Business Chic: boy meets girl [again]

Sorry these pics are so blurry......I was definitely standing in my side yard with my iPhone balanced on my garbage can lid.  #likeaboss  #...orsomething  #yolo?

Painting the World with my Kooky Paintbrush

It was 23 degrees this day, but
a.) I was in a colorful mood, and
b.) I could not WAIT to wear the shoes I had gotten the day before!!!

I'm a crazy person, yes indeed.

Where to start gushing about this outfit?  +sigh+  I just love every bit of it!  The blazer, shoes, and necklace are all brand new additions to my wardrobe, and I couldn't be happier!  I've been on the hunt for those things for awhile (a colorful blazer, a necklace to go under collars of collared shirts [specifically this denim one], and THESE SHOES). 

The shoes, OK, OK, we all know that I'm a shoe gal, so I'll really give them some typed lovin' here: 

I have been craving these shoes (in black) since before Prabal Gurung for Target even launched.  Of course, the black were the first to sell out, +sigh+ so instead I scoured thrift stores for something similar.  There were some shoes I found that could have been similar with some minor surgery, but they just lacked something that couldn't be fixed.  Like, too short of a heel, or not being minimal enough (it's the lack of actual shoe that makes these shoes so sexy and perfect lol), or whatever. 

So then, when I had all but given up hope, I found this pair at Goodwill with the tags still attached!!!!  I was amazed.  But then I looked at the size, and my heart dropped.  They were a 7.5.  I'm at LEAST an 8.5--usually a 9--but I couldn't help myself; I tried them on, anyway. 

Oh. My. God.  They fit.

No idea what face I'm making, here...

And then, of course, there's this necklace.  I was inspired by an Instagram photo posted by Forever21 awhile ago to find myself a necklace to fancy-up-but-not-fancy-up button up shirts.  ...You know what I mean? kinda? maybe?  Well, whatever.  This necklace is exactly what I was going for.  And it's not something that I would've just picked out in the store (if I didn't have a specific purpose)...which probably means that I will find myself wearing it constantly.

Anybody else experience that? 

The ironic, sort of unexpected bits of your wardrobe end up being worn the most?

Hat: thrifted || Jeans: H&M || Blazer & Necklace: JCP || Bag: Target || Shirt: thrifted (orig. Target) || Lipstick: Revlon || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Prabal Gurung for Target)

 

need a Little Leopard in my Life

Sooooo these past few days, I've been doing some serious lovin' on the bag I bought Monday!  :)  Basically, I've been making outfits around this bag. 

Anybody else do that?  Style themselves "backwards" by picking an accessory first?

I wanted to ask y'all another question:

Does it bother you that most of my photos are now taken in the same exact corner of my bedroom? 

I try to keep things interesting enough by posing all quirky and editing the photos a bit differently...but I can only do so much.

Also: I'm sure that, by now, most of you are aware of the conundrum facing those of us bloggers who operate chiefly on Google...Google reader (GFC) will be ripped out from under us starting July 1st.  :(  It'll be a bloggernational day of mourning, especially for yours truly, but everyone else is doing a lot of complaining, so I won't burden you with any more of that. 
I figure, if my blog is meant to grow, it'll happen (whether it's via GFC or Bloglovin' or whatever), so I'm just gonna keep posting a button like this in all my posts, so you can keep on being my blogfriend by following with Bloglovin' instead of GFC!  :)

Hat: thrifted || Shirt: thrifted (orig. from Target) || Pants: Boston Store || Booties: Payless (old) || Blazer: old || Necklace: Charlotte Russe || Bag: Target

Thanks again for reading!

 

and Don't Forget to  Please!!!

Escapism

Soooo before I start the actual post, I'm aware that few [...or none?] of my readers live in my area, buuuuut I thought I'd throw this out just in case: 
I'll be walking in this fashion show for a local secondhand shop I recently discovered. 

Yep, I'm gonna be in a little fashion show.  :)  It's not like a big deal or anything--I'm not suddenly thinking I'm the next Karlie Kloss--but I'm still super-excited, because:

a.)Um, it's a fashion show and Imma be in it.
b.) It's for a great cause (the business was started to make sure all girls could attend prom/special events regardless of budget [they rent prom dresses/tuxes as well as sell them and other vintage/gently-used clothing]).
c.) I get to wear a fabulous dress from the 40s (a black, ruffle-y, one-shoulder number, WOO!).

So.  On the off-chance that anyone lives near Grafton, WI (not my hometown, but close),
COME AND SUPPORT Stephanie's Prom Closet
and see me strut my stuff! 
And I'll be attempting to white-girl shake my groove thang at the dance after the runway show (which--thrust me--will be enough entertainment to make the cover charge worth it).
If you can't come, then just do me a favor and pray that I don't fall flat on my face.



Anyway, on to the OOTD:

Things that make a girl strut down the street

1.) Combining vintage and mod styles (successfully).

2.) Berets.

3.) New haircuts.

4.) Leopard print pumps.

These are definitely some of the things that make girls strut down the street.  :)

Skirt: H&M || Blazer: thrifted (orig. Target) || Bag: thrifted || Beret: old || Jewelry: Charming Charlie || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Steve Madden)

Anyway, lovelies, before I go, there are two more goofy photos I wanted to share:

Here's what I looked like before my haircut:

I cropped my head out, 'cuz my hair was
just that bad...but my coat's pretty fly.

Annnnnd here's what I looked like after. 
YAY JAMMIES! 
(I just couldn't be parted from my new t-shirt!)

Little Disclaimer:  I made this shirt myself.  I figure it's not gonna get me in legal trouble or anything, though, 'cuz a.) I'm not selling it, b.) I didn't get crazy accurate and directly copy the precise measurements of the logo, c.) I'm not telling anyone it's "real."

The PIANO SIDEWALK. and a BIG thank-you!

My dear readers, I am filled with pleasure, pride, and gratitude to announce that...

I have over 100 followers! 

Having been blogging for just a year, with very limited funds/time and a crappy camera, and from my little place in the middle of nowhere, I can't even tell you how much this means to me! 

Now whenever my family members [rather snarkily] ask, "What's the point of this 'blogging' stuff?" I tell them, "Look at all the friends I'm making!  Look at all the people who care about what I share with them, and who share with me in return!  The coolest part?  I have a bunch of followers from other countries! direct connections with special people I never would have met any other way!" 
And who knows the wonderful places it'll go from here?  Social networking, FTW!  So I'm glad to just keep on keeping on: posting my blog posts, putting photos up on Instagram (@spritzy88), and sharing cool stuff on my Facebook page (link at right).  And this kind of feedback--100+ followers--makes the sharing even more fun.

So, my mom (who has been by far my staunchest supporter) took me out to lunch to celebrate my 100 followers.  :)  Here's the outfit I wore that day, incorporating a blouse she gave me to sort of honor her in return:

This is also the debut of my patterned pants from H&M.  :)  I was soooo excited to find a pair of patterned pants that I actually like and will be able to style with my pre-existing wardrobe.  And they're comfy, too.

As I'm posting these photos, I'm seeing the effects of Instagram and Pinterest and magazine subscriptions hahaha...

What I mean is that this is *gasp* a TRENDY outfit.
 
Patterned cropped pants, sexy statement shoes, a sheer hi-lo blouse, a cropped tuxedo jacket, burgundy lipstick, and even my bangs are all "IN" right now. 
Except for my Rolex and my eyes (lol), I don't think I'm wearing anything NOT trendy. 
How weird.

These photos were taken in the center square of a city next to my hometown.  Actually, the suburbs where I live are all kinda mushed together, sooo it's all kinda the same place, but I digress; the point is that the fountain and gazebo (which you've already seen) are lovely, annnnnnd the following photos showcase my favorite thing about this square:

The PIANO SIDEWALK.

 

 

 

And with that, dear readers, this post draws to its end.  :)  I'll put one more great big THANK YOU out there, throw out a quick Rundown, and see you later!

 

Jacket: thrifted (orig. from Target) || Blouse: gift || Pants: H&M || Shoes: thrifted (orig. from Charlotte Russe) || Watch: thrifted (Rolex)



How's my tie?

I went to an outdoor wedding in the middle of September...It was lovely, but freezing!  And the invitation expressly forbade the wearing of heels.  :(

Puzzled, I thought for three days about how to dress for this affair...and came up with this at the last second.

I may have out-dressed the groom.  ;)  Just kidding!!!
I did receive lots of compliments, though. 
And the best part?  I was toasty warm!  I put on leggings and two pairs of knee socks underneath my slacks, and four shirts underneath my button-up shirt...heh heh.

This outfit was inspired by Ralph Lauren (my favorite).  They always use black, white, and gold; and their Fall 2012 campaign photo in circulation is a lady in a tophat:

Loooooooove itttttttttttt...
Of course, I'm no gorgeous blonde, but I had an awful lot of fun wearing my black, white, and gold outfit with my top(ish)hat, too.

Hat: little shop in Cedarburg || Blouse: thrifted || Blazer: MaxRave || Vest: thrifted || Tie: stolen from Hubby || Slacks: old || Shoes: thrifted || Watch: thrifted || Clutch: David's Bridal || Pin: hand-me-down

Wanna see what my hubby wore? 
He picked it out all by himself! 
Except for the hat...which he actually did wear!!!  I was amazed...
I think he looks smashing.

Thanks so much for reading!!!