Today is my birthday and I'm 45 years young. I say that because strangely enough, I don't feel like I'm in my mid-40s—I still kind of feel like I'm in my late 20s—and in terms of looks, well, let's say I'm making the most of it. When I was turning 30 (which I was freaking out about at the time, hahahaha), a friend asked me what 18-year-old Cheryl would think of 30-year-old Cheryl, which made me put things in perspective. While many things have changed since then, I remain pretty damn happy with my life overall, and I hope that shows, inside and out. Tonight I'll be celebrating with friends, followed by dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco, and here's what I plan to wear. 

Isabel Marant Isilde skirt

A few weeks ago when we were in Palm Springs, I dragged Sean to the outlet mall 30 minutes outside of town for one main reason: there's an Isabel Marant store there. They were having a huge end-of-season sale, however they didn't have much left in my size; the store associate convinced me to try on this wrap skirt in a 36 (that's 1-2 sizes below what I normally wear) and lo and behold, it fit, sort of. My normal size 38 probably would have been better, but I love the color and the fabric (it's that thick knit material that warmup suits are made of), and with some shapewear, it's not bad. Did I need it? Absolutely not. Did I buy it because it was 80% off and we drove for 30 minutes? Possibly. Do I love it? Definitely.

IRO shavani jacket 

I have been in the market for a Chanel-style collarless jacket, ideally with gold buttons, for awhile, however I keep encountering a problem, which is that they make me look like matronly. Like, middle-aged white Republican fundraiser matronly. So far the best alternative I can come up with is this IRO jacket, which I scored on The Real Real (they've got LOTS of this one). It has no buttons and it's somewhat deconstructed, which makes it seem a little less uptight. It's knit, so it's technically more like a cardigan, but it has shoulder pads to give it some structure. I plan on wearing this a lot with high-waisted pants; it's just a super versatile layer. It runs true to size—I'm in my usual 38. 

Wolford Colorado bodysuit

This is one of those items that every influencer on the planet raves about, however the price is enough to make one grimace. (Yes, it's $250. For a bodysuit.) That said, Wolford makes the best tights on the planet—they're the only ones I'll wear—so, armed with a Saks gift card, I decided to see if this bodysuit was also worth the investment. Spoiler alert: it is. I have been easing back into the bodysuit trend with trepidation, but this one is super comfy in spite of being a thong (I normally HATE thongs). The fabric is really thick yet stretchy, and it holds you in without suffocating you. It makes you look, as the kids say, snatched. I sized up to a medium and am glad I did; a small probably would have been suffocating and/or wedgie-inducing. 

Laroude Dolly sandals 

I started seeing these last fall on two of my favorite bloggers, Blair Eadie and Julia Berlozheimer, and in spite of thinking I'd never wear platforms again due to both my age and my growing refusal to put up with uncomfortable shoes, I decided to order them anyway. And I promptly remembered why platforms are so fantastic: They make you look five inches taller without making you actually wear a five-inch heel. They're not the most supportive shoe out there (the ankle strap is a bit precarious) but they're not uncomfortable—I wore them to a charity gala and danced for several hours without a problem. Either way, for the amount of self-confidence this shoe inspires, I'd be willing to suffer a tiny bit. See, I'm still young at heart! They run true to size; I'm in my usual 8.5. 

OUTFIT DETAILS: IRO shavani jacket (also here) | Wolford Colorado bodysuit | Isabel Marant Isilde skirt | Laroude Dolly sandals | Balenciaga first bag (current version)