A BIRD, A PLANE... ACTUALLY A CAPE AND A WATER BOTTLE FILLED WITH BEER

Happy Monday, Knuckles!

This weekend we had cape weather.

Actually, it was so windy that most my photos came out like this:

So when it came time to actually leave, I threw my hair into a bun. 

(Sunnies, Chanel; cape, Topshop; shirt, J.Crew; bow tie, Asos; jeans, Chip and Pepper; shoes, Aldo; jewelry, Alex+Ani, Asos, Target).

The cape is from the Oxford Circus Topshop, my favorite retail environment in the world.  I bought it on an overseas shopping trip a few years ago and though it's a bit awkward I absolutely love it.  It's also a gentle reminder of why I don't really need to buy clothes.  As my b-school friend Matt once said, if you have a chartreuse wool cape you have everything.

The Super Mario Brothers water bottle was from my niece's birthday party goodie bag and came in very handy for Mommy and Daddy's "special" drink (PBR).  

Have a great week, Knuckles!

STEALING AWAY TO CREEPY SPACES

Last weekend I got to attend a fundraising event hosted by my gorgeous friend Linda who, like me, is not buying clothes for a year.  The evening was lovely, and afterwards Mr. Brass Knuckles and I went exploring and found ourselves on an empty floor that reminded me of something out of The Shining.

 (Jacket, F21; dress, Diane Von Furstenberg; shoes, Prada.  This carpet is mad crazy yo!).

I bought this dress to wear to my friend Heidi's wedding several years back.  Mr. Brass Knuckles (then boyfriend Brass Knuckles) was my date, and it was one of the first times he visited my family home in Chicago.  Paris Hilton was spotted in the same dress that very weekend!

Isn't Linda just dreamy?  She's my work crush!

Have a great week, Knuckles!

DD (DOUBLE DENIM, THAT IS)

Hi Knuckles!

I've been inspired by all this denim on denim lately, so I threw my hair up into an easy, messy sock bun, put on my beloved Carrera shades and rocked the Double D.

(I love this photo, not because it's anything special but because you can see my patient photographer's legs in my bracelet... those are Mr. Brass Knuckles's jeans and Converse sneakers!)

(Sunglasses, Carerra; vest, shirt, and pants, all H&M but each purchased years apart; shoes, Gucci; bag, Elliott Lucca; earrings, Claire's; pearl necklaces, Target; bracelets, Alex+Ani, Pandora, Target, vintage; belt, H&M; watch, Casio)

I've had this denim vest for years.  It was styled on a mannequin at H&M with a black French maid-style flippy skirt and it was so cute, I bought the entire outfit.  I wore that outfit all the time until the black skirt became a little too age-inappropriate (though when has that ever stopped me, buahah!).

I got the shoes at Madison on Melrose during one of the first trips I ever took with Mr. Brass Knuckles.  We went to Disneyland and shared a turkey leg and enjoyed the Hall of Presidents.  I'm pretty sure his enthusiasm for animatronic leaders of the free world, past and present, sealed the deal for me!

Have a great weekend, Knuckles!

I AM THE CAT FROM THE "HANG IN THERE" POSTER

Oh Knuckles.  

Last night my resolve came SOOOO close to crumbling… over one amazing skirt!

For those who are new to this blog, last February I made the decision not to buy any apparel for a year in efforts to consume less, save money, and cherish the clothes I have.

It’s now been nearly 8 months and so far I’ve stuck to my goal but last night this skirt almost cut my experiment short:

(Skater Midi Skirt in High Shine, Asos)

It's soooo amazing, plus everything is 10% off on Asos.com right now (code Mega10).  Just typing about this skirt is testing my resolve all over again.

Strength, Brass Knuckles.  Hang in there!

Happy Thursday everyone!

FUN WITH CINEMAGRAM, IN A VINTAGE DRESS

Hello Little Knuckles!

There are a few things in my closet that I'll carry to my grave, like this dress below:

(Jacket, Buddhist Punk; dress, Awesome; purse, Mulberry for Target; shoes, Prada; belt, D&G; necklace, F21; bracelets, Claire's, Alex+Ani, Pandora)

This is my high school graduation dress, which I purchased at an awesome little boutique in Evanston, IL called The Mexican Shop. Back in the day The Mexican Shop had all sorts of fun hippie clothes and jewelry.  It's still around today, though I haven't been back in years.

Anyhow, at my high school graduation we didn't wear caps and gowns.  Instead, the girls wore white dresses and the boys wore matching tuxes.  After the ceremony the school held a sponsored dance that I went to for about 30 minutes and that was the literally the last time I wore the dress until this weekend.

Sadly, the fabric is starting to get really fragile so I think this dress might only get two wears in my lifetime.

Have you guys discovered Cinemagram?  It's an app that makes cinemagraphs.  I first used it a few months ago but re-discovered it this weekend and I'm obsessed!

Have a great week, Knuckles!

GIDDY UP!

I love gorgeous, sunny fall days!  In Chicago we get like 15 of them between summer's sweltering heat and winter's barely bearable cold.

This is what I imagine I'd wear to go horseback riding (speaking as someone who has only rode one horse in her life, and didn't really enjoy it, and doesn't intend to ride another one again).

(What is up with this super awkward pose?  Look how bad my posture is!  This explains why every morning when I wake up the first words that come out of my mouth are MY BACK!)

 (CoStar does a great impression of this, by the way.  She puts her hand on the small of her back, leans over and yells MY BACK!).

(Sunglasses, Chanel; blouse, Rugby; pants, James; belt bag, vintage Coach; boots, Miss Sixty; bracelets, Target, Alex+Ani, my mom's vintage gold cuff; rings, from Mr. Brass Knuckles).

I received the tiny purse as a gift about 20 years ago.  I found it while rummaging through my childhood bedroom recently .  It came with a long strap that has since been lost, but there are a couple of belt hooks on the back.  I also found the belt in my childhood bedroom; it originally came with a pair of Palmetto khakis that I wore in junior high.  I think the two work well together as an accessory, but the bag is really too tiny to hold anything (at most, a couple of credit cards and a Blistex, it was designed pre-iPhone, after all).  

I bought the Chanel sunnies at the Hong Kong airport on one of my trips abroad back in the day.  I bought a ton of stuff at that airport.  After a long, taxing trip it was very easy to think MAN!  AFTER ALL THIS HARD WORK I DESERVE SOMETHING NICE! 

The shirt is fairly recent from the Rugby store in Boston.  I love the bustle in the back.  Rugby is one of my favorite stores -- all the salesclerks are cute college boys in letterman cardigans and silk bowties and jaunty little caps:

(Rugby.com)

Have a great week, Knuckles!