LBD Diaries

The #1 staple in my closet is the Little Black Dress. It's a little bit of a problem. I own around five or six. But, who can blame me? It is hands down the most versatile outfit piece anyone who loves dresses can own. Whether it's a date, a girls night, or a casual day shopping, no event ever suffered from the appearance of an LBD, and while you can never go wrong with wearing it alone, it never hurts to spice things up just a little bit. But there are so many different ways to play with  an LBD, where do you even begin? For today, I decided to use pearls.

The Look

This outfit didn't start as a project (to be honest, they rarely do, and I love it so much), I just put on a black dress, knowing I couldn't really go wrong there, and started playing with accessories.

When I put on the pearls I liked the feel, but not the look, so I adjusted them just a little bit to fit the neckline of the dress and fell in love with the aesthetic. I put on all of the pearl bracelets I could find, my trusty black pumps, and added a pop of Audrey Hepburn with square sunglasses and I was ready to face the day with grace, class, and dignity.

Looking back on it I feel like I was basically back to a child playing dress up, but in the moment I felt absolutely glamorous and unafraid. 

If there is anything I've learned about fashion, it's that the smallest change can make the biggest difference. Who knows, maybe a seemingly unimportant change you make today, will turn you into an icon tomorrow.

Always be an Icon,

Smallred <3

Recreate the Look?

If I were to try this again I might chose a dress with a little bit of a thicker strap. For this outfit I'd like to see the bow on my belt as white in stead of black, and I would add a floppy black and white striped beach hat. Maybe some white bows on my shoes, and if I'm feeling really Hepburn, some white gloves.

America is Beautiful, and I am too

Independence Day. For most Americans it's a day that means remembering history, hot dogs, parades, fireworks, and seeing just how much you can look like an American flag while still feeling cute. Red white and blue are most definitely the colors of the day, and since it's summer crop tops and sun dresses are the go-to options, so here's how I decided to show off my American pride and sense of style.

The Look

Using a red scarf and a blue skater skirt I pulled together a perfectly patriotic dress, leaving my bra straps out for a pop of color. Although it's not really visible, I added an american flag bandanna to pull my hair back. 

It's comfortable and cute, the perfect dress to just bounce around and enjoy the festivities. And the best part is that it stays out of the way, so that you can focus on the people who matter. By the end of the day it didn't matter what I was wearing, I was just happy to be with a great group of people.

Most importantly I didn't feel insecure or like I was overdoing it at all in this outfit (which is a pretty big accomplishment for me, I always feel like I'm trying too hard).

No matter what you're celebrating, no matter what you're wearing, and no matter who you're with, make sure you celebrate like an icon.

Always be an Icon,

Smallred <3

Try it again?

If I wanted to add to this look I might try a black hat and a white backpack. It was a little drizzly for me in the morning, so a patriotic umbrella wouldn't have been a bad idea either.

Kimspiration

In our lives, there are people we look up to, our icons so to speak, in our careers, in our lifestyles, and of course, in our fashion choices. For whatever reason we find these people inspirational. For today's outfit I've decided to take a few tips from one of my fashion icons the queen of popular media, Kim Kardashian. 

The Look

The look I most associate with Kim Kardashian is her crop top + pencil skirt look, so this was the original inspiration for my outfit.

 I liked the crop top, but I wasn't really feeling a bare stomach look.To get around that I took a tip from another Kim K pencil skirt look, and took the chance to accentuate the contrast between my waist and my hips. I couldn't really tuck in my crop top (obviously), so instead I used a belt to fill the empty space.

But it didn't feel Kim Kardashian enough for me, so I decided to pull the look together with my favorite Kim K style tip, draping a leather jacket over the shoulders. 

Add some short black pumps, and I got an outfit that said Kim Kardashian, but was still all my own style.

No matter who you look up to, when taking inspiration from your fashion heroes the most important thing to remember is not to lose yourself, because you yourself are an icon.

Always be an Icon,

Smallred <3

Try it again?

If I were to go for this look again, I think I'd want to see if I could go for the stomach bearing option, just to play around with it. I would also opt for higher heels. My biggest regret with this outfit is not playing with jewelry at all. Overall though, I felt like I was pretty well-balanced with the Kim K: Me ratio.

Summer Lovin'

No matter your style, the absolute summer essential is the perfect swimsuit. You probably know the feeling, you try it on, you look in the mirror and feel absolutely unstoppable. Sure, you might try on other swimsuits (I did), but they don't really compare to the feeling of that one perfect swimsuit. But if you're like me, you might find it hard to keep yourself from feeling like your swimsuit is getting mundane, or passe. Of course if you own it, no one will dare call you boring, but there's nothing wrong with getting a little help from the rest of your wardrobe.

My Look

Playing off of the sunset theme, I took an orange infinity scarf, and the most neutral jacket I had. Because my jacket was white and I like to accentuate my legs, I finished the look with a white based floral platform heel. 

Put together it feels dressed up enough to walk around before or after swimming, but still casual enough that it still has a beach vibe.

Not only was it fun to put together, my confidence felt absolutely effortless while I was wearing it.

But of course whether you're living it up at the beach, or chilling by the pool, the most important thing is that you have a swimsuit that makes you feel like an icon.

Always be an Icon,

Smallred <3

Wanna Add More?

If I were to try this look again, I would probably try it with some high waisted shorts, preferably black and white stripes to match the actual bottom of the swimsuit, but if not I'd do basic denim. I would switch out the jacket for a peach cardigan, and switch my pumps for some more practical low-heeled sandals in white. I would complete the look with white or peach sunglasses and a white or peach trilby.

Who is Smallred?

Fashion Blogger? Now I am. Local royalty? Yes and loving every minute! Bite sized dreamer? Always. Between my favorite outfits and amateur photo shoots, you'll get a little taste of my style and and maybe even a few tips to carry into your own style. Follow me to see how I use fashion to make me feel like an icon.

Always be an Icon,

Smallred <3