It’s awfully cold and dreary in New York right now, which naturally made me long for sunshine, the perfect avocado, and lush greenery. As much as I love Manhattan in the wintertime, Los Angeles and warmth is always enticing this time of year. To get my mind off the impending blizzards of East Coast (non-)lore, I’ve interviewed the priestess of a quieter side of LA, the creative anomaly that is Jeana Sohn. She paints, she boldly photographs, she directs beautiful fashion films, she dresses impeccably, and she cooks delicious Korean cuisine. In a nutshell, the ultimate jill-of-all-trades best friend that dreams are made of. Luckily, she has several online outlets in which you can pretend that you are her bestie. Closet Visit, for one, is an amazing visual feast for the eyes. Jeana features remarkable women in LA and their closets. Initially, you may just see clothing and gorgeous women, but a discerning look into one of these closets and you’re instantly transported to a land of infinite inspiration; a quick yet powerful delve into the lives of the West Coast’s hidden visionaries.

In a short period of time, Jeana has propelled herself from taking personal photos to shooting lookbooks for Wren, Jesse Kamm, and musician, Nicole Simone. She has also collaborated with Claire Cottrell on two Closet Visit films, entitled “Stella” and “Matilde”. Her namesake blog reveals that her magnificent circle encompasses a brilliant bevy of heavy hitters: Clare Vivier, coveted handbag designer; Beatrice Valenzuela, hairstylist and shoe designer extraordinaire; Melissa Coker, designer behind Wren; Heather Taylor, owner of Taylor de Cordoba gallery; and Joanna Williams, textile guru of Kneeland Co. Don’t get me wrong, I heart NYC times infinity, but being bi-coastal would be so much fun. Especially if it means hanging out with Jeana’s crew and sharing ideas over endless bowls of home cooked kimchi fried rice, a favorite Korean dish of our LA muse.

Doris: How long have you lived in LA? What keeps you there?

Jeana: I’ve been in LA about 10 years. I came here from Korea to attend CalArts but I met my lovely husband and fell in love with the city. LA has everything I love: the ocean, beautiful hills and parks, creative people, succulents, and warm weather.

D: What are some of your favorite spots in LA for clothes, unforgettable meals, the perfect cup of coffee, a sweet treat, and a quiet place to just relax and be inspired?

J: Clothes: Mohawk General Store and all of my designer friends’ studios.  
Unforgettable meals: I LOVE going to Mozza Pizzeria and sitting at the bar for pizza and wine.
Perfect cup of coffee: Lamill Coffee, Figaro
A sweet treat: Lark for yummy cupcakes!
A quiet place: I live very close to Hollywood Reservoir. I go there often with my dogs and it’s the perfect place to think about my projects and get inspired.

D: You’re a maker! How do you balance being an illustrator, photographer, and style blogger? Are they all equal loves in your life?

J: It’s overwhelming sometimes. When I feel like I have too much on my plate, I take a break from one thing. Right now I’m focusing on photography and filmmaking. (Not to worry though! Closet Visit will be back on track soon.) I like trying different art forms.

D: What does the typical work day look like for you?

J: Everyday is different, but I usually get up, eat brunch, and get to work. My work day might be emailing ALL DAY or doing a photo shoot or editing photos or filming. I work until dinner and eat with my husband or friends. In the evening, I usually watch something fun and work on my laptop or hang out with my friends.

D: You have a strong network of really inspiring friends in LA. How did you all meet and how does this affect your own creative process?

J: I met many creative people through Closet Visit and became very good friends with them. We collaborate all the time and have regular happy hour meetings and talk about our current projects and goals. We really support each other.

D: How did you get the idea for Closet Visit? I love the women you’ve featured so far. Any plans to travel to other cities to peek into other tastemakers’ closets?

J: I wanted to start a project that could get me out of my studio. I loved taking photos and had some stylish friends so I thought about shooting them in their favorite outfits. I’d LOVE to travel to other cities for Closet Visit. I’m planning to start with New York in the Spring. (editor’s note: Hip, hip, hooray!)

D: Along with your personal blog, you also share a cooking blog, Bap Story, with Bo Carney of Mohawk General Store. How did this collaboration come about?

J: Actually, Bo came up with the idea. She wanted to show her friends how to make easy Korean dishes, and I thought that was a great idea since I have many non-Korean friends who love Korean food too. Also we loved the idea of cooking and eating home made Korean food together.

D: If you could only wear five brands/designers for the rest of your life, what/who would they be?

J: Black Crane, Boy. by Band of Outsiders, J. Crew, Margaret Howell, and Isabel Marant.

D: Describe your favorite outfit.

J: White button down (tucked in), mid rise Acne skinny jeans, school boy blazer with gold buttons, ballet flats or loafers, hair—messy and long, and a canvas tote.

D: What is inspiring you right now?

J: My amazing friends, French Vogue, light during golden hour, and Polaroid photography.

D: If you weren’t creating art or taking photos, what would you be doing in an alternate universe?

J: I wanted to be a landscape designer! I love plants and touching dirt.  

D: If there was one album that would be the soundtrack to your life, what would it be?

J: That’s so hard! Hmm...El Perro Del Mar’s “Love Is Not Pop”?