FOR ALL SEASONS — MAGGIE & JANINE WILSON

At OZMA we tend to think in terms of seasons. Seasons of the year, of what to wear and what to celebrate, of adventure and ritual and the passing of time, of the shifts in weather and wardrobe that weave the fabric of our days...but we also tend to think of our lives in seasons—who we are now, who we might be becoming, the stories we write in this chapter, and how those stories might shift into the next.

Throughout every season, we have all been shaped and guided so deeply by the mothers and mother-figures in our lives, and, wherever we might be on our journeys towards (or away from) our own motherhoods, we find that the transformative power of mothering is a central thread in the weave of who we are and who we might become.

This year, as our own Heidi is in her first season as mother to her darling River (and celebrating her first "Mother's Day") we wanted to gather some collective wisdom and witnessing from our constellation of OZMA mothers, to capture and honor a moment of this season in the great journey. Next in the series is Maggie Wilson, Creative Director of Shelter Co. and her mom, Janine.

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Maggie wears the Knit Shell and Juno Pant. Janine wears the Vija Shirt and Grace Slip Skirt.

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From Maggie —

Desribe your childhood in 3 words.

Bright, lively, tender.

What did you receive from your mother/mother-figure that has been most impactful or formative in your life?

I lead a pretty creative life and that is almost entirely thanks to my mom. It is innate in her to make things beautiful. She built her career hanging wall paper for 40 years which was a true art form but even the way she collected and stacked the jewelry on her wrist or the thoughtful attention to the color of a lampshade in our home she made a thoughtful artistic endeavor. Beauty has always been her language with the world. She really taught me everything I know in that sense and as a creative myself I reference her style and influence constantly. That said, the most formative gift she has given me, without question, is the fact that I’ve never gone a day in my life without feeling deeply and unconditionally loved.

How has your personal style shifted with age?

Generally I’m less concerned with trends and I dress to feel good and like myself. I find aging incredibly freeing in that sense. I've always had fun with fashion and more and more it feels like a true expression of myself. I’m also increasingly drawn to the idea of a uniform or a sort of singular style like Georgia O’Keefe or Patty Smith had.

In this season of life, when do you feel most like the best version of yourself?

The older I get, the more often I feel like the best version of myself. I think it’s all about balance and for me that’s typically walking the line between nurturing myself and throwing myself out into the world. I love both. I love to spend days in a row alone, snacking and painting and stretching out in the sun without talking to anyone but my dogs, but I also feel so alive and connected to everything when I collaborate with inspiring people at work or going dancing on a trip to Italy with people I just met or hosting parties with my husband where a noisy dinner goes for hours. I guess I feel my best when I’m able to honor both sides of myself which isn’t easy but I’m working on it!

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Janine wears the Audrey Shirt in Ceramic.

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From Janine:

3 words about my experience of motherhood...

joyous

fulfilling

enriching

My mother taught me...

strength

compassion

resilience

My personal style has become...

more light hearted

bohemian

relaxed

The best version of myself...

being outdoors, drinking margaritas, and eating Mexican food with my loved ones!

Follow Maggie on IG here and Shelter Co. here. Photos by Kirby Stenger.

Shop Maggie & Janine's OZMA selects here.

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