+ Lots of Valentine’s Day & spring inspiration

+ Items go on sale often

+ All are very versatile & can be dressed up or down

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Pink Striped Sweater: Love that you can wear this sweater normally or pull one side off the shoulder! The chunky hem at the neck, bottom, and sleeves is such a cute detail, and who doesn’t love stripes?! I will definitely be wearing this one on repeat! It has a regular length (not cropped or oversized) and runs true to size – I am wearing XS.

Off-White Sweater: Same sweater as the first one but in an off-white color. I love neutrals and denim for spring! Same fit – so I’m wearing the XS. Also, you could pair this with a hat and sneakers for a more casual look.

Color Block Cropped Sweatshirt: I love the color block with grey and pink (yes I know I’ve been into pink recently haha)! The zipper is functional, and the fit it cropped. I recommend sizing up one for more length – I am wearing the S. Super cute with jeans or leggings!

Tan Split-Hem Oversized Sweater: Camel colored Aerie sweater with a large split hem (but the hem does not go up too high or show your stomach!). I love the raw sewing details on the shoulders and back, and the crew neck is perfect for when you are on the go. Definitely runs oversized, so get your true size for leggings or size down one if you want to wear it with jeans.

+ Filter

+ Check the dimension

+ Follow fashion bloggers

+ Create an account

Don’t get me wrong, the new days of online shopping from your bed and never having to leave your house are amazing. But I’m not going to lie… there’s a part of me that has always found it difficult to shop online. The sizes are never consistent, so I’m always skeptical if what I buy will fit when it arrives. Lately, I’ve been doing more and more online shopping, and I’ve come across a few strategies that seem to work!

First – Filter. Filter. Filter. Use the filters people!! It drives me absolutely crazy when online stores don’t have the option to filter by size, color, and price, because this is one of the easiest ways to narrow down your options or find that specific item you may be searching for. If you know you wear a size x-small or small most of the time, there is no point in sifting through items that only have size x-large left. It’s a waste of your time, and then when you find out the top that you love no longer comes in your size, you’ll be bummed. So, filter by your size (or a few sizes) to eliminate the let down. If you are on a budget, or just feel like paying $100+ for a sweater is ridiculous, you can filter by price! And if you know you want a red dress for the night of Valentine’s Day, filter by color – red. The more you filter, the better your chances are of adding to cart.

Next – Check the dimensions. One of the biggest problems I have while online shopping is finding a dress that won’t touch my knees. For me, dresses have always been a pain – even in stores it’s rare that I find a dress short enough for my height of 5’2. So, buying a dress online used to be out of the question. But then stores started posting dress dimensions! I always check the length to see if the dress will be a good fit. If they tell me that the dress is “35” long from shoulder to hem,” I know it’s going to be wayyy too long on me. For reference, I try to stick around a 32-33″ length depending on the occasion – if I’m looking for a dress to wear to church I may be okay with a 33.5″ length, and if I’m dressing for Vegas 31″ might be the way to go. Not all stores post sizing for individual items, so I try to buy from the ones that do. It limits your options, but it majorly increases your chances of finding something that will actually fit!

After that – Follow fashion bloggers. I know this sounds like a shameless plug, but it’s a great way to get information about items you’re interested in buying. A fashion bloggers job is to share their opinion on sizing, sales, and the quality of the clothes. If you follow a trustworthy fashion blogger, you can take their advice and base your order off of their opinions! At the very least, a fashion bloggers review can give you the basis for making an informed purchasing decision.

Lastly – Create an account. We’ve all clicked the “checkout as a guest” button before when we’re too lazy to create an account on the store’s website. I’m most definitely guilty as charged! But creating an account is completely free and most of the time has added benefits. Tons of stores have rewards programs that give you points for each purchase, and once you have enough points, you receive a discount! And who would say no to a discount?! Not me that’s for sure! Also, stores like Abercrombie occasionally have promotions for free shipping if you have an account – sign me up for more savings! Another advantage to having an account is that you can save your address and card info so that checkout is quick and easy. Bottom line is that a free account can have unexpected benefits, so it is well worth the 10.5 seconds it takes to make a username and password!

I hope that these tips will help you online shop like a pro & build a wardrobe that you’re excited to look through!

Until next time…

|| Olivia ||

+ Casual Valentine’s Day looks

+ Everything is true to size

+ I don’t have a code but you can use code KATY20 or ALMOSTREADY20 for 20% off from Katy Roach or Amanda West

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XOXO sweatshirt: I think this little crewneck sweatshirt is just too cute! I love that it is festive for Valentine’s without being tacky or over-the-top. It has a light fleece lining on the inside that makes it SO soft! And this would make for the perfect travel outfit! It is true to size and I’m wearing the small!

Blue and pink striped sweater: This sweater may be my new favorite in my closet! It is very good quality and thick without being heavy! It is leggings friendly, but the split hem also makes it great for front tucking into a pair of jeans. Also, the balloon sleeves are an extra little detail that makes it fabulous! Andddd blue and pink are my favorite colors so that is a plus! It is true to size (wearing the small) and today it is on sale for only $32!

Pink striped dress: This dress is perfect for a casual Valentine’s day! It’s hard to tell the color in the photos, but it is a beautiful coral-y pink! The material is velvety soft, and I love the white edges on the sleeves and neckline. Full disclosure – this dress is a tiny bit long on me, but if you are 5’3 or taller it would fit perfect! But if you’re short like me, I would recommend belting it at the waist. Other than that, it runs true to size and I am wearing the small for reference.

+ Get your true to size // Wearing XS

+ Save $10 off $100 with Same Day Delivery, Order Pickup, or Drive Up

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Tie Dye Top: The fit is slightly cropped but does not show your stomach if you pair it with high waisted jeans or leggings! Runs true to size – I’m wearing the XS.

Leopard Tank: This is a GREAT tank for layering! It is thin, light, and airy but not see through! It has adjustable straps and is true to size. I’m wearing the XS.

Grey Split Hem Sweatshirt: This is definitely more of a sweatshirt feel but just a tad bit cuter because of the split hem! Super cozy and lined with a light fleece that is super soft but not thick enough to make you overheat or sweat! Get your true size for an oversized fit or size down one if you want it to fit normally – I’m wearing the XS.

Dark Grey Circle Hem Top: This top has more of a sporty feel! It has holes in the sleeves for your thumbs and the circle hem creates a little split on the sizes that is adorable! Lightly lined with fleece on the inside to make it super soft. True to size and I’m wearing the XS.

+ Size up one // wearing size 4

+ 25” if you are petite, 28” if you are taller

+ Pick your material first – most patterns are made in several materials

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I think I may be the only person on the planet that had no idea that Lululemon made leggings in different materials to correspond with different activities – sort of like how Nike makes different sneakers for different sports! Now that I’m aware of this, it changes the leggings game completely!!

I’ve always been very particular about my leggings – they always have too much cotton or they’re too “workout-y” or too long or not the right pattern. I could never seem to find the perfect pair. Well DUH – that’s because I’ve always been trying to pick out one pair for every activity.

I’ll break it down for y’all so you don’t turn out like me LOL. The white and the camo leggings you see here are the exact same material, and they are THE. SOFTEST. MOST BUTTERY. MOST VELVETY. leggings on the planet!! No seriously. They would probably melt in your mouth if they were candy! These are made for yoga, so they’re perfect for lounging around the house, running errands, or hanging with friends – so basically anything other than actually working out (who uses leggings to workout anyways?? LOL).

While the white and camo pairs are the same exact legging in different patterns, the last leopard pair are a totally different material. These are made for running and training, so they have more of a spandex-y stretch and sweat-proof texture! I’d recommend these if you plan on working out or exercising in them because they’ll be super breathable and hold up well while you sweat.

Lululemon leggings run small so I always size up one from my normal size. Also, they come in various lengths depending on your height – I am petite at 5’2 so I always buy the 25″ leggings so that I don’t have to roll them up, but if you are a few inches taller I would recommend the 28″ ones.

So there you have it! The secret of Lululemon leggings is out! Just kidding… I think I was the only one that never knew this, but I’m glad I know now. At least I got some great pairs of leggings out of it right?!

|| Olivia ||