Imagine a starry-eyed 20-something girl in NYC, dreaming of conquering the fashion world. That was me. It had been my dream to work in the fashion industry there ever since I was a little girl, flipping through fashion magazines, getting this flutter in my heart for wanting something more, something bigger for myself. I was the last person who thought she'd leave her early adulthood dream to move back home and start her own business.
But life is funny that way and fast forward to 2011, at the age of 24, JO+CO® was born. It was my new dream, and to bring it to life I wore many hats — I worked as a bartender in NYC (perhaps the worst one ever), hustling every side job I could find to save up enough money to open my first store in my hometown.
Today? I'm surrounded by my ever-supportive husband, Nathan, my little loves of my life, Emmett and Josephine, and of course, our rescue fur babies of Chloe & Charlie. And amidst all this, the heart and soul of it all is JO+CO®.
Fashion saved me. As a woman who has suffered from eating disorders and body image issues since I was a teenager, fashion allowed me a safe place to express myself. A place to heal, a place to build up confidence and become stronger mentally and physically. I wanted to share that feeling with everyone possible.
When I’m not gushing over the latest styles and designing the next JO+CO The Label piece, you'll catch me with a comforting glass of cabernet and a good book, or chatting up a storm over a cup of coffee. My life? A delightful blend of chaos, laughter, love, and endless dreams.
And here's what I truly believe: Life isn't about the perfect moments; it's about authenticity, the messy bits, the hurdles, and the joyous peaks. That's the spirit of JO+CO®: Celebrating real stories, real people, and the beautifully imperfect journey we call life.