the long-awaited SHEINSIDE dress

 PLEASE REMEMBER TO

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)

 

the Recipe for Fall Pt.2

Subtitled: 

Down by the Riverside

These photos are ABSOTIVELY, POSOLUTELY, completely unedited.  They are RAW right from my camera's SD card.  And I adore them.

'Hey, this is a really gorgeous spot.'

 

'Let's set this bag down...'

'...and celebrate Fall by taking some photos!'

 

I'm totally in love with Fall this year. 
Our leaves are especially vibrant, something to do with our ludicrously hot Summer.

 

There it is: my oh-so-German schnozz, in all its glory.

Hat: thrifted || Scarf: Claire's || Shirt: H&M || Tank: H&M || Jeans: Jordache  || Belt: old || Boots: thrifted || Backpack: thrifted Louis Vuitton || Tote: Target

Thanks to all my lovely readers for stopping by!

Hope you love these photos as much as I do.

Enjoy Fall (or whatever season you're having now)!

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

Three Casual Looks (subtitled: H&M Belt Spectacular!!!)

First of all, I want to say:

for giving me over 50 followers via G.F.C.!!!

I am so excited!  It seems like I started this blog such a short time ago...just last November.  And I hope that my content and blog with only keep growing bigger and better from here.  

Thank you so much for caring about this little artistic outlet of mine.  :)  You inspire me!

And now I'll give you what you came here for: some fashion! 
And--because I'm so happy--I'm trying something new: giving you three outfits in one post!  Relaxed and casual outfits.

And I didn't even realize until I was captioning these photos that I'm sporting the same belt in all of them!  My beloved H&M belt...it goes with so much and actually fits my waist!  It's long enough to tie in fun knots, too.

I ran to the library and grocery store in this ensemble.

I'm much more of a dress kinda girl.  All the magazines are telling me that pants are the chic thing right now, but I often feel better in a dress.

And dresses don't always have to be "pretty," either (though I do like them that way); pairing my ruffled rainbow-striped dress with cowboy boots and aviators (see below) adds a bit of edge:

Dress: Target || Bag: thrifted || Sunglasses: ? || Belt: H&M || Boots: Forever 21 || Watch: ?

Now here's the same belt again with another dress.
I wear this belt all the time, and the greatest part of it all is that I merely bought it in conjunction with a skirt.  I never knew how much I would use it: I just lucked out that it came with the skirt!  God looks out for me so well.  :)

This was worn to a pool party at my friend's house (on a VERY HOT DAY)..  I adore these shoes!

Shirtdress/Belt: H&M || Scarf: thrifted || Bag: thrifted Louis Vuitton || Watch: ? || Shoes: Calvin Klein from Marshall's || Sunglasses: Marshall's || Earrings: thrifted

This Dress

Not too much to say about this dress; It speaks enough for itself.

Some detail shots:

a zoom-in of the bag, since (for once) it was perfectly square to the camera

The puppy and I showing off our tails:

This dress was purchased from my favorite vintage shop.  They told me that originally it was a longer, gown-type dress, but one of their seamstresses cut it up and recreated it into this sweet little summer dress.  I am so lucky that I found it, and that it fit perfectly!

Dress: E-Collectique || Shoes: Target || Bag: thrifted Louis Vuitton || Pearls: gift || Sunnies: H&M