Magenta Blazer turns 3! And other powerful threes

March is a special month because it’s my birthday, my wedding anniversary, and the anniversary of Magenta Blazer becoming a thing month. This year in particular is full of threes: I turned 33 on March 3 and Magenta Blazer turns 3 on March 29! Magenta Blazer has come a long way since the first post, but I remain laser focused on my mission—inspire real women to find joy and confidence through the items in their closet—and less concerned with chasing likes and followers. If just one person reads this and comes out with an outfit idea that brightens their days, the last three years have been worth it.

Call me biased but threes are special. Don’t take it from me; I’ll let the rule of three speak for itself:

The rule of three is a writing principle that suggests that a trio of events or characters is more humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers. Examples include the Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, and the Three Musketeers. Similarly, adjectives are often grouped in threes to emphasize an idea.

The power of three carries over to your outfits as well. There is a third-piece rule, which is a great guideline (rule feels too strong here) to use when striving to put together a power outfit. In it’s purest form, this is the third-piece rule:

Create an outfit comprised of three pieces, not including your shoes. Your pants and top are your first and second pieces, and your third piece is an extra outfit element such as a jacket, blazer, sweater, vest or statement accessory. 

So on Magenta Blazer’s third birthday we celebrate the power of three! In the simplest form, add a jacket, blazer, vest, sweater or some other type of outer layer as your third piece. While I clearly prefer a pattern as my under layer, literally anything goes here. Also notice that bottoms are totally open to interpretation. Pants or jeans are obvious but also consider skirts.

Now that we have the basics down, let’s have some fun and push the limits a little further. Add a spicy third to finish your three, like a pair of statement socks or a bold belt. Try a pair of bright pink earrings in the summer or even a fur stole during the winter.

Also, I’d say three is a starting piece but not necessarily where you have to stop. Take, say a Magenta Blazer, and add a Hermes scarf and a pair of glitter socks. Some may say it’s extra, but to me it was the exact combination I needed to feel confident to speak in front of 200+ people.

For the record, I don’t think all power outfits need to consist of three pieces. This is just a super helpful starting point on those days that you’re staring into your closet and finding no inspiration. Find an item to start with. For me it’s usually a top or a shoe (always thinking about shoes…) and complete your base of a top-bottom-shoe pairing. Then kick it up a notch with an additional layer or a statement accessory. The other way around works just as well. Start with your spicy third piece—a jacket you’e been meaning to wear or a bold necklace. Then the hard part is over. You can keep the rest of the outfit relatively neutral to let your spicy third piece take center stage. Think a simple white button down or white tee and your favorite denim paired with a bright piece of jewelry.

The next time you go shopping, remember the power of three and stock up on jackets and blazers. Also consider bold, statement accessories to make the third spicy.

To ensure you don't miss a single outfit, follow @MagentaBlazer on Instagram and like the Magenta Blazer Facebook page.  

Comfy, one-piece outfits and Birks. My summer work-from-home uniform ☀️ I’ve done lots of cozy jumpsuit research and the @everlane luxe cotton jumpsuit is one of my favorites. Comes in six colors and under $70! The black-on-black leather Arizon
Hello 👋 checking in to say hi—I hope everyone is doing ok. I took a break from posting outfit inspo because there are much more important issues that should be taking up your feed right now. Keep listening, keep actioning, keep loving. I&rsquo
With so much uncertainty, it’s time to focus on really smart purchases. There’s nothing more reasonable than a dress that works for every season, and I’ve got the one! I styled my slip dress four different ways, one for each season.
If I was going to the office today, this is what I’d wear. Instead, I’m in my #wfh sweats perched in front on another Zoom meeting 🙃
Jax and I are settling into our new normal. For him it’s a whole lot more cuddles and longer walks. For me it’s a new way to wear a neckerchief, among manyyy other things.