Guest Stylist - Julie Dillon

We are so honored to feature the utterly lovely Julie Dillon as our guest stylist today. Julie puts her indelible stamp of timeless style on everything she does whether it be designing, entertaining or charitable endeavors. Speaking of which, Julie is the founder of Tutus and Tuques, an organization that extends tools to small groups nationwide to make gifts (tutus and knit caps) for children battling cancer. Incredibly chic, endlessly generous and a constant source of inspiration for us at TSC....welcome to the world of Ms. Dillon.

Julie Dillon

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Who is your style icon?

The lovely Sarah Jessica Parker. I could only aspire to her fabulousness (hence the icon component I suppose), yet what I admire most about her is how comfortable she is in her own skin. This sets a dramatic base for her style to be displayed on. She is herself, she is legitimate and while her style may not always be timeless, she has the gift of changing with time so she is perfectly fun and perfectly fabulous, always. I expect I’ll continue to aspire to her style for a long, long time.

What’s playing on your iPod?

Oh dear, shameful, but I’m loving some Eminem right now, and a long time fan of Santogold. Not to mention my iPod has a whole lot of Olivia, dance mix 2010 (that would be my daughter toddler dance class mix – and yes, it’s cute!), and Hullaballo – it’s a stage, people. Ha!

What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?

My vintage cowboy boots and undoubtedly my growing hat collection. Oh, especially with summer upon us, my OndadeMar beach coverups ~ I get giddy even thinking of them.

Where is your favorite place in the world?

London beat Paris for my #1 spot which proceeded to nearly shock the French girl right out of me ~ I can still sip the street side café lattes and shop with my French quip like the best of them, but something about London caught me off guard, and aside from an occasional dreamy white sand beach destination, I’d jump on a plane to Heathrow in only enough time to pack a bag (or three).

What are you obsessing about owning right now?

Hello… piles and piles of tulle! In peach, aqua, and crisp white! It’s Tutus and Tuques’ newest color line and it’s screaming summer kiddo fun! I can’t wait to be sitting amongst it, in clouds of color - with my die-hard tutu making girls… Throw in a vintage Prada’s triangle fanny pack (oh good grief can I find one already!!!) and I’d be a happy girl!

What is the most used item in your make up bag?

Right now, anything coral! Lips, cheeks, nails, lids! I went nuts over Mac’s ‘Pret a Papier’ line – nudes mixed with this fav summer color. I’m also finding that I can’t be left without Chanel’s new Inimitable mascara either; perfect for easy breezy lashes right now.

What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?

Besides my own kitchen filled with a gaggle of foodie friends, my favorite fix is El Qero on Hwy 101 (Encinitas) or San Diego’s Red Pearl Kitchen. Having migrated from Vancouver’s incredible Asian food haven, this is the next best thing (and their lychi martinis alone make the drive downtown worthwhile).

What is your necessary extravagance?

My face peels! Spa Violet’s Michelle makes me glow ~ not to mention their new secret underground location makes it all the more intimate and exotic.

How do you define perfect happiness?

Simply, finding a balance between gratefulness & giving (of ones’ self, time, thoughts or resources), I love that often the giving creates the gratefulness ~ but my figure is that the perfect happiness lies there somewhere in the balance.