Closet de Jules

What I love about Seattle is the beautiful shoreline views showcasing the natural beauty of the pacific northwest. It is amazing that I now live in a city where water comprises 40% of the metropolitan area. There is the Puget Sound, Lake Washington, and many other not-so-small lakes and creeks within minutes of each other. It feels like they’re all part of the main watershed, but most of them are actually not! I moved here in August and caught the tail end of the Summer, but I can’t wait for the warmer weather to come back again soon (hey, it’s only 6 months away!).

Last weekend, I took the ferry to visit a family friend in one of the islands in the Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island. Although I did not have a lot of time to walk around in this quaint little island, I really enjoyed the 30-minute ferry ride and the incredible views of city. Bainbridge Island is now on top of my list of places to visit again this winter!

I’m not sure how cold it will get in Seattle, but my coworkers always tell me “it’s gonna be better than the East Coast”. Before the weather gets too cold or uh…too wet, I thought I should wear dresses as much as I could. Here is a black and white outfit I put together for this typical gloomy Seattle morning. I added a bit of brown and gold hoping that I could match the turning colors of the trees this fall. However, it never really settled in until I set sail for Bainbridge Island that, most of the trees did not turn yellow here… then I realized this is indeed the Evergreen State!

I hope everyone is staying warm during the winter blizzard this week. I had a short weekend getaway to Vegas (pictures will be up soon) and avoided the crazy weather in the East Coast.  That being said, you may want to reconsider your date night outfit as Valentine's Day is approaching. Put on a cozy neutral sweater and accessorize it with a splash of pink, whether it’s a simple necklace or a scarf, your other half will sure love to spend his Valentine’s Day by the warm fire all cozied up with you. He might just think some people are worth melting (his heart) for!

As a resident of the nation's capital, sometimes I take all historic landmarks and iconic views for granted. Despite the fact that I drive by Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial twice a day to go to work, I only visit them a few times a year. Last week, I attended a friend's wedding in the Lincoln Memorial. The wedding started at 7am (that's right, AM). For the first time, I watched the peaceful sunrise in DC and all the "early birds" slowly waking up the city for another busy day, including a group of soldiers warming up for the day ahead. 

Although the autumn temperatures in DC usually stay in the high 60s to 70s, it does get a little chilly in the mornings. I put on my trench coat for the first time this season and waited for the groom and bride to arrive...






 
************************
Trench: Zara (similar)
Dress: J.Crew Factory (here - One of my favorite suit dresses. A very versatile piece!)
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bracelets: Ann Taylor (similar - great for small wrists!)
Tote: Ann Taylor (similar for Fall colors)

As fall slowly slipping away and winter stealthily rings the bell, I have come to realize an immediate need to compile a general theme for my closet revolving around this season’s biggest trend, color-blocking! I know primary colors has been around the block for at least a year now, but who could resist the versatility of mixing and matching the simple yet bold colors. It’s the perfect way to accentuate your figure without using too many pieces of accessories.  Not to mention, putting together those color patterns, either in strips or in blocks, vertically or horizontally, and pairing them up with tights and a pair of horse-riding boot would definitely make you stand out among those monotone black coats or disorientated layering.


A fashion consultant was invited to my office today to give us a 2-hour long “personal branding workshop” (aka how to build your professional wardrobe). It takes 5 seconds to make an impression. What kind of impression you are trying to give to your coworkers or your clients has a lot to do with what you wear. For example, black/navy/khaki suits communicates the authoritative image of you; yellow/orange/pink, on the other hand, is telling others that you are more accessible (i.e. most likely to be asked to do more work from your boss!).

I have always been a huge fan of colors ever since I had discovered the joy of learning how to look good while making my own statement with clothing. Mastering color is the secret of being a skilled stylist which is not surprising, since having a coherent color scene plays a major part of your overall look.


Enough said about colors... I picked up this pink sweater when J. Crew had their 25% off sweaters sale last week. Wearing bright pink used to be a no no for me in the office, so I was playing with my closet to find some ways to incorporate the color as a part of my professional look. I hope you liked my “7 ways to wear a sweater” mixes and matches. Let me know what is your favorite (or least favorite) one!

********************  
Sweater: Tippi Sweater - J.Crew
Skirt (top left): Ann Taylor (similar)
Skirt (top middle): Talbot 
Skirt (top right): Postage Stamp Mini in Dizzy Anchors - J. Crew 
Dress wear as skirt (middle right): Ella Dress in Garden Floral - J.Crew
Boots (bottom left): old-old-old Boots - Cole Haan (similar)
Blazer (bottom middle): Jacquard Pattern Blazer - Zara
Jeans (bottom middle): old Toothpick Ankle Jean in White Denim - J. Crew
Shirt (bottom right): old Non-Iron Sateen Shirt - Banana Republic
Pants (bottom right): Ultimate Double Weave Notch Back Columnist Pant - Express
Clutch: Havana Clutch - J. Crew