Shimmer & Shine

I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I was visiting a dear friend in Charleston, South Carolina. We were out enjoying a beautiful day, doing some fall shopping. In a store I have not visited in years, in search of a pair of black trousers, I spotted it – the sequin suit. My luggage was full coming and I knew I had no room to bring this lovely set home. Plus, it was a head to toe sparkly suit, where would I wear it? (Sadly, life just isn’t as dressy as it was pre-pandemic.) So, why even try it on? The logical person would have said “no” and walked away. Well, when it comes to fashion, logical doesn’t describe me. So I marched that sparkly suit into the nearest fitting room and then it happened – I fell in love. Why does this occur so often with me and clothes? I should know better, to run away before I have the chance to fall head over heels. But, it was too late. I knew, even if I could only wear this shining look on my couch, it had to be mine! And here we are today.

I am sure I am not the only one who has been in this boat – or should I say plane, bogged down with bulging luggage from overbuying on vacation. Well, vacation is a fun place to shop, and clothes are great way to remember a trip. And they don’t have to be t-shirts with a city’s name on it! Normally I prefer to find local boutiques, with unique pieces I can’t find back home, and that helps me justify my purchases. This ensemble happened to be from a chain store, so I found other ways to validate buying it – for the space and the sparkle.

The holidays were approaching, and if there is any time of year you can put a sparkly suit to good use, it’s around Christmas and New Year’s. I also tried to think practically – this is a two piece ensemble, and yes it could be worn as one show-stopping look, but it could also be broken up and worn as separates. And while some of you may laugh at this, it can be dressed up and down. Sure, maybe not dressed down enough to throw one of the pieces on to run to the grocery store. But, sparkly pants with a denim top and sneakers could be very cute for a concert – a little bling and a little comfort. A sparkly suit jacket with a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt could be worn out to dinner. The pictures here are just 3 ways I styled this suit for holiday parties, but the options are infinite. Today’s fashion lesson is simply this…if you love something, whether it’s a cheap pair of jeans or a blow-the-budget pair of heels, whether it’s a practical piece or not, just think about how to get the biggest bang for your buck with whatever it is, and make that item a worthwhile piece to put in your closet.