1. Have fun with your wardrobe, but always dress to fit the occasion. New York City was infiltrated with countless editors, buyers and bloggers over the past week, but it what was noticeable were people who dressed well, but at the same time had fun with fashion and dressed for themselves (knowing the body and understanding what worked for them). Even if a well-dressed blogger wasn’t well known, the first impression was positive as it was clear they were being respectful to the institution they were becoming a part of. By choosing to dress appropriately, the right impression is made and who knows who may have noticed.
2. Be direct. Go after what you want. Editor-In-Chief of JENESEQUA, Melissa Middleton, and I had a wonderful conversation about trying to flag down a cab. She told me about the schooling she received from a particular cabbie that one must be direct – stick your arm out like you mean it. But I think this also pertains to life. There are untold amounts of people who want the same dream you have dancing around in your mind, but if you go after it tentatively, the go-getters, will pass you by. Be determined, don’t back down and demand what you expect and desire. Eventually, it will pay off and your cab will arrive.
3. Invest in yourself. The more people I talked to while in New York, the more I became aware that the life we want will require taking risks. Each designer, especially the independent designers, put so much money ($50,000 -$100,000 to rent the venue alone) up front (with pressure from investors that they are worth it) with the hope that someone will want to buy their clothes. Now that is an investment in yourself, and certainly it’s a gamble.
No one is going to arrive with a silver platter and magically offer what our imaginations create. We must be willing to invest in ourselves – put the money down and then work our tail off to make it back ten times over. It may not always be money you have to invest, perhaps your dream requires more time, changing your routine, editing your life, changing your way of thinking – whatever it is, you are worth it. Take the risk. Invest in your dreams. Because until you are willing to do it, no one else will either.
4. Find balance in every day. I was so thankful that Central Park was close to my hotel as it provided a needed deep breath after rushing from appointment to appointment. Figure out a way in your daily routine to catch your breath and put things into perspective. Even if it requires you to wake up a little earlier so you can have some time with your thoughts or a leisurely walk around your neighborhood before stepping back into your house to take care of the necessary chores. Your mind and your mood will thank you.
5. Be kind and polite. Sometimes when you find yourself in a sea of people that you don’t know, it’s easy to only think of yourself (more out of protection and safety than anything), but always remember to be kind and polite to those around you. This doesn’t mean you put your needs last, but it does mean being considerate of others. The universe will reward you in kind, so choose your behavior wisely.
Author: Shannon Ables of The Simply Luxurious Life Photo: The Sartorialist.
