valentine’s date night

For this Valentine’s Day, I recommend selecting a few classic fashion investments that you can wear for a romantic evening on Valentine’s Day, but re-wear on a million other occasions with other items already in your closet.

Maybe you already have an outfit in mind and have had your eyes set on a luxury handbag or pair of shoes. Valentine’s Day may be the perfect time to gift yourself a bit of luxury that you can enjoy for a Valentine’s Day dinner or special night on the town.

Items like this Gucci Marmont or Loubutin boots inject a bit of color into your wardrobe, but still in a classic way. The Fendi strap is a unique, but versatile, investment that you can use with any of your handbags, and will instantly add a designer touch.

This is the outfit that I will be wearing this Valentine’s Day. Magda Butrym is such an amazing designer who incorporates feminine and elegant details into her pieces, and I think any of her blouses and dresses would make an instantly sexy but classy outfit.

Because I’m a massive fan of pink, I had to put together a pink inspired outfit with a dress by one of my favorite brands, LoveShackFancy.

These accessories are classics and very versatile in blush and nude. Because Monolos are such an investment, I would recommend a neutral shade like this so they will go with everything. This tulle hot pink dress would also look killer with a black leather jacket thrown over your shoulders and some ankle boots.

A classic outfit with a touch of trendy. This Iro embroidered white dress is elegant and feminine, but looks instantly edgy when paired with this amazing Balenciaga belt bag. I found these Oscar De La Renta Earrings on clearance and these Manolo-inspired heels are surprisingly affordable.

I‘ve had a Retrofete dress on my wishlist for quite some time. And while the brand offers this dress in an array of colors, (and I love the teal color-way), I think the white one is sophisticated without trying too hard. And with an all white ensemble, you can add in some color with your accessories.

I’m also including a few fun, feminine blouses that make easy outfits and will look great with tailored trousers, distressed denim, or even a mini skirt.

And if you’re focused on getting the most value out of what you buy, I recommend an amazing blouse over an overly sexy dress. It is more day-to-night appropriate and will likely work with more in your wardrobe.

I hope these looks give you some inspiration for Valentine’s Day and date night. While I never condone buying an expensive outfit for one specific occasion, I’m all about investing in high quality pieces that you can enjoy time after time and wear on those special occasions.

2020 closet update

Magda Butrym pieces are wearable, chic, but with a fresh and modern feel.

Currently, I just have my eye on a few high-quality, day-to-night pieces. Denim is a classic and I have fallen hard recently for the Magda Butrym brand. I love the aesthetic. As the designer described in an interview with Harpers Bazaar, she strived to create elegance in the every day. Butrym says it best…“I wanted to make every Monday morning a special occasion.”

The denim dress is a nice option to have for a night out, but would also easily work for the day. Wear it for brunch date or a nice dinner. Upon further research, the lace collar is removable. Now that’s versatile fashion. Details like this make a piece worth investing in.

And because one amazing accessory can make an outfit, I included my favorite belts that make a statement but aren’t overly branded.

This YSL belt is edgy with the crackled look, but the logo isn’t too in your face. Over time, belts can show wear and tear, but with the cracked effect of this one, you won’t be able to tell.

The JW Anderson and Etro belt just have a really cool vibe that would transform a jeans and t-short ensemble into a high-fashion outfit.

And when I bring new pieces in to my closet, I like to let go of others. What I sell also goes toward any new items I want to introduce into my closet. Here are a few of the departures…

I do have to sell a lot of items to fund one high-end fashion purchase, as the value of clothing goes out the window, even if it has just been worn once. But the extra closet space and a little extra to put towards something on my wishlist is so worth it.

Fashion Wishlist

As we say goodbye to 2019 and look forward to 2020, here at Signature Style, it’s a time to re-evaluate our wardrobe and style and plan ahead so we don’t waste investing any of our time and money into items that don’t resonate with our sense of style.

I have bigger financial goals for 2020 and my focus will be on much more than buying more times for my closet. However, I know that I will purchase a few fashion items for the upcoming season. When I do pull the trigger, I want to know that these were good investments and will be something I’ll wear for years to come.

With all that said, let’s transition to the fashion boards and my top fashion suggestions for 2020…

My favorite Zimmerman blouses for that feminine, yet bohemian look. Obviously I won’t be getting all of them…but these are my favorites from the brand that would add a delicate flair and inject color and life into my wardrobe.

For me, I don’t want to waste any money in 2020…not 1 fashion purchase-that isn’t versatile and high-quality. All pieces need to seamlessly fit into my closet and be something that I will reach for and enjoy.

And because a little Gucci takes any look up a notch (or 5 notches), I have selected my favorite pieces from the brand that would be versatile and elevate what currently hangs in my closet…

These boots would edge up many of my skirts and jeans, while the mono statement earring adds instant flair to even your most basic white tee and jeans outfit. However, they are clip-ons, and if the earring is too heavy, it may be hard to wear all day. I have loved this belt for a while…and a high waist belt will cinch in a dress & create an hourglass silhouette. I think this logo skirt speaks for itself…

I see the value of investing in accessories, rather than clothing. You can re-wear a belt or pair of sunglasses with all your outfits, and you get more wear and value out. From a styling perspective, the right accessories are essential.

I wanted to also include a few black investment pieces that would work in a capsule wardrobe and that you could mix and match and re-wear and re-style for multiple looks…

These items are very true to my own style, and I love the different vibe of the Zimmerman playsuit with the edgy snakeskin biker jacket (and the Prada bag), versus it styled with the Balmain blazer and Gucci Marmont bag.

The snakeskin jacket and Zimmerman playsuit are currently on sale. While I fall in love with Zimmerman’s new season florals and pastel prints, the solid black georgette playsuit is feminine and versatile. It would fit seamlessly into my wardrobe, and I’m having a vision of how it could be dressed up with dangling earrings and black fishnets for a night out.

This Prada Cahier is my favorite version of any I have seen. It’s out of my reach at the moment, but one day it will be mine…and when a bag is solid black on black, you don’t have to wore about clashing hardware. For this reason, I would pick the Prada over the Gucci bag. I prefer silver jewelry and the gold Gucci logo on the handbag might make it less versatile.

I hope this helps as you create your own fashion wishlist and plan ahead for your 2020 shopping,