Mardi Gras season is here. In the past, that would have meant pulling together parade personas for the whole fam-damily. In fact, before we moved aboard our sailboat, we had an entire closet dedicated to costumes. That’s pretty normal in New Orleans where it’s not uncommon to see a neighbor shellacked in glitter and balancing an enormous cotton candy wig atop her head while standing in line at your corner grocery store in the middle of an average Tuesday.

We said farewell to most of our disguises in the name of simplicity, but I kept a couple of funky wigs, a box of costume jewelry, and my collection of vintage eyewear because sometimes I need to go incognito. Not because I’m being hunted by villains or hiding from the press, but because sometimes I just want to be someone else for a day. It’s fun to try on different personalities, especially if you’re a retiring recluse most days.

Me, incognito.

 

Your Mission

Seek inspiration for an outfit you wouldn’t normally wear on Pinterest or Instagram or one of my personal favorites – the Sartorialist. Then, make a date with a girlfriend or two at your local thrift store to shop for some fun, inexpensive pieces. When you’re feeling over yourself, pull on your disguise and live a day as someone completely different.

P.S. This is a great time to risk looking like a fool at a new endeavor, to adopt some alternative personality traits, or to practice that terrible, fake accent you’ve been working on.

 

If you’re so inclined, I’d love to see the disguise you’ve concocted! Share a photo to Instagram, tag me at @perilous.and.sparks, and use the hashtag #PSmission.