STYLE MUSE - JUSTINA BLAKENEY

I am beyond excited to share today's L+R Style Muse, Justina Blakeney.  I first found Justina when her beautiful wedding was published in Martha Stuart Weddings.  I was captivated by the bohemian style and DIY details.  Since then, I have followed Justina's fabulous blog - which was recently named one of the Best Home Decor Blogs by Refinery 29.  Justina affectionately calls her home (shared with her husband - Jason, and baby girl - Ida Sky) their Jungalow.  And you should most definitely take the time to click here  and here to check it out. 

Justina Blakeney is a creative force to be reckoned with.  She doesn't follow trends, and her uniqueness is refreshing.  She just does her thing, and does it oh-so well.  It's a quality I admire most in people, and I find her completely inspiring.  I love this recent post where she writes about clothing for curvy women (using photos from the shoot she did for L+R!).  

Thank you, Justina, for being a L+R Style Muse!  

xo

<<< Q+A below >>>

L+R:  Who are YOUR style muses?
J:  Peggy Moffitt, Iris Apfel, Frida Kahlo

L+R:  Where are your favorite places to shop in LA?
J:  Flea Markets, Squaresville, New High Mart, Tavin

L+R:  Your favorite  fashion find (s)?
J:  Oh gosh too many to name--have a look at my Get in my Closet Pinterest Board!
     http://pinterest.com/compai/justina-s-style-pinboard/

L+R:  You're a designer, consultant, interior stylist, and you've written 4 books!  
Tell us a little about your career path and journey.

J:  I began my career simply by doing the things that love. The more I designed--the better I got at it. I volunteered, interned, worked for trade and got involved with anything that sounded fun and/or interesting to learn as much as possible about art and design. As far as formal education, I got my Bachelor of Arts degree at UCLA in World Arts and Cultures and I minored in Italian. I then got a post graduate degree in fashion design from Polimoda on Florence, Italy, but ultimately I feel that travel, and collaborations with people that I admire have provided the best education.

L+R:  You lived in Italy for 7 years. What took you there, and what brought you back to California?
J:  I grew up in Berkeley, CA and moved down to LA to go to UCLA when I was 18. I fell in love with this city--so warm, so vast, and so many cultural enclaves throughout.  I made a ton of friends that are still my friends today. My junior year at UCLA I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. I studied communications and became enamoured with Italian language and culture. When I came back to the US after my junior year I decided to return to Italy after graduation. When I went back my sister Faith came with me and we did our post-graduate work at Polimoda. The following year we launched a boutique and a design collective.  I had the opportunity to work with some amazing Italian designers and learn so much from them. Something about being a foreigner and always being just a little bit outside of my comfort zone forced me to observe, observe and observe more-- so I learned a ton. I came back when I fell in love with my now husband, Jason--a California boy. 

L+R:  What does a typical day look like for you? and how has this changed since you've gotten married, and had Ida Sky?
J:  As a full-time consultant, each day is drastically different. My main job is a creative consultant. I help people and businesses with creative concepting and design. This can mean one day I'm doing home decor and interior styling and the next day I'm art-directing a photoshoot. My 'gigs' are kinda all over the map and I like it that way. Since I had Ida and got married, I work more from the computer and phone. I do less graphic design and more styling because styling projects have a set start and finish time where as graphic design projects can go on and on and that's hard with a baby. 

L+R:  How would you describe your personal style?  and how does that reflect on your interior design work?

J:  My personal style is Jungalow and Globoh (global/bohemian) -- that goes for everything in my life. My personal style does not change from fashion to home to food--or whatever--my tastes are pretty consistent. I like it wild. 

L+R:  What inspires you or influences you the most creatively? 

J:  TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL--and that could mean to another continent or to the corner store. Being outside of your comfort zone--hearing, feeling, tasting, seeing and smelling new things and people.  

L+R:  Ok, last one just for fun :) Three beauty products you can't live without?

J:  Josie Maran Argan oil, Mixed Chicks Leave-in-Conditioner, Funny Face Lipstick by Nars

(These fabulous photos were taken by Justina's husband, Jason Rosencrantz.)