Olivia Muenter, the bestselling author whose latest book is Little One, prefers to see the world with a sense of beauty even when life is complicated. Speaking from her Hudson Valley home, she described this tendency as an instinct to romanticize life, not as denial of difficulty but as a way to notice grace amid ordinary moments. In the conversation that followed the release of her buzzy novel, she mapped how clothing, small heirlooms, and movie memories influence the way she presents herself and how she measures worth.
Her approach to dressing combines practicality with specific favorites she returns to again and again: a pair of cuffed jeans that felt cool at first sight, shoes she saves for meaningful events, and a locket whose engraving acts as a private mantra. Throughout the interview she named designers and pieces—some thrifted, some boutique finds—that anchor her wardrobe, while also crediting social media for showing her how style can fit different bodies and lives.
Wardrobe staples and the objects she never parts with
Olivia talked about a handful of repeat items that read like a personal uniform: a top from DISSH, the cuffed jeans from Eloquii that she says she’s worn countless times, and flats from Loeffler Randall that she reserves for big moments. She explained that shoes from Loeffler Randall served as both her wedding shoes and the pair she wore to the first event for her debut novel, which makes them less about trend and more about ritual. Alongside those, a heart locket by Monica Vinader—engraved with the phrase ‘lovely as is’—functions as a constant reminder that she is already enough, and she layers that with simple hoops and her wedding band by Bario Neal.
How fit, availability, and thrifting shaped her style
Muenter described the frustrating realities of shopping in sizes beyond what many retailers prioritize, noting that plus-size-specific fashion can feel limited or, as she put it, creatively sad when choices are reduced. Even so, a moment of triumph came with those Eloquii cuffed jeans: she saw them as objectively stylish, not merely a concession, and adopted them into constant rotation. Thrifting plays a practical role in her closet too; she often starts in the men’s section and found a perfect flannel there, a discovery that reinforced her preference for oversized button-downs as fundamental layering pieces.
The local find: boutique and everyday comfort
Living in the Hudson Valley introduced another important dynamic: local boutiques that carry in-store options in her size. She singled out a pair of pants purchased at Nikki Chasin, a neighborhood shop that stocked a fit she could try on immediately—still uncommon for people shopping plus-size. Complementing these more curated buys are comforting staples like Converse and a Gap trench she affectionately calls her Inspector Gadget coat, a playful label that captures both nostalgia and practical flair.
Cultural influences: film, childhood, and overalls
Some of Olivia’s aesthetic tastes arrived early. She remembers watching the film Bright Star as a teen and being struck by its fabrics, color palettes, and the way costume and character intertwined; that cinematic impression helped guide her away from the Florida teenage uniform of popped collars and Uggs toward a more textured, layered wardrobe. Practical pieces like Gap overalls have become daily favorites because she can pair them with something softer—she mentioned a billowy top or a leopard-print blouse—creating a balance between utility and a feminine touch.
On style as a conversation
Beyond clothing, the interview revealed how style conversations happen online for Olivia: she follows creators who reflect diverse bodies and aesthetics, including Kristina Zias, Rae Ann Langas, Abisola Omole, Callie Thorpe, and Abby Bible. Those follows helped her feel permitted to claim fashion as part of her identity. Whether she’s slipping into slippers from L.L. Bean at home, wearing a Sézane sweater on a cool day, or selecting a sentimental locket, Olivia’s choices form a coherent story about self-regard, memory, and the quiet rituals that make public life feel intimate.
Photographs accompanying the profile were shot by Lyndsay Hannah for Cup of Jo, capturing both the casual repeat pieces and a few older favorites—an old Dôen dress, a J.Crew sweater, Shoes of Prey boots, and an ASOS scarf—each item illustrating how one’s wardrobe can hold chapters of a life rather than only seasonal trends. In the end, Olivia’s style is less about headline fashion and more about collecting objects and moments that remind her she is, indeed, lovely as is.