"Petite, positive, light and fresh!” is Jessica’s response when asked to describe her personal style. “And my husband says, ‘airy’, ha ha.”
Jessica’s daily practice for success is built around mindfulness and eternal optimism – “I am always looking for the sunshine on dark days.”
Before launching Grace & Flow, Jessica worked as a business development manager for a fast-paced environmental consulting firm. She had just had her second child and felt completely burnt out.
“I was living with ‘perfectionist over-functioning syndrome’ and absolutely needed a break. So, I returned to my yoga practice, restored my health and vitality, and fell in love with connecting the fabric of the Okanagan Valley with my love of health and wellness.”
Outside of work she’s passionate about camping, spending time outdoors and skiing. “I have two boys, ages 10 and 13, and we pretty much live up at SilverStar over the winter season!”
Asked what her best life lesson is so far, Jessica says, “To be present. Too often I would find myself distracted to avoid feeling the hard feelings or to avoid difficult conversations. Now I understand the immense benefits of noticing how I feel and what that manifests like in my body, and then consciously choosing how I want to react.”
And what is good style to her? “Confidence and posture. Being comfortable in your own skin.”
Fashion & Beauty
Uniform: Yoga clothes.
All-time favourite piece: Fitted distressed jeans from Vici Dolls.
Currently coveting: Another fitted leather jacket.
Favourite pair of shoes: Heels when I’m at an event, fuzzy slippers when I’m at the office; otherwise, I'm barefoot most of the time.
Favourite day-bag: My Bordeaux Alma Sling by Opelle in Toronto.
Favourite work tool: Rose gold MacBook.
Favourite jewellery piece or designer: I like to wear pieces that are meaningful, given to me, or locally made. Right now, I am wearing rings by Wolf + Woman and earrings by Hillberg & Berk.
Fashion obsession: Dresses!
Accessory you spend the most money on: Leather jacket by Mint Velvet.
Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: Sahajan Radiance Face Serum.
Moisturizer: Sahajan Nourish Creme Riche.
Scent: Essential oils.
Must-have hair product: Schwarzkopf OSiS Dust It root boost powder.
Beauty secret: I love the Grace & Stella gold eye masks.
Style Inspirations & Life
Style icon: Kelly Ripa.
Favourite artist: I love nature photography: Darren Hull or Viktoria Haack.
Favourite musician: Half Moon Run.
Era of time that inspires your style: 1960s (Brigitte Bardot).
Favourite cocktail or wine: Peak Cellars Skin Kissed Pinot Gris.
Album on current rotation: Daisy Jones & the Six.
Favourite flower: Peonies.
Favourite city to visit: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany.
Favourite app: Lightroom and InShot. I love taking pictures.
Reading Material
Fave print magazine: Mama Disrupt (Australia).
Last great read: Anything by Canadian author Susanna Kearsley.
Book currently reading: The Lost Carousel of Provence by Juliet Blackwell.
Favourite book of all time: Hard to pick just one! I re-read a few that are around intentional thoughts, goals and actions to manifest and create a joyful life. Some of these are: A Happy Pocket Full of Money by David Cameron Gikandi, Map of Consciousness by David Hawkins, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Do Less by Kate Northrup.
Favourite place in the whole world: Costa Rica.
One thing that consistently lifts your spirits during hard times: The little joys in life. Birds chirping, hugs from my kids. A coffee made for me by my adoring husband.
This feature first appeared in the fall 2023 edition of Vancouver Boulevard.