Fashion

Why Yes, You Need to Revisit the Little Black Backpack

June 12th, 2019 by Karen 15 Comments

Target Convertible Nylon Mini Backpack — Does she or doesn’t she have cat food in there?

Is it 1994? Are we wearing Doc Martens, flowery black dresses and Revlon Raisin Rage? HAS ANYONE SEEN MY NIRVANA CD? Sorry, for a second there, I could’ve sworn we took a hot tub time machine back to my late teens, which was when the little black backpack was the undisputed Queen of All Accessories.

Believe it or not, enough time has passed for them to slingshot back into style again. It’s only a matter of time before the beauty gods also bring back pencil thin brows, but that’s a discussion for another day.

I’ve been wearing this tiny black nylon one I got at Target practically everywhere lately, and ya know what? I cannot help but wonder why I ever stopped carrying a little black backpack, because they’re freaking great.

This one is from A New Day, and it’s an affordable $19.99. The nylon is feather light, so I’m not hauling around three extra pounds of purse, and it’s juuuuuust big enough to hold the bare necessities. (You know me; if there’s an opportunity to overstuff a bag, I will totally do it.) This one’s the perfect size.

Best of all, my hands stay free, so I can scoop up the Coywolf at a moment’s notice, or pet a passing kitty.

But wait, this particular bag also easily converts to a cross-body bag. You just pull the straps up at the top!

If black nylon is too retro for you, check out the black-and-white striped one instead. I came this close to picking it up because it has a slight J.Crew vibe. The pale pink one is also pretty cute (but it would probably pick up more dirt), as are the bright blue and the canary yellow.

Some reviewers on the Target website say that the zipper gets stuck, and yeah, it happened to me once when I shoved one too many things inside. It was an easy fix, though. I slowly pulled the zipper back to the starting position, and the teeth slipped back into place. I think as long as you don’t push the maximum capacity, you’ll be OK.

I bought it mainly to take with me to the playground and have both hands free to play with Connor. I don’t feel comfortable leaving my purse on a table or bench, which the moms do here all the time, but I ugh, I just can’t. I feel safer with my wallet and phone physically on my body. I looked online, at Marshalls and at T.J. Maxx, and this Target bag was the lightest and cheapest hands-free option I found. It fits my wallet, phone, keys and a pouch for Connor’s Travel Potty, and then I usually bring my water bottle in a separate bag, along with snacks.

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A Breezy New Tank for Lipstick Lovers

March 18th, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

connor claire long live lipstick version 2 tank mbb post — Declare your love for lipstick! ?

Right now, at this very moment, you might be sitting in a cold office at your computer desk wearing three layers of clothes. Or, maybe you’re tip-toeing on chilly bathroom tiles.

But listen, sandal and shorts weather is just around the corner, which means you’ll need something cute to wear with those cutoffs. ?

Behold the new Long Live Lipstick Tank Top (in style v2.0)! This cool and breezy cap sleeve tank goes with everything, including your favorite springy and summery coral lipsticks, and it’s available now in the store.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dreaming of Spring at DSW

March 12th, 2019 by Karen 27 Comments

The sun came out yesterday for the first day in a loooong time, and I was able to walk outside without a sweater, a sweatshirt, a coat and a raincoat. ‘TWAS GLORIOUS. I could actually put my arms down without feeling like Randy from A Christmas Story in his snowsuit.

Every person I ran into yesterday said something along the lines of, “The sun is out! Let us bow down and worship it!”

Yeah, I’m exaggerating, but we Californians are nuts. ?

It wasn’t quite warm enough to wear sandals outside yet (unless you’re one of those dudes who wears Tevas in a snowstorm), but the Coywolf and I still stopped to smell the flowers and the new spring shoes as DSW.

I love tennies with cute animal prints, and there were plenty of puppy patterns for all the #crazydogladies.

Are dressy flip-flops a thing? Because they should be. These Kate Spade slippers fit the bill. I like them, but I can’t spend $70 an a pair of fancy flip-flops, ya know?

To clarify: I really want to…but I can’t. If they go on sale, though? That’s another story! ?

I haven’t worn a proper high heel in three years, but I liked this navy and tan Clarks of England sandal and this Dr. Scholl’s sandal. The heels don’t seem obnoxiously high…

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Go Forth and Smolder in the New Smoky Tee

March 11th, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Smoky lids-4-life! I’ve got mad love for smoky eyes. They’re my all-time favorite eye look to wear (and there are endless ways to wear them)…which is why I had to go and tell the world about it on a shirt.

Dark and dramatic? CHECK. Black sooty smoke? CHECK. Glossy and gray with a touch of taupe? AFFIRMATIVE. Burnished brown and blown out? YOU KNOW IT.

Basically, I will take ALL. THE. SMOKY. EYES.

If you love them as much as I do, peep the new Smoky Tee in the store. It’s available in sizes S to 2XL.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Say Aloha to the Long Live Lipstick Tee!

March 4th, 2019 by Karen 7 Comments

say aloha long live lipstick tee — A new tee at connorclaire.com

OK, so, technically spring is still a few weeks away, but I’m already in full-on summer mode in the Long Live Lipstick Tee. ? Here it is in tropical Papaya.

The store is chock-full of tees and accessories for makeup lovers and feline fanatics, also known as “my people.”

Check it out.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. This is one of many new products coming to the store over the next few months. Stay tuned!

Awesomeness Alert! Warm Winter Tights to Keep You Toasty

January 2nd, 2019 by Karen 12 Comments

hue brushed sweater tights gray 1 — Allow me to rock your world.

Greetings from The Land of No Pants.

No, I’m not just sitting here at my desk with my bum hanging out. I’m wearing these fantastic tights that I can’t believe I just found out about. They’re called the Brushed Sweater Tights, and they’re by a brand called Hue.

Normally, they’re $15, but I got them back on Black Friday for $9.99 each. Also, though, they’re on sale right now on the Macy’s website for $10.50.

These are great! They’re the warmest, most comfy tights in all the land, and they’re really thick. When you slip into them, it’s almost like you’re wearing a cashmere sweater on your legs and booty.

You’d think you’d get overheated, right? Nope. I feel perfectly toasty when I wear these tights, so you will not be sweltering.

Now, of course…I don’t just wear the tights by themselves, so no, I’m not walking around with just tights on, ha ha! I usually wear a dress on top, and then a sweater, and pair them with my khaki Fergie boots. (Which I still love! They’ve held up for years. Props to you, Fergie-Ferg.) OR, I wear them with my over-the-knee Sam Edelman boots, and if it’s extra cold, I’ll add a scarf and a winter coat.

Granted, here in Northern California, while it does get chilly (~30 degrees), the winters are relatively mild compared to the Midwest and the Northeast, where you have sleet and snowbanks and temps fall well below freezing. I don’t know if I could handle wearing just these tights in a place with extreme winter weather, but maybe if you do live someplace like that, you could wear these underneath your pants for an extra layer of warmth, or you could double up on them, which is what I would probably do, LOL!

I think they’re great. They retain their snugness throughout the day, too, so they don’t loosen up, and they kinda hold you in… I mean, not as intensely as Spanx or anything, but I do feel a moderate sausage-y effect, which I appreciate.

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I Just Found Out Spanx Makes Leggings, and I Am Shooketh

November 21st, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

spanx leggings stripe — The universe has sent me a sign.

Leave it to the universe to have impeccable timing, because it just reminded of a commitment I made to myself years ago about Turkey Day — that I would never again wear pants with buttons that constrain me in any form or fashion upon the date of a major mega-food fest!

All those years of wearing bullsh*t jeans to Thanksgiving meals… NEVER AGAIN.

Which leads me to my latest aha! find: Spanx leggings. Girlfriend, I AM SHOOKETH.

This knowledge was dropped on me, an unsuspecting woman with a closet filled with raggedy “private stretchy pants”, last Sunday at a meeting of the Novato Mothers Club.

It was held at a Nordstrom. The store sectioned off some of the dressing rooms for the moms, and provided drinks, snacks and stylists.

One of the stylists brought out a selection of Spanx leggings and subsequently raved about them. I kid you not, the leggings looked amazing on everyone — like J. Lo booty, outta-this-world amaze-balls.

More than half the women left with a pair.

spanx moto leggings 1 — I’d wear that furry top thing in a heartbeat because I love anything that makes me look like a Muppet.

OK, first things first: These are NOT workout leggings (although Spanx makes some of those, too). This line is for everyday life. These are thick, high-waisted stretchy pants that suck in your gut, smooth out cellulite, slim your quads and lift your butt to the next level. A couple of the styles also come in petite sizes.

The stylist recommended wearing a long sweater or a tunic with the leggings if you don’t want your booty showing, which is probably what I’d do for some of the styles, like the Faux Leather, the Moto (SUPER CUTE) and the camo.

spanx black camo leggings — They’re even cuter in person.

Oh, and don’t reflexively dismiss the camo. I wanted to hate on it at first because camo isn’t my thing, but one of the moms actually showed up to the event wearing the gray camo pair with black booties, a loose camel sweater tunic and a few layered gold necklaces, and she looked super chic. Equal parts edgy and elegant.

Nordstrom didn’t have any of the jeans-looking leggings in stock, but those look very tempting, too.

And this pair with sequins! WANT. You know me, though. Any excuse for bling.

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Bootie Call! Falling for Ankle Boots and Booties at DSW

September 18th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

crown vintage tesla bare traps greta — BOOTIES!

Booties, booties, booties, booties rockin’ everywhere!

One could totally take the words “nude booties” in a myriad of directions, but for the purposes of this post we’re talking about shoes — specifically cutie-patootie tan, taupe, brown and beige ankle boots with totally comfy and walk-able heel heights, i.e. 2 inches or less, because I got no time to chase after a tabby in high heels.

I don’t know how I missed this nirvana of nudity when I was at DSW last week looking for flats, but this week DSW’s ankle boot situation is all kinds of lit. I’m talking boots with braids, buckles, buttons and steely studs.

No worries if you aren’t into trendy tassels or flirty fringe, either, because they had lots of low-key styles, too.

The Novato store had at least three rows dedicated to booties, and I tried on every single pair. (Not really, but almost.) Meanwhile, Connor kissed every mirror she passed and pretended to change her doll’s diaper on the every single bench.

I also spent a good chunk of time chasing her as part of her training for American Ninja Warrior: The Toddler Edition. Her training involves sprinting down the long aisles at DSW, which also affords me an opportunity to chase her, thereby conducting an impromptu bootie test.

These three passed with flying colors…

dsw toms bare traps crown vintage booties — Booties from the upper left: Crown Vintage, Toms and Bare Traps

Bare Traps Greta Bootie ($69.99)

Perforations (a.k.a punched out holes in the material, which is typically suede) are a big bootie trend right now.

At first I wasn’t sure about these Bare Traps booties. Are you supposed to wear them with bare feet like a hybrid bootie-sandal? If so, wouldn’t your feet be cold? Or is the suede supposed to keep your toes warm??

Such important questions, right? 🙂

Turns out you can go bare or wear them with socks… Yes, socks will still look cute, but I think you’d want solid color socks in a complementary shade because you’ll see them through the perforations.

I’m wearing black ankle socks with these, and I think they’re totally cute.

bare traps greta — Bare Traps Greta Bootie

SNEAKY SHOE PRO TIP #1: (Because I cannot be the only person who does this.) If you ever go to DSW and don’t see your size on the side of a box, turn the box around to check the back for a size label. 😉

bare traps greta box — Where’s the size label?

I wear a size seven, which is pretty common, so it usually sells out quickly. Shh… Don’t tell anyone, but when I’m on the fence about a shoe and only see one pair available, I’ll turn the box around and put the box back on the shelf so the label with the size isn’t immediately visible…

Yes, I do this to discourage other people from finding it… I don’t know if it actually works, but I do know that when I was looking for a size seven in these Bare Traps, it just so happened that someone had sneakily turned the box around! HMMMM.

Toms Leila Bootie ($79.99)

These tan suede booties have a cushioned footbed, so they feel like you’re walking on fluffy clouds.

They’re also slightly pointy in the toe, so the lengthening effect (which I want!) is more obvious than it is with the other styles. The only thing is, the heel is 2 1/4 inches high, which is still a relatively low heel…but if you prefer flats, it might be a smidgen too high.

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