Celebrating 2019 #poweroutfits

Oh, what a year it has been! Time seems to be flying, and I’m thankful to have this holiday break to relax, refresh, and reset. I’m currently laying in bed wearing three-day-old pajamas and I have no intention of moving anytime soon. No guilty feelings here, although I do feel myself starting to stress about getting back into a work routine when I still have about a week of vacation ahead.

I’d say the biggest milestone of the year is the most recent one: after months of searching, we purchased and moved into our first house just before Christmas! We have such a long road ahead of us to make this house our home, but I’m loving the space so much. After living in a 600 sq ft apartment for 11+ years, this is a whole new world and the possibilities feel endless (I’m trying to talk my husband into a shoe wall in the master bedroom!). We also purchased our first washer and dryer for our very own laundry room and this makes me very happy.

This year I also rediscovered my love for dance in a big way. I found a studio that aligns with my dance values and experience and began teaching again in September. Teaching has become my single greatest source of joy to my day. There’s nothing that compares to helping kids, seeing them improve every day, and witnessing the happiness that their accomplishments bring them.

Professionally, I feel like I finally found my groove. I have a new-found confidence that I owe to finding new joys (dance) and projects (a new home) outside of the office. It takes the pressure off of my career as my single source of fulfillment and allows me to really focus on the work. 2019 was also the year of speaking engagements. I was asked to present at events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. Let me tell you, speaking in front of massive rooms of strangers freaked me out so much, but I learned that if I prepared like crazy and trust in my knowledge, I would be fine. By the last event in LA, I learned a lot about my process and feel like I’m able to embrace these opportunities more.

The common thread to my 2019 millstones and a new development for me is that I didn’t need power outfits to get through. However, power outfits made each better. As I get older I no longer have a heavy reliance on clothing, but I still find the joy in putting together a killer outfit. Magenta continues to be a surefire confidence booster for me. The speaking engagements in particular were fueled by magenta outfits. To exude confidence and feel ready to conquer, it had to be magenta.

In a sea of black, wear magenta In a sea of dresses, wear a jumpsuit In a sea of trends, be authentically, unapologetically yourself 💕 Ready to conquer another week 💪

37 Likes, 2 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "In a sea of black, wear magenta In a sea of dresses, wear a jumpsuit In a sea of trends, be..."

When asked to attend a fancier work event, I reach for magenta! There's something about this color that brings me joy, confidence and a side of sass 💃 Add a hint of neon and I feel invincible 💪💪

33 Likes, 4 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "When asked to attend a fancier work event, I reach for magenta! There's something about this color..."

Magenta isn’t the only color that makes a power outfit. It can be any combo of colors, patterns, beloved pieces of clothing to combine and give those confidence fireworks. Looking back at the outfits of 2019, I really love some of the combos that emerged. There’s a lot of bright colors, pattern mixing and also some impressive footwear, if I may say so myself! It was hard to only choose ten, but here’s a look back on some of my favorites, based on the feeling of confidence each gave me, not the number of likes.

Last night I wore a jumpsuit in a sea of cocktail dresses and felt like a million bucks! Paraphrasing @ladygaga fashion is like putting on a superhero cape. In the right outfit you feel like you can conquer the world 💪 #poweroutfit

71 Likes, 6 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "Last night I wore a jumpsuit in a sea of cocktail dresses and felt like a million bucks!..."

Reached deep in the closet for this @victoriabeckham @targetstyle collection bomber for a springy dose of pattern mixing 🌷What's hiding in your closet, ready for a reappearance?

55 Likes, 2 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "Reached deep in the closet for this @victoriabeckham @targetstyle collection bomber for a springy..."

So far outside of my matchy matchy comfort zone and you know what? The weather is perfect 🌤

55 Likes, 1 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "So far outside of my matchy matchy comfort zone and you know what? The weather is perfect 🌤"

Waited all summer for the right opportunity + weather combo to try out the blazer + denim shorts combo. In the last glorious weekend of summer it finally happened 🤗👯‍♀️💕

40 Likes, 11 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "Waited all summer for the right opportunity + weather combo to try out the blazer + denim shorts..."

#tfw your umbrella adds to your outfit. Makes a rainy day much more tolerable 😉 A younger me never would've dared pair two shades or blue or a graphic tee with dress pants. But here I am, and it feels pretty great 💕

27 Likes, 4 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "#tfw your umbrella adds to your outfit. Makes a rainy day much more tolerable 😉 A younger me never..."

Faux leather, "leather", pleather. Whatever you want to call it, I was against it for years. It felt inauthentic, fake, yucky. But then it didn't. Read my "leather" convert story and shop my @zara joggers on MagentaBlazer.com 💕🖤💕

26 Likes, 2 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "Faux leather, "leather", pleather. Whatever you want to call it, I was against it for years. It..."

Winter whites + sequins = ingredients for the perfect office holiday party outfit in my book✨

43 Likes, 5 Comments - Magenta Blazer (@magentablazer) on Instagram: "Winter whites + sequins = ingredients for the perfect office holiday party outfit in my book✨"

I’m excited to see what 2020 brings, although 2019 will be a hard one to beat! A couple resolutions for the new year:

  1. Spending less money on clothing with smarter, more selective clothing purchases. The difference will go to a savings account.

  2. With each new purchase, I need to donate something from my closet.

  3. Go to bed earlier! No TV watching after midnight!!

  4. Reestablish my fitness schedule. New town, new options!

  5. Make this new house a home, but be realistic with how long it’ll take.

  6. Dress is power outfits because I love them, not because I rely on it. Find confidence in myself.

What are your 2020 resolutions, style or otherwise? Cheers to a fresh start in a new decade and the excitement of what’s to come! Happy New Year and thanks so much for tagging along with Magenta Blazer ;)

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