Interview with Julide

Today’s interview is with the lovely Julide – who has not only a very charming style, but personality as well. Julide has a very unique sense of fashion which you will soon see (gold cheeseburger ring anyone?) and is incredibly down to earth, with a sweet enthusiasm that really shines through. I also really enjoyed hearing about Julide’s style icons – get ready for a lot of eye candy!

Julide’s beautiful accessories drawer

Who are you? What do you do, and where do you live? 

Hi, I’m Julide! I’m from the Midwest and in my mid thirties.

Pucci scarves

I know that until five years ago, you didn’t even have a bag! Have you added any accessories since then? 

I never liked handbags before. I thought they were too fussy. (My older sister even worked at Louis Vuitton when I was a teenager, and I still never liked bags!) For the longest time I just used a Fendi credit card case, I don’t like using a large wallet. Before I got my first bag (a Bolide), I carried to everything else in my pockets. My pants were huge! Now, I have a ton of accessories and bags. I love Pucci and Hermes scarves.

Julide’s favorite accessory

Any favorite accessories? 

My favorite accessory is a necklace that was a graduation gift from my mom’s best friend gave me. My second favorite accessory combo, and the one I use the most – is my black box Hermes Kelly Elan with gold hardware and my cheeseburger ring that I picked up in Tokyo a few years back.

How cool is this cheeseburger ring?

Can you share with me some of your greatest fashion inspirations?

Julide’s biggest style inspiration

My mother’s best friend– My first view of style was her. She will always be an inspiration! When I was a child seeing her get ready for an event was a pure joy. We talk about clothing all the time now, and she is in her 80’s now and still makes all of her own clothes. If I could have 1% of her style I could die happy. I am unable to fully describe what she means to me in such a small amount of words…

Olsen Twins– I love how they can incorporate vintage into their looks, I have many vintage items that have been given to me or I have bought. They also love to repeat their favorites and are not afraid to wear an item for years!

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton– I admire her style both on stage and in “real life”. Unique and suits her.

Iris Afpel

Iris Afpel– She made mixing everything unusual something to copy! I love her for that! It inspires me to try different combinations all the time.

Jackie O– She was so elegant. Everything looked amazing on her.

Consuela Castiglione

Consuela Castiglione– I love her unique style in Marni!

Aerin Lauder (on left)– I adore her natural hair and makeup! I like that she looks under made up, rather than over made up. She dresses well and is natural  – something I try to attain for myself.

Maria Callas– Because everyone needs a diva to look up to! Her jewelery, hats and dresses are my favorite.

Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola–  She is polished, simple, natural, tailored and trendy all in one! Her style is fantastic, her accessories are to die for. She reminds me of a modern Jackie O.

Audrey Hepburn– She was adorable, chic and sexy, wrapped into one…who could not admire that?

Daphne Guinness

Daphne Guinness– She is so cool and loves the Hermes Paris Bombay bag too, like me. Plus I love her use of brooches, ribbons and she constantly re-wears lots of her fantastic wardrobe.

I love fashion in real life. I love to see what people create.

Are you a shy or outgoing person? How does fashion help you express yourself, and in what way?

I am a super shy person and very soft spoken, what a combo! I have always been reserved and content on my own, while my mother is the polar opposite . It is a shame that many people don’t take a moment to wonder if a person like myself is shy, they immediately think  that I’m aloof, snobby or something else negative. I am a very friendly person, but it does take a while for me to warm up to people.

Though I am shy talking with people, I find fashion to be a place where I feel comfortable. I don’t mind wearing something vibrant, sparkly or something unusual. No Lady Gaga outfits but colour, textures and other aspects I love! I like to think it expresses my personality!

Some day looks

I love your Hermes collection. If you could do it all over again, anything you’d change or tell yourself?

Thank you! If I could start collecting all over again…I think I would not have as many bags as I do now. I love them all but I really only need about 25% of what I own. I do rotate, but it is too much. However, that does not stop me from wanting more!

Hermes Ex Libris en Kimonos scarves

Can you share some of your favorite Hermes items? What bag styles are your favorite? Any that you think are underrated?

Some  of Julide’s favorite clutches ( black Hermes Maharani clutch on the left)

What’s a typical outfit for you? And how has your style evolved? 

My typical “day” outfit is always changing.  I usually wake up a decide that morning what I would like to wear, then I go outside and get a reality check and change!

Julide packs all these Hermes bags into one Paris Bombay!

Julide’s travel looks

What are some pieces of advice on shopping/style/budgeting that you’ve had to learn over the years that you can share?

For me the most important thing is the question: how many items in my closet does this go with? If you can mentally make four (four is my magic number) outfits, just think of how many things it will work with once you get home! I think if you make sure an item works then the price is not relevant, (in relation to your budget, of course) you can easily spend ten times that amount on “almost” perfect items over time.

As for budgeting, I think stick to a certain percentage of your take home income after all your expenses. (taxes, savings, retirement, and so on..) More than likely all clothing will be on sale or there will be a coupon. I try to wait to buy it then. Many designer items that are carried in department stores, even before the first sale will have anywhere from a 10% to 30% off coupon, and with inventory systems you can find your right size and colour anywhere. Also try consignment shops, eBay and buy things when you travel. I have found many cool things all over the world that have worked well with my wardrobe. Finally a shopping list is always more effective than window shopping – but of course, window shopping is so fun.

Some of Julide’s elegant evening looks

What are some of your other passions and hobbies?

I love to read! I know its not a hobby for some, but I spend a ton of time reading, and pack a ton of books on trips too. I am not a tech person so I still use real books. I love poetry and essays and have a whole journal dedicated to quotes. A favorite quote of mine is by William Shakespeare, and it is written inside of my Cartier LOVE bracelet:  “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” 

Movies I love too, epecially older films, for the wardrobes: Bell Book & Candle, That Touch of Mink, Pillow Talk, (Doris Day had great outfits!) any Audrey Hepburn film (I like Charade) ,La Dolce Vita, and any Leslie Caron & Catherine Denuvue films The movies of the 1960’s and 1950’s were my favorite.

Julide’s summer bags

Finally – please share something surprising about yourself!

I believe in random acts of kindness…I learned this from my mother. A couple years ago an elderly man came up to her and thanked her for the gift she gave his then teenage son (the son was now in his late 30’s, and my mother was not a friend of this family) he said thank you it was not forgotten, and wished her well. To this day that story makes me smile and I strive to be a kind person. My mother is now in her 70’s and I have seen many people come up to her to say thank you, more often than I can count. I try my best to emulate her by doing kind things for people everyday. Open a door for a person, compliment someone, smile, sometimes people need a small act to make their day. I know it works for me!

Another surprising fact, although I am super shy, get me to a karaoke machine and I will sing off key!

Julide is such a total sweetheart – I think it just shines through in her answers and I think a lot of us can relate to the “shy” part. It’s amazing how many people I’ve met who I thought were very shy and aloof who turned out to be amazing, vocal people once you got to know them better. Thank you Julide for sharing some of your beautiful closet and fabulous life story with us!