My Seoul Secret

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I’ve been keeping a secret. A big secret. I’m going to Korea! I didn’t dare utter this before, maybe because I was afraid that if anything bad could happen, it would. I’m a relentless worrywart and my anxiety gets the best of me. Usually in my case, if something is going to go wrong, it typically does. Cancelled flight? Yup, it’s mine. Plane crash? Damn, why does this happen to me?! I didn’t want to jinx it and I didn’t even feel the excitement until I had actually boarded the plane. This trip is 17 years in the making and I really had to pinch myself to believe that it’s real and really happening! I could hardly contain myself, as I stretched out on all 3 seats. Yes, I had all 3 seats to myself!! Window, aisle and middle, this girl got so lucky and now I’m counting my lucky stars!

I was born and raised in Korea (Seoul, specifically) and spent my formative years here and even my rebellious teenage years here. I had dreamt of going home for so long and I’m here! As soon as I got off of the plane, I cried. I cried tears of joy, tears of sadness and tears of relief. I cried for the young girl I left behind and the woman I was becoming. Tears rolled down my my face freely, without abandon, I was finally home. It felt surreal, I kept wondering if I was dreaming. If I was dreaming, I never wanted to wake up.

Why did it take so long for me to return? Trust me, I wanted to come back. Every single day. For 17 years, I wanted nothing more than to be “home” in my “motherland.” The truth is, I had to put my longing on hold. I was a young mom raising two boys, a family. Let me tell you, raising two boys is expensive but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My time with them was beyond precious and so fleeting. As many parents, especially single parents would know, there are always expenses and unexpected expenses that crop up. It’s really never ending, once you pay off one, here comes the other. Even if when I could afford a round trip plane ticket, how could I afford a place to stay, food and other accommodations on top of my monthly bills?

For years, I avoided a lot K-pop and Korean dramas because they were too painful. It was as if, what I had wanted so badly was right in front of me yet so far out of reach. My eyes would well up in tears every time. Seeing them made me so emotionally invested, it was just easier if I avoided them altogether. I even stopped speaking Korean, at restaurants or markets. I can’t explain why, I just know that it was easier to pretend that this part of me didn’t exist rather than face it.

Coming back to Korea, felt like a now or never moment. My boys were grown and I was empty nesting. I was so drawn to go… I had talked about it for years. I couldn’t put it off any longer, 17 years was already long enough.

So, I’m here now and I couldn’t be happier. Land of the Morning Calm…. I’m home, I’m free and I love every minute of it.

Thank you so much for being a part of my journey.

What I Wore:
Black and White Dress by Forever21

In a world full of pants, be a dress~ Jules

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What’s In a Name

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I often look at screen names and wonder, how did they come up with that? What’s the story behind that name? Some are funny, some are based on their name and some…well, I honestly don’t have any idea why they picked the name they did. Your online name speaks volumes and tells the reader about you before they’ve read what you had to say or looked at your photos. It’s basically your first impression that you’re giving to your audience. Here’s how I picked mine.

I was on my first solo trip/ vacation in California. I was leaving L.A. (the fashion district, ironically) and deep in thought, letting my mind wander, as we typically do when we drive. As I was driving back to my hotel in Orange County, it hit me, literally out of nowhere. Dressedinjules! I had been debating a blog name for quite some time, and when it came into my head, I knew this was then one. All the other prospects I had in mind, immediately vanished and entered into the garbage bin. It felt right, it flowed, it had a certain ring to it, and most importantly, it felt like me.

Dressedinjules is a play on words, dressed in jewels, actually. I replaced the jewels with Jules and here I am today. I’ve been called Jules only by a handful of people throughout various times of my life. Each and every time someone called me that, I secretly loved it! Dressed because I love dresses and “jewels” because I’m somewhat of high maintenance, kind of girl. Basically, Jules is showing you her life in dresses.

So there you have it, the story of how my screen name/ blogger name/ Instagram handle came to fruition. What’s your story? How did you come up with your name?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

What I Wore:
Black Bow Tie Shirt by Rainbow
Red Pleated Skirt by H&M
Black Heels by Aquazzura

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~Jules

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The Magic of Sunflowers

Stand tall like a sunflower and turn your face to the sun….

The magic of sunflowers, a gorgeous yellow flower that looks up to the sun. It’s my favorite flower and it always puts a smile on my face. It doesn’t take long for them to grow and blossom but the beauty doesn’t last long, as summer turns into autumn. They’re so beautiful while they last though.

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I fell in love with sunflowers when I was a little girl growing up in Korea. These flowers would grow in a nearby alley way where I would run and play with my friends. Even at such a young age, they captivated me like no other flower. So unique, bright and sunny. I used to pick them and then got yelled at by the “ajushi” (older man) that would grow them. I would run away and pick another the next day. Such a wild and carefree child I was, much like the sunflower. I had found my “spirit flower.”

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Last year, I drove to Deer Park, Washington in search of gorgeous sunflower fields. I must have arrived too late in the season and missed my chance to see them in their full bloom and glory. I took some photos anyway and made the best of my experience there.

Hope you liked the look!

What I Wore:
Denim Maxi Dress by Target

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~Jules

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Memories and Mementos

While traveling, one thing I love to do, is pick up mementos or souvenirs to remember my trip. Of course, I can take photos and capture those moments, but I like that an item can instantly transport me back into time and all the memories I made can really bring upon a smile. I also love to shop, so any excuse to go shopping is a winner, in my book.

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I used to collect shot glasses from the locations I’ve been to. Over time, I amassed so many that it took up so much space. I moved around a few times and eventually, the shot glasses just remained in their boxes, unpacked and unloved. I decided to start collecting post cards instead. This works wonderfully for me because they are so minimal, hardly take up any space, and there usually are quite a variety to choose from. Post cards really did capture my experience and gave me a memory to reflect back on. I keep a journal, which is also part scrap book, and I tape my beloved post cards in it. A really lovely way to relive your journey. If you’re like me, and shot glasses became overwhelming, give post cards a try.

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In addition to post cards, I’m usually drawn to jewelry. Bracelets are my favorite accessory because I can visually look down at my wrist and see them and admire them. I love picking up unique bracelets throughout my travels because it’s something I can wear over and over again. Jewelry makes such a great memento because you can relive those memories every time you glance down or wear them.

Do you pick up little souvenirs or mementos while on vacation or traveling? If so, what do you tend to collect?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

What I Wore:
Striped Purple Jumpsuit from a cute little shop at the Santee Alley, L.A.

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~ Jules

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Create Your Own Fairy Tale

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All the single ladies, all the single ladies… I have been a single lady since 2015. On the heels of my my breakup, of being in a relationship for 10 years, I found myself completely lost. I wanted to replace or fill that void as quickly as I possibly could. I’ve watched people rush into relationships before they were ready or stuck in relationships they weren’t happy in. I didn’t want to make those same mistakes, so I decided to just work on myself instead. Looking back, I’m glad I took the much needed time to heal and find myself.

The more time that has passed, the more I love being single. This is no bs, or sugar coating, or just saying it to make myself feel better and to convince you not to. People look sad and pathetically, at you and say oh, you’ll find someone. You won’t feel that way forever, you’ll change your mind for the right one, when the right person/ guy comes around. This is actually insulting to me. I get met with a lot shock, like it’s a bad thing. I’ve been told, you haven’t met the right one, you won’t always feel this way. Wanna bet? I mean, sure there is a chance that I could meet someone amazing and change my mind but you’re going to have to be John Cena because my standards are sky high. However, John Cena, if you’re reading this, hi, you can totally slide into my DMs. Is there is something wrong with me for being completely content with not being in a relationship or a marriage? I don’t think so, and I don’t believe that being in one defines who I am.

One reason why I’m happy I’m single, is that I don’t like to compromise and I no longer have to. I don’t have to indulge my masking or deep conditioning hair rituals. I don’t have to hide shopping bags in my trunk anymore. I don’t have to “run it by” my partner before I make decisions. I no longer have to sacrifice my freedom or independence. No one is holding me back anymore. I buy myself the best presents on holidays (I know exactly the things I love!), I spoil myself rotten….as you should. I go out to eat and watch what I want and I’ve gotten selfish with my time.

Being single, it irks me to hear women say that their partner is their better half or other half. Or so and so makes me a better person or brings out the best in me. I don’t deserve this person. No honey, you’re a whole person 100% and it’s been within yourself the entire time. If you do better it’s because you chose to do better. Please give yourself the credit, and not to some boy. Sunsets and sunrises are still beautiful. Being in a relationship doesn’t make the places you see or do diminish the beauty. Humans are so geared to think that we need a partner to merely exist or be truly happy in life. Is something only worthwhile or beautiful if you have someone to share it with? Being alone certainly does not mean that I am lonely.

My best reason for being single, is that I’m not an extension of someone. I’m not my best me because of my better half. I am my own person and I love myself first. A friend once told me that she “loves me some me.” I didn’t get it then, it took a while to get to that place. Now, I get it and I love me some me. Create your own fairy tale, there doesn’t have to be a Prince Charming. Love yourself first, it’s ok. It’s an incredible journey.

Thanks so much for reading and letting me share my journey with you!

What I Wore:
Polka Dot Dress by Zappos
White Floral Dress by Down East Basics
Pink Polka Dot Dress by JC Penny

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~Jules

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Big world, Small Town Treasures

Before I moved to the city, there was a time when I was a small town girl. As I made my way through Eastern Washington, I knew I had to stop by the place where I had spent a good portion of my life. You know, the type of small town where everyone knows each other, your kids grew up together, and there’s the same grocery clerk that’s been working there for over a decade. It’s crazy, driving through how little had changed and yet so much was different. So much had stayed the same but wait.. is that a new Verizon store, a new fro yo shop that wasn’t there before? I saw this charming small town through different eyes, since I no longer lived there anymore and called this place home. I was now a visitor, an outsider.

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Memories, people and places can hit you like a ton of bricks. A lot of mixed emotions, some that made me smile and some that brought tears to my eyes. It’s one of those, you can come back to visit, but don’t plan on staying. I knew I had moved on, things were different, and I was a whole other person now. What if I had stayed? I wouldn’t have become who I am now.

I used to drive past this sunflower wall daily. To be honest, I don’t know how long it’s been there but definitely as far back as I can remember. Nestled in the back parking lot of a quaint little neighborhood pharmacy, it was a forgotten treasure of this little town. It wasn’t until I moved away, that I finally took a picture here.

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Change is good, change is scary. I stepped into the big world and in a lot of ways, I wasn’t prepared for it. But that was then and now I don’t have to wonder anymore, what if? But what if I could fly.. and I did.

Thank you for letting me share a part of my world with you. I’m living my dream, one dress at a time.

What I Wore:
Blue Midi Bodycon Dress by Amazon

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~ Jules

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Jumpers, Rompers and Collabs

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In my last post, I talked about 5 things I’ve learned in my year in blogging. Today, I’m going to discuss 5 things you shouldn’t do.

1. Don’t get discouraged. A single post or photo can really launch or propel someone in the blog-osphere. Everything happens in its own time, exactly when it’s supposed to happen. The universe doesn’t make mistakes. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time. Sometimes, a really long time! But keep going, keep posting, and keep pushing through.

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2. Don’t get too offended. When you put yourself out there on the internet, you’re going to be met with the positive and the negative. Not everyone is going to like or agree with what you have to say or what you’re wearing. Take it as constructive criticism and and keep it moving. You’ve got to develop some thick skin.

3. Don’t follow for follow. It may work but it’s a tiresome game to play. Build. Engage. Network.

4. Don’t be fake. Be yourself, be your most authentic self. Let your self shine and the rest of the world will see that. Be fake and the world will see that too. Would you say that or wear that in real life? If you’re not being truthful or it feels uncomfortable, it will show. Don’t be like anyone else, be authentically you.

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5. Don’t compare. It’s too easy to scroll through and compare your thoughts and photos to others. For every photo out there, there will be another that’s going to be better, without a doubt. If you compare yourself to others, you will never feel good enough. You are enough, I promise!

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Hope you liked this post and the combined looks! Outfit deets below:

What I Wore
Black jumpsuit by Asos
Floral romper dress by Rue21
Plaid mini dress by Blooming Jelly (Amazon)

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~ Jules

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One Year Later

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Hello everyone! I’m celebrating a land mark date for myself… I’ve been blogging for one year! I’m really into celebrating milestones, however big or small. Achieving goals and accomplishments keeps your dreams big and keeps them growing. I am by no means a pro when it comes to social media, in fact, I still feel that I am in the infant stages. I’m a baby blogger. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way.

1. Consistency is key. When I first started out, I didn’t have a set schedule and often times posted at random. I still get stuck in this at times, I get busy, life gets in the way, etc, we are all guilty of this. There needs to be a sense of regularity and not haphazard times of whenever is convenient.

2. Quality not quantity. I’ll be honest, I published quite a bit of things that I cringe at now. I had this urge to get things out there as soon and as much as possible, that the quality wasn’t the best. Regardless, I’ve decided to keep those posts up because they are still ME. Throughout this blogging journey, they became a reminder to myself of how far I’ve come and to learn from mistakes I’ve made.

3. It’s harder than it looks. Initially, I thought it was going to be easy. I mean, my topic is about dresses and although it may be superficial “fluff”, it really does require some time and effort. There’s a whole system in place and not as simple as snapping pics. Photos, location, content, thoughts and ideas all come together to form just one post.

4. Engagement is key. You can have the most aesthetically pleasing post, but without anyone to read or comment can leave you feeling disheartened. Engaging with other like minded people who share your vision or have things in common with are the ways to grow. Building yourself can only happen when you network with others. I struggle with this to this day. In my “real” day to day life, I am quite shy. It’s been difficult sometimes to get out of my own head or come out of my shell, even if it is behind a computer screen.

5. Have fun with it! I’ve come to realize that the more I’ve been doing it, the more enjoyment and fun I’ve had. For example, looking for great photo opportunities and locations ended up becoming a way to travel and experience new things. I probably never would have been to certain places or tried new things if it weren’t for that. It really got me out of my comfort zone.

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Thank you so much for following along with me this past year on my blogging journey. I am beyond grateful. This has been such a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

What I Wore
Gingham Checkered Dress by Old Navy

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~ Jules

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Red, White and Stripes

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Happy 4th of July! Just a quick post today, as I am spending time with family and loved ones, and hope you are too! Summer, barbecues and fireworks are such a fun part of celebrating Independence Day.

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In true American fashion, I had to show my patriotic side in classic red, white and blue. My way….in a dress. I hope you liked my take on this holiday tradition and have an memorable weekend!

What I Wore
Blue/ white Striped Dress by Banana Republic
Shoes by Madden Girl

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~ Jules

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My Pink and Butterfly World

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If I could decorate my world, it would be in all shades of pink and fluttery butterflies. I consider myself to be uber feminine and utterly girly. Glitter, flowers, fairies, rainbows, unicorns and mermaids… they’re all invited too. I’m just a girl, young at heart with her head in the clouds, and I’m completely fine with that.Sometimes we are so busy being an adult and think that’s where we belong all the time. I say, keep your dreams and what you love close by and it will keep you young forever.

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I am so hopelessly drawn to pink and vibrant prints. Honestly, there is nothing better than starting my day with pretty colors or lavish designs. Instant smiles all around. I have a “You look good, you feel good” mentality. I know this sounds materialistic and beauty is only skin deep, but I truly feel more upbeat and ready to face the world when I feel great. I can’t say that I feel that way in a pair of sweatpants. This is a major reason why I love dresses so much, it literally makes you look so put together and it’s so effortless. It looks like you have spent so much time getting ready, when all you’ve done was pull a one piece dress from out of your closet. For whatever mood you’re in, or whatever mood you want to be in, it really is a simple one and done ensemble. I promise, it really is that easy. Did I mention that you can twirl?! Twirling is fun and an added bonus. You can’t twirl in pants, I’ve tried, it doesn’t work.

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Being girly in pink and butterflies isn’t for everyone. But it’s me and welcome to my world….

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What I Wore:
Pink Pleated A line Dress by The Dress Barn
Nude Rock Stud Heels by Valentino
Butterfly Dress by Old Navy
Denim Espadrilles by Old Navy

Thanks so much for stopping by!

In a world full of pants, be a dress ~ Jules

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