Featured: Northern Virginia Magazine

I am so so thrilled to share - I was featured in the April issue of Northern Virginia Magazine! When they asked me if I wanted to participate, I couldn’t type YES I LOVE YOU fast enough. 

For the article, I had my dear friend Claire Ashley do my makeup (lord knows I can’t do false lashes on myself!) I wore the cutest Tara Jarmon dresses from Take 5 Boutique…I never wanted to take it off. I wore my favorite silver oxfords, also from Take 5, much to my father’s dismay (his first words when he saw the article was ’so did you forget to change your shoes????’) LOL DAD.

Be sure to pick up a copy to find out my favorite spots in Northern Virginia for a romantic date night, where to find the best jewelry (spoiler: it’s Sophie Blake), and so so so much more. Here’s a little peek into the piece!

Get the Kate Middleton Look with Tuckernuck, Free People, J.Crew and more

Kate Middletown’s style is enviable to say the least. Whether she’s attending the fanciest gala or running around the globe helping children in need, she’s fab in every way. 

Duchess Kate has been traveling around India and Bhutan for the past month, so I thought it would be fun to recreate a few of my favorite looks she’s worn! I’m absolutely in love with Tuckernuck’s new bohemian pieces…I mentioned a bunch of their products below. There are so many dresses and blouses so similar to what we’re seeing Kate gravitating towards this Spring. Their Georgetown flagship shop is opening soon and I can't wait to check out their curated selection of all-American women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, accessories and home decor. 

And I certainly can't recreate her gorgeous hair, but Drybar just opened in Tysons a few weeks ago and I know they definitely could. Actually, I'm thinking of taking my mom, my sister and my aunt there for Mother's Day to check out their new digs!  Have you been yet? 

Free People dress, M.Gemi flats, Tuckernuck earrings

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Dillards dress, J.Crew pumps, Tuckernuck clutch and Baublebar earrings

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Tuckernuck tunic, Nordstrom pants, M.Gemi flats, Loren Hope earrings

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Anita Dongre dress (exact one Kate has!) Calson pumps, K/LLER earrings via Lynn Louisa, Fornash ring

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Tuckernuck dress, J.Crew pumps, Sophie Blake earrings

Summer in the City with Lucky Brand

• SHOP THE POST •

It was the summer of 2008. My summer of love. It was a year of heartbreak, my first year in college, but friends, it got good.

Like the time time we took our dog, Dallas, out for a canoe ride, shimmying off my shorts to reveal my favorite red, white and blue Lucky Brand swimsuit. Jumping into the water after Dallas decided to chase a butterfly right out of the boat. Navigating our way through the woods, canoe in hand, when we discovered a small waterfall that we had to walk around. But it was perfect.

Remember your brother’s wedding? The picnic at the park, pimento cheese and crackers everywhere. Including all over me, the messy one. Wearing coordinating Lucky Brand tees on accident. Having to explain that it was completely on accident. 

There was our alumni weekend, a pivotal moment for us. You watched watch me playing during the basketball game. Running back to the dorm to change. Stealing my sister’s shirt, throwing on my best pair of Lucky jeans. Running back to the gym, casually. Heart racing when you came up to me after the game. Singing Jason Mraz with you in the car on our way to the park. Watching the stars. Falling in love.

Truth be told - I’m a dreamer, I love reminiscing. Looking back, listening to old songs, throwing on my favorite outfits from yesteryear. It’s funny how looking back, I didn’t realize how much of a part certain pieces meant to me - my favorite pair of jeans, my favorite swim suit, my go-to tee…they were all Lucky Brand. 

And lucky me - all my favorite trends from those yesteryears are coming back full swing. Who What Wear just announced the revival of the graphic tee, but with a more sophisticated twist. Instead of funny phrases and sayings on the front, we’re seeing a resurgent of band/brand tees making their way into our favorite stores. 

I wish I had this Fender tee in high school instead of my favorite shirt that read, “There are always more fish in the sea” that I’d habitually wear after every heartbreak. FACE. PALM.

And thank goodness for these slim boyfriend jeans! These are the saving grace of “ate too much food all winter now I’m trying to look cute.” The struggle, friends, is so, so real. I love how this particular style has just a bit of ripped detailing without actual body parts popping out (looking at you, high school denim!) They’re not only insanely soft, but they’re incredibly flattering. Not too baggy...just right.

What say you, friends? Are you feeling the revival of graphic tees and tailored boyfriend jeans? And are you as obsessed with Lucky Brand as I am? Let me know in the comments below!

Wearing Lucky Brand denim (Sienna Slim Boyfriend,) Fender tee and rings c/o, Cuyana bag c/o, Ray-bans via Ditto (get a month of free sunglasses rentals with code: ITSJULIEN), Lucky Brand sandals.

This post was spnsored by Lucky Brand, all opinins are my own!
Photos by Jen Eun

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Fewer, Better Things

Monday mornings. They sneak up on us like those 5 pounds around the holidays. As Yoda would say, The struggle is real with the one. That is what he’d say, right? 

I used to get so stressed about Mondays…trying on tons of clothes, never being happy with what I wore. But since my shift in focus (from more is more to less is more), getting ready in the mornings has been SO MUCH easier. 

I’ve mentioned this (many times) before, but reading, “The Life Changing Magic of Tiding Up” was a game changer for me. I got rid of 2/3 of my clothing and I honestly couldn’t be happier. 

But pairing down left a few open holes in my closet. Namely for some high quality basics. Call me crazy, but I don’t mind wearing the same thing over and over again. If I’m spending more on something, I want to get a ton of use from it! 

Case and point? This silk tank top and this gorgeous leather bag. Both are from one of my new favorite shops, Cuyana. This slow-fashion company based in San Fran is changing the way people shop, including myself. Their curated collection of pieces remind us that fewer, better things is the way to go. I’ve worn this top with ripped jeans and heels for an elevated weekend look and to an event with this insanely gorgeous skirt from another favorite shop of mine, Take 5 Boutique. 

And this bag? Hasn’t left my shoulders since it arrived in the mail. It’s the perfect size and fits all my essentials (sunglasses case, wallet, phone and lipstick!) I wore it around town this past weekend and people couldn’t get enough of it. Random strangers were asking me if they could feel the leather and after carefully examining their fingers (for traces of french-fry grease), I’d oblige. 

But lucky for us, you don’t have to hunt me down to see this yummy handbag. Cuyana is doing a pop-up in DC over the next month until May 22 (1249 Wisconsin AVE. in Georgetown.) And this Thursday, they’ll be hosting a grand opening party where you can get a first-hand look at why fewer, better things are, well, just better. I can’t wait to see more of their pieces in person (like this perfect cropped trench and their super popular leather tote bags!)

If you’re in the area, definitely pop into their temporary location to see the pieces for yourself. Or if you want to see how I style this bag and tank next, swing on by Thursday to their event- see you there!

Wearing Cuyana tank and purse c/o, Vincetta skirt via Take 5 Boutique, Polette sunglasses c/o, Lucky Brand sandals, Sophie Blake necklace.

Dark Florals

I’m gonna be real with you for a moment here. I haven’t worked out in like a month. And as we all know, I’m someone who tries SO HARD to eat healthy but consistently  gains weight when she glances at a sweet treat (this is a real condition and I definitely have it.)

A little backstory as to why I haven’t worked out lately - 9 years ago (very close to this very day actually), I was playing soccer. And by playing soccer I mean trying to stay alive on the soccer field, running around like a crazy person trying to kick a ball in the right direction.

After the game, I spotted him across the field. He has SO good looking, tan, curly blonde hair. I tried playing it coy (not like the desperate-for-love girl I was inside) and kicked around the soccer ball with my friend. He sauntered over (with all the swagger), and started goofing off with us. He had this super bright idea of jumping on my back for a piggie-back ride (as only a high-schooler would) and something terrible happened. There was a pop and a thump (me falling to the ground.) 

LONG STORY SHORT, I had torn my ACL and MCL. I had surgery that summer and then married the man who essentially tore my ACL 6 years later. As one does.

Anyway, it recently became inflamed and I’ve been in a ton of pain for the last few weeks, and that’s why my legs have been in hiding. Because they’re growing larger by the minute. JOKES. But really.

So if you’ve seen me living in jeans or maxis like this one lately, you’ll know why. ;) In fact, I'm sharing some of my favorite maxis that you can shop below (since the one I'm wearing is sadly sold out!) Happy Friday, friends!

Wearing Keepsake maxi dress (similar), Halogen leather jacket, Sophie Blake bracelet, Via Spiga boots, Erwin Gomez lipgloss in SAB c/o and Express skinny scarf. Photos by Abbey.

SHOP MY FAVORITE FLORAL MAXIS

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