If you are not new here then you know I swoon over a sweatshirt dress, good ones are far and few between so when I find one reasonably priced (under $60) I purchase immediately. This Balmain inspired sweatshirt dress is no exception. The detailing on this dress is amazing, in addition to the shoulder details there is a moto type stitching along the sleeves giving it an armor vibe. Hands down one of my best sweatshirt dresses and I highly recommend from me. Future reference: if I purchase and recommend a sweatshirt dress, you have about 24 hours to purchase or you’ll be waiting another 5 years. I’m so serious.
Disclaimer: When shopping for sweatshirt dresses please understand, they are NOT all the same. There is a reason my sweatshirt dresses are my most asked about items, they are not frequently made or found. I get tons of DM’s showing me sweatshirt dresses that I would never recommend, purchase or wear. This is because the typical sweatshirt dress that is made and sold is more of a tunic style I can only describe as created for tweens and teenagers. The skirt of the sweatshirt dress style most frequently found is cut like a rectangle, this style is not made for hips, curves, butts or a thanksgiving feast. This style dress is typically sold for $25 or less. If there is not a ribbed band at the end of the dress, the dress is more than likely not hip friendly. If you have a slim boy shape or narrow hips the style most frequently found may be good for you.
My face looks silly but everything else looks great. I’m taking the L and putting this on the internet *shrug*
DRESS: I shared this dress on IG Stories the day it was released (after I placed my order, of course lol) and it sold out within 3 days. I haven’t seen a restock yet but H&M has been restocking items that sell out in the first week, so look out for restocks or returns in your stores. I purchased my TTS and it fits as it’s suppose to. It is an oversized dress so you could size up or down and it may still work. Length; I am 5’4″ with super short legs so keep the length in mind if you are 5’7″ or taller.
CLUTCH: Because I like to “keep it real” I bought this clutch solely for photos and I love it! I don’t carry clutches irl much because I like being hands free so I can bust a move when needed, for the sake of being honest it’s because when I’m not working I’m shopping/running errands and a clutch isn’t the best bag for that. However, let me get into some shenanigans this season and I’ll def be pulling this out! If you are a clutch user this is worth the $30 price tag.
BOOTS: Now this style boot was on my must have list for the season, I scored these this past July during the Zara Summer Sale. They were a huge clearance win at $40 *praise hands*. I wore these boots for the first time when I shot these photos and let me tell you …. I felt COOL AF! I definitely need to put a few looks together solely to feature these boots. Zara updates these boots each year so I linked those above for you guys.
I wear sneakers with EVERYTHING right now, and I when I was re-upping for Fall I decided to go with an all white pair. I love the classic structure of the Puma Cali Sneakers. A sleek cut is best to wear with dresses and leggings, in my opinion so this was a great choice for me. I wear these sneakers a few days a week and have easily gotten my monies worth.
Usually, our Rule of 5 posts I’m mixing up old items with new items but I have to give a disclaimer almost all of what I’m sharing I bought this season. If you download and read The Rule of 5 E-Book, you’ll know I had to start my wardrobe from scratch a few years ago and to be transparent this is the first Fall season since I’ve been able to financially purchase the Fall wardrobe of my dreams. With that being said, your girl balled!
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
Sweater: this is a highly recommend! It is wool so it is itchy but with proper layering and cold temps I don’t feel the itch. This is the sweater I’ve been reaching for when temps drop, it’s warm and cozy. It is oversized so it’s perfect to wear with leggings, I sized up anyways, I could have absolutely gotten my size and it would have still fit perfect.
Leggings: the Spanx leather leggings were an item I put on my must have list last Winter so they were my first purchase this season. I wear mine with oversized sweaters, sweatshirts and hoodies. I am a person that does not subscribe to leggings as pants, I do not own any leggings, this is my first pair and I highly recommend them and think they’re a must have.
Sweater Dress: This dress is a favorite, for now it’s perfect with sneakers. I plan to pair it with booties and OTK boots when the temps drop. I bought this dress is my TTS and it fits perfect. It is a midi length, I’m 5’4″ for length reference.
Sweater: I bought this sweater to wear as a set with this skirt. This sweater is an easy throw on and go with denim, skirts and eff it, sweatpants! I bought my TTS but wish I would have purchased a size up because I love oversized sweaters.
Skirt: While I bought this skirt to wear as a set I’ve paired it with t-shirts, black body suits and a black turtleneck sweater. It looks amazing with all. The weight on this skirt is good, no cellulite shows! It fits TTS
This. Dress. Right. Here. *praise hands* So far this is my most worn dress or skirt from my Fall selection. I will say it’s only dropped below 68 degrees a few days so I haven’t been able to really break out the sweaters and sweaters dress. The fabric of this dress is a good weight and does not show cellulite, keep in mind I wear shorts under all my dresses to smooth any potential cellulite out.
You guys demanded a bun tutorial on IG stories the first day my bun made her return. Since you are spoiled, I did as you said. I also found a few key items/products to help achieve your best bun, that’s linked below.
All steps are in the video above. As far as how I get the fullness, when my hair is short I have to use the bun donut. When my hair is longer I use a fuller velvet scrunchie instead. Major Key to volume is separating your hair in 2 pieces and “swooping” it!
The images below is just hair, that’s when my hair was longer.
This is in my top 5 favorite outfits this Fall season, that says a lot considering this seasons wardrobe is fye! After looking through these images I realized every piece I’m wearing is a basic classic piece we either all have or should have. Do you need fur loafers, no, but do you have loafers in your wardrobe? More than likely.
This outfit is a clear reason as to why you should invest in your basics.
Why you should invest in basic pieces …
You’ll have these pieces forever. For instance, I bought these jeans 2 years ago, they are my most worn and most complimented pair of pants.
They’re versatile. I wear everything I’m wearing in this look with everything. Seriously, this is my everyday handbag. I wear these shoes 2-3 days a week and on average I’ve worn these jeans once a week over the past 2 years.
The quality holds up! If you’re wearing a pair of jeans once a week for 2 years you need quality if you want them to last.
Resell value. Now this one relates to the Louis Vuitton handbag I’m wearing. When it comes to LV you can resell classic handbags for what you paid or a little less. If you hold onto it long enough and keep it in excellent condition you can sell it for more than you paid as the value increases with time. The denim I’m wearing holds good resell value as well. I’ve sold this brand on Poshmark for close to retail price.
Turtleneck: This is a cheapie I picked up at Target, it is a thong and fits well. However, it started peeling just from the strap of my handbag. The fabric is cheap so it shows every ounce of jiggle. I’ve since upgraded to a higher quality Turtleneck bodysuit I plan to share in a future Rule of 5.
Denim: This is a slim boy cut from Madewell. This particular pair is from 2 years ago but they normally have a few styles in this cut. Madewell denim is amazing, I have about 5 pair and love them all.
Shoes:Now, I really wanted the Gucci Printown Loafers but I bought this handbag instead so I bought these Gucci dupes from Amazon. I absolutely love them and do plan to invest in the actual Gucci’s in the future now that I know I’ll wear them. HERE is an even less expensive version than the Amazon dupes.
Handbag: I’m wearing the Louis Vuitton Alma BB, I love it style wise but don’t love that items I put in my handbag aren’t easily accessible. It’s kind of hard to get in and out of. I don’t have small enough pouches to fit in the bag to separate my things aka lip stuff, advil, tampons, etc. You know what I’m talking about. I love it but I’m unsure about it function wise.
A few months ago after reviewing my future goals along with time constraints (at the time) I thought it was best to close my shop, Julia Marie, that carries custom Name, Monogram and Initial jewelry. Prior to making this decision I did want to do a store closing “Black Friday” sale the month of November but I didn’t have the time or energy to keep SJM open for 3 more months. In addition, I didn’t know if I’d have the time either but life has a way of working itself out and I now have the room in my schedule. Back in August I had a “private” Store Closing Sale that I only shared on my personal Instagram stories and the amount of support was insane so I had to bring it back for November and do it properly before we say Goodbye to what SJM has been the past 6 years.
ShopJuliaMarie.com will still have a home on the internet after November 30th but instead of custom jewelry we will have digital products that are related to the information and teachings I share here on my site, Julia Marie B. While we transition into digital products I will have a few of my favorite jewelry pieces available each month, for one month only. For instance, the jewelry pieces that will be available in December are not currently available. These pieces will only be available in the month of December. January 1st they will be gone and we will move on to a new selection in January. By implementing this structure it keeps it more exciting (at least for me lol) and makes it more maintainable for me.
So for our very last HOORAYYYY!!!Shop Julia Marie is having a 40% OFFSALE all of November. No codes necesarry! You guys can shop for yourselves, get your Christmas gifts (Christmas delivery is guaranteed)
Below, I’m sharing all of my favorite pieces that I own and wear daily with product details. Everything is linked for easy shopping!
The Carrie Name Hoops are one of my personal current favorites. You may know I LOVEEE a hoop earring so these spoke right to my soul. During the last sale I was shocked to see that these were a BIG seller!
During the Winter months we wear a lot of sweaters, turtlenecks and scarves. This typically covers the neck making room for our earrings to be the star accessory piece and the Carrie Name Hoops will have you shining bright like a diamond. I said what I said.
If you follow me on Instagram and watch my stories you know the Initial Necklace is currently heavy in rotation. What I love most about it is the ability to customize it. You can get up to 3 characters including a heart or & symbol making it perfect for a “sweetheart” necklace, for your children’s initials or even your parents initials. I choose my first initial with the heart character. It’s fun, cute, and girly so I’m into it!
I got my Initial Necklace on a 14″ Chain so it sits at the clavicle. It’s available in sterling silver or 18kt gold dipped.
The 3D Bar Necklace was layered a lot above with the Initial Necklace as well if you want to double back for styling inspo. This is my favorite necklace for layering, it comes in Sterling Silver, 18kt Gold Dipped or 18kt Rose Gold Dipped. My necklace is on a 20″ chain.
All 4 sides are engravable or you can get nothing engraved at all.
Devon brings allllll the 90’s vibes, this is one of my current favorites and a piece I wear daily. Get your first or last inital or no initial at all. It’s 18kt Gold dipped over Sterling Silver so it won’t change colors from washing your hands or sweating.
And another one …. perfect for weather the Name Ear Crawlers can be customized with 2 different names or you can choose 1 name on both earrings. I got my Name Ear Crawlers with 2 names, “Julia” and “Marie” because ya know, that’s my name.
One of the all time Best Sellers is the Lauren Monogram. It’s an amazing statement piece and makes the perfect gift. I’ve had my Lauren Monogram more than 4 years and have worn it more times that I can count ( or remember ). I’m wearing my Lauren Monogram on a 16″ Chain.
The Name Anklet is major key in the Summer months and a cute addition if you show of your ankle with crop pants, sneakers or loafers in the colder months. The Name Anklet comes in 2 sizes and fits my full sized cankles.
With my fun pieces like this anklet and the Carrie Name Hoops at the top of the post I have fun with it by getting my Nickname, Jules!
The Name Anklet is available in both Gold and Sterling Silver.
Another favorite during sweater season is the Block Monogram Earrings. I didn’t want a traditional monogram so I got my initials, “JM” instead to make them more modern. These are Sterling Silver so the earrings won’t fade or change colors.
The Tiny Name Necklace is a delicate option, very dainty and feminine perfect as a gift or for yourself. This necklace is only available in Gold.
All pieces on Julia Marie are Sterling Silver or 18kt Gold dipped over Sterling Silver so it won’t change colors. Because our pieces are Sterling Silver they will tarnish with time or climate this easily cleaned with jewelry cleaner and your jewelry will be good as new!
I want to thank everyone for all of your support over the years it means more to me than you know! I’m thankful, grateful and appreciative and can’t want to share the next chapter with you!!
Our Rule of 5 this month is my reward for achieving my 2019 financial goals ( 3 months early too! ), that reward is the Louis Vuitton Alma BB in Ebene Damier. Prior to purchasing the handbag I stalked TF outta Pinterest looking for outfit ideas as I’m not someone who wears brown at all. In shocking news I could only find 5-10 looks I liked. While I’m sure you’ve seen this bag before it’s not the most popular LV bag making inspo photos scarce.
When I first considered doing a Rule of 5 featuring the LV Alma BB, I thought that was silly. It’s a handbag, and a handbag from one of the most popular designers, everyone knows what to wear. Then I remembered how I struggled finding outfit inspo before I dropped that money. That’s what sold me on doing this Rule of 5.
We all know Louis Vuitton is an investment, literally, the value of LV only increases with time. Knowing that I can sell this bag and make my money back helped me to justify the purchase. I also wanted to save a few dollars so I purchased my bag from Fashionphile and was able to save $300 off the retail cost. I did an unboxing on my IGTV if you want to check that out. I do recommend Fashionphile and will be purchasing from them again.
THE RULE OF 5
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
If you need more help building your wardrobe my e-book,Build Your Dream Wardrobe on a Budget is a great tool. The 12 steps I take when planning and shopping for my wardrobes each season is covered in detail with examples for you.These are the steps I take to ensure each purchase is intentional, it’s also the strategy I used to budget to purchase my first Louis Vuitton handbag. In fact, The Rule of 5 is one of the 12 steps in the e-book.
