Style Profile – Jessica Harumi

02.19.21

It’s an extra special Friday because today we’re having a delightful chat with the effortlessly stylish Jessica Harumi of the namesake blog and YouTube channel!

I’ve been following Jessica for a long time now and her work always gives me a reason to pause for a moment of elevated ease amidst the busyness of social media. It’s no question that Jessica has impeccable taste but it’s her kindness, approachable outfits and attention to detail that stand out amongst the many minimalist accounts in my feed.

I’m so thrilled that Jessica has generously shared a peek into her style philosophy, most-loved pieces and lots of other great insights with us today. I’m sure you’ll be as hooked on her work as I am by the end of this post!

Read on for the Style Profile Q&A with our guest Jessica Harumi.



All images throughout this post are by Jessica Harumi and have been used with permission. You can find all sources on Jessica’s beautiful website, which I highly recommend you visit and spend some time on.

This post also contains affiliate links, which means if you shop through the links below, you’re supporting Jessica’s creative work!


A FEW QUICK FACTS ABOUT OUR GUEST



Welcome Jessica!

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR WAY INTO SHARING YOUR STYLE & APPROACHING YOUR CLOSET MINDFULLY? 


Hi Lee and fellow Style Bee readers! I’m Jessica, a blogger and YouTuber with a penchant for sustainable fashion and capsule wardrobes. I’ve consumed fashion content online for years now. My first foray into blogging, Black Visual Impulse, was a place for musings on Black contemporary art which cemented my love for creating and sharing content online. Then I became hooked on the concept of a capsule wardrobe, which led me to sustainable and ethical fashion and now here I am after two years, fully immersed in a new career and working towards a more conscious lifestyle. 



WARDROBE FAVOURITES

WHAT ARE THE 3-5 MOST WORN/LOVED ITEMS IN YOUR CLOSET?


Thick Knit Cardigan

(Shown below)

  • Where did you find it? Tradlands, an ethical brand based in San Diego, CA. 
  • How has it influenced your personal style? It’s become an important part of my basic wardrobe formula: t-shirt, jeans and some element of knitwear.
  • If it somehow got lost or ruined today, would you immediately want to replace it? I would like to say no seeing as I do own similar pieces but I have a feeling I would really miss it if I couldn’t wear it every week. 


Straight Leg Jeans

(Shown above & below)

  • Where did you find it? Levi’s & Re/Done make my favorite styles. 
  • How has it influenced your personal style? I wore skinny jeans exclusively for years. When I discovered straight leg jeans I was very infleunced by UK fashion and I started to embrace a more classic and androgynous style. 

If it somehow got lost or ruined today, would you immediately want to replace it? I would replace them eventually but I might just embrace the sweatpant lifestyle for a bit.



Black Leather Loafers

(Shown above)

  • Where did you find it? My favorite style is the Alysia x Gravati loafers from Sarah Flint. 
  • How has it influenced your personal style? I’m very inspired by classic menswear pieces and the loafer has become a beloved staple of my personal style. 
  • If it somehow got lost or ruined today, would you immediately want to replace it? Again, not immediately as I own too many pairs of shoes right now. While this particular style is a favorite of mine, I would prefer to get more use out of other things I already own. 


HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE IN 5 WORDS OR LESS?


Soft, Classic, Relaxed.


YOU’VE SHARED SOME REALLY GREAT 10×10 CAPSULES. HOW HAS THE 10×10 EXERCISE INFLUENCED YOUR APPROACH TO YOUR CLOSET AND STYLE?


That’s so nice of you to say! Creating a 10×10 capsule is such an enjoyable creative activity for me. It helps me avoid decision fatigue and that “nothing to wear” feeling. More generally it helps me appreciate what I already own, pinpoint my personal style staples and it reinforces the effectiveness of a smaller wardrobe. 

Be sure to check out Jessica’s Winter 10×10 video on YouTube!


WE DEFINITELY SHARE A LOVE FOR NEUTRALS. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DRAWN TO NATURAL TONES & HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR COLOUR PALETTE FEELING FRESH?


Colors hold a lot of energy and trigger strong emotions in me. The simplicity of a natural color palette helps me maintain an inner sense of calm. That calm feeling is what refreshes and energizes me. Within a very limited color palette, I like a range of fabrics, textures and tones to keep things interesting.



YOU HAVE SUCH AN AFFINITY FOR CREATING EASY-GOING LOOKS THAT STILL FEEL POLISHED & PUT-TOGETHER.

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 STYLING TECHNIQUES YOU KEEP COMING BACK TO?


1 | Good basics are so important to me so I try to pay attention to the fit of my plain t-shirts, blouses and denim. 

2 | Since my wardrobe’s color palette is quite limited, I like to add interest with tonal dressing and layering textures.

3 | And no outfit feels complete without a piece of outerwear in a fun material, an oversized silhouette or some element of tailoring. 



 WHAT MAKES A GREAT OUTFIT FOR YOU?


A great outfit for me is one that’s comfortable above all else. I quite like the idea of a style uniform, something that feels like me, that I can dress up or pare back depending on my mood or the occasion. 



HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CLOTHES?


Pre-pandemic I didn’t own any sweatpants or loungewear. I’m one of those weird people who likes to wear jeans around the house. But I’ve since come around to a stretchy waistband and the sheer brilliance of a matching lounge set.



DO YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS ON YOUR WISH LIST CURRENTLY?


I have a few things that I’d love to own but don’t necessarily plan to purchase anytime soon. The Sezane Leontine sweater, the Dôen Charleston dress, a lounge set from Donni., some beautiful lingerie from Araks, the By Far Sofia boots and some cool lug sole boots too.



FOR FUN

WHAT ARE YOU: 


LISTENING TO:

  • Feng Suave
  • Little Dragon
  • Far Caspian
  • James Blake’s Assume Form album
  • Dub & roots reggae playlists
  • Chris Luno’s vinyl mixes

Check out Jessica’s February playlist!


READING:

I just finished True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart by Thich Nhat Hahn. 

Up next is More Brilliant Than the Sun: Adventures in Sonic Fiction by Kodwo Eshun and after that, Migrating the Black Body: The African Diaspora and Visual Culture by Leigh Raiford. 


WATCHING:

I don’t watch a whole lot of tv shows or movies, mostly just YouTube creators. Some of my favorites are Mademoiselle, Brittany Bathgate and Lumiere d’Helen. And I love British panel shows like Taskmaster and Big Fat Quiz of the Year. 


DOING FOR FUN THESE DAYS? 

I know this sounds terribly boring but I feel very lucky to say that content creation is one of the most fun things I do. I just love photographing, filming, writing and editing. I also enjoy time spent in the garden and working on home decor projects.



THANKS SO MUCH TO JESSICA FOR SHARING HER BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS AND INSIGHTFUL TAKE ON PERSONAL STYLE WITH US TODAY!

BE SURE TO FOLLOW JESSICA ON INSTAGRAM & SUBSCRIBE TO HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL!


HERE ARE SOME OF JESSICA’S WORDS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME:

On 10×10 Challenges – “More generally it helps me appreciate what I already own, pinpoint my personal style staples and it reinforces the effectiveness of a smaller wardrobe.”

On wish lists – “I have a few things that I’d love to own but don’t necessarily plan to purchase anytime soon.”

On neutrals – “The simplicity of a natural color palette helps me maintain an inner sense of calm. That calm feeling is what refreshes and energizes me.”


If you enjoyed this Style Profile, you can explore past interviews right here.

Leave me a comment here!

  1. Emma says:

    Wow thank you so much for highlighting Jessica and her awesome style! Definitely will be following her from now on!

  2. It was such a pleasure to chat with you about all things slow fashion and capsule wardrobes. Thanks so much for the opportunity Lee!

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Ah Jess! The feeling is entirely mutual 🙂 You’re a gem in the thoughtful style community and it was an honour to share your work and wisdom on Style Bee. Thanks for joining us! xo

  3. Jessica says:

    Very exciting to see this interview as I follow you both and appreciate your respective styles. Great minds coming together!

  4. Barbara Tollen says:

    Terrific post! Thanks for introducing Jessica to us. The ideas that you two present are inspiring and refreshing.