"HELPED are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be constant."
The Gospel According to Shug from The Temple of My Familiar by  Alice Walker

Spring. 
The season of renewal has arrived. 
Death is no more. 
Time to rise
to 
potential
growth
joy
as the  expected rains and  whispering winds blow
the chill 
​Away

Window display at my fav vintage store...for jewelry!

I’ve been a serious thrifter since my blogging days in the Twenty-Tens, practically building my wardrobe from Goodwill finds. This was back when thrift stores had set prices—before they tried to compete with the resale market (but that’s a whole other conversation).

Anyway.

Living and working across Los Angeles and Orange Counties, I’ve discovered hidden gems—stores that haven’t been ransacked or overpriced. In vintage shops, the high prices are intentional, but I’ve learned through my treasure hunts that certain areas and stores have a unique product energy.

What do I mean by that?

For example, there’s an Out of the Closet in L.A. where I always find the best accessories. In Long Beach, there’s a Goodwill with an unmatched selection of ’60s vintage. And then there are the tucked-away vintage shops in suburban neighborhoods—places that feel like stepping into a grandma’s attic that was already old in 1985.
If you’re used to shopping from your phone, stepping into the anything-goes, unregulated world of secondhand fashion can feel overwhelming.

But that’s the point.
​
Thrifting is about the hunt.
I never know what I’m going to find, and that’s what keeps me coming back—the mystery, the thrill, the delight of discovery.
I guess you could call it my version of gambling, except the currency is time.
Not every hunt is a success.
But my wins outweigh my losses, so I keep coming back.

If you provide me with your wish list of specific brands, silhouettes, fabrications, and budget, I'll source items for you! 
cost: $75 per hour, 4 hour minimum

- Clothing made before the fast fashion craze of the mid-2010s is better quality in construction and fabrication
- One-of-a-kind items not available anywhere else
- It's an inexpensive way to try out new silhouettes
- Environmentally friendly- you're recycling!​
​ 

Covered for Fall 2024- Chanel

​Trend forecasting can be described as the sociology of aesthetics, examining past sociopolitical and cultural events to anticipate future forms of self-expression. As I shop for my clients and observe the world around me, I've noticed the following:

​Gen Z, also known as "Zoomers," are embracing a revival of the late 1990s and early 2000s through the Y2K aesthetic. This generation is rediscovering Aaliyah, iconic music videos, and the unmistakable low-rise jeans paired with mini purses. Baggy pants and oversized t-shirts evoke the style of brands like Rocawear and FUBU. Tommy Hilfiger’s Spring 2025 show, featuring a performance by Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, subtly nods to the roots of this aesthetic.
Thrifting and the circular economy are central to sourcing Y2K pieces, as authenticity is paramount to this generation.The Y2K era was a time of immense possibility, poised on the edge of a new millennium. It was a celebratory moment marked by economic progress, technological advancements, and the lingering anxiety surrounding computer system breakdowns. The era’s colors were bold, its textures high-contrast, and its music bass-heavy.

​Gen Z, however, longs for a time they never knew—a period before the rise of school shootings, online bullying, global pandemics, genocides, and the incessant noise of social media. A time when life seemed slower and less complicated.

Meanwhile, millennials, the world’s largest generation, find themselves caught between nostalgia and the hard realities of adulthood. Brands like Gap and J.Crew are reviving designs that evoke a familiar past. The eldest millennials, born in 1981, entered adulthood with optimism about the new millennium, but soon faced job losses, housing market crashes, bank bailouts, resurgent social racism, and wars by the time they reached their mid-thirties. In the U.S., every presidential election has been framed as "the most important of a generation," only to prove true as social progress made by Baby Boomers slowly eroded. Just like their parents, millennials are at the forefront of both progressive and regressive social movements, inheriting battles from previous generations. And now, they are dressing like them, too.

Celine and Miu Miu are channeling the spirit of 1967, while Chanel and Chloé pay homage to the post-1970s era when women gained the right to credit cards. The 1980s are alive once again, with millennials indulging in childhood nostalgia. Yet, power dressing, with sleek, tailored suits, is emerging as a form of armor—seen clearly at Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen.
In fact, we are witnessing a fusion of aesthetics from the oldest living generations. Millennials are donning the fashion and sounds of the pre-Y2K era, preparing for battle with 1980s-inspired armor, embracing the regressive optimism of the 1960s' French wave with high-contrast fabrics, or blending into the background with 1970s' commercial hippie vibes and detective-style accessories.

​Ultimately, this generation seeks escape, carrying with them what they perceive as the best of each bygone era.

Movement was the theme of 1967 

Four years into this decade, the world feels like it's been turned inside out. We've lived through a global pandemic, rising up for racial and social justice in the streets, the SAG-AFTRA labor strikes, devastating hurricanes, a grinding war in Eastern Europe, three ongoing genocides, an attempted coup in the U.S., and a seemingly endless parade of floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, heatwaves, wildfires, and cyclones. Anti-equity movements are gaining ground, and yet it feels like there's even more I'm missing.
 
The air is thick with fear. And fear? It breeds a scarcity of belief that turns to cruelty—narcissism, sexism, racism, all the ‘isms,’ dividing us into "me versus you," "us versus them." Domestic terrorism in the U.S. has surged by 357% since 2013, fed by virtual echo chambers where people marinate in their own distorted perceptions of "the other."
 
That red hat? It’s no longer just a hat. It’s a signal. *One of them.* Keep a close eye. A hateful Christian. A libtard. We throw labels around like ad slogans—because that’s what they are, born from marketing ploys that strip people of their humanity.
 
When we're not doomscrolling, we numb ourselves with CGI fantasies or songs that glorify escapism. 
 
“Y’all don’t want to hear me, you just want to dance,” said Andre 3000, and we’re still doing it—dancing ourselves into oblivion.
 
Meanwhile, the Earth is pushing back, burning, breaking, and flooding as its creatures cry out for balance. The world is tired of being ignored. And here we are, stuck idealizing some past or future that never truly existed, while the present screams for our attention.
 
The inhumanity of an uninhabitable Earth is no longer some distant dystopia—it’s unfolding right now.
 
But come with me for a moment. Let’s escape, not to fantasy but to 1967—a year drenched in transformation, a decade fueled by both conflict and hope. Let’s see what it has to teach us.

Black Women in State Senates,  An entire floor dedicated to Women travelers, Financial investing piqued via fashion

In the US, the birth control pill became legal for married women in 1965 (7 years later for everyone), and were encouraged to stay in hotels without the risk of reputation and safety. Not explicitly expressed, having a little cash  and social autonomy for herself was also encouraged via social selling and fundraising.  

Interracial marriage is legalized in the US, Hippies are born, and middle-class respectability is challenged by Black radicals 

Different fractions of society were forming as a rejection of war, segregation, and assimilation that centered on class and racial respectability aesthetics. 

Mad as hell and not taking it anymore. Protest and resistance were matched  with violence

We are still fighting the same fights led by the youth of this generation

 Voluminous fabrics, mini dresses and skirts, and crayon hues matched the anticipated possibilities and societal shifts

This era introduced shorter hemlines and sportswear, apparel to match a less formal lifestyle

 When was the last time your wore your favorite outfit? What about lipstick? If you're like me and being extra cautious with life right now, it's been a while. For me, it was my 40th birthday. I wore heels, a silk dress...with a velvet embroidered mask. Gotta be safe and stylish! 

Dressing up and out is episodic these days as the outside world of dinner with friends, concerts, and weekend brunch slowly returns. You may have retuned to your office and to your pre-pandemic wardrobe with glee... Or perhaps dread? A dread for the comfort of your leggings and tunics while Zooming in a comfortable chair. 

While I can't control where you work, I can advocate for your comfort and style, in whatever environment you're conducting business. 

Zeitgeist determines trends. As a fashion professional with an interest in anthropology, trends are more than a passing fad.  To me, a trend is an indicator of societal direction- provoked by political shifts. The Renaissance was provoked by the Bubonic Plague. The Harlem Renaissance was birthed because of the Great Migration and WW1. 

The COVID- 19 Pandemic is provoking shifts. 

Here are my two trend predictions post pandemic: 

 Starting with literary great Zora Neale Hurston, this is a lifestyle that demands freedom from societal constraints, with the centering of Black women in their community with the unintentional benefit of a transformed society. Stacy Abrams, Patrisse  Khan- Cullors,  Tricia Hearsy live it. Alice Walker, Audre Lourde,  Octvia Butler revealed it. 

Vibe:  Nature Leisure​

Purpose: New Futures ​

Ethereal Womanist key words: Rest, abolition, Black fairies, sustainability, EarthSeed, resistance  

Opulence, individualism, and saccharine happiness marked by consumption is a result of being trapped inside. The vaccinated and never vaccinated  are now able to resume their lived pre pandemic lives with the determination to make up for time loss. And the making up will be ginormous. This is a  revival of The Roaring 20's with  80's extravagance in a technology driven world.  

Vibe: Instantaneous ​

Purpose: Exclusivity​

Reckless Abaddon key words: Travel experiences, neon, pleasure, now, celebrity culture

Have you noticed any societal trends that are effecting fashion? Share in the comments! 

 Goodness gracious, this has been the longest winter ever. 
We've hibernated in our homes, discovered new hobbies, watched all the shows possible on Netflix and lived in a virtual world thanks to Zoom. We've also suffered losses and illness. Many of which have changed us forever. 

With the COVID-19 vaccine, many lives will be saved.  And our lives can return to a world lived outside. 

Spring has arrived.

Much of our lives revolve around what we put in and on our bodies. This Pandemic has shifted both for me! Although temporary, I strayed from my vegan diet to consume cheese, chicken, and fish.  I wore sweatpants and sneakers. Who is this pandemic Jana? A Jana that searched for comfort in chaos. 

And now it is Spring. 

I've adjusted my diet and I'm working on adjusting my wardrobe. I miss heels!  Although I am still a Sexy Style Personality (my sweats are leopard print), I'm reimaging how I express my desire for comfort and polish. Spring- The season of renewal. 

What are you reimaging this Spring? 

 By the way, Yellow is the 2021 Pantone Color of the year. What a great hue to usher in joy.
While simultaneously holding space for loss and struggle. Gray is also the color for 2021. 

May we continue to hold space for joy and struggle this Spring. 

Now is the perfect time to organize your closet. Since I can't be there with you for your Closet Edit appointment, I'll walk you through the task!  Match this guide with the Spring Wardrobe Planning (click link)  and you'll have a flawless wardrobe that will be ready when it's time to go outside again. 

Does your wardrobe accurately communicate your identity? Do the silhouettes and colors you wear reflect your authentic personality to the world? Do you second guess your outfits more than once in a week? 
During this 1 hour interactive webinar, you'll learn  how to identify yourself within the 5 Body Types and the 4 Style Personalities. I'll share what emotions define each Style Personality and how it works intrinsically back to your Body Shape. 

It's no secret that all shades of blue are my favorite color. Just take a look around this here site! I was beyond thrilled when Pantone announced 2020 would be the year of Classic Blue.

With a name like "Classic Blue" , this years choice is less exotic than colors of previous years. This hue is easy , accessible,  and identifiable.  

Expect to see Classic blue demonstrated in everything from nail polish to a toaster oven. 

I'm certain you have this classic color hanging in your wardrobe. It's a hue that works with just about every Style Personality particularly when matched up with your Signature Color. I really love to see it paired with corals and greens. The combo is grounding and encouraging- great to wear when you day going to be tough. 

Are you a Patron of Jana Coke Style? 
If so, you can learn how to wear Classic Blue for your Style Personality. With  color palettes, silhouettes, and a store and brand shopping list, you will be all set to incorporate Classic Blue into your Wardrobe.  

One of the best gifts I've ever received was a hand-written letter. It was full of the spirit of the giver; their handwriting, emotion, sentence structure. It was like I was experiencing their heart. The person has since departed my life, but I still have the letter. 

Not all gifts can be as intimate but they can be as memorable. Coveted tickets to a play, an exotic trip, even a day at the spa are experiences that can be relived through pictures and memory.  I can't for the life of me remember what  gifts I received last Christmas but I do remember the tickets I received to experience the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1996. 

What experience would you like to create for your loved ones this Holiday Season? 

For the first time ever, I'm offering unique fashion experiences that center on personal development and self-care. From a VIP Shopping Experience at South Coast Plaza to a full in-home makeover, I'm certain that the perfect experience aligns with at least one woman in your life. Perhaps that woman is you?