The Jeanome Project©

There are 6 billion people on the planet with a mass of about 100 trillion cells. Contained within these cells is DNA or the set of instructions that tell the cells how to build all of these 6 billion people. Researchers call these instructions “genome.”

When scientist mapped the human genes they found approximately 24,000. Although scientist have sequenced the human genome these instruction have not been fully understood. Humans come in many different shapes and sizes. However, we all share a similar level of DNA. This leads me to The Jeanome Project©.

When I mapped my closet I found 60 different jeans in various colors, shapes and styles!  The sequencing of how I acquired so many jeans may not appear to be easily understood, but I’m sure it can be found in my DNA.  I love jeans because they are so casual and versatile, and that is really me. That’s a lot of jeans unless of course you are someone like me who goes from workout clothes to jeans every day.

The average number of jeans that a woman owns is eight. Really? How can that be? With so many colors and so many styles are eight really enough? Scientist tell us that the genes of any two humans are 99% the same. However it is that tiny fraction of the genome that makes us different. It’s the DNA variation that makes us all unique. So I guess owning 60 jeans is just a variation in my DNA. But I don’t think I’m unique in this one. I’ll bet the average is greater than eight!

My work attire consists of workout clothes. Every day I get up and go to the gym or studio and teach yoga, dance and Spin. For me dressing up is a great pair of jeans. Besides that I live in Los Angles where jeans are the normal attire. You even find jeans at the Opera and the theatre.

When traveling anywhere in the world it is now acceptable to wear a pair of jeans to dinner as long as they are not torn. I always pack a pair of black jeans. They work for any occasion.

I can’t help myself. I have an obsession with jeans. May-be that’s because I was in the denim business many years ago or may-be it has to do with the fact that at one time in my life I owned may-be two pair of jeans. Whatever the nature of my obsession, I love jeans. So I decide to map the jeannome project by carefully creating an outfit with each pair of jeans in my closet.

Jeans come in a dizzying array of styles and colors. There are slim style, baggie style, skinny style, Capri style and distressed style. But, every pair contains the same instructions only changed by that 1% of personal style. So how do outfits know whether to go slim or baggie? The answer lies in the jeanetic switch. Pick your jeans and the outfit evolves!

Genes are defined “(in informal use)  as a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.”

Is that what jeans really are to me? Some kind of unit that gets transferred into a determining characteristic and a new outfit arrives? Yes, that is it! That’s why I love my jeans. Each outfit adds a slight variation, but the original is never lost.

Follow along with me as I approach The Jenanome Project.  Sixty pairs of jeans and counting, I’ll attempt to create sixty plus and counting outfits. Perhaps somewhere is the maze of jeans you’ll find a little inspiration of your own. How many jeans do you own? I’d love to know. We’re working off the honor system so accurately count and share your jean mapping with me.

Here is Francine my muse. She is a work in process.  Sometimes the creations are spot on and sometime they miss a beat. But as long as we keep creating there will be life, there will be art and there will be jeans to map Welcome to the Jeanome Project! Support an artist. It’s good for the soul.

What’s next?

Doctor Lynnhttp://www.facebook.com/Andla123

http://www.doctorlynn.com

The Story

Over thirty-six years ago I had a dream and a passion. But I was a young single mother with no money, two young children and basic education with no skills. With great determination I set out to accomplish my life’s mission. It began with finishing my education. The second most important thing was raising my children. Next I wanted to live out my passions; yoga, fitness, dance and health, creating styles and playing with fashion, traveling the world and finding my soul mate. Wow that was a hefty load for a young women living in rural Maine with no money.

I remember sitting alone in my kitchen drinking coffee and dreaming about the day when I would realize my dreams. To me they were real and not unattainable. Many good meaning folks told me not to dream so big. Settle down and live a comfortable and simple life. But I could not let go of my dreams. So rather than take the easy road I set myself up for struggle and tremendous work.

I was told I would never be a good fitness instructor. Yoga was too farfetched and weird. The world was a big place. It is better to stay close to home. I was told I had no talent when it came to fashion and design. (However in college I got A’s in design and art).

Over the course of thirty-six years I experienced failure, loneliness, disappointment, hardship, a bout with cancer, loss of a love, pain and poverty. But something inside of me kept burning. It was the desire to keep going no matter what. I was determined to achieve my goals.

I am now sixty-one. I am living my dreams. I married a wonderful man who is truly my soul mate. Together we have traveled the world. I have become a well respected yoga, Spin and dance teacher. I have written books and made videos that have been sold throughout the world. I went into the garment business, created a line of clothing and sold it into major department stores.

 I am now about to embark upon making my Aero*boga DVD and publishing its companion book. It is about a vision that is backed with desire and acted upon with persistency and consistency until  finally achieved. From this I have found an outlet for my passion for clothing and style. I created F La Mode a site where I feature my designs, styles and travels through my collection of clothes, shoes, jewelry and other stuff.

For years I walked around Los Angeles with strangers coming up to me and complementing me on my style. Friends and acquaintances would tell me, “You need to do something with your style; it’s so unique and interesting.”  Frustrated I couldn't find an outlet until one day a friend began to copy my work by posting pictures of my style and taking credit. It inspired me to move forward and take my style to another level. I will always be grateful for a mishap that inspired me to jump and take a leap of faith.

It took me thirty-six years to realize my dreams. Nothing in life comes easy or fast. If it does it probably won’t last. (Sounds like a poem). What I have learned is that if you hold to your dreams with a burning desire no matter how many times you get disappointed, rejected or led down  the wrong road you will always take some action either knowingly or unknowingly that will lead you to your destination.

Life has a funny way of taking away from you what you don’t need and replacing it with what you need more. We can’t always see it. Often we belabor over what is lost at the expense of seeing what we have gained.

Support an artist. It’s good for the soul. Angels have big wings so they can soar. Find your wings and fly!

Doctor Lynn

http://www.facebook.com/Andla123

 http://www.facebook.com/DrLynnAnderson

http://www.doctorlynn.com