Power of Words

Jana Meister

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Join Sondra & Jeni as they talk with Jana Meister as they discuss words that inspired her from Kansas City’s own Kate Spade.
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Presented by the Kansas City Public Library & Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City.

Sondra Wallace:

Hi everyone, and welcome to our podcast, Power of Words. Thanks for stopping by.

Jeni Starr:

Hi, I'm Jeni Starr. My pronouns are she her, and I'm the Health and Wellness Specialist for the Kansas City Public Library.

Sondra Wallace:

I'm Sondra Wallace. My pronouns are she her, and I'm the Director of Mental Health Programs at Jewish Family Services at Greater Kansas City. I'm glad to be back doing a program again with Jeni.

Jeni Starr:

Aww thanks, Sondra. Sondra and I have worked together on mental health programming for several years, and we're pleased to bring you our latest project where we talk with community members and connect stories through words that matter.

Sondra Wallace:

We're excited to have our guests share a little bit about their mental health journeys and their love for Kansas City. We've asked each of our guests to share an example of how specific words have empowered, changed, encouraged, or strengthened their mental health and wellness.

Jeni Starr:

We hope one or two of the words from our conversation today allow you to connect to words that matter to you. Hi, everyone. Before you get started with this episode, I wanna let you know. That Sondra had to leave unexpectedly. During our conversation with Jana, we made the decision to continue recording, but you'll notice about halfway through Sondra drops out of the conversation. But don't worry, she'll be back for our entire next episode. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Jana Meister. Hi, everybody. Welcome. How are you, Sondra?

Sondra Wallace:

I am good. You've been watching some football lately,

Jeni Starr:

Sondra? I have.

Sondra Wallace:

I know. It's some exciting and some disappointing.

Jeni Starr:

I think we should talk about your football.

Sondra Wallace:

I know,

Jeni Starr:

I know you watch both actually, but I do.

Sondra Wallace:

I do. I know. Yeah. Yeah. But I think when you watch the press conferences or the interview players and stuff, like the game this last Saturday there was a six year senior that scored a touchdown, a receiver that scored a touchdown for the first time in his six years playing, and it was so like, just, you know, the quarterback said it's never too late. I just thought, yeah. You know what I mean?

Jeni Starr:

Like just That's so true.

Sondra Wallace:

And I think that that's something that's really powerful about athletics or being part of a team of any kind, right? Like a team on a stage or a team in an orchestra or a team on a field that the quarterback was like, the only thing I would've, I wished is that I would've thrown it to him that there was like the backup quarterback was in. And so, because we were winning big and so, cause he has grown up with the kid, you know? Yeah. Like he stuck it out and he's been there and always been at practice and all those things. And so it was cool to, yeah.

Jeni Starr:

They they spend all their time together, don't they? Yeah. They just spend so much time together. Yeah,

Sondra Wallace:

yeah. Yeah.

Jeni Starr:

Well, and, and our sad game, so this is, you know, obviously you may, you're probably not listening to this. By the time you're listening to this, we've won another Super Bowl, everyone. Yes, that's right. Yeah, we had a loss on Sunday. Yes. And so, but I also think like that's how you also learn. Yes. And so I think that's another important life lesson. Like Yeah. It's not fun to watch a game when we're not winning, but, mm-hmm. Also, that's how you get better. If you won every time, it would be hard to learn, right. To do better and to grow and yeah. And also everyone just has bad days sometimes, you know? So,

Sondra Wallace:

yeah, yeah,

Jeni Starr:

yeah. But it was hard. It was a hard,

Sondra Wallace:

I mean, at halftime I kind of thought, okay, we can pull this out. But then like. The turnovers and the interceptions and all that kind of stuff. I was like, yeah, we're not, we're not gonna,

Jeni Starr:

right. I really thought, okay, well, we're gonna win this. When they blocked the

Sondra Wallace:

Yes.

Jeni Starr:

Field goal.

Sondra Wallace:

Yeah. Yes. I That's a too,

Jeni Starr:

yeah. I was like, oh, this is it. This is the moment. Mm-Hmm. And then is not what happened. It's okay.

Sondra Wallace:

That's Mm-Hmm. Yeah.

Jeni Starr:

And I don't know if we should bring up Taylor Swift at all, but Mm-Hmm. There's a lot going on there in Kansas City, but, you know speaking of Taylor, I took our daughter Friday night to go see the Eras tour movie.

Sondra Wallace:

Oh, nice.

Jeni Starr:

And that was really fun. And another, like, I thought that was a really neat thing that she did that for her fans.

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm.

Jeni Starr:

I mean, obviously she's gonna make a gazillion dollars from it and it's not totally selfless. There were a lot of people that couldn't get to that concert, you know, so to just give people a chance to right. To see it in a different way was kind of cool.

Sondra Wallace:

Yeah. Yeah. I, I really, I thought the same thing when I had heard, because I didn't, I didn't know that that was gonna happen. Maybe it had been released earlier, but I, I saw that and I was like, okay. Same thing like the give folks an experience that, you know, we, I always talk about music, about how powerful it is and it's the language across the world is music, you know?

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Sondra Wallace:

Regardless of say, regardless of zip code and where you live. But so that's, I love that that is a piece that can bring people together.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah, it is. Mm-hmm. I'm so excited about our guest today. We have Jana Meister and she's from this Kansas City area, but she has worked with several local fashion industry organizations such as Fashion Group International, as the regional director for the Kansas City chapter, and she is held the role of fashion editor at Kansas City Fashion Week. Jana has volunteered her time to many runway shows, photo shoots, and media events. To promote the growing fashion industry in Kansas City. And that is so cool. Like this is, is a really cool guest today. Jana has style looks that have been featured in several local and national publications, including InStyle Magazine, Her life Magazine, featured on a Macy's billboard and New York City's Times Square.

Sondra Wallace:

Oh my gosh, that's amazing.

Jeni Starr:

And on the Today Show Style Guide, she was recently named Five Time Finalists in the Best of Kansas KC Awards by the Pitch magazine.

Sondra Wallace:

Wow.

Jeni Starr:

Amazing. Yes. So welcome Jana. Thank you.

Sondra Wallace:

Congratulations. My goodness.

Jeni Starr:

Is, is there anything else you'd like us to know about you before we get going?

Jana Meister:

That's all the professional stuff. I'm married, I have a husband. We've been married for seven years and we have a little puppy, Westie and her name's Lola. Yeah, I have a sister and just love spending time with family outside of working in fashion. So that's usually what I'm doing.

Sondra Wallace:

I love it.

Jeni Starr:

That's so cool. Yeah. Well, I was just telling Sondra when we first got on the call that I'm glad that this is audio because with a stylist, I started thinking I really don't look like I should be talking with a stylist today.

Jana Meister:

That's okay. Most days I'm in my sweats.

Jeni Starr:

Okay. That makes, makes me feel better. That makes, does, makes me feel better.

Sondra Wallace:

Yeah. Okay. And do you have bling on your headphones? Am I seeing that? Oh, no, no, no. It's just the light. Okay. Because I was like, oh my gosh. She's even got her headphones all snazzy up for us.

Jana Meister:

I think they're just shiny.

Sondra Wallace:

It's just shiny. Okay. Nice. Nice. Yeah. That's great.

Jeni Starr:

Well, I'm so curious how you got into the fashion industry, Jana?

Jana Meister:

Well I started on the retail side of fashion. I worked in retail for many years. Started kind of my styling in the store with customers and clients, and from there decided that that's where I wanted to go in my career. And I moved to Chicago and I went to fashion school in Chicago for a couple of years.

Sondra Wallace:

Wow.

Jana Meister:

And then I moved back home to Kansas City and I started to attend Johnson County Community College for the fashion merchandising program there.

Sondra Wallace:

Nice.

Jana Meister:

And while I was there, I started meeting a lot of people doing things here in Kansas City. And that just led me down a path of working with Fashion Group International and Kansas City Fashion Week, and just taking every opportunity that I could to work in the industry. So that's kind of how the ball started rolling. And then I started the blog kind of. For fun. I didn't think that it would really turn into anything.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

But now that's where everybody finds me and where I share all of my style tips and what I'm working on. So that's like the hub of everything that I do.

Jeni Starr:

That's so cool. And we'll make sure to share the link for your blog in our show notes for people who want to come find you there.

Sondra Wallace:

Absolutely.

Jana Meister:

Perfect.

Sondra Wallace:

Yeah. I love that you shared that your, like some of your experience or where you're at now is because of the relationships and the connections that you had while you were in school.

Jana Meister:

Yeah. I feel like I don't say no to anything like this. I'm not really used to doing podcasts, but I mean. I love meeting people and sharing my passion for fashion. And so I just will take any opportunity to meet people, go to events. I love to be busy and doing things, and I think that has really helped me make those connections. I think if you wanna be a blogger, it's easy sometimes to get behind the screen and kind of stay there, but,

Jeni Starr:

mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

I think the best relationships that I've made have been through networking the events that I've participated in, volunteering with a lot of the fashion shows that I've done.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

So I feel like if you're wanting to get into this industry, you really have to be able to put yourself out there and meet people. Yeah. And just make connections. That's the important thing.

Sondra Wallace:

Oh, that's great.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah, I think that's great advice. Especially when your work seems kind of virtual, right? With the blog and being behind the screen.

Jana Meister:

Right.

Jeni Starr:

But like you said, it's important to have those real human connections. I think that's good advice.

Jana Meister:

Oh, yes, for sure. Yeah, I think that has. Then one of the best things that I've done is to be not only behind the screen commenting with people and making connections online, but also attending events and making those personal relationships as well.

Jeni Starr:

That makes so much sense.

Sondra Wallace:

Absolutely. Absolutely.

Jeni Starr:

Okay. Well, do you wanna tell us about the words you're sharing with us today?

Jana Meister:

Oh, yes. Sorry, I didn't write them down.

Jeni Starr:

I have what you sent, Karen, so if we need to read it, we can.

Jana Meister:

Sure. Go ahead.

Jeni Starr:

Okay. So it was a couple of quotes that you shared with us from Kate Spade, which do you wanna tell everyone who Kate Spade is, just in case they aren't familiar with her?

Jana Meister:

Yes. So when I was in college and I was just starting out in my fashion career, I remember her being just like this big designer, everyone knew who Kate Spade was. Her bags were so popular and she was the first designer that I can remember really connecting with and just like being in awe of. And I was lucky enough to meet her when she was here in Kansas City for a launch at Halls. And she's just someone that I just have loved her. Inspiration, I guess, through fashion. I think that's been something I've always connected with. So I've had a couple of her quotes on notebooks and I'm like a scrap kind of person, like all the little notes and sayings. I keep all of those. And I remember having this quote on one of my planners and I, I just have always loved her saying some quotes. I think they're inspiring. And I love that she has the Kansas City connection, so that's why I shared it with you guys.

Jeni Starr:

Yes.

Sondra Wallace:

I love that.

Jeni Starr:

Okay, so the two quotes. The first one is,"Surround yourself with the things you love. Discard the rest."

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-Hmm.

Jeni Starr:

And then the other one is,"Style is the sum of so many things, beginning with the sense of who you are and having self-confidence."

Jana Meister:

Yeah. For me, I feel. Is about confidence and I feel like I really connect with that quote because some of the women that I style and I have made relationships with, I feel like just like a certain shirt or a lipstick. I can just change how you feel for the day. And it's just the small, simple things I think as women that we do to make ourselves feel better. And I just think sometimes maybe those things don't get thought of, fashion seems very surface level, but through some of the women that I've styled, I've helped them find things that make them feel good. It really can change your day. It changed the whole vibe of everything you have going on, and I love that she said that and she puts that out there. And I connect with that.

Sondra Wallace:

The first quote about surrounding yourself with the things you love. I think that that is, such a great reminder or permission, right? Yeah. That we don't have to do it. We don't have to, you know, we don't have to decorate our house the one way. We don't have to put our clothes together a certain way. Yeah, that, that it really is just being true to what you do love,

Jana Meister:

Right? Yeah. Find your passion, whatever it is, it's clothes or something else. And have those things in your life that matter. I. Sometimes we get busy doing things for other people, especially as women, and forget to do those small things for ourselves. So yeah, like I said, like a lipstick color or a top or something. A color of a certain thing that makes you feel good. I think that those are all things that we can do as women to make ourselves feel good each day.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-hmm. I think something I struggle with in my life is wanting my things to look perfect or feeling like my things are not good enough sometimes. Yeah, because of just, you know, what you see on Pinterest, for example, or in a magazine. Yeah. And so this quote speaks to me in the sense of like, you know. Maybe it doesn't look like a fashion magazine or maybe my house doesn't look like a Architectural Digest feature, but having the things I love in it is good enough, you know?

Sondra Wallace:

Okay.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. And not comparing yourself to other people, I think,

Jana Meister:

yeah, the comparison game is definitely real, especially with instagram and Pinterest and blogs it's easy to think that what you have isn't enough, but if we as individuals just focus on what we have that is, makes us our best self. And I, I think fashion is a part of that. As women, I think that whatever you do for yourself makes you feel better.

Sondra Wallace:

I am intrigued. Earlier you said that you a scrap person and that you kind of keep notes and stuff. Can you kind of describe that? Because I, I wonder if that's kind of something that people again, don't really think about as a way to figure out your confidence or figure out your identity, figure out the things that you love. How can, or how has that, if you will, approach helped you or that could be suggested to, to our listeners to think about.

Jana Meister:

I think that started for me in college. I went to art school, so I always had a drawing pad or a notebook and I would cut things out of magazines, different sayings and quotes or fabric swatches. Just anything that inspired me.

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

And I actually still have them actually they're at my mom's house I found them the other day. But I have always done that even before Pinterest was the thing.

Jeni Starr:

Right.

Jana Meister:

I think that's kind of changed it a little bit, but I like tangible I don't know, I just like the act of collecting the poems and quotes and all of those things and I think maybe it does help me, be inspired by fashion and what I wear and I, I love to look up trends in magazines and cut things out.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah, yeah.

Jana Meister:

I just have always enjoyed doing that. I think it is inspiring. It kind of like focuses you on what you like on other people and what you wanna try in your own wardrobe. So that's something I've done for a really long time. I, I just like a real life Pinterest.

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-Hmm.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. I was like, that's like a real life version of it.

Jana Meister:

Yes.

Jeni Starr:

Something you can touch and hold.

Jana Meister:

Yeah. And do you have a certain way that you store things? I have so many notebooks, so many I, in my office, it's just like I have a whole bunch of them. I don't really have like a, a system. I probably should, but I.

Jeni Starr:

It's kind of like scrapbooking, you know, just to keep it all. Yeah, that's really cool. Yeah. And not having a system can be a system that's you, you get to do it how you want. That's good. So, yeah. Yeah.

Sondra Wallace:

I love that. Yes. I love that. I, I remember when I was younger, like when my husband and I first got married and we were just renting a house, and so I would go through magazines and cut out like things I loved about a house and you know, tape them into a spiral notebook or whatever.

Jana Meister:

Yeah.

Sondra Wallace:

That I, but, and then I think you're right. There's something about that that I probably really miss because of Pinterest, right? Like it's, it's literally that tactile, the textures, the yeah, the action that. That you take. I don't think I ever did it with fashion, so I might need to learn that. Right. Because I'm a T-shirt and, but, but for the house I always did, but

Jana Meister:

yeah. Yeah. It's like the same concept. Yeah. Yeah.

Sondra Wallace:

That's cool. I love that

Jeni Starr:

we're, as we're talking about fashion here. And for me, it's not a world I'm very familiar with, so I'm really enjoying learning from you. I feel like there's this element of creativity, and I bring this up because we've been talking in this podcast with a lot of folks from various backgrounds and creativity seems to come up almost every time when we're talking about positivity and mental health and wellbeing. And it sounds like the fashion industry and the work that you do is just, creativity is just a big piece of that. And do you find that that is helpful for you?

Jana Meister:

Oh yeah. Yes.'cause my blog and all my styling and the things that I do are a side hustle for me. I work full time. So this has always been my outlet, my creative, all my creative juices go into what I'm doing

Sondra Wallace:

mm-hmm.

Jana Meister:

In the blog. And even with photo cleaning, photo shoots, putting outfits together and just like working with other people I feel like it inspires me, it ignites my creativity. So, definitely fashion is that for me, and it always has been. It's what I do when I'm stressed or I wanna have fun it's just the thing I always turn to. Yeah. So I, I'm always grateful that I have been able to continue to do it even after college and having a full-time job, I found a way to make it work for me. And I don't know if that's why I'm so inspired through my blog when I meet people and I do fashion shows because it is my creative outlet and I, I definitely get a lot from doing it.

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-Hmm.

Jeni Starr:

Very cool.

Sondra Wallace:

Yeah. Yeah. And I apologize. I'll just be totally transparent. I thought that you, that this was your, like, kind of your full-time you know, work Yeah. That you did. And so can you talk to us a little bit about how you can balance, right? Like, I think that that's a piece that's so important of that balancing, you know, a full-time job or a career with the things that make you the happiest or that de-stress or that bring that balance for folks to be able to do both, right?

Jana Meister:

Yeah. I mean, it's definitely hard. It's not easy. There's a lot of things, you know, I, I do this on the nights and the weekends and I am fortunate where I have a job that's a little bit more flexible so I can take time away and go and do this. But it's definitely not easy. I think if you love something, you have to be really committed to making it happen. And like I said, I love doing it, so it makes it easy for me to give up time maybe doing other things so that I can focus on this and make meetings with people. And, do my styling side hustle.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

But yeah, I, I know a lot of people that blogging is a side hustle for them, so I think it kind of comes with the territory and I know that, but, and it's nice too, I can kind of make my own schedule with it if something doesn't work.

Sondra Wallace:

Sure.

Jana Meister:

On a certain day I can do this at nights and weekends and write blog posts whenever or wherever. Yeah. So I think that helps. But I think if you're wanting to start a blog and you do have a full-time job, there's definitely a way to do it. It's just gonna take a lot of commitment.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm mm-Hmm. Yeah, that's what it sounds like. And also though, I wonder because you do have a job that you're not depending on the blog for your income.

Jana Meister:

Right.

Jeni Starr:

Does that allow you to be more free with it, to feel like you can kind of do, do it your way or not

Jana Meister:

I know what you mean? Yeah. It kind of takes the pressure off of it a little bit.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

Yeah, I've tired to do it full time before and then it becomes harder to have that creative piece, I think.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

Because you're relying on it for income. And I really wanna be as authentic as I can through my blog and my Instagram. And I want it to be fun. I, that's what it is for me. So I know other people are looking at the fashion as an escape. I've always enjoyed kind of being busy and actually feel like I thrive when this is my side hustle.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

So I've made it work, but there's definitely challenging times.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah, for sure. For sure.

Sondra Wallace:

I was gonna ask about earlier you said that some of the connections that you've had with volunteering or working in the different places. How do you see connections and or relationships being part of what makes this area of interest? So, powerful or so important to you? Can you kinda explore that?

Jana Meister:

Well, honestly, when I moved back to Kansas City, I wasn't sure that I was gonna be able to continue working in the fashion industry.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

When, when I moved and went away to college, at the time everyone said if you wanna work in fashion, you have to go to New York or LA, you can't do it in Kansas City. So I feel like I had that in the back of my head when I moved back home and I feel really proud that I was able to continue this 10 years later, I'm still working. I'm still doing styling and doing fashion. It may not be the way I thought it was gonna be, but. I, I mean, I've made a ton of connections and I've still been able to travel to New York Fashion Week several times. And like you said, I've had a national coverage of my blog.

Jeni Starr:

Oh, right.

Jana Meister:

So I've made all that happen by being here in Kansas City and I'm really proud of that. And I think that if you want to work in an industry or you want something to work for you. There's always a way and I feel like I wish I would've known that in the beginning, but I'm really proud of all that I've been able to do and I've seen the Kansas City fashion industry grow so much while I've been working on my blog. And I think it's really cool and I'm really proud of it. But those connections also made a huge difference. Mm-Hmm. In that happening.

Sondra Wallace:

Yeah. Absolutely. That's really good. Yeah.

Jeni Starr:

I wanted to explore this quote, the second quote where it says,"style is the sum of so many things, beginning with a sense of who you are and having self-confidence", because I think some people might look at fashion as something that's just external, like something that you see. But to me, this quote, and in talking with you, it's like it's an expression of something internal. Do you see it that way? And like how do you work with people to kind of develop a style for themselves?

Jana Meister:

For sure. Yeah. I. Sometimes women feel guilty about that in a way. You know, they're like, I don't feel comfortable. I don't feel confident. I could never wear that. I hear that a lot. I'll show something on the blog and that looks great on you, but I could never wear that. And I feel like sometimes we don't give ourselves like the opportunity to try things and just be open to trends and just, just try it. You know? I'm always like, I want people to like break out of their shell and just try things. And I think that maybe as women we sometimes we hold ourself back from just being free to try things and be open to fashion and honestly, that's where the creativity and it comes for me and I get inspired by just trying things and giving it a shot. I definitely think it's like in your internal voice, turning it down a little bit, you know, like the critic inside and just giving things a try.

Jeni Starr:

Tapping into the the positive stuff and trying to turn that critic down. That is hard. Yes.

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

Yes.

Jeni Starr:

It's, it's hard. It's Do you have any advice for just like,

Jana Meister:

I feel like clothes are so personal.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah, they are. I mean, you really literally wear them on your self, so they are personal and then everyone can see it. So it's like it's personal and it's public at the same time. Yeah.

Jana Meister:

Yeah.

Jeni Starr:

I'm thinking about myself and who I used to be with clothing and who I am now. And a lot of that's come from accepting the body that I have, for example. Yeah. And not trying to have a different body. Yes. And so, you know, I don't have to hide things or cover everything up in a, in a way to like hide from people and can

Jana Meister:

yeah.

Jeni Starr:

Try, try different things. I'm more comfortable now at this age than I was younger. Mm-Hmm. I don't know that the age is so much as just like the time of trying to like, figure out who I am.

Jana Meister:

Yeah. Yeah. I, I feel like sometimes we're so afraid of what someone else is gonna think about something that we like.

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

Like just to only. Take your own opinion on something because I mean, I do it too. I'm like, even to my husband, I'm like, is this cute? Do I look, you know, do I look weird? I think we all do that naturally. But yeah, I feel like if you are gonna find your personal style, you kind of have to turn those voices off just a little bit to try to find what makes you feel the best you. And it's hard though. It's hard.

Sondra Wallace:

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So as you say that, I'm thinking, okay, so. Do, do I have a style? I don't know if I have a style. Like how would somebody know if they have a style or how would you, what would be like one of the first steps that you would take in order to really empower people with that confidence and to turn down, like you said, that internal critic?

Jana Meister:

The internal critic. I would say find like your favorite three pieces in your wardrobe. Some three things that you always go to. Take them, lay them out, look at them, and try to create outfits around those pieces. Mm-Hmm. You know, different bottoms, tops, jackets, things that you're always kind of circulating. That is, that's your core style. Those are the three things that you love to wear and create your wardrobe like around those three items. I feel like that's really gonna hone in. Like sometimes even with myself, your wardrobe gets so cluttery. Like you have all these things, you're like, how do I wear those together? You know? Yeah. So that's the worst. Like you have too much and you can't like narrow down what you like, what you like to wear. And I think if you just. You know, minimize the clutter and bring it into three pieces that you love and build outfits around those items. I feel like you could probably start to really narrow in on what you like to wear and what your style, your key style is.

Jeni Starr:

That's interesting. So you can have too many clothes, is that what you're saying, Jana?

Jana Meister:

A hundred percent, yes.

Jeni Starr:

I feel like that might be me sometimes. And then I, I then you open your closet and say, I don't have anything to wear. And that's absolutely not true. Yeah, in that situation,

Jana Meister:

it's almost like too much. Like you can't figure out what you want wear because you have too many options.

Jeni Starr:

Right.

Jana Meister:

They're just too many things and you haven't narrowed down and put them into actual functioning outfits.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. So, so it makes sense to me to like weed through that and try to get down to the like core. Yes. Yeah, and I think that's like from like the thinking perspective to kind of hone in on what it is like that you. What's your style? What's your style? Is, is this thing? I'm trying to think of the things that I wear all the time. I can think right now one top that I would wear every day if I could. So I feel like that's one of the top three things.

Jana Meister:

Yeah, so just take that top and then find multiple, like bottoms that you can wear with it to create several different looks, different jackets. Mm-Hmm. Different accessories and like change it up.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. I love that. Yeah. And I also love that you're saying less is more here. So when you're talking about like the cost of things and if you're on a budget, so which almost everyone's on a budget of some kind that you don't have to have everything. Right. You can pick the things that are just. Hone in on those things that are the best for you?

Jana Meister:

For sure. I think as I've gotten older, I feel like that's become more important to me also. Mm-Hmm. I'm definitely a quality over quantity. Like that's where I have been here lately. I'm like, get rid of all the things that are just taking up space in my closet and my wardrobe, and I just want to have things that I feel like are really good polished looks and create outfits around those items. I think

Sondra Wallace:

Mm-hmm.

Jana Meister:

You know, like I said, as I've gotten older, I feel like that is definitely more important to me than having the fast fashion the top you wear one time and then never wear it again and it just takes up space.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. Well, and I think there's like a metaphor in that too, for just how we live our lives, right? Like we have so many things going on and so many things that could be taking our attention, and it's important to hone in on what's most important and maybe let some things go,

Jana Meister:

for sure. Yes.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. Is there a number of things that you advise people or does it just depend on the person?

Jana Meister:

It just depends on the person. I know some people have more clothes than other people.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

And some people really know what they like and what they don't like.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

So I feel like when I've worked with people in the past kind of editing their closet, I don't do so much of this anymore, I should say that I used to do a lot more of it.

Jeni Starr:

Right.

Jana Meister:

My blog has kind of taken over. Yeah, a lot of my, my time but when I used to do it, yeah, a lot of people, some people have more clothes than others. Some people really understand their personal style more than others. Some people, you know, I would go and help them just try to figure that out. What, what they like, what they don't like. Mm-Hmm. Clean up some of the things in their wardrobe they never wear or never will wear again. Because that's another thing. As women, we always hold onto things thinking, oh, someday I'll wear this.

Jeni Starr:

Someday I'll wear that thing that I'll never wear again. Yeah.

Jana Meister:

Yeah. Someday these jeans will fit again, like they did when I was 20. Yeah.

Jeni Starr:

Well, and I feel like, like, so like going back to how like I've had to work with like accepting my body, when I've held onto stuff like that, then it just makes me feel bad all the time. Like, why can't I wear that anymore? Or, you know, it's just a reminder of like a time that's not coming back. So yeah, I like for everything in my closet to fit the body I have right now.

Jana Meister:

That's right. I have to tell myself that too. I mean, as women we fluctuate in weight up and down.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

And the style changes and sometimes you just gotta let everything go and start over and that's okay. You don't have to hold on things. Just because,

Jeni Starr:

yeah, just because

Jana Meister:

I, and I do think it holds you back a little bit. It holds you back thinking that you're gonna wear something again, or I fit into it one time so I could fit into it again. And then you feel bad about yourself. You know, I definitely, my weight has gone up and down and there are things that I've kept that I shouldn't have, but I think that starting over, starting fresh is a good way to kinda...

Jeni Starr:

yeah.

Jana Meister:

...build that wardrobe. Find who you are now in this moment, what fits you now.

Jeni Starr:

And then I have a dress, like I always laugh'cause I still wear this dress I've had since before my husband and I got married and we've been married for 15 years almost. So, I'll never get rid of this dress, but it's like one of those where you can wear it at different sizes. It's just very forgiving as far as just the way it's constructed. So, and it never goes outta style. It's just, it is a black dress, but it never goes out.

Jana Meister:

Yes, a little black dress there are definitely exceptions for those

Jeni Starr:

In your field there can be criticism that you have to deal with, have you had to develop a thick skin for that or how have you handled that part of it?

Jana Meister:

Yes, fortunately I haven't had too many times where someone has said something hurtful. But it has happened and I try to just, you know brush it off or I get 10 positive comments for the one negative comment. And that's the comment that you like to focus on.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

So sometimes I take social media breaks, which I have done this year. I took a, a really big social media break, and I think that's okay sometimes just to step away if it's too much or you're getting too focused on some of those negative comments. That has worked for me. It did work for me and I needed it just to clear my head and not be on the screen all the time. But I try to tell myself, you've done way more positive things for people through fashion than that one negative comment is leading you to believe.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

So develop a thick skin and trusting that a lot of people like what you're doing and love your fashion and your style, and just trying to stay positive instead of focusing on the negative.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah, yeah. If, if Sondra were here, she likes to talk about brain science a lot, and she talks about how we're kind of wired to notice the criticisms. It's kind of a safety evolution thing that we're wired to do, so we can fixate on that stuff. So we have to really be intentional about how we're gonna combat that, how we're gonna focus on the positive things and find the good in those challenging situations. For sure.

Jana Meister:

Yeah. And it kind of comes with the territory. I know I'm putting myself out there on the internet for, you know, yeah. People wanna look at my clothes and judge me for what I look like. So, I don't know. It is hard. It is one of those things that sometimes I just have to unplug from it all.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

I try to stay positive as much as I can.

Jeni Starr:

Well, and I didn't even think about that when we started talking about how putting a blog out, you're really putting it out there into the public. When you first started, was that something that made you feel nervous? Have you gotten just more comfortable with that over time or.

Jana Meister:

Honestly, when I first started my blog, Instagram was nothing like it is now.

Jeni Starr:

Uhhuh.

Jana Meister:

A lot of the focus was actually on the blog and writing the content and I feel like I could maybe like filter it a little bit more when I was putting it on my website rather than putting it on social media.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

I think as I've gone on, social media has definitely taken over a bigger role in my blogging and my fashion. Just network things I'm doing.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

So I feel like in the beginning I could filter it a little bit more than I can now.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

And I have struggled with it a little bit here lately. Just like you said, the comments and things. But I, I think I've gotten used to it in a weird way.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

I just kind of know when I'm putting it out there that I'm taking that risk. That I'm making myself vulnerable to someone not liking it or someone saying something.

Jeni Starr:

Right.

Jana Meister:

And sometimes, honestly, I'll wait a couple days before I read comments on an outfit.

Jeni Starr:

Uhhuh

Jana Meister:

kind give it some time. I'm like, well, it's already been up there for two days, so I can't really do anything about it now.

Jeni Starr:

Right, right. Well, and like not everyone's gonna like everything and that's okay. And then social media is just. So tough because people, I think, say things there, they wouldn't say any other place. So

Jana Meister:

yes, agree.

Jeni Starr:

Yes. That's hard. That's hard. But yeah. Well as we wrap up, we always like to ask our guests this questions. So we ask all of our our, all of our guests, as of today, right now, what is your favorite word?

Jana Meister:

Oh, what is my favorite word?

Jeni Starr:

And it could be like related to what's going on in your life or you just like the sound of it or,

Jana Meister:

I've been thinking a lot about next year.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm. Like

Jana Meister:

traveling. So maybe like having a little bit of wonderlust.

Jeni Starr:

Oh, I love, that's a good word. Wonderlust. That's a beautiful word.

Jana Meister:

Yeah.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. I love that.

Jana Meister:

I'm just like thinking a lot about, you know, this is the end of the year. We're almost. To the new year and like thinking, we were talking about vision boards and mood boards earlier, and I was thinking I really need to get all my scrap stuff out and start visioning my 2024.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

So I would say like wonderlust. I'm like, what's next? What's next for me?

Jeni Starr:

I love that. That's perfect. I know we always, we don't want people to think about it ahead of time, so it can be not prepared, but then people are like, wait, I don't know. That's perfect. That's perfect. I love it. Yeah.

Jana Meister:

It just came to me.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah. Well, and this time of year is funny because it's cold. It's so cold today actually, and it's like a time I wanna hibernate and really think about. What's gonna come next year? So I, yeah, but I like wonderlust. That's a great word.

Jana Meister:

I'm the same.

Jeni Starr:

And then are there any resources or connections in the community that you want listeners to know about, like your go-to social media, blogs, websites, things like that?

Jana Meister:

Ooh. Well, I would say if you're kind of like wanting to bust into blogging or fashion to check out Kansas City Fashion Week, a lot of people don't know this, like, there's a Garment Museum in Kansas City.

Jeni Starr:

I did not know that. That's cool.

Jana Meister:

Yeah, yeah. Maybe tap into some of the, I can't remember what it's called there, there's a few networking, professional networking groups in Kansas City and when I first started wanting to get into fashion. I went to a lot of KC professional networking events.

Jeni Starr:

Mm-Hmm.

Jana Meister:

And you can find those on Facebook by searching the groups and they have like, happy hours and small events. And I think that kind of helped me build a network when I moved back to Kansas City and I was trying to meet people.

Jeni Starr:

Yeah.

Jana Meister:

So yeah, I, I just search some of the Facebook groups around the area and attend some of the happy hours.

Jeni Starr:

Cool. That's great advice no matter what industry that you are interested in or just

Jana Meister:

Yeah.

Jeni Starr:

Things in your life you're interested in. Yeah. To get to know who, who in town is doing that to you.

Jana Meister:

Right.

Jeni Starr:

And can you tell everyone how to find you on social media and on the interweb?

Jana Meister:

Sure. You can find me on my blog at janastyleblog.Com and I'm on Instagram my name Jana_Meister is my handle. That's where I post most of my content. I am on Facebook as well at Jana Style Blog. So you find me there and let know that you heard the podcast. I'd love to know that's how you found me.

Jeni Starr:

Wonderful. Yeah, and we'll make sure to share that in the show notes as well. And then as always, we want everyone to make sure to check out our resources at kclibrary.org and at jfskc.org for our programs and resources. And until next time, we challenge you to listen, react, and respond to the power of words. Thanks, Jana. It's been so fun having you.

Jana Meister:

Thank you.

Jeni Starr:

Thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoyed this episode of Power of Words.

Sondra Wallace:

This episode is produced by the Kansas City Public Library and Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City with support from AmeriCorps,

Jeni Starr:

We encourage you to explore our health resources and services available in the show notes.

Sondra Wallace:

And follow or subscribe for new episodes wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.