Tag Archives: shopping

Letting Your Personality Shine With Accessories

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Letting Your Personality Shine With Accessories

When it comes to fashion, the old saying “less is more” definitely does not apply. In fact, when it comes to accessories, the more, the merrier! Accessories can help you show off your personality and style and take a basic outfit over the top. Let’s explore this a little more to make your next OOTD a winner:

Accessories can help you express your personality:

When you see someone wearing a piece of jewelry or an article of clothing that you love, it instantly tells you something about that person’s taste and style. By choosing accessories that reflect your own personal taste, you can easily communicate who you are to the world around you. And there’s nothing wrong with expressing yourself! Fashion is all about self-expression and individuality. So go ahead and rock those statement earrings or that bold necklace – we guarantee they’ll get people talking (in a good way)!

Show Off Your Unique Sense of Style:

Take a look at any celebrity or fashion icon – they all have their own signature style that is reflected in the way they dress and accessorize. And you can do the same! Your clothes and accessories are like a blank canvas, and it’s up to you to fill that canvas with your own personal style. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find a look that represents who you are. Trust us, when you find your signature style, people will start to take notice.

If you’re struggling to create a look that feels uniquely you, that’s okay! Finding your signature style takes time, like all good things. But there are so many ways to get inspired. Try on outfits you wouldn’t normally choose at the store, flip through fashion magazines at the library, or browse social media for ideas from your favorite influencers and celebrities. For example, reading a New celebrity eyewear blog could introduce you to stunning sunglasses that frame your face perfectly and elevate your entire look. Sometimes, all it takes is one statement accessory to spark your fashion creativity and help you define your own signature style!

Make a Statement:

Another great reason to let your personality shine through your accessories is that it allows you to make a statement. Whether you’re going for girly, professional, or showing off your edgy side, there’s no better way to do it than with your clothes and accessories. There are many types of accessories that you can use to make a statement, like Prescription Eyeglasses or even a simple T-Shirt. So if you’re looking for a way to get your voice out there, consider using your accessories as a platform. Who knows – you might just start a fashion trend in the process!

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Photo by Atikh Bana on Unsplash

Turn Heads:

Let’s face it, we all love a little attention now and then. And what better way to get it than by wearing something that shows off your unique sense of style? Whether you’re at a party or just walking down the street, if you’re wearing something that turns heads, you’re guaranteed to feel confident and fabulous. So go ahead and experiment with different looks until you find one that makes you feel like a million bucks!

Feel Confident and Fabulous:

We all know that feeling – when you walk out of the house, and you just know you look good. It’s awesome, isn’t it? By playing with your style, you can easily achieve that feeling of confidence and fabulousness. Even on off days, accessories can be most helpful in providing that extra confidence boost. Tired eyes can be masked by a gorgeous pair of sunglasses or headbands for women can tame a bad hair day. The beauty is that no one will be the wiser and you can go about your day feeling your best. When you feel good about the way you look, it shows! Put on those killer heels or that fantastic piece of jewelry – we promise you’ll love the way you feel.

No OOTD is complete without the right accessories so go for the bold and bright to reflect the spring and summer weather and strut your stuff!

Featured Image By: Amos Bar-Zeev on Unsplash

Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD Bloopers

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Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD! When Johnny takes my pictures, he will snap away until I’m ready to look at them… and then he’ll still keep taking my picture lol. With the rapid fire picture taking, I am left with what feels like a million shots to sort through and a majority of them do not make the final cut. You can definitely see why:

Johnny is always making me laugh!

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Some mid pose action

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It’s obvious why this shot didn’t make the cut

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AYYY or this one lol

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Feeling a little off balance

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Making sure my top didn’t have any gaps in it was a constant battle and I obviously wasn’t always successful

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Ahhhh I’m a zombie

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This is what I refer to as the “dismount” shot when I’m ready to see my pictures and Johnny is still snapping away

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Probably laughing about Johnny giving me some ridiculous directions

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As you can see, they are not always going to be winners when a blogger is taking OOTD pics lol. The blooper shots from my OOTDs might not be the most flattering but they are part of the process and it makes me and Johnny laugh – and hopefully you too! These are the types of pictures that make me say my mantra of “just a few more” and big ups to my darling blog husband for always obliging! ❤

Where is your favorite spot to take pictures at? What is your picture taking process? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD Bonus Pictures

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Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD Bonus Pictures

Howdy everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD! Tomorrow, tune in for a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club and then we will be taking a look at the numerous bloopers from my shoot. Thanks to Johnny’s rapid fire picture taking, there was an equal amount of bloopers as there were winners lol. Now, let’s peep the ones that made the cut:

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Although I don’t get to take OOTD pictures as often as I would like, it is still one of my most favorite things to do for lifewithlilred. While I would have loved to go to a more scenic location to shoot for my Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD, the parking lot of my apartment worked just fine! I have actually always wanted to take pictures with my car because it is one of my most prized possessions. And, luckily for me, it rained the night before so the Little Red Love Machine was nice and clean. 😀

There is nothing that boosts my confidence quite like a good outfit and getting in front of the camera to capture it. When I was younger and America’s Next Top Model was the most popular thing on planet Earth, I always dreamed of being on that show. And, thanks to the ol’ blog, I can make those dreams come true even if it is just in front of my apartment haha.

While I will never work with Vogue level photographers, that’s okay because I have Johnny and that’s even better. He is seriously the best blog husband ever and puts up with my OOTD shoot antics like a champ. “Just a few more” is my mantra when he takes my pictures and he always obliges, which truly warms my cold bitter heart. I am a very lucky gal! ❤

My cure all for when I’m feeling down is getting dolled up and snapping some pics. Even if you are a bit camera shy, I encourage everyone to get their pictures taken when the mood suits. I think you’ll have some fun! 🙂

Do you prefer to take pictures or be in front of the camera? 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

Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD

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Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past week, I had an interview for a new job coaching position and had to take advantage of the fact that I was wearing makeup by making Johnny take some pictures… Even if it was just in our apartment’s parking lot lol. Hey, you work with what you’ve got. These pictures combine three of my favorite things: My new hair, my car, and spring skirts! Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

  • White Blouse: H&M
  • Floral Skirt: Love On A Hanger, TJMaxx
  • Heels: ModCloth
  • Turquoise Necklace: My brother got me this necklace in New Mexico 🙂
  • Gold Cuff: Aerie
  • Little Red Love Machine: Mazda 2 Hatchback Sport ❤

I have been hinting at a new OOTD for a while and, believe you me, I have wanted to take pictures SO. Bad. However, the weather has been crap for the past couple of weeks here. It has been frigid cold and rainy so not only did I have to take advantage of my painted face during this shoot but the nice weather too! It was bright and sunny, making for the perfect climate for OOTD pictures.

This outfit is a fairly simple one but I think that it is so fabulous to finally welcome the spring weather with. I have been itching to wear my new Love On A Hanger skirt from TJMaxx since I bought it a few weeks ago and was very happy to finally break it out… Even if it was just for twenty minutes worth of picture taking. 😀

My original thought was to pair this skirt with my favorite white Rachel Zoe tank top because that is what I was wearing the day I tried it on in the fitting room. Although it looked cute, it didn’t pack enough punch so I returned to my closet for something different. I decided to go with a white blouse from H&M, instead. It is old as the dickens but it worked just right when tucked into the skirt.

As you all know, I am very fond of this particular style of skirt. The high waist, short length, and tight fit is so flattering. And, the beauty of these skirts is that if you tuck a shirt into it, it gives the illusion of wearing a dress. The breezy fabric of my H&M blouse offered some movement even while tucked in, which I liked because the canvas like material of the skirt definitely doesn’t provide that!

When it comes to wearing these skirts, constructing the basis of the outfit isn’t as important as the shoes that you choose. Typically, a bold pattern speaks for itself and you don’t have to do much to make it work. However, it’s crucial to pair skirts like this with a shoe that doesn’t have any straps. The high waist mini skirt gives your body such a nice, leggy silhouette and strappy shoes will ruin the length that you created.

The heels that I went with are an Old Faithful from ModCloth. I’m actually pretty sure they are one of my first purchases from that site! The cornflower blue flowers in the heels matched perfectly with those in my skirt, which made both of the patterns work together. Remember, when mixing and matching patterns that you need a like color in both pieces for a cohesive look!

I didn’t want to go overboard with my accessories because I loved how my tattoos looked against a somewhat muted palette. I went with one of my favorite gold cuffs and for a pop of color, I added my turquoise necklace from my brother. This necklace was the ideal length and hit right where my blouse opens up at the collar for a sweet peek a boo of blue.

I cannot wait to wear my Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD for more than twenty minutes and it is a look that you will be seeing more of. Tune in tomorrow to peep my new nails, then it will be on to bonus pictures and bloopers. See you then!

What is your favorite thing about springtime? What is your favorite style of skirt? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Cynthia Rowley Earrings Edition

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Accessory Story: Cynthia Rowley Earrings Edition

Howdy! The last thing I purchased during my final hurrah before my favorite TJMaxx closes was a really cool pair of earrings by Cynthia Rowley. I had actually seen them before at TJs and liked them a lot but didn’t buy them so I figured it was now or never when I saw them again! Check it out:

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When it comes to my jewelry, simple will simply not do and I love accessorizing with quirky pieces. These earrings definitely fall under that category! I love the design of my new Cynthia Rowley earrings and, of course, the bold red lip in the shape of a heart speaks to me. I have a skirt in a pattern that is almost identical and now I have the earrings to match. 😀

I cannot wait to break out my new earrings and the skirt you saw yesterday from my mini haul at TJs and I am so happy with my purchases… Just not the circumstance! Since my youth, the TJMaxx that is closing has provided me with many fond memories and lots of fabulous finds. Parting is, truly, such sweet sorrow and, although I am excited for the opening of a new TJMaxx, nothing will ever beat Old Faithful. ❤

Do you have a favorite store that closed? What is your favorite jewelry to accessorize with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

New Love On A Hanger Skirt

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New Love On A Hanger Skirt

Hello! My all time favorite TJMaxx is closing down to make room for a shiny new one and it was bittersweet during my last shopping trip there. Bitter because I will miss the store terribly and sweet because I got some super cute new goodies! I wasn’t planning on purchasing anything for myself (Which is always how it goes!) but when I found this adorable skirt by Love On A Hanger, I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it on:

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The shape of this skirt is my absolute favorite and I have several of them. Despite this, I always find myself buying more because I love them oh so much. The high rise fit with mini skirt length is so flattering and it makes for the most darling OOTDs come spring and summer. All you need is a crop or tank top, bold platforms, and a floppy hat and you are sure to turn heads!

While I, truthfully, don’t need anymore of these skirts, I justify my obsession by telling myself that I don’t have one in this pattern lol. And, that’s exactly what I told myself when I saw this Love On A Hanger number at TJMaxx. I fell in love with the canvas like material, springy flowers, and all of the OOTD possibilities that came with it.

It might be too cold to wear my new skirt right now but, trust and believe, that I will be busting it out as soon as the temperature rises. I tried my skirt on in the fitting room with a plain white tank top and it looked perfect. Once my pink Marc Fisher platforms are on and some colorful accessories, I will definitely feel like Spring Fling Queen!

In the timeless words of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada: “Florals…for spring? How…groundbreaking.” But, if it’s not broken then don’t fix it! 😀

What is your favorite style of skirt? Do you have a piece of clothing that you like to buy in multiple patterns? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Night At The Theater Pt. 2 OOTD

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A Night At The Theater Pt. 2 OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! My last Night At The Theater OOTD was from about a month ago when Johnny and I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar. This time around, we are going to be taking a look at my look from when I went to see Pretty Woman: The Musical with my mom. We had the best time getting all dolled up together and having a night on the town and I love the outfit that I came up with:

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Who? What? Wear?

I bought my new floral jogger pants the day before my night at the theater and knew that I definitely wanted to wear them to see Pretty Woman. After such a long winter, the flower print inspired me to create a spring style OOTD and my joggers provided the perfect base for it. This OOTD was actually super easy to create because I had one piece of the look already figured out and my options for tops and accessories was limited to what would work well with the pattern.

For my top, I went with my oyster shell colored flowy cami by Mittoshop. I wore it tucked into my bottoms and I thought that it looked lovely. The color of this top is so elegant and the lace detailing on the front added such a girly touch for a girls night out. Originally, I had on a black tank top but it bored me and I am so glad that I changed it up.

Since it was a chilly night, a jacket was a necessity and I wasn’t sure what to wear. I played around with a couple of different black blazers but the sleek shapes didn’t pair well with the flowy vibes of this look. After some trial and error, I settled on my Ci Sono jean jacket which is an oldie but goodie from a past TJMaxx Haul.

Once the jean jacket was on, I don’t know why I didn’t go with it in the first place! Jean jackets scream “spring” to me and it looked just right with the rest of my outfit. While I love a crisp, tighter fitting jean jacket, my Ci Sono one is a bit baggy without being completely over sized and complimented the style of the rest of the outfit rather than hindering it.

Finally, it was time for accessories and I knew just what shoes that I wanted to wear. I have been dying to break out my Barbie pink Marc Fisher platforms since I got them this winter and they were everything that I wanted them to be AND MORE. These platforms were made to be worn with my OOTD and the added height was much needed. I wouldn’t have bought my new joggers if they were too too long but they are pants that definitely need to be worn with heels.

For jewelry, I chose my SJ pearl necklace in a gorgeous pale blue. Although I love flashy, bright jewelry, my outfit was such a muted palette and my necklace had to follow suit. The length of this necklace highlighted the lace detailing on my top and I think it tied the whole look together perfectly.

My Night At The Theater Pt. 2 OOTD is one that I can picture myself wearing all spring long. Two pretty women seeing Pretty Woman: The Musical required a fabulous outfit and I think that I delivered!

How do you dress for spring? What is your favorite musical? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

One By Chapter One Jogger Pants

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One By Chapter One Jogger Pants

Hello! I had a few dollars on a TJMaxx gift card left from Christmas and I wanted to make a quick trip before work to buy some add on prezzies for my sister’s birthday. Little did I know before entering the store that my beloved TJMaxx in Chapel Hill was closing down because a new one is opening in Stow. While I’m excited for the shiny new TJs to open, I will miss the Chapel Hill one dearly and have many a fond memory of shopping there with my mom and sister.

Most of the store was already pretty picked over when I went and I wasn’t able to find anything that I liked for my sister. However, I did find some stuff that I liked for me! Check it out:

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^^^ These joggers look so bad hanging up lol.

Tomorrow, you can peep these One By Chapter One joggers in a brand new OOTD but I thought that we would discuss them first! I have wanted pants like these for forever and when I saw them hanging up on the rack, I didn’t expect to like them as much as I did when I tried them on. I love the idea of printed bottoms but I have never found just the right pair. Some patterns are too loud, others make me look bottom heavy, and most of them wouldn’t go with anything else that I own.

I liked these joggers when I saw them hanging up because they were more like slacks than your traditional pair of joggers and I had an abundance of tops that would work with them. When I tried them on, I was sold by how comfortable they were and how well they fit. My new joggers are a straight leg fit and they have a bit of bagginess to them without looking like parachute pants!

The pattern against the pewter grey background is bold without being too much and provides lots of options for what can be worn on top. For my OOTD, I went with an oyster shell colored cami but you could wear burgundy, light pink, taupe, or black on top and get away with it. When it comes to patterned bottoms, you might only have one or two pieces in your wardrobe to make it a cohesive look. Thankfully, I have plenty of choices to wear with these pants and I wouldn’t have bought them if that wasn’t the case. I am so happy with them! 😀

Be sure to tune back in tomorrow for a new OOTD featuring these joggers and then we will move on to two more purchases from my TJMaxx trip. See you then! ❤

What is your favorite pattern to wear? How would you style these joggers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath & Body Works March Freebie

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Bath & Body Works March Freebie

Hello! It has been a long while since I’ve shopped in person at Bath & Body Works because of the pandemic. Their foaming hand soaps are a staple in my apartment so Johnny and I have just been ordering them online for the past two years. It has been fine but it’s also very hard to judge how the soaps are going to smell online!

This past week, I had a freebie coupon as well as one for twenty-five percent off of my purchase and I decided to go to the actual store to cash them in. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss the soaps which I got for a steal at $3.50 each but, today, let’s take a look at this freebie. It smells SO GOOD:

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I have tons of body wash and lotion in my beauty stock pile and, honestly, don’t need more of either one. But there is nothing better than free and I went with a travel sized lotion in Whipped Berry Meringue. Using lotion on my hands and stretch mark areas have become an ingrained part of my bed time routine and I definitely had less lotion than shower gel in my hoard.

The best part of shopping in store with B&BW is, obviously, being able to take a whiff of each product. However, by the time I was done soap shopping I was all smelled out and didn’t even bother smelling my freebie lotion until I got home. The name had me sold already because I highly doubted that Whipped Berry Meringue was going to smell bad lol.

After smelling my new lotion, I knew that I was so right because it is delightful. It is nice and light without being overpowering with notes of mixed berries, lemon, and cream. It actually smells a lot like the berry Lip Smackers that I loved oh so much in my youth. This is a perfect scent for spring and if you have been doing your B&BW shopping online, it is a safe bet to purchase.

Whether shopping in store or online, nothing pleases me more than adding to the ol’ stock pile and it’s even better when the products are free or discounted. If you don’t receive coupons in the mail from B&BW, do yourself a favor and sign up today for the best steals and deals!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? What is in your beauty hoard? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

4 Tips To Improve Your Personal Presentation

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4 Tips To Improve Your Personal Presentation

People work hard to attain the skills and knowledge to stay progressive in life. They will invest heavily in those areas, often creating specialties that can help them create a stable career and lifestyle for themselves. However, those elements are not the only things contributing to your progress. It might not feel like an important matter, but how you present yourself is critical.

Body language, posture, and self care will be a few indicators of how well you present yourself. Its effects might feel like an effort to please others, but it is actually an opportunity to take care of yourself more. The confidence you can achieve from improving your image can help you interact with others better, even leading to the point where they compliment your efforts. As a result, people have more reasons to listen and believe you.

However, it can be challenging to identify where to start. If you want to enhance how you present yourself, these tasks will be ideal for your daily routine:

Personal Hygiene:

Your self image relies heavily on physical appearance. The first thing people will see is your face and body, and they might already have plenty of stuff to say about them. Flaws will stand out. Walking into a room full of talented professionals means you must also present yourself that way. Unfortunately, you might pop out in the wrong way when you have messy hair, unorganized clothing, and look disheveled. Odors and bad breath could also have more significant consequences for your self image.

Fortunately, you can eliminate those minor physical flaws through your daily hygiene routine. Showering, brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and applying deodorant might be enough to help you stay clean and neat. Your efforts will ensure that you are presentable, making it the first step towards an improved self image.

Skin Care:

Proper hygiene routines can help you stay clean. However, it does not mean you are automatically presentable. They aim to maintain neatness, but you might have to do something more to improve your physical appearance. A good skin care routine can be incorporated to help minimize wrinkles, acne, or age spots. Even sunscreen can do wonders for your appearance. A consultation with a dermatologist can be a good start and will help increase your knowledge of self-skin care routines.

As you explore different options for skin care, it’s important to be able to identify what your skin type is. Then, you can buy products to help improve and enhance it. Looking up skin health information, advice, and tips can help make you more knowledgeable when it comes to perfecting your skin care regimen.

Active Lifestyle:

Going to the gym, playing sports, and performing at home exercises can help you improve your shape. However, the results might be challenging to achieve without a healthy diet. Cutting down on carbs and removing fast food from your life can help reduce weight and prevent illnesses like diabetes and obesity. An active and healthy lifestyle can help you present your physical appearance better, even improving your posture, balance, and self esteem.

Fashion Trend Updates:

The steps mentioned above allow you to make a routine that improves how you present yourself. They might be fixed guidelines that every person must pursue, but another element can make you stand out even more. Your fashion sense will play a huge role in helping you present yourself better.

Experimenting with a few accessories and pieces of clothing will allow you to improve your fashion sense. However, fashion trends pop up unexpectedly. You must find ways to keep up, which means going shopping every once in a while. You can shop for Kate Spade items online to make the experience more convenient or have a treat day at your favorite store.

Keeping yourself presentable is necessary in life, even though it feels like less of a priority than knowledge and skills. Incorporating these routines means that you will always be in peak shape whenever you are in public, because you never know who you’re going to meet!