Tag Archives: ootd

May30

What DO I Wear?! Beach Chic Edition

Posted on May 30, 2017 by lifewithlilred

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the very first post of my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series compliments of the darling, sweet, talented, gorgeous K.M. of Ankhor You. K.M. is a dear blogging friend of mine who I absolutely adore and it would BEHOOVE all of you to go check out her page because I can promise you that you will love her just as much (but definitely not more) as me. K.M. is a mermaid princess and she is going to teach all of you a thing or two about Beach Chic attire. Check it out and enjoy:

What DO I Wear?! Beach Chic Edition

“I look my best when I’m totally free, on holiday, walking on the beach.” Rosamund Pike

When Sarah mentioned that she was doing a summer series with guest bloggers, I knew right away that I not only wanted to take part, and was incredibly honored she wanted me to, but I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to write. Summer is my jam, especially if it includes anything to do with the ocean. If I could live in a bungalow by the beach and write the rest of my life, I would be one happy mermaid. #Lifegoals

Summer time isn’t just my happy place, but it’s my favorite kind of fashion. Maxi dresses, beach cover ups, flip-flops, skirts, bare legs – I love it all. All year, I wait for when I am finally able to shed the heavy coats and toss my espadrilles aside while letting my feet play in the sand. At this point, I wouldn’t say love but more like borderline obsessed.

Summer Fun:

With the warmer weather comes endless activities from sea glass hunting, visiting light houses, to taking a schooner out on the ocean. And, of course, lounging in the sand catching rays is a must. While many of these activities can be considered casual, your style does not have to be. Nope, beach wear can be classy and chic, transitioning from a day in the sun to a night out on the boardwalk. Of course you want to be the epitome of a fashionista. After all…Pictures!

Summer Trends:

Keeping with the unofficial Summer anthem of “let’s show some skin”, the trends aren’t just an emphasis of off the shoulders and cut outs, but bralettes and cropped tops littered the racks and runways this season. It is summer after all, and we want to be cool in our looks and our body temperature!

// Sunglasses: Tory Burch // Shirt: Anthropologie // Skirt: White House Black Market // Shoes: DSW // Necklace: Seamilligan Designs // Cuff: Light House Studio Designs // Clutch: Alaina Marie, Bait Bags //

It can be daunting wearing just a bralette, after all how many of us have Giselle Bundchens abs? Be honest. But, stores like Anthropologie are offering a variety of cropped tops and bralettes, from barely there to just a hint of peek-a-boo skin.

Added to that, high waisted skirts and pants have made a comeback in a big way, pairing well with the “let’s just wear half a shirt” shirt. It also gives us the option of showing a little less skin if we so choose.

The Look:

I found this billowy cropped blouse at Anthropologie and the rest is history, especially when this blonde saw that it came in navy. Move aside black, navy is the IT color for blondes. While it might seem a tad naughty librarian, this shirt is incredibly versatile and pairs well over a camisole, if you want to be trendy, but demure. Tied and fitted at the waist, the kimono like sleeves offer another glance of skin when the arms are raised in the classic “touchdown” stance.

Having planned a day of fun with my mer-twin at Eastern Promenade in Maine, I knew no amount of donuts or frappucinos were going to stop me from rocking this shirt. (You go girl!! -Sarah)

Channeling the high waisted trend, I opted for a white embroidered skirt from White House Black Market. Shorter then I normally go for, it was flirty and fun, perfect for a debut in the sun. Because of the wide elastic band, I could wear it higher up or lower depending on how much skin I wanted to show, or how many mimosas I had slung back at brunch. (AYYYY – also from Sarah)

Accessories Perfect For a Mermaid:

The navy and white created a blank canvas to accessorize however the mood struck. I could go ultra glam or keep it nautical. I decided on the latter, choosing jewelry and accessories that had ocean ties.

I wanted to rock my favorite tassel necklace by SeaMilligan Designs made from blue safety sea-glass. I then added a cuff made out of a lobster gauge from Lighthouse Designs. Rounding out the nautical accessories and to hold my things and maybe any sea glass I found, I grabbed my bait bag clutch by Alaina Marie. And, finally, for shoes I chose my lace espadrilles, that I could easily take off so that I could dip my feet into the (chilly!) water.

The Finished Look:

All in all it was a trendy, yet Beach Chic look, that I could show off both on and off the sand. It is also an outfit that I could throw over a swimsuit or wear for a night out on the boardwalk. Much like most of the items that I buy and style, the options are endless for this look, as well as the individual pieces.

Thank you SO MUCH again to the lovely sea princess, K.M., from Ankhor You for starting out my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series with a Beach Chic bang! How do you style a beach ready look? What are some of your beach essentials? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

Vaca Style Tips For Every Occasion

Posted on May 25, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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So, you’re a traveler? You love to jet off to new places and foreign lands and have a good time? That’s awesome, because there is nothing better than broadening your horizons and enjoying life. But, before you leave, you need to make sure that you’re ready. Nope, that doesn’t mean that you have your passport and visas in order, although that is imperative! In this sense, we’re talking about style. After all, you have to look good while you travel, or else that holiday romance might never happen! Hello, European boys!

Luckily, you can always turn heads while traveling with these tips:

Pack A Series Of Outfits: Naturally, there is never enough space when you start to pack. But, that isn’t an excuse! For centuries, travelers have been finding new and creative ways to jam things into their rucksacks, and you can do the same. Nay, you should do the same. If you’re away for a while, the outfits that you pack will get to feel weathered and tired. As a result, you might begin to develop the wardrobe blahs, feeling like you lack that little something something. By taking everything from sundresses to hot pants and all of the pieces in between, your wardrobe won’t start to feel boring while you’re away.

Be sure to pack some sunnies!

Only Wear Casual Clothes During The Day: Another reason clothes start to feel old is because you are wearing them too much. While you’re away, you won’t think twice about wearing an evening outfit during the day. Indeed, it might be necessary if you haven’t got any clean clothes. The problem with this, is that they lose their shine a lot quicker as a result. The solution is simple: keep evening wear for the evenings. Then, when you get ready, you will have the same feeling like every other time you go for a night on the town.

Take Accessories: Just because you’re abroad, doesn’t mean that you can’t accessorize. In fact, you should do it more when you are in a foreign land. What do you know about accessories? Well, the first and main thing is that they are style enhancers. That means that they are the perfect side dish to making an okay outfit look great. Seeing as your outfits are bound to lose their appeal, a few accessories could help you step up your game. All you have to do is pack a handful that goes with most items. A word of warning: don’t go overboard and pack them carefully to avoid them getting tangled. No one wants to spend a morning in Rome undoing a necklace knot!

Pretty!

Refresh Your Style: What you take with you isn’t what will come back. Most people throw things away and buy new things while they are on the move. And, it’s an excellent idea. Okay, there might not be an H&M on the high street if you’re thousands of miles from home. Still, the local markets always try and cater to the tourists, so there should be some cheap items that catch your eye. In fact, they’ll be dirt cheap if you learn how to haggle properly.

Style is important when you’re traveling in a new place. It will take you from the girl sightseeing to the sight that people are gazing at! Happy travels!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Apr25

How To Create A Trendy & Unique Summer Look

Posted on April 25, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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How To Create A Trendy & Unique Summer Look

The spring/summer fashion has already hit the high-street shops with an abundance of bright colors, florals, mix & match patterns, peekaboo fabrics, stripes, the 1980s and 1990s revivals, and minimalist cuts. But, there’s a big gap between embracing new trends and being yourself. More often than not, embracing a new fashion trend can end up making you look like everyone else. As nice as it can be to blend in, you probably would like to feel more unique in your style than like everyone else. The main thing with fashion is to develop your style while remaining trendy. And as it is often the case in the fashion world, less is more when you are creating your trendy summer look. Here are three ideas to create your style with a minimum of effort this season:

The Low-Key Summer Fashion

For a start, embracing the summer fashion doesn’t mean that you need to change your wardrobe and buy all new everything. Working with a few smart summer accessories, from the platform shoes – making their big comeback after we last saw them in the Spice Girls era – to mismatched earrings, you can easily create a dead on trend outfit without needing to change your actual clothes. This season, the accessories are dramatic and eye catching. With the return of the embroidery patterns, for example, on denim jackets, sweaters, and jeans, it’s no doubt that an embroidered handbag can turn your summer shorts and tee into a fashion statement.

The Bold And Bright New Summer Me

It’s never easy to fully ignore the seasonal trends, though. But, even if you love to revamp your wardrobe, it can be a little tricky to choose to embrace all of the summer trends at once. So, if you are keen to renew your wardrobe, one item at a time, take your pick among the iconic summer styles – florals, stripes, peekaboo, mix & match patterns, bright colors, 1980s revivals, and post-minimalism. As a rule of the thumb, a floral ensemble or a bright piece of clothing would seem to be the best choice. All you need is to embrace one trend with one quality fashion statement – if you are looking for affordable quality fashion, check discounts and vouchers on DontPayFull.com. Make sure to pick brands that you can trust, as you don’t want to be struggling with bleeding patterns and colors in the first wash (such a nightmare!).

The Playful Vintage Fashionista

Last, but not least, if you are falling in love with the 1980s and 1990s revival style, the easiest way to embrace it is to look in second-hand and vintage shops to find original pieces from the era. Pinterest.com has an inspirational board about low-key vintage fashion, which can be helpful to find the kind of cuts and shapes that would suit you. Real vintage is unique, and it is, by far, the best that you can do to follow the golden 80s and 90s look. Now, get to thrifting!

^^^ Lol.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Mar2

So, What Exactly IS Smart Casual?

Posted on March 2, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Ever had one of those occasions where you simply don’t know how to dress for it? Maybe you’ve been invited to a party where you don’t know the people or the vibe or maybe you are going somewhere during the daytime and you don’t want to look overdressed. Although no one will mind if you are dressed a little bit differently (unless you’re in something totally outrageous, that is) it can make you feel awkward and self-conscious. At a social event, that is the absolute last thing you want as it can end up hindering your whole experience there.

But what do you do when you have no idea what kind of outfit is suitable for a specific occasion and you either can’t or don’t want to ask in advance? The best thing to do here is to go smart casual. The ‘smart cas’ look has been around for decades and isn’t always the easiest thing to get right as there is plenty of ambiguity over what constitutes ‘smart’ and what constitutes ‘casual’! The important thing is not to overthink it – as long as it’s not too sparkly, tight, or short you’re probably on the right track! So, with that in mind, here are some easy looks that mean you are ALWAYS dressed for the occasion:

A Dress: You might hear the word ‘dress’ and think immediately, that this is too formal for smart casual. But in reality, there are plenty of ways that you can rock a dress and still not look like you are taking yourself too seriously. Remember, that dresses come in all shapes and styles. A cute tea dress is demure while still being flirty – opt for something that kicks out from the waist, which is a cut that flatters pretty much every body type. Go for a floral print and pair it with some cute pumps for the daytime or with some heeled sandals for a fun evening look.

If you need to look a little more corporate in your smart casual ensemble, stick to muted colors such as grey and choose a classic shift dress. Pair with some knee high boots and a jacket. But remember, if your dress is already very tailored, soften the look with a waterfall jacket, or something else that is a bit less structured. All-over tailoring does, unfortunately, emphasize the ‘smart’ aspect of smart casual a little too much.

You can’t go wrong with a pretty floral dress.

Top & Jeans: If you were ever looking for a classic smart-casual combination, it doesn’t come much better than the top and jeans pairing. The jeans are the staple piece for this outfit, so make sure that you invest in a pair that is clearly of good quality. It might mean spending a little more money but trust us – other people can spot cheap denim from a mile off. Skinny or slim-fit jeans are the most versatile and the more flattering on basically any figure, despite what social norms about slim fitting clothes are.

If you are a little more conscious of your stomach area, simply opt for a high-waisted pair that will nip you in at your waist. The top can pretty much be anything you like, but try to avoid cotton T-shirts and tank tops as they look a little too low-key. A lace or satin blouse is always a fail safe option. As far as footwear goes, try and judge the occasion as best as you can. Sometimes heels might be necessary, but other times you might even be able to get away with trainers – providing that they are something classic, like women’s Adidas originals.

Cute boots are always a safe bet!

Co-ords: While it’s advisable not to don anything too outrageous for a smart casual event, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have fun with some interesting pieces of fashion. We first saw the trend for the co-ord emerge early last year and it remains a useful item in the wardrobe of many women today. Remember that a co-ord is very different from a suit: you can get them in varying prints and colors, so don’t be afraid to go bold! Plus, you can ditch the traditional top and trouser combination for all kinds of different mismatches. Why not go for a wide leg, high waisted trouser paired with a crop top (this will make your legs go on for miles) or opt for a boxy shirt layered over a matching A-line skirt? Whatever you choose, your co-ord set is going to take all of the stress out of deciding what to wear!

Hello, stilettos!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Feb20

Shopaholic Does Spring OOTD

Posted on February 20, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and welcome to a beautiful spring OOTD brought to you by everyone’s favorite, Nida, from Shopaholic Blogs! Nida was the very first guest blogger that I ever had on lifewithlilred and from the beginning, I have always just adored her. I relish when I can have her back on my blog because her amazing work really does speak for itself. Not only that, but she is an amazing friend, too! Please be sure to check out her fantastic page and enjoy this OOTD that she created special for my Think Spring guest bloggers series:

Shopaholic Does Spring OOTD

Hello Lovelies

I am so excited and honored to be guest blogging for the lovely Sarah from lifewithlilred again. In fact, this year also marks the one year anniversary of our friendship and our blogging collaborations. For this post, Sarah picked the “Spring” theme and after many deliberations I decided to opt for an OOTD given that the weather this past week has been simply beautiful!

So here is a special spring guest post for my blogging BFF and I am looking forward to many more successful collaborations in the future.

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For this outfit I went back and forth several times before deciding on this combination. Normally, I would have chosen a dress given that we are heading towards warmer weather soon. However, I am not a huge fan of floral prints in general so I usually stick to neutral colors. But, lucky for me, I just happened to come across a floral top that didn’t make me look like a walking bouquet!

I paired the top with a pair of chambray pants, which I think is such a perfect color for spring and summer. I’ve worn this top two ways to show you it’s versatility. I hope you guys enjoy this look and do share your favorite spring styles with me and Sarah!

Until next time xoxo

^^^ SO PRETTY!! Thank you again to Nida for creating a Shopaholic Does Spring OOTD for lifewithlilred. You are simply the best! What is your favorite spring flower? How do you incorporate florals or bright colors into your spring wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb18

What DO I Wear?!?! Spring Has Sprung

Posted on February 18, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and welcome to an OOTD post compliments of the darling K.M. from Ankhor You for my Think Spring guest bloggers series. This post is a branch out from her What DO I Wear?!?! segments on her blog so definitely check them out because they are all equally fabulous! K.M.’s Spring Has Sprung look will show you how to create the perfect ensemble for browsing botanical gardens, sipping coffee at an outdoor cafe, or simply hanging out with the girls once the warmer weather hits. Take a look:

What DO I Wear?!?! Spring Has Sprung

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” ~ Coco Chanel

Spring is one of my favorite times of year. It is the signal of the end of winter doldrums. The streets become busier as people, birds, and flowers alike come out of the cocoons they hibernated in, blossoming with a plethora of energy. In the city it seems almost over night that the abundance of food carts and street side cafes are introduced back onto the blocks, fully stocked with goodies for sale. The city is vibrant again. We are no longer hunched over protecting ourselves from the wind and bitter cold, but instead stealing away on our lunch breaks to the park, taking trips to the Botanic Gardens, or hanging out at Bryant Park on the weekends.

Despite the new zest on life, Spring can still be brutal in New York. While the days might be getting longer and the sun stronger, Mother Nature still likes to play pesky mind games. Which is why despite wanting to shed the darker palette that makes my winter wardrobe, and don a cute sundress, I also don’t want to be freezing my Kim K derrière (!!!!! -Sarah) as I smell the flowers in Central Park.

//Sunglasses and bag: Tory Burch// Sweater and shirt: Anthropology// Jeans: White House Black Market// Sandals: Aldo//

When Sarah and I discussed ideas for this post I immediately went to an oldie but goodie. It is an oldie because jeans and a shirt are such a classic look and can be worn anywhere depending on how you style it. I have chosen to give it a bit of an update with some spring pizzazz, which incorporates the going strong trend of florals. Because let’s be real, spring is the perfect time to look like a flower pot, so I say go for it if you want to bust out those flowery prints! It also makes layering super easy, which is a must during this time of the year. It combines casualness with some glam making it perfect to transition from frolicking in the park to hitting the two for ones at night. Just add some cute cork wedges and you are ready to go.

Now the Look:

Being a petite curvy gal, I am obsessed with White House Black Market’s jeans. They not only come in petite but a variety of styles making them flattering for everyone but especially those who have a little bit of a booty. This style is called the Skimmer Jean and is similar to the skinny jean. I love the dark wash, and the rips at the knees creates an edgier look. While I love a good dress, the jeans make it much easier to have some spring time fun, whether it is an impromptu yoga session in the grass, or playing a game of catch on the green in Bryant Park.

I decided to pair my jeans with a floral blouse from Anthropology channeling one of the trends for Spring. This shirt is as comfy as it is feminine and chic. The chiffon fabric, delicate embroidery, and ruffled collar channel my inner skater girl making me feel poised and graceful, without feeling too buttoned up. It is that perfect combination of casual and glam.

I am obsessed with this Primula cocoon sweater from Anthro’s 2016 fall collection. It feels like I am wrapped in a big cuddly yet fashionable snuggie and is perfect for those Spring days where Mother Nature doesn’t know whether to shine or be a downer. The wool blend isn’t at all itchy and the blush color adds that perfect touch of spring softness.

I love going barefoot, especially in a park with my feet in the grass, so when it hits about fifty-five degrees, I throw the boots away and dive into flip flops as soon as I can. These sandals from Aldo are equally comfortable AND fashionable.

To finish the look, I decided to keep with the blush theme and added a SeaMilligan Design necklace and paired it with my Tory Burch sunglasses and tote bag. Last but not least, I added my lace cuff bracelet, another Anthropology treasure to close out the look.

^^^ Thank you so much again to K.M. for such a beautiful post! I loved your look and pictures as I’m sure all of my readers did! How do you still a spring ready look? What is one of your spring wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Make sure to tune in tomorrow for a post by Lakshmi from The Rink!

Feb14

Get Ready With Me: Valentine’s Day Style

Posted on February 14, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Get Ready With Me: Valentine’s Day Style

Hello everyone and happy happy Valentine’s Day! Shout out to the couples celebrating today and also shout out to the single ladies (like me) who will be enjoying wine, chocolate, and chick flicks solo dolo! But hey, whether you’re in a relationship or not, there is one thing that I’m sure we can all agree on: Valentine’s Day is a day to get cute. It’s no matter if it’s just for yourself or for your significant other, V-Day is the day to pull out all of the girly fun stops that might not fly for you on the regular. We’re talking florals, lace, darling dresses, and accessories for days.

“But Sarah, you’re the farthest thing from girly when it comes to your style”, you might say? Yeah, I know but watch me put together the best of both worlds of rocker chic and totally sweet with this look:

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My Outfit:

Butterfly Moto Jacket: Nasty Gal, Signature Eight
Floral Dress: One Love Yoga & Boutique, Millibon
Dove Detailed Heels: ModCloth
Heart Shaped Sunnies: PacSun
Pearl Necklace: My grandma’s! ❤

When styling this look, I knew that I wanted to create something very feminine and pretty but I also wanted to give myself a bit of edge so that I would still feel like myself. I started the process with my burgundy floral Millibon dress and began to piece together a cohesive outfit from there. The butterfly moto jacket from Nasty Gal was a no brainer to throw over the dress. The olive hue of the jacket matched those in the dress perfectly but what sold me on it was the shape. To toughen up a sweet as pie dress, all you need to do is throw on your favorite motorcycle jacket and you’re off!

My dove detailed heels are from ModCloth and they are actually so worn that I can’t even tell what brand it is anymore! Anyways, I was toying with putting on one of my many pairs of black heels but my ModCloth pair just looked too cute to pass up on wearing them. How can you go wrong with something so darling on Valentine’s Day? My heart shaped sunnies seemed like the perfect way to go to add some cheeky fun to the look, but the accessory that I’m the most excited about is the pearls that you can see peeking out in the pictures. This strand of pearls belonged to my beloved grandma and it is my favorite piece of jewelry to wear with basically everything. Not only are the pearls timeless and beautiful, but I love knowing that my grandma is with me, especially when they’re fastened around my neck.

After assembling an outfit that I was pleased with, it was time for hair and makeup. As you can see, I went with a rocker chic pompadour to add that little extra something something to the look. Nothing makes me feel more glam rock than a hair to the heavens pompadour a la David Bowie and this is what kept me feeling like me while sporting such a pretty look. And, of course, there is no better time than Valentine’s Day for a set of ruby red lips to pucker up with. I’m sure all of you already know that I went with my favorite shade of Pure Red by NYX considering that’s literally all I wear!

Now, I realize that Valentine’s Day is the day for us accessorizers to get some new jewelry to add to our collection. Whether your new jewelry is a gift from your special someone or a total TREAT YOSELF splurge, I am sure that all of my darling readers will go gaga over the gorgeous jewelry from AUrate. This company specializes in the most fantastic gold accessories to add a touch of glam to your look and I just had to share two of my favorite pieces with you from their gold necklace collection. Take a look and proceed to drool:

^^^ SO. PRETTY!!

If you guys haven’t gathered by now, I love, love, LOVE pearls. The glamour, the elegance, the pure beauty – pearls just speak to me. That’s why I simply adore the Simple Pearl Necklace that AUrate offers. The single drop of a perfectly shaped pearl on a glistening gold chain? Woof! I’m sold.

And this wouldn’t be a signature lifewithlilred post if I didn’t go all heart eyes over a piece of clothing or accessory with my favorite color: black. Say hello to AUrate’s Black Diamond Choker. This piece is so totally in right now and nothing screams Lil Red more than an expertly crafted black diamond accessory. SO gorgeous! *insert heart eyes emoji*

Do check out the rest of the stunning gold necklace collection from AUrate and be sure to leave the page up on your computer as a little hint to your honey! 😉

So there you have it, a look perfect for date night, girls night, or a TREAT YOSELF day as seen in my Get Ready With Me: Valentine’s Day Style post! How do you sport the perfect Valentine’s Day look? What are you and your significant other doing to celebrate? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb9

Accessory Story: All Gold Everything Edition

Posted on February 9, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Accessory Story: All Gold Everything Edition

I treasure all of the moments that I shared with my late grandma equally but one thing that I particularly remember about her is her sense of style. My grandma (like me) loved to shop. She loved looking her best and she always wore outfits that were simple but elegant. I remember one time, we went to her favorite store, Talbots, and I helped her pick out a brand new winter wardrobe. Once the bill was tallied all she could do was laugh and say “I went hog wild!”

No outfit is complete without the right accessories, though, and this is something that my grandma was an expert in. She had the most divine jewelry and I kid you not, over one hundred hats!! I have such fond memories of playing dress up in grandma’s closet and jewelry box as a child while she played the piano or baked a delicious meal or sweet treats. After my grandma’s passing, a lot of her pieces of jewelry went to myself, my sister, and my mom (her daughter). Quite a few of her hats and floral maxi skirts also ended up in my collection, as well.

I have to say, I’m not the biggest accessory girl in the world. I literally wear the same earrings and necklace every day. But I am getting more adventurous with accessorizing my outfits after I looked at all of my necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings and realized that all of them were essentially going to waste. That was when I decided to add one of my grandma’s necklaces to an outfit that I was wearing and it became my new favorite:

About a week ago, my outfit consisted of my new Forever 21 cheetah print jersey, Nasty Gal patched moto jacket, Loft velvet black skinny jeans, a backwards baseball cap, and a killer pair of heels. But, it felt like I was missing something. I was trying to go for an urban chic look that day and all I could think about was how fabulous a big, chunky, gold necklace would be to complete the look. Then, I remembered that I already had one!

I snagged the drop dead gorgeous necklace seen above from my dresser and as soon as it was on, it instantly transformed the outfit. I wasn’t just trying to emulate an urban chic vibe, I was urban chic and it felt amazing. It’s funny to think that such a cool, almost tough girl feeling came from a necklace that belonged to my grandma (as seen in the featured image photo), who was the most sweet as pie, beautiful woman that I know. But hey, I think that she would be proud that I was wearing her jewelry in a way that helped enhance my personal style and was thinking of her the entire time that it was around my neck.

Since last week, I think I’ve worn my new favorite outfit at least three times and I still love it just as much as the first time that I wore it. I can’t wait to begin utilizing all of the wonderful accessories that I have from my grandma and the ones that I have accumulated over the years. I am so excited to see which piece of jewelry will transform one of my outfits next and am looking forward to sharing it with all of you!

These silly pictures of me and my sister are from my brother’s rehearsal dinner from his wedding but they give you an idea of what the necklace looks like on:

So there you have it, my first Accessory Story: All Gold Everything Edition! What is your favorite accessory that you own? What is your favorite kind of accessory to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan21

Pinup Girl Style Swap

Posted on January 21, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy weekend!! My dear friend, Carlie, and I decided that it would be super fun to do a style swap themed blog post – and of course we were right! During our communications via email we each assigned each other a style that we might not dress in on a regular day. If you’ve seen Carlie’s blog before, you’ll know that she is the epitome of pinup girl rocker chic and that is something that I am so not! Knowing this, I thought that it would be a friendly challenge to give Carlie the task of creating a preppy look while she assigned me with styling a pinup girl OOTD.

Quite honestly, I know nothing about pinup girl and rockabilly style so I had to turn to good ol’ Google Images to assist me with my challenge. After scouring the pics for a while, I noticed a common theme of cute curls and sassy updos, tied at the waist plaids, flirty dresses, and bustier tops. Unfortunately, I don’t really have any dresses or tops in my wardrobe that give a super accentuated cleavage while providing a tiny waist line because I’m just not comfortable with that, so I had to think outside of the box. Here’s what I came up with:

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What I Wore:

Checkered Top: Hollister, GoodWill – $4
Black Shorts: So…, Kohl’s – $12
Color Blocked Kitten Heels: Calico, GoodWill – $6
Daisy Earrings: Forever 21 – $4

I’m going to keep it real with you guys – some of the pieces in this outfit are like six years old haha I’ve had my GoodWill Hollister top and Calico heels for ages. But it felt good to be able to style such a cute and sassy look for under thirty dollars with some oldie but goodie wardrobe essentials.

However, I knew that just an adorbs outfit wasn’t going to be enough because in pinup girl fashion, there seemed to be a huge emphasis on hair. I rarely ever make an effort at curling my hair because it’s simply a matter of preference – I love when my hair is pin straight. I knew my curls wouldn’t be perfect because I have no practice doing it, but I gave it a go anyways with my flat iron and surprisingly loved the way it turned out. I felt like my effort looked like an ode to pinup girl style without being super obvious and I even felt encouraged to wear my hair like that again in the future. And, of course, pinup girls wouldn’t be pinup girls without a cherry red lip so I broke out my tried and true NYX True Red matte lippie to complete the look.

Finally, it was picture time! In all of the pictures that I studied to give me some pinup girl inspiration, I noticed that there were a lot of specific poses that seemed to be used constantly. Popped legs, bent knees with your hands on your thighs, and a booty tooch with an arched back for starters. So, I practiced in the mirror and then had my dad who is super handy with a camera snap away.

After three or so minutes, I took a look at the pics and was SO happy with the results. After seeing the look come together in the photos, I felt like it was easy to recognize what style I was emulating while stilling giving it a fun Lil Red twist. I was going for a more modern pinup girl look and I hate to toot my own horn – but I think I nailed it!

So now, the question is: Would I wear a pinup girl style look again? I can’t say that this would be an every day look for me but it was fun to change things up. I can see myself wearing an outfit like this during the summertime while going to the pool or browsing around my favorite outdoor shopping mall. However, I think that I would try to tone the look down depending on where I was by throwing on a pair of combat boots or an edgier heel so the look wasn’t so cutesy because I am a punk girl at heart!

So there you have it, my Pinup Girl Style Swap! Make sure to check out Carlie’s preppy look transformation, too! How would you describe your style? What type of style or clothing do you rarely find yourself wearing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan10

Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series

Posted on January 10, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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I’m still looking for some fabulous guest bloggers for this series! 🙂

lifewithlilred

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! I hope everyone is having a fab week so far. So during the past few months I really wanted to host a holiday themed guest bloggers series but I was so busy with graduation stuff that I didn’t get the chance. Now that the holidays are long gone and the winter blues are starting to kick in, I thought that now would be a perfect time for a series that celebrates all things spring. So break out the pastels and florals and apply some sweet peach blush to your cheeks and show me your best spring styles!

If you are interested in participating, shoot me an email at sarah.mush6794@gmail.com with some ideas for a guest post and we’ll pick which one works best. I’d love to be able to publish the series during the first week of February. Looking forward to hearing from all of…

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