Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1087559
46 I t's as if I already knew her. I'm talking about fashion designer turned illustrator Julie Houts, who has more than 200,000 Instagram followers (@jooleeloren) for her hilariously accurate depictions of women's — and her own — innermost and often uncomfortably honest thoughts. ("Forcing myself to sign off an email with, 'Thanks!' instead of, 'Burn in hell for all eternity, beast!'" reads one of Houts' illustrations of a fashionable girl typing on her laptop.) She pokes fun at the privileged, career- driven, wine-drinking, on-the-go, The Bachelor-watching, OMG-so-busy millennial woman with pride — and we've all embraced it. So, when Houts came to town to sign copies of her book, Literally Me (which is equal parts fashion illustration and societal satire), at Market in Highland Park Village, we had a glass of rosé and talked Netflix. Because she is, literally, all of us. On being funny four times a day (because, rent). I was never like, "Well, the thing about me is that I'm hilarious!" But I always knew, to a certain extent, that I could write decently well or that, when I did write, it came off in my voice — for better or worse. Deep-thought goals. It's very heartening, and it's built a real sense of community. Ninety-eight percent of my following is women, and it's nice to have a space for them to talk about things they're feeling. Anything I can do to foster that is a good thing. On the psychology of fashion. I always cared about clothes, but I didn't think I would work in fashion. I thought I would be a psychologist or a psychiatrist — then I pivoted at the last second and went to art school. Binging. I just started Terrace House on Netflix. It's a Japanese reality show, kind of in the style of Real World, but there's no drama. They're just making basic curries and talking about maybe holding hands. I can't explain why, but it's riveting. BY LISA COLLINS SHADDOCK. PHOTOGRAPHY ADRIAN MESKO. 15 MINUTES WITH JULIE HOUTS, LITERALLY Also At Home with Amy Sedaris — it's the weirdest show. She's very into crafting. When reality becomes real. It makes you realize how savage American reality television is — it's terrifying. I think it plays into how we interact, because it becomes a part of culture, and then that behavior is acceptable in certain ways. Why I knit. During the last election, I took up knitting and knitted a blanket as big as a rug. And then I never knitted again. My life as a cartoon. Literally Me got optioned to be an animated TV show, so I've been working on writing that. We'll see what happens! When you have 232,000 followers. It can be intimidating sometimes. I just try to make sure I'm being responsible — I take a beat longer before posting than I used to. I still get it wrong some of the time. Having good ideas — or not. There are times when I say to myself 'Oh this one's good. I think I've got one." And then it doesn't really connect for some reason. Then, other times, I put out what I think is the most specific, experiential thing and, for whatever reason, people have experienced the same thing. I definitely can't predict what will connect with people. The daily grind. Coming from J Crew and such a corporate work structure, that's how I prefer to work. I pretty much get up every day around when my boyfriend gets up. Or, I tell him I get up and then I usually get up actually a little later. But, I try to make some coffee and work a full day. It isn't always what happens but that's my intention. You love Isaac Mizrahi. Isn't he amazing? I love him so much. He's doing a cabaret tour right now. I don't know if he's coming here but if he is you've got to go! Julie Houts