Janina Cantrell Of Dark Gravity Studios: Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life
An Interview With Jake Frankel
Find inspiration everywhere, but strive to make it your own. Bring your own style and voice to everything you do. I find inspiration at the beach, in nature and in my own closet. I recently got inspired by the pink on the middle of a conch shell! Stay tuned!
Many successful people reinvented themselves in a later period in their lives. Jeff Bezos worked on Wall Street before he reinvented himself and started Amazon. Sara Blakely sold office supplies before she started Spanx. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a WWE wrestler before he became a successful actor and filmmaker. Arnold Schwarzenegger went from a bodybuilder, to an actor to a Governor. McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc was a milkshake-device salesman before starting the McDonalds franchise in his 50s.
How does one reinvent themselves? What hurdles have to be overcome to take life in a new direction? How do you overcome those challenges? How do you ignore the naysayers? How do you push through the paralyzing fear?
In this series called “Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life “ we are interviewing successful people who reinvented themselves in a second chapter in life, to share their story and help empower others.
As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Janina Gavin Cantrell.
Janina Gavin Cantrell is living her best life in her second chapter. She has had a successful and long career in fashion merchandising, buying, management and sales. In her second chapter she took a huge leap to the big screen as well is making magic in over 100 editorials as a respected stylist and creative director.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I was in love with fashion from a very young age. I grew up in the late 70s and graduated high school in the 80’s. The looks in that time period were really quite epic. I grew up in a small beach community with a single Mom. We didn’t have much money, but my fashion gold was at the thrift store or in hand-me-down clothes that came in parcels from my cousin in Canada. I loved mixing it up. When other kids were going to school in bell bottoms, I would wear my hand-me-down dresses with chunky shoes. I was really shy but didn’t mind wearing stand out clothes. Clothes for me, was that magic thing that could make everyone equal. I also loved Barbies and all the glam that Barbies have from the beach houses to the evening wear, it was all magical.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Tomorrow is a new day” I have been saying that my whole life. I love how life can dramatically change for the better just by waking up to a new day. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
You have been blessed with much success. In your opinion, what are the top three qualities that you possess that have helped you accomplish so much?
I am intuitive, honest and passionate.
My intuition has helped me professionally and personally. In fashion you have to make fast choices based on intuition. There is no formula, it is just a knowing. My first job was for a chain of stores, driving around making displays. I created the position for myself, just by layering and making outfits on the racks. Down the road when I was a buyer, you couldn’t sit in a showroom and not choose items without liking them. It is a quick process. It’s all intuition.
As for honestly, I think it’s important element in fashion. When I was in sales at a top boutique in La Jolla, I wouldn’t say “that is terrible” but I would honestly say “we can do better” I think honesty is important in business. In my current job of stylist and helping my photographer daughter with editorials, I am not afraid to be honest if something is not working or if I feel the connection isn’t right. To be creative, you have to be collaborative. If it’s not jiving, it is just not. My passionate nature is what keeps me going. I have a redheaded passionate nature.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion about ‘Second Chapters’. Can you tell our readers about your career experience before your Second Chapter?
In my first chapter I got a fashion degree from a small trade college. I worked as a merchandiser, sales person, manager, window dresser and buyer.
And how did you “reinvent yourself” in your Second Chapter?
I reinvented myself to be an editorial stylist with over 100 magazine publications, stylist for celebrities on the red carpets, and most recently costumer designer for feature film “Abigail”
Can you tell us about the specific trigger that made you decide that you were going to “take the plunge” and make your huge transition?
I didn’t take the plunge, my life was altered by having my beautiful daughter Ava Cantrell. I became her stylist and we ended up In “best of” People Magazine together and over 1200 Getty red carpet images. When she was looking for a part time job to work around her acting schedule and college, she took up photography and I became her stylist. Most recently when she booked the lead in the feature film “Abigail” I quickly realized that I would be the best person for wardrobe on the film. It started with finding her wardrobe on Etsy to getting the costume designer role and then pulling the looks for all of the top talent.
What did you do to discover that you had a new skillset inside of you that you haven’t been maximizing? How did you find that and how did you ultimately overcome the barriers to help manifest those powers?
I am a firm believer in, keep rolling with life. My husband is a successful entrepreneur with a Shark Tank deal. Together we have had over ten businesses. Some we work together on and some we mentor each other. When something is not working you need to try your best but also know when it is time to move on.
I don’t get stuck in barriers. As a matter of fact, when I reach a barrier my goal is to elevate so that barrier can be breached and overcome. When someone tries to undermine or drag you down, it is always an opportunity to rise higher.
How are things going with this new initiative? We would love to hear some specific examples or stories.
As far as Costume designer, I have my one big credit and job. I would love to work with a collaborative team on future, bigger movies. I still continue to style for editorials, I just keep working and innovating on new themes. Recently, I realized I want to go back to my roots which is really bohemian and luxe hippie and I will lean into that. I missed it, its calling me back!
Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My Mom always supported me in fashion. It is not always the highest paying field. A lot of it is love and passion based and my Mom Leila helped me the entire way. My husband Bryan for adoring me and supporting me. My daughter Ava for inspiring me. My rescue mutt Roxy for making me laugh.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started in this new direction?
I think being costume designer on a feature film was most interesting. I learned that when you are working on a set with over 50 people, your vision will get changed. The bigger the project the more you have to let go. The director can change the looks, or ask hair and makeup to do something different than your vision. At one point in the shoot, I saw a lead actor wearing a shirt untucked and I almost lost my mind. In the 70s it was all tucked and belts showing. It is little things like that that a costume designer does to keep the flow of the movie.
Did you ever struggle with believing in yourself? If so, how did you overcome that limiting belief about yourself? Can you share a story or example?
I have always believed in myself. I have taken work breaks in my life, but was always working in some small way with my husband that still tied me to fashion and retail. I wasn’t working when I was raising my daughter, but I was still designing her costumes for dance and things like that. Fashion can be a daily practice and it is for me whether working or not.
Starting a new chapter usually means getting out of your comfort zone, how did you do that? Can you share a story or example of that?
I never get too comfortable. As an entrepreneur wife and mom of an actress, comfort is short term. It is always ebbing and flowing.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me before I started” and why?
1)Each job is never an end but a new beginning. I worked for a boutique I loved for over a decade. When it closed I never thought I would have a better job or be more happy at work. In my second chapter I have something that I work less hours on, and enjoy more.
2)Work for yourself when you can, especially as you get older. Not everyone can do that, and it doesn’t always offer the most financial security but it is truly the greatest freedom and feeling of success if you can make it work.
3) Find inspiration everywhere, but strive to make it your own. Bring your own style and voice to everything you do. I find inspiration at the beach, in nature and in my own closet. I recently got inspired by the pink on the middle of a conch shell! Stay tuned!
4)Value free time because that is what brings creativity. We all need to rejuvenate in creative fields. I’m always ready to go again after taking a break. We all need a chance to recharge so that we can go forward with full energy.
5) Aim for sustainability. Find a good thrift store and dig. I go regularly with my Mom. The other day checking out the cashier said “you have such an eye”. Develop your eye and style. Rent your high end styles and stay away from stores that mass produce. Style is everywhere. Go find it and please try to be sustainable. I am pulling vintage Betsey Johnson that I wore in the 90s for my daughter to wear now as well as my clients. That is the ultimate in sustainability!
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I need to mention sustainability again. I really believe in it rather than fast fashion. Don’t get me wrong, I do have fast fashion. I support a Mom seller on Facebook that sells fast fashion but it is just a small piece of my style equation.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. 🙂
I met Betsey Johnson on the street of San Fransisco in the ’90s. I was wearing her dress and we both started screaming at each other in joy. She asked me to coffee and said she would be across the street. I was in the process of helping someone open a store, then it got busy and I never made it over. I would love to have lunch with her now. Not in hopes of a job at this time in my life but to hear about her life, her stories. She is my inspiration.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my daughters photography page on Insta @avacantrellphotography.
You can watch 70’s thriller Abigail on Amazon prime video and iTunes to see my costume design work.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Janina Cantrell Of Dark Gravity Studios: Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.