Closet de Jules

Happy new year everyone! Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday break. Lets start off the new year by getting right down to business!

Last month, Pantone announced the 2015 color of the year - Marsala. The color is very close to burgundy or wine. However, just like the name, the color is more on the soft, feminine and earthy side than the darker burgundy. It probably has something to do with the pastel trend that we are seeing today.

Pants: Dannie Pant - J.Crew - currently 53% off! Shoes: Signature Driving Moc - C.Wonder - currently 50% off!

Looking at Pantone's Color of the Year for the past 15 years, red hues have been dominating for a few years now. Pantone selected a very similar color but spicier Color of the Year for 2007, Chili Pepper. Compared to Marsala, Chili Pepper is a bit more vibrant - think about chili peppers vs chicken masala!

Source: RCP Marketing

Because Marsala has such a deep color tone, I prefer accessorizing it or using it in prints instead of having a full Marsala outfit that makes me look like an...over cooked sausage. Here, the Marsala color is subtly reflected in my mocs, while the scarf adds a much needed splash of color and maintains a neutral tone. Marsala also works well with many of the cooler colors. Take a look at the color guide below to see how to mix and match with Marsala.

Source: Pantone

I came across these wonderful C.Wonder mocs (sale alert: currently 50% off!) after discovering a hole in my current Bed Stu Loafers due to wear and tear. Finding a fashionable pair of shoes I can wear every day is hard to come by. Luckily, I found these mocs during my holiday shopping in the mall. The pebbled leather is extremely soft yet elegant. The padded soles and treaded outsole cushion allow me to commute in the city every day with ease. Apparently I loved them so much, that mine were featured on C.Wonder’s Instagram last week! Check out my Instagram and C.Wonder’s to see what others say about these wonderful shoes.


Here are some of my favorites that would help you style Marsala for the new year. The best part is, majority of the bags below are currently on sale! Don't wait until the New Year's sale ends.

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Glasses: No Brand (similar here and here)
Scarf: Madewell (similar here)
Sweater: Textured Zipped Back Sweater - C.Wonder (here)
Coat: Ann Taylor (similar here and here)
Pants: Dannie Pant - J.Crew (here) - currently 53% off!
Shoes: Signature Driving Moc - C.Wonder (here) -- currently 50% off!

As promised, I am going to share more of my work outfits here.

After working for professional services companies for a few years, I have established a very consistent work style that reflects my personality while maintaining professionalism. The majority of my professional wardrobe is in black, navy blue, or white. These colors err on the conservative side, but they convey a message of credibility and trust.

What I am wearing today is a good representation of my professional style. Ankle pants are a big part of my wardrobe. With heels, they do a great job at helping you elongate your legs and achieving a slimmer frame. I don’t normally wear white shoes, as it’s hard to keep them from getting scratches while walking in the city. More importantly, the dark and white combination tends to put emphasis on where the dark pieces are. With a darker outfit and white shoes, this can make you appear “top-heavy”. However, in this outfit, with the help of my cream color ankle pants and the white jewelry, they even out the contrast between the darker top and lighter bottom.

This outfit is also very versatile if worn with a jacket. Put the jacket on to dress up for a client meeting, take it off to unwind during a happy hour. It could be “dangerous” to wear a floral suit depending on who you work with. I love floral. The navy and white print help tone down the playfulness a little bit and keeps the piece work appropriate.

As promised, I am going to share more of my work outfits here.



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Sunglasses: Original Wayfarer Classic - Ray-Ban
Necklace: J.Crew (similar at Ann Taylor)
Peplum Top: Ann Taylor (similar at J.Crew Factory)
Jacket: C.Wonder (similar at J.Crew and ASOS) 
Ankle Pants: Banana Republic (similar at J.Crew - J.Crew and BR run very similar ankle pants in terms of sizing. I am 5'5 and wear size 2 for both brands)
Bracelets: J.Crew (similar)
Pumps: Jiji Pumps - Kate Spade (similar or similar)