Ma Crush Monday: The Kleveland sisters of DÔEN

Katherine and Margaret Kleveland portrait by Phoebe Dean. — Katherine and Margaret Kleveland portrait by P hoebe Dean.

We're suddenly starry-eyed super-fans of the newly launched fashion concept, DÔEN- spearheaded by the beautiful California sisters, Katherine and Margaret Kleveland. They are on to something important here - pioneering authenticity in fashion and empowering motherhood with their collective of creative women, making elevated yet wearable pieces for the everyday. Told in captivating visual stories with a direct line of connection to their customers, their mission is refreshingly transparent. The clothing is as effortlessly gorgeous and inspiring as they are. We're moved and motivated.....(and want everything!!) Click for more as we ask both sisters #thesamethreequestions. And stay tuned for more on the brand!

1.PS: Tell us a bit what's behind your children's names:

Julian | 1

MK : My wife and I loved the name Julian from the beginning of our pregnancy and never discussed any other name. It feels very youthful but still classic. We always wondered who this boy Julian would be as an adult person - definitely a best friend, confidant, musician/art star, athlete, magic-boy.

Wilder | 4 + Shepard | 2

KK : Wilder Thomas Hollister Nash (It was important to have certain family names for our first born(and possibly only son), but we also wanted a non-family name that he could choose to go by or use the more traditional name later. He goes by WyWy. Shepard Baxter Nash (Shepard is from a hymn our mother and her sister’s sang as kids, and my aunt told me the hymn when I was facing a hard moment in pregnancy, and it really made me feel happy and peaceful. I’ve loved the name ever since, and it is so well suited for Shep/Sheppy/Shepard/Shu Shu).

2.PS: Can you share a few of your local Motherhood Favorites?

MK: We are both totally enamored with the General Store in Venice. Great stuff for home, beautiful toys, clothes, and vintage. I also love Filth Mart on fairfax for vintage and t-shirts. Both places run by beautiful mamas.

KK: I’m happiest in the back yard. I love the farmer’s market on weekends with the family and riding the train up to Santa Barbara for the weekend.

Katherine takes in the California coast.

3.PS: What commonalities of Motherhood do you reject, and on the flip-side...do you have any guilty pleasures?

MK: Very tough to generalize since I think each mom/baby experience is unique. I do definitely think that if you go into motherhood thinking that those first few months will be exhausting and stressful they will be. In my experience, despite the physical recovery the first few months were incredibly shiny and happy, and the adjustments to new motherhood and new family dynamics came later. Hmmmm guilty pleasures - I definitely make exceptions to our house rules when my wife travels for work. Julian gets to stay up later and I let him sleep in our bed. I try to make the time when Brett is traveling quality by making sure that Julian and I have special time together.

KK: I find that every baby/kid and parent is so different, there is no one strategy or device or sleep technique that works for all. There are so many commonalities I reject personally, for my family, but i wouldn’t want to list them because that would feel like I was casting judgments on other’s methods. What I work toward is giving undivided, uninterrupted quality attention to both of my babies when we are together. I observe that when I am not giving them enough of that good attention that we fall out of harmony. In the last week my 4 year old has been listening to me less, and a little disconnected. It is hard for me to dismiss my responsibility, I have been completely distracted with the launch of our business in the past 2 weeks, so essentially I haven’t been listening and present. No guilt, just observation and correction. Thats what works for me.

PS: Would you mind sharing a SCRIBBLE? (a doodle, a recipe, a poem- anything!)

Every night before bed Margaret sings “Sea of Love”(the Cat Power version) to Julian, and Katherine sings “Dream a Little Dream”(Mama’s and the Papa’s version) to her boys.

A page from the Spring 2016 look book shot by Hilary Walsh.

Make sure to follow the collection on Instagram @shopdoen and keep an eye out for a follow-up feature here!