Tag Archives: shopping

If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Booties Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Booties Edition

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! If there’s one brand that I love and one designer that I admire, it’s Betsey Johnson. A trained eye can recognize a Betsey piece without even thinking about it, and I love that the brand’s vivacious designer was able to create a name for herself and a look that’s so uniquely her own that nothing really compares.

I admire Betsey apparel, bags, and accessories from afar because they are too expensive for my taste. But when TJMaxx has the random jewelry or purse from her collection, it is such a treat! While my mom and I were doing some online shoe shopping on TJMaxx’s amazing website, I was so surprised to find a lot of Betsey shoes, because they literally never have them. It was a must to order a few pairs, including these gorgeous new booties. Take a look:

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My mom pointed out while I was trying my new booties on yesterday that they are not as edgy as my normal studded, buckled, crazy boots that I tend to go for. And that’s okay! I really try not to limit myself to one style (Although, I do have obvious favorites.), so going girly every once in a while can be a lot of fun!

What I love the most about these quirky little beauties is the vibrancy of the embroidered flowers. The black base color is dull enough that each pretty petal and shade completely pops. My favorite is the yellow and white pansy placed throughout the shoe – it’s so sweet and bright!

Each individual color in the flowers from the deep red rose, forest green leaves, and lush lavender is going to make styling these booties such a blast. It’s going to be fun to pick a color in the patterns and match it up to a top, jacket, or hat for a colorful and cohesive look. I actually tried these on with my favorite shirt dress from Zara the other day that also features embroidered flowers and it looked so divine. I can definitely see myself wearing that shirt dress, tights, my Betsey booties, and a trench coat as a sweet as can be fall look!

Betsey Johnson’s brand is just pure fun and I am so happy to have finally gotten my hands on something from her that isn’t just accessories. It’s going to be an interesting change of pace to go girly with my new boots, but I’m ready for it!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Booties Edition! Which brands do you admire from afar? How would you style my new kicks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Carolina Belle Of The Ball Blazer

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Carolina Belle Of The Ball Blazer

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! If there’s one style of jacket that I love, it’s the blazer. From fitted and sexy to slouchy but chic, you can really wear a good blazer day or night and it always looks like you’re dressed to the nines. Blazers are always an excellent option when I’m working in the field of helping people with special needs because it says professional but still casual and cool, especially since I normally just wear a plain old t-shirt or sweater underneath.

Obviously, I never say no to buying any particular type of clothing, but this rings the truest for blazers. It can be gosh-darn difficult to find just the right one so when a keeper comes up, it’s best to snag it ASAP. This fall, the velvet trend is hitting the clothing stores hard. I can’t say that I completely love it – BUT I do love the gorgeous navy blue velvet blazer I picked up from TJMaxx this weekend! Take a look:

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^^^ So. PRETTY!

Normally, when I’m shopping at TJs, I stay pretty well parked in the Junior’s department. However, I was helping my mom scour the women’s section this time, because I love picking clothes out for her. So, it certainly came as a shock when I found something for myself in the department that I would have never thought of looking in before!

I. LOVE. THIS. BLAZER.

Everything about this jacket is just perfect to me – the retro style, the metallic sheen of the fabric, the gorgeous floral print. This blazer seriously looks like a women’s smoking jacket and I am totally obsessed. As you all know, I live for all black everything clothing BUT this Carolina Belle beauty is the exception. Dare I say, I like this blazer even more in its deep navy hue and pewter detail glory – and that’s really saying something.

Aside from the magnificent color palette of my new find, which gives it so much edge without even trying, my other favorite part of this blazer is the fit. I am a solid Small in the Junior’s department (Sometimes Extra Small, depending on what I’m trying on.), so I was pretty worried that a women’s size jacket wasn’t going to fit me well. WRONG. I found my blazer in an Extra Small and the fit was totally divine. I often opt for the slouchy, boyfriend style blazer so it was fun to try something that was more fitted and sultry. 😉

My Carolina Belle blazer is going to be such a cool, unexpected piece for fall and I am so excited to start incorporating it into my outfits immediately. Of course, this will look fabulous with jeans and dresses, but I am most looking forward to pairing my new blazer with my mustard yellow A-line skirt and tights for a fashionable fall work outfit. Can’t wait!

So there you have it, my Carolina Belle Of The Ball Blazer! What is your favorite style of jacket? How would you style my new wardrobe addition? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Monday Update: Fall Fun Edition

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Monday Update: Fall Fun Edition

Hello everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. The fall season is officially among us and I, for one, could not be happier. Actually, that’s a lie, I could be happier BECAUSE IT’S BEEN NINETY DEGREES IN OHIO FOR THE PAST WEEK!!!! All of you know by now that I live for the fall and this heat wave is simply unacceptable. So now instead of participating in all of my favorite fall activities listed below, I will simply have to daydream about it until it cools down to autumnal temperatures. Let’s discuss some of my fave fall outings:

  1. Apple Picking: There are TONS of gorgeous orchards in Ohio filled with trees that are spilling over with crisp, fresh apples. I love going to orchards with my family, friends, or on a date and then making something delicious afterwards with the bounty like an apple pie or crisp. So fun and so yum.
  2. Haunted Houses: Ohio also has quite a few haunted houses that I’m always keen on visiting. Being a horror junkie, going to a haunted house during a chilly, pitch black fall night is one of my favorite things to do. I went to the Factory Of Terror last year and would love to go there again and definitely would like to make it to the 7 Floors Of Hell, too!
  3. Fall Cooking: Lil Red loves to cook all of the vegetarian delights, but I especially love making (and eating) fall comfort food. Soups, stews, breads, and huge dishes of mac n’ cheese are just a few of my go to meals. And the fall sweets aren’t so bad, either! Cinnamon rolls, pies, crisps, and cobblers?! Yes, please. Fall food is so hearty, rich, and flavorful, and it makes sitting down for every meal such a joy.
  4. Fall Shopping: This list of fall favorites wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t talk shopping at least a little bit! Can you say boots and peacoats?! I LOVE IT!! I’m pretty well flush for fall clothing, considering it makes up about 75% of my wardrobe but that never seems to stop me from buying all the booties and oversized sweaters. It’s a curse!
  5. Perfect Weather: Although the heat in Ohio is destroying my favored fall weather, I live for the mid 50s and 60s temps that fall usually brings. I love being that slightest bit chilly. The bite that the fall air blows around, which reddens the cheeks and leaves your hands tucked in your pockets is always what I prefer to scorching summers. One of my favorite things to do during a brisk fall day is throwing on a thick sweater and combat boots and exploring one of the many beautiful Metro Parks in Ohio.

Here’s to hoping that the weather in my neck of the woods makes a drastic change so that I can start enjoying some of my fall favorites soon!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Fall Fun Edition! What are some of your favorite fall activities? What is your favorite season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pajama Party: My Calvins Pt. 3 Edition

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Pajama Party: My Calvins Pt. 3 Edition

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing weekend. As you guys know, one of my major guilty pleasure purchases is pajamas. To me, there is absolutely nothing more luxurious than taking a nice, long bubble bath, snuggling up in some darling PJs, and crawling into bed. It’s a cheap evening in, but it always leaves me going to bed feeling like a million bucks.

There is really no better time for cozy pajama purchasing than the present, because the fall chill has definitely hit Ohio. With that in mind and the whopping twenty dollar price tag from TJMaxx, it was hard to say no to this Calvin Klein shorts and Henley sleep set. Take a look:

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^^^ Peep that perfectly folded top! Compliments of four years of retail work, baby!

So a shorts and thermal set seems pretty counterproductive for a crisp fall evening, right? WRONG. This set is actually perfect for me, because one of my favorite things in the world is sleeping underneath a mountain of blankets but having the ceiling fan on and the windows wide open. This long sleeved shirt and short set is basically the clothing equivalent of that feeling and it is So. Freaking. Comfy!!!

My pajama collection is admittedly hitting maximum capacity, but one more Calvin Klein set never hurt anyone! Seriously, next time I’m at TJs, remind me not to step foot in the pajama department, because this always happens. Lol, I can’t say that I’m all that mad about it, though! 😉

So there you have it, another Pajama Party: My Calvins Pt. 2 Edition style! What are some of your guilty pleasure purchases? Who else is an avid lover of pajamas? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Faux Fur Fabulous

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Faux Fur Fabulous

Hello everyone and happy Thursday! Once upon a time, I bought a faux fur vest from TJMaxx three years ago. I actually think that it was right before I started college in 2014. It was deep purple, black, and freaking amazing…And I returned it. I had high hopes of strutting around campus with my new statement making vest, but I didn’t have the confidence to pull it off. I was too nervous in my decision to begin school and leave a world of working retail behind, and didn’t want to stand out more than I already thought I did in my head.

Bad. Decision. Horrible decision. See, this is why I don’t return anything anymore, lol. I still think about that vest, the outfits that could have been, and the confidence that I have now to be able to wear it and feel fierce in it. SMH. Ever since remembering my fallen faux fur vest, I have been on the hunt to find a replacement for a wardrobe staple that my clothing collection lacks.

Unfortunately, I have never been able to find a worthy replica to replace my grave mistake of a returned vest. The midnight sky colored fabulousness has never been seen of again and, of course, it’s difficult to find faux fur vests in any other time but the fall. During a recent trip to TJMaxx, I found a gorgeous, unique blue ombre vest that I really like. BUT, rest assured, that it will never come close to my “one that got away”. Take a look:

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This Thread & Supply brand vest was the only one of its kind that I saw at TJMaxx and, lucky for me, it was in my size (Obviously!)! Blue is a color that I don’t wear very often, although I do have a bit of navy in my wardrobe color palette. However, I loved the cream to midnight blue hues in this vest and it was like nothing that I have ever seen before, which is a major selling point for me, as you all know!

I’m really eager to put this piece to use in my wardrobe because I’ve never owned a faux fur vest before (Aside from the one that I owned for one day, lol.). Of course, you can go the classic route of wearing a faux fur vest with a great pair of skinnies and ankle booties. But, I’m more looking forward to styling this vest with maxi dresses and skirts, as well as mini and midi dresses with thick tights for the fall season.

Despite being forever in mourning for my vest that could have been but never was, I’m happy with this Thread & Supply purchase. The unexpected color palette puts a fun twist on a classic piece, and it will be exciting to experiment with styling something that I’ve never worn before. BUT, I already know that if I find the right black faux fur vest or one in a different, funky color, that it will more than likely be coming home with me, as well!

Vests are a great item to invest in for wearing year round. This one will surely be making an appearance in my looks next summer for a sassy, glam OOTD with short shorts and platform heels. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to adding a chic, rocker vibe to any outfit with a faux fur vest and I’m so happy to finally be able to have one to play with! 😀

So there you have it, a little touch of Faux Fur Fabulous! Do you have a similar story to a piece of clothing like my “one that got away” vest? How do you incorporate a faux fur vest into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Cardi Party: Dream On, Kid

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Cardi Party: Dream On, Kid

Hey everyone and happy Hump Day! One brand that I’ve always really liked but never explored to an extent is American Eagle Outfitters. I like their classic style, muted colors, and the fact that their clothes can definitely be viewed as appropriate for a twenty something. Despite an appreciation for the brand, their clothes are just way too expensive for my taste.

Don’t get me wrong, my frugality doesn’t exclude the knowledge that you get what you pay for. But my frugality DOES include the fact that, often times, you can find amazing brands elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. This is why I am a tried and true Maxxinista. TJMaxx is a store that I shopped at from a very young age. I can remember browsing the aisles hand in hand with my mom or grandma when I was little and thinking that it was the most fantastic place on earth – and I still do!

TJMaxx allows me to live out my rich girl fantasy by providing me with brands for purchase that I would never buy in my wildest dreams for full price. TJs dwindles down the cost of clothing, shoes, and accessories to a price that I’m fully comfortable paying. When people ask me where I get my clothes, it makes me proud to say that I get a majority of it from TJMaxx, which proves that I look sharp at a budget price. Check out my latest purchase, which happens to be an American Eagle Outfitters cardi at a TJ’s discount, and let’s discuss:

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It has been a long, long time since I stepped foot in a mall. And when I do, it’s rarely for myself, but for gift shopping during the holiday season. But, even then, I still prefer to do my shopping elsewhere. However, when I do find myself in the mall, I like to take my time, look around, guffaw at costly price tags, and take note of the things I like for when I do my bargain shopping later.

This adorable, prep school style AEO cardi cost me THIRTEEN DOLLARS, and I know for a fact that it would have been at least fifty had I bought it at the mall. Somehow, this made my new cardigan appear even cuter to me! It has been a good, long while since I bought myself a new cardi – probably back in 2014, actually, when I was still working at PacSun and got a nice employee discount.

I love the cardigans that I do have because they’re older, but I can’t help feeling like everyone and their brother will have the cardigans that are in store right now. And if there’s one thing that I hate, it’s feeling like a million other people have what I’m buying. This is why I usually shy away from purchasing a cardigan, but go for something like a cool jacket or comfy chic sweaters, instead.

However, this AEO cardigan was too cute to pass up. It features my three favorite colors – black, red, and white and it’s SO comfy. I normally don’t dress for comfort, but there’s nothing better than wrapping yourself up in a nice, cozy cardigan to combat the autumn chill. And, of course, the “Keep On Dreamin'” embroidered back made me smile.

If you must know, I was totally “sadness shopping” after a rough day full of questioning myself and just not feeling good in my skin. The sweet, inspirational surprise on the back of this cardi made me happy and it felt like a message from the shopping gods telling me that I’m going to be okay. You can’t beat finding something totally adorable, affordable, and confidence boosting on a really blah day. Needless to say, it was a total TJMaxx cardi party!

So there you have it, my recent Cardi Party: Dream On, Kid! What is a purchase that you made recently that made you smile? How do you ball on a budget? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Taqplayer

If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition

Helloooo everyone and TGIF! As you all know from yesterday’s post, the arrival of autumn spells out big trouble for my bank account. A recent trip to Kohl’s and Target with my beloved mother left my wallet a little less fat but my wardrobe all of the better for it. Take a look at my new boots from the brand Candies, which Kohl’s offers, and let’s discuss:

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First of all, in my defense – I haven’t bought myself a non ankle or combat style boot in literal years. The last time I bought actual knee high boots was on Valentine’s Day in 2015, so this purchase was a long time coming. Why, you might ask? The answer for a long hiatus between boot purchases, is that I actually have a really difficult time finding “actual” boots that I like. Why, you might ask? It’s not like I have a problem buying anything else! Lol, sigh. Let me explain. Ahem:

  1. I have expensive taste. Sue me for it. The boots that I do happen to like are usually close to or above one hundred dollars. As much as I love shoes, I’m not comfortable spending that much.
  2. This is a really personal preference when it comes to footwear, but I absolutely despise rubber soles on shoes. I’m well aware that many of the shoes featured on my If The Shoe Fits series has them and, believe me, I’m not thrilled about it. But rubber soles on boots are a bit of an eyesore for me, and I refuse to purchase ones with them.

In my perfect world, literally every heel or sole on a shoe would be covered with cloth or made with funky material like wood, cork, or see through plastic. However, I know that this is just not feasible, because rubber soles on boots during inclement weather is a nonnegotiable staple for obvious reasons. I realize that, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it! Therefore, I’ve always avoided buying, and even looking at boots to purchase because it’s just too damn hard to find what I like for a price that I’m comfortable paying.

(This is the part where the world pauses for a second, because the boot world as I know it is about to change forever.)

Pre Mind Blown Monologue: I love the shoe department at Kohl’s. I would say that about forty percent of my shoes are from there, forty percent are from TJMaxx, and the remaining twenty percent is from other various locations. I think that Kohl’s has a fantastic selection of brands and styles and the prices are, for the most part, extremely reasonable thanks to sales and coupons. While browsing through the shoe selection, I wasn’t really anticipating buying anything until…

MIND BLOWN.

My leisurely amble through the shoe department led me to my new boots from Candies. Guys…It really was love at first sight. These boots had EVERYTHING that’s important to me in my “Buying Boots Guidelines”:

  • Must be black
  • Must be at least knee high (These go up to the lower part of my thigh.)
  • Must be made from non-animal materials (These are pseudo-suede and man made.)
  • Must be heeled
  • Must not have a rubber sole

These Candies boots checked off literally every single thing on my Buying Boots Guidelines. Not only that, but I got these babies that were originally about one hundred dollars for sixty bucks. Fifty to sixty dollars is my cut off point when it comes to buying anything, but I prefer to stay well under that. However, because I own a whole two other pairs of boots, one pair that is two and a half years old and another that is four years old, I was okay with spending up to my price limit. This doesn’t happen very often, but it really has been a while since I found a pair of boots worth buying and I realize that around sixty dollars is very decent for a new pair of such high quality.

What I love about these boots, aside from the jet black color, CLOTH COVERED HEEL, and cruelty free material, is the length. I’ve never owned an above the knee pair of boots before and, I say this very rarely, but these boots made me feel sexy. These babies hit solidly at my lower thigh but are shorter than mid-thigh. I’ve always wanted a high, heeled pair of boots but never found one that I liked so much until now.

These boots made me feel good. Sexy is a look that is never a priority when it comes to how I dress but, man, I felt it in these shoes and it was definitely a new feeling – but I liked it. I was wearing a mustard yellow maxi dress and a moto jacket when I tried these on and I loved how I looked. These boots were edgy and cool but they gave off a glam and sultry vibe because of their length and, I don’t know…I felt good in them.

Another plus to these boots is their shape. They’re form fitting without being skin tight, but they have just enough slouch to give them edge as opposed to more sex appeal. Had they not had that extra give, I don’t know how comfortable I would have been in them.

Of course I’m looking forward to pairing these with one of my many black skinny jeans from my black skinny jeans collection for a sleek silhouette, but I never thought to pair boots like these with a maxi dress. I absolutely loved it and I genuinely can’t wait to style these with maxi and knee length dresses in the fall. And a cool moto or distressed jean jacket is a definite must with these bad boys, too!

I realize that I just wrote a freaking novella on these boots but I just couldn’t help it. I’m really happy with this purchase and they are going to look absolutely stunning with my new coat from yesterday’s post, to boot! (AYYY, see what I did there?!) 😉

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition! How would you style these boots? What are your own guidelines for boot shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A New Day, A New Jacket

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A New Day, A New Jacket

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Boy, does it feel great to be back on lifewithlilred after my vacation in Asheville, North Carolina. Thanks again to all of my fabulous Falling For Fall guest bloggers for holding it down while I was away! ❤

The fall is a very dark time for me. With all of the gorgeous cool weather clothing, shoes, and accessories that the stores have to offer, I turn into a woman possessed. I forget my name, where I am, and the fact that I don’t need any more clothes and go credit card crazy. I JUST CAN’T HELP MYSELF. If you guys pay an ounce of attention to my page, you’ll know that cool weather clothing makes up a solid ninety percent of my wardrobe. I love it all. Ahem:

  • Peacoats
  • Flannels
  • Sweaters
  • Skinny jeans
  • Thick tights
  • Moto jackets
  • Trench coats
  • Knee high boots
  • Thigh high boots
  • Ankle booties
  • Combat boots
  • Hats
  • Gloves
  • Scarves
  • Layering ALL THE THINGS
  • Sadly, the list goes on.

With this list in mind, it’s easy to see how I lose my bearings literally EVERY TIME I step foot in a store that sells clothing. It’s my cross to bear, I suppose, but hey – it could be worse!

The splendor of fall clothing, aside from the gorgeous jewel tone hues, is that if you style it properly, you can get away with wearing some of the pieces year round. Fall clothing gives you options. To me, there is nothing better than buying something that I can get away with wearing during most weather conditions (with the exception of heavier coats and sweaters). I always consider the Cost Per Wear (CPW) with everything that I buy, and year round appropriate clothing dwindles the CPW down significantly. You guys know by now that I try to get the most bang for my buck, which is why my wardrobe gravitates so heavily towards all autumn everything.

Blah, blah, blah – Just get to what you bought already, right? Sigh. Okay. Enough trying to justify my spending. I dug my grave and now I must lie in it, but first, let me show you my new jacket from Target’s brand, A New Day:

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Have you ever had a spiritual connection with a piece of clothing? You know, that feeling of “I could buy this right now and not even bother trying it on”?  I had that feeling when my eyes landed on this magnificent knee length A New Day coat. And, I have to tell you guys, I was nervous. To me, this jacket looks expensive as far as Target goes. Come winter, their coats can reach up to eighty dollars. And, despite my love for this beauty, I would not be comfortable spending that much for it. So, imagine my relief when I took a peek at the price tag and saw that it was half of that – forty bucks. Yeah, I can swing that.

The jewel tones, the length, the possibility for layering, and the warmth level between light and medium, ON TOP of a forty dollar price tag made this jacket such a steal. Frankly, I couldn’t believe it, because it really just seemed too good to be true. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and that purchase price sealed the deal. I ripped my moto jacket off, set my purse on the ground, and got the coat on all in under five seconds. It then took a literal glance of myself in the mirror to verify that this jacket was mine.

I absolutely LOVE the colors of this coat. The deep navy, violet, and mustard yellow are all shades that look stunning against my red hair and pasty pale skin. It makes everything that makes me, me pop. But what really got me about this A New Day piece is the shape of it. It has that shabby chic college professor vibe to it and I just love that. It’s just the smallest pinch oversized which gives the coat such gorgeous movement as well as the option to layer a thick sweater underneath it during the winter.

And, finally, this jacket will last me from the beginning of fall until it warms up in the spring because of its relative lightness. This piece is perfect. It’s the epitome of what fall clothing is all about and why I love dressing for the season so much. And also why I basically wrote a love letter to my new jacket in this post.

A New Day provided me with A New Jacket and I can’t thank the brand enough for it! I never knew what true love was until now and whatever. What do you love about fall clothing? How would you style this coat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Autumn Layers Wish List

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Autumn Layers Wish List

Hello everyone and welcome to a post in my Falling For Fall series compliments of Sycamore from SavageStyle. When the seasons change, it is so smart to create a wish list of the things that you need (and want!) to accommodate the weather in your area. Wish lists can stop you from the over spending that comes with buying clothes and accessories that you may not necessarily need, so that you can have some extra cash to splurge for the items that you’re lusting over, instead. Today, we’re going to look at Sycamore’s wish list for her fall wardrobe:

Autumn Layers Wish List

Vogue’s September issue just landed in my mailbox, and the stores (both brick-and-mortar and online) are full of velvet, wool, and leather boot lusciousness; it’s evident that Autumn is drawing near.

This season always stirs up excited nostalgia for me. I guess it probably stems from a mix of going back to school – and the new wardrobe that came with it – seeing all of the new Fall collections, and DEFINITELY my memories of layering up and stalking coffee shops on the high streets of London to caffeinate & steal a cigarette with my classmates before Art History class.

It’s the season that makes me wistful for stashing an umbrella in my purse, riding the tube to the Eastside and back, getting forever lost in the streets, and relinquishing my sorrows in a new pair of kid leather gloves from Selfridges. Not to mention that lovely contrast of sipping a hot coffee while walking through crisp evening air and the crunching leaves beneath my boots.

While I will always have a place in my heart for bohemian florals and that “easy breezy” vibe (I am a sun sign, after all), the current over-saturation of that look has got me yearning for something edgy, new, and layered.

I saw Atomic Blonde recently, and it sparked my first craving for colder weather. Charlize Theron wore so many great looks in that film, but I think the one that takes the cake is this look from the kitchen fight scene:

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 You go, girl!

Knee-high boots and mini skirts are one of my favorite cold weather combinations. It’s all the sexier when you add garter socks, a giant sweater, coat, and gloves on top. This is how you do fall/winter French girl sexy – you only have a few inches of skin showing but that goes a long way!

Some of the new pieces on my wish list this season are:

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               Prada fur-trimmed wool-blend coat (mytheresa.com)

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Isabel Marant Heina printed mini skirt (M’oda ‘Operandi)

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  Zara sweater with contrasting cuffs

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Stuart Weitzman Alljill over the knee boot (Nordstrom)

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MONSE shearling bomber with belts (M’oda ‘Operandi)

layer7.jpgZara short sleeve sweater

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Courrèges wool multi-color mini skirt (M’oda ‘Operandi)

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  Tibi Alexis boot (M’oda ‘Operandi)

layer10.jpgThis whole look from Zara

It’s still pretty hot here in LA, so I don’t think that I’ll be layering up for another month or two, but at least that means I have ample time to plan. I hope I’ve inspired you during the colder weather to create some layered looks of your own!

Xx~ Sycamore

Thank you so much again to Sycamore of SavageStyle for sharing her Autumn Layers Wish List with us! What is on your cold weather wish list? What store supplies most of your fall wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image From: Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron

Say Yes To The Guest (Appropriate Wedding Attire)

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Say Yes To The Guest (Appropriate Wedding Attire)

Hello hello everyone and happy Monday! With summer drawing to a close, the familiar crisp rush of autumn air comes swooping in with one thing for certain in store: Fall weddings. The autumn season is such a gorgeous time to host a marriage ceremony that can range from whimsical fall fun to a more dark, romantic approach in the style of your big day. Of course, the wedding is all about the bride and the groom but that doesn’t mean that you should be slacking in the style department as a guest.

Being invited to a wedding is and should be held as an esteemed honor. The new couple likes you enough to want you there on their special day – this is a big deal and should be respected as such. This means that a dowdy dress or suit simply won’t do. Let’s take a look at The Black Tux’s wedding guest style guide and then stick around to chat with Lil Red for some more pro tips:

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^^^ Who knew that there were so many different styles of wedding attire?!

The first thing that we’re going to talk about when it comes to dressing as a wedding guest ties into the guide seen above. It is so SO important as a guest to respect the vibe of the wedding. It shouldn’t have to be said, but it is such an obvious DO to accommodate to the dress code if it’s listed.

If there is no dress code on the invitation, then it is in good taste to dress appropriately for the type of wedding that you are attending. Is it an early afternoon church ceremony? A knee length dress for the ladies and a semi-formal suit for the gents will do. Or are we attending a rustic style wedding with outdoor vows? Remember, it’s autumn and there might be a chill in the air. A smart suit set for the ladies with trousers or a skirt with thick tights underneath is a chic take on outdoor wedding style. For the guys, you can get away with a more casual look, as well, with a nice pair of slacks and a suit jacket or blazer on top.

It is always worth mentioning, again, that the weather is subject to change during fall weddings. Be prepared. Being stuck with the sniffles all day because you failed to bring a cardi or a blazer for over your dress is nobody’s fault but your own, because I’m literally warning you right here. Despite this warning, I just know that it will not be heeded by everyone, which gives the rest of us a chance to score some brownie points. Guys, wear a cardigan under your jacket in case you see a damsel in distress with the shivers. Ladies, if you’re wearing a thicker dress or suit set, offer your extra blazer to a gal in need. You’ll be a wedding hero, trust me.

And, finally, if you’re in doubt about what to wear, just ask! It is so much better to shoot a quick text to the bride or groom and get their opinion instead of showing up to the wedding looking like a straight up goon. That suit or dress that you’ve been feeling wishy washy about wearing might work, after all. But, if that isn’t the case, then do be sure to check out The Black Tux’s suit and tuxedo rentals page for all of your gentlemen attire needs. And, as for us girls, I think that we can swing some wedding guest dress shopping with a trip to the mall or an online shopping sesh – Hello, Modcloth!

With The Black Tux’s style guide and Lil Red’s pro tips, you should have no problem Saying Yes To The Guest (Appropriate Wedding Attire)! What is your favorite part about attending a wedding? How do you style a wedding guest appropriate look for fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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