Josephine Lee
As Alexander Pope once said "Hope springs eternal," and for most of us living in the Midwest, the waiting and hoping for Spring never dies. In between the cold snaps, there is light and sun and hope, and on one of these gorgeous days, we warmed ourselves in the beauty of our dear friend, Josephine Lee. Josephine is the President and Artistic Director of Uniting Voices of Chicago, formerly Chicago Children's Choir, and she has built up an organization that focuses on bringing youth from all over Chicago together in music. To see her work her magic and music on groups of individuals anywhere from 6 to 18 from Englewood to Albany Park is to see first hand the power of the arts and how it can transform hearts and minds. Just so inspiring on every level. We are so lucky to call her a friend and a muse, and here, we ask her what she's been up to in her favorite Spring looks from our collection.
Heiji: Hi Josephine! So lovely to be here in your gorgeous home. It’s the perfect place to make music. Tell me, how did you come to music?
Josephine: From my family! I asked to play violin at age 3, and my teacher thought it would be good to complement it with piano. My mother had a passion for the arts and education, so she had me sing in various childrens choirs at a very young age.
Heiji: Wow! It seems you were firing on all cylinders pretty immediately!! And when did you start at Uniting Voices?
Josephine: I was introduced to the organization, known at the time as Chicago Children's Choir, when I was a Northwestern grad student, and I immediately fell in love with the mission to unite youth from all walks of life through music. I applied for a job right after grad school and began conducting choirs all over Chicago. I was struck by how the organization was a safe space where you could see young people from diverse backgrounds connecting with one another and finding their voice through the music of many countries, cultures and eras.
I have seen our organization grow from a few choirs into a vast network of programs that serve thousands of students every year. In addition to weekly instruction and affirming community, we infuse the experience with innovative creative partnerships, like Chance the Rapper's Coloring Book and The Big Day albums, performances with Colombian popstar Karol G, and national broadcasts of Bernstein's Mass with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Ravinia Festival. I love to see how young people come alive through these projects, especially those who may not otherwise envision themselves in these spaces. The vast majority of our singers come from low-to-moderate income circumstances, and every year 80% of singers participate free of charge. Our emphasis on accessibility, diversity, and high-caliber opportunities for young artists reflects a deep understanding of music's evolving landscape and its power to unite across cultural divides. It's more than notes on a page. It's a tool for global leadership development.
JOESPHINE WEARS JEN TOP (ORDER BY EMAIL) AND ODESSA SKIRT
Heiji: Since we are talking music and fashion, What do you like to wear when you’re going to be conducting on stage?
Josephine: My personal style choices for conducting reflect a blend of professionalism and personal expression that complements my role as a leader in the arts. I like to be comfortable, but also timeless. I wear pieces that allow me to move freely. I love a good power suit, but as I have evolved as an artist, I like to explore and break the boundaries of what a typical conductor would look like. I especially love my Jeune Otte velvet suit - the richness of the fabric, the great tailoring, and the way it lets me move the way I want to. It feels elegant and super lush on the body.
heiji: What are some of the most notable shifts you’ve seen in music and the music that young people like and consume?
josephine: In the era of TikTok, new music is released at an unprecedented rate. So many people have the ability to produce music and have free access and a platform to share it with audiences. Everyone is their own brand, and young people have endless access to listen to and experience so many different artists. But it takes a lot of hard work to truly excel. With the advent of AI and an invitation for all to become digital songwriters, there is a mix of quality out there. With all the noise, It is so important for artists to stay true to who they are. Nothing can replace the spirit of the human voice and creativity. True greatness will always be recognized. Music is one of the most honest forms of expression out there.
heiji: Who/what are you listening on repeat these days?
josephine: I'm currently listening to an eclectic mix of music, from Laufey, Jill Scott, Brahms, D'Angelo, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, to Carmina Burana. As Miles Davis would say, "Good music is good no matter what kind it is." By allowing many artists to resonate with me personally, I find I can meet the youth of Chicago where they are, no matter their interests. It enriches my life and enhances my work with Uniting Voices.
Josephine wears EMILY SHIRT AND DREW SHORTS
Heiji: Looking ahead to the next few months, what are you most excited about that’s coming up?
Josephine: This spring, I'm looking forward to conducting Carmina Burana at Kennedy Center as well as Paint the Town Red, a free, outdoor event in Millennium Park and the one time each year we bring together the thousands of singers in our programs to showcase the dynamism, diversity, and hope of young people in our city. It highlights the influential presence of Uniting Voices Chicago in our cultural landscape...a presence that is growing! Our tried-and-true model for musical excellence and social cohesion is being adopted in markets across the nation, starting with our newest outpost, Uniting Voices Lexington. We are building a network of educators, artists and youth to thrive in a globally connected society.
Heiji: I can’t wait to be in millenium Park for paint the town red again. I always come away so inspired and full of joy. I will definitely see you there.
Josephine: yes, see you there!
Paint The town Red: May 23, 2024
JOESPHINE WEARS ANI VEST AND LEAH PANTS
B. Ingrid Olson
It's a strange time in our universe - chaos and tumult, and yet, as always, fall turns to winter, and the holiday season arrives without warning. And with the season, we find ourselves seeking out friends and family who we love and respect, and that is what our journal has always been about - featuring women that inspire and amaze us in big and small ways. We have the privilege to call Ingrid Olson a friend, and we recently had some time in her studio to talk about her art practice and life outside of the studio.
Heiji: I first encountered your work at the Renaissance Society in 2017 - I loved the way you captured yourself through the lens and created sculpture, sometimes around the image, and the particular way you had some of your sculptures hanging at waist level. Capturing the body and interacting with the body in a way that treated it like fragments of architecture. Decoupling the body from “body” as we perceive it. For me it was very feminist, and I loved it. What is your relationship to self portraits in general and in an art historical sense?
Ingrid: While it might seem like splitting hairs, I actually don't think about my work as self-portraiture. Even though I do use my body in my photographic work, I am more often responding to architectural spaces and compositional forms from an embodied perspective. I approach my body as a material with which to make images, capturing fragments of my own body as a marker of occupied space. I understand self portraiture as something more concerned with psychological representation; I see self portraits as related to a person's character, biography, spirit, or at very least a portrayal of their likeness. In opposition, my work uses my body, viewer's bodies, architectural bodies, and textual bodies to engage with ideas like presence, situation and even purposeful dislocation, which are more relational concerns. I am affecting some kind of embodied, perspective-shifting, proprioceptive connection between bodies and spaces. However funny it may sound, I rarely, if at all, think about persona, or myself as a self as I make work.
H: Since then, you’ve had so many great solo shows around the world including VIENNA Seccession, the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts at Harvard, and in Iceland at i8. Can you tell me some favorite moments from any of these?
I: My most recent (and still current) exhibition at i8 Grandi in Reykjavik has provided an exciting turn in the way that I am approaching my practice and exhibition-making. My gallery extended an invitation to make a year-long exhibition, which could change as much as I wanted. This sounded both exciting and intimidating. Now, as I approach the last changes to the exhibition as it comes to an end in December, I have realized that many of the anxieties related to making work and putting up a show are invisible and totally self-fortified. This show has helped me to reframe my understanding of "finished" as well as prompting some new ongoing, continuous artworks. I think there has been a release of control in some ways, so that, rather than remaining fixed, an artwork, exhibition, or even my entire art-practice can become a continuum with no stoppages.
H: What is your relationship with Chicago? Why is this the right place for you to make art in?
I: At this time, my relationship is complex. I have loved it here for so long, and I still do. But, I am starting to crave more nature in my day to day life. But, in terms of making work, I really can't think of a better place. My studio is big and affordable, the community of artists is really special, and there is just enough going on in terms of museums, galleries, music and performances so that it feels like there is always something to do, but not so much that I feel distracted by it.
H: As you know, our line, Jeune Otte, is very focused on sustainability - producing our collections locally in Chicago and making sure we are creating as little new waste (by using dead stock and vintage fabrics), are there ways that you try to be sustainable in your art?
I: Art is often not a very green endeavor, in terms of materials and processes used to make things, however, I do find that there are certain things that feel like they make a dent in the waste cycle. I often use found objects in my work that I find as I walk, discarded on the street, in dumpsters or alleys. Last year I started collecting discarded styrofoam to use as molds for ceramic work. Using the styrofoam, at least one more time, if not many times, feels satisfying. And in general, in the studio, I try to focus on the reliable two of the 'three R's': reuse and reduce. As we now know, recycling is a bit of a shot in the dark, in terms of whether our yogurt containers are actually being recycled by the city, so any material that might wind up in a landfill or even in the recycling bin, I usually try to reuse as many times as possible.
H: After hours, what are you into these days? Video series, films, books, we would love to know what is grabbing your attention.
I: I am not a late night person, so my after hours are more like pre-hours. I get up early to walk. I frequently go to breakfast at Doma Cafe or Lula Cafe and I've also been going to the library at the Poetry Foundation quite a bit. It is the most beautiful and underused room. Most recently, I have been in a deep dive with the poet Sawako Nakayasu. She is very serious, and writes incredibly moving poems, but also I find myself laughing out loud at some of her work too. That is a great combination to me, someone who allows blips or rays of humor to shine through in otherwise potentially serious, contemplative work.
Current Exhibitions:
Solo Exhibition: Cast of Mind
i8 GRANDI , The Marshall House. Grandagarður 20, 101 Reykjavik Iceland
Group Show: Descending the Staircase
MCA Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago IL
Publications:
Monograph from the Carpenter CEnter Exhibit:
B. Ingrid Olson: History Mother, Little Sister
MOnograph from Seccession Solo Show:
Ingrid Wearing Emily Cotton Button Up and Annabelle Wool Pants Left, previous image wearing Jen Top and Reed Wool Pants
photography by Noah Sheldon
Jordana Joseph
Since Jeune Otte began in 2019, we’ve had the pleasure of dressing women that inspire us, many of whom we’re lucky enough to call friends. Friends like Jordana Joseph. The Chicago-based interior designer has supported the brand and worn our pieces in wonderful and unexpected ways over the years. For this interview, we visited Jordana’s home to talk about her design philosophy and how it informs her unique personal style.
JEUNE OTTE: First, let’s talk about your interior design practice, how do you describe your approach?
JORDANA: The spaces I create are first and foremost about the people who will be living in them, and then secondly, what will fill them. If I don’t know every detail about how my clients live – what’s important to them, how they move through a space on a daily basis – I couldn’t possibly be successful in creating an environment. I like to dig deep into the minutia. JO: Tell us about the space you’ve created for yourself.
JORDANA: We have lived in this house, with our 2 children, for 14 years. It was designed by Krueck and Sexton, who are long-standing neoteric Chicago architects. They have only designed a few residential projects so this is a pretty unique place and we continue to work with K+S on its evolution. My kids roller skate around the dining room table and throw the football in the living room, my husband is always fixing a failing appliance, and I am perpetually trying out new furniture. It is not precious, this house can take a beating but still cleans up well. We entertain often but when people are over they rarely know the mess that is lurking behind the curtain.JO: What’s your relationship to fashion?
JORDANA: I have a devout love of color, pattern and textures when it comes to fabrics for interiors, so it's a natural parallel for me with fashion. It's like I am upholstering myself. I try not to wear black, it feels like a less interesting option given my penchant for pattern. I don't use shopping as entertainment, it's more of a quick outing, and I am usually pretty sure about my choices (not to say I don't make mistakes). I am not a planner when it comes to getting dressed, or anything in my life for that matter. It's always spontaneous and rarely do I shop specifically for an event. It takes me about 10 minutes to get dressed for the day, and not much more for dinners or parties. My mother has always been a huge influence on my style. She was (and still is) one of the few well dressed women in Milwaukee, where I grew up, and I am lucky enough to have nearly all of her best pieces in my closet now, which is great until you realize that you need a much bigger closet for this particular type of pack-ratting. 
JORDANA: Fashion can be a superficial game; all the labels and designers to fall prey to, and the classic cautionary tale of the clothes wearing you. Shopping Jeune Otte feels different, it's a much more personal experience wearing Jeune Otte because the collection is created by my friends. I am more attune to the details: a pleat that Elise would design, or a print that Heiji would wear, and always pockets, which I love. I am so proud of what Heiji and Elise have done with the collection and excited to tell people the designer when they ask what I am wearing – which they always do! JO: Any favorites from the new collection?
JORDANA: Well, the Reed Pants are particularly good this season in a dreamy soft wool. I have a few of the Reed sisters already: the mustard gold velvet from Collection I are still a favorite and I wear the denim pair from Collection IV incessantly, so I see loving this pair as much as the others.
Heiji kindly put me in this longer skirt, she knows I say I am too old to wear a short one and this purple skirt suit (The Helen Skirt and Laura Shell) felt great on. It reminds me of the “Fabulous at Every Age” feature in Bazaar where they told you what to wear based on your age, 20’s, 30’s etc. They were clearly trying to tell us all something, subtly, kindly. For a long time I identified with the “In your 20’s” but then somehow overnight I jumped a few decades and now it feels like the higher numbers are more appropriate for me.JO: As a longtime friend of the brand – can you share any standouts from the last few collections?
JORDANA: The neon painted Calvin Dress from last season is a favorite. I have it hanging on a hook in my closet so I get to see it everyday. I love that it is a limited production – I am sure we will see more of that in collections to come. Jeune Otte designs are so long standing, soon I will be able to pass them down to my daughter and let her figure out how to solve the closet problem! JO: Thanks JoRDANA!
photos by Noah Sheldon
TO SEE mORE of jordana’s Work, Follow her on instagram. Photos below by Ian ACE.
Collection VII
Inspired by minimalism in its many forms: architecture, sculpture, contemporary art, the female silhouette. Lines are long and lean in neutral tones with subtle pops of color. Shop the collection now.
Photographer: Steph MurrayModel: Nora ChinStyling: Heiji Choy Black + Elise BergmanCreative Production: Emily Donelan Construction: Jen PlumridgeMarina Contro
Handweaver and artist Marina Contro opened her San Francisco studio to friend – and Jeune Otte cofounder – Elise Bergman. The conversation? Textiles (Marina has taught at both School of the Art Institute of Chicago and California College of the Arts) and the relationship between functional objects and art objects (Marina's recent collab with Commune comes to mind). The photos? Snapped by Elise.
JO: Tell us about your artwork.
MARINA: I weave functional textiles for the home and clothing – and I make artwork with cloth. As artworks, my textiles explore the relationship between objects of use and art. I like relatively simple cloth that lets the material shine.JO: What's new in your studio?
MARINA: I’m sampling in my studio right now! I’m currently working with a new hemp yarn I got from someone in India. It’s a bleached single ply yarn. After this, the next few samples I will work through play more with color and weave structure. For me, sampling is somewhere between sketching and recipe development. It is creative but also technical and notes are very important.
JO: How does clothing play a role in your life?
MARINA: Well, I love fashion! It’s how I became interested in textiles and weaving. I love high quality fabrics and garments that can be worn for a long time. I really love when a garment and the fabric work together, when the drape or structure of a fabric connects with the shape of the garment and the body. I wear a lot of black but every once in a while I really like to have fun with color! Sort of similar to the cloth I like to make: either very simple, plain cloth or wild jacquards.JO: Any thoughts on the Vivienne Blouse?
MARINA: The crisp linen felt so chic. I also love how the fabric can feel soft or crisp depending on what I want. Soft without an iron or crisp with a press and even some laundry starch (I love a starched linen). I like the blouse with jeans or bigger pleated trousers. I can wear it so easily, to the studio, to class, to dinner out. The balloon sleeve makes it stand out as more than just a white blouse. It can go for the whole day. 
Weekend Edit: Sweet Home Chicago
JULY 2023 Weekend Edit
Chicago in the summer is the absolute best. It’s such a beautiful city full of so many incredible things to do. Read on to learn more about what our cofounder Elise Bergman is doing and the pieces she's wearing most these days. JEUNE OTTE: WHY THese pieces?
ELISE: I love a capsule wardrobe like this where garments can be mixed and matched to create a variety of unique outfits. We really design Jeune Otte with this concept in mind. JO: What pieces are working hardest for you?
ELISE: I’ve been wearing the Vivienne Blouse and Reed Pants together – and with various combinations of denim and white Ts and tanks – and love how both pieces can be dressed up or styled casually. JO: WHERE are they taking you?
ELISE: Riding bikes to the public beaches with the kids. Hitting the Millennium Park Music Series when we can (so much amazing programming). Gardening in the backyard (I love that we have a little space to grow some food and flowers in the city).JO: Anything else you’re looking forward to in or outside of Chicagoland?
ELISE: I am going to Vermont in a couple weeks to teach a workshop at the Marshfield School of Weaving with Marina Contro. Students will spend one week with Marina handweaving a hemp textile and the second week with me turning their fabric into a garment. I love to wear clothes I’ve made in the classroom setting and the Vivienne Blouse is especially relevant since it’s also made from a handwoven cotton. These pieces will come with me for the week and are perfect for feeling both comfortable and put together while I’m teaching and then easily shift gears for going swimming in a nearby lake. Plus the hand-crocheted tote is a perfect catchall that’s both beachy and luxurious. 
Weekend Edit: Southwest Michigan
June 2023 Weekend Edit
Just a quick hour or so drive from Chicago and you get a complete change the scenery and pace of life. When we're here, everything slows down, the stress melts away and it’s easy to be content. This place helps recharge our creative energy – and here's what we're wearing (and doing and eating and buying) while we're there. Summer is all about ease and comfort, and yet, it is the most social time of year, so we like to choose pieces that hit all of the marks. From checking out the farm store in Three Oaks to a rosé tasting party at our friend’s house on the beach of Lake Michigan, these are pieces you can throw on and go anywhere. Versatility is always key, and we always, always pack one great summer dress. Read on to get more insight from our cofounder Heiji Choy Black.JEUNE OTTE: What’s first ON YOUR AGENDA?
HEIJI: Time here is all about being in nature. We love to check out the preserves, maintained by Chikaming Open Lands, spread out through the southwest region, the Warren Sand Dunes to hike the big sand dunes, and of course, the beaches along Lake Michigan. JO: what’s next?
HEIJI: Whenever we are in southwest Michigan we always stop by Whistle Stop. They have THE best chicken salad ever. Their pies are also out of this world. Plus, they curate an incredible selection of groceries from ice cream, to cheeses, it’s the perfect place to stock up for a weekend in Michigan. Granor Farms is one of the greatest organic farms in the Chicagoland area. The care and love they put into growing produce can be tasted in every bite of fresh produce we buy from this place. They also have a great restaurant that is open on the weekends, helmed by our friend Abra Berens.JO: Any favorite Shopping destinations?
HEIJI: AP Lakeside may be one of the best boutiques in Michigan. We love her mix of some of the best designer vintage pieces from Hermés, Alaia, Yves Saint Laurent with some of the coolest new designers – Cristeseya, Studio Nicholson, and – us! Sojourn is another must-see. Stacia puts together an incredibly beautiful collection of ceramics, wood pieces, candles, fabrics in this beautiful boutique, as well as a great selection of art monographs and cookbooks.
Maria Gaspar
Blue skies meant perfect conditions for a dreamy spring photoshoot with artist Maria Gaspar. Inside her Chicago studio, we found Maria surrounded by countless works in progress: paintings, sculptures, photographs – even a musical instrument made from found objects. Her artwork may be varied but much of it builds upon common themes of incarceration and liberation. Read on to learn more about Maria’s work and the inspiration behind it.
JEUNE OTTE: How do you describe your work?
MARIA: As an interdisciplinary artist, I make sculptures, installations, sound works, performances, public art projects, and socially engaged art. Much of my art practice addresses issues of spatial justice in order to amplify, mobilize, or divert structures of power through individual and collective gestures. For example, I’ve spent the last decade working inside and outside prisons doing multi-year projects with detainees and people who have been system-impacted. This experience has been very meaningful to me, considering how carcerality affects all our lives whether we know it or not. I am interested in making art that plays a role in how we think about liberation or the undoing of systems. JO: Can you tell us about these bars?
MARIA: Material, touch, opacity, and sound have been my latest preoccupations, and I have been exploring translucent materials lately, such as resin and glass. For my current project, I am making a sonic sculpture out of carceral debris that I acquired from a local jail while making an experimental video project. Because I have always been interested in collaboration, I am building a new work with composers and musicians that attempt to transfigure materials intended to confine into materials (and sounds) that makes us feel free. The sonic possibilities are exciting, and I look forward to presenting this new body of work soon.
JO: What is on your mind right now?
MARIA: I am developing ways of more succinctly engaging music, movement, and experimentation in my practice. I’ve spent much time thinking about time and the experience of loss lately especially with the passing of someone especially dear to me, my mother. My mother played a major role in my life, and I often recall her work as a radio DJ in Chicago. I have fond memories of hearing her voice, strong and brave and imperfect. She was good at taking risks and leading with her heart. Thinking about her creative embodiments fills me with life and affirms, for me, the transformative power of art. So exploring sound and play feels so rich right now as I adapt to a new life without her. JO: Any new shows?
MARIA: I have a few exhibitions coming up, including two group shows at the Ford Foundation Gallery and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City and two upcoming solo shows at El Museo Del Barrio in New York City and UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences in Santa Cruz, CA. My new body of work will debut during the solo shows in May and September 2023. 
JO: How does fashion & clothing play a role in your life?
MARIA: Fashion and clothing are powerful tools for expression. As a young person, I composed outfits from thrift stores and made them my own. At the time, I especially enjoyed thinking about my clothing as a way of altering my identity. As an adult and parent of a toddler, I don’t have much time to think about fashion like I used to. Still, I enjoy finding unique pieces that I don’t have to think about so much but can work in any given situation, like working in my studio, attending a meeting, teaching, or grabbing drinks with a friend. Quality means a lot to me, and I appreciate the time and labor that goes into something I am wearing.JO: How does Jeune Otte stack up in that regard?
MARIA: The fabrics felt good on my body. I especially enjoyed the materials and colors that allow me to mix with other pieces I might have in my closet. The clothes have a malleability and potential, which is a fun element. You can be creative. The Reed Pants felt fresh and feminine, and I also loved pairing the Phoebe Dress with my sneakers. JO: Thanks Maria!
photos by Noah Sheldon
Behind the Scenes: Collection VI
When designing Collection VI, we asked ourselves what it means to be and feel feminine. We felt caught in the in-between. The push and pull of minimal silhouettes and maximal flourishes. The result? A harmonious combination of the two: long and lean suiting and voluminous dresses; couture-like draping but also workwear-inspired constructions. 
As always, we began our design process by finding our fabrics: deadstock, mill-end and organic fabrics that inspired us. And what emerged was a vibrant color palette, inspired by Helen Frankenthaler’s paintings and summer gardens at their peak. Bright coral and spring green; plus floral prints and stripes that mix well with clean whites and blues. 
For our Lookbook photoshoot, the team met photographer Carolina Mariana Rodríguez in Southwest Michigan. As always, Carolina was able to capture the movement and essence of each garment as well as the summer gardens that helped inspire them.Photographer: Carolina Mariana Rodríguez
Hair and Makeup: Kasha Rodig from Chicago Makeup Artists
Model: Hazel Crew from Option 1 Models
Styling: Heiji Choy Black + Elise Bergman
Creative Production: Emily Donelan
Construction: Jen Plumridge + Taina Cuevas
Assist: Shannon Jean Tierney
Marie-Aude Rose
The smell of fresh brioche is the first thing we notice walking into the home of Marie-Aude Rose. The French chef – now stateside – grew up in Paris and honed her craft working inside some of its most well-known restaurants, including Spring where she met her husband Daniel Rose (chef of Le Coucou in NYC). Marie-Aude, now executive chef of La Mercerie Café in Manhattan’s SoHo, spends her time at home testing recipes, building menus, and taking care of her young family. Read on to learn more about how she works and what she likes to wear when she’s “doing it all” (if such a thing exists).
JEUNE OTTE: Looks like you’re creating some recipes for La Mercerie. How does that work?
MARIE-AUDE: To think about La Mercerie’s menu I need to look at several components: A frame: French cuisine, traditions and modernity; The seasonality of the produce: Spring starting means lots of beautiful asparagus, ramps, spring carrots and onions, peas and fava beans, also strawberries on the way; The weather: if it’s still pretty cold out there I will keep the soups and stew a little longer; The customer feedback: maybe some modification are to be applied to a dish or even just removed if not popular; The execution: in a kitchen that was built for 44 seats and has grown to 150 with the outdoor space, I need to create a balance between hot station (oven/flat top/induction) and cold stations (garde manger and pastry) so that the flow is consistent and the customers don’t wait too long for their food. After considering all of that I let my imagination work, I get inspired by renowned French chefs whose cookbooks I collect, by my memories of meals from my childhood and adult life as well.
The watermelon and bell pepper salad I prepared today is a work in progress for this summer at La Mercerie. I am trying to find the right dressing so that the sweetness of the fruit is not overwhelmed by vinegar or mustard so I am going towards a peppery olive oil and a sweet moscatel vinegar that will gently bring the elements together.
JO: WHAT’S IN THE OVEN RIGHT NOW?
MARIE-AUDE: Brioche. Brioche is my favorite thing to make. I prepare it once a week for my family. In France you can buy it at the boulangerie everyday so I get a little lazy making it but here in the States I love that I don’t have an easily accessible bakery to get it. I have a thing for butter, especially salted butter.JO: What role does clothing play in your life?
MARIE-AUDE: I don’t have an addiction to fashion for myself, but I do love comfortable clothes and soft and fluid fabrics. Jeune Otte has some pieces that correspond perfectly to what I look for in clothing: beautiful fabrics, comfortable, elegant yet fit in a casual mood too. 
JO: Any favorites from Collection VI?
MARIE-AUDE: The Maria Jumpsuit I could wear everyday in any season, for a dressed-up party or to cook, hang, play with the kids at home.
The Calvin Maxi Dress is ideal for these coming hot days, light and comfortable. The belt makes it super playful and I could see myself wearing it at a wedding, a BBQ or at the beach.
And the Reed Pants I loved too because I like that they really wrap your waist and give a beautiful silhouette.JO: Thanks Marie-Aude!
photos by Noah Sheldon
Olivia Juárez
INSIDE the multi-disciplinary artist’s Home AND STUDIO
JEUNE OTTE: TELL US ABOUT your artwork.
OLIVIA: My artwork is a combination of sculpture and furniture design. I am inspired by many aspects of life, but here are a few recurring ones: simple and striking forms, anthropomorphism, and unique uses of materials. Conceptually, I enjoy reinterpreting historical and cultural narratives. The resulting pieces can serve a dual purpose, as both works of art and functional pieces to live and interact with.JO: You often collaborate with your husband Remy Bordas – how does that work?
OLIVIA: Remy and I have a very organic collaborative process, but it takes consistent work to keep ideas flowing. When designing new pieces, we start by researching, sketching, and making tests and samples independently. Then we come together to exchange ideas and provide feedback. At this stage, we mesh together our concepts, colors, forms, and proposed functions and iterate until we develop a design for a piece that we are both excited about and make plans to put into production. When working with other artists and makers we like to follow a similar process but develop the specifics along the way with them.
JO: What role does fashion play in your life?
OLIVIA: I highly value well-made, thoughtfully designed garments for both fashion and utility. Clothing is one of the few items we use that experience life alongside us. As a maker and metal fabricator, I have struggled to find work clothing that was both functional and stylish. Thankfully, I have found more options that are both well-fitting and durable over the years. Finding the right clothing to work in has given me a sense of belonging even when I am the only woman in a shop full of men. This confidence has spread outside of the metal shop as well and given me the confidence to experiment with my personal style at all times.JO: How did you feel about the Jeune Otte you tried?
OLIVIA: The pieces are timeless and made with high quality materials and are so comfortable to wear. They are pieces that I could dress up or down for many different occasions. I especially love the material choices – the velvety suit and silk shirt are incredible! JO: Thanks OLIVIA!
TO SEe more of OLIVIA & REMY’S work, FOLLOW SCULPTURELANDIA.
Edra Soto
At Home with the Chicago-based artist, organizer, and Educator
JEUNE OTTE: Tell us about your artwork.
EDRA: My interdisciplinary practice is embedded in visual arts, social practice, and architectural interventions. At this intersection, I strike a balance between an immersive collective experience while also sharing an intimate perspective with my viewers. To achieve this, I create generous and inclusive experiences that engage objects as both a symbol and an archive for understanding history, culture, and formations of knowledge. In dismantling the boundaries between the audience, the work, and my role as artist, I prompt viewers to reconsider the nature of urban space, cross-cultural dynamics, and personal responsibility. I instigate meaningful, relevant, and often difficult conversations surrounding socioeconomic and cultural oppression, erasure of history, and loss of cultural knowledge. Growing up in Puerto Rico, and now immersed in my Chicago community, my work has evolved to raise questions about constructed social orders, diasporic identity, and the legacy of colonialism. JO: What are you most excited about right now?
EDRA: Being a part of the critically acclaimed exhibition no existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria at the Whitney Museum of American Art, which was organized by Marcela Guerrero with Jennifer Rubio and Angelica Arbelaez. This exhibition will be on view until the end of April of this year. 
JO: How does fashion & clothing play a role in your life?
EDRA: During my upbringing in Puerto Rico, I didn’t experience seasonal changes, so for half of my life I only had a warm weather appropriate wardrobe. During my elementary and high school years, my mother made a lot of my clothing. Back then, it was cheaper to make your own clothing. My mother was a perfectionist, therefore, an amazing tailor. When I emancipated financially, I started buying my own clothing at department stores. I remember having a more eclectic taste back then. I used to love ruffles and layers and sexy stuff. I became more conservative when I moved to Chicago. I actually felt liberated because I didn’t need my life to be so dependent on how I looked. I’ve always been practical and now that I’m middle age, I’ve been more compelled to collect nice items that I can combine with classic pieces like black trousers or denim jeans or jackets. Living in a place like Chicago, experiencing all the seasons, I end up having way more clothing than what I wish to own, but each season and weather requires a type of coat or layers. I’ve been editing my coat closet to have classic and necessary pieces. Not a lot of thrills, but things that I love.JO: Any thoughts on Jeune Otte and the way the clothes look and feel?
EDRA: Jeune Otte is beautifully tailored and feels lovely on my body. The line carries a great variety of classic pieces that can all be paired with one another. I love the quality of the fabric and the fabrication. Each piece is very special. I don’t wear a lot of bright colors, so it is very special to have a nice pink pop of color in my very monochromatic wardrobe. JO: Thanks Edra!
PHOTOS by STeph Murray
TO SEe more of Edra’s work, FOLLOW her on Instagram.
Maggie Peng
the owner of PINK & TAN on meaningful décor, art and clothes
JEUNE OTTE: TELL US ABOUT YOUR SHOP.
MAGGIE: Pink & Tan is a design store where the conception and intention of living beautifully every day is the connective tissue of everything we do. We source and bring to our customers the best in unique home essentials, meaningful décor, and limited-edition prints. At the same time, we curate artworks that are meant to be loved and lived with (not just as an investment).JO: What INSPIRED you to open?
MAGGIE: After eight years in Shanghai, the pandemic sparked an unexpected move across the world for myself and my family. Living over a year in Evanston without our belongings, we were forced to repatriate and remake our home. This process involuntarily pushed us to take an emotional inventory of the objects in our lives—learning that even everyday items can and should have intrinsic meaning and value. Yet, at the same time, the experience also taught us what we can live without and inspired new ideas of what was needed to color in this new chapter of home. 
JO: What kind of makers and artists does your shop support?
MAGGIE: My passion is highlighting local and globally-sourced designers, makers, and artisans that celebrate materiality, craft, and functionality. At the same time, I’m drawn to the wabi-sabi, the unexpected, and the lighthearted. High art and design can be so austere! I want the things we live with to have a liveliness or an element of playfulness that sets them apart. There is also a lot of noise and saturation in the design and home goods world. The items at Pink & Tan are carefully selected and edited, and often even test-driven (I’m not going to sell anything in the store I don’t want in my own home, or I wouldn’t give as a gift). It was essential to me that when you walk into the shop and browse, that each item is thoughtful and the experience as a whole feel bespoke (like we choose these must-have pieces you never knew you needed, just for you), with little elements of surprise to disarm you along the way. JO: How do fashion and/or clothing play a role in your life?
MAGGIE: Though I’ve been around the fashion industry for much of my adult life, I’ve never particularly followed or felt pressure from fashion. To me, style is ultimately a personal form of self-expression and interpretation. I wear things that make me feel good.JO: Any thoughts on the Jeune Otte pieces you tried ?
MAGGIE: The collection is feminine yet strong, with a beautiful push/pull between the structured and softer, dreamier pieces. I particularly loved the Anni Open Collar Blouse. It is a staple that I could wear with anything! photos by Noah Sheldon
ANNI OPEN COLLAR BLOUSE
THANKS MAGGIE!
FOLLOW PINK & TAN
Laura Letinsky
SNAPSHOTS from THE ARTIST & PROFESSOR
JEUNE OTTE: What is your day-to-day like?
LAURA: Like the cat in the hat, juggling multiple plates, balls, fishbowls, etc, until everything tumbles down. And I start again.JO: Tell us about your artwork.
LAURA: The indulgence of having been an artist for, well over 40, maybe close to 50 years if you count my childhood, is that I realize how, through my work, I am always wrestling with perfection as a false idol, aiming for it nonetheless and then negotiating how to deal with the gaps, fault lines, and incommensurabilities of life. Primarily I work with pictures, photographs to be exact.
JO: What do you look for in clothing? How should it feel or make you feel?
LAURA: Being a maker, I need clothes to move from studio to garden to administrative meetings to cocktail parties, art openings, and galas. I like a kind of high and low, the high, gorgeous and sometimes tres cher items, the low, things I make myself or that have endured time such that they are best suited to acquiring more evidence of wear and tear. The fit, slow vs. fast fashion including environmentally sourced materials and fair labor are important considerations. And then, there’s the seduction of a beautiful and beautifully made object.I respect Jeune Otte’s ethos and design aesthetic, both leaning into each other to make gorgeous wearable, and sound clothes that are for now, as for the long run. The pieces are classic and match so well with other clothes that they transition well from one event to another. I’ve gotten so many compliments!Thanks LAURA! SEE MORE OF LAURA’s WORK HERE.
Jennefer Hoffmann
IN AN EMAIL INTERVIEW, the Chicago-Based ARTIST TALKS ART and FASHION
JEUNE OTTE: Tell us about what you do.
JENNEFER: i like to think of myself as a helper or connector when possible.JO: What is your day-to-day like?
JENNEFER: facilitating the independence of my two teenagers, remembering to breathe. JO: Tell us about your sculpture.
JENNEFER: clay for me is a place to work it out. JO: What are you working on right now?
JENNEFER: new ideas around a body of work that contemplates vessels as bags and what they carry.JO: How do you stay inspired, current and innovative?
JENNEFER: try not to look at anything current or innovative. 
JO: How does fashion & clothing play a role in your life?
JENNEFER: as much as it does on the body, I like the color, texture and form of it off the body. it is a comfort. JO: What do you look for in clothing? How should it feel or make you feel?
JENNEFER: for me – it is a feeling. it also can be a reaction to a feeling and it can also make me feel very self-conscious. i have complexity around its ability to draw attention. JO: How did you feel in Jeune Otte pieces?
JENNEFER: in some very practical, in others elegant, in others very sexy which is not a literal look i wear often so it was fun to imagine that. Photos: LAURA LETINSKY
Thanks Jennefer! SEE MORE OF JENNEFER’s WORK HERE.
Collection V
Explore the first drop of Collection V: FW22 from Jeune Otte.
EXPLORE THE FIRST DROP OF FW22
ABOUT COLLECTION V
Workwear-inspired jumpsuits, painter’s smocks, wide-legged pants and silk blouses. Collection V is inspired by the real – and imagined – clothes worn by artists and architects such as Charlotte Perriand, Eileen Gray, Anni Albers and Georgia O’Keeffe. Each piece creates a sense of easy luxury both functional and beautiful in form. 
Photographer: Kirsten MiccoliHair and Makeup: Melissa BensonModel: Natalie Beeson from Ford ModelsStyling: Heiji Choy Black + Elise BergmanCreative Production: Emily Donelan Construction: Jen PlumridgeSpring Break with Collection IV
CO-founder heiji takes spring ‘22 for a test drive in st. Barths
JEUNE OTTE: Where did you wear the Marit Dress? How did it feel?
HEIJI: I wore the Marit dress to a romantic dinner with my husband at Le Tamarin, a St. Barths classic. The dress is sexy, easy and perfect for the island, and because it’s linen it looks great freshly pressed, but also rumpled and wrinkled which might fit the island vibe a little more, even. I love how the length of the dress makes me feel a few inches taller, and the pockets are a total plus!JO: It looks AMAZINg on.
HEIJI: I got a ton of compliments on it – maybe because I just feel so good in it! JO: Love the Jesper Shell & Malin SKort together, Where did you wear it?
HEIJI: I wore it to lunch when we were shopping around the main town in St Barths, Gustavia. It’s a great little summer outfit for running around town. The top feels light as air, and I love the flirty Malin skort. It’s definitely an outfit you can dress up with a pair of good heels and some fun chunky jewelry.JO: LEARN ANYThING suRprising when you tested these in the field?
HEIJI: Despite how revealing the Jesper Shell is in the back, it is very modest in the front and it feels really secure and so comfortable on. I will be coming back to that top all summer long – pairing it with everything.JO: ThankS HEIJI! ❤️
International Women’s Month 2022
Talking with women we admire
"I’m inspired by women who age naturally and gracefully. In our culture there’s a lot of pressure to conform to society’s definition of youth or beauty. I love seeing a woman who has embraced her unique beauty and essence and is not self conscious about the natural process of growing older… her energy is so vital that you feel the youth of her spirit a mile away. "Jessie de Lowe, manifestation coach and @howyouglow co-founder
"So many people inspire me for various reasons. All of the women in my life certainly do. I learn about compassion, support, tenacity and strength from all of them. The women of I am a voter, of which I am a founding member, all inspire me for their unwavering dedication to engaging people in civic duty and voter awareness. A lot of female journalists who work tirelessly to shed light on marginalized or voiceless populations inspire me, namely Clarissa Ward, Maria Ressa and Gayle Tzemach Lemmon."Journalist & author Melissa Magsaysay
Collection IV
Behind the Scenes with Photographer CAROLINA MARIANA Rodríguez
A dreamy shoot with one of our all-time favorites, Carolina Mariana Rodríguez. We love the way she captured both the dreamy nature of Collection IV – and our surroundings, an amazing modern house on Lake Michigan. Once again, we assembled a complete dream team to get the job done. Here are some snapshots from that day.xo JEUNE OTTE
ABOUT COLLECTION IV
During the design process, Heiji Black and Elise Bergman went back to their familial roots, Korea and Scandinavia respectively, to create a capsule featuring a muted color palette inspired by nature: whites, soft gray, blues, wheat, lavender and rose. Relaxed and easy silhouettes in soft or crisp linens, white lace, classic stripes, soft cottons, and bright silk. These are pieces imagined for the coast, where the mountains meet ocean, for sitting under an old growth tree, or for strolling through a field of flowers, all landscapes common to both Korea and Scandanavia.
Design details and inspiration taken from vintage designs from Prada, Chloé, Jil Sander, Kenzo, while traditional Korean hanbok and Midsommar dress ideas trickle through the collection. A delicate tiered maxi dress, a wide legged linen jumpsuit, a minimal cross back tank top, a patchwork mini dress, a chiffon pleated wrap dress, these are all pieces that can be effortlessly worn from beachside to al fresco dinner party. Consistent with the codes of the Jeune Otte brand, each piece is easy, luxurious, versatile and timeless.
Photographer: Carolina Mariana RodríguezHair and Makeup : Lorelei from Chicago Makeup ArtistsModel: Sophia Bounou from One Management ChicagoStyling: Heiji Choy Black + Elise BergmanCreative Production: Emily Donelan Construction: Jen PlumridgeCatherine Sarr
french-born, chicago-based jewelry designer and art collector
JEUNE OTTE: We are obsessed with almasikA! how do you describe it?
CATHERINE: Almasika celebrates the symbols, stories and forms that unite people across cultures and generations, through jewelry that combines arts, design and storytelling. Our jewelry’s signature aesthetic of abstract lines and organic curves reflects an effortless, typically Parisian elegance.
JO: What's your relationship to jewelry? How do you wear it?
CATHERINE: I love layering my necklaces – there is really an art to it. I start with one closer to the collar and a longer, more relaxed piece to find a good balance. Our Vidi Signet worn as a pinky ring has also been a recent addition to my go-to jewelry.
arm candy closeup: Catherine wearing almasikA and our reed pants & Bjork vest
JO: We know you and your husband support artists through The SARR Collection, what role does art play in your life?
CATHERINE: I have long been inspired by the power of art to spark dialogue and tell stories. My practice is inextricably linked to my appreciation of creative composition. Cultural craftspeople act both as interlocutors and sources of inspiration, setting in motion an artistic and intellectual dialogue. Both for art and jewelry, it’s really about understanding the power of telling a story beyond an actual object.JO: LOVE THIS! STORYTELLING Through clothing is something we think a lot about, whether we are designing or witnessing someone else interpret jeune otte through the lens of their own personal style. It’s wonderful to see how versatile our pieces can be.
CATHERINE: I love the versatility of the Elise dress – and the elegance of the Reed pants. But beyond the beautiful design, I believe Jeune Otte’s commitment to sustainability and exceptional craftsmanship adds a unique nuance to every one of your pieces.JO: Thank you – and thank you for taking the time to speak to us. ❤️
Learn more about almasika & the SARR COLLECTION
