Closet de Jules

Living in the Evergreen state, Washington, I knew I had to hand pick a Christmas tree this year. I stopped by the beautiful McMurtrey's Red-Wood Christmas Tree farm 30-minutes away from Seattle over the weekend. Trekking through the farm with my sawblade in hand, it took me a while to spot this fine tree. It’s not so big that I needed a delivery team to get it to my tiny downtown apartment, but big enough that I had a nice tree to decorate. The trunk of the tree was surprisingly soft, so chopping it was no problem. After one final shakedown to remove the debris, I was off home with this fresh-cut Christmas tree!

Wearing this short J.Crew Stadium-Cloth Majestic Peacoat was super convenient for me to walk in the farm and bend down to cut the tree too. All of J.Crew's Majestic Peacoat are on sale now with an additional 30% off. I've always had a thing with shorter coats in the winter (therefore having warm pants are very important!). I was pretty happy to add such a "cheerful" color to my short coats collection this year. Below are some of my winter short coat favorites:

Last week I talked about how to stay warm on Valentine's Day by accessorizing with pink on your comfy sweater. As Valentine's Day is only a week away, if you have been busy picking the best gift for him but have not had time to think about what to wear next week, here are seven ways to dress up with a simple pink sweater that many of you can find in your closet.

The first part of my mixing and matching involves a lot, I meant, I lot, of patterns. From the conservative black and white, to the cool and preppy anchors, to my favorite, colorful floral. Fortunately, Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year. But for those of you who still have to work next Saturday, and plan to go to dinner right after work, you can start the morning on some work appropriate looks with long pants and a blazer.

The sweater I wear here is the J.Crew Merino Tippi Sweater. The sweater has just the perfect amount of thickness and softness. It is the most versatile sweater I've had that I literally wear it from September to June. I have at least five different colors of them, from both the regular J.Crew retail store and J.Crew Factory. This is actually one of the few items where I don't find the quality to be much different in the factory store from the regular retail store. For those of you looking for an even softer and warmer sweater, the J.Crew Collection Featherweight Cashmere Long-Sleeve Tee has a very similar fit to the one above.

I created this pink sweater collage 2 years ago, but I thought I should bring it up again in the spirit of Valentine's Day. Hope you find them useful! I'd love to hear which look is your favorite. So please let me know in the comment below! :)

Don't have a pink sweater yet? Below are my picks in addition to the J.Crew Merino Tippi Sweater and J.Crew Collection Featherweight Cashmere Long-Sleeve Tee:

Double-cloth Metro Coat with Thinsulate - J.Crew (similar here,  here and here)

Originally from the 2011 winter catalog, this J.Crew Metro Coat has been one of my favorite winter coats over the years. Its vibrant color and the well tailored silhouette cheers me up every winter, not to mention its 3M Thinsulate inner lining that keeps me warm despite the frozen weather outside.




Not sure if it's just me, but I am a bit disappointed by J.Crew's coat selections this year. Where did all the beautiful well fitted winter coats go? As much as I love these boy-inspired looks, all I see are the oversized baggy coats, or chester coats, as the industry defines. We still want to look slim while bundling up with layers after all, right?

Although the metro coat has been long gone in J.Crew's catalog, you should still be able to find them on eBay or other third party retailers. Alternatively, try the Lady Day Coat, which consistently comes back every year, with a wide range of color selections.

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Sunglasses: Original Wayfarer - Ray-Ban
Coat: Double-cloth Metro Coat with Thinsulate - J.Crew (similar here,  here and here)
Sweater: Ribbed Raglan Sweater - Gap - currently 60% off!
Pants: Danie Pant - J.Crew - currently 61% off!
Boots: Tory Burch (similar here and here)
Watch: Burberry (similar here and here)

Update: Julia's Picks on 2015 Winter Collection:

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!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I had a cozy Christmas in DC. Santa surprised me again this year with the best gifts I could wish for. Another Christmas passed, and another new year is around the corner. I am grateful for a fantastic 2014 with the best people I spent with and some of the best experience I had, and look forward to an even better 2015!


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Sweater: Jack Wills
Skirt: J.Crew (similar)
Cross Body Bag: Kate Spade (similar)
Belt: Express (similar here and here)
Boots: Simone Tory Burch (here)

Many of you may already know, I survive winters on J.Crew coats. It doesn’t matter if there’s snow, sleet, or freezing rain, I always have my J.Crew coats on hand to stay cozy.

One of my favorite go-to winter pieces is the J.Crew Tipped Peacoat. The Italian wool and the inner lining (not sure if it is the iconic J.Crew “Thinsulate” but certainly feels like it!) really kept me warm for the whole winter. Compared to the Double-Cloth coats (Funnel Coat, Metro Coat and Slim Trench) I reviewed previously, the length of this coat is perfect for me to stay active in the winter… such as running around in the snow! Although this Tipped Peacoat was part of the 2012 winter collection and no longer available, I have found the J.Crew Melton Coat and the Majesty Peacoat to be close substitutes. These photos were taken last winter. DC hasn’t experienced its first snow this season yet, but the chilly below 30 degrees weather certainly tells me it is coming soon.

What's on your shopping list this Black Friday? My wardrobe is full of colorful and fun coats, the only thing I am missing is a conservative black coat. I have been thinking about the J.Crew Lady Day Coat for a while, but was a little hesitant with the narrow torso design when I tried one on last winter. I would really appreciate it if you have any suggestions for me!



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Coat: Tipped Peacoat - J.Crew (similar here and here)
Rain Boots: Original Tall Gloss Rain Boots - Hunter (similar)
Gloves: Ralph Lauren (similar)
Sunglasses: Original Wayfarer - Ray-Ban
Bangles: J.Crew (similar)

Update: Julia's Picks on 2015 J.Crew Winter Collection
(click the pictures to check out the latest J.Crew promotions on these gorgeous coats)

Ever since I moved to the Washington DC Metro area (we call it DMV which stands for DC, Maryland and Virginia), I visited the Washington Monument many many times. But every time I go, I never had the chance to go to the top as it requires reserved tickets in advance. The monument was also closed for almost three years since the 2011 earthquake in DC. This year it reopened in May and I finally had a chance to ride to the top and enjoy the only sweeping view of our nation's capital.

When it was officially opened in 1888, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world until the Eiffel Tower in Paris was completed. However, the monument remains as the tallest stone structure in the world. And if you have visited DC before, you would notice that this is the tallest building in DC as well. The Height of Buildings Act of 1910 has restricted the height of the buildings in DC ever since, but was not retroactively applied to the Washington Monument. Standing atop the tallest building in DC makes this view a unique and beautiful experience that no one should miss.

The Concert for Valor Veterans Day concert was also held in the National Mall yesterday, featuring Rhianna, Eminem, Jennifer Hudson, Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood and many more. As you can see in the picture below, there was quite a crowd already 7 hours before the concert started.

If you ever visit DC again or are fortunate enough to live in this beautiful city, I strongly encourage you to obtain an advanced ticket to visit the Washington Monument. It is one of the most breathtaking views you will ever see.



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Sweater: Fair Isle Ski Sweater - J.Crew (old but also reviewed here)
Jeans: Skinny 7 For All Mankind (similar)
Boots: Tory Burch (similar and similar - BOTH ON SALE!)

Believe it or not, the first time I wore this outfit was earlier in the summer. I didn’t realize how “fall” it looks until I put on the jacket… which is why I held off writing about this until I wear them again today! This outfit sports very fall-like colors, burgundy and camel, they sure to remind you of the changing leaves. I know it’s still unusually green outside in DC right now with temperatures around the mid-70 degree this week, but pretty soon the whole city is going to look like...me.

Here I am wearing two of the most popular J.Crew items, the Keating Boy Blazer and the No.2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool. What I worry about the most in a pencil skirt is the wrinkles I get after sitting… sometimes just 30 minutes in my car. J.Crew has never disappointed me with these skirts. Although I have seen wrinkles all over my colleagues’ cotton version of the same skirt, what you see in the pictures here is the worst I would get after sitting in the office for 8 hours. And they always magically go away after hanging them overnight! Do you own the J.Crew Keating Boy Blazer or the No.2 Pencil Skirt? What is your experience with them?







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Blazer: Keating Boy Blazer - J.Crew Factory
Top: Tortoiseshell Embellished Top - Ann Taylor
Skirt: No.2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wood - J.Crew
Sunglasses: Aviator Classic RB3025 - Ray-Ban
Bracelet: J.Crew
Heels: J.Crew (similar)

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)