Tag Archives: personal style

Dec15

New Joie Knit Blazer

Posted on December 15, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Hello! My favorite piece of clothing is, easily, a good jacket. I freaking LOVE them and it never ceases to amaze me just how much they can transform an outfit by throwing one on. If I had to go more specific into which style of jacket is my favorite, then I would say: The blazer. Blazers are awesome and they can be anything that you want it to be. All business? Perfect. Business casual? Done. Date night? Easy. Running errands? Sure! From sleek and chic to sexy and sassy, blazers can be made to fit any occasion and there is really something to be said for that versatility. I have way too many blazers than I care to admit but couldn’t resist two more during my TJMaxx shopping trip! Check out the first of the two with this little number by Joie:

It’s hard for me to describe my personal style because I don’t like to limit myself to just one kind of clothing. The fun of fashion comes from trying new things and shopping at TJMaxx gives me the opportunity to be adventurous. At first glance, this new blazer is probably something that you guys wouldn’t have picked out for me to wear. And, honestly, at first glance I wasn’t completely sold on it, either. However, it never hurts to try clothes on no matter what the result ends up being because you can learn from it.

I wasn’t expecting to like this piece as much as I did prior to trying it on but it was such a game changer when it was actually on me and not on the hanger. From the way it’s made in the double breasted shape to the pattern and knit material, this Joie blazer is so unique and I have never seen anything like it before. My main fear was that the houndstooth pattern in nontraditional colors was going to look super old lady. BUT, it’s the periwinkle blue and black popping against the tawny background that make it quirky with a sweet retro touch.

The knit material of this blazer is also very cool. It offers the classic blazer shape without its sometimes unforgiving rigidity. Whether I had it buttoned or not, I could tell that it was still a blazer but just felt like a cozy knit cardigan. Can you picture settling in an armchair with a good book and a hot coffee at a cafe in this baby?! This blazer looks like going to a library or bookstore and I am so there for it.

I am excited for this new addition to my wardrobe because of all of the styling possibilities that come with it. I can picture it with a simple A-line skirt, tights, and heels for a holiday get together. I can also see myself sporting it with black skinnies and ankle length booties for work or running errands. This Joie blazer was the only one I could find in the store and I feel lucky to have gotten my hands on it! 😀

What is your favorite piece of clothing? What is something unique that you have in your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec8

It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD Bonus Pics

Posted on December 8, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD! There were so many pictures I liked from this shoot because I loved the outfit that I created. It is for sure one that I can picture myself wearing again or with variations and it might just be one of my favorite looks from this past year of OOTDs. I think I achieved my goal of creating an elder emo look that the young bloods can look up to lol! What do you guys think?

I don’t know about all of you but my fashion sucked ASS in high school lol. It was basically as bad on the outside as I felt on the inside. However, that’s one of the cool things about growing up. You get to develop your own style and learn what works the best for you. This was a process of trial and error and how my style evolved from yikes to something I’m proud of stems from countless shopping trips to TJMaxx with my mom. Trying on fitting rooms full of clothes in every shape, style, and color really helped get me in tune with my body type and what compliments it. This also gave me the freedom to make fashion mistakes without showing it to the entire high school.

Shows like Euphoria had all of the high school aged characters serving LOOKS and that truly is not the case for lots of people, myself included. If you’re one of my younger readers and have similar sentiments to my days of yore, I promise that it will get better. It just takes a bit of time, reflection, and an adventurous spirit when you’re out shopping. This outfit was inspired by what I wish that I wore in high school and I think my younger self would have flipped her shit if she saw these pictures of grown up me.

“It’s just a phase” is something that young people hear a lot and it is such a massive eye roll. There are some things you will never outgrow and that is okay! Once an emo kid, always an emo kid and all you have to do is look at thirty-three year old Johnny and twenty-eight year old me to know that it was most certainly not just a phase. This look was all about tossing that phrase in the garbage and being proud of who you are and how you feel. All of it makes you you and I like you just the way you are! ❤

What was a phase that you never outgrew? How has your personal style developed? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct4

You’re Never Too Old!

Posted on October 4, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! As you all know, I am a HUGE lover of body modifications, fun hair, and fashion. I’m twenty-eight years old and I could never picture looking or dressing any differently than I do. In fact, I truly believe that I will have my five nose piercings in for all eternity and that’s fine by me!

When I’m out and about in a killer OOTD or just bumming it while running errands, a comment that I always seem to get is: “I wish I could dress or dye my hair like that but I’m too old.” To which I will always reply: “NO YOU’RE NOT!!” As sweet of a compliment as it is, it makes me sad because I am a firm believer in age being nothing but a number – even though I sometimes internally cry over approaching the big 3-0 *face palm*.

I also think that life is too short to be anything other than yourself. And if that means getting a tattoo or piercing at fifty or dying your hair pink at ninety, then I say go for it! What is the point in denying yourself something that would make you happy? Answer: There is no point.

During a trip to the zoo a few weekends ago, I wore this outfit:

While exploring the Akron Zoo with my sister and nieces, I ran into one of my friends and her three daughters. The two older of the three told me that they wanted to dress like me when they grow up and it warmed my cold, bitter heart. They also said that they never see adults who look like me and it’s cool.

I asked how old they thought I was because sometimes I have a hard time believing I’m an adult lol and one of them replied with “I don’t know… nineteen?” At this point, I thought my heart was going to explode and their minds were blown when I told them how old I am. I enlightened them on my philosophy about always being true to your own personal style and I think that it stuck!

No matter your age, there is nothing wrong with being the best version of yourself. If you are toying with the idea of changing your look up, then this is your sign to do it. You can thank me by telling me all about your transformation! ❤

What do you love about yourself? Do you have any plans for new hair, tattoos, etc? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep20

Fun Ways To Personalize Your Home

Posted on September 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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If you do not want your home to be like every other one on the block, then there are lots of things you can do to make it more interesting than the average home in your neighborhood. Have some fun with these ideas that people will be sure to take notice of:

Paint the exterior doors:

Painting the exterior doors in a unique color is a good way to really put your stamp on your property and show the world that you are unique. A fuchsia door or an orange porch might not be the norm, but if it’s what you love, then why not go for it?! It will be worth it if it makes you smile and is something that your neighbors will take joy in too.

Create a mosaic:

One of the more unusual things you can do to personalize your home is to create a mosaic either on a wall or floor indoors or to the exterior of your property. You can buy ready made mosaic wall art or make your own and it is a great way to tell your own personal story in an artistic way that is likely to add value to your property too. Decorative and unique, it will look great, add meaning, and impress potential future buyers all in one fell swoop.

Make your own soft furnishings:

A fun way to personalize your property is by making your own soft furnishings such as cushions, quilts, and blankets. Having things that you have made yourself in your home is a really good way of making it feel more like yours. If you are looking for something really special, then why not use transfers to put your own photographs onto cushions and throws? It’s a unique way to display them, and will ensure that no one else has the same decor as you.

^^^ Pexels Image

Use washi tape:

Washi tape is basically decorative tape that comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. It can be used to decorate your home in a cute, non-permanent way, and because there are so many designs available, it is an easy way of making your home more personal to you. For example, if you love floral designs, you can line your shelves with poppy print washi tape or if you love gold, you can create gild frames around light switches and other fixtures. It will also only cost you a few dollars to do so!

Buy your favorite flowers:

Buying your favorite flowers, whether they be roses, geraniums, or lilies, and displaying them in every room of your home is an easy and uplifting way to make your property more personal to you. Nothing is better than the scent of fresh cut flowers in your home!

Personalizing your property is a fun way to make it more your own, stand out more, and adds value to potential buyers, so why not try out some of the ideas above today?

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug3

Country Concert OOTD Bonus Pics

Posted on August 3, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my Country Concert OOTD! Although we didn’t end up going to said country concert of Willie Nelson, I got tons of pictures that I love to show for it so I guess it all worked out lol. This OOTD was a blast to style and even more fun to wear! My inner Dolly Parton was able to burst free and I felt like a total country diva. Take a look at some bonus pics so good that they should be outlawed (See what I did there?!):

Wearing this outfit was very interesting to me because it is not even close to my usual personal style at all. I’m sure all of you can agree! However, it was a true testament to the confidence that a great outfit can give – regardless of of it’s something that you would normally wear or not. When I first put this OOTD on, I admit that I was slightly self conscious. Then, I began playing with the fringe and dancing around in the mirror and I was transformed!

What has always drawn me to fashion is that it gives you the opportunity to be whoever you want on any given day. My standard look is a combination of glam rock and punk but who says that I can’t be a country superstar or a posh theater goer? When you dress the part and have the confidence to pull it off is when you can start having real fun with styling without limiting yourself to your signature style.

I can honestly say that this is an outfit that I would wear again without the catch of attending a country show. Is it a bit much? Absolutely. But, so am I so what difference does it make? I felt AMAZING in this OOTD and that’s all that matters to me. So, if you have a look that you’re on the fence about but feel good in: Wear it anyway!! It will be an excellent practice in your own self confidence and you’ll end up feeling glad that you took the risk.

Tomorrow, tune in for a new watercolor painting project. Then, it will be on to bloopers from this look and a couple’s photo shoot! See you then! ❤

How would you describe your personal style? What makes you feel confident? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr3

Day To Stage OOTD

Posted on April 3, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a first on lifewithlilred: An OOTD exclusively for men as modeled by my fiance, Johnny. You might remember his rock n’ roll aesthetic from our Engagement OOTDs and this past Saturday, he agreed to let me take his pictures. Once we returned home from our day date, Johnny treated me to a private concert on our balcony from all of our 1950s favorites and Hank Williams. We were outside all evening enjoying the weather, music, and each other’s company and it provided me with the perfect opportunity to photograph my beau.

You can hear Johnny playing lead guitar in The Outside Voices or you can go old school and listen to his former band Johnny And The Apple Stompers. But, in the meantime, check out his Day To Stage OOTD:

Who? What? Wear?

Maroon Moto Jacket: AFTF Basic
Western Button Down: Clip-ity Clop
Jeans: Hot Topic
Scarf: Phix
Boots: ASOS
Sunglasses: Empyre brand
Coffin Ring: Etsy – This is actually his engagement ring but it is too big so he has it on a different finger lol

Now, you all know a lot about my personal style but you don’t know much about Johnny’s save for a few pictures. So, I thought we would start with a little fashion bio for him before we talk about his look:

Johnny and I each have a pretty big clothing collection and pre-pandemic, we would normally go to Goodwill whenever he felt like he needed new clothes. Through his secondhand shopping, Johnny has clothes in both men’s and women’s from years past and loves to experiment with fashion, especially when his band would play. Johnny typically rocks a more muted palette but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t all about animal print, polka dots, and fringe.

In COVID times, we have both not been actual shopping once and online shopping has reigned supreme. Because Johnny has such a specific style, he couldn’t just peruse TJMaxx’s website like his missus, and discovered his two new favorite sites: Straight To Hell and Phix. He has gotten a few sweaters from Straight To Hell but is particularly fond of their leatherware. Phix, on the other hand, has the most fabulous It Brit fashions and Johnny has several shirts from there which he can’t wait to break out when it’s finally safe for The Outside Voices to perform.

Whether he looks fresh from the 70s, like the lead guitarist in a punk band, or a country star, my fiance will serve you a look every time. Like I’ve said countless times before, I adore his fashion so let’s talk about it some more!

This OOTD is a pretty standard out and about look for Johnny and he wore this while we had our day date to a few different game stores and the patio of our favorite bar. His outfits always inspire me and I love going out with him and showing off our statement looks. The base of his OOTDs is always and forever black skinny jeans so Johnny likes to opt for a louder shirt, bold shoes, and accessories to elevate the outfit, as you can see in the pics above.

The Day To Stage OOTD is all about the finishing touches because without the jacket, scarf, and pointed toe shoes – it’s really just jeans and a button down! Making it very easy to recreate on your own. This outfit features all of Johnny’s favorite things both fashion and music wise. The western inspired shirt nods to his love of old country, the moto jacket adds rock n’ roll flare, and the scarf and boots give the perfect touch of glam. Peep the lightning bolt detailing on the shoes:

Johnny gave me a few different options of what he could wear and we both agreed on this OOTD. As always, Johnny was a joy to photograph and his look was perfect for our day date turned concert. This is what the sky looked like by the time we went inside:

^^^ So Pretty!

There is nothing better to me than having fashion fun with my fiance and I am so excited for more menswear OOTDs in the future!

What is your favorite genre of music? Where is your favorite place to secondhand shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

Engagement OOTDs

Posted on March 21, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! Johnny proposed to me during a couples lifewithlilred photo shoot for my Reimagine Your Wardrobe series and it was absolutely perfect. You read about all of the details of the proposal yesterday and, today, we are going to talk about our spring sweater weather OOTDs. I have wanted to style and photograph Johnny for a while now and, while I didn’t put his look together, I am so proud of how well he did in front of the camera! This was not his first rodeo when it comes to being photographed but he took my direction so well and I think our pictures turned out great. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear? Hers:

Cropped Sweater: Forever 21
Skort: Almost Famous, TJMaxx
Rhinestone Fishnets: Urban Outfitters
Daisy Wedge Mules: B.A.I.T., ModCloth
Lightning Bolt Earrings: EmLeigh’s and Mama B’s

Who? What? Wear? His:

Zebra Striped Sweater: Straight To Hell
Leather Jacket: Straight To Hell
Jeans: Hot Topic
Sunglasses: These are mine and are from Forever 21 – he misplaced his 🙂
Boots: We are both not sure lol!

I love both men and women’s fashion equally and I think that Johnny has amazing personal style that actually closely mimics mine. We are both not afraid to take risks when it comes to our outfits and we like to have fun with what we wear. I have been so excited for his debut on my blog and, during our photo shoot before he proposed, he told me that that was what he was nervous about. Like I said yesterday, I really had no idea he was going to pop the question!

The day of our engagement, Johnny got ready before me so it was easy to style an OOTD around what he was already wearing. Johnny loves online shopping with Phix and Straight To Hell and he had just purchased his sweater and jacket within the past few months. My fiance is fond of animal patterns and, while we both agree that the sweater is a little itchy, he still likes it all the same – a tank top or T-shirt underneath is definitely necessary, though.

As soon as I saw that Johnny was sporting his new sweater, my mind instantly went to my rainbow cropped sweater from Forever 21. I have had it for years now and, honestly, haven’t worn it for a year or so and I thought it would be perfect for my Reimagine Your Wardrobe series. It also made me feel like Rainbow Brite when I had it on which is a huge bonus.

Since Johnny had black skinny jeans covered already, I decided to pair the sweater with my Almost Famous skort which you might remember from my In Summer, We Wear Black OOTD. I can’t say that I wore this skort too often when I first bought it but, now, I want to wear it all of the time because it is so versatile. When paired with a tucked in cami or even the sweater in my pictures, it looks like a mini dress and it is a unique substitute to regular old jean shorts in the summer.

Once I had the base of my outfit down, it was time to accessorize. I was going for a “muted rainbow” vibe to compliment and pop against Johnny’s almost All Black Everything OOTD. My Urban Outfitters tights were an obvious choice to me because it was a bit chilly out and I don’t get to wear them too often. They are also just so darn fun except for when the rhinestones get caught in the fishnets!

For shoes, I was originally going to wear a pair of wedged white loafers but they looked too chunky so I went with my yellow mules, instead. I adore these little wedges that I got for a steal on ModCloth and they helped achieve the silhouette I wanted and added a super sweet pop of color. Finally, I just had to break out my pink glitter lightning bolt earrings that Johnny and I got on our Valentine’s Day date last year. I can’t say that I have worn them too much, either, but I’m glad I did because, like the skort, I think I will be wearing my lightning earrings constantly.

I really love how mine and Johnny’s outfits look together and it is so special to me to have these pictures because they document the entire hour before we got engaged. I see a lot of couples OOTDs happening in lifewithlilred’s future and I am so ecstatic to have my Johnny help me out. ❤

How would you describe your personal style? How about your partner’s style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar6

Goddess Style OOTD

Posted on March 6, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! You might remember Libby from The Goddess Attainable through her guest post for lifewithlilred or our collaboration article. Libby has become a great friend and is so fun to work with that I just couldn’t wait to do another collab with her and, today, I am going to share an outfit that I feel like a goddess in. This particular outfit was one of the few that I made an effort to put together in the past year due to the pandemic and wore it to visit my cousin’s microblading studio in October. However, I never got a chance to have someone take pictures of it.

Cue: My boyfriend, Johnny! This past weekend when I asked him if he could take my blog pictures for the first time, he happily obliged and with a bit of coaching turned out to be a formidable iPhone photographer. It was impossible to not laugh every time he did his goofy photographer routine of “be a cat, be a tiger”, though!

My Goddess Style OOTD is one that I have no shame in wearing again and again and you might recognize quite a few of the following pieces from previous pictures and posts. But that’s okay! I would like to start doing a new OOTD series to help people re-imagine what they already have in their wardrobe and, because of that, this is the perfect place to start. Let’s take a look at an outfit that makes me feel confident and completely goddess-like:

Who? What? Wear?

Navy striped sweater: Cynthia Rowley, TJMaxx
Plaid high rise jeans: Sound & Style, TJMaxx
Pink plaid platforms: Sugar Thrillz, Dolls Kill
Lipstick: Smashbox, 9 To 5

This outfit is really amazing to me for a few reasons and the first one being: How visually interesting it is. My Goddess Style OOTD is like a master class in mixing patterns with like colors and it makes your eyes dance between each different piece. When done correctly, mixing patterns can create outfit magic. However, when done wrong it can look sloppy and we don’t want any of that!

Just remember when mixing patterns that there has to be a similar color linking each piece of your ensemble together. For example, the horizontal striped sweater wouldn’t have worked against the vertical plaid stripes of the pants if they weren’t both of a navy base color. Just like the Sugar Thrillz platforms would have looked out of place if the pink didn’t mesh with the dark rose stripes in the pants and my hair.

You also never want to overwhelm the outfit with multiple loud patterns or accessories. My sweater was bold because the pattern on the jeans used muted colors and thinner lines. I also kept my accessories to a minimum other than simple dangle earrings to keep the outfit looking sleek. You want your outfit to flow as a cohesive look and jewelry, clashing patterns, or unmatched colors all can take away from that.

My OOTD was insanely fun to style but it is even more fun to wear! The first time I sported this look, my sister told me that I looked like a Bratz doll and it was basically the best compliment I have ever received. From that point on, it has since remained in one of my top favorite outfits and I think it’s because of how perfectly it captures my personal style. I love to have fun with fashion and create statement outfits that not only look good but make me feel good and this OOTD legit makes me feel like a model.

While Goddesses aren’t afraid to show their outer beauty, they have inner beauty that speaks for itself and part of what makes this outfit special to me is how well it reflects my personality too. I am a bright, bubbly, outgoing gal who always tries to see the positive in a situation. I also love to make people smile and laugh and I truly feel like you can see all of that in this look.

My personality and fashion sense are two of my favorite things about me and I would consider them to be personal Goddess qualities. My Goddess Style OOTD showcases both of these attributes beautifully and I feel proud to be me when I am wearing it. If that isn’t goddesslike, then I don’t know what is!

I want to thank Libby of The Goddess Attainable so much again for having some fashion fun with me and you can check out her look now or tune in tomorrow to see it here. If you have any OOTDs that you are proud of and would like featured, you can always shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com 🙂

What makes you feel confident? How would you describe your personal style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan20

Spice Up Your Look With These Fashion Tips

Posted on January 20, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Spice Up Your Look With These Fashion Tips

When you pick your outfit in the morning – you get a chance to think, for just one moment, what you would like to say to the world. First impressions are everything, right? Well, the first thing we see is the clothes on each other’s backs. If fashion is a language, then it speaks to each and every one of us individually. Trends come in and out of the limelight, but the potential for great style (to use, reuse, and repurpose trends) exists in everyone. There are many styles and fashion choices out there and each style is valid.

If you want to wear a T-shirt and ripped jeans every day, then that’s your style! If you like to wear dresses and skirts with a flowy blouse, go for it! Regardless of who makes your clothes or where they came from, you can take any outfit from lukewarm to sizzling with these easy fashion tips:

Color:

There’s a sensual pull to the darker side like blacks, grays, or browns but nothing beats a gorgeous pop of color to pull the eye here and there! Consider the season: pretty pastels in the spring, bright, vivid colors in the summer sunshine, the warm and down-to-earth tones of autumn, and the cool, frosty colors of winter.

Depending on the season, you can really make a splash with the color palette of your wardrobe. Nothing says fashion quite like an understanding of how your wardrobe fluctuates with the season, shorts and billowing tops in the summer, boots and scarves under the falling leaves in autumn.

When you’re piecing together your outfit for the day, think of the components of your closet that can really set off an outfit. A warm lattice scarf can take an outfit from blah to Pinterest worthy in a second. If you don’t trust your eye, Pinterest and fashion magazines are a great place to glean inspiration for your future outfits. Don’t focus on the models – only on the clothes that draw your eye!

Layers:

When it comes to layering, you need to keep color, texture, proportion, and style in mind. Maybe you are a T-shirt and jeans type of person, and the only time you’ve layered anything is deciding which jacket to throw on over your casual outfit. This is a great place to start!

A comfy flannel thrown over a simple outfit or tied around the waist suddenly makes you look like a trend-setter. Layering in fashion is an art form, and you want to keep the outfit balanced. If you layer too much, with too many contrasting pieces, then your outfit is sure to look busier than Times Square at rush hour. Try to have fun with the different styles in your closet.

It’s important to also determine your color palette before you begin. Black and white, gold and burgundy, or camel and blue are great palettes to begin with. It entirely depends on the look you want to achieve – comfy chic, edgy glam, Audrey Hepburn, or bohemian are some styles to consider when glancing through your wardrobe.

Once you have your colors, determine your textures. Maybe you want to accentuate that silk scarf you bought or the knit gloves jammed in the back of your drawer. These textures combined with a simply layered outfit and a little forethought are sure to catch the attention of just about anyone.

Match your accessories:

Who doesn’t love a color coordinated outfit? Accessories are everything when it comes to style. If you can pair an outfit with some matching sunglasses, an exquisite bracelet, a skinny belt, or a one-of-a-kind Etsy accessory – do it. This will make your outfit stand out, even if it’s just a small trip to the store.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re also living in a day and age of face mask fashion! You can’t go wrong with a little bit of glam or an accessory made from recycled materials (if you’re a green fashion-forward individual). The possibilities are endless when it comes to all of the accessories at your disposal!

Fun socks:

Have you ever been delighted to see a pair of funky and fun socks poking out from your friend or colleagues’ shoes? A pair of cute, checkered socks or maybe some dancing penguins is enough to brighten your day!

A pair of fun socks is a quirky way to make an outfit stand out in the crowd, especially if your pants are tailored just enough to show a balanced amount of fabric. It’s your choice to show off exactly what you want; a tuck, fold, or stretch can go a long way with something as simple as socks.

Statement pieces:

You might have some outrageous pieces of clothes floating around your closet that have made you wonder if you’ll ever take it off the hanger. Perhaps you’ve wondered if you’re bold enough to pull off this particular piece of clothing or you’ve been waiting for the right time to bust it out. If you have found yourself in this predicament, you have found yourself a statement piece!

A statement piece could be anything from a glamorous faux fur coat to a pair of red cowboy boots and they are important pieces to have in your closet. Your statement pieces might take up some room on your clothes rack, but they can be the perfect way to elevate an outfit. A funky sweater or a unique patterned jacket can add personality and flare to your look. A statement piece is your way to be playful, tastefully bold, or sexy. The choice is yours!

Wear what makes you comfortable, happy. and confident, and don’t let anyone tell you anything differently. Your fashion belongs to you alone. ❤

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug29

My Issues – Teen Vogue Edition

Posted on August 29, 2015 by lifewithlilred

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Whatsup everyone and happy Saturday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful start to your weekend! So I’m not gonna lie, as a twenty-one year old adult, I still enjoy flipping through the pages of Teen Vogue…but after my latest encounter with the teen mag – not so much. As I skimmed over the pages, I realized that I had a problem with so much of what the magazine was preaching. Allow me to explain:

First of all, the articles of clothing featured in the magazine are so ridiculously expensive – what teenager other than the filthy rich have the money to purchase clothing like that? Teen Vogue is teaching young women to idolize material goods and vapid celebrities rather than teaching them how to make a look that is uniquely their own. I would much prefer to see a teen magazine that’s teaching young folks how to manage their money and one might say “ball on a budget”. Yes, the clothes shown are great inspiration, but they’re just so unattainable to the point that it doesn’t seem fair. With the Kardashian girls seen on almost every page it almost feels like the only people who are worthy of great style are those who are famous simply for being famous. How can a teenage-something girl achieve a lifestyle like that? Making a sex tape maybe? #burn

My second bone to pick with the magazine is actually something that I’ve mentioned on lifewithlilred before but is worth talking about again. I am SO beyond annoyed with Teen Vogue for consistently lumping the way the “punk” or an “All American Girl” should be dressing just by the stereotype of how people assume these styles are dressed. Spoiler alert: Punk does not mean gothed out girls with black lipstick and clip in piercings. The “American Girl” does not equal a blonde haired blue eyed beauty in cutoff shorts and a flannel knotted at the waist. There are countless ways of outfitting different styles without giving in to the norm that everyone is familiar with. The best part about fashion is playing with it, not dressing up in an over exaggerated costume because a magazine suggests that that’s how it should look.

As I flipped more angrily through the pages, all I could see were caricatures of styles according to a looks stereotype. What “sporty” girl runs around town in her sports bra for every day errands? NONE. How in the hell can young girls develop a personal style if they are dressing exactly how a magazine thinks that they should look? Featuring slender models in high end couture clothing is NOT the way to teach girls how to dress. The more I looked through Teen Vogue, the more I felt that the originality of my own style was being sucked away from me as my grungy/rocker look was categorized into a costume.

Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe my opinions are not how everyone else feels. But I literally got so worked up after I slammed the magazine shut that I had to go write notes about the thoughts that were going through my head as I perused the pages. Magazines, especially ones directed towards young people, should be focusing on the cool and creative not the celebrity cookie cutter version of fashion. My teenage self loved Teen Vogue, but looking at it from the perspective of a young adult definitely made me see things from a more critical eye. So I say, screw the message that that magazine is sending out. Focus on staying true to yourself in your personal style and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. The end. *Drops mic*

So there you have it, My Issues – Teen Vogue Edition. Has anyone felt similarly to me while looking through fashion magazines? What is your message for young people developing their own style? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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