Someone recently pointed out to bestselling novelist Olivia Muenter that she tends to romanticize life. “That’s my instinct,” she told me. “Of course, life is also hard and messy, but I’m always looking for that beauty.” Olivia spoke with me from her Hudson Valley home, after the release of her buzzy new novel, Little One. Below, she shares a movie that inspired her style, jeans she’s worn hundreds of times, and a necklace engraved with a meaningful reminder…
Above: Top: DISSH. Jeans: Eloquii. Flats: Loeffler Randall.
“Plus-size-specific fashion can be deeply tragic. But when I saw these cuffed Eloquii jeans, I thought, Those are cool, period. Now I’ve worn them a thousand times. And Loeffler Randall is my favorite shoe brand of all time. For special life occasions, I’ll treat myself to a pair. My wedding shoes were from there, and the shoes I wore to the first big event for my debut novel were from there.”
Button-down: thrifted, similar. Jeans: “old ASOS,” similar. Socks: similar. Slippers: L.L. Bean.
“Growing up, I was always a bit bigger and taller than everyone. I loved fashion, but I felt like I didn’t have the body required to be a fashionable person. It really helped to find people on social media who look like me in some way. My long-time follows are Kristina Zias, Rae Ann Langas, Abisola Omole, Callie Thorpe, and Abby Bible.”
“When thrifting, I go through the men’s section first. That’s where I found this flannel, which is utterly perfect. I could buy oversized button-downs all day long. They’re the staple of all staple pieces.”
Sweater: Sézane. Trench: Gap. Pants: Nikki Chasin. Shoes: Converse. Sunglasses: Madewell.
“I always thought trenches looked so cool on other women, so I finally decided to get my own. I call it my Inspector Gadget coat. And I bought these pants at Nikki Chasin, a boutique near me in the Hudson Valley. I was thrilled that they were not only available in my size, but in-store too. That’s basically unheard of when it comes to plus-size shopping!”
Heart necklace: Monica Vinader.
“For jewelry, I pretty much just wear simple hoops, my wedding rings, and a necklace my dad gave me in high school. Then, sometimes, I’ll add this heart locket from Monica Vinader. I engraved it with the words ‘lovely as is,’ as a reminder to myself that I don’t need to change to be worthy.”
Dress: “old Dôen,” similar. Sweater: J.Crew, no longer available, similar. Boots: Shoes of Prey, no longer available, similar. Scarf: “old ASOS,” similar. Wedding band: Bario Neal.
“As a teenager, I watched the movie Bright Star, which tells the love story of poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. I was so enamored with all the costumes, colors, and textures. At the time, I was growing up in Florida, wearing popped collars and Uggs — but that movie helped me find my true personal style.”
Overalls: Gap. Top: Damson Madder, no longer available, similar. Shoes: Converse.
“I’ve never worn an item of clothing more than I’ve worn these overalls from Gap. I like pairing overalls with something that reads more feminine, like a billowy top or this leopard-print one. My clothing style is like my home style: classic, but a bit eclectic.”
Thanks for sharing, Olivia! Congratulations on your new novel. Also, should we feature Olivia’s house tour???
P.S. Many more weeks of outfits, including a vintage stylist in England, and an Indiana mother of five, with a flair for clowncore.
(Photos by Lyndsay Hannah for Cup of Jo.)
