Burnside Farms

SHOP THE LOOK

This past weekend we went to one of the cutest little spots in Northern Virginia - the tulip field at Burnside Farms! I had been years before, but since then, they’ve moved and expanded! The field is expansive, you guys. This flower child was one happy camper.

Onto the outfit - I really wanted to wear this Just Female skirt that I found at Lynn Louisa in Georgetown a couple months ago, so I made that my starting piece. For an afternoon frolicking in the flowers, I searched my closet high and low for a flowy white blouse…no dice.

So I went all versatile fashion ninja and wore this Kate Moss for Toyshop dress (last seen in St. Lucia here) as a top! Versatility has become so essential to me as I’ve paired down my closet. I haven’t quite developed a capsule wardrobe, but I’m getting there. 

For accessories, I couldn't find any jewelry I liked with the outfit, so I threw on one of my favorite (and affordable) spring trends, a red bandana. I tied it around my neck and had a moment of silence for my middle-school self who would have worn this on her head over her cornrows. RIP, terrible middle-school trends.

Anyway, if you get a chance, definitely give Burnside Farms a visit before the tulips are all gone. Looking through these photos is definitely giving me happy spring feels since I’m currently in cold, damp, (but beautiful!) Maine. Spring, where did you go?! 

Wearing Kate Moss for Topshop dress (old, similar), metallic flats (similar), Just Female skirt from Lynn Louisa, H&M bag (similar), Sophie Blake bracelet, Ray-bans via Ditto (get a free month of sunglasses rentals with code: ITSJULIEN) and red banana.

Week in Review - Vol. 1

I had something else planned for today…an outfit post (which I’m sharing a sneak peek of below!) But after yoga class last night, I wanted to try something new - a reflection of this past week and a look ahead to next. So grab your coffee, tea, acai bowl or green smoothie and let’s chat!

This past weekend, we went to Burnside Farms and picked flowers in their tulip field. I felt like I was in France. Definitely make your way there if you have a chance this weekend (and if tickets aren’t already sold out!) Here's a little sneak peek of my shoot!

The work week started off on a super positive note with me sharing about my April feature in Northern Virginia Magazine! I dish on all my favorite spots in the area including my favorite jewelry spot, where to get a cute date night outfit and my favorite places to grab some grub.

Some of you may know this, but my full time job is in commercial real estate. One of my mom’s students asked me if it was hard managing a full time job and the blog - hear what I had to say here.

My insane work week got a bit better when I received my ULTA order in the mail! I ordered this travel-friendly bronzer that I’m obsessed with, a new lip pencil that Claire Ashley used on my Northern Virginia Magazine makeover (and it’s only $3.50!) and this makeup setting spray that Claire also recommended!

I spotted an insanely gorgeous pair of Gucci-like sandals for Spring from Tuckernuck. And if you know me, you know blush is basically a neutral in my closet.

I made the most epic green smoothie of all time the other night. It had 5 frozen strawberries, a banana, two handfuls of spinach, chia seeds, almond milk and peanut butter. It gave me just the boost I needed before my weekly yoga class.

Speaking of yoga, I really found myself in a good place when I attended this week. One skill I’ve learned over the past few years is to listen to my body. If it’s telling me to go to sleep, I’m hopping into bed right away…even if it’s 9:30. This week, I had to decide between a fun blogger event and my yoga class. I listened to my body and attended the yoga class and I’m so glad I did. I’d been feeling a bit unbalanced physically and emotionally this week, and this class was JUST what my body (and soul) needed. During the meditation portion of yoga, the instructor gave us some words of wisdom that spoke to me - maybe they’ll speak to you too: “Sometimes not getting what we want is the best gift we can get.”

Photo from Cuyana

I’m getting excited about our weekend trip to Portland, Maine! And this week I finally retired my Vera Bradley overnight bag I’ve had since high school and gave myself a much-needed upgrade. I snagged this Cuyana weekender bag at their pop-up and I can’t wait to put it to good use this weekend!

Lastly, I was able to snag a few Kylie lip kits yesterday during the restock!! I picked Dolce K and Candy K - have you tried either?! I’m so excited to see if they’re worth the hype!

That’s all for this week - be sure to tune into Snapchat and Instagram (username: @juliengarman) to follow along during my trip to New England!

3 Easy Ways to Give Back this Spring

When the seasons change, I begin to reflect and plan for the months ahead - where will we travel? What items do I need to add into my closet? In what ways can I make a difference in the lives of others? Although this blog is primarily fashion-focused, I know that fashion only makes up a small part of our lives. There’s beauty, travel, food, relationships, family, giving back…and I want to bring you more aspects that make up our daily lives here on It’s Julien.

Let’s start with giving back. Often, we think of giving back as volunteering weeks building schools in a third-world country. Although this is certainly a worthy cause (and something I did when I was younger), giving back is much easier than we used to think. Here are a few easy ways to incorporate giving back into your routine:

Shop ethically
I’ve tried to be much more socially conscious when shopping this year - have you ever seen “The True Cost?” Eye opening, my friends. So when it comes to shopping, I place more importance on transparency more than ever. I love To The Market (see my post about them here!) because their site features survivor made goods that are not only helping women who’ve escaped a dangerous life, but the products are really beautiful. I also love the transparency and fair treatment of other companies like Everlane, Cuyana and VETTA (whom I invested in during their kickstarter campaign!)

Share-a-Haircut
Speaking of helping survivors, I’m so excited that Hair Cuttery is launching their spring Share-a-Haircut campaign! On May 2-3, for every haircut purchased, they donate a free haircut to a community member in need. This year at 900 salons across the country, they’re donating haircuts to victim’s of domestic violence through the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), a non-profit that serves to stand with victims of domestic abuse and their allies. Not only does this help those women, men and children get pampered, but it also allows them to save money on a service that’s not always affordable for them, aiding in their financial empowerment.

This is the 17th year Hair Cuttery is doing the program and have already given away over 1.34 MILLION haircut certificates to those in need. For their last campaign, they gave away 85,000 in February alone. So if you’re planning on getting a cut or trim at Hair Cuttery anytime soon, keep May 2 and 3 in mind! Find your nearest location here.

Do something special for someone
Giving back doesn’t have to mean formally volunteering X amount of hours to a certain organization - I like to think of it as making the world a better place, one step at a time. I love this idea because it allows us to think outside ourselves and place the focus on others (which in turn, makes us happier people!) A few ideas on how to do something nice for someone:

• Pay for someone’s meal in the drive through
• Pick up donuts for your coworkers one morning
• Offer to help an elderly person carry their groceries to their car
• Hold the elevator for someone (I’m all too quick to press the close button upon entering!)
• Compliment someone on their work (a blog post, a work assignment, a waitress serving you, your local barista)
• Drop off a snack for the homeless person you pass on your way to work

What other ways do you like to give back? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

This post was done in partnership with Hair Cuttery. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep It's Julien up and running! 

Blog Questions from a Middle Schooler: Answered

So the coolest thing happened last week. My mom told me that her students had started following my blog! Not only was I stoked about the traffic increase (thanks, kids!) but I’m so thrilled that students are inspired by my style! Makes me feel young again! ;)

One of her students sent along a few interview questions, and I thought it would be really fun to answer them on here! Here’s what her student wanted to know:

How do you get your name out there?
I think the top way I’ve gotten the word out about my blog is through attending local events. Whether it’s a blog-focused event, a fashion show, a store opening or just grabbing coffee with another blogger, putting yourself out there is key! When I started the blog, I knew almost no one in the fashion blogging community. But through getting out there, meeting people in person and engaging with bloggers and brands on social media, I’ve become more well-known in the community.

Another way I get my name out there is through working with brands I love. If I’m sent an item or collaborate with a brand on a post, I’m going to create the best content I can so they’ll want to share with their audience too, which gives me more exposure. I also upload photos (that link back to my blog) to fashion websites like Lookbook. This expands my reach even further and gives me a chance to grow my readership!

Where do you get your fashion ideas?
I’ve mentioned this a little before here, but I get inspiration from everywhere - particularly from magazines, traveling, styles I see on the street and websites like Who What Wear. Sometimes I’ll spot an outfit I like then realize, hey! I have all the pieces for that look…then I recreate it with my own twist on the blog.

How do you afford your clothing?
While I have a more detailed post coming up on how I budget, I’ll share a few key things I do to afford the "blogging lifestyle."

I save. This is very difficult for me, but I’ve learned to not give in to every emotional purchase tugging on my heartstrings. I’ve learned that I enjoy nice things and nice things often cost more money. So when I find something I love, I'll wait a few months, decrease my impulse buys then pull the trigger if I find it’s something I need.

I thrift. This is one of my super secret ways of affording the lifestyle I want. I shop websites like Thredup, Vestaire Collective and Poshmark (follow my closet: @juliengarman) to find unique pieces I really love.

I keep my closet versatile. This means that I’m always finding new ways to style the pieces I already own. I purchase clothing I know I can pair with multiple items so I’m getting my money’s worth.

I work with brands. Sometimes, I work with brands to share about the latest trends with you. Companies will sometimes provide free clothing so I can share about their pieces with you, but when I do that, it’s always, always, always a brand that I’d buy myself. 

How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been blogging for about two and a half years. When I started, I was just a girl trying to figure out what style was…now I feel that I’ve really started to discover what I like wearing and actually enjoy putting outfits together. It used to be stressful for me, but ever since I’ve started filling my closet with pieces I truly love, it’s a blast!

What inspired you to do this?
To be honest, my first job out of college (working for a magazine) took a lot out of me emotionally. I’d return home drained, barely able to make dinner without having a meltdown. But when I moved jobs three years ago, I felt this renewed sense of energy. So I decided I’d start my own blog as a way to channel my creativity. And oddly enough, I wanted to make friends who had the same interests as me! That’s definitely been one of my favorite parts of blogging so far. 

How hard is it for you to do your blogs and other accounts?
It’s HARD. I'm not even gonna pretend it’s not. Managing a full time job and blog on the side? It’s a lot. Sometimes people see my blog and think it’s all getting dress stuff and going to fun parties. What you don’t see? Trying to find the perfect location to complement the outfit you’re wearing, hours of writing posts, searching for the pieces online so it’s easy for you to shop them, late evenings spent editing photos from a shoot before a post is due…and those are just a few things. I’m not trying to say it’s like being a doctor or serving our country by any means, yet it’s still a lot of work. But is it 100% worth it? You bet.

I'd love to keep the conversation going - ask any questions you want to know in the comments below and I'll answer them in another post soon! XO!

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!