Janette is a full-time mama working on the art of living a creative life. Music industry and copy writer chica prior to motherhood.
How did you arrive at your Style Statement?
I began with reading Carrie’s book, Style Statement. Amazingly, I came to Wonder as a contender for my 20% word – Enchantment, Delight, Evocation were also possibilities. The foundation word I considered was Composed, which wasn’t sitting right with me, although there were elements of Composed I related - orchestrating a party, creating vignettes around the house. As I worked through the book, I lived in chaos, the contents of two households crammed into one. I was finding “order” and “organization” coming up in almost every category of the Lifestyle Map. But once the clutter was gone and order restored to my surroundings, the importance of organization decreased dramatically and Composed didn’t fit. I scheduled a Jump-start session with Carrie, it made all the difference.
After about five questions (I think it was, “What one outfit would you wear for the rest of your life?” that sealed the deal) Carrie said, “Yeah, I don’t think you’re Composed.” And I laughed because I realized how NOT composed I am. And when she declared Wonder was my 20% word, it felt so right, she pointed out so many ways that I had not considered applying Wonder. It felt magical.
What does your Style Statement mean to you?
It’s freedom to be and embrace who I am. I now understand my love and tendency towards ‘other’ and ‘different,’ and how it isn’t based on getting attention or attempting to be unique. It’s my Wonder being joyful in the world and my Cosmopolitan which needs to check out new ideas and philosophies, to give a fair hearing. It’s also present in my decision to ‘unschool’ my little guy.
How do you interpret your first and second words?
Cosmopolitan - Yes, I’m a city girl, but the city I love is delightfully full of strangeness (Wonder). I like graffiti and Spanish billboards, a three legged dog at the barber shop, and picking up a six pack at the place everyone calls, The Dairy.
Wonder – as in thinking, figuring things out, pondering, NOT knowing and also of being amazed. Wonder is so important in my life… I need it in my surroundings and create it in the packages I wrap and the cards I make, the strange little short stories I wrote when I was younger. I seek it out in the world – on a desert highway or in trying to understand another’s point of view. Wonder awes. And until my conversation with Carrie, I didn’t realize how important it is to me… and how I yearn for it.
How has your Style Statement been useful to you? How do you apply it to your life?
We need to buy a couch. My Style Statement is telling me that the chesterfield with the India ink paisley fabric is not the one. Full of Wonder, yup, but my foundation word is Cosmopolitan, this is the direction I’ll be looking. I find Wonder is ever changing… Wonder draws me to many different places. A couch… I want stability in a couch. A couch that will be there for me through the antlers stenciled on the wall and the Moroccan lanterns. Yeah, we’re going to be looking for a Cosmopolitan couch!
Also, finally I understand why I dislike dressing for winter. Winter clothes bore me – or mine do. I don’t wear accessories, and realized the reason is my clothes come with the accessories built in… a ruffle, shorts that are bloomers, or a print dress. Because my winter clothing doesn’t come with these built in details, I feel blah and not at all myself ALL WINTER LONG. This also explains why I cut my hair in the winter and let it grow the rest of the year… a cool hair cut gives me a sense of style.
My Style Statement is a beacon keeping me true to myself amid the clutter of images and products out there.
What do you like to be noticed and appreciated for?
My creative efforts. Bravery and the chances I’ve taken in life – my determination to step off the safe path, even if it scares the dickens out of me.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by visuals. A color, a menu font, an abandoned claim shack in the desert, a pattern I might notice in the bark of a tree, office supplies, festive decorations, any place with mystery. I know I’m inspired when my breath becomes shallow, I know this is a sign for me to slow down and pay attention to what is speaking to me or conversely, I must hurry up and take note before the moment slips by.
If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Above-the-knee skirt, probably with a ruffle or some sort, cute and funky red platforms, an empire coat with a great print or embroidery. I’d be happy, every day.
Describe your dream home?
I have two dream homes. A Spanish-Moorish abode… with plaster walls, cool tile floors. A courtyard in the middle with a fountain would be perfect. And hallways that need to be wandered.
The other, a mid-century modern in the Mojave Desert. There is something so oddly right about those mod little houses sitting on the barren expanse of the desert; the sky you can’t hide from and all those windows to let it in whether you like it or not. It’s a strange serenity.
How do you play?
I doodle. With scraps of paper, old packaging, candy wrappers, Indian print blocks and stencils. I plot my homemade Christmas cards each year for months. I wrap gifts and turn them into collages of cork and Loteria cards, any little ephemera I have on hand. The Mexican shops on Olvera Street (LA’s first street) are great for supplies as well as inspiration. I adore a great shelter magazine, a bowl of frozen berries, and my (faux) Barcelona chair, preferably all at the same time. I love travel & discovery. And I spend a lot of time on swings with my six year old son.
10 Things you love… related to your two words, images are welcome.
- The desert
- Papel Picado (Mexican tissue paper party banners)
- Eames fiberglass rocker
- A candle lit courtyard
- Bouganvilla
- 1920s Paris
- Chandeliers
- A great, funky coat
- The Dosoduro East neighborhood of Venice
- Dogs
