My Favorite Furry Coat

Well, I whipped out this teddy coat today OUT OF THE BACK OF MY CLOSET WHERE I THOUGHT I HAD LEFT WINTER BEHIND.

But with a coat this cute, you can’t really complain.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been LOVING the whole ‘one shoulder’ look lately. I’ve been seeing it all over street style stars during New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. 

Is it practical? No way. Not even a little. But there’s something about it that feels SO COOL. It doesn’t make any sense, but I’m going with it.

Wearing BB Dakota coat (sold out, love this leopard one!), black silk cami (similar), 7 For All Mankind Denim, M.Gemi boots, Cuyana belt, Rings by: Mejuri (here and here), Lucky Brand and Rachelle Celine

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Spring Essential: The Slip Dress

I remember when I first saw a slip dress in the wild. It was sort of a shock to the system, to be honest. I tried it on and thought, where am I ever going to wear this? (Yes, I actually said those words.)

Oh, little did I know that a few years later I’d be here with an extensive slip dress collection (there’s this one, this other navy one, this one I wore as a top, and then the one I’m wearing today from & Other Stories.) 

The thing about slip dresses is - they’re SUPER versatile - they can easily be dressed up or down. I’ve worn mine with everything from sneakers to heels. I’ve worn them to work with a blazer and to brunch with sandals and a tee underneath.

I had typically been drawn to simple slips, but when I spotted this one, I HAD to have it. It still feels classic, but with a bit of an edge. The tiny floral pattern on the dress feels so fresh for Spring. I paired it with my floral embroidered faux leather jacket I got from Wylie Grey earlier this year. I can’t get enough of it!

If you hadn’t noticed, & Other Stories just opened in Georgetown last month! It’s such a treat to visit the store in person - and it’s an Instagram Haven for all you photo fanatics like me out there. It’s right on the main strip on M Street - you can’t miss it! But in case you’re directionally challenged, like me, the address is 3241 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 

Also, in case you were wondering, I wore this dress out for a little pizza date with my bestie Erin (who shot these photos!) for our Friendiversary. I can't believe we've been friends for a year - it feels like we've been besties forever. And in honor of that, here are a few fun photos taken by the also-super-talented-and-darling Emma Weiss of us two!

Wearing & Other Stories slip dress c/o, Sam Edelman perforated mules, Wylie Grey jacket, Sophie Blake necklace. Photos by Erin Krespan.

Little Black Dress

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You’d think after all this time, I wouldn’t get SO excited about a little black dress. Something simple and classic can only get so many compliments, right? That’s what I thought too...and I couldn't have been more wrong.

This one in particular landed in my mailbox from Eileen Fisher. This is my first time trying out the minimal brand and it certainly won't be my last.

There are so many things I love about this dress that it's hard to figure out where exactly to start. First, it's the PERFECT length. I can easily wear it to the office now and when it gets warmer.

Second, it's SO versatile - add a cozy DeNada shawl on top like I did now, or strappy sandals in the summer - I plan on living the majority of my life IN THIS DRESS. 

When I get a new outfit, I like to wear it at the office to see what people think - it's sort of a test run before I release the look into the wild, if you will.

I'll admit - I was kind of stunned how many people LOVED this dress. From my bestie and photographer Erin to multiple viewers on Instagram Stories, it immediately became clear that people are in search of high-quality basics. Friends, as we'd tell our girlfriends who are just meeting our soul mate for the first time, this is one of the really good ones.

So good, in fact, that I wore it for Valentine's Day this year. First, for work, then for a lunch date with my bestest babe Erin! Then when I got home that evening, for a romantic French-themed dinner with the hubby! I already can't wait to wear it again.

Wearing Eileen Fisher dress c/o (second look with these leggings), DeNada shawl, Old Navy coat (in sale!), Finding Ferdinand lipstick, French Connection shoes  

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Flawless in a Flash with Clarins

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My morning routine looks a bit like this:

Each morning, I wake up at about 6 AM or a little later if the snooze button gets the best of me. I stumble downstairs to our soaking tub, since our upstairs shower is under major renovation. Sounds dreamy, but honestly, it's not totally practical! While the water runs, I drink a warm cup of water with Brags apple cider vinegar and lemon. This is typically the only slower-paced part of my day.

After my bath (that usually lasts entirely too long), I rush upstairs to get dressed. Then I hurry back downstairs to grab a quick breakfast - usually oatmeal or granola with yogurt and fresh berries - before running out the door to catch my 7:30 AM bus.

Notice something in there - there's no time for makeup. There’s no extra minutes for swiping on mascara or dabbing on some concealer (which has actually been to my advantage on the bus because who wants to sit next to a scary-looking woman with unbrushed hair and no makeup?) 

However - this doesn’t mean I go without all day. This is where it’s key to find makeup that’s great on the go - that I can easily apply without making a mess on my walk into the office or on the bus.

I’ve partnered with Clarins to test drive a few of their key on-the-go products and I’d like to share a few of my favorites below:

Instant Light Brush-On Perfector: Being the kind of girl who does a million things at once doesn’t always bode well for the under-eye-bag situation. Thankfully this easy applicator makes it simple to swipe on when those circles start to get darker.

Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector: Since receiving this, I’ve worn it almost every day. It’s a really natural color, with a bit of shine to brighten up your face. I loving using when I’m on the go because even if I rush and go ‘outside the lines,’ it’s not quite as obvious as a bold red shade! 

Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch: If you only buy one thing from this collection, it should be this. I know it’s bad to touch your skin constantly, but I can’t help it. It leaves my skin feeling super silky and is definitely my favorite that I've tried so far. I love the compact size too - fits easily in any of my bags.

4-Colour All-in-One Pen: This is one of the most fun products in the bunch. I love multi-purpose pieces, and this one has three eye-liners and a lip liner all in one!

Face Conturing Palette: Contouring is semi-new to me within the last year. When it first came out, I was scared away due to how strong it was first applied to my face. But now that I’ve got the hang of it, it’s become an essential part of my morning routine. It adds dimension to my face while also being easy to apply in a rush.

So if you’re like me, rushing from place to place, be sure to check out these great essentials that make on-the-go look great.

This post was sponsored by Clarins - thanks for supporting the brands that keep It’s Julien up and running! Photos by Erin Krespan

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Featured: Mr. Joe Zee Visits DC

Zara boots: $50
Cuyana coat: $500
Getting stopped by Joe Zee (Editor & Chief of Yahoo Style) in the streets of DC?
PRICELESS

See what yours truly had to say below about the state of DC fashion: