Tag Archives: plaid

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

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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… πŸ˜€

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

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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. πŸ˜€

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

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 πŸ™‚

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

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! πŸ˜€

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

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”Β  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! πŸ˜€

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

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

Trail Blazers: Kasper Edition

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Trail Blazers: Kasper Edition

Salutations! We are on blazer two of four thanks to my twenty dollar haul at a North Carolina Goodwill, so let’s get to it! I used to be so weird about thrift shopping in the past because I was a pretty extreme germophobe. And, I’m not going to lie, I still have my quirks but I’ve learned to take a deep breath and dive right in when it comes to secondhand shopping because I’m not going to let my phobia get in the way of a real life treasure hunt! If I let my fears get the best of me, I wouldn’t have ended up with this menswear inspired number seen below:

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I quite like this Kasper blazer! Of course, the shoulder pads, grey scale palette with a hint of red, and the double breasted buttons are all very good. But, what I really like is that I get a very pajama style vibe from it and turning your sleepwear into streetwear is a huge trend right now! My new/old blazer has a more boyfriend fit to it but it still manages to feel constructed, which is a must for me. This is also all the more reason to love a good shoulder pad because it can add a unique structure to even the slouchiest of tops.

Because I am getting such a huge pajama chic vibe from this blazer, I plan on styling it with some comfy cool joggers or a more wide legged trouser for the ultimate stylish take on leisurewear. Keeping it fashion forward is the name of the game, though, which means a sharp stiletto heel is definitely in order as well as all of the bling to keep you looking modelesque as opposed to “I just rolled out of bed”.

How do you style a pajama inspired look? How do you dress for comfort while still looking chic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pretty In Punk OOTD

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Pretty In Punk OOTD

Hello everyone!! As promised (because I have only been talking about it for forever!), I am here today to present you with my Pretty In Punk OOTD inspired by all things It Brit fashion. From the music to the style and everything in between, I have always been enamored with how things are done across the pond in England. And, this outfit pays homage to a country that I so love and want nothing more than to visit soon! Take a look and let’s discuss. And, do be sure to tune in tomorrow for more pics from the shoot!

 

 

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Who? What? Wear?

Fashion and beauty is always something that I have been passionate about and styling this look was the most fun I’ve had in ages. I have been waiting for the right outfit to come to mind that would do my Ginger Spice style platforms justice since I got them and, after some chance shopping experiences while I was with a client, it all came together.

I was so inspired by the tulle fabric that I impulse bought at Joann’s and, like magic, my shoulder padded plaid blazer popped out at me while at the Goodwill. I knew that I could create something cool when combining all of this and in my head, a vision formed. An industrial location with an OOTD giving a posh update to the 1970s British punk style. And, with that, the shoot above happened.

While styling this outfit, it was really important for me to not make it look like a caricature of the iconic punk fashion and I also didn’t want it to be a carbon copy, either. So, making the look modern while still giving a nod to a style that I adore was key. Punk fashion is so textured, with all different types of fabrics and materials being used – we’re talking leather, wool plaid, flannel, studs, chains, and mesh just to name a few. But, it still manages to look cohesive because the color palette usually revolves around black and pops of color.

I wanted to create a distinct breakup between the shoes and the bottom and top half of my OOTD and, to do this, I used three different materials on each part of the outfit. Glitter on the shoes, pleather on the pants, and a wool style plaid on top. It all tied in together perfectly, though, because the color palette was quite minimal and black was incorporated in almost every part of the look, except the shoes, which was my pop of color.

Once I had my outfit styled, it was all about finding a location that embraced a more punk way of life. Some of the imagery that always stands out to me is a group of concert goers outside of a brick or dilapidated building smoking in front of the venue. I wanted that grittiness reflected in the pictures and an industrial setting was just what the doctor ordered. My photographer and I settled on Steelyard Drive in Cleveland, which is actually a shopping center. But, beyond it is train tracks, construction, and electricity towers. This gave us lots of backgrounds to play with and it was a blast to create distinctive looks in each location.

The last part of creating the pictures you see above was having fun. I always say that if fashion isn’t fun, then that defeats the purpose. And, let me tell you, I had a ball with this. Styling my OOTD was a joy, because I will definitely be sporting this look come fall and it was exactly how I envisioned it to be. Being on location and watching my craft as well as my photographers come to life was exciting and I am looking forward to creating more updates of iconic fashion eras in the future!

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

Trail Blazers

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Trail Blazers

Hello!! I have been really lucky at the Goodwill lately. Not only have I got a new air hockey table, but I recently bought two gorgeous blazers for a whopping ten dollars total. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my TJMaxx to death BUT ten dollars for two blazers that appear to be brand new is a deal you would never get at one of your favorite discount stores. Especially when one of those blazers is from Express, which usually runs for about one hundred dollars, minimum. Check these out:

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The total cost for both of my new finds would have been on the better half of two hundred dollars and paying ten for them felt like hitting the jackpot. I love the clothing at Express, but would never consider paying for any of it because they are way over my budget. So, getting a sleek blazer that looks barely worn from there was super exciting! And, I have wanted a retro plaid blazer for quite some time now so finding one by Sag Harbor complete with shoulder pads was a major highlight.

I think that blazers are a fantastic piece of clothing and I regret not owning more of them. But, I am happy to start increasing my collection with the ones above. Not only are they the perfect business casual staple but blazers are also an amazing option for fall, creating a cozy, studious chic look.

Of course, I love my more form fitting black blazer from Express and anticipate on wearing it for meetings for work or a night on the town. But, I am particularly looking forward to styling the Sag Harbor one. I plan on doing an OOTD photo shoot tipping my cap to the British punk scene by sporting black leather skinnies, my Union Jack platforms, a hat with a veil created from my tulle purchase, and the plaid blazer over top. I have always been enthralled with the punk fashion scene from across the pond and my Sag Harbor blazer gave me such heavy vibes from that wonderful style and I can’t wait to show all of you. Be on the lookout! πŸ˜€

How do you like to style your blazers? Which era of fashion gives you inspiration? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah