Behind Closet Doors #1: Juliet Mason
A conversation about personal style, Popeye, and the French Open
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Welcome to Behind Closet Doors—a new interview series on Fashionably Late. Here, I’ll share an intimate peek into the wardrobes of people with really cool personal style. For the inaugural issue, I had a conversation with
, from the newsletter julietnotcapulet, about finding authentic vintage pieces, attending the French Open, and using Popeye as style inspiration.Enjoy; it’s a good one!
Emma Saadi: How would you describe your personal style?
Juliet Mason: Wannabe movie character with a preference for clothing older than her. My style tends to lean a bit more feminine but I still pull from a number of traditionally masculine inspirations. My favorite items usually have some sort of print, and I love a pop of color!
ES: What's your go-to everyday look? Are there any particular colors, patterns, or fabrics that you're drawn to?
JM: If I’m totally stumped on what to wear, I’ll most likely go to my clothing rack and grab one of my tartan kilts. On top, I’ll either tuck in a plain tee from ARQ, (rip for now…), or some sort of artist merch. I’ve been alternating between a Belle and Sebastian tee and a King Krule one a lot recently. Finally, I’ll top it off with my royal blue French chore jacket if the weather permits. It has to be my most worn item in my closet and I’m just now coming up on a year of owning it! I’m very partial to anything made from cotton, which could be anything from tees to denim jeans, or a crisp poplin. I also love wool, especially in the winter, and tend to gravitate towards garments made from wool rather than acrylic polyester blends.
ES: What are you currently inspired by, and how does that feed into your personal style?
JM: I recently watched Amélie for the first time, (a canon event), and I’m still reeling from it. An easy five stars!!! The film’s usage of red and green was very much appreciated by me as a lover of the color combo, and now I want a collection of cute little slip dresses to wear to bed. I’ve already had my eye on a few polka dotted items and Miss Amélie Poulain has put the search into hyperdrive.
ES: Do you have any style icons or fashion inspirations that you consistently turn to?
JM: I can’t say that there’s anybody I consistently turn to for inspiration, mostly these days it’s the movies and shows I’m watching that have some sort of effect on what I’m wearing. Like I mentioned before, Amélie has grabbed my attention for the time being but I’ve also been strongly influenced by Twin Peaks, The Sandlot, and even Popeye.
ES: I’ve noticed that your wardrobe consists of a lot of unique, one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. What’s your favorite vintage find ever?
JM: My favorite find has to be a vintage majorette jacket and skirt I got at a Beacon’s Closet of all places. The skirt is far too small but the jacket fits just right. It’s a lovely cream color with burgundy swirl piping throughout and weighty silver buttons across the chest. After some research, I’ve deduced that it has to be from sometime between the 1940’s-1960’s. What makes it my favorite find besides the fact that it is gorgeous and was under $100 are the labels inside of it. Like many garments from the era, the jacket proudly states that it was made in the USA, but also lists an exact address. After looking it up, I found that the building the uniform was produced/sold in was built in 1900 and now serves as a store space on the first floor, and a 3 bed, 2.5 bath, $780,000+ apartment space on the second + third floors. Alongside this are more custom labels that list more details including the name of the girl who previously owned the uniform!
ES: Where do you shop most often?
JM: I shop almost exclusively second hand! I scroll through Depop and eBay like it’s my sworn duty, and recently downloaded an app that pulls search results from all second hand sites at once. Very dangerous. If I want to shop in person, I’ll usually hit a few thrift stores in Bushwick, or 10 ft Single by Stella Dallas in Williamsburg. A few brands that have really been doing it for me are Sandy Liang (sample sales and lucky second hand finds only), Allina Liu (severely underrated!), and recently, Peachy Den! I just ordered their Cindy set in parasol and I’m so excited to receive it.
ES: Do you have any tips for shopping second-hand and vintage clothes?
JM: Always be eager to learn more about your clothes! When out shopping, especially vintage and second hand, you are exposed to so many brands you didn’t know beforehand. I always go on a google deep dive with new clothes I pick up, and oftentimes stumble across something fun. The same applies to learning more about clothing itself. The more you know about materials, styles, eras, etc, the more interesting and worthwhile shopping can be, and you can start to identify exactly what it is you like and may not like about a piece.
ES: You mentioned on your newsletter that your dad has played a big role in shaping your personal style. What are some specific tips or style cues you’ve picked up from your dad?
JM: Yes, very much so! I just remember going shopping with him when we were younger and he was always very picky with what he would even pull out from the racks. He’s always had a very good eye and feel for materials and determining whether or not something is true vintage, and shopping with him has helped me develop that skill a bit as well. We also tend to be into a lot of the same things, like, western wear, cool labels on vintage clothes, and anything from the 60’s + 70’s.
ES: If you could pick any destination to travel to right now, where would you go and what would you pack?
JM: I would go to Paris to attend Roland Garros and spend my days in the stands watching matches (in this hypothetical situation, I obviously have a lot of free time and money). Seeing as I’d be exposed to quite a bit of sun, I’d first pack one of my Baggu packable sun hats. It is very big and dramatic, which makes it the perfect barrier from the rays. I have some cute Lacoste x Bandier unitards that haven’t yet seen the light of day, and no place better than the French Open. I would opt for another matching set moment with the previously mentioned Peachy Den set that is on the way to me. Other items I’d bring are my favorite little pair of black and white gingham shorts, my tennis ball green Big Bud Press western pants, and of course, my Market Studios Coco Gauff tee!
ES: What would you wear to the airport?
JM: I’d wear something comfy, but not sweatpants level comfy. In the past, I’ve gravitated towards a stretchier or baggier pair of jeans, and a regular top. Also, cardigan or light chore coat for the air conditioning. On my feet, I always wear my Dr. Marten mary janes. They are the most comfortable shoes I own, and slip on and off super easily!
ES: Lastly, what’s on your wishlist right now?
JM: I reaaaaaly want a cute sailor style dress for the summer but I’ve honestly been really picky in finally biting the bullet and purchasing one. I don’t want it to look too costumey or 2012 ModCloth-y. I do love the Julieta dress from Ciao Lucia, but I’m not in love with the price. It does give me a good idea of what I prefer within the umbrella of sailor dresses, though. The search continues!
A huge thank you to Juliet for letting me pick her brain for my first-ever closet deep-dive! You can subscribe to Juliet’s newsletter, , for more great outfit inspo.
Emma xx
P.S. This newsletter is a labor of love that requires most of my time away from my studies. If you’re thinking about upgrading your subscription, please know that your support would be greatly appreciated! A paid subscription is only $6 per month (or $4.17 per month with an annual subscription), which is about the price of a cup of coffee.
Loved this peek into Juliet's closet!!!
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