that brand is that they do sexy clothing in a way that’s still really tasteful and chic. The silhouettes in BCBG’s clothing are always form fitting but it’s done in the way that it should be: it shows your body’s shape without the garment clinging to you for dear life!

I was lucky enough to snag two BCBG dresses from TJMaxx for forty dollars apiece, which is still cheaper than the original price of eighty-eight dollars per dress. Take a look at the little number we’ll be discussing today and swing by tomorrow to look at my other new favorite dress:

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Before we even talk about how gorgeous this dress is, I really need to commend BCBG’s sizing. It can definitely be intimidating when you order things online, because you always have to factor in the “what if it doesn’t fit” element. That’s why, I’m pleased to say that this dress fit me like a glove.

I looked up BCBG’s sizing chart before ordering and went with a size small, which is for sizes four to six. I am a true blue size four and that really is what I got with my new purchase. It fit me beautifully without being overly tight or clingy. It showed my shape without showing it in its entirety through a modest knee length and long sleeves. Like I said earlier, it’s sexy done right.

Now, we can talk about the simply charming nod to 70’s flower power in the long sleeves and the netted black carving a gorgeous shape throughout the fabric. From the color combinations and pattern to the varying degrees of texture, this dress is interesting to look at both on and off the hanger! I feel like I’ve never seen anything that looks like it before, and I’ll definitely be scouring the TJ’s website monthly for more BCBG gems like the dresses from today and tomorrow’s post.

My new BCBG dress really doesn’t need accessorizing, because it’s a fairly busy piece. But, I do plan on pairing it with my pearls and wooden Steve Madden heels for a sexy but still sweet OOTD.

What are some brand names that you admire from afar? How would you style this dress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Kasper Topper Coat

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New Kasper Topper Coat

Hi everyone and welcome to another wonderful week here on lifewithlilred! I’ve been bad…real bad…Because I ended up ordering more stuff on TJMaxx! But, in my defense, I want to finish all of my fall clothing shopping before I move into my apartment so SUE ME FOR IT. My purchases included two drop dead gorgeous BCBG dresses, which you will see tomorrow and Wednesday, and this lovely topper coat by Kasper seen below. Let’s discuss:

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  • Suggested Price: $149
  • TJMaxx Price: $40
  • Total Savings: $109

My favorite pieces of clothing are definitely coats and jackets. I love how something that you literally just throw on can transform an outfit in its entirety. From moto jackets and peacoats to blazers and trenches, they each hold a special place in my heart. But, I’ve never owned a topper coat until now. Do I know exactly what it is? NO. Do I love it, anyways? HELL YES!

This little number by Kasper is going to look so freaking posh come fall and winter and I cannot wait to wear it for the first time once the weather cools down. I love the black scales peaking out from underneath the white netting, its length, and the elbow length sleeves. And then pairing it with black, thigh high boots and a large statement bag with your OOTD? Forget about it.

From the work Christmas party to throwing this topper on and running your errands, my new Kasper coat will serve its purpose well once the temps get chilly. Can fall get here now, or?

How would you style this topper? Better yet, what the hell is a topper?! I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

More New Clothes!

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More New Clothes!

Howdy! Right about now marks the time when I love to shop, because fall clothes are beginning to be introduced in stores. And, as we all know, fall is Lil Red’s season. The clothes, the weather, the activities, the clothes – I love it all! But, most importantly, I love the clothes! Fall fashion is the jam. From cozy sweaters and cute boots to layering all the things, my fashion sense truly shines in autumn.

To help kick start my fall wardrobe, some online shopping at TJMaxx was a must, and I was able to welcome these pretty little numbers home. Check it out:

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  • Faux Leather Skirt by BB Dakota: $20
  • Rust Colored Sweater by Lush: $10

The midi skirt is an article of clothing that I have admired from afar for a long time. Because of my 5’1 stature, most midi skirts end up looking maxi on me, until this BB Dakota one came along. I. Love. It. So. Much. It fits at my natural waist instead of on my hips, so the extra length doesn’t go down my legs but, rather, up my torso to make for a real midi skirt instead of a maxi. And the faux leather floral material? Forget about it.

This skirt is going to look amazing with a pair of heeled booties, a tucked in black sweater, and a denim jacket over the top if it’s a bit chilly out. I am so excited to finally be able to style my first midi skirt and am looking forward to hopefully finding more midis that I can actually wear as a midi in the future!

And, we can’t forget about the ten dolla holla sweater by Lush! This top is so totally comfy and the colors are so totally perfect for fall AND for me. Rust orange is one of my favorite colors to wear, because it’s deep enough that it doesn’t clash against my bright red hair. Instead, it plays up with my pasty pale skin tone and creates a really nice look overall.

You really can’t beat a brand new sweater for ten dollars and I am psyched to wear it already. This is a perfect lazy fall day top, because all you need do is pair it with a good pair of skinnies and boots and go. Love it!

What is your favorite season to dress for? How would you style the above clothing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Nine West Cape Blazer

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New Nine West Cape Blazer

Hello everyone and a very happy weekend to all of you! I don’t know about you but, when I get the idea of something that I want in my head, it literally takes until I get that thing for the thought to dissipate. This rings true constantly for clothing, because I want the piece that I buy to be just right. Take the cape blazer, for example. I’ve wanted one for close to two years, and I finally found the one, because every cape that I encountered leading up to the Nine West number seen below just wasn’t up to snuff. Check it out:

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Ugh, ain’t she a beaut?! Nine West is a brand that I really, really love. But, god knows that their normal prices cost a pretty penny, so I don’t indulge unless it’s at TJMaxx or a thrift store. My new cape was forty dollars, which is ONE HUNDO cheaper than its original price. You literally can’t beat that!

I love everything about this cape. The polka dot lining, the shape, how it falls perfectly away from my hips, the styling potential. WOOF. It really is perfect and I can’t wait to wear it constantly. From a more formal take on business casual for work to exploring my favorite outdoor mall, Crocker Park, during a blustery fall day, this Nine West piece will be the jam.

Every cape blazer that I’ve tried on has paled in comparison to my latest find and, even though it was a long time coming, it was so worth the wait. The cape is such a unique piece of clothing and when you find just the right one for just the right price, it would be a shame to not get it!

Who else is a fan of the cape? How would you style this piece? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Green With Envy Japna Top

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Green With Envy Japna Top

Hi everyone and happy weekend! After shopping beauty during my last TJMaxx haul, it was all about trying to find a pretty new top to wear for Fourth Of July festivities. Out of the buttload of looks that I tried on, I finally settled on this gorgeous deep green peek a boo top by Japna. Take a look:

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I. Freaking. LOVE this little number. From the forest green color and the black and white vertical stripes to the flutter sleeves and peek a boo back – this top is totally perfect. And, how cute is the above the booty bow that tightens and loosens the shirt? The answer is: VERY. 😀

Fifty shades of green is my absolute favorite color to wear. It looks amazing with my pale skin and red hair and it definitely is one of my go to colors that isn’t black. I also am a huge fan of the little skin surprise on the back to show off all of my tattoos. The flutter sleeves add a touch of sweet to the sex appeal of this crop top and the overall look is very flattering. And, you can’t beat a thirteen dollar price tag!

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

English Factory Tennis Dress

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English Factory Tennis Dress

Hello!! My favorite thing about TJMaxx, other than their amazing prices, is that it gives you access to brands that you’ve never heard of or brands that are a bit out of your budget. Both of these go for the brand English Factory, which I discovered during an online shopping stint on TJ’s website. Upon inspection of English Factory’s own page, I saw that there was really nothing on there that I would be comfortable paying for, because all of their items were upwards of one hundred dollars. But, thirty five dollars for the beautiful, albeit a tad wrinkly dress seen below? I can swing that! Take a look:

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Before we go any further – yes, this dress has been ironed since these pictures have been taken! Lol!

I haven’t had much luck recently when it comes to finding some cute new dresses. And, with summer officially here, I was getting pretty desperate to find a lightweight dress or two to wear for work or play. And then, this English Factory beauty comes along and knocks me off of my feet. As soon as I saw this online, I loved it and I was completely confident that it would look awesome on me. And, obviously I was right. So much so, that out of the seven or eight items that I ordered, this dress is the only thing that I kept.

I love the quirky retro brickabrack detailing on this little number. It looks so sailor girl chic against the crisp, white cotton and I’ve never seen anything that looks like it before. The shape is also extremely flattering on me. The more structured top that turns into a flouncy skirt gives a unique silhouette – very different than every single piece of clothing in my wardrobe. And, the best thing about this dress, is that there is a slip built into the skirt so that your underwears don’t show through. Freaking SCORE.

My new English Factory dress doesn’t need much when it comes to styling an OOTD. A fun pair of platforms and one of my new Foley + Corinna purses are all I need to create a statement look!

How would you style this dress? What are some of your favorite, lesser known brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jolie In Jaase Top

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Jolie In Jaase Top

Hello hello and happy Monday! On my last trip to TJMaxx, I picked up a new top by Australian brand, Jaase, that I am simply obsessed with. It’s fresh, it’s floral, and it’s fabulous. This new zipped crop is completely perfect for spring and I loved it on the hanger, in the dressing room, and on my person because I had to wear it immediately the next day. Take a look:

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Other than black and green, I’m pretty sure that my favorite color to wear is the grey blue that is featured in this little number. I love how the simple white flowers pop against such a muted background. I also love how my complexion and hair pops, as well! This is probably my fifth or sixth top that features the pigeon color palette that I am so very fond of and, yes, I am sure that I will add more to my collection soon!

I love the shape of this top. The tight cropped torso is a snap to apply thanks to the zippered front, and it looks so chic paired with its bubble sleeves that taper into the cinched in finale. This Jaase top is unique, and that is so important to me. The shape of it is so different than anything in my closet and the fifteen dollar price tag doesn’t hurt, either.

Once it gets warm enough to wear shorts with tights, trust and believe that that is what I’ll be pairing my new find with. This Jaase purchase is going to look darling with A-line skirts and will add some flare to my black skinnies when it’s too chilly for shorts and tights. So fun!

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

New Love Notes Cropped Button Down

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New Love Notes Cropped Button Down

Heyyyyyyy. One style of top that I have grown increasingly fond of as of late is the button down. I LOVE them and have began to accumulate quite the collection. And, my love grows even more specific, because I always seem to be drawn to blue, vertical striped button downs – like this cropped cutie by Love Notes seen below:

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  • TJMaxx Price: $13

I really freaking like this shirt and, yes, it does look fabulous underneath the sleeveless hoodie that I wrote about yesterday! This top reminds me a lot of clothing from Zara and getting it for a fraction of what it would have costed there makes it an even sweeter buy. My new Love Notes lovely shows what looks like geese in different stages of flight and it’s just a cool pattern to have over the blue stripes.

Not only is the pattern of this top unique, but so is the style of it because it’s cropped. I am so looking forward to pairing this with black shorts this summer and maybe even during the spring with tights underneath for a quirky fun look. Everything about this top is a score for me and you definitely can’t beat a thirteen dollar price tag!

What is your favorite style of top? Who else is an avid fan of the button down? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Kyodan Sleeveless Hoodie

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New Kyodan Sleeveless Hoodie

Hello! I had a really lovely Saturday this past weekend. My mom, sister, and I went out to lunch and then we went shopping at TJMaxx and HomeGoods. We had a lot of fun and it proved to be a fruitful trip to TJs. For the past month or so, I have been trying to incorporate some more tops into my wardrobe and I finally have had some success. The second top can be seen tomorrow. But, for now, check out this New Kyodan Sleeveless Hoodie that I am obsessed with:

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  • Original Price: $42
  • TJMaxx Price: $20

Athletic apparel that can double as normal clothing is very in as of late. And it’s sure hard to escape seeing all of the work out garb when New Year’s Resolutions are still being pushed in stores. I have wanted a tank top hoodie for a while now, but haven’t been able to find just the right one.

I normally don’t go for anything too plain while shopping but, in this instance, that was exactly what I needed. I wanted the sleeveless hoodie to layer well over different tops and that wouldn’t happen if it was a loud pattern or color. I always prefer black clothing and, in this case, I super preferred black clothing because this half priced Kyodan tank hoodie is perfect.

I am so excited to be able to throw this over a tank, crop top, or T-shirt. But, I am really looking forward to pairing this over classic button downs or long sleeved shirts for a comfy cool look that is still work appropriate. I like that this hoodie doesn’t look like I’m about to go for a work out while wearing it, but I definitely could if I wanted to! Either way, it is sure to look just sporting wherever I go. See what I did there?! 😉

How would you style a tank hoodie? How do you mix athletic gear into your every day outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Creating A Signature Look For Yourself

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Creating A Signature Look For Yourself

In a world where people follow the say-so of magazines, celebrities, and other forms of media when it comes to our appearance, it’s always refreshing to see someone taking on their own approach to their style. Be this person! Stand out from the crowd and create your own signature look. Here are just a couple of areas to focus on:

Hair

Hair can create a signature look that is solely associated with you. Think of Marilyn Monroe’s blonde bob, Dita Von Teese’s jet black 40’s curls, or Miley Cyrus’s slicked back outgrown pixie cut. If you’re not quite ready to reach for the clippers or bright and bold hair dyes, you can ease yourself into more unique looks with styles like ombre. Ombre is a two or more tone look that’s achieved with balayage (which is French for “sweep”). It involves sweeping bleach through different small triangle sections of the hair and leaving the bleach to take for different amounts of time. This helps your hair to subtly alter from areas of lighter shades to areas of darker shades. The majority of people opting for ombre tend to opt for darker roots, slowly and discreetly becoming lighter towards the ends.

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Love top knots!

Clothes

With the rise of street fashion, it’s extremely difficult to curate a personal look that seemingly endless numbers of other people aren’t already wearing at the same time. Think of all of the rails of the same item piled back in big name brand chains. These are going to be bought, there are more in the stockroom, there are even more in other chains, and whole piles of the product are waiting in storehouses to be bought by people online. When you buy the piece you’re looking at, you become one of potentially thousands who are going to have the exact same item. Not only does this make you meld into the background, but it can create awkward situations like turning up at social events or parties in the exact same outfit as somebody else.

The problem with this? It conjures up comparisons between you and the other person, setting off the beginnings of endless “who wore it better?” conversations. Besides this, surely you want to be an individual! Many people think that the only way to do this is to purchase expensive custom or designer pieces that others generally can’t afford. But this isn’t necessarily true. Even just a plain T-shirt can turn into something special with a punchy pattern or a cool slogan. You can check out these Chummy Tees reviews so you can start elevating basic staples to fit your style. As you can see, there are various ways to put together an astounding and truly unique wardrobe. Here are just a few to consider:

Shop Vintage

Vintage stores and outlets are a great place to start when it comes to creating a unique style for yourself. Vintage clothes date from the 1990s and the years before. They tend to be one-off pieces, as the others produced at the same time have been disposed of, recycled, or are no longer in good enough condition to wear. This means that you are extremely unlikely to see anyone else with the same piece as you. But don’t just pick up any old item. There’s a thin line between quirky chic and items that you would likely see an elderly relative wearing.

Do a little research of the different eras and get to know desirable vintage labels to look out for. If the sixties cater well to your tastes, look out for St. Michael’s, Aquascutum, and Biba originals. If the seventies are more your thing, search for Levi bell bottoms and old-school graphic tees. Remember to check the quality of everything that you like the look of and try things on before purchasing. Vintage stores rarely offer refunds or exchanges, so you will want to be sure that they fit and have fully functioning zips and no missing buttons or moth holes before paying.

Upcycling

Upcycling is slowly but surely becoming a more common activity. It is a simple process where you transform items that you already own. You can upcycle all sorts of things: furniture, accessories, and (most exciting of all) your wardrobe. You can turn jeans into shorts for the hot summer months, pillowcases into cute beach tote bags, or perhaps just jazz up a jacket with pins and patches. Whatever you decide to do, upcycling puts your personal touch to your clothing. While someone else might have the same base item, yours will almost certainly stand apart from it.

DIY

If you find that you enjoy upcycling, you might want to try out something a little more complex, but even more rewarding: making your own clothes from scratch. This gives you a lot more freedom over your garments, as you can choose the exact design, fabric, and fit. Start out with simple patterns and follow online tutorials and advice pieces. It may take a little time before you start producing things that you want to wear, but practice makes perfect and developing this brilliant life skill is definitely worth the effort.

Altering your look may take a little time, effort, and planning. However, it’s better to get started sooner rather than later. This will allow you to see positive changes and results as soon as possible!

Featured Image By: Pexels