Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but I know that many of you are still aching to grab the attention of that special someone, the person who will support you, challenge you, and ultimately, change your life forever. So if you are looking to impress that agent you’ve been emailing back and forth with for months, that editor who loves your work but hasn’t found a place for it yet, or if there’s simply a writer in your life whom you’d like to befriend, here are some tips for you!
Tip#1: Give the appearance of having everything under control.
Agents and editors are a unique bunch because so many of their relationships involve people and projects that they are interested in working with, and we all know that in the 21st century, people need to be as marketable as their products are. Which is not to say that the disheveled recluse type is out of style; it’s just that it tends to ward off potential connections who are looking for something and someone they can count on, and at the end of the day, aren’t we both just trying to make a little money for all the hard work we’ve put into our art?
1. Give yourself a fresh look by applying something cool to the face for 5 minutes before your morning routine. The cooling sensation brings down redness and puffiness and adds a few hours of sleep to your skin and blood vessels. Try a Gel Eye Mask ($10) for passive relaxation or a Rose Quartz Facial Roller ($20) for a little more fun.
2. Try some concealer, guys and gals! It’s a great way to brighten your eyes, which are in fact, the windows to the soul. Products to try include MAC Pro Longwear ($25) and Tarte's Shape Tape ($27). If you are in between shades, choose the lighter one, but try to match your skin tone as closely as possible. Dab three dots under each eye, and then blend down and outward.
3. Before heading out to the event where you might see your special someone, make sure that your clothing is free of wrinkles and pet hair. If you’ve read my column you’ve heard me say it before, but these little details really do make a difference, and looking well-put-together in this way does wonders on the subconscious minds of others.
Tip#2: Choose an outfit that treads the line between tradition and modern fashion.
Are you one of those writers who wears one of two colors of blazers to work most days, or one who wears all black, or one who just throws things together and hopes for the best? I’ve been there too, and luckily, this occasion does not call for a costume. Stick to your usual ‘look’ since that is the person you are selling, and the worst feeling in the (fashion) world is realize that you’ve been crafting a personal style that does not resonate with you. The trick to being simple and stylish?
1. Keep the color scheme of your outfit relatively limited, and have at least 3 pieces that are the same color (Example: watch, belt, and bag are all black; or, pants, blazer, and an accessory are all navy blue). If you have a patterned shirt or blazer or pant, keep that as the centerpiece by playing down everything else. That way, you can look fabulous while managing the risk of your outfit creating a sensory overload.
2. Add one thing that is slightly off. A pocket square, a pair of fun socks, statement shoes, a bracelet, a brooch, anything that provides you with a tiny bit of artistic flare. Not only do these function as a place to start conversation, but they also make the statement that, as articulate as you are, there are still a few things that shall remain an enigma (and more importantly, memorable!) like why you thought a jeweled evil eye bracelet would go well with champagne.
Tip#3: It’s kind of corny, but, just be yourself.
Because at the end of the day, it is your writing that speaks the most about you, and that, more than anything, is the part of you that will survive the test of time much more than the outfit you wore to a reading that your desired agent invited you to perform at. Still, the point is to find as many ways to get your work out there as possible, to go to readings, to give lectures and talks, and to make your mark on others in a meaningful way, the same way our beloved writers have marked us.
Writing is about communication, and so is fashion, so tie your tie, zip your boot, powder your nose, and make a statement that is purely you!
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Got a question? Comment below! And for more work from Poetess Vinny, follow her blog, Vinny the Snail.