Weekend Shenanigans at Hunt Cup

This past weekend was Maryland Hunt Cup. For those of who don't live in MD, or for those of you who do but aren't into the horse racing and steeplechasing scene, Hunt Cup is essentially a horse race in a big field. It's a reason for people to get prepped out in pastels, blazers, Sperry topsiders, and Lilly Pulizter. It's a reason for people to gather their cars in a big field, set up tents and tailgates, and spend the afternoon playing corn hole. To boil it down plain and simple for you: Hunt Cup is an afternoon of pomp and circumstance. You can see why this sort of event is right up my alley.

Most years, Hunt Cup happens on a sunny Saturday. This year, the weather gods weren't on our side. It was gloomy, gray, and raining-- but that didn't stop us! Although I didn't don my Lilly sundress (because I didn't want it to get muddy), I was there in the spirit of horse racing and suburban living.

Here are some from my weekend at Hunt Cup.

With my friend Peter and his Vineyard Vines green and pink get up. Loved it.

Ran into some gals I went to middle & high school with in Baltimore!

With my photog friend Joe Sterne!

Pow wow on the grass with Courtney

Bill, the ever-charming Bow Tie Bob, and myself. Bob's seersucker shorts and
yellow blazer made my heart melt.

Hunt Cup attire at its finest. Pastel Blazers. Pants with dogs on them.

Our tailgates have an oyster shucking station. That's how we do it!

Hunt Cup horsies are racing!

I had a blast at Hunt Cup! Tell me, what did you do this past weekend?

<3 GJU

My GJU Radio Debut!

I'm so excited for today's post because I can share with you all my radio debut!

I was a guest on the premier episode of the Shawn Mason Spence Show on blis.fm. The theme of her 2-hour show was What's Holding You Back? Shawn and her guests shared tips and ideas to her listeners on how to move beyond the issues that could be holding them back, including health, wealth, self confidence, and appearance.

Shawn had guests of all different backgrounds and experiences such as celebrity dentist and noted author Dr. Catrise Austin, therapist Dr. Sabrina Jackson, myself, and several others.

You can listen to my portion of the segment below:

Here's a link to the full segment. I come in around minute 38!

I hope you enjoyed listening as much as I enjoyed participating in the Shawn Mason Spence Show. If you have time, I highly recommend letting the whole segment play. Her other guests offered great advice on all aspects of life and how to live it to the fullest.


If you're interested in setting up a closet consultation or wardrobe edit, or would like to schedule a personal shopping session, please contact me directly at GetJessedUp(at)gmail(dot).com

If you take nothing else from this post, leave with this:

Live confidently, fashionably, and let nothing hold you back.

Until next time..

<3 GJU

What I Wore This Weekend!

This weekend was my friend Michelle's birthday, and that called for a night out!

You know I love any excuse to throw on a fun dress so this weekend was no different. This (may) shock you, but I felt like I had nothing to wear. Seriously. Nothing. So I did what any fashionista would do in a stick situation-- and hit up a local boutique.

Pattern dresses make me warm inside. I went with a light and dark green a-line dress that caught my eye the second I walked into the store. Since the dress is busy on it's own, I wanted to keep the rest of the outfit simple. I paired the dress with pink/orange colorblock sandals, a gold watch, and pearl earrings.

If I may add-- I think, despite the rainy crappy weather handed to us on Saturday, I was having a great hair day.

Here are some photos from Saturday night. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Make it your own:

Dress: Francesca's $38 (Similar)

Sandals: c/o LOFT $29.50

Fall in Love with LOFT!

Fellow (local) fashionistas: I have great news! I am cordially inviting you to Fall in Love with LOFT this upcoming Saturday, April 21 from 1 - 5 pm!


To celebrate their new store opening at the Festival at Woodholme, LOFT has partnered with About Faces Day Spa to provide an exclusive shopping opportunity for Baltimore's best dressed. I'll be there, and I'd love for you to join me. Some event details below:

Come shop LOFT on the 21st between 1-5 pm, and you'll receive a friends & family discount of 40% off your entire purchase. If you spend $75 or more, you'll receive a free tote with fabulous goodies (including a gift card for $20 off a Darphin facial - originally priced between $115 - $160). Such a steal.

It keeps getting better. LOFT customers will receive complimentary skin consultations while they shop, courtesy of About Faces. Love getting pampered? Read on. If you book an appointment for About Faces services between Friday, April 20th & Friday, April 27th, you'll receive a 20% off incentive card to shop LOFT. 


Could there possibly be MORE? Yes. You will also have the chance to enter to win great prizes from LOFT and About Faces at the Love LOFT event! Finally, guests will enjoy music, refreshments and treats while they shop. This is a no brainer, ladies.

So.. let's recap.
*Friends & family discount
*Food and drink, and music from a DJ
*Complimentary skin consultations
*Chance to win gifts from LOFT and About Faces
*Tote with giftcard and other goodies for purchases $75 or more

You'd be silly to miss this. I'll be there. See you Saturday :)


Let me know in the comments section below if you'll be there!

Featured Fashionista: Sarah!

Happy Tuesday, guys and gals...


Today's post is a Featured Fashionista! GJU reader Sarah shares why she chose this outfit. I think she looks beautiful!
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Hi GJU!
I was invited to an event where the dress code was "modern chic." I had know idea where to start with that, so I reached out to the one person on twitter I knew could answer my question: @JessCPlatt of Get Jessed Up. After her suggestions, I considered using what I had but ended up going shopping to find something completely new! The colors in the skirt immediately pulled me in. The orange belt with the top gave me color on the top along with the necklace. Nude heels completed the look!

Make it your own:
Jacket: NY & Co. $41.97
Skirt: NY & Co $28.17
Necklace: NY & Co. $14.97
Pumps: Kohl's (on MAJOR sale) $5.99

The only thing I can't find on the website was the orange belt, but I did get that also from NY & Co. They are apparently having a killer sale!
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Thanks so much Sarah for sharing your outfit. You look fabulous! You know I love a good pencil skirt!
Have a great day <3

An Artful Afternoon in Baltimore

Happy Monday! If you celebrated Passover or Easter, I hope you had a great weekend full of family and good food. If you celebrate neither, I hope your weekend was stellar all the same :)

Onto the post...

Yesterday's weather was perfect-- it was absolutely gorgeous outside! The sun was out.. there was a nice breeze.. it was a cool temperature. I was so excited to break out a fun sundress & sandals and spend the afternoon in downtown Baltimore soaking in the sun.

While I was downtown, I came across this bright mural wall and immediately knew it was time for an impromptu GJU photoshoot. This happens to you, right? Maybe just me. Good thing I was with my friend who has a better camera than the one on my iPhone. The photos below are by my friend Will, who happens to be a (very talented) photographer.

Hope you like :)

All photos taken by William Cocks Photography.

Make it your own:

Denim jacket with hood: Target (5+ years old)

Yellow cardigan: J. Crew; Factory version  $29.50

Dress: Nordstrom (Similar) $52

Turquoise necklace: Picked up at a craft fair

Long gold necklace: J. Crew, newer version $50

Cocktail Ring: c/o Mark $18

Watch: NY & Co.; Similar from Mark $40

Eyeshadow: c/o Mark $16

Lipgloss: c/o Mark $11

Sandals: Steve Madden $39.99

Vintage & Vino: Event Recap!

Happy Friday!

Today's post is a compilation of photos taken at a fashion tweetup I went to last week. My friend and fellow fashionista Sarah hosted an event called Vintage & Vino. We all got together at a local thrift shop, drank wine, ate cheese, and tried on fabulous vintage fashions. If you live in the Baltimore area, you should definitely check out the store-- it's called Myrtle Dove Vintage.

At the tweetup, Pixilated Photobooth was there capturing all of our outfits, funny faces, and general shopping shenanigans. If you're hosting an event in the future, I highly recommend having Pixilated Photobooth there! Everyone loved hopping in front of the lens. Overall, they just amped up the energy of the party. To see all the photos taken at the event, click here.

Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed the event.

(click on the pics to make them larger!)

One of the shirts I wanted, but didn't end up taking home. May have to go back.
"I'm bored, and you're appealing."

I obviously didn't get that I was supposed to look straight.

Sarah, party hostess with the mostess, and one of the MDV owners.

I have serious aim issues. Looking now to the other side...

And again.. but I must say I was having a great hair day. That's what matters.

One of the vintage dresses I tried on..

Nick from Pixilated Photobooth. And his dino.

FINALLY! Looking in the right place. Me with Sarah..

Love this one

Nick and other tweetup guests

Sarah with the other owner of MDV

And now for the pics I took-- not as good as those from Pixelated Photobooth but hey..

Myrtle Dove Vintage Owners

These ladies were fabulous.. and they have a jewelry line.
Check it out at Motley.

These two fine gentlemen were also taking photos during the event.
So dapper in their vintage gear...

I ended up getting this tribal print vintage skirt.. it has pockets
which I absolutely love!

Have a great weekend, everyone. If you're Jewish-- Happy Passover! If you're Christian-- Happy Easter! If you're none of the above, happy weekend!

<3 Jess

Featured Fashionista: Renee

Hi everyone!

If you've been following GJU for a while now, you may remember my post on Megan Fox. The idea was to take her sexy red carpet look and make it more office appropriate. Here's a reminder...

Well.. GJU reader Renee was inspired by the look and made it her own. I love how she styled her outfit:

Dress: Target, $10 (clearance!)
Cardigan: Gap Outlet, $15
Necklace: Forever 21, $10
Heels: DSW (Moda Spana), $50 (similar: http://bit.ly/HaggY3) 

Fashionistas-- I don't think any of this is available online anymore. However, this outfit is easy to achieve. All you need a great LBD! I've worn this dress with the necklace several times, but took it another step with the cardigan. 

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Okay, I'm loving the addition of the bright pink cardi. The outfit looks fresh for Spring. Also.. I need a turquoise wall in my office or home, pronto.

Happy Hump Day.. Cya tomorrow <3

Guest Post: Abby Talks Accessories

Hi GJU readers! I'm really excited about this post because my good friend (and accessory expert) Abby is sharing her thoughts on Accessories for Spring. This girl knows what she's talking about. Happy Tuesday :)

You guys know I love a good arm party. Enjoy her guest post...

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This morning, I came across the Spring 2012 Accessories Report from Harper’s Bazaar. Like all women, I swoon over all things fashion, however, my fashion heart skips a beat when it comes to accessories. Accessories are important enough that they can make or break an entire outfit.

HB shares eight trends to look for this spring:

·      Tribal Touches

·      Saturated Sorbets

·      Ladylike and white

·      Futurism

·      Floral Fetishes

·      Return of the earring

·      Wrist Candy

·      Funny Sunnies

I am excited to see all of these trends this spring, however, if you know me, you know that I rock the “wrist candy” at all times. Michael Kors is my go-to, although I currently have my eye on this Kate Spade bangle.

Kate Spade, $58

Today’s wrist candy is minimal, but it’s three of my favorite pieces.

Watch: Michael Kors $250 (it’s old school, but you can find similar here)

Gold Bangle: Michael Kors: $95

Turquoise Bracelet: Polkadots and Moonbeams, $36

Which trend are you most excited about? Wanna talk accessories? Tweet me @AbbyDraper 
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Seriously.. Tweet her.


See ya tomorrow <3