A Week of Outfits: Olivia Muenter
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.)
Comments
85 commentsGosh, I love Olivia’s style, and her whole personality. I too adored Bright Star for itsfa blouse clothing- it has extra resonance for mebecause I’m a sewist. I kept thinking things like ‘ how are the pleats in that hat made?’
THANK YOU for posting this! I’ve never seen someone my size with a similar style. It feels so good! And I love that I can actually shop her recs!
Gorgeous style! And as soon as I saw the first photo, I thought, “I want to see her house tour!”
PLEASE give us a house tour!!! She is gorgeous and clearly has an eye for all things (clothing, interiors, etc.).
Yes, please, give a house tour! The snippets of her home I see on IG are so inspiring. Bold colors and textiles. Cozy.
That red outfit! Love! I was so surprised that the sweater and pants weren’t a set; they match so perfectly!
I am a follower of Bad on Paper and love Olivia’s style and her home!
Wonderful sense of style. Love the lewks :) Also? I am immediately copying the leopard sweater under my overalls.
This is a reminder that I need to get into wearing sweaters over my dresses. I feel that this has opened a whole new portal of outfits.
YES to a house tour. we love olivia!!! such a good week of outfits, everything was just beautiful on her.
LOVE Olivia and love her style even more. Thank you for featuring her – this whole piece is beautiful!
Long time follower and reader of Olivia’s work! Love her style and house! Olivia recently came on “Morning Memo” and told me all about her mornings, the gorgeous house and writing cottage – if anyone of you would like more of Olivia (and frankly who doesn’t?), I’ve linked it and you can find Memory Full on Substack.
Yes, please, to a house tour!
i like the week of outfits, but i LOVED this one. authentic and simple beauty.
Beauty uniforms and house tours are always fun to get a glimpse in someone’s life. Whenever there is a picture of a bookshelf, I always like to enlarge it to see what are the books that surround their lives. What if we had a bookshelf tour? I’d love to get to know someone by reading about some picks from their shelves!
Would def love an Olivia Muenter house tour too — the green built-in shelves! That corner desk and office!
Yes!!! Men’s oversized flannels for the win!! I’m a WI girl living in SoCal, surrounded by the Lululemon army. Wearing my late grandfather’s old flannel shirt on repeat connects me to him, makes me feel like I’m channeling my mom from the ’80s, and is so comfortable… helps keep me connected to my roots in the sea of leggings. And yes, ABSOLUTELY need the house tour!
Yes please to a house tour! And also fair warning I’m going to move in because gaaaaahh, even this little peek shows it’s so lovely!
the idea of engraving a little love note to oneself on a locket… that is just wonderful! i just might have to do this for myself
Yes house tour!! Where are those porch chairs from?? Also, love the overalls look! Beautiful style, girl!
The chairs look similar to the Sora chairs from Article to me. Love them too.
Omg I love seeing Olivia here. PLEASE do a home tour!
I love Olivia’s style, and most definitely need a house tour!
Love Olivia, her style, and her podcast Bad on Paper. A must listen!
Love her style! Was literally ogling that colorful bookcase with the sisal rug. So yes please to the house tour!
Olivia’s style is so similar to mine so I ate this right up! I am also obsessed with overalls and have so many that they are overflowing out of my storage bench. I love when a person’s style reflects their lifestyle and Olivia’s really has that vibe.
Absolutely gorgeous! What a sens of style!
so good!!!!
Ohmigosh yes as I was scrolling the gorgeous photos of Olivia I kept thinking she matches her home perfectly. What a photo shoot! And also thinking please do a home tour.
If she’s not already a model, she should be.
Olivia Muenter wore GAP overalls with a leopard print shirt, so now I’m going to wear GAP overalls with a leopard print shirt. (anyone??!) But seriously, my soul just had moment of recognition with that outfit – like that’s what I should’ve been wearing all along. Seeing as I do not currently own overalls nor a single piece of leopard-anything, I’m off to shop :)
Do it! Ago makes great ones and so does Toad & Co. I have bought a lot odd Poshmark too! I wear them year-round and even took 2 pair to England over Christmas and they totally worked there too! I wear mine with sneakers and sandals in the summer and Doc Martins and Blunnies in the winter. I also have a bunch I wear for yard work. They are so comfy and cute! I think they look great on everyone.
So…. reading Olivia’s comment about trench coats makes me want to share. I found a cool trench at Goodwill when I was a sophomore in high school. I wore it for a school trip, felt so awesome, and a male teacher kind of made fun of me? He said – good morning, inspector – in a mock serious voice. He was one of these younger male teachers that was overly chummy with female high schoolers – you know the kind. And I was so, so, SO embarrassed. I never wore it again, and I have an aversion to trenches still. Good lord I hope life is different for high school girls now?? Like zero teachers are commenting on their attire ever??
Those. Men. How dare they ruin wonderful things for us, like the perfect trench, because their ego can’t handle our grace. I sincerely hope you can work that scar tissue out of your mind and maybe one day love a trench coat again.
I had a teacher UNZIP my dress (I thought it was very cool and edgy because it zipped in front) at prom. I have not word anything with a front zip since. This was 2001 and I won’t wear a zip up hoodie, a half zip, nothing!
Lar – thank you Anon – no no no no no NOOOoo noooo no no no. No. I’m so sorry. That is horrible!!!
@Anon I hope so hard that many folk have affirmed for you how fucked up it is that this was done to you, but if I’m the first: that is some USDA Grade A bullshit.
House Tour! I’ve already screen capped the first photo – that green! Can’t wait to find out what paint colour and brand she used.
Other BoP listeners will know we can’t have a house tour until she finishes her kitchen reno. :)
THAT! :)
I love Olivia so much from listening to her on BoP. Reading her Substack and reading her novels has been so much fun! I really appreciate the evolution of her personal style – she has inspired me to buy less, thrift more. Yay for Olivia, a lovely person indeed!
Yes, yes! House tour please!!
Came here to say this! I want to know the name of that dreamy caramel paint color in the photos where Olivia is wearing overalls.
Heck yes on the house tour – I love an old Hudson valley home!
Brown and B&W gingham!! Brilliant! I was gifted a warm toned caramel brown cashmere sweater a while back. Brown is the one color I ever purchase or wear so this was a conundrum for me. It is too light of a brown to pair with pink or blue- which are usually the combos I see with darker browns. But this with gingham… lucky for me, I have a B&W gingham skirt! Thank you!
Olivia, you are STUNNING! Also now I kind of want to move to Hudson and be friends!
Love her style! And I am eagerly awaiting my library hold for her new book to come through. And YES PLEASE HOUSE TOUR!
YES HOUSE TOUR PLEASE!
I loooove everything about Olivia, so glad to see her featured here. I want those Gap overalls to go on sale, they look great for everyone!
House tour house tour!!!!
Yes! Her style all around is fab!
Loved seeing Olivia featured on CoJ! The way that she weaves old and new in her personal style and home is truly inspiring. Highly recommend reading her books, and listening to her podcasts!
GREAT feature! So happy to see Olivia on CoJ!
“should we feature Olivia’s house tour?” I don’t know, should the Pope wear a funny hat? yesssssssssssss
I have been an Olivia fan since the ol’ Bath & Bodyworks candle testing nights :) – love cheering her on as she evolves as a writer and person. Beautiful and wonderful! More please!
please feature olivia’s house tour and share as many pics as she is willing! would also love to see a beauty uniform from her in case you are still doing that. enjoyed this article and her style and can’t wait to see her house. Congrats olivia on the book!
Wow Olivia you are so beautiful! ‘Lovely as is’ indeed.
Gorgeous!! How does someone manage to be this gorgeous?! And the house! Inspirational loveliness!
HOUSE TOUR! HOUSE TOUR!! Please and thank you!
The people need a house tour!!!
That all red outfit with the trench — swoon! Congratulations on your novel launch, too. Can’t wait to pick it up :)
Amazing!! I love it when my parasocial relationships collide. Olivia is the best!
Ok I LOVE these outfits so much. Style!!!!
LOVE!!! And yes, feature Olivia’s home!!!
Stunnnninnng!
BOP listener/lover and Queen Olivia forever! Definitely was clicking links all the way through this one– especially the overalls and ll bean slippers!
Yes to thrifted men’s button downs! I particularly love linen men’s button downs. Thank you for the gold earring link, I’ve been trying to graduate from fast fashion jewelry – this is a silly question, but maybe the group here knows?? My ears are not pierced straight (the piercings are at a downward slant) so it’s always a challenge to even get studs in, so hoop earrings with a curve are a particularly hard navigation. Any tips?
I love that Olivia referenced Bright Star as a style inspiration. It’s an exquisite lesser known movie that I also saw for the first time as a teenager.
My worlds collide! Love listening to you and Becca every week, Olivia. I always find so much joy in getting a peek into your house and closet—thank you for sharing!
Olivia, YES to your overalls! Last year I had a dream that I owned overalls. I couldn’t stop thinking about them so I finally bought a pair. It’s not often you get to make your dreams literally come true.
Desperate for a house tour!!
I had the exakt same thought :) please please please!
Yes, please feature Olivia’s house tour!
Love her style! House tour please!
What is the green paint color on the bookshelves? Too amazing, all of this!
Wow the leopard print top + denim overalls + converse is a really great look! It’s a surprising-to-me combo that just hits.
Olivia is the BEST! What a joy to see her featured on one of my favorite blogs. Incredible outfits and perspective on life – and a beautiful writer. We NEEEEEED a house tour!!! (And if anyone hasn’t read her novels, I would highly recommend them!)
Yesss to Olivia’s house tour, please! Love
ps: when the house tour rolls out, please lm(us)k where the porch chairs are from? TY!
Another possibly-great tour idea… an “inside my bag” tour! You could start with the COJ team. What lip balm does everyone use, gosh darn it? What do your wallets look like? Are your keychains beautiful and immaculate or are they like ten pounds with keys you don’t even know what they’re for?
My toddler had this same idea ! He just emptied my bag, which means now you get a tour – Trader Joe’s hand cream – a size 2T pull-up – a crumpled floral handkerchief – Burt’s bees chapstick, honey flavor – tub of vaseline dry lip therapy, rose flavor – my vintage blue wallet, that I should probably replace because cards fall out of it – my health insurance card (on the loose!) – a coffee punch card to my local coffee roasters (also loose, why!) – my paper planner – a pirates booty wrapper – no less than 6 pens, of various brands – 2 postcard stamps Missing : my car keys !
What a fun idea. Made me think: What’s in your fridge currently What’s in your shower What’s on your night stand What notes are in your phone What recipe is currently open on your phone What’s your last read, or listen, or watch? Am in snoop?? Lol. I think so.
Love seeing Olivia featured here! Been listening to her and Becca on their podcast for years. Definitely feature her house tour once she does her kitchen reno because that before and after will be epic!
When I saw the picture of Olivia walking down the street in the red outfit, it made me wish I was there to tell her “you look amazing and I love your outfit”. She has a presence, especially in that shot. And thank you for featuring someone who is creating beauty and fashion in a body that is larger.
Whoa, gorgeous – both Olivia and her home!