Here at Rue, we most definitely have summer on the brain. So we jumped at the chance to take our most pressing questions of the season to style blogger Jacey Duprie – a.k.a. Damsel In Dior. She’s a Texas-bred daughter of a cotton farmer, and her charmed life in L.A. is currently blowing up our social feeds (and probably yours, too).
Credit: Damsel In Dior
Rue La La: Do you have a go-to summer uniform?
Jacey Duprie: My summer uniform is all about wearing pieces that allow cool layering and versatility. I want the option of hitting the beach in the afternoon for a dip in the ocean followed by drinks/dinner with friends. I usually opt for jean shorts, a cotton tee or tank with a light jacket over, and sandals. This way, I can toss the jacket on for the evening and the cotton T-shirt will dry easily after possibly getting hit with ocean mist.
RLL: Your summer style wish list – what’s on it?
JD: Right now I have my eyes and heart set on stripes. Striped tees and dresses are always on my summer style wish list because it’s the quickest and easiest way to infuse summer into your wardrobe. I very rarely wear color or print, and I consider nautical stripes to be my favorite way to bring in a little variety to my more monochromatic style.
RLL: What makes cotton the fabric of your life?
JD: Not only has my family been farming cotton for many, many generations, but it truly is my favorite fabric. Every time I put on a piece of cotton, it’s like I am putting on a piece of home. It is the softest, coziest, and most durable fabric. I love that I can wear cotton year-round for nearly any and all dress codes.
RLL: And because we’re really nosy and you have a seriously covetable closet – what’s the most prized piece in there?
JD: Not nosy at all! In fact, here’s a full tour of the closet (you can also watch below).
As for favorite items, I have two: 1) My favorite striped cotton PJ pants. They are borderline acceptable by my darling husband, but thank God he approves because they are the most comfortable things ever. 2) My very first (pink) Chanel handbag. I purchased it with winnings from Las Vegas, and I chose pink because that was the color Chanel bag that Mischa Barton wore on The O.C. and I was obsessed with the show.
RLL: Any beauty secrets (or must-haves) you want to spill?
JD: My few beauty secrets: Toothpaste works best for pimples. Just put a dab on for 5 – 10 minutes and let it burn. I also swear by Chanel concealer and my Clarisonic cleaning brush.
RLL: Say you have six weddings on the docket – what’s the style game plan?
JD: Yikes! Pack a flask? Kidding. Sort of. The best plan is to wear the same dress to half (hopefully). Think about who will be at each wedding. If your close group of friends will be at all six, then I say opt for skirt and top options that you can easily mix and match together. Think of it this way: Two skirts and two tops equal four outfits. Or, go with the easiest game plan of all: When in doubt, wear a little black (fabulous) dress and switch out the heels.
RLL: Let’s talk travel. Which destination is top of your list this summer?
JD: Well, I am taking a trip to Hong Kong that I am super excited about. I would very much like to plan a trip to Italy and/or Cuba. I’ve never been to Cuba and I’m dying to go. I went to Italy last summer and it was the best trip I took all year.
RLL: On any given beach day, what’s in your tote?
JD: Sunscreen with 50 SPF, a hat, a good book, a mophie backup charger, my Fujifilm camera, Carmex, my passport (because I carry it with me everywhere I go), and my journal and Montblanc pen (which also go everywhere I go). Oh, did I mention beer? Yeah, that’s in there too.
RLL: If you had a signature summer drink, what would it be?
JD: The Texas Beer-Rita. Here’s how to make it.
RLL: You finished a jaw-droppingly gorgeous home reno – what will you be whipping up in your kitchen this summer?
JD: Thank you! Outside of BBQ ribs on the grill, my favorite summer recipes consist of fresh fish and vegetables from our garden. My dad, being the rock-star farmer that he is, installed an awesome garden in our backyard and we cannot eat from it enough. We have tomatoes and lettuce growing out of our ears. I absolutely love it because we can send friends home with vegetables, which is exactly what my parents would do when we were growing up and had guests over.
Want more? Look out for part two of our interview – a rapid-fire Q&A – soon.
By Chrissy Waters, Editor
