Tara Vitollo, owner of Olcott Squared in Bernardsville, might be in the fashion industry but foremost she is a mom. “My date nights look different now than they did when I was in my 20s,” she says. “My husband, Michael, and I have three kids, so our date nights sometimes are as simple as sharing a bottle of wine with slices of pizza.”
Bridgewater City Lifestyle invited Vitollo to create four sophisticated but comfortable looks for a romantic date night. In honor of Valentine’s Day, she selected a palette of pinks and reds, but encourages you play with color if the traditional hues are not as flattering for your skin tone by picking, say, an orangey red or a pale pink.
Vitollo is obsessed with her black denim stretchy jeans, which she paired with a sheer floral shirt with red and pink tones over a bralette. “The jeans are fashion-forward and edgy. They’re high-waisted, so are very forgiving, and have fur trim at the cuffs by the ankles. The top is casual, age-appropriate and feminine but screams ‘sexy,’” she says.
In another twist on black-and-red, Vitollo married vegan leather joggers with an oversized, hot-pink cashmere sweater with romantic bell sleeves. “This is also very forgiving, with an elastic waist,” she says.
Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” showed us how smart and sophisticated — and flirty — a hot-pink suit can be. Vitollo loves suits especially because they are so versatile. “You can pair the blazer with jeans and boots or wear a bodysuit and a denim or leather jacket with the pants, which are mid-rise with a wide leg,” she says.
A more casual modern look is a cotton-blended knit that teases by showing a bit of shoulder worn with hugging denim jeans, a leather jacket and boots. “I love the texture,” Vitollo says. “I always feel sexy in boots and denim that fits tight in the right places. The look is as chic as it is casual and comfortable.”
Check out other looks at shopolcott.com.
“My date nights look different now than they did when I was in my 20s.”