Anatomy of an Outfit: Celebrating love wearing everything I love

Putting together an outfit filled with things I love

What do you wear to celebrate the day you met the love of your life? Well, all the things you love, right? It’s that time again and I want to be dressed in pieces that make me feel feminine, cheerful, and openhearted.

I met Russ on January 1, 2002. That electric story is right here if you want to read about that miracle. Since moving to Sonoma we make a point of celebrating that lovely/comical/accidental meeting on January 1st by going to Boon Fly Cafe for brunch. If we’re lucky, we find seats at the bar where seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Otherwise, it’s not uncommon to wait for forty minutes to get a table.

This year I was in Minnesota visiting Dad on New Year’s Day so Russ and I pushed our special date out a week. Where did I start building my outfit? With black lace pants!

Lace pants by Ann Taylor

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if they’d fit since being back home eating way too many traditional sweets. Thankfully, these black lace pants from Ann Taylor (purchased years back) fit with ease. I’d forgotten how warm they are! Sounds contradictory, right? I added my Aquatalia pointy-toed suede booties so I could wear warm socks. Baby, it was cold outside!

Next up was my merlot colored silk ruffled blouse, a J.Crew purchase a couple of years back when I decided I wanted blouses in my wardrobe. I tucked the blouse in and then pulled it out a bit. A ruffled blouse takes an ordinary day and makes it more special.

Adding a jean jacket to my girly pieces

I still wanted this to be a Wine Country chic outfit-dressy in a casual way-so I added my dressed down piece: my distressed jean jacket (a TJMaxx purchase). I wanted to add some beauty to my jacket so I went into my brooch department and chose this super sparkly red and pink vintage one: the colors of love!

Love how the ruffles peek out of the jean jacket

Sparkly brooch is in contrast to the distressed denim

Next, I looked for the right earrings. I decided to go with my moonstone earrings because I ADORE them and they have movement. Movement is sexier than non-movement. I bought them at Gallery of Jewels. Wait, let me clarify. I had a glass of wine at a trunk show at Gallery of Jewels in San Francisco, saw these moonstones which cost a small fortune and barely thought twice about it. Would I have purchased them without the wine and the, “They’re so great on you!”, cheers from my friends who were there? I think so! It was love at first sight. I didn’t have anything like them and it was time for some serious “pretty” in my jewelry wardrobe.

I wish this photo showed the shades of blue better than it does. They twinkle and engage.

Moonstone dangle earrings feel romantic to me

Next came the leopard print jacket. Russ LOVES this jacket and so do I. And the stylist in me LOVES layering outerwear over jean jackets.

Love the mix of silk, denim, and wool

Wearing my D is for Danger MAC lipstick

To sum up, here are the things I love and managed to put into an outfit:

• Ruffles
• Merlot colored anything
• Leopard print
• Lace
• Moonstone earrings
• Sparkly brooches

The celebrating couple on Christmas Eve

With a forty-five minute wait for a table, we patiently scouted out seats at the bar and when two opened up we snagged them. He enjoyed his pancakes while I enjoyed my omelet. Then Russ said to me, “Do you know there are three women in a row with Louis Vuitton bags over their chairs?”

They had their totes while I had my smaller vintage bag that I got at SAX Consignment. What a guy for spotting a fashion happenstance and sharing it with me! He knows me well.

3 LV’s and 2 leopard coats at Boon Fly

This mash-up outfit is surprisingly simple

Although putting together an outfit with selected loved pieces could be a mash-up, when I look closer this is a fairly simple ensemble!

If you squint your eyes and look at this, I’m wearing three solid colors: black, merlot, and blue. Pretty classic.

I’m wearing two sparkly accessories. The brooch relates in color to the blouse I’m wearing. The earrings relate in color to the jean jacket I’m wearing. I’m not leaping through any big fashion hoops there.

I’ve added a print to my solid color palette with the leopard print jacket. One classic print with three solid colors. Easy peasy.

The feminine detailing that enhances this love-themed outfit includes ruffles (blouse), lace (pant), and bling (accessories). I think they did that on Sesame Street once.

The color of my fingerless gloves, silk blouse, and lipstick repeat and create a pathway to my face which is my communication center. His eyes are are on me when I say, “I love you!”

Your idea of what to wear to celebrate love may be very different from mine. I want to hear your recipes for love and for outfits! Please share!

XO Forever