Tag Archives: shopping

If The Shoe Fits: Catherine Malandrino Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Catherine Malandrino Edition

Howdy! Winter makes me go a bit stir crazy when I’m bundled indoors against the cold and because of that, online shopping turns into my favorite inclement weather hobby. So, instead, I go shoe crazy. Ba dum chhhhhh! A TJMaxx haul brought me these b-e-a-utiful Catherine Malandrino four buckled beauties and I am obsessed. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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When it comes to booties, I am typically sold if they are black, buckled, and bedazzled in some way and these shoes have it all. The sleek black color against a rougher texture, the four buckles going across the shoe, the studs to add even more edge. Woof – what a shoe success! I am also partial to these booties having a slight lifted heel so that I don’t feel like a complete fish out of water on flat feet! Thanks, Catherine Malandrino. ❤

I am stoked to wear these booties during the cold weather, but I am actually more looking forward to wearing them during the summer. These babies are going to look so badass with a pair of short shorts, a panama hat, and a faux fur vest over a graphic tee for a really funky warm weather OOTD. I. Can’t. Wait. There’s nothing better than buying an item with styling potential and, man, have these boots got it. I can’t wait to expand my wardrobe horizons with them and enjoy it fully with all of the buckled badness that these shoes deliver!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Catherine Malandrino Edition! How do you style badass booties? What do you look for in a good pair of ankle boots? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo Beauties Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo Beauties Edition

Hello hello and happy day after Christmas! I hope that everyone had a beautiful day celebrating and enjoyed their time spent with family and loved ones. Stay tuned here on lifewithlilred for my holiday haul and December finishes! Today, we are going to talk about a pair of Bamboo platform booties that I have been lusting after for a while now. The color is red, the heel is high, and the pattern is to die for. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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As I mentioned above, I’ve been obsessed with these shoes for a lifetime, so an online TJMaxx haul meant that I finally got to bring these babies home to mama. These high to the heavens heels with a geisha girl inspired pattern gives me so much life. The divine embroidery, the shiny red fabric, and could be on a kimono style. Ugh, everything about these Bamboo shoes is perfect.

Styling these booties is going to be a lot of fun because you could go simple with them or get totally wild. For a simple look, I would pair these shoes with an all black everything ensemble, which would include black skinnies, an oversized boyfriend blazer, and a black sweater underneath for a coffee house chic look. Then, for something more fun, I would pair my booties with one of my favorite Loft tops featuring paper fans and my mustard yellow A-line skirt for a funky but fabulous work or play OOTD. The possibilities are completely endless!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo Beauties Edition! How would you style these fun platforms? What is your favorite pattern to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Lil Red Booties Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Lil Red Booties Edition

Hi hi hi! One brand of shoes that I really love is Bamboo. I have several pairs of their heels, platforms, and booties, and just added on to my collection with two new pairs. One of which includes these gorgeous red, heeled, pointed toe boots with a surprise in the back. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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One would think that Lil Red would have tons of red shoes, but the sad truth is that I only own one other pair. So, naturally, when I saw these shoes on TJMaxx’s website, I had to indulge like the Maxxinista that I am. Of course, I was sold on the color but I simply loved the pointed toe and the surprise tasseled zipper in the back! Not only is it a faux suede material but there are also delicate golden chains thrown into the mix for good measure and I am so in love. How fun is that?!

I loved pairing my other red pair of heels with one of my many mustard yellow colored dresses so these bootie babes will be no exception. They will also make a great addition to my Christmas wardrobe with an emerald green (Or any green!) top or sweater for a festively fab look. In fact, it’s just been decided two seconds ago that that is what I will be wearing for Christmas! Happy Christmas Eve, ya’ll! ❤

So there you have it, a new issue of If The Shoe Fits: Lil Red Booties Edition! How do you style a fun colored shoe? What are you wearing to celebrate the holidays in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Cool In Karl Lagerfeld

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Cool In Karl Lagerfeld

Howdy! Everyone who knows anything about fashion knows about Karl Lagerfeld, the amazing head of Chanel, Fendi, and his self titled brands. Karl is an icon, and part of what makes him so are his signature aviator sunglasses, which he wouldn’t be caught dead without. So what better way to give an ode to the man behind the shades, than with a sharp white button down literally covered in them? Take a look:

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I nabbed this ah-may-zing shirt at TJMaxx as they were putting it on the rack for thirty dollars and I am so in love. Not only does this shirt give an extra pop of stark white to my wardrobe, which I’ve been working on adding, but it makes me feel devastatingly chic to own this top that feels so completely Karl. Am I a person who is overly concerned about labels? Not really. But, my god, does it feel good to have something with Karl Lagerfeld’s name on the tag. And I can definitely swing thirty dollars instead of the ninety dollar price point that I found on his website.

I am SO looking forward to pairing this top with black skinny jeans, black ankle booties, and a moto jacket so that the bright white top can really shine against All Black Everything. And, of course, a red lip is a total necessity for this look. This button down is great for a cheeky look for work and is an instant hit for all things play. I am freaking obsessed. And, yes, aviator sunglasses are absolutely required.

I feel so helplessly Cool In Karl Lagerfeld and I am ready to take on the day without taking off my sunnies as an ode to the gorgeous fashion mastermind. Who is a designer that you go gaga for? How do you score designer duds for a deal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What To Do If You Are Not Happy With Your Clothing

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What To Do If You Are Not Happy With Your Clothing

Nobody is entirely happy with how they look all of the time, but if you are starting to find that you are unhappy with your look a lot of the time, you should start to think about what you can do about that. As it happens, it is likely that there are a number of things that you can try, and as long as you know where to begin on this front you should find that it is pretty easy to improve your look in no time at all. But first you need to pinpoint what you are really not happy about with your look – and this post should help you to be able to do that:

Start Small:

If you feel that you need to make a change with your look, it might be tempting to go for a big change first. But the truth is that starting small is generally more effective on the whole, and it’s worth doing that if you want to really see the changes you crave. But what kind of details should you pay attention to first? Mostly, you will want to use services like http://stitchit.co/ to ensure that your clothing is in good shape, as these details can affect your overall look considerably. You should also look to your accessories and whether you feel the need to change them in order to keep your outfit looking great. Nothing screams pick me up like a fantastic quality outfit!

Refresh Your Wardrobe:

If you have done these things, and you still feel that you need to make some bigger changes, then don’t be afraid to do so. The best way to do this is to take a look at what is in your wardrobe more generally, and look to what items you feel that you would like to change out for new alternatives. While this can be a nerve-wracking thing to do, it is also exciting – and if you do it right, it is often the best way to ensure that you are happy with your look again. Giving your wardrobe a decent refresh is always going to make a huge difference, so it’s well worth considering.

Improve Your Confidence:

Sometimes the problem is not so much with your fashion sense or choice of clothing as much as your own sense of confidence – or lack thereof. You need to feel confident in yourself in order to be genuinely happy with your look, and if you feel that you are not happy, it might be worth looking to this to see if it is something that you can try to improve. Building confidence is important for your life in general anyways, so there is definitely much to be gained from doing this ASAP. The more confident you are, the better you will look and the more you will personally enjoy your overall look, as well.

Everyone needs a wardrobe pick me up every now and again, and starting slowly but surely to rebuilding your closet confidence is the best place to start!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Jack Trench Coat Edition

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Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Jack Trench Coat Edition

Hey hey and welcome to a new edition of Unsung Wardrobe Heroes! One thing that I love is reading through fashion magazines. Vogue, Allure, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar – I’m a fan of it all. The ads, the articles, the fashion stories, it all has me hooked. When I was about fifteen, I remember thumbing through one of my beloved fashion bibles and seeing a fashion story about trench coats – it was literally called “The Allure Of The Trench” and I think that I would pinpoint that moment as when I got interested in fashion.

In this story, the photos featured a gorgeous, smokey eyed model with long, black hair in a smart and classic trench coat paired with black tights and heels. She looked stunning. But she also looked effortless – it was truly a piece about timeless beauty and that is the trench coat. I wanted to look like that model. I wanted to be that model. In fact, I still have the pictures hanging up in my room:

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^^^ Isn’t that beautiful?

You can probably see why I became obsessed with getting my own trench coat after seeing that picture. And shortly thereafter, I did. When I was younger, PacSun was my favorite store to shop at, and I ended up working there for four years. While shopping one day with my mother, I saw the most beautiful Jack trench coat on the planet. I was fifteen and it screamed “fashion” at me. It was perfect.

In the moment of seeing my trench and trying it on, I could see why the fashion story was called “The Allure Of The Trench”. I felt grown up, elegant, and devastatingly chic at fifteen years old and I knew that that was how the model in the pictures felt, too. I had to have it. And, over eight years later, I still wear my beloved trench often – as seen below:

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The pictures seen above are an ode to that wonderful fashion story that introduced me to the trench coat. It’s an ode to the moment where I fell in love with fashion, and an ode to still being inspired by an almost decade old fashion magazine story to this day. I wish that I could remember what magazine it was featured in, but I will always remember “The Allure Of The Trench” just the same.

What is your first memory of falling in love with fashion? Does anyone have a story similar to mine about a loved trench coat or another wardrobe hero? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Hollister Flannel Edition

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Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Hollister Flannel Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! Today in Unsung Wardrobe Heroes, we are going to discuss a Goodwill find that has been giving and giving for well over FIVE YEARS now. My favorite flannel is said Goodwill find and I got it for a whole four dolla holla. It is Hollister brand, which I normally never wear, but at four dollars and a new but used condition – how can you not? Take a look and let’s discuss:

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What I love the most about this button down is its versatility. I can wear it unbuttoned over a crop top, buttoned up with a blazer over top of it for work, or buttoned with a moto jacket for play. And can we talk about its ability to create the perfect pinup girl look simply by tying it in a cropped knot? So flirty and fun! This top looks great with virtually anything and the checked pattern is classic, which creates a timeless look with every wear.

My favorite way to wear this top currently is buttoned down under a blazer. I love wearing it like this for work, because it creates a really true business casual look. My oversized boyfriend blazer looks cool and chic over this more closely fitted top and it takes it from a top for play to a top for work in an instant. At twenty-three, I never want to look stuffy when I’m with my clients, and this look keeps me feeling youthful and fresh, while still professional.

I normally don’t shop Goodwill or Plato’s Closet for the simple reason that I’m a pretty intense germophobe, so I don’t get a lot of pleasure in going. However, I faced my fear and I wound up with one of my go to tops in my wardrobe so maybe I should do it more often!

So there you have it, this week’s issue of Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Hollister Flannel Edition! How do you fight germophobia while thrifting? What is your favorite thrift store find? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Collar Coolness: St. Tropez Edition

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Collar Coolness: St. Tropez Edition

Hey everyone and happy weekend! So yesterday we talked about some Collar Coolness with my new faux fur Modena collar and today we are going to stay on that topic with this gorgeous St. Tropez piece. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ The collar is lined with silk fabric in a floral pattern. So pretty!

Of course, I couldn’t have just one collar and I chose to get another one in this sultry, smokey mauve shade. This St. Tropez accessory is a lot fuller than my Modena one as seen in yesterday’s post and I really like that. The added fluff makes for a more over the top piece, and we all know that Lil Red loves making a statement!

I’m definitely excited to style this collar into my outfits, but I’m actually more looking forward to the makeup that can be worn with it! I am thinking a lush, purple smokey eye and a nude lip to create a really posh overall look. I do love this collar with my moto jacket as seen above, but I think that I would wear this one with a sleek little black dress for a swanky New Year’s Eve party look.

These collars are so fun but they also add such an air of chicness to every single piece that they’re paired with and I love that. My green Modena collar is edgy and funky, while this St. Tropez piece adds such a luxe touch to everything. The color is very high fashion to me and all of the extra volume doesn’t hurt in creating an interesting and fashion forward silhouette to all of my outfits.

So there you have it, some more Collar Coolness: St. Tropez Edition! How would you style this accessory? Do you prefer the green Modena collar or the mauve St. Tropez one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Collar Coolness: Modena Edition

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Collar Coolness: Modena Edition

Heyoooo. So last weekend at TJMaxx I got the literal coolest faux fur collars that I am totally obsessed with. When I was in New York for the Bloggers Conference with Kate from Ankhor You, we went to Anthropologie to do some browsing. In the store, they had an emerald green faux fur collar that I loved, but the price was something that I hated. However, I vowed to find a similar item for a much more reasonable price and I did in this fifteen dollar Modena collar (Holler!). Take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Looooove.

I am so happy with this TJMaxx find that I really can’t even. I love wearing my clothes in different ways and this detached collar allows me to do that with literally any top, jacket, cardigan, or dress that I own. I simply just have to put it around my shoulders and then BOOM I have a seemingly brand new item – just add faux fur!

When I was at TJs, I tried this collar on with the moto jacket seen above and it looked so cute that I just had to use it for my example photo. This combination is actually one of my favorites, because the collar looks like it was made for the jacket. I love all shades of green when it comes to my clothing and accessories and this piece is no exception. The funky dark green looks amazing against my red hair and pale skin and it always seems to make those features pop even more – which is a total plus!

I am always trying to find new and innovative ways to style my clothes and this Modena faux fur collar just made that a whole lot easier. Some of my older wardrobe pieces are going to feel brand new again and I can’t wait to begin working my new collar into my outfits.

BUT WAIT!

THERE’S MORE!

Because I totally got another collar in a luscious mauvey grey by St. Tropez and it is also fabulous, so do tune in tomorrow for that! How would you style this chic green collar? How do you incorporate faux fur into your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fingerless Gloves Frenzy

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Fingerless Gloves Frenzy

Howdy! This past weekend, a trip to TJMaxx supplied me with oodles of gorgeous winter accessories. And one of my favorite accessories of all? FINGERLESS GLOVES!! Obviously, with my talon nails, going fingerless when it comes to gloves is a must. But they are just so cute that even without long nails, I would be obsessed with them anyways. Take a look at these darling Steve Madden gloves that I scored for FIVE DOLLA HOLLA and let’s discuss:

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When I saw these adorable little babes, I knew that I had to have them. And when I saw the five dollar price tag, I double knew that I had to have them. I am so in love with these gloves that it isn’t even funny. The creamy tan base color, the color pop of fun on the phalanges, a designer that I love – Hello, Steve Madden – all of these created a perfect whirlwind of an accessory in a getting away with robbery price that made these gloves impossible to say no to.

I’ve always had a strong drawing to fingerless gloves, even in my pre-talons years. I love that they are text friendly and way quirkier than your standard gloves or mittens. Not only that, but I drive a lot and I prefer fingerless when I’m behind the wheel of the Little Red Love Machine. I have accumulated a ton of pairs of fingerless glovies over the years that I love to alternate between, but I just know that these are going to be the fan favorite for this winter!

I am in a Fingerless Gloves Frenzy, but you can’t beat five dollars and cute as a button! Do you prefer fingerless or normal gloves? What is your favorite winter accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah