Pin-up-y for Valentine's Day

 

What better day to bust out a petticoat than for Valentine's Day?  If there was EVER a day to get pin-up chic-ified, V-day is IT!!!  Amiright?

(PS: WOW this post is late.  Oops.  I guess I was just too busy livin' the dream  ;)  forgot to update the bloggity-blog.)

Summer Colors on a Spring Day

Valentine's Day Outfit

SORRYYYYYY I haven't posted in so long! 

Yes, I am just now posting my outfit from Valentine's Day.  :)  I didn't do anything romantic-looking, 'cuz I didn't see my husband, but I love holidays, so I at least dressed in red.

I struggle with ways to wear these bold pants; they're just TOO MUCH AWESOME to style easily.  ;)  But this is my favorite way I've styled them so far.

They're oh-so-punky, and not really in a couture way, 'cuz they're Abbey Dawn--Avril Lavigne's line for Kohl's.  Anyone remember Avril???  Where has she gone???  I loved her music when she first emerged onto the American music scene (in her awesomely baggy '90s grunge pants).  I'll admit it!  I was obsessed with the songs "Sk8tr Boy" and "Complicated."  Dude, I'm pretty sure I still know all the words. 
#guiltypleasures

 And these equally awesome shoes are definitely going to see a lot of wear, so be prepared, my dear readers, to see them up on the blog a lot!

They're right on trend right now: a pointed toe, ladylike silhouette, and metallic cap-toe.
 
<3  Love at first sight...

I lusted after them when they were at Target, but didn't want to splurge (they were like $39 or something, and I have what I call "Secondhand Syndrome:" if the price is double-digits, it's high.  lolz).  So I drooled and drooled to myself while watching the price drop as they first went on sale, then clearance, then final clearance, and then--lo, and behold--I found a pair in the color I wanted in my size with the tags still attached at my local Goodwill! 

Don't get me wrong: the shoes are definitely worth the original asking price, but God saw fit to let me get them for $6!

Hat: thrifted || Button-up: thrifted || Coat: oldie but goodie || Pants: thrifted (orig. Abbey Dawn) || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Target)

THANKS FOR READING!

 

Tell me what you did for Valentine's Day! 

Hope it was sweet!

Bummed-out face. 
(It was right after choir rehearsal, and I just really missed my Valentine.)

Burberry Girl in a Plaid, Plaid World

I wanted to dress in such a nonchalantly elegant way that it stunned the world!  :)  It was a cold, rainy day, and I wanted to bring a little pep (and prep) and freshness into it.

Also: these are the first pictures you all get to see of the inside of my new apartment...a little anti-climactic, huh? lol I'm standing in from of our linen closet.

I had fun sporting all this plaid...  This is another outfit--like the one in my last post--that I feel is really me.  I felt comfortable and vibrant while wearing it out and about.  And I wasn't trying to impress anyone but myself.  :)  Though if you guys, my readers, like it, I will certainly be very happy about that.



Like my cateyes?  I've been doing that a lot lately...
I've also been really into highlighter.  Trying to find new ways to define my cheekbones.  Any suggestions?

 Plaid on plaid...how English of me.  :)  I'm returning to my roots, I guess.  I was quite the little Anglophile back in high school...even to the point of spelling words the English way, adding 'U's and such where Americans don't.  Someday I'll visit.  :)

 

Scarf: thrifted || Coat: old || Shirt: Gap || Jeans: Charlotte Russe || Shoes: thrifted || Bag: thrifted Burberry ||Earrings: thrifted

Back home.

Two Fall trends that fit perfectly with my style: the long skirt, and the big coat.  I'm loving the longer-skirt trend that's in for Fall!  I can stay warm and ladylike and not look frumpy.  Love it!

Again, here are some completely unedited photos for your viewing pleasure (I hope, anyway), which were taken by my Daddy (who complained the whole time, hence the lack of photos) on my phone (hence the lack of quality) on a park path in my hometown right in my parents' backyard (hence the beauty of the trees). 

Two reasons this post is titled "Back home." 
First: because I'm back to more vintage-inspired style from the edgy look in my last post. 
Second: EXCITING NEWS!  The Hubs and I are moving back to my hometown at the end of this month!!! 

I think my hometown is really in my blood...my innate sense of style seems to match it.  That means that there will be many more and better places for photo ops...

I always say that my hometown is a trap: once you live there, you can't leave (for long, anyway).  It's too beautiful!  It's on the National Registry of Historic Places (or something like that anyway), and the people who live there all know it (little bit snooty), but I'm still in love with it.  I love to travel and experience new places, but I don't mind coming back home, either.  That's a very pleasant feeling.  :)

Coat: old || Sweater: old || Belt: Express || Collar: H&M || Necklace: old || Boots: thrifted GUESS || Beret and Skirt: Wal*Mart (feel free to judge)

Fashion Week Outfit Day 2

So I've noticed I wasn't the only non-New-Yorker celebrating Fashion Week.  :)  This makes me happy. 

It was so much fun to watch the live streaming runway shows...except for looking in the mirror afterwards and getting the rude reminder that not everybody's legs look like that.  *sigh*...hahaha  I may as well get used to it: my length is in my torso, not my legs.  I've got so many new Post-It's of inspiration and design drawings stuck everywhere in my apartment, it looks like an office-supply store exploded in there!  There are some shows I keep watching again and again...especially Tadashi Shoji and Zac Posen...*sigh* I'm in looooove...

Anyway, dear readers:

What trends did you notice for Spring?  

I noticed--more than anything else--the pin-straight hair.  Does this mean I'll need to cook my hair with a flatiron again???  And I didn't see any bangs, but I'm keeping mine!  I don't care that much about trends.

Other things I noticed were: monochromatic outfits (especially in white), which I've always been a fan of, so you'll definitely be seeing me jump on that particular bandwagon (oh, hey! just look at this post!), and the comeback of the delicate dress of which I'm pretty sure many of my faithful readers are already well-aware of my fandom.

So, my Day 2 of Fashion Week Look.  :)
Kinda more city-slicker than I usually wear (except if I actually was walking around downtown NY I'm pretty sure I'd get a few blisters from these shoes).
This look combines my favorite color (I'll give you one guess as to which color it is), layers, menswear, and geometry: all of which are style fetishes of mine.  AND it's comfortable!  Almost too good to be true!

Finally, a photo that makes me look as tall as I am!  I'm 5'9", but I've
noticed it's hard to show that without a proper photographer.

You'll be seeing a post every day this week, because I've got a few MBFW outfits stockpiled.  :)  Hope you enjoy!

kisses goodbye (for now)

 Coat: an oldie but a goodie || Shirt: thrifted || Shorts: thrifted || Necklace: thrifted || Bag: thrifted || Shoes: thrifted || Sunnies: Target

Rockabilly-Style BBQ

Dear readers, I apologize for my extended absence! 
My uploading process (meaning: emailing my photos from my phone to my online email account...woo! fancy) has been failing me lately (luckily, my phone is up for upgrade in about a month!  I'm looking around for one with a better camera to hopefully give you better quality photos). 
So forgive me, my friends, and I hope you enjoy this simple little summer ensemble featuring my: 

Cute Little Rockabilly-Style Halter Dress

A friend of mine was all like: "Those are, like, girly Michael Jackson shoes!"  I was flattered.  :)

These photos were snapped at my folks' house just before dinner on Sunday evening.  You can see the smoking grill just behind me...mmm...

I'm communing with my mother's plants; trying to convince them to stay alive!!!  Mama is a serial plant killer [and she doesn't wear jewelry, and she's allergic to perfume...we can never get away with buying her cliche gifts!  thwarted, again].

Looking at these photos, I'm pleased to see that my tan is fading a lot.  :)  I can't seem to help wanting to tan for summertime when my thighs are hangin' out of shorts/bikinis (*shudder*), but I always feel more like myself when I'm paler. 
What about you guys? 
Do you tan even though it's bad for your skin (like I do)?  Do you like how Hollywood stars and models seem to be turning back to "pale is pretty?" 

Dress: thrifted || Brooch: thrifted || Necklace: gifted || Shoes: thrifted || Watch: thrifted || Bag: Aldo

Suspendered Animation

Photos by my lil brother (unfortunately taken with my phone: sorry for poor quality)

That's right, ladies and gentlemen: I'm wearing suspenders!  Woo!  And loving it.
Found these beauties at a thrift store for less than a dollar.  And they, plus a belt, turned a pair of styleless, hip-hugging shorts into some trendy, high-waisted shorts.  :)  My brother commented that I looked like a hipster.  I told him: that's OK; I just wear what I like! 

This outfit makes me really happy.

I hope you all, my darling readers, don't get bored with black/red/white...they're my favorite colors to put together: you'll probably see it a lot on my lil blog.  In fact, you probably already have lol...
I like wearing super-contrasting colors because I have super-contrasting hair and skin.  My hair is nearly black and my skin is nearly translucent haha (these photos have been taken at a time when I still have very perceptible tanlines, soooo I'm usually even whiter than they show!).  


What are your favorite colors/combinations to wear?
Or do you think a bit more outside the box than I do?  ;)

You can kinda see my mani: pale pink with b&w stripes on the ring finger.
Love this color coral for lipstick!  It makes even my tiny mouth really POP. 

Shirt: thrifted || Collar: H&M || Tie: DIY || Suspenders: thrifted || Shorts: TJ Maxx || Bracelets: thrifted cuff & wrapped necklace from Forever 21 || Shoes: thrifted || Belt: White House | Black Market || Bag: Forever 21

Goodness, I didn't really realize how many pieces are in this outfit!  haha  It seemed like I just kept writing and writing and writing the Rundown!

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

"Fever"--Michael Buble

Play the video and listen to the song while you check out the following post.  :) 
It was my mood music for this outfit.

And now, for those in want, may I present to you a bit of:

(...with a little bit of leg.)

 (...OK, OK, with a lot of leg.)

This is what I wore to dinner on Saturday night.  The hubby took me out to celebrate my birthday.  :)  As such, it was a prime opportunity to be ridiculously overdressed. 

And so I was.

hoity-toity Queen for a Day

I really do think my husband's cache of combat boots classes up the picture, don't you? 
These photos were all snapped at my house by my loving hubby when we returned from dinner and drinks.

My accessories need a moment in the limelight here:

Faux fur wrap and lots of sparkly things!!!  Now THAT's a birthday outfit!

You get a glimpse of my nail art in this photo.  I am constantly updating Instagram with my nails, so please feel free to find me there!  I'm kind of obsessed with Instagram right now... @spritzy88

Some giggles...

 And now, ladies and gentleman, I have a question to put to you all:

Upon my recent perusal of magazine pages, I came across an article which informed me that slits were making a comeback.  I personally think a slit is a much more generally friendly way to display some leg (rather than a micro-minidress or whatever), so I'm content with this movement.  The only qualm I have is that I'm afraid of looking trashy, and slits can sometimes do that.

What about your thoughts, dear readers, on this matter?   
To slit or not to slit?

 I seriously want to hear what you all think.  Leave a comment or tweet @spritzy88 about it.

And now, dear readers, I will leave you today with "the Rundown" and the giggles.

Dress: Forever21 || Sparkles: gifted || Wrap: Gift || Shoes: Anne Klein (thrifted)

completely unretouched photo