Wow--the groundbreaking, historic first post: what shall I say?
I've decided to create a space here where I can muse about life and fashion and the ways in which they intersect. The last few months have brought many challenges, many changes, and I have struggled (am still struggling, in fact) to figure out who I am, inside, and how to express that self outwardly.
I find myself in a new place, with the opportunity to create a new, happier, more confident me. True, there are many areas of my life, not just my wardrobe, that may need a spruce (or more); trust me, I am not suggesting that a new pair of shoes or a lip gloss or any other kind of retail therapy is the secret to happiness. In fact, when I talk about "style", I'm not necessarily talking about buying into trends or buying... anything. Remember when I mentioned the intersection of life and fashion? Well, dear readers, read on to find out what I mean...
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Mission Statement: Part One
I have been hopping from job to McJob for quite some time now, never quite satisfied, but too scared that I won't have what it takes to really dive into a career. Now that I have this chance to make myself over, I think it's time to kick myself in the ass and make something happen!
I have always been interested in clothing and fashion, and I have been designing and making my own stuff for as long as I can remember. (Not all of these garments were terribly successful, but live and learn, right?) After much waffling, I finally decided to study fashion "techniques and design" at George Brown College in Toronto. I didn't graduate--it's kind of a long story, though probably not as long as I like to think--but that sure doesn't mean I didn't learn anything. I am a pretty decent pattern drafter, I can identify and choose fabrics, I know colour (yes, I am Canadian) theory and the basic principles of design.
Somehow, it's just hard for me to believe that I know enough to go out there and do it for a living. When I think about designing my own line, it's hard to draw the line between a realistic assessment of the market and my skills, and outright pessimism. I want to make shoooooooooes! my heart cries; but there always seems to be something to shoot down. For one, I really don't have the money to gamble on a high-overhead venture like a clothing line.
One thing I am quite good at, if I do say so myself, is putting together whole looks. One of my loves is theatrical costuming, crafting the image that the character lives in, and making it all work together and make sense. I could, of course, pursue a career in costuming and wardrobe--and maybe down the road, I will--but I know from experience that entertainment industry jobs really require you to put it all on the line with no guarantees. I'm just really not comfortable with that right now. I need a reliable income! But... I think it would be totally possible to have a schmoe job in another sector, while building a part-time side business as--
...drumroll, please...
--an Image Consultant!
I think, for me, it is a perfect field in which to build up gradually with minimal initial investment: there are few, if any, specialized tools required; no raw materials; no storage, storefront or commercial office space is necessary... really, start-up costs would consist mostly of promotional materials and home-office supplies. I could set aside one or two weeknights and a weekend day for networking and appointments while still maintaining an income elsewhere, and step things up as the business grows.
So with this career goal in mind, one of my purposes in creating this blog is to get the creative juices flowing--to really start thinking about what style means and where it fits into our lives.
I have always been interested in clothing and fashion, and I have been designing and making my own stuff for as long as I can remember. (Not all of these garments were terribly successful, but live and learn, right?) After much waffling, I finally decided to study fashion "techniques and design" at George Brown College in Toronto. I didn't graduate--it's kind of a long story, though probably not as long as I like to think--but that sure doesn't mean I didn't learn anything. I am a pretty decent pattern drafter, I can identify and choose fabrics, I know colour (yes, I am Canadian) theory and the basic principles of design.
Somehow, it's just hard for me to believe that I know enough to go out there and do it for a living. When I think about designing my own line, it's hard to draw the line between a realistic assessment of the market and my skills, and outright pessimism. I want to make shoooooooooes! my heart cries; but there always seems to be something to shoot down. For one, I really don't have the money to gamble on a high-overhead venture like a clothing line.
One thing I am quite good at, if I do say so myself, is putting together whole looks. One of my loves is theatrical costuming, crafting the image that the character lives in, and making it all work together and make sense. I could, of course, pursue a career in costuming and wardrobe--and maybe down the road, I will--but I know from experience that entertainment industry jobs really require you to put it all on the line with no guarantees. I'm just really not comfortable with that right now. I need a reliable income! But... I think it would be totally possible to have a schmoe job in another sector, while building a part-time side business as--
...drumroll, please...
--an Image Consultant!
I think, for me, it is a perfect field in which to build up gradually with minimal initial investment: there are few, if any, specialized tools required; no raw materials; no storage, storefront or commercial office space is necessary... really, start-up costs would consist mostly of promotional materials and home-office supplies. I could set aside one or two weeknights and a weekend day for networking and appointments while still maintaining an income elsewhere, and step things up as the business grows.
So with this career goal in mind, one of my purposes in creating this blog is to get the creative juices flowing--to really start thinking about what style means and where it fits into our lives.
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