Purple quilted top, sculpted belt and metallic trousers

A top in deep purple satin, diamond-quilted all over, with an asymmetric neckline that sits straight across the collarbone on one side and dips on the other, balloon sleeves padded to hold their shape and a hem cut on a slant. Over it, at the waist, a wide belt of hammered silver-tone metal shaped like a folded ribbon, which does the cinching the quilting cannot. Below, high-waisted trousers in a black crinkled metallic cloqué that catches lamp light in every crease.

Autumn and winter evenings: an opening, a cocktail hour, a dinner where the chairs are not too close together, because the sleeves need room. A pointed black boot and nothing else metallic; the belt is enough. Hair down and straight so it does not compete with the sleeve.

Purple. I know. I was going through something. The something was this top.