The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1547572
78 VUENJ.COM but don't let anyone sway you from your dreams or make you lose sight of who you are. VUE: What do you wish you had known about business, con!dence, or leadership when you were !rst starting out? To trust myself more and never stray from who I am. Con!dence comes with experience, but I wish I had understood earlier that your instincts are o"en one of your greatest strengths. THE WOMAN BEHIND THE BRAND VUE: What inspires you creatively today? So many things. I can walk through New York and be completely inspired just by watching how people dress. I'm fascinated by women of all ages and the way they present themselves. Of course, I will always love vintage and old-school tailoring. And you will almost always !nd me knee-deep in fabric and swatches. Fabric is where I begin. Always. VUE: When you're not working, what keeps you grounded? My friends, my incredible wife, and our two adorable Maltese dogs. #at plus countless dinner parties. I love having people around a table. VUE: What does success look like to you at this stage of your life and career? Has that de!nition changed? Most de!nitely. Success to me now is having the ability to create every day. I simply love what I do, and I love making people happy through what I create. #ere is nothing better than watching a woman put on one of my pieces and seeing her transform; her posture changes, her con!dence changes, she feels beautiful. #at is what drives me. At this point in my life, that is success. LOOKING AHEAD VUE: What are you most excited about with this next chapter of Janet Howard New York? #e possibilities feel unlimited. #ere is so much I still want to do, and I cannot wait to do another runway show. #ere is nothing quite like those 15 minutes, the adrenaline, standing backstage and seeing all of your work lined up in front of you, ready to walk out into the world. #ere is truly nothing like it. VUE: Where do you want to see the brand !ve years from now? I would love to see Janet Howard New York continue to grow internationally, expand into more retailers, and build wonderful new partnerships. But more than anything, I want to keep building a brand that women connect with and want to come back to season a"er season. VUE: And !nally, a"er decades in an industry that is constantly changing, what do you believe is the one thing that never goes out of style? A great jacket. It has always been the cornerstone of my collections, and to me, it is truly timeless.