HAPPY SPRING BREAK! BRIGHTENING UP THE SEASON

Good morning Knuckles!

Despite what the thermometer says, it's Spring!  I've been on such a black and white streak lately that I feel like I need some bright colors to liven up my wardrobe.

(Sunnies, Target; jacket, F21; blouse, new, Aqua; jeans; Chip and Pepper; shoes, 9West; bag, Elliott Lucca; bracelets, Alex+Ani, H&M; necklaces, PersonalizedBoutique.com, MyNameNecklace.com)

Luckily I have the day off tomorrow for Spring Break (unfortunately when you're a working mother you don't get hedonistic spring breaks anymore; you have to squeeze in hedonism where you can, and normally hedonism consists of sitting around in your pajamas, drinking martinis and online shopping).  I'm meeting my work crush for shopping, dinner, and drinks so maybe I will find some color --  in my cheeks, if nothing else!

Have a happy and wonderful weekend Knuckles!

BRRR, TOO COLD FOR THIS BLACK AND WHITE NUMBER

Hot diggity damn, Knuckles!  I am sooo tired of winter.

It was freezing this weekend and too cold for the dress below; I had to change.  Look at the goosebumps on my neck!

(You may be wondering where my other leg is.  I honestly don't know.  No Photoshop was involved here, promise!)

(Sunnies, Carrera; dress, new, BCBG; shoes, Style&Co., purse, vintage Gucci; bracelets, Alex+Ani, Claire's; necklaces, MyNameNecklace.com, PersonalizedBoutique.com)

I like the juxtaposition of my $4 black jelly bracelets from Claire's with the vintage Gucci purse.  It's from around the Tom Ford era and it's the weirdest purse I've ever seen.  To open it you slide the rings around the handle so the bag hangs like a shower curtain.  It was one of the first designer purchases I ever made, many moons ago.  I was with my Mom at the Northbrook Court Neiman Marcus and I was like "Check out this weird Gucci purse!" and my mom was like "You crazy, girl" in Korean.

I really hope it warms up.  Come on, spring!

Have a great week, Knuckles!

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND TO YOU, AN INVITATION TO THE PRINCESS PARTY

Happy Monday, Knuckles!

On Saturday morning when I woke up CoStar handed me a lovely hand-written invitation to a Princess Ball, complete with harp music and red velvet cake, "after naptime."  She was very excited about it!

So to surprise her I made a hasty trip to WAGS during naptime and bought some decorations and snacks (including red velvet cake, which you can buy at Walgreens apparently).  I had Mr. Brass Knuckles turn on some spa-type harp music on Pandora and we dressed up her little play area:

(Princess decorations and snacks.  Streamers, tape, and cupcakes from Walgreens are about as crafty as I get).

When she came downstairs she was dressed in full princess regalia and was completely surprised and delighted by the festivities.  There was dancing.  There was singing.  Sir Footie Pajamas appreciated the serendipitous cupcake windfall.   

Later that day one of them passed on a bug that turned into a nasty sinus infection.  This morning before heading off to work I almost took NyQuil instead of DayQuil.  NYQUIL.  Can you imagine?

Hope you had a great weekend, Knuckles!

MY NEW IMAGINARY BEST FRIEND. THE GLASSES ARE AMAZING.

Good morning Knuckles!

This is a sad week for the Knuckles clan.  We are okay, but instead of fashion posts you get a hodge-podge of my favorite internet time-wasters.

Today's link is to my new imaginary best friend, the rapper Awkwafina.  Lyrics are NSFW so turn the volume down!  

Prepare to be amused.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH PEPLUMS, AND FEELING MEH

Good morning Knuckles!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Mr. Brass Knuckles and I got to go on a date on Saturday night.  It was relatively warm so we decided to brave the line at The Violet Hour for cocktails and sliders.

(Sunnies, new, Target; jacket, Elle; peplum top, vintage; leather skirt, new, Boundary & Co., tights, Wolford; shoes, Aldo; purse, a very wrinkled Fendi; belt and necklace, H&M; bracelets, Alex+Ani.  I look a little bit like an Ewok in this outfit).

Lately I feel like I've been slacking a bit on blogging.  Even though I've been blogging for almost a year, it still feels pretty new.  Unlike serious bloggers I don't have a planned editorial calendar or anything so I have to admit that even my modest two-posts-per-week goal is sometimes a stretch.  

That said, I'm not ready to throw in the towel because The Covert Boutique, at least in its current incarnation, can probably only survive a few more years.  This is out of respect for CoStar.  I don't care what you say, no middle-schooler wants a mom with a fashion blog!  If her friends caught wind of it, I'm sure she'd be mortified.  

Since she's so young, I've been very careful about protecting CoStar's identity but who knows?  Maybe when she's older she'll start her own fashion blog or augmented reality space or whatever else new technology will be imprinted on our eyeballs, and then I will happily lend her my vintage clothes and share the memories behind them (but not the boozy ones, she doesn't need to know those).  

Or perhaps she will start a physics blog.  That would be better.

Have a great week, Knuckles!

FULL DISCLOSURE: GIFT CARDS MADE FOR A LITTLE FUN THIS YEAR

Good afternoon Knuckles!

As my clothing fast draws to an end, I wanted to disclose that I did get a few things last year funded by small amounts on existing gift cards and presents.  

Even though the number of new acquisitions went down, I feel very satisfied by the items I was able to buy:

1) Floral blazer: I got this post-fast for my birthday.  This was one of those pieces you're immediately drawn to in the store because you love loud prints and shoulder pads.  I will enjoy it forever, and can imagine wearing it when I'm 70 with white elastic-banded pants and SAS sneakers.

2) High-low skirt: Funded by a forgotten gift card I found in an old purse.  Don't you love finding money in random places?  

 3) Red dress: I exchanged a birthday present for this, and specifically bought it so I could re-create my first date outfit with Mr. Brass Knuckles.  Also, I love the color red even though it makes my skin look green.

4, 6, 8) Of everything on this list, the plaid shirt is the only item I can see getting tired of.  Though I am proud of the DIY studding.

5) Accessories, like this hat, were fair game, people!

7) Do I need to mention this black patent skirt again?  It was a gift from a fashionable co-worker and it is still amazing.  IT IS STILL AMAZING.

9) See 5)

10) These Miu Miu boots originally cost more than my monthly mortgage and when I tell you how much I paid for them you will high-five me and then curl up in a fetal position and wonder what you've been doing all your life because you're never at the right store at the right time to score these boots on sale at a fraction of their original price.

11/12) The skirt and blouse were holiday gifts from my sisters-in-law, who knew I was on my fast and delightfully indulged me.

While I'm no longer on my fast, I do think my habits have changed and my goal this year is to continue being a thoughtful consumer.  Keep me in check, Knuckles!

Have a great weekend!

FLOODGATES OPENED, JUST A CRACK: MY FIRST PURCHASE

Hello Knuckles!

To celebrate my birthday last week, I went shopping.  After not really buying clothes for a year, I have to admit it was initially a bit overwhelming.  I was like Should I buy This? Or That? Will I wear it more than once?  Is it appropriate for work? Do I want an Auntie Annie's pretzel?  However, being an old pro (heheh!), the uncertainty quickly lifted and I ended up buying a few things.

(Sunnies, YSL; jacket, new, BCBG; jeans, Chip+Pepper; tank top, Target; purse, Elliott Lucca; shoes, Sam Edelman; jewelry, H&M, Asos)

So what effect did the clothing fast have on me?  For starters, I am more acutely aware of wasteful consumption, a hazard of fast fashion.  I will always enjoy shopping -- it's a great source of stress-relief -- but clothes have definitely taken on a new meaning.  I used to love buying things because I wanted the latest look.  It was almost like, by the time I wore the outfit it was useless to me, which is so ridiculous because you wear clothes to do things in.  Now, I genuinely think I'm more interested in remembering my experiences in these outfits, and will hold onto things for their associations. 

Let the hoarding begin!

Have a great week, Knuckles!