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)

 

Fall Mashup

Saying an official Goodbye to Fall,

and a Hello to Winter! 

Happy December, everyone! 

 

I decorated for Christmas yesterday, really trying to get into the holiday spirit!  How about you guys? 
So, in order to cleanse my seasonal pallette and prepare to start the holiday season afresh...

I'm clearing all the Fall outfits I had stacked up in the coffers of my hard drive 

and setting them all free

in one big blogpost explosion!!!

Kicking things off with a bit of leopard sass never hurt anyone, right?  Ready?  Here we go!

 Hat: H&M || Sweater: thrifted (orig. J. Crew) || Tank: H&M || Jeans: Charlotte Russe || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Steve Madden) || Scarf: gift || Gloves: vintage (grandma's) || Bag: Rosetti

And next, here's a comfy ensemble with the grey, ruffled suede boots that have never failed me, yet!

 Scarf: gift || Sweater: Forever 21 || Jeans: Wal*Mart || Boots: old (Payless?) || Jacket: thrifted (orig. Ralph Lauren) || Gloves: thrifted || Bag: thrifted

 

And now some fierce sequins and a red lip...

 

 Jacket: thrifted || Tank: old || Jeans: Forever 21 || Shoes: old (Payless?)

Wore this little ensemble to church to sing with choir.  Never thought I'd wear these shoes to church!  Much less in November...

 Shoes: can't remember || Dress: thrifted (orig. Mossimo) || Cropped Tux Jacket: thrifted (orig. Mossimo) || Fur Coat: thrifted || Belt: thrifted || Bracelet: can't remember || Bag: Rosetti || Sunnies: Marshall's (orig. American Eagle Outfitters)

Some crazy colors and the debut of my new statement necklace.  I've been wearing this necklace (I bought it in mint AND in coral) constantly since I bought it!

 Necklace: Charlotte Russe || Sweater: Wet Seal || Pants: Calvin Klein || Boots: Steve Madden || Arm Party: Charming Charlie

Here's a little bit of a blurry photo of a casual weekend look with boyfriend jeans, a furry vest, and flannel!  Woo, flannel!  Add some heels and the aforementioned statement necklace, and you're set!

 Sunnies: gift || Necklace: Charlotte Russe || Vest: old || Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters || Jeans: Charlotte Russe || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Anne Klein) || Bag: Rosetti

 

Finally, here's a look I wanted to have a real photoshoot with, but ran out of time.  I was pretty proud that I put this risky, colorful thing together the day after I had a minor surgery haha (just an endoscopy).  Me in a beanie; who'd've thunk?

Beanie: thrifted || Sunnies: old || Jacket: old || Sweatshirt: thrifted (orig. GAP) || Jeans: H&M || Shoes: thrifted || Necklace: thrifted

Hope y'all didn't mind the casual outfit explosion...did you have a favorite?  Let me know in the comments!   :)

Nerdy Skirt

This was a beautiful day: both weather-wise and event-wise.  I took a nice long walk with my hubby and visited his family to watch the Packer game.

My burnished silver metallic cut-out shoes originally from Aldo. I had to buy new laces, but otherwise I'm pretty sure whoever had them before I did hardly wore them! Her loss, poor, unfortunate soul.

 I love Fall layers...denim shirt, leather coat, plaid skirt, and fun pops of color in my accessories!

The skirt is kinda nerdy, really, but I love the pattern and texture! 
I'm trying to dress like me, again. 
I know it sounds silly to blame a thing like this, but Lookbook really started to mess with my personal style; I thrifted thinking in my head, "Ooh! I don't really care for this, but it would get a lot of hypes on Lookbook!"  Whenever I catch myself thinking that kind of thing, I back off of whatever is causing it.  [I've said since the start of this blog that it's not primarily a FASHION blog, but rather a STYLE blog.]  So, I've stopped going on Lookbook completely.  Lookbook could have been a wonderful fashion and style tool, but I'm tired of seeing all the emaciated women wearing slutty clothes getting all the love! Ripped fishnets are not innately stylish; showing off long, thin legs does not mean a woman has pinache. Yes, of course I am jealous of those legs and the money required to buy all brand new designer denim to clothe those legs in, but that is not my chief qualm with Lookbook: my biggest problem is the lack of originality.  There are so many women who are regarded as international fashion plates who I respect and admire and so many pictures in magazines that I really don't believe would get majorly hyped on Lookbook (if they were unknowns like me).  And really, what are hypes to tell you what is cool and what is not?
Sorry for the rant, but it's been on my mind since I read similar thoughts on another blog I really like recently. 

Has anyone else had a problem with Lookbook?

or something similar?  

 

Skirt: thrifted || Purse: old || Scarf: old || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Aldo) || Shirt: H&M || Sunnies: Marshall's (orig. American Eage Outfitters) || Belt: White House | Black Market || Jacket: gift

 



Michael Kors Spring 2013

Obsessed obsessed OBSESSED with this collection!
It starts with a bang when the opener's shoe comes undone and she champions her walk anyway, ends with a bang when the one-and-only Karlie Kloss smolders up and down the runway like she does, and the collection itself is just FABULOUS!!!  Ladylike silhouettes with primary colors and retro fundamentals...so so so good.  And the menswear is drool-worthy, too!  If only my husband dressed crazy like I do...*le sigh*

Anyway: onto the look I wore for Day 4 of MBFW (And also to the mall...bought the best pants ever from H&M!  I have been looking for my perfect pair of patterned pants [say that 5 times fast...whew], and I finally found them!!!  Watch for them in the near future.).

Look!  SPORTY-CHIC! 
Never thought I'd be able to pull this off, but I think I did!  I got lots of compliments from strangers at the mall, anyway.  That's always the best!  :)  Makes a girl feel all glowy inside...


Also: you can kinda see my nailart in these photos...for a closer look follow me on Instagram (if you want to) and/or Twitter.  @spritzy88 
I'd love to connect with my readers on other levels, too!  I'd be flattered if you go and find me.

This look is one of the simplest I've worn in awhile...I just stole a t-shirt from my hubby's closet and added a detachable collar.  But I think it was the starkness that made it noticeable, you know?  Vast planes of color-blocking (also a fall trend) are pretty eye-catching.

Leave a comment letting me know your reaction to the video of the Michael Kors show that I posted!!!

 

Are you as in love/awe/lust as I am?

Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters || Collar: thrifted || Skirt: old || Shoes: thrifted || Bag: Forever 21 || Watch: Wal*Mart (yyyeah buddy)

Two Questions to Start Off This Post:

Question 1.) How can you wear jeans and a t-shirt to be comfy and still somehow be fashion-forward?


Question 2.) How awesome is Q'doba?

Now, I betcha I can answer both of those questions...

Answer to Question 1.) Colored denim is the way to go! 
It started to pick up speed this spring, was really coming into its own during summer, and now for fall and winter, colored denim is a MUST.  They're even making it more fancy: coating/lacquering colored denim with different finishes.  I'm excited to try a helping of that trend!  How about you, dear readers?
It always helps to pair fun things with your denim to keep the fashion vibes going, too: I took an oversized tee and did a bit of fixing to it (you'll see a better photo below), and then threw on nerd glasses and an arm party (one of which I am very proud, and I hope the Man Repeller would be, too [she coined the phrase, "arm party," after all]).

Answer to Question 2.) Very.
They serve fabulous, HUGE burritos, give me extra steak on my fabulous, HUGE burrito, and then let me sit on their patio tables and shove chairs around without so much as a word.  Q'doba, I salute you.

You can see the shirt I DIY'd a bit better.  

Here's the story:
 It was super-clearance time at our local Boston Store (well, prettymuch everywhere, actually; everyone is making room for new fall merch), so I went and indulged.  I got these pink Calvin Klein jeans that I've been coveting since the beginning of summer, and I haphazardly threw a size Large t-shirt into the bag (it was on clearance for $3.00), as well.  I get home, and it turns out I love the tee!  It's light as air, and has the cute pocket and V-neck, buuuut it's simply too big.  I wanted to keep the oversize vibe going, though, so I just picked up a pair of scissors, cut a line straight up from the bottom of the shirt until it was about three inches long, and then tied the two sides together to create some fit and added interest. Boom.  :)

Anyway, my denim and my shoes are both Calvin Klein, and both pieces really speak my soul.  Calvin Klein has always been one of my favorites: it was that brand that brought me into the world of fashion and style.

To conclude: here's a quick peek at my latest mani experimentation and then the Rundown:

Thanks, as always, for reading!

An ombre/gradient of pastel pink and mint.

Jeans: Calvin Klein || Shoes: Calvin Klein || Tee: Studio Works || Bag: thrifted Louis Vuitton || Nerd Glasses: Forever 21 || Arm Party: thrifted

The Simple Things (subtitled: Neon Me)

Every so often that illustrious day comes around: that summer afternoon when you allow yourself the luxury of wearing just a simple, comfy tee and shorts.  What makes that kind of day even better?  When your shorts are neon and fabulous!!!  :)

Neon was HUGE this Spring, but I never figured myself a really "neon" kind of person.  And I staunchly declare this to be a "style" blog, not a "fashion" blog (I don't have the money to keep up with trends; plus, why ignore your personal style/opinions just to wear what you're "supposed" to wear?).  Buuuut when "fashion" can be found at your local Goodwill for $2.00, how can any self-respecting dresser say 'no?'
Plus, it gave me a means to finally style these blue lace-up wedges I found awhile ago at H&M.

Speaking of H&M, that's also where I found those fantastic sunglasses.  Here is a detail shot of my sunnies and bracelet:

All-in-all, though I thought I wasn't a "neon" type of gal, I was quite pleased with my purchase of these shorts, and had fun with the styling thereof.  Lesson learned:

Your personal style (in fact, your personality, I believe) is bigger and more expansive than you even think it is; experiment with fashion fads! 
Never be afraid to surprise yourself.

Tee: American Eagle Outfitters || Shorts: thrifted || Belt: thrifted || Bracelet: gifted || Sunnies: H&M || Shoes: H&M || Necklace: gifted || Clutch: thrifted

Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore

Such a gorgeous day today...I got to have my cake and eat it, too: woke up to the soothing sounds of a spring rain, but it was all bright and sunny by the time I left for work! Hooray!

Went a little military today.  Military was last year's fashion fad, but it's a style CONSTANT in my closet, what with the hubby being in the service and all.

My accessories are really what rock my world, today, though!!!  I brought back my love of the geometric, which I've been shying away from for awhile now.  I love the gauzy and the ethereal, but there are times when you need to plant your feet on the ground again and just be linear and structured (structured earrings, necklace, bag, booties...even the jackets I wore today have minds/shapes of their own).

my new color block booties  <3

I've never had a true "statement necklace" before.

I've been immersed in the 80s recently (not always by choice...a buddy of mine played $5 worth of 80s rock on the jukebox at my favorite pub yester-night).  Not my favorite era for fashion, but definitely a fantastic time in the music industry!

Fabulous. 
I love where they're just playing around in the studio to introduce the vid!
This song has been close to my heart since high school when my boyfriend (now the hubby) put it on my computer to listen to while I did homework.  It's been "runnin' 'round in circles in my mind" often for these past few days, and I'm feeling like the casual nature and mutued colors of my outfit match the quiet fervency of this classic tune, even if the style of my ensemble (and hair lol) is far from 80s chic.

the RUNDOWN:
Earrings: Target
Necklace: Target
Jacket: Converse
Shirtdress: ?
Jeans: Charlotte Russe
Booties: Lola Rose for Payless
Purse: Coach
Scarf: thrifted
Sunglasses: ?