Holidays at Home
Elise Bergman entertains effortlessly in the celine dress
We are crazy about the Celine Knit Dress, not only is it so comfortable – but its rich burgundy color feels appropriate for the holidays without being too twee. In EB's words: "The double knit ponte is equally flattering and forgiving. I threw this dress on for a dinner party – and after a morning of cooking, I loved how it made me feel immediately put together but still so comfortable."EXPLORE collection III
Collection III Trunk Show
chicagoland! Athene is hosting a trunk show at their beauitful space in winnetka and we would love to see you there!
Christy Matson
The LA-Based Artist discusses color, creative problem-solving, and new ways to make art during the pandemic
JEUNE OTTE: We are such big fans of your work, can you describe it for us?
CHRISTY: I think about what I do as both painting and drawing together with textile making in the broadest sense of the word. I work with a Jacquard loom that allows me to translate drawings, paintings, any kind of marks that I make on paper into woven textiles.
JO: And you often use surplus or deadstock fabric in your work, right?
CHRISTY: Yeah, I work almost entirely with either mill ends or leftovers from the textile industry… kind of like Heiji and Elise are doing, actually. It’s the idea that if you can get your hands on really small quantities of things, you can make something really beautiful from what a larger company or corporation would consider to be waste.JO: Do you feel like having finite resources lends itself to more interesting designs or unexpected designs?
CHRISTY: Unexpected; yes for sure. I think working within those parameters lends itself to creative problem solving. And it also allows or it forces things to never become formulaic. I think some people might consider this approach a limitation but I find so much potential and inspiration in the ability to extend the lifecycle of a material. JO: Since you work with textiles, it seems like you would be very particular when it comes to your own clothes. What is your wardrobe like?
CHRISTY: I tend to like things that I can wear over and over and over again. And I hold onto items of clothing for a very long time. I still own (and wear) the same jean jacket I bought on a road trip through Montana in the late 90s! I gravitate to things I know I can wear in every situation. So clothing that will suit me in the studio, but if I'm gonna meet a friend for dinner on the way home, I can totally show up in that as well. I definitely appreciate natural fibers and love a great textured fabric. I don’t think anything in my closet is made of synthetics. We cold wash and hang dry all our clothing which helps preserve the longevity of garments and is also gentler on the environment. 
JO: How does the Mina dress stack up?
CHRISTY: It’s beautiful and has so much movement! The linen itself is so insanely soft. I'm working with linen now in the studio, and the warps I'm using are really stiff so that was the first thing I was struck by. The dress is really surprising though because it is so soft but also so thick. The quality of the linen is truly luxurious. I probably have no business wearing anything white, but (laughs) then maybe I'll just dye it once it gets dirty and stained with paint, you know? This dress is the the type of thing that I would wear every day.JO: What are you making with your not-so-soft linen?
CHRISTY: So right now, I'm working with some deadstock linen. I’ve been painting on that and then painting on some paper yarn and kind of weaving it all together. In the process I'm getting these very atmospheric sorts of marks in the background and then, these abstract bubbles of color on top. Over the course of the pandemic, I've carved out out this new way of working where I paint marks onto both directions of threads before they're woven. It sort of developed out of the real-world logistics of having a kid doing remote school while I was also in the studio. And so, what I was finding was I'd have these short bursts of time and I was looking for ways that I could kind of make a maximum impact in that short period of time. I don't know. I'm still sort of seeing it through. I don't really have a way to articulate [this new process] quite yet because it's still so new and I’m very much still “in it.”
JO: That really speaks to our team. Many of us have had to supervise remote school this past year and find different ways to manage our time and get everything done.
CHRISTY: SO many of us are involved in care work this year, whether it's taking care of young children or older relatives or just, you know, your small business, whatever it is. We were all thrust very abruptly into a different style of caretaking than many of us were ever accustomed to. And I do think that it's really important to acknowledge the impact that the pandemic has had on women (and mothers) in particular.JO: You seem to wear a lot of black & white, yet your work is filled with color. What’s your relationship to color?
CHRISTY: I think that living in Northeast LA, you get used to a certain harshness to the quality of light here. Everything feels so pummeled by the sun all the time. It all feels a little bit washed out. But then you do get shocks of color, these surprising little bursts of neon or whatever. We wrapped up Jacaranda season here in June and thats a two-week period where the entire city just explodes in purple, and then it's gone. It's so fast, you blink and you miss it. Or, you have these bleak concrete expanses, and then you'll just have this explosion of bougainvillea in the middle of it, which is neon pink or orange. And, for me, there's, kind of metaphors about resilience and persistence in all of that, that I find really inspirational on a personal level but also artistically. So I think the colors I work with are instep with how I process the world around me. I find if I’m dressed in a lot of color its visually confusing or competitive with what I’m doing in the studio and so its easier to just stick with blacks, whites and neutrals.PHOTOS BY Emma Louise Swanson
CHRISTY RECOMMENDS…
SEe Christy’s work
Alex Olson
the LA-BASED ARTIST SHARES how Fashion INFORMS HER WORK and why neon pink chiffon is so versatile
JeUne Otte: What's your relationship with fashion? And how has it presented itself in your work?
ALEX: Fashion has always been an important form of creativity and expression for me, but I’ve been somewhat hesitant to admit how much of a part it plays in my work. I’ve only just started to embrace it and discuss it in relation to my paintings. I expect fashion to become more active and open in my work in the future as I continue to allow it in.
One of my most formative aesthetic experiences growing up was bargain hunting with my family at Filene’s Basement in Boston. There were bins and racks of everyday items and brands, but also high-end designer clothes. It was an education to see these well-made objects that offered alternatives to what I knew clothes could be and to imagine the roles they could play in people’s lives.
My work focuses on surfaces and how we read them, both perceptually and socially, and fashion relates to the social read. While I don’t cite specific fashion outright, I do allude to certain aesthetic connections. But even more so, I think about how it functions as exterior signage and a cover to hide or enhance information beneath. I’m also drawn to palettes that have fashion associations to me, and those tend to be personally aspirational—they reflect my tastes in the moment, which in turn reflect a slice of cultural time. 
JO: During our photoshoot, you looked amazing in the Luca dress (bright pink, twirls like a dream). How did you like it?
ALEX: It’s my favorite piece in the new collection! The color first drew me in because it’s such a strong, sharp color of pink. The sheerness counterbalances the color and makes it very versatile. It could be an accent over just about anything: pants, a dress, shorts. I could imagine wearing it casually on a hot day or dressing it up.JO: What struck you about Jeune Otte? What pieces felt like you?
ALEX: I absolutely love that Jeune Otte uses mainly deadstock fabric and is produced locally in Chicago. I admire its initial vision of being for tweens and teens, which are such tricky years for navigating self-representation. And I’m excited they’ve begun an adult line! I went to the trunk show in LA and noticed that each piece has this ability to transform on whomever is wearing it. The clothing doesn’t dictate the wearer so much as it has this design sophistication that allows the wearer to make it their own. My personal choices would be of course the Luca dress, but also the Reed pants, the Conte coat and the Theo tank. There’s so much nuance in the materials and details that don’t jump out at you at first but that give each piece a touch of personality and uniqueness.
JO: Finally, we'd love to hear a few recommendations. What are you consuming, reading, loving right now?
ALEX: Oooooh, too many things. This is going to be a very LA compilation: The first that comes to mind that I can’t stop recommending is the LA Review of Books Radio Hour podcast. A warning though: it’ll make you buy lots of books. They do superb interviews with writers and ask excellent questions while giving the interviewee ample time to flesh out a response. Two of my favorite recent ones were The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein and Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993 by Sarah Schulman. I’m a huge fan of the record label Small World run by artist LeRoy Stevens, and one of my favorite albums he’s put out is by his partner, Lisa Williamson, Pump Suck, in which she ‘plays’ breast pumps through a mixing board. While I love the idea, it also surprisingly catchy; Lisa also has an exceptional show up right now in LA.I’m totally tickled by the ceramic collaboration by artist Max Maskansky and fashion designer Nancy Stella Soto. Especially this. And I’m coveting furniture by Waka Waka, designed by Shin Okuda. As well as pillows and cord-covers by Rowena Sartin at Iko Iko, designed by Kristin Dickson-Okuda.photos by EMMA LoUISE SWANSON
Thanks Alex! SEE BELOW FOR MORE OF ALEX’s LA art show recs.
JO WOMEN Collection II BTS
Behind the Scenes with Photographer Maria Ponce
This spring we brought together an absolute dream team to produce the lookbook for our second capsule collection from Jeune Otte Women. Emily took some behind-the-scenes images from our amazing shoot inside a beautiful suburban-Chicago mid-century modern Keck & Keck home. Photographer: Maria PonceHair and Makeup Artist: Karen Brody from Chicago Makeup ArtistsModel: Melissa Graham from Select Model ChicagoStyling: Heiji Choy Black + Elise BergmanCreative Production: Emily Donelan
Escape with Collection II
Our second womenswear CAPSULE was Partly inspired by pandemic-induced wanderlust. now that travel is back on the table, we asked co-founder heiji Choy Black to Pack a Bag for us.
Lucky for me, my dearest friend is celebrating a big birthday this September, and to celebrate, we are heading to Isla Holbox, Mexico for some bohemian debauchery on the sand. Here are all the things I am packing in my suitcase, and lucky for me our newest collection will be perfect for a beach getaway. The Carter dress will be my go-to dinner attire on the beach. Bare feet, margarita and Carter dress are the perfect combo. I love the Andre playsuit paired with my wood clogs, sunnies and some colorful enamel bracelets for shopping the cute boutiques and street vendors on the island. And I can wear the Mina blouse and Dalida skirt from day to night.... during the day, Mina blouse open over my bikini with Dalida skirt. Then for night, add a little smoky eyeliner, some sparkly long necklaces, jeweled earrings, some champagne, and I'll be ready to dance the night away! –HCB
Natalie Bergman: “Mercy”
Natalie Bergman’s beautiful new album “mercy” is out today. Watch the video for her song ‘talk to the lord’ and catch natalie rocking some looks from the first Jeune Otte womenswear collection.
Proud to share this wonderful video for 'Talk to the Lord' from my sister Natalie, featuring the Chicago Children's Choir (and a sweet appearance by my son Lewis). Filmed at the iconic Metro Chicago on Natalie's birthday on a crisp but sunny Sunday in February, I was blown away by the team she pulled together to create this powerful experience. With 2020 shutdowns, the venue had been sitting empty for almost a year, and she filled it with music, vision, hope, joy, and community.Natalie's debut solo album "Mercy" is out today on Third Man Records. The record hits you with much of that same sense of hope and joy. It comforts, it uplifts, it makes you want to sing along, it makes you move, it makes you cry, it heals. The songs deal with death and darkness, grief, loss, love, and faith--they are rich and they are raw, as fresh as they are timeless. Gospels and anthems that I'm sure every one of us can find meaning and solace in after a year that has hit so many of us with losses, challenges, and isolation.Watch the video, buy the record, hug your loved ones! -EB
'Talk to the Lord' was directed by Weird Life Films and produced by Jamie Grey. Our longtime friend Brandon Frein styled the striking wardrobe (can you spot our Joplin Pants?! and how about those killer Cities in Dust daisy earrings!). Chicago Children's Choir is led by the always inspirational Josephine Lee. Additional links to many of these creatives and a few dreamy images of Natalie in some pieces from our first womenswear collection below.
Our Joplin Pants are a comfy-meets-chic, organic-cotton denim bell-bottom with the perfect touch of stretch from our Teen & Tween: Collection II. BUT, don't forget that our youth size 16 fits an adult size 2/4--see Heiji sporting them below (far left)!
Naomi Beckwith
The MCA Chicago curator discusses staying fluid in your career, the RESPONSIBILITY she feels as a black professional & her RELATIONSHIP to fashion
JeUne Otte: you’ve been at the mCA for the past decade, but this summer you move to NYC to serve as the Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Guggenheim. We know you’ve lived and worked in NYC before, but what’s it feel like to leave Chicago?
NAOMI: It’s a strange one, but I don’t believe I’m going back to New York just in the same way when I started the job at the MCA, I didn’t really believe I was going back to Chicago. I very much am a big believer in you never step in the same river twice. That, you know, you go into a different world even if it’s a place that’s quite familiar. But I have to say the leaving is more difficult [this time]. First of all, the thought of having to squeeze this life now into 25% of the space for the same price [laughs] is already a little weird. JO: Was the move to the Guggenheim something you were chasing?
NAOMI: Not necessarily. The Guggenheim wasn’t on my trajectory but you know the art world is one that’s relatively tight and relatively small and it makes a village out of New York, it makes a global village. And when a shift happens in one place, the whole thing just starts to play kind of musical chairs. So it wasn’t a big thing on my radar but obviously, it’s an iconic place. It’s a really interesting site because it’s one that is very much instationated on the Upper East Side but it’s created some of the wildest installations and wildest exhibitions I’ve ever seen. So, it’s always been quite refined but also quite experimental. So I’ve always respected it... but when the musical chairs started happening and I got this call, it was like–well, actually I will say my first reaction was like, "Yeah right…" [laughs]. JO: Because it was so surreal?
NAOMI: Yeah, it did feel a bit surreal. I’m sure this is a story a lot of women can relate to: I think that it’s very easy to imagine yourself in a certain status in your career. This kind of institution, or this scale, or this size, or this iconicity, or this city even for that matter. And it’s very easy to get to this point– and look, I say this as a woman who has proudly moved into middle age– that you just start to imagine yourself to be more anchored, rather than fluid. And when that call came in, it was a great kick in the butt to remind myself to remain fluid and to keep the imagination open of where I could be and what I could be. And it’s also the case that I know that part of the reason I do what I do is to advocate for Black artists and artists of color and women and I realize that the more places I can take that mission, the more I can seed that, the better.JO: Many people have described your appointmenT as “a step toward inclusiveness” or “a reaction to institutional racism.” Does that responsibility weigh on you?
NAOMI: This kind of conversation around what do Black professionals represent and what they’re expected to do when they get in a place–it’s similar everywhere in every field for that matter. Which shows, first of all, a lot about our society, right? Someone joked to me, “I’m not going to congratulate you on the Guggenheim job, I’m going to congratulate the Guggenheim for doing what they should have done a long time ago.”
But to answer your question more directly, it has always been the case that I understand as someone who oftentimes–the Studio Museum of course being the great exception–oftentimes I am the first or only Black person in the position. I’ve always understood that that has symbolic value. I don’t take it as a burden to say that it is my job to not only represent myself well, but to make opportunities for others. I’m thinking about the future...constantly, and really making sure that I pave a path for someone else to instantiate themselves. It’s a joy, it’s a mission. I think I was raised in a way of always imagining myself as having a responsibility to others. 
JO: What role does fashion play in your life?
NAOMI: I inherited a love of clothes from my mom, my aunts, my great-aunts. All women who just kind of love getting dressed for an occasion. And I still very much believe in that, I’m kind of Victorian in that way [laughs]. But I also believe in getting dressed in the way, the curator route, where I’m not trying to compete with anything or anyone. I don’t need to totally show out in a room. I’m the kind of person who likes people to discover me in a room, but when you see what I’m wearing you still have to pause for a moment. When you see me you’re going to give me that once over–I don’t mind [laughs]. There’s a great expression in Mali that says basically, If you don’t dress well, you don’t give your neighbors anything pleasurable to look at. Right? You dress for yourself, for your own confidence, you dress for your own pleasure, but also remember that again, you’re part of a world that’s bigger than just you. So think of somebody else too. Give them something to look at. Give them something to discover. JO: Let’s talk about the photoshoot–we loved you in the jumpsuit.
NAOMI: I’m the proud owner of that jumpsuit, which is amazing. You know what that jumpsuit is giving me? There’s a character in "Enter the Dragon." This woman who’s kind of a bit of a madam, she kind of runs the haram for the villain in the film. But she had these flared pants that were like you know, flared for days, and when we were doing the shoot–they gave me the jumpsuit and I grabbed a cropped jacket and I was like “Oh My God, I recreated the 'Enter the Dragon' outfit…” But it’s so fly. I think [the collection] does something that I've always appreciated, which is I think clothes can be ostentatious either in its cut or ostentatious in its materiality and color and form, but it can’t do both. Or it shouldn’t do both. I mean, there are plenty of clothes that do but that is so not me. So for instance, that big flared jumpsuit that I have now–it’s a solid black with an incredible A-line on the legs. Or I also really love that lacy tunic–the fabric is exquisite, but it has a very simple cut. You don’t have to go wild. You don't need crazy bell sleeves or something Medieval-looking. Just pay attention to the fabric or pay attention to the object. Photos by Wade Hall McElroy
Thank you for YOUR time naomi, it was such a pleasure talking with you.
Amy Owen
Closing in on the one-year anniversary of the shutdown Is a perfect time to publish our conversation with yoga instructor Amy Owen who shared how meditation has uniquely prepared her for this moment.
A NOTE FROM our co-founder Heiji:
Amy Owen has been my healer, motivator, yogi guru, and friend for the last nine years and especially through the pandemic. Despite having to practice through the screens, every week, Amy is there to help me get grounded and help me heal myself through the trauma of these days. I first started practicing yoga with her when I was pregnant with my third child. She has carried me through many ups and downs over the years. Her presence soothes, her adjustments with her hands are magical, and her intellect and serene disposition makes her one of the best yoga teachers I’ve ever encountered. The real clincher for me though, is her great eye and love for design and understanding of the fashion industry–totally unrelated to her practice but has meaning for me!Jeune Otte: We love these photos! you look amazing in the india dress; so chic and fun. what do you think of the collection?
AMY: Oh I love it. Just really easy to wear and just so in line with [JO Founder] Heiji’s aesthetic. I used to go to Heijfina, her store in Bucktown way back when and she just has such a good eye. Everything is different, but very accessible. I used to model way back when so I have a little bit of a fashion background, so even though I’m a yoga teacher, and you’d think “Oh, she’s not into the superficial,” I really appreciate lovely clothing that is an extension of who I am and what I am. I think they’re great outlets. I think it’s fun to be creative and express yourself in this outwardly way. JO: Speaking of modeling, we were SURPRISED TO learn you were a clumsy kid and yet you grew up to be a model and yoga instructor?
AMY: I was SO uncoordinated. I still am! My nickname was Godzilla because I would just fall over things all the time. JO: So what do you think your younger self would think about you now? And do you have any advice for that girl?
AMY: Hmmm, that’s such a good question. I think she would be in awe of her older self and not even think it was a possibility. And I guess my advice would be: Your imagination is so limited. Your wildest imagination is still not as big as you should be dreaming. You’ve got to dream so much bigger than that. The possibilities are actually infinite. And instead of conjuring up who you’re gonna be, just follow the passion. Follow where the river flows and what draws you in and stay really open and curious and I think your life will unfold in a way that is bigger and better than you can imagine.
JO: Love this!
AMY: I feel like the path shows itself if you're really present. And that’s where the meditation is: you’re really present. You’re not living in the past, you’re not ruminating about what happened before or in a fear-driven place of what’s going to happen in the future and “Oh my god, what am I gonna do?” I mean, when everything shut down my students were like “Hey, will you figure out how to teach classes from home?” And I was like “OK. Well, let me see how I can do that. Oh, there’s this thing called Zoom. OK, let me sign up.” But I know quite a few other people who were just paralyzed, just sitting in this fear of “Oh my God, what’s going to happen?” Instead, I’m like, “What about this week? What about today? Let’s just start there.” No one can plan a year out right now. It’s just not possible. So for me, it’s kind of like the meditation has primed me for this type of time. You can’t predict tomorrow. You can’t change yesterday. Today is really all you have. Thank you for the inspiration AMY!
learn more about amy owen and her yoga and meditation practice here!
Eliana Martinez
This Northwestern student (and former Jeune Otte intern) TALKS STYLE, SCHOOL, and our new womenswear collection
JO: How would you describe your style?
ELIANA: My style is definitely a mixture of more basic trendier pieces–like biker shorts and big chunky sneakers, things like that–mixed with vintage or pieces that are meaningful to me.JO: We love how the images from your photoshoot turned out! What was your favorite piece?
ELIANA: I had a few! The one thing that I was like, ‘this feels so chic’ and I loved is the Newman Jacket. It has this one cute button that is so 60s. My favorite outfit to try on was that coat and my red cowboy boots. I also loved the Lou Pants 'cause it literally felt like wearing sweatpants. If I was looking at a rack of clothes, a pair of tailored pants would probably be the last thing I would go to but the tailoring is great and the material is so nice. That was the piece that I was most surprised by–I wouldn’t think I would want to wear them but I totally do. In terms of what’s most wearable, and what I’m excited to have and wear the most, would probably be the Lindsey Blouse. It’s sheer with– it almost looks like an Elizabethan–collar when you tie it up. It’s the kind of thing I know I could wear a million ways–out to dinner or even going out with a cute little black bra-top underneath. Jeune Otte: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU GOT involved with Jeune Otte?
ELIANA: [*JO co-founder] Elise Bergman is my neighbor. She moved onto my street a couple years ago and our neighborhood is super close-knit and almost like family. This past summer, I was having a really hard time finding a summer job just because of like, life [laughs] and Elise offered me the opportunity to help her out with JO.JO: Are you interested in clothing design as a career?
ELIANA: I love fashion and dressing up but I’m studying cognitive science at Northwestern and I think I’m going to do more like an MBA or law school post-grad. So I’m going a totally different path than the one Elise went down. But I’m definitely more motivated than before to be involved in entrepreneurship or startups, seeing [Jeune Otte] come to life. I’ve never thought that would be something I’d be interested in but [this internship] has had an influence on me and what I can foresee in my future.
JO: Is the women’s line different from the clothes that you and your friends wear?
ELIANA: I like to be comfortable, that’s my main thing, but I also love a little pop of something girly and I think Jeune Otte is the perfect addition for that… but I think it’s a little more elevated than what’s marketed to young adults. There’s kind of a transformation going on in shopping right now, where it’s becoming so normal to see things exactly tailored to what your personal style is and what reflects the people you follow on social media. It’s really easy to enter a bubble of style that’s what you’re seeing on your Instagram feed. And that can make it really easy to shop but it’s also harder to see things that are a little bit different or pushing you to find pieces that are out of your comfort zone. So I think that’s one thing that makes me excited for this line, because it’s not the stuff I would usually buy but I think wearing it at the photoshoot [showed me] these pieces could be really well integrated into what I’m usually looking for. JO: This is your first year at Northwestern and we can’t imagine it’s been a typical transition with the pandemic in full swing. Do you feel like you’ve missed out on something?
ELIANA: Definitely yes, it’s so not normal and it sucks but it’s also like it is what it is. I mean, [the first semester] wasn’t “college,” there weren’t parties and stuff like that, but I think I definitely experienced the life and maturity change that you experience when you go to school even though it’s in a totally different way. Thank you Eliana! See more pieces from our debut Collection for women here!
Collection II BTS, Part 2
Behind the Scenes with Photographer Evan Sheehan
Looking around Future Use studio in Chicago, it’s hard not to smile. Everything is bright and colorful and inspiring. We worked with photographer Evan Sheehan for our Collection I lookbook on site at Graham Foundation and loved having the opportunity to collaborate with him again in his own space. It was the perfect spot to take some still-life style photos featuring Collection II and a handful of our limited-edition silk face masks. Evan snapped behind the camera while Elise and Heiji styled away, armed with plants and flowers freshly picked from Elise’s garden. Emily captured the space and the team at work.
Check out More of Evan’s Stunning work below!
#teamjeuneotte: Beach Day Blessings
As summer fades into fall, we hit the beach with Collection II
We love autumn but when it’s cool and crisp one minute and sunny the next, it can be hard to dress for the weather. That’s why Collection II was made with materials and a color palette that transcend the in-between times. This fall is particularly in-between for entrepreneur Amy Blessing and her daughter India (age 9) who are currently quarantining with family in Michigan, away from their Los Angeles home. We talked to mother and daughter about autumn, school, and silver linings.
Jeune Otte: What’s your favorite part about the transition between summer and fall?
INDIA: I like to watch the leaves turn color. I live in LA and I've never seen a Fall.AMY: This is my first fall in 20 years! I want to do all the things: bake a pie, take long walks with leaves crunching under my feet, wear huge sweaters , apple picking–what else??JO: What’s your favorite thing right now?
INDIA: I like listening to the “Land of Stories” series and my mom’s new kids needlepoint kits! It is a series of 9 and I am on my third. I’m getting better!JO: Of the clothes featured, which was your favorite and why? How did it make you feel?
INDIA: I loved the long dress!* It made me comfortable.AMY: I love the dress that India loves.* It looks like her, it made her so happy! She really needs to feel comfortable and not too confined, that dress checked all the boxes. *[JO: Metallic Stripe Birkin Dress, featured above]
JO: When you’re buying clothes for your daughter, what are you looking for?
AMY: I want her to feel like herself. She won’t wear jeans and I get bummed about that but at the end of the day I want her to be her. JO: How do you and your daughter negotiate/interact when picking out clothes? If there is a struggle, how do you compromise?
AMY: As a mother I got to choose her clothes for so long. It surprised me how much I liked dressing her up. It was a big transition for me when she took over the task herself. I try to let her do her own thing, but it’s hard sometimes! She indulges me when it counts (Holidays, Birthdays etc). JO: Do you have any pointers for navigating school and creating special experiences for India (and yourself) during this unusual, socially distanced time?
AMY: We are fortunate to be living with family, I generally live so far from them all and am trying to see this as a silver lining. I love doing projects with India: cooking, knitting, foraging and making. I feel super lucky India is the age she is during the quarantine, she still loves to be with us but is also independent. It’s a perfect balance. 
Thank you Amy + India! See more pieces from Jeune Otte's Collection II here. And for those of you following along who are interested in an addictive and comforting craft project for the chillier months ahead, click on to find out more about Loop Canvas!
Happy 1st Birthday to Us!
join us in celebrating our first year
Happy 1st Birthday to Jeune Otte!!! Today marks one year since we launched this project. Thank you to all of the incredible customers, contractors, and collaborators who have been a part of this journey so far. When we introduced the brand last fall, our hope was to create beautiful and sustainable clothing for an age group that is often overlooked and empower youth through creative self expression in the process. In the months that followed, we’ve shifted more times than once in order to adapt to the changing needs associated with our current global situation. We feel lucky to have been able to continue our creative process, keep employees and independent contractors working, create donation masks for healthcare providers as well as fashionable face coverings for you all, and work with a number of non-profits doing amazing work to support at-risk individuals in a time of crisis. Moving forward, we hope we are able to continue to use the brand as a platform to support community building and charitable efforts; to make clothes and accessories with an eye towards sustainable practices, craft, and keen attention to detail; to keep having the opportunity to work with talented artists, models, photographers, and craftspeople; and to interact with all of you lovely teens, tweens, parents, makers, fashionistas, etc. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate this first year milestone and that you’ll follow along with us as we see how the next several months—and years—continue to unfold. With gratitude!! -Jeune Otte.Enjoy 10% off all purchases now through midnight CST on Sunday, October 4th with the code: JOTURNSONEEnd-of-Summer Donation Update
Thanks to your continued support, we were able to donate over $5,500 this summer to Organizations that are helping families and INDIVIDUALS during these challenging times. From education to food access to human rights, Your purchases help us give back. The summer may be over, but we will continue to send out warm, loving vibes along with our monetary donations.
Collection II BTS, Part 1
Behind the scenes of our Collection II lookbook shoot with photographer Brooke Hummer
A handful of snapshots and outtakes from our Collection II photoshoot last month.Photographer: Brooke HummerPhotographer’s Assistant: Brian GladkowskiHair and Makeup Artist: Karen Brody from Chicago Makeup ArtistsModel: Aviana Harris from Ohlsson Model & TalentPaper Florals: Andrea DonadioIt’s always a joy to collaborate with such a talented group. Take a look at some of their other projects below!
Edition VI
Edition VI of our vintage silk scarf face masks
Shop our sixth drop of vintage silk scarf face masks before they are gone!Our latest release of silk face masks are cut from three very special vintage Hermés silk scarves, all made in Chicago.10% of proceeds from sales will be donated to Greater Chicago Food Depository, a non profit based in Chicago, helping to serve and feed individuals and families who are facing food insecurity. Since April 2020, we have been able to donate nearly 3,000 free masks and scrub caps to organizations, healthcare workers, and at-risk individuals and now, we are donating funds directly to Greater Chicago Food Depository for the month of August.
ED. VI - Vintage Hermès Silk Scarf Face Mask
ED. VI - Vintage Hermès Silk Scarf Face Mask
ED. VI - Vintage Hermès Silk Scarf Face Mask
Vintage Silk Masks
We have scoured our favorite vintage dealers to find the most beautiful designer silk scarves we can in order to create limited-edition silk face masks. All made in Chicago and lined in 100% organic cotton, these masks are lightweight and comfortable. Each uniquely one-of-a-kind, Jeune Otte silk face masks offer fashion and function! Editions I and II sold out very quickly. Edition III will go live at noon CST on Friday, July 31st. Act fast!
10% of proceeds from sales will be donated to Urban Growers Collective, a non profit based in Chicago, helping to serve, educate, and feed at-risk communities. Since April 2020, we have been able to donate nearly 3,000 free masks and scrub caps to organizations, healthcare workers, and at-risk individuals and now, we are donating funds directly to organizations like Urban Growers Collective and Black Lives Matter Chicago.
Shop here and see below for a video tutorial on how to tie the silk masks.
JO in CS
Sela anderson of Ohlsson Model & Talent photographed by carolina rodriguez,
Founders Heiji Black and Elise Bergman photographed by Heather Talbert
Donation Update!
Donation update!!! Since April, we have donated 2,745 masks! Thanks to all of your purchases, we have far exceeded our initial donation goal!
Moving forward, we will be shifting from a buy-one-donate-one model to a monetary donation. In addition to our commitment to donate 10% of all sales from June-August 2020 to Black Lives Matter Chicago, we will donate 10% of proceeds from mask sales to organizations serving at-risk communities during the COVID-19 crisis.
Our organization for the month of July is Urban Growers Collective, a group of farmers, organizers, and educators doing incredible work in food education and access.