Note from Jane
Normally I would be CURSING FALL. Fighting it tooth and nail. In fact, I hold Fall in such low regard that for years I threw a giant party the weekend after Labor Day called Screw Fall (sorry for the inappropriate language).
But this year I have a new attitude and I think it’s because I have been thinking a lot about the beauty of fresh starts. In general, my biggest mistakes have opened the door to my biggest successes - and I can see now that my chance for a fresh start often led to incredible personal growth. With that in mind, I am currently ignoring my disdain for pumpkin-spice and looking at Fall as an OPPORTUNITY.
Before I talk about what’s next, I cannot help but think about what has gotten me where I am today. Did you know that Jane Win is the SECOND company I have started?? The first company, Buzz by Jane Fox – failed! I started the company when I was 27 and living in NYC. It was ‘preppy’ handbags, totes, tennis racket covers, and we were sold in over 100 stores. I found this picture recently from a shoot I did when Buzz by Jane Fox was on taxi-top advertising in New York City…look at me, I am a BABY. Not only did I look younger, wow did I know a lot less. I did NOT know how to run a profitable business. We delighted customers, but we could not stay in the black. We closed the business after 7 years because we were broke…but closing Buzz by Jane Fox led me to Lilly Pulitzer. This was single-handedly the best professional and personal development a person could ask for…and allowed me the chance to learn enough (over 12 years!) to start Jane Win.
Another failure transformed to a successful fresh start on my mind…my first marriage. It sounds like I am joking but – wow, I really learned from that one! The best thing ever came out of it…MY GIRLS ♥️ who are truly my everything. And yet, suddenly I was dating again at age 38 (ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING) and going on a blind date with some guy named Doug…and falling in love with him on the first date. My relationship with (as you now know him) Mr. Jane Win has allowed me to grow in ways I could not have imagined. His support allowed me to ‘start over’ in many ways…best of all with Jane Win!
Back to today, on the precipice of Fall. I now have such an appreciation for where I am – and ENERGY for what is to come. In celebration, we are launching this Fall flower. We do not normally launch a lot of flowers at this time of year. But this lapis and malachite carved piece with beautiful, white topaz details is just the right optimistic, pretty, fresh start, special pendant that we all need.
Cheers to long weekends, living in the moment and the optimism a new season can bring.
PS: What to pair with this stunning flower? I have been drawn to denim, chocolate brown, petal pink and I have an ongoing obsession with CLOGS. Those are some ‘of the moment’ transitional items I am loving as I prep my fall closet. I might just need to SPLURGE on the Chloe Clogs…but please don’t tell my dream (maybe we should call him Mr. Fresh Start!) husband, Mr. Jane Win.
