Tag Archives: style

Trends To Try This Summer

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Trends To Try This Summer

2019’s Spring/Summer trends are all about female empowerment. Whether it’s bright, neon colors, chic biker shorts, or retro tie-dye, big name designers and high street brands have been sure to use their platforms to inspire, motivate, and champion women.

Longer skirts, fluid shapes, and comfortable tailoring were key elements of Givenchy’s, Burberry’s, and Valentino’s collections, with Loewe and The Row also showcasing flattering cuts and relaxed outerwear options. With an added emphasis on empowerment, designers are giving control back to the women wearing their clothes. S/S 2019 trends are adaptable, comfortable, and confidence-boosting, which means they’re a realistic option for everyone.

A wide selection of trends ensures great variety on the high street, so take a look at our top picks and choose which trends you’ll be trying this summer:

Beige is back:

Featured by Dior, Givenchy, and Max Mara, amongst others, beige is making a big comeback this season. If you think beige is boring, think again. Laying different shades, using different fabrics and incorporating pink-hued pastel beiges is a great way to stay on trend this summer.

Create a soft, feminine look with pink-toned beige in silk or tulle, or go for a more utilitarian, authoritarian style with a deeper beige, bordering on khaki. Teamed with Alias Mae boots or Dr Martens from Platypus shoes, it’s easy to create a unique, powerful style with this year’s top color.

Top Handle Bags:

Easy to carry and more functional than ever, top handle bags are bound to be a big hit this summer. The sheer number of variations in style, fabric, and texture ensure that you can find the perfect top handle bag for work, formal wear, or a simple day at the beach. Try a top handled leather piece for a city chic look or a woven bag for an easy-going, relaxed style.

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Peep that purse!

Neon is in:

Loud, vibrant colors are a hit this summer and you can incorporate neon into any outfit effortlessly. While the current trend of 80’s glitz and glam gives you the perfect opportunity to rock a solid block neon dress, there are subtler ways of making a statement if the all over neon look is a little too much. Layer a thin neon sweater with a chic black blazer to keep on trend at work or opt for a neon dress in a soft fabric like lace to create the perfect evening outfit.

Get sporty:

Known as athleisure, sports-inspired chic is all over the place this summer. Cycling shorts may be the must-have item, but if you’re not sure you can get away with Lycra bicycle shorts at work, incorporate the latest sea, skate, and surf styles with shell tops, anklets, and a pair of sunnies. Team with a midi skirt and flats at work or opt for relaxed tie-dye if you’re off-duty.

Animal prints:

Leopard print has caught our eye again and many of this year’s must-have pieces feature this classic print. From full-length print dresses and button-down shirts to utility boots and handbags, leopard and python are the big animal prints for this season. Available in a variety of colors, they can be paired with an array of other pieces to create a classic, yet up-to-date, stylish look. Easy to incorporate into any outfit and suitable for any occasion, use animal prints to showcase your style and you can’t go wrong.

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Make the most of this year’s trends:

Using the latest fashions and staying on trend is a great way to feel in control, stylish, and sophisticated. With great pieces available from designers and high street retailers, there’s bound to be a few new additions to your wardrobe this year for your chicest summer yet!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Who Wears Short Shorts?

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Who Wears Short Shorts?

Hi! One trend that I could never and will never get into is all high waisted everything. Don’t get me wrong, it looks super cute on some people, but me? Not so much. As a petite girl at 5’1, high waisted clothing makes me look really short and makes my ass look REALLY flat. Which is so not okay because, I hate to brag, but over a decade of figure skating has blessed me with a behind that is definitely above average. In conclusion, high waisted and I just don’t get along.

When this trend became popular five or so years ago, it has become increasingly difficult to find shorts that are a normal rise. It seems like every store that I go to only has high waisted shorts that honestly seem like a yeast infection waiting to happen because they go so far up into the nether regions. No thank you!

Before a recent trip to the mall, it felt like the odds were stacked against me in finding some shorts for summer that are a normal rise. I was kind of nervous, actually, because I haven’t bought shorts in forever so it needed to happen. The first boutique style store I went into was a bust. Literally all they had was high waisted shorts. And, just so no one could say I didn’t try, I even tried a pair on.

Spoiler Alert!

It was exactly what I expected it to be. My ass looked flat as a pancake and my torso and legs looked insanely stumpy. Not a good look. I was about to leave after the disappointing fitting room session in the boutique because I had already made purchases at other stores and figured that I could try again later. But, then, I decided to go to American Eagle Outfitters.

I have always really liked the way that AEO jeans fit me and I thought that they might have more options for shorts with a normal rise. And, my instinct was correct, because I was able to find two cute, normal rise shorts at buy one get one half off! Check it out:

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It was such a relief going into AEO and seeing an entire table of normal rise shorts, which I feel like never happens anymore. I was able to select from a bunch of different styles and colors and, for once, short shopping didn’t suck. These new shorties from American Eagle fit me just right, make me look fine from behind, and I don’t need to worry about having a permanent wedgie from a high rise. Score!

Do you prefer a normal, high, or mid rise when it comes to your clothes? What is a trend that you wish would go away or start up again? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Little Mermaid Themed Bikini

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Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Little Mermaid Themed Bikini

Helloooo! So I shit you not, the last time I bought a bikini was damn near over six years ago. Crazy, I know. But, I don’t really like swimming because I hate getting my hair wet so it hasn’t been that big of a deal. However, with my apartment complex having a pool and the family going to Hilton Head this summer for vacation, I figured it was time for a new one. Joyyyyyyy because bikini shopping sucks, amiright or amiright?

BUT NOT THIS TIME!

I have had my eye on a bikini from Hot Topic for a few months now and I finally made my way to the mall to try it on over the weekend. And, by god, it worked! I literally tried it on once and I knew that it was a-okay, which NEVER happens. Check out this cuteness:

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When you’re a more busty girl, bikini shopping can be about a bitch. I only feel comfortable in bikinis that have bra like support and this Little Mermaid themed top definitely offered that. It fit shockingly well for a bikini top that wasn’t from Victoria’s Secret, which is where I figured I would end up purchasing one from. So not mad about it, though!

And, can we please talk about how darling the little skirted bottoms are?! I’ve always wanted bikini bottoms like these and they are just so perfect. The bikini set is sexy while still being adorable and with my red hair I feel like a punk rock Ariel ready to hit the pool!

I scored my new suit for just under forty bucks with Hot Topic’s buy one get one for ten dollar deal and I thought that this was a steal. While online bikini shopping at VS, just one bikini separate was at least forty dollars or more. For once, I am so excited about being seen in a bikini and I promise I will take some pics as soon as the pool opens! 😀

What is your favorite piece of clothing to shop for? How about your least favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Fashion Show

More Pictures & A Bonus OOTD

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More Pictures & A Bonus OOTD

Hiii everyone and welcome to the viewing of the rest of the pics taken for me by my dear friend, Markus! I really am in love with these photos and I feel like they captured both the essence of myself and lifewithlilred perfectly. Him and I definitely plan on taking more pictures together soon so be on the lookout for them! But, for now, check the rest of these out:

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Who? What? Wear?

For the more beauty related photos that Markus took for his school project, I went with an OOTD that was a little sweeter. And, nothing says sweet to me more than gorgeous florals like the pattern in my True Destiny top. I got this shirt from TJ’s about a half a year ago and I love it so much. The colors are bright and the structured torso against the over the top puffy sleeves create a lot of visual interest. Normally, I am not a huge flower girl, but this shirt definitely made me change my mind about that!

But, because Lil Red is an edgy gal, I had to pepper a little spice into the look with my faux leather skinnies by Blank NYC. And, for some extra sassafras, the “Blah, blah, blah” word bubble heels a la Lust For Life were a must. I am obsessed with these message heels and have three pairs but I thought the blue ones would be nice with the colorful palette on top. I topped this look off with a hat from my brother and sister in law for Christmas and I was camera ready. 😀

How do you add edginess to your OOTDs? How would you describe your style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Life On The Edge OOTD

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Life On The Edge OOTD

Hello! Over the weekend, I had a total blast in front of the camera to assist my friend, Markus, in a photography project for school. I had to create three looks, something business casual, for a beauty shoot, and one that is more emotional. For the emotional one, I went with an edgy chic OOTD that I am obsessed with and wanted to share more with you. You already saw a sneak peek of it, but here is the outfit again:

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Who? What? Wear?

While styling this look, I wanted my moto jacket from Zara to do all of the talking. I love this jacket so much and it always reminds me of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo so that was my inspiration – but sexier, of course haha! The texture of this jacket is interesting because it is so much thicker than any of the other moto style jackets that I own, so I wanted the rest of the outfit to be tighter fitting so that the OOTD didn’t look bulky.

To achieve that, I went with a simple grey T to accent the hood and detailing on my jacket tucked into a cute little skort from TJ’s. And, to create the illusion of legs for days since I’m only 5’1, I chose a more open heel so that there was no break up from my legs to whatever shoe I wore. I adore my LFL heels with the “Who Cares?” word bubbles. And, because they are dark grey with a matte glitter finish, they complimented the rest of the OOTD palette well while still adding some fun.

My Life On The Edge OOTD made me feel so confident and I loved being photographed in it almost as much as I loved wearing it. I think that this look achieved the vibe that both Markus and myself were going for and I cannot wait to wear this outfit every chance I can get!

How do you style an edgy OOTD? What is your favorite style of jacket? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: New Sunnies Edition

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Accessory Story: New Sunnies Edition

Hiiii everyone! I know that after my last post about the fifty cent sunglasses I got from the thrift store, I vowed to never purchase sunnies for over ten bucks again. But, sadly, seventy-five percent of my sunglasses collection has broke in the past year, because all of them are old AF. Seriously, I’ve had some of these pairs since high school, so it’s no wonder that the ones that are almost a decade old have been snap, crackle, and popping their way into the trash can.

So, needless to say, I really needed a reup of shades and, although the two pairs I picked out from TJMaxx were slightly over my ten dollar budget, I am so happy with them! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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As you can probably tell, I am a huge fan of huge sunglasses. Don’t get me wrong, I love the teeny tiny pairs, too. But, nine times out of ten, I opt for a pair that’s big enough to cover half of my face. To me, there’s something so glamorous about big shades and, although my life is far from luxurious, it’s nice to play pretend!

The big frames are a Lil Red must, and so is a more muted color palette when it comes to my sunnies. Huge shades in a bright color would like a little much with my bright red hair and lipstick, so I like to go for the tortoise patterns, blacks, and browns. Both the Sam Edelman and Tahari pairs that I purchased feature a tortoise hue, which makes their size chic instead of cartoon-y and I am so looking forward to wearing them once the sun finally makes an appearance in Ohio. Now, here’s to hoping that they don’t break! #fingerscrossed

Do you prefer large or small sunglasses? What does your favorite pair of shades look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Michael Kors Necklace Edition

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Accessory Story: Michael Kors Necklace Edition

Howdy! When it comes to jewelry, I either really like it or completely hate it. There’s no happy medium. And, when I choose to wear it, I pile it on so much that I would surely sink if I took a trip to the ocean. I rarely buy jewelry, because I have quite the collection from my beloved grandma and from when I would spend my money more frivolously. But, trust and believe that when I do find a piece that I like enough to buy, I have every intention of wearing it constantly. Like the Michael Kors necklace below, for example:

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I would never consider myself one who would obsess over labels but, I do really really like Michael Kors. Ever since religiously watching Project Runway when I was young, I fell in love with his simple but oh so chic brand. From his clothing to accessories, everything looks so sharp and crisp and that’s something that I try to emulate in all of my looks. I only own one pair of shoes from this coveted brand so, needless to say, I admire everything that TJMaxx has in stock by him from afar.

So, why would I go ahead and purchase a fifty dollar necklace if I look but never buy? Because I know a good deal when I see one! The original price of this necklace was one hundred and twenty-five bucks, so I felt like I was getting it for a steal. And, of course, I absolutely LOVE it and sometimes you’ve just gotta treat yoself!

I am a flashy girl and gold jewelry speaks to me. And, this Michael Kors lock necklace had a lot to say. I love the blingy golden yellow color and the length of the chain. The darling little lock makes it sweet, but the almost gaudy color and past my belly button length chain makes it a statement. But, like all of the pieces in Michael Kors’ collections, it makes a statement while somehow still maintaining that touch of elegant simplicity and I am living for it.

I have worn my new necklace almost daily since I bought it and the compliments have been pouring in. This is nice, but I like the fact that it reminds me of a wonderful Sunday afternoon spent shopping with my beautiful mother even more! ❤

What is a brand that you admire from afar? What is your favorite style of jewelry to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Hot Pink & Gold Glitter Nails

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New Hot Pink & Gold Glitter Nails

Hiiii everyone! Last week, I got my talons filled and sharpened and went for a color that I never thought I would before… Hot pink! As I walked into the salon and went to pick out my polish, this gorgeous shade of bright and bold pink spoke to me and, trust and believe, that I listened. And, a glittery twenty-four karat gold accent nail to top it off didn’t look too bad, either! Take a look:

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I feel crazy even saying this, because I am anything but a pink girl. However, I think these might be my favorite nails yet! The hot pink and gold combination is just pure fun. The super shiny pink and the sparkling glitter look so lux and I feel like these are the ultimate Barbie nails.

My new nails make me smile every time I look at them, because they make me feel so good! I tried something super out of my comfort zone and, like it normally does, it paid off completely. The colors are girly as can be, but the sharp shape is still rocker and cool. Kind of like me, I suppose. 100/10 would definitely get again!

What color of nail polish do you have on? Did you get your nails done for Valentine’s Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Pt. 2 Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Pt. 2 Edition

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the last issue of If The Shoe Fits, compliments of my shoe haul from ModCloth. I saved my favorite of the three for last – a gorgeous pair of knee high boots by B.A.I.T.. I have had my eye on these boots for literal years and I could not pass them up once the price was right. For one hundred and five dollars off, I got these boots for thirty bucks and I absolutely cannot wait to break them out once all of the dirty snow and slush melts away in my neck of the woods! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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I am completely LIVING for these flower child, straight out of the seventies, chocolate brown, heeled boots. Aside from being very well made, the detailing with the embroidered flowers is divine. All of the color combinations in each bloom pairs so well with the brown base color and, although there’s many different shades, the flowers seem to compliment each other perfectly. Normally, I am not a brown shoe type of girl but, my goodness, how can you not be with a pair this fun?!

I don’t plan on wearing my new B.A.I.T. boots with my massive collection of black bottoms, because that would be doing them a huge disservice. Rather, they are going to be strictly short shorts, skirts, and dresses boots to add a retro vibe to my OOTDs in three seasons. Trust and believe that these babies will never be touched by Ohio snow. Now, if only it would all melt away so I can wear them ASAP! 😀

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

If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Edition

Hiii everyone and welcome to another issue of If The Shoe Fits! It’s been a while since I’ve had a good shoe haul, there’s no denying that. It’s also true that I really don’t need any more shoes, there’s no denying that. But, ModCloth’s warehouse sale was too good to pass up, and I walked away with three pairs of shoes for just under one hundred dollars. If I bought them all at their original price, it would have been an over three hundred dollar purchase! Like I said, it was a sale that was way too good to pass up. Take a look at these fun mules by B.A.I.T. and let’s discuss:

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Sweet daisies, mustard yellow, and a heeled mule make these new shoes the epitome of 1970’s feel good vibes. So retro and too cute for words, I just couldn’t say no to them. ModCloth has always been a haven for vintage and retro inspired duds and I think that these B.A.I.T. mules perfectly embody the style story that they are going for. I feel like I could see these shoes on the racks of a vintage store, but I love that I got them brand spanking new!

I can picture wearing these B.A.I.T. beauties with my dark wash denim A-line skirt that zips up the front and a black cropped sweater with a rainbow on it from Forever 21 for a sassy look that’s straight out of the 1970’s. So fun!

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^^^ Love!! Can’t wait for the weather to get warm to bust this OOTD out.

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