Tag Archives: retro

Jul7

Sassy Skort OOTD

Posted on July 7, 2026 by lifewithlilred

Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! A few weekends ago we visited an absolutely amazing indoor mini golf course called Glow Sticks. This putt putt paradise was themed around music from the 1950s to the 1990s and we had so much fun rocking out to the great tunes and trying to sink a hole in one. We are chomping at the bit to go back and it is a perfect spot to go to beat the summer heat with a classic outdoor activity brought indoors. Of course, I had to put a little something something together for our outing and couldn’t wait to bust out a new top from a recent TJMaxx trip. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Groovy Blouse: J. McLaughlin, TJMaxx

Tennis Skort: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Mules: B.A.I.T., ModCloth

I have no idea where the daisy earrings came from!

I have been itching for an occasion to wear my new J. McLaughlin blouse from my TJMaxx birthday haul and this was it, baby. This top is so groovy and just screams 1970s – I felt perfectly in place as we entered the room at Glow Sticks dedicated to that era! I just love the color palette of this little number and it’s like if 1970s wallpaper were made into a top. It is oh so retro and is a fond tip of the cap to one of my favorite eras of fashion. Not only is this top ultra cool but it is literally ultra cool. Despite the longer sleeves, the material is so light and I was completely comfortable even in the summer sun. That is a huge win because I typically save long sleeves for the fall!

I decided to pair my blouse with one of my go to mini skorts by Kyodan and tucked it in to make a pseudo dress. I am freaking obsessed with skorts and the Kyodan brand can’t be beat. I found this skort in the athletic department of TJMaxx but it is strictly a fashion piece for me! I know I have said this before but it is worth repeating: I will never serve on the tennis court in these skorts but I will serve looks every time I step out in one! Game, set, and match. 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. To keep with the throwback theme, I chose a darling pair of heeled mules in a sunny yellow featuring adorable daisies. As the middle of this outfit was a neutral, it gave me permission to have some fun with my shoes and it doesn’t get much more fun than these! They were also just right for putting away at Glow Sticks although I never have any problem in a taller heel while mini golfing. *Hair flip* For accessories, I tied the look together from head to toe with a cute AF pair of daisy stud earrings. With that, I was ready to hit the links and have a blast!

Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel from this OOTD and so much more fashion fun on lifewithlilred!

What is your favorite athletic brand? Do you go mini golfing or big golfing often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Glow Sticks Mini Golf

Posted on July 1, 2026 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! Johnny and I freaking LOVE to play mini golf and we visited an ultra cool new indoor course in Chagrin Falls called Glow Sticks this past weekend with my brother, Andrew. Several months ago I saw on Facebook that Glow Sticks would be opening and it was themed around music from the 1950s to the 1990s. I made a mental note of it because it combines our two great passions, music and mini golf, and I just knew it would be a blast. It sure was!! Glow Sticks was absolutely amazing from start to finish and we cannot wait to go back! Take a look at these many MANY pictures and let’s discuss:

So I might have gone a little picture crazy but, in my defense, how could I not?! There was so much awesome artwork, golf puns, and excitement that I wanted to capture it all! The Glow Sticks course consisted of different rooms set up for different decades where we started in the 50s and took a musical tour into the 1990s. Each room played the music of the times and the walls were adorned with the icons of that era. The murals were totally and completely fabulous and we really appreciated all of the golf humor! We are very partial to Stevie Nicks encouraging us to putt your own way and and KISS letting us know that they want to putt and golf all night. Lolol, we were in stitches!

As if all of the music and art weren’t enough, we were delighted by the unique and challenging play through of the Glow Sticks course. As you can see, one of the holes was a literal loopdiloop which we have never seen before! We learned that you had to whack the ball really hard for it to go all the way around. When it was my turn, I told Andrew and Johnny to stay far away so they don’t get a concussion lol. Other noteworthy parts of the course include hitting the ball through a giant Rolling Stones tongue statue, playing on Freddie Mercury’s stage, a skateboard half pipe, and even a 1970s style camper decked out in peace and love decals.

We were simply blown away by the creativity of the Glow Sticks course and everywhere we looked featured something fresh and exciting. Johnny’s favorite part was the mural of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the putting green. I was a huge fan of the of the Roy Orbison “pretty putter putting on the green” portrait and Andrew enjoyed the statues of The Beatles. Glow Sticks was the perfect tip of the cap to the music that we all know and love and we were singing along to the rocking tunes the whole way through. What a fun afternoon!

If you are in the greater Northeastern Ohio area or are visiting, a stop in at Glow Sticks is a must. You will have a ball!

What is your favorite era of music? Do you prefer outdoor or indoor mini golf courses? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun24

New Hair, Who Dis?

Posted on June 24, 2026 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! I had an absolutely fabulous day this past Friday! I spent my morning and afternoon getting my hair right at the Shear Shop by my amazing stylist, Anna, and then went to Blossom Music Center in the evening to see The Strokes. I have wanted to see them live for forever and it was the most wonderful post birthaversary treat. Further amplified by the fact that I simply cannot get over my new hair and was the textbook definition of “feeling myself”! Our inspo for this look was 1970s with a modern twist and, as always, Anna delivered with this hair magic:

Pulp Riot Colors Used:

Top: Shag Rug

Bottom Left: Velvet

Bottom Right: Pyro

The last picture is their instant toner in Golden Shimmer!

The process for getting my hair done doesn’t start when I’m in Anna’s chair. It starts at my last appointment when we discuss what we want to do next! The last time I got my hair done, we experimented with the orangey copper Shag Rug and I was in love with its retro vibes and knew I wanted to see more of that. Then, a week or so later the Calico hair trend came in hot and I was very intrigued by it but didn’t want to work with primarily natural colors. I sent a few pics to Anna and we decided to do Calico our way with deep purple, orange, and gold streaks.

To prepare my hair, I spent the week before my appointment washing as much of my old colors out as I could to speed up the bleaching process. By the time Friday rolled around, my hair was a swampy hodge podge of yuck and I couldn’t wait for Anna to strip it clean and start fresh! We began the day with bleach and let that sit for about twenty minutes with heat and five minutes without. Once the timer rang, my hair was ready to be washed and a perfect canvas of light blonde hair was achieved for the fun part: Painting on the colors!

After my hair was dried, Anna began mixing our pseudo Calico palette of Shag Rug, Velvet, and Pyro. She expertly placed the groovy hues in chunky highlight style strips while also leaving some areas blank. The instant toner in Golden Shimmer was only to be applied for the last fifteen minutes of processing. We had never used the Pulp Riot toners and were curious to see what would happen. It didn’t work exactly how we wanted it to but that was okay because it turned out even better! All that was left to do was play Pokopia while the timer counted down, wash the Sweet/Tart scented dye out, and check out the grand reveal.

When my hair was washed we were surprised to see no gold at all but peachy pink strips compliments of the toner. It was like Pulp Riot knew that I wanted a non-natural Calico palette and Anna and I were so not mad about it because all of the colors together were everything! That deep but vibrant purple, copper, and fairy tale pink with the slightest hint of gold screamed of decade’s past while skyrocketing into 2026. The retro hues were further enhanced by the coolest shag cut that I have been growing my hair out for. This was such an amazing makeover and, I know I say this every time, but I really do think it might be one of my favorite hair transformations yet!

Stay tuned for a brand new OOTD showing off my new hair as well as a concert review coming soon!

How often do you get your hair done? How long has your stylist been doing your hair? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun18

New J. McLaughlin Top

Posted on June 18, 2026 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! This past week I had so much fun shopping till I dropped at TJMaxx with my mom so I could spend some birthday gift cards. I got everything I wanted and then some and there was nothing like a little retail therapy to brighten both of our days! While I was hoping to find a few new pieces of summer clothing, TJs showed me the light and I ended up with a new swing coat and top that will be perfect for fall. Honestly, it makes sense because it was hot AF the week we went shopping and it had me craving fall weather something FIERCE. As always, TJs knew exactly what I needed in my heart of hearts because this J. McLaughlin top is everything AND it was on clearance to boot! Check it out:

I couldn’t believe my good luck when I stumbled upon this little number in the clearance section. It was fifteen dollars, there was only one and it happened to be in my size, and I absolutely loved the nod to all things 70s retro. The pattern and colors on this top scream 70s wallpaper and I am living for it. Who knew that olive green and rosy pink would work together so well?! This top is so comfy, breezy, and light with fabric that almost borders on silky without all of the hassle of caring for silk clothes. It was one of those pieces that I knew would be a winner even without trying it on but, of course, I had to try it on anyways!

As it often happens when I am in the fitting room at TJMaxx, an OOTD vision came to me once this top was on in all of its glory. The 70s inspo of the top reminded me so much of my Makeup Magic OOTD and I can’t wait to do a follow up fit. Especially after getting my hair done this Friday! I plan on rocking this top with my favorite pair of straight leg slacks by Sincerely Jules, a killer pair of denim blue embroidered platforms, and *fingers crossed* a more defined shag hairdo after my hair stylist works her magic. It is going to be SO groovy and I am amped for all of you to see it. Stay tuned! 😀

We might be in the middle of summer but fall clothing will always reign supreme in my world. Big ups to TJMaxx for forever guiding me and nurturing my passion for fashion! ❤

Have you updated your summer wardrobe? Do you have any fun summer plans coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

New Cherry On Top Earrings

Posted on November 16, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Every Tuesday I get an hour and a half break before my last shift of the day. I use that time to write, read, or do blog jobs. And, oh yeah, I go shopping too! There is a TJMaxx right by the job site I am at and I have been frequenting it as I plug away at my holiday shopping. I am pleased to report that I am almost done and can’t wait to finish up, wrap them up, and cozy up for the rest of the holiday season. Of course, it’s extremely hard to visit TJMaxx without looking a little bit for myself too! During my last shopping trip, I ended up with a ten dollar treat and I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I have wanted something like this for forever! Check it out:

When I saw these darling cherry earrings I literally gasped. I have always thought that a pair of dangly cherry earrings would be so retro and fun. They were never a must have but a nice to have and the pair I found at TJMaxx was even better than what I had in mind. These good enough to eat earrings detach at the top of the cherry so you have to put the stem through the ear and then put them back together again. I thought this was way cool and unique and I absolutely love the deep red, shiny cherries. They are the ultimate in fairycore chic!

There was no brand listed on the packaging of my new earrings so I decided to look them up. Once again, I couldn’t believe my good fortune because these are actually from Anthropologie! The price listed on their website is forty-four dollars and I got mine for ten. You just can’t beat that! Anthropologie is a brand that I have always coveted and I got an accessory from there that I have been dreaming of for a song. Lady Luck continued to smile on me because there are three colors of the cherries to pick from at Anthropologie and I found the deep red. The brighter hued options on their website didn’t speak to me whatsoever. This find was as sweet as cherry pie! 😀

As always, huge ups to TJMaxx for providing me with the things I want and the things that I didn’t know I needed. Forever my happy place! ❤

Is there a fashion item you have been coveting? Where is your happy place to shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

“New” Vintage Jewelry

Posted on September 15, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! Yesterday you read about a fantastic weekend shopping trip Johnny and I took to one of the coolest stores I have ever been to, The Bomb Shelter. It was my first time going but certainly won’t be my last and I would LOVE to do a content shoot with all of their amazing retro kitchen settings. There were a few that really spoke to me and it would be such fun to put together a vintage chic look. Of course, I would accessorize with one of the pieces of jewelry that I just couldn’t say no to. I got both of these fab “new” necklaces for under twenty bucks which was a total score. Check it out:

After our stroll through the huge property that is The Bomb Shelter, it was time to check out the handful of records and gifts that Johnny selected. As luck would have it, the cash wrap was also where the jewelry was displayed and I obviously had to see what that was all about. As a heavily tattooed gal, I haven’t worn a lot of jewelry as of late because I like to let my ink do the talking in summer OOTDs. However, when fall rolls around is when I can break out my expansive jewelry collection again to add a pop to my looks when my tattoos are fully covered. Nothing transforms a chunky sweater or cardigan better than a statement necklace!

With fall fits on my mind, I wanted to find a little treat for myself to wear and went through the jewelry on display with a fine toothed comb. A lot of the jewelry at The Bomb Shelter was more on the costume side and that is not my style at all. However, a standing display housed more classic necklaces and that is what I gravitated to. The first thing that caught my eye was the simple wooden heart on a collar length chain. Hearts always remind me of my mom and I like to wear them as often as possible. The wood finish made me think of an acorn as well as the retro wooden paneling in my apartment and it was an instant yes. Granted, it was impossible for me to put on with my talons and kind of difficult for Johnny too but that’s show biz, baby, and he got it eventually lol. Great success!

My next purchase was a toss up as there were several necklaces that I liked but I didn’t want to go hog wild on accessories. I exercised self control, gave myself a limit of one more, and decided on the mid length necklace with chain tassels. I loved the burnt gold hue and the overall design but what really spoke to me was the chain. Yes, it was nice to be able to slip it over my head but that is beside the point. The chain of this necklace was delightfully reminiscent of that of a locket from my grandma that was home to a picture of her and my grandpa. It was perfect and I think I ended up with the two best pieces of jewelry on display. ❤

As the weather cools down, I can’t wait to begin fully accessorizing OOTDs again and I have a great place to start with my new old necklaces from The Bomb Shelter!

Do you have any vintage clothing or accessories? Where do you like to shop for retro finds? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep14

The Bomb Shelter Shopping Trip

Posted on September 14, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! There is a super cool vintage store in Akron called The Bomb Shelter that Johnny and I have always talked about visiting but never bothered doing so until this past weekend. We are going to see Weird Al today and wanted to find some Hawaiian shirts to wear to the show. Johnny suggested hitting up The Bomb Shelter to shop their selection and I am so glad he did so. This was my first trip there and it was absolutely amazing. If you love vintage shopping and ever find yourself in the greater Akron area, this is a total and complete must. While we didn’t have any luck finding Hawaiian shirts, we sure had a good time browsing the massive property. Check it out:

^^^ The Bomb Shelter’s mascot lol

Walking into The Bomb Shelter was like stepping into a time machine and it was as wonderful as it was overwhelming. Every single area in the expansive warehouse was covered with vintage goods from floor to ceiling and I mean that quite literally. They had chairs, doilies, and pieces of art hanging from the ceiling! Each shelf and tabletop was home to wonders of yesteryear and you honestly would need a full few hours to really look through The Bomb Shelter and see anything and everything it has to offer. Johnny and I spent at least two hours browsing easily. And also sitting because he insisted on trying out Every. Single. Piece. Of. Furniture. And there was a lot!!

For all of the millions of things in The Bomb Shelter, it was actually very well organized. Of course, I loved browsing through the clothes and jewelry as did Johnny. And don’t tempt him with a shelf full of records! As much as I enjoyed the clothing, my favorite parts were where the old appliances and kitchen sets were featured. You could literally make your home feel like the 1950s with a shopping trip to The Bomb Shelter and a lot of money! It was SO neat to see furnishings, place settings, and decor that reminded me of those that were in my grandparents’ homes. It was a beautiful touch of nostalgia to simply see a set of cups that were like ones my grandma used to have that sent so many happy memories of childhood rushing back.

From movie memorabilia and toys and games to old presidential buttons and photography equipment, there was something for every collector at The Bomb Shelter. They even had a DeLorean in the garage portion of the store as well as a Yugo which we wanted to bring home with us so badly! It would have been all too easy to spend my life savings while we went on our shopping trip but I think we exercised self control pretty well. We walked away with a couple of trinkets and gifts as well as some “new” vintage jewelry for me. Peep those later!!

We may not have found what we wanted at The Bomb Shelter but it showed us what we truly needed. I can’t wait to go back!

Do you have a store like The Bomb Shelter in your neck of the woods? What is your favorite era of home decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

70s Spring OOTD

Posted on April 26, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a *sort of* brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I rarely repeat outfits that I post on my blog, however, there is one particular look that I have been dying to wear since I got my hair done. This OOTD was one of my favorites. It was super retro, super fun, and I thought the color palette would compliment my new do beautifully. And, all I have to say is: When I’m right, I’m right lol! Check it out and be sure to peep the videos from this look on my TikTok @lilred6794 . Now, let’s get to it:

Who? What? Wear?

Dress: MaxSport LA, TJMaxx

Flower Boots: B.A.I.T., ModCloth

The necklace belonged to my grandma ❤

Stud Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters

I originally wore this look during the wintertime on a weekend getaway with my family. This time around, no topper jacket or cozy scarf was needed to keep me warm and I got to fully show off this OOTD in glorious springtime weather. Let’s start by talking about the MaxSport LA dress because I am truly never going to get over it. I purchased this dress for ten dollars on clearance at TJMaxx and it still had the original price tag. Guess how much it was? Did you guess? Okay, I’ll tell you: Two hundred and forty bucks! It was the steal of the century and the fashion gods were shining upon me. I love the colors and the fit is just perfect. It hugs in all of the right places without being clingy, it provides fabulous movement, and those mini bubble sleeves are the cutest! This dress is also fairly light, making it ideal for a warm spring day.

Shoes and accessories were all that was left for this look and I wasn’t going to steer from the original formula aside from excluding boot socks. Even if I wanted to switch up the norm, I couldn’t imagine a different pair of shoes than my floral embroidered babies by B.A.I.T. ! They fit the 70s vibe that the dress invokes to the T and also has a similar clearance story. I admired these one hundred forty dollar boots on ModCloth for forever and got them during a warehouse sale for thirty dolla holla. It was simply thrilling lol. For jewelry, I put on a tiny pair of pearl studs so my favorite necklace from my grandma could do all the talking. It nestled into the U-line of the dress like it was made to be worn with it and it is always so special to wear it. ❤

This repeat OOTD with a few modifications might not be the norm on lifewithlilred but I sure loved wearing it! 😀

Do you have any clothing or jewelry that is special to you? What is an outfit that you have no problem repeating? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep22

Hello, Yellow OOTD

Posted on September 22, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hi hi!! This past week, duty called as a social media manager to take part in a meeting for a new project. This was on top of what is already my busiest day of the week and I was wiped out. Regardless of being tired, it is always important to me to put together an OOTD that makes me feel my best so I can put my best face forward. The said project was an art driven one so I wanted to create a look that was business casual with some funky flare. And, of course, I wanted to be comfortable. The Hello, Yellow OOTD you are about to see was so comfy, in fact, that it felt like wearing pajamas and no one was the wiser for it! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Yellow Cardigan: A New Day, Target

Navy Blue Crop Top: This was a hand me down from my sister

Pinstripe Slacks: Free People, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Pattern Kitten Heels: Splendid, TJMaxx

Retro Headband: TJMaxx

The turquoise earrings are Lucky Brand!

Honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted to wear to this meeting and it was quite the mad dash to throw together. I was on a time crunch, had a decent drive ahead of me, and it felt like every idea I had sucked. So, I scrapped them all, took a breath, and did a restart with something that I knew for a fact would work. This began with my pair of pinstripe slacks by Free People. I love the modern take on business casual that they offer with the wide leg and soft cloth material. These slacks also helped set up a neutral base when paired with the navy blue crop top so that I could enhance the look with pops of color.

Speaking of pops of color, cue the mustard yellow cardigan by A New Day! The weather in Ohio has still been really warm and this was a perfect option as it was nice and light. Because navy is a neutral, I could wear this cardigan with no repercussions to the overall outfit. I am a huge fan of anything yellow and the cardi turned the very basic base into something special. It also provided me with some midriff coverage for the little bit showing between the crop top and high waisted slacks. This was great because it kept me worry free about any peek a boo moments for the duration of the evening.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I decided on a pair of snakeskin pattern kitten heels. Had the pinstriping on the pants been more bold, I would have went with something different. However, it was so light that introducing a new pattern wouldn’t clash. This was further assisted by the fully neutral palette too. Next, it was time to browse the accessory department. My hair was not behaving whatsoever, so a headband was in order. I chose a lovely retro hued headband with yellow that closely mimicked the cardigan and popped on a pair of dangly turquoise earrings for good measure. With that, I was ready to go!

There is no rule stating that business casual has to be boring. This Hello, Yellow OOTD is my take on office ready vibes with my signature Lil Red aesthetic!

How do you dress for work? How do you dress for play? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug9

So 70s OOTD

Posted on August 9, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello darlings and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! After falling off of the OOTD wagon for a bit, I am back in full swing. Johnny and I have had lots of plans for the past several weekends and because he is the best blog husband, he is always willing to take my pictures as we go about the day. This past Saturday, we hit up the Jenks Building so we could shop for new to us records. Then, we visited Johnny’s parents and aunt for his dad’s birthday. A lovely outfit was needed for such a lovely day and I rocked the following:

Who? What? Wear?

Sweater Dress: Heartloom, TJMaxx

Wedge Heel Mules: B.A.I.T., ModCloth

Butterfly Sunglasses: A Signature Antiques

The giraffe cuff is from Target and I’m pretty sure the daisy earrings are from Claire’s?

In July I went on a shopping trip to TJMaxx to spend birthday gift cards that were burning a hole in my pocket. The change of seasons is my favorite time to go to TJ’s because it’s when they bring out all of the… more unique clothing that didn’t sell. By a stroke of good fortune, I ended up with two pieces that were the only ones available in the store. A gorgeous chartreuse top and the sweet as can be sweater dress in this OOTD. My original plan was to save the dress for the next Misnyland Picnic I will be working in September. Obviously, I couldn’t wait because 1) I love it lol and 2) It was partially for practicality’s sake because picnic days are always insanely busy.

This Heartloom sweater dress is straight out of the 70s and oh so much fun. In fact, Johnny told me several times throughout the day that it was like something The Supremes would wear! The colors, pattern, and adorable big buttons work together to make a throwback piece that is truly special. I have never seen anything like it in stores before and I highly doubt I will any time soon. I felt like an absolute star in it and although not a lot of think work went into styling this OOTD, I still had a blast doing so.

Since all I had to do was slip on a dress, it was time for shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with a fabulous little pair of wedge heel mules by B.A.I.T.. The marigold yellow worked perfectly with the colors in the dress and can we talk about that daisy print?! Yes, it kind of looks like an egg but I’m still going with daisies lol. Accessories were next and I kept with the yellow motif with a giraffe cuff bracelet that I got forever ago from Target. Then, I tied the look together from head to toe with a pair of stud daisy earrings and was ready for my close up!

I am so happy that I broke out my So 70s OOTD in advance and it turned out exactly how I pictured it in my head. I can’t wait to wear it again!

What is your favorite era of fashion? Which celebrity’s style do you admire? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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