Juli Miller Hart is the epitome of elegance. Dressed in a red Oscar de la Renta gown that seems to have been made just for her, she poses in front of the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), one of the many benefactors of her affection and volunteer work.
“Oscar de la Renta is one of my favorite designers and I was pleased to find this beautiful red gown to wear to the museum’s 2014 Odyssey Ball that I chaired with Gayle Benson, Margo DuBos and Britton Sanderford,” says Juli, a one-time anchor at WDSU-TV who now owns Projects With Purpose, an event planning company specializing in and focusing solely on humanitarian programming.
Honored as one of New Orleans’ “best dressed” through the Men and Women of Fashion organization, Juli adds, “Evening wear is always fun, yet it is challenging to find just the right look. I knew the instant I saw this particular stunning red evening gown that it would be perfect for Odyssey. It was sleek and simple, yet with some unique design elements and a train that added a bit of elegance to its look and feel.”
Fortunately, New Orleans provides plenty of opportunities for a fashion-conscious woman like Juli to maintain a closet filled with elegant clothes.
“I do enjoy dressing up for events, but I often labor over finding just the right thing to wear,” she says. “I am blessed to have some key people who always help ‘get me together,’ such as my mom, a true ‘fashionista’ who has incredible taste, style and an amazing eye for a perfect fit. She has been my inspiration all of my life and, while her style is much different than mine, she has always had a knack for finding just the right look for me.”
In terms of her style, Juli describes herself as a “fashion forward” dresser who is never simply trendy.
“I like a tailored, feminine look and I tend to gravitate to a simpler, more sleek and sophisticated style. I love heels to complete the ensemble.” Then she goes on to add Escada and St. John to her list of favorite designers. “Of course, a splash of Chanel never hurts.” Her favorite shoe designers are Louboutin, with his sassy red-lacquered soles, Jimmy Choo and Valentino.
“While finding just the right outfit for an event is important, I also like to find the perfect shoes, handbag and jewelry,” she says. “I like everything from the small, simple clutch to big, bold leather bags of all sizes, shapes and textures, although more tailored, medium-sized bags seem to suit me best. As for jewelry, I never feel quite complete without at least a watch and earrings. From casual, interesting, fun pieces to beautiful bright diamonds, you can never have too much in your collection. Some of my favorite pieces are an estate pair of diamond and pearl earrings and a bracelet of diamonds and pearls.”
A graduate of Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a master’s in fine arts degree in theater performance, Juli is well known for her volunteer work. “My interest in non-profits really began when I was on the air at WDSU-TV,” she says. “It was through the morning show that I co-anchored that I learned about the many organizations helping provide for the needs in our community and I immediately had an interest in getting involved.”
Since that time, Juli has been involved in numerous organizations, events, activities and boards. “Each one has given me a unique opportunity to learn and grow, and all have been a blessing in my life,” she says. “My life in the philanthropic world has given me some of my greatest friendships, and many of the most memorable moments of my life.”
Juli’s Projects With Purpose provides her with the privilege of working with companies of all kinds, and people from all over the world. “I am always meeting people with a heart that are helping others and leaving a lasting legacy wherever they might be lending a helping hand.”
Juli enjoyed putting on her beautiful red dress from Oscar de la Renta once again to have her photo taken for this Biz blog.
“The dress brought back so many happy memories for me,” she says. “I remember sweeping through the museum searching for just the right spots for the photography. I always enjoy being in the midst of NOMA’s beauty and splendor, and I take special pride in just having been named to the museum’s board.”
