I just turned 40, and I marked the occasion with an intimate dinner party that was warm, candlelit, and unapologetically festive. As a kid, I struggled with having a birthday that backed right up to Christmas (combined gifts, anyone?), but now I fully embrace it. December is my favorite month of the year—twinkly lights, velvet textures, early sunsets—it’s objectively the coziest month, and frankly, the most dramatic. Perfect timing for a milestone.
Ringing in a new decade as a more mature woman (said with a wink), I wanted my outfit to reflect exactly how I was feeling: sexy, strong, happy, and just a little bit romantic. Enter the red velvet Mugler dress. She’d been living on my Pinterest board for months, silently judging me, and when I finally had the chance to snag her before she sold out, I knew immediately—this wasn’t just a dress, it was a directive.
