Friendly Interview

Julianna Hoover, blogger, student, and expert of whimsy, on flannel, Katherine Hepburn, and how the iris flower has changed her life.


Do you like dressing up for Halloween?

I was born to love it! My mother won a Halloween contest when she was young for her Thanksgiving turkey costume and since then she's had a penchant for unique costumes. I was never allowed to be a princess or fairy when I was young but I WAS a paper strip of candy dots, a picnic table, and a bubble bath....inanimate objects have always been my thing I guess.


Where were you born?

I was born in Bellflower, CA but moved to Washington when I was 3 so don't remember much about living in CA except that I lived in a pink house.


What were you like as a little girl?

As an only child, I grew up with an extremely vivid imagination. I was an avid fort maker and storyteller, loved to dance, and disliked Barbie because she was too boring. My cats were my best friends and dressing them up was my favorite activity.


What did you want to be when you were young?

I still find this really strange... but the first thing I remember wanting to be was a child psychologist. That was in preschool. After that short-lived phase, I wanted to be a teacher. I always asked my mom to take me to teacher supply stores so I could buy stickers, attendance charts, and chalk for my blackboard at home. Even now, I'll read out loud to any animal that happens to lay on my bed.


Did you have a favorite book or fairytale?

Hmm...that's hard to say because I feel like I was always reading a new book, but if I had to choose one it would have to be the "Jillian Jiggs" books, especially "The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs".


"Jillian, Jillian , Jillian Jiggs, Its like your room has been lived in by pigs!" "Later I promise, as soon as I'm through. Ill clean my whole room up, I promise, I do."


How has childhood affected you as a grown up?

My parents really wanted me to experience everything I had an opportunity to. Hip hop, jazz, ballet, tap, photography, plays, fashion shows, piano, and a few other random things. So now that I'm an adult, I'm really open to trying new things and since I never really mastered any of those hobbies, I'm not afraid to suck.


What are your inspirations?

That's a hard one. Everything and anything can inspire me. That's why blogs are so important to me. Reading about another person's inspirations is so eye opening and well... inspiring! But if I were to name a few specific things, I would say old scientific botanical prints, documentary films, rocks, and children's book illustrations.


What are your favorite pieces of clothing, and your favorite fashion designers?

Right now anything that's flannel in my closet is my favorite. These winter months would kill me without flannel clothes. As for fashion designers, I love Anna Sui for her irresistible prints, whoever designs for Manoush because their clothing is so utterly girly in a non-conventional way, and whoever designs for See by Chloe.





What was your favorite outfit when you were a child?

My pink giraffe bathing suit. So cute!


Did your mom let you wear whatever you wanted?

Honestly I don't remember. I didn't really care about clothes until I reached 6th grade so I must have just worn whatever my mom bought me. I know that I hated dresses though so my mom only made me wear one for Christmas and church on Sundays.


What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I dream about owning my own used bookstore pretty much once a week. I just hope to be surrounded by books for the rest of my life. That's all I need.


What's your favorite color?

Periwinkle


Do you have a favorite flower?

The iris flower is the most beautiful and significant flower to me. I have a tattoo of one on my right side which I got when I was feeling really down, hoping that it would instill in me the traits that it represents. The three petals of the iris represent faith, hope, and virtue and the ancient Egyptians painted it on the forehead of the Sphinx to represent creative ideas. The iris flower has changed my life.


Favorite food?

My favorite comfort food would definitely be a nice fat veggie burrito and my favorite food to order at a restaurant is either gnocchi or butternut squash risotto.


Heroes or Heroines?

Katherine Hepburn. She's strong, sexy, brilliant, and her voice is captivating. I love her in The Philadelphia Story. And as an added bonus, later in life she used her fame to promote some amazing humanitarian efforts.