Tag Archives: summer clothes

Aug18

New Cynthia Rowley Dress

Posted on August 18, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello! Johnny and I are attending an outdoor summer wedding of our dear friends and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate such a wonderful couple! The wedding will take place on an almost ninety degree day and as you all know, Lil Red does not do well in extreme heat. For this reason, every dress I had in mind to wear went straight out the window because they were thicker in material or a maxi style. While I would have made do, I thought I would try my luck at TJMaxx to see if I could find something that would keep me more comfortable. During my last trip to TJs, everything summer was getting marked down and I was hoping to find a dress on the cheap. The fashion gods truly smiled upon me because the dress I ended up with was the very last one I tried on! Check it out:

As you might remember, I have a method when it comes to shopping at TJMaxx and this trip was a shining example of why it works so well. Step 1) Make my rounds. Step 2) Try clothes on. Step 3) Revisit the departments for anything I might have missed. As I browsed the store for Step 1, I honestly had thought that I had seen it all. The racks of dresses went from jam packed a few weeks ago to barely anything there. And, unfortunately, every dress I did happen to like did nothing for me during my first fitting room session. I was frustrated and I almost bypassed Step 3 of revisiting the dress racks because surely I couldn’t have missed anything when there were such limited options to pick from. WRONG!!

I was SO dead wrong and this is exactly why you never bypass Step 3! Sure enough, as soon as I returned to the dresses, it was like the pretty little Cynthia Rowley number magically appeared. I took a few other dresses to the fitting room and I shouldn’t have even bothered. This dress was last but certainly not least and it was perfect. The price was perfect too – it was only ten dollars!! My new dress is a linen material and it is nice and light and the pattern just screams summer. It is laden with kiwis, pomegranates, and oranges and is basically a fruit salad in a dress. Have I used the word perfect already? Yes, but I don’t care because it also perfectly compliments by orange and pink nails! It was like my trip to Elysian Nails was leading up to this fateful fitting room moment.

Now, this dress might not be dressy enough for a typical wedding. However, an outdoor summer wedding gives you plenty of wiggle room for what’s appropriate to wear. Let’s be honest, is anyone expecting other people to wear full fledged penguin suits and ball gowns? Hard no. It’s all about light fabrics and sundresses and every dress I tried on prior to the Cynthia Rowley one seemed laughable once it was on. They were all long and heavy and I just know I would have been miserable in them even if they looked good. I was genuinely worried about being in the heat for that long and this dress will allow me to celebrate and dance the night away without getting heat stroke. GREAT SUCCESS!

If at first you don’t succeed at TJMaxx, try and try again or however that old saying goes. My only regret is that I didn’t find this dress sooner because I would have been wearing it all summer long!

Have the stores near you put out fall clothing yet? Do you plan on shopping summer clearance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

New Max Studio Maxi Dress

Posted on June 27, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Howdy!! The final item from my TJMaxx summer wardrobe refresh haul is truly the piece de resistance. Other than a couple of new tops, I was really hoping to find a sun dress or two. What I ended up with, however, was a maxi dress that caught the corner of my eye. I walked past it while I was heading to the dressing rooms, did a double take, tossed it into the cart, and knew it was a winner as soon as it was on. This Max Studio maxi dress is serving all of the Midwest Princess vibes and I am a thousand percent there for it! Check it out:

^^^ Peep that original price tag! Talk about a STEAL!!! 😀

During a recent trip to Bath & Body Works, I noticed a new scent called Heirloom Tomato or something or other. It smelled like ass, but the packaging was so pretty. It featured deep reds and greens for the fruit/vegetable and was the first thing I thought of when I saw this dress. The color palette is almost identical! When I put it in the cart, I honestly didn’t think it was going to work out. As a petite gal, maxi dresses can be hit or miss for me. If they are not the perfect length and fit, I will drown in fabric. The maxi dress has to be “just right” and they have been few and far between in my extensive shopaholic tenure. My rule of thumb when shopping has always been to try clothes on anyways. Regardless of fit, style, or assumptions, if I like what I see, I am going to try it on. I am so glad for that because this dress would have been bypassed and I never would have found my new favorite thing!

From top to the flowy tiered bottom, this maxi dress is dynamite and I was so delighted when I fell in love with it in the fitting room. Not only was the length of this dress questionable to me, but the pattern was as well. As a heavily tattooed chick, loud patterns can look cluttered over all of my artwork. The full coverage on the legs and torso that this dress offered put a limit on my own color palette and allowed for the pattern to fully do the talking rather than work against the tattoos. I felt like a country music star in it and couldn’t help but do a twirl in the fitting room! I cannot wait to pair it with a deep blue denim jacket and a pair of heeled cowboy-esque boots. This dress is so different than anything I own and I know I am going to have a total blast styling it!

There’s a new country cutie in town and her name is Lil Red! You already know an OOTD with this Max Studio masterpiece is coming so keep your eyes peeled! ❤

Do you update your wardrobe with the change of the seasons? What are your summer wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

New Bozzolo Crop Top

Posted on June 26, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Howdy!! As you all know, I am not a summer girl whatsoever. I do not handle the heat well, I detest dressing for summer, and it is an all around miserable time for your favorite vampire. Although I am not happy in the slightest about the hot weather, I am extremely happy about the new clothes I got during my last TJMaxx adventure. That is always going to be a surefire way to perk me up! Cool and cute clothes were the name of the game and this eight dollar crop by Bozzolo certainly checks those boxes. Check it out:

Black will forever be my favorite color and a majority of the clothes in my wardrobe feature it. In stark contrast, I also adore white clothing – especially cream hues. These shades make my tattoos pop and I love being able to enhance my artwork accessories. I already have several cream crochet style crops in my closet so, unsurprisingly, this little number by Bozzolo caught my eye. It was an instance where I knew immediately that it would work, the price was nice at under ten bucks, and into the cart it went.

As expected, this cute crop was perfect when I tried it on. The material was soft and light, the thick straps were ideal for covering bra straps, and it looked like it was made to wear with the high waisted shorts I had on. Although this top is fairly simple, it has more to it than my typical tank tops and is a great option to just throw on and go about the day. It also provides the opportunity to dress up or down. It was already fabulous with shorts but would be oh so sweet with a flowing maxi skirt. This is definitely going to be one of my summer go tos and I won’t be giving it up as we transition to fall. It will be totes adorbs under a chunky cardigan too!

There is nothing better than finding clothes that are just right and this top was exactly what I needed for my summer wardrobe. It also might make a cameo in a concert OOTD soon so stay tuned!

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

Jun25

New Caroline Constas Flower Power Top

Posted on June 25, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! My mom and I have had TJMaxx gift cards burning a hole in our pockets and decided to have an impromptu shopping trip during my break this past Tuesday. It was just the little pick me up I needed and we had so much fun. I absolutely love going shopping with my mom, I always have and I always will and she is my partner in crime. Normally, I like to stock up on skin care when I have gift cards to spend. This time, however, I was on the hunt for new summer clothes. As a gal who loves dressing for the fall, my warm weather clothes are lacking and I have recently been lamenting over having “nothing” to wear. Happily, I found three amazing new pieces to update my summer wardrobe and I can’t wait to show all of you! Let’s get started with this gorgeous top by Caroline Constas:

When I am at TJMaxx, I browse in the junior and women’s department alike and tend to have good luck across the board. Other than a super cute crop that you will see soon, the junior’s department was doing nothing for me during this trip. Everything was so small, so short, plain ugly, or featured a tie in the front of the tops which I freaking hate lol. The women’s department was much more like it and I literally GASPED when I saw the flower power top by Caroline Constas. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful top at Urban Outfitters that I was obsessed with. It was very expensive and it didn’t come home with me. I honestly couldn’t even tell you what it looked like now, but for some reason the idea of it came to my head when I saw my new top. It was like getting a second chance at the one that got away and I was not letting it slip through my fingers again.

This cropped number is everything and it is so unique and adorable. The poppy embroidered flowers and red border over a stark white base remind me of an artist’s smock in the best way possible. And, of course, I loves me anything with balloon sleeves! This top screams fun in the sun and I cannot wait to pair it with sweet denim shorts and wedge sandals. It was a bit more expensive than I usually will spend for a top at thirty-five dollars, but it was worth every penny. There was no original price tag to compare to so I looked it up online and saw it for sale on Poshmark for one hundred and twenty-five smackers. Whatever it originally costed, I got it for a fraction of the price and you can’t beat that!

I have a feeling I will be wearing this top all summer long and it is officially one of my new favorites. Stay tuned for a brand new OOTD soon!

What is your favorite designer brand? Which stores or websites can you get the best bargains on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May20

Bikini Body

Posted on May 20, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! Summer is about to bring the Hot Hot Heat (Who remembers that band?! LOVED them!) and with that comes a total wardrobe change. The layers are shed, long sleeve tops are traded for Ts and tanks, and jeans shorten into… shorts lol. For some, this is as natural as the seasons changing. For others, it can be a nerve wracking exercise in dressing for the weather and feeling comfortable about it. In this situation, I fluctuate from oozing a godlike charisma to wanting to hole up in a closet to wallow in poor self esteem and never come out.

If you are a long term reader of lifewithlilred, you will know that I detest dressing for summer. Part of it is simply aesthetics. I just love fall clothing – cozy cardis, gorgeous jackets, and all the accessories like scarves, gloves, and beanies. I wear these layers for looks, of course, but they provide an extra layer of protection as well. I don’t mind showing skin but it’s never high up on my agenda when I’m styling an OOTD. So when the transition happens to wearing shorts, crop tops, and tanks out of sheer necessity for the weather, that layered security blanket is tossed to the side and worry sets in. “Do my breasts look too big?” “How many rude comments on my tattoos am I going to get today?” “Is someone going to pull the old ‘grab my arm’ to get a closer look at said tattoos?” (The latter happens more than you would think!)

Like I said, to some people dressing for summer is whatever. For others, it is anything but. And, whatever that reason might be for a lack of self confidence in dress, rest assured that it will weigh heavily on the person who carries that burden. As everyone begins to don warm weather clothing, I always like to give a friendly reminder: What people wear is none of your business. Unwarranted comments on body type or clothing can do more damage than you could ever imagine and it stings even harder when it’s from a complete stranger. So ask yourself a question: Do I really want to ruin someone’s day with a comment? And, do I really want someone to ruminate on that comment for forever? Unless you plan on singing someone’s praises, the best rule of thumb is to say nothing and if you don’t like what you see, look away.

I will always be a recovering bulimic and I can give you exact moments in time when comments on my body were made that destroyed me. It could have happened years ago but in my head, it happened just yesterday. Every single person that you encounter is struggling in some way shape or form. So again, before you make a comment on body type or dress, ask yourself a question: Do I really want to make what that person is going through even worse? Every body is beautiful and should be celebrated. And, as the old saying goes: If you don’t have anything nice to say – don’t say it!

One of my favorite quotes via social media is that “Every body is a bikini body” and wiser words have never been spoken or typed. This summer, let’s dress for us and feel amazing about it because when you feel like the star you are – no one can tell you NOTHING!!

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

May26

New Industry Republic Clothing Sweater Vest

Posted on May 26, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Standard

New Industry Republic Clothing Sweater Vest

Hello!! Who all remembers the store Charlotte Russe? Talk about a throwback, right?! When I was a teenager, that store was my jam and my absolute favorite thing I ever got was a sweater vest. It was tight fitting, cobalt blue, and had black houndstooth print. It was SO cute and nobody could tell me nothin when I had it on. Since then, I have tried on several similar sweater vests (Try saying that five times fast!) and none of them ever did anything for me. There was always just something off about them, whether it be fit, shape, or pattern. Until now, that is! Check out this fab new Industry Republic Clothing sweater vest that I got during my last TJMaxx shopping trip:

I purchased my vest for twenty dollars and it was originally sixty-eight. SCORE!

While perusing the clothing department, I saw a whole lot of nothing lol. This was quite the rarity because I can usually find something that is worth trying on. The racks of clothing were all featuring loud summer prints, awkward fits, and the dreaded tie in the front of shirts that I detest. Then, I locked eyes with my new sweater vest on an end cap and knew I could work with it. Although it didn’t have bold colors or patterns, it was remarkably similar in fit to my old A1 vest from Charlotte Russe and that was good enough for me. After some more shopping, I found the tennis skirt that you saw in yesterday’s post and we were back in business!

This sweater vest is just too cute. I love the creamy color, the flower details, and the soft knit. I was a bit fearful that this vest would be too warm for summertime, but it was actually nice and light. It can also double as a cold weather piece if you wear a tight fitting sweater underneath. When paired with the Kyodan tennis skirt, it was magic and made for such a flirty and fun OOTD. I had been hoping to find a new outfit for the next Misnyland picnic and I got exactly that. I am also so happy to find some new pieces to shake up my summer wardrobe because, as you know, it is my least favorite season to dress for. Maybe these fresh new finds will make me change my mind. 🙂

Although I have never played tennis, I can’t wait to wear my on the court with a fashion twist inspired outfit. Both the skirt and vests were awesome finds!

What was your favorite store to shop at as a teenager? What is your favorite store to shop at now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

New Kyodan Tennis Skirt

Posted on May 25, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Howdy! This past Tuesday, I spent a lovely time during my break with my mom doing what we do best: Shopping! We hit up TJMaxx for anything and everything and it was so much fun. I was on the hunt for new skin care because it was just about time to restock my supplies. I also was hoping to find a new outfit to wear to the next picnic Tim Misny is hosting in June. I am SO bored with everything in my closet and I wanted something new to show out in because it is the first picnic I’ll be working as Tim’s social media manager. As I browsed the clothing department, I was coming up blank. Then, I saw a pretty little skirt on display and knew I could work with it! Check it out:

This skirt only costed seventeen dollars as opposed to the original forty-two. Score!!

I was instantly drawn to this skirt by Kyodan because I love a skater skirt and the pleats and elastic waistband offered a fresh take on a classic. And, of course, you know I love all black everything! This skirt is so flirty, flouncy, and sweet and I couldn’t have found it at a better time. I had added a crocheted sweater vest to my cart (See tomorrow’s post!), but was just going to put it away because I had nothing to pair it with. As always, TJs pulls through in the clutch for me when I need it most. #blessed

In the fitting room, I expected to just slip the skirt on and my mind was blown when I discovered that it had shorts underneath the fabric. I suppose if I looked at the brand of the skirt, which is clearly for athletes, I would have put two and two together but, alas lol. This made the Kyodan skirt even better because I knew that I will be moving around a lot when I wear it at the upcoming picnic. This provides the insurance that no one will see anything unsightly if a breeze picks up or what have you. And, to add to the victory, the skirt looked fabulous with the top I picked out! 😀

I found this skirt right in the nick of time because I was about to have to return to work empty handed. I felt so lucky when I went into the fitting room with only two things and they both worked perfectly. I can’t wait to wear it!

What is your favorite brand for athletic clothes? Do you have any fun events coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Summer Switch Up OOTD

Posted on July 1, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!!! I have grown SO weary of summer OOTDs as of late because a majority of my wardrobe is tailored towards my preferred cooler weather. While I have really liked all of the past looks that I have styled, none of them have wowed me and that, I don’t like. During my birthday gift card shopping spree at TJMaxx, I was desperate to find some summer clothes to switch things up. The fashion gods answered my plea with a gorgeous new swimsuit and the trapeze pants featured in this OOTD:

Who? What? Wear?

Crop Top: This was a hand me down from my sister and the jury is out on where she got it from!

Trapeze Pants: Patrons Of Peace, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: Bamboo/Cape Robbin, TJMaxx

Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters

Both bracelets are from American Eagle Outfitters

My Summer Switch Up OOTD was incredibly easy to style because it spoke for itself. A plain top in any of the colors from the trapeze pants would have worked perfectly. I don’t have too many clothes that are completely plain which was a must since the pants were so bold. I did, however, have a navy crop top so that was definitely the move!

The Patrons Of Peace pants are very exciting because there are an endless amount of styling possibilities that come with it. All you have to do is pull from one of the many colors in the pattern and go from there. Could you imagine these with a chic rose turtleneck or burnt orange cardigan come fall? Or just a stark white tank top during the summer would be lovely. This is exactly the type of thing I needed to breathe some new life into my summer wardrobe. And, now that I know what summer clothes can be, it makes me want to go shopping even more lol.

Since the base of the outfit was a snap to put together, shoes and accessories were next on the agenda. Platform heels were necessary because these pants would not have suited my five foot one frame without them. I chose my dark wash denim platforms by Bamboo/Cape Robbin with an embroidered flower heel. Unfortunately, the pants were too long to see them well in the pictures but I can assure you that they were very cute! Even when I wear heels, I never feel “tall” in them. But, in this case, I felt a mile long with the silhouette that was created and it felt… different. Haha, it was cool but I needed to adjust to the major altitude change once I was back in comfy clothes!

Finally, it was time to accessorize and I kept things minimal as per ushe with my summer OOTDs. Even if I didn’t have a ton of tattoos visible in this look, I still would have kept it light with accessories. The Patrons Of Peace pants were an accessory in themselves with the statement pattern! I went with a small pair of gold dangly earrings, a bangle, and a cuff bracelet and that was that. Within five minutes, my look was complete and I felt completely runway ready for the first time this summer. 😀

I am beyond thrilled with this look and I felt like a gajillion bucks in it. I guess dressing for summer isn’t so bad after all!

What is your favorite statement piece in your wardrobe? Have you refreshed your summer clothes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

New Patrons Of Peace Trapeze Pants

Posted on June 27, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!!! As I have mentioned with every OOTD that I have created this summer, I really dislike dressing for summer. Cool and comfortable options are so limited and I am sick and tired of rotating a handful of shorts, skirts, and dresses as the days go by. During my TJMaxx birthday gift card shopping spree, I was hoping to find a new dress or skirt to add to the mix but didn’t find jack. I did, however, find a pair of amazing trapeze pants by Patrons Of Peace that are absolutely perfect for summertime wear. Take a look:

I am a huge fan of trapeze pants, but have never found a pair that are right for me. I am barely over 5’1 and every pair that I have tried on before was overwhelming in width, length, or both. I found the Patrons Of Peace pair in the juniors’ department and was a bit ambivalent about adding them to my try on pile. I was in love with the bold pattern in a gorgeous array of colors, but I figured that they would be too long like usual. However, I put them into my cart anyways because I was already trying a swimsuit on (which you saw yesterday) and that had the potential of not working too.

In the fitting room, I was shocked and amazed by how well these pants worked. They were, unsurprisingly, a bit long in length but that’s an easy fix with a pair of platforms. Despite that, they were most flattering and that had everything to do with how these pants laid. Although the fabric is really breezy and billowy, it laid so closely to my body and the movement only came when I was moving too. I felt so good in these and had OOTD ideas swarming through my head as soon as they were on. Killer heels, a tight crop or tank top, and hair tossed up in a chic bun? Yes, yes, and YES!

I have been so bored with my summer wardrobe and my new trapeze pants are going to shake things up for sure. I like to think that I am very adventurous when it comes to my clothes, but my new swimsuit and pants took me out of my comfort zone and I can’t wait to rock them!

Have you updated your summer wardrobe? What did you get? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun3

Pantspalooza: Premise Pt. 2 Edition

Posted on June 3, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello everyone and welcome to the last purchase from my TJMaxx Haul! During this shopping trip, I got two new tops and bottoms for my summer wardrobe. And, thanks to my upcoming birthday, I can’t wait to go back because I already have some gift cards burning a hole in my pocket! Today, we are going to wrap things up by talking about another pair of pantaloons by Premise. Yes, they’re also kind of old lady. And, yes, it is in the best way ever like the other pair! Check it out:

When shopping at TJMaxx, my mom and I usually make two rounds throughout the store before we check out. This gives us the opportunity to try things on, narrow down our options, and go back in for more lol. My paint splatter pants by Premise were tried on during our second go in the fitting room because the other pair I knew that I was buying worked so well:

As you all know, I really am not one for patterned pants but these ones just hit different. The fit of them is, truly, perfect for my body type and when that is the case with a piece of clothing, it never hurts to buy it in multiple patterns! I am so glad that I did because I definitely plan on wearing these all summer long. I also love the fact that I can because, despite their length, these pants are nice and cool. Also, white clothing is ideal for beating the heat with!

Although both of these Premise pants are the exact same in terms of its structure, the patterns are so different that I didn’t feel bad about it. I like them equally but the paint splatter one speaks to my personal style a bit more. In the summer, all I’ll need is a black tank or crop top and I am good to go. But, come fall, I can’t wait to punk them out with a moto jacket and combat boots. The material is also thick enough that I can wear a pair of tights underneath them and it won’t show through if the weather is chilly.

For mine and Johnny’s housewarming/birthaversary party, I wore the white and blue pair of Premise pants and they were a huge hit. I can’t wait to break out the paint splatter pair next! 😀

Do you own anything in multiple colors or patterns? What kind of fit for clothing compliments your body best? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	lifewithlilred on Spirit Christmas Haul
	oliveunicorn on Spirit Christmas Haul
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	lifewithlilred on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers