Tag Archives: plaid

Oct15

Suspect Looks Like OOTD

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Suspect Looks Like OOTD

Howdy! It is a very rare occasion that I follow TikTok trends but I just had to make a “suspect looks like” video. Once upon a time, some ahole commented on one of my Facebook posts and called me a “Great Value Hayley Williams”. Lol it was both the nicest and meanest thing anyone has ever said to me! I get told at least once a week that she is my celebrity look alike and I am SO not complaining because Hayley Williams is a goddess. Feeling inspired by the comment that will forever make me laugh, I decided to style an OOTD in honor of my doppelgänger. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Tank Top: Rachel Zoe, TJMaxx

Plaid Skinnies: Wild Fable, Target

Loafers: Steve Madden, Walmart

The dagger earrings were purchased on vacation in the Poconos!

It can be so easy for an outfit to look like a costume when you are emulating a celebrity’s style. To avoid this, I wanted to capture the essence of Hayley Williams while still feeling like myself and decided on a simple punk OOTD. It gave Hayley Williams vibes but was completely Lil Red and I loved how it turned out! To start this look, I began right in the middle because I had the perfect pantaloons to wear: A yellow and black plaid pair of skinnies by Wild Fable. These are such a classic punk staple and as I wanted to keep this outfit simple, all I needed to do was pair it with a black tank top. Rather than really play into the punk aesthetic with mesh or clashing patterns, I chose pieces that were more clean and fresh to allow myself to be me and not a Paramore fan girl. (Also – *Gasp!* I’m not really a Paramore fan to begin with!)

This outfit really did style itself in under five minutes because shoes and accessories were a no brainer. My funky Steve Madden loafers with a lime green wedge were exactly what I needed! That pop of green added so much fun to this look and gave a fashion forward nod to huge punk wedge loafers. As my patchwork tattoos on my arms, chest, and neck were at the forefront, all that was left was to pop on a pair of edgy dagger earrings. With that, I was ready to be on the run in my Great Value Hayley Williams OOTD!

If you are planning an outfit around your celebrity look alike, simple is the way to go. It will showcase your similarities even more!

Do you have a celebrity look alike? Which celebrity’s style inspires you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct7

Deja Vu OOTD

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Deja Vu OOTD

Hello! I couldn’t wait to take OOTD pictures after getting my hair done and I knew exactly what I wanted to wear. Normally when I shoot outfits, I want to style something brand new every time. However, I had a perfect outfit to show off my new do that had already been worn way back in 2021! Regardless of the deja vu of shooting it again, I didn’t care one bit because I felt like a star. This look is also a really good visual for mixing and matching patterns by pulling from the same color palette and pairing one bold pattern with a minimal one. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Striped Sweater: Cynthia Rowley, TJMaxx

Plaid High Rise Skinnies: Sound & Style, TJMaxx

Plaid Platforms: Dolls Kill

Sparkle Earrings: SugarFix By BaubleBar, Target

There are some outfits that you just feel SO good in and this is the one for me. In the original post, my sister told me I looked like a Bratz doll when I wore it and that compliment has stayed with me. 1) They were my absolute favorites growing up. And 2) Who doesn’t want to be a Bratz girl?! This look is quirky and demands confidence to pull it off and I found myself not walking but STRUTTING when I wore it this past weekend. As I mentioned above, I felt like a star in this look and received star treatment at my go to gas station…

I always say that if you’re feeling low, get yourself dolled up and hit up your local gas station. You have the Lil Red Guarantee that you will be complimented so much that your spirits will be lifted. That was very much the case when I went to the Mapco up the road to get some of my beloved Diet Coke. I kid you not, every single person complimented me and I even got free Skittles from the cashiers lol. NICE! I was literally on cloud nine for the rest of the day.

It felt amazing to have this look be appreciated because it is loud, bold, and might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The thing is, is that I felt great in it and it showed. As the old saying goes, don’t let the clothes wear you and it’s so true. When your natural confidence shines, you could be wearing the craziest OOTD or a potato sack and it would still work. So wear what you like and wear what you want because when your fabulous self shows out like the king or queen you are, everyone is going to notice. Embrace your inner and outer beauty and don’t apologize for it. It will transform any outfit into a runway moment!

This is my “I’m a star, damnit” OOTD and I loved every minute of wearing it. This is your sign to go for it if you are questioning an outfit choice. I promise that you look fierce AF!

What is an outfit that makes you feel amazing? 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

Oct20

New Lucky Brand Flannel

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New Lucky Brand Flannel

Hello!!! I have been dwindling down my holiday shopping list as often as I can and I decided to spend an afternoon off at TJMaxx so I could put in some more work. Obviously, it turned into a shopping trip for me too, but I needed a little treat!! I should have known that my willpower wasn’t strong enough to simply go in for Christmas presents lol. This flannel was actually purchased because I didn’t plan accordingly to a surefire clothing shopping outing. Check it out and let’s discuss:

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^^^ That TJMaxx price adjustment! Score!!

When I am going shopping for clothes, I always make sure that I have a T-shirt on in case I need to try on a jacket. However, this time around, I just had on a hoodie with nothing underneath because I told myself I was only shopping for the holidays. Naturally, while I browsed the clothing selection I found the Happily Grey jacket that you all saw yesterday and I didn’t have on a shirt to try it on with. As soon as I put two and two together, I grabbed any old shirt in my size and made my way to the fitting rooms. The shirt just so happens to be the Lucky Brand one you see above.

I had absolutely no intention of buying this flannel… That is, until I tried it on lol. I am a huge fan of Lucky Brand and this flannel is definitely the best one I own. It is soft as can be and fits just right. It’s not too tight or too loose and is very flattering. I was also blown away by the button down detailing on the back. I have never seen anything like that before and thought it was the cutest! This flannel will be perfect for an All Black Everything OOTD and I already have a look planned for it so be on the lookout for that soon. 😀 Also, can we talk about the price going from eighty bucks to twenty-five at TJs? You can’t beat that!

Flannels are a must have fall staple and I am loving my new one. I was technically not supposed to have tried this Lucky Brand number on if I wore a shirt under my hoodie but I consider that to be a happy accident! 🙂

What is your go to fall staple for clothing? Have you started your holiday shopping yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan6

Mad For Plaid OOTD

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Mad For Plaid OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today, we’re going to take a look at what I was hoping to style when I shot my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD. At that time, the Anne Klein blazer I’m wearing below was not yet in my wardrobe and the other red plaid blazer I have was way too big. I vowed to one day shoot the plaid tuxedo look I had in mind but I had no idea that that day would come so soon. A few short weeks later, I found the perfect blazer during a TJMaxx shopping trip! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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Who? What? Wear?

As I mentioned, I have had the idea for this Mad For Plaid look since November and I was so happy to see it come into fruition this past weekend. This is actually the first time in lifewithlilred history that I used the same piece of clothing in two OOTDs so close together but it needed to happen and I love the end result! Like my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD, I began with the Wild Fable yellow plaid skinnies and began to build the outfit from there…

For this OOTD, the most important thing was to avoid looking cluttered because the plaid on plaid combo is so bold. I have featured my mittoshop cami in many an OOTD and return to it often when I need a neutral top. This cami looks just as cute tucked in as it does worn normally and I chose to tuck it in for this look. I wouldn’t call it flowy but it does have some movement to it and that wouldn’t do for the sleek silhouette I had envisioned. Also, peep that peek a boo lace detailing from underneath the blazer – the sweetest way to show some skin in an almost fully covered look!

After the pants and top were sorted, all that was left to do was throw the blazer on and accessorize. At first, you might think that a plaid on plaid in two different color palettes could never work together. So, I wanted to discuss the reasons why this Anne Klein blazer was a thumbs up instead of a faux pas. The main key to the pants and blazer creating fashion magic is the pattern itself. Notice that the plaid pattern is almost identical in both pieces. This made the pants feel like an extension of the jacket and you can see where the plaid almost matches up perfectly in each piece.

The other component to these two statement items being cohesive was the color palette. Other than the red base, the blazer uses all of the colors found in the pants. The red and yellow are also found close together on the color wheel so they worked in unity rather than against each other. The black and white in both plaids were no matter, either, because they are both neutrals. And, finally, both of these pieces have a straight but fitted shape which kept the look flowing rather than breaking it up with two completely different fits.

Once the plaid tuxedo was on, shoes and jewelry were next and I went with my favorite pair of Forever 21 platforms. Like my cami, these babies appear in a lot of my looks but not for practicality’s sake – they just look awesome lol. The platform shape helped add to the punk vibe but the primary reason for choosing them was the pop of color on the back. These boots have red and gold flames, which further tied the jacket and pants together.

For jewelry, I kept things minimal because the plaid was an accessory in itself. When a look is this loud, too much jewelry can literally destroy the outfit through unnecessary distractions. I decided to go for my huge gold hoops by Argentino Vivo for one final touch of fun. I liked how it almost mimicked the outfit’s color palette with my red hair and the gold earrings. They also provided a bit of movement, which I didn’t want in the clothing but wanted to incorporate elsewhere. I think it worked!

This Mad For Plaid OOTD turned out exactly how I hoped it would and I am so proud of it. Tune in tomorrow for bloopers from this look!

What is your favorite pattern? Are you doing any post holiday shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec17

New Anne Klein Blazer

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New Anne Klein Blazer

Hello everyone! Today, we are going to wrap up my TJMaxx Haul posts by discussing a gorgeous new plaid blazer by Anne Klein. I always feel lucky with my findings at TJs but even more so this last shopping trip. Almost every piece of clothing that I found was the only one left in the store and I got them for a steal of a price. The blazer seen below, for example, had an original price tag of one hundred and thirty and I got it for one hundred dollars less! Check it out:

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Going to TJMaxx is like a fashion treasure hunt and you never know what you are going to find. I didn’t expect to end up with so much beautiful clothes this last trip around but here we are now lol. When I saw this Anne Klein blazer, it was love at first sight. The crisp shape paired with traditional red plaid hues was so divine and the stark white stitching gave such an eye catching pop. As if I wasn’t swooning already but the awesome price sent me head over heels. ❤

As soon as I tried this blazer on, so many different styling options began to swirl in my head. In fact, when I was shooting my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD, I originally had a plaid on plaid scheme in mind by pairing my Wild Fable skinnies with a red plaid blazer from the Goodwill. While the yellow and red plaid motif worked well, the blazer was too bulky and didn’t have the structure that I wanted to achieve the silhouette that I was going for. It bummed me out a little because I knew that it could look really cool and it just didn’t lol. I sure wish I had my new Anne Klein blazer a few weeks ago during that shoot because it would have worked perfectly for the punk rock tuxedo I had envisioned!

This blazer will allow me to restyle my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD with my initial plan AND MORE. As you can imagine, it would look stunning with some black distressed skinnies and huge platform boots. It will also add a nice dose of rock to flowing maxi skirts and sweet dresses. Or how about paired with a pleated mini skirt for the ultimate preppy bad girl look?! Now, If only I had a pleated mini skirt… 😀

After a whirlwind of Christmas shopping these past few months, Lil Red needed a gift too! I played Santa for myself with all kinds of beauty and fashion goodies and I cannot wait to put all of them to good use, starting with lots of brand new OOTDs. Keep it posted!

Have you bought anything for yourself while holiday shopping? What are you gifting yourself with this holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Jul24

TJMaxx Haul: Zara Top Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Zara Top Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to my favorite and final piece of clothing from my TJMaxx haul! The past several shopping trips that I’ve been on were not fruitful in my need for more tops in the slightest. This time around, however, I walked away with three different tops that I am so in love with. It was a GREAT SUCCESS and I now feel content with the top department of my wardrobe. Let’s check out this fabulous little number by Zara to wrap things up:

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As I mentioned in my pro tips for shopping at TJMaxx, I utilize a two rounds throughout the store method. There is just too much to see in one go and I often find some of my favorite things the second time around. Like this Zara top, for example. Maybe someone was standing in front of it on round one because I can’t believe I didn’t notice the huge sheer puff sleeves on my first trip! It was also the only one like it in the entire store. 😀

In terms of shirt sizes, I am a solid small or medium and this top was an extra small. Like my new Nicole Miller pants, I was thinking “please fit” when trying it on because I liked it so much! Thanks to a side zipper, button up back, and the fact that Zara clothing runs bigger, I was in luck. This top fit perfectly and I love how the tighter fitting bodice makes the puff sleeves seem even larger than life.

I have grand plans for this newest addition and I cannot wait to shoot some amazing autumn OOTDs with it! Pair it with a little navy skirt? Yes, please! I would also really like to find a good pair of navy or red slacks to go with it. I know, it’s shocking to me too that I’m branching away from my standard black skinny jeans lol. Now, all I’ll need is a killer pair of white platform loafers and we’re in business!

Tomorrow, tune in for the skin care portion of my haul and it will be onto a brand new OOTD and July finishes. See you then!

How would you style this top? What are some pieces that you would like to have in your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar6

Goddess Style OOTD

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Goddess Style OOTD

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:

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Who? What? Wear?

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

Oct11

Fall Haul: Sound & Style Skinny Jeans Edition

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Fall Haul: Sound & Style Skinny Jeans Edition

Hello! In Lil Red’s world, one can never have enough pairs of black skinny jeans. From pleather and coated to plaid and plain Jane, I try to get at least one to two new pairs of jeans per year as I can’t stand once my black jeans start turning grey after multiple washes! During this TJMaxx haul, I tried my luck by ordering two new pairs, not really expecting either to work. To my surprise, both of them did! Check out the first pair today and then tune in tomorrow for the last post of my Fall Haul. Let’s get to it:

The main reason why I thought that both of my new jeans were going to be unsuccessful was because both of them happen to be high waisted. Most of you know by now that I hate high waisted clothing but, for those of you that don’t: I hate high waisted clothing. I have never been a fan because I never found it to be flattering on my body type. It literally was just butt and boobs when I tried high waisted shorts out and I have steered clear ever since.

Because I refuse to wear high waisted, it can be difficult for me to find normal rise jeans and shorts. But, it had been a while so I figured “how bad can it be” and added both of my high waisted jeans into the cart. Once I tried them on at home, I was pleased to see that neither of the pants went up too high and, I’ve got to say, they both looked damn good!

I absolutely love my new plaid skinnies by Sound & Style. The black background with the muted plaid in purple, green, and yellow just seems like a perfect pair for fall. I can so picture myself wearing them with all of my favorite sweaters and cardigans in hues that match the plaid.

I have wanted jeans like this for a long time and my hatred of high waisted prevented me from having them. Of course, if they didn’t work I could have always returned them at my local TJMaxx but who wants to do that?! I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and the pay off of pants that fit amazingly and are too cute to boot was well worth any feelings of uncertainty! 😀

What is your preferred rise for pants? How do you step out of your comfort zone when it comes to clothes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec23

If The Shoe Fits: Sugar Thrillz Platforms Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Sugar Thrillz Platforms Edition

Hello! I have had my eye on the shoes that we will be discussing today from Dolls Kill for months now and I couldn’t pass up buying them during their Black Friday sale. These pink plaid, heart embellished beauties are so Cher a la Clueless and I am nothing short of obsessed. Am I a pink girl normally? Hell no. But these Sugar Thrillz platforms were way too sweet to not purchase. Take a look:

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As all of you well know by now, my personal style is far from “cutesy” and much more on the edgy rocker spectrum. So, what drew me to these cute as a button heels? I honestly couldn’t tell you – I just like them! The Clueless vibes just spoke to me and I loved the retro shape along with the heart chain links. They are so adorable but they also have the school girl sex appeal circa Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time”  that made for a perfect combination of sweet and sassy.

I cannot wait to pair my new Sugar Thrillz platforms with skater skirts and cable knit tights. But, I am most looking forward to wearing them with my yellow plaid skinnies from Target and red plaid blazer from Goodwill for an All Plaid Everything look that will be super funky and unique. To me, fashion is all about pushing the envelope and what could be more cool than fifty shades of plaid?! The answer is nothing, of course! 😀

What is your favorite style of shoe? How do you incorporate plaid into your OOTDs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov3

It’s In The Bag: Steve Madden Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Steve Madden Edition

Hi! I have always loved Steve Madden. In fact, my very first pair of heels that I purchased during eighth grade was a pair of Steve’s and, since then, a special place in my heart was dedicated to the brand. So, whenever I can find any Steve Madden shoes, bags, or accessories when shopping at TJMaxx, it is very exciting! Affordable and adorable, Steve Madden is a brand for all and I am so enamored with my new black and plaid backpack from my latest haul. Check it out:

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Fashion forward backpacks have become quite popular over the past few years and I have invested in a few, myself. Cute, convenient, and easy to carry these bags are definitely not your run of the mill backpacks that you tote your huge textbooks in to school. Unless you get a big and sturdy enough one, of course! Rather, the backpack trend is perfect for hauling along your essentials, totally hands free which makes them an optimum choice during travel or walking your commute to work in the city.

My new Steve Madden backpack screams fall fun and I love the jet black and red plaid combo along with a floral scarf tied on for some visual contrast. Shaped in a more bucket style, this bag runs deep and probably could fit a textbook or two if need be! I will always prefer a purse to a backpack no matter how fun the trend is. But, this pack will be a gorgeous fall staple paired with a skater skirt, knitted tights, and cardigan for a school girl chic look that will give Blair Waldorf a run for her money!

Are you a fan of the backpack trend? How do you incorporate one into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah