Letter From the Editor
When I bought my first medium format camera, from PhotoCare in 2016, I’ll never forget what my good friend Rich said…
Use the right tool for the right job.
Out of context the sentiment was nothing new, although this tool was going to cost me the equivalent of a low-end Mercedes at the time. Pre-heavy arts education I explored landscaping and construction for a little over a decade. You were always looking for the right tool, and made due without in a pinch. Ahhh, sparks of creativity under fire, literally.
As a clarinetist, you are brand loyal. All four of your clarinets, if you’re lucky enough to have the family and then some, are usually all of the same brand. Musicians, or rather all artists to an extent, tend to be a bit dogmatical or fantastical based on their years of training and who they studied with. This is the Best. Only use that. Blah Blah Blah…
For me, capturing light with every kind of film or digital camera imaginable, I find that as an Artists I can create with anything. The camera is a vehicle for expression. With Covid chaos still on the mind, we’re seeing creativity explode, making due with the most ingenuitive of rigs for self-expression. I say run with it. Make haste with that idea, even though you might not have the right tool.
Don’t get mired down in what you don’t have, or how all those amazing artists on instagram are doing their thang, and you’re stuck with your tools and skills. Rejoice in that simplicity, use your limited artistic vocabulary and explore in childlike wonder. You’ll be surprised what speaks to you and might forge new paths all together. I know I am.
Use your Tools. Stay Healthy. Stay Creative.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
With Questionable style choices creeping into Live Feeds & Zoom Rooms in the days of Covid 19, Tania Sterl asks, How will you choose to bee seen in this…
Who knew all those sci-fi movies and books you were obsessed with would become our new reality – or surreality lately? Most of us are still in lock-down or quarantine. Working from home is the new norm, unless you are an essential or emergency worker (moment of silence for deep gratitude for their service). For the rest of us, virtual meetings, zoom rooms, Instagram live, are the new normal to interview, network, build an audience, & stay connected while safe-distancing.
Showing up online can be even more confronting as everything is magnified and then some. Bad lighting, poor positioning of your device, and well, your face up close and personal can be a personal dilemma. That small screen frame on zoom is like showing up in your own talk show. While it can be confronting, it is an opportunity to showcase yourself in the manner in which you choose. From the clothes you wear, to your grooming and glasses, to your lighting & background, showing up online is like “show-time.” So here’s some tips on how to make some savvy sartorial choices to take control of how you want to be seen in virtual world.
Before you get dressed and show up online, ask yourself these questions:
What online events are you showing up for? How do you want to be perceived? How do you want to be remembered? Are you willing to take responsibility for how you’re showing up? Are you willing to dare to be seen as this new persona?
Of all the things that are out of our control lately, waiting for unemployment, PPP or PPE to come through, handling an even busier than ever work load while home-schooling your children, pivoting your business to virtual world and expanding globally, our sartorial choices and what we wear is actually one of the few things in our control. So make a choice of how you want to present yourself online and own it.
Before you show up online for that next virtual appearance ask yourself,
What is that virtual appearance you are showing up for? What is the event? (interview, company meeting with the entire team, networking group, or is it a casual evening mixer or happy hour)
If you are interviewing, research the company see how business formal, business casual or business creative it is so that you can create a look that’s going to blend in and still stand out as your own personal brand, that relates to that organization firm or business.
Ask yourself, How do I want to be perceived? Beyond making a first impression on an interview in a zoom call meeting someone for the first time whether it’s a client an employer or someone who’s reporting to you ask yourself what are your defining words?
Do you want to be seen as the creative one, the humorous one, the calm one, the confident one? All these play into your clothing choices… calm and confident evokes grounding cool colors like navy‘s and blues creative.Dynamic evokes brighter more bold colors yellows oranges bright pinks so choose your colors according to the energy you want to convey.
If you showed up to a zoom room and everyone was in the dark and all you saw was from their nose up and they were wearing disheveled dirty dark clothes how would that make you feel? Think about how your appearance is not only affecting your own mood and mindset but how it could be affecting others.
How do you want to be remembered? Do you want to remembered like that lawyer in Miami that showed up for a virtual court appearance with no shirt on? Or the woman who took her device to the bathroom with her? Or do you want to be seen as the calm, cool, and confident consultant whose clients can trust you? Or do you want to be seen as the dynamic creative Instagram influencer that you are?
Beyond the first impression you want to leave that interview, client consultation call, zoom room with how you want to be remembered and wear a little something that will make you memorable. It could be a bold pair of red glasses, it could be a bright pink dress shirt, it could be a leopard print blouse, think about how you want to be remembered and choose your clothing and accessories from eyewear to jewelry to a bow tie to make a statement and stand out. The details matter, make them count.
The Power of Color:
Color is a potent source of energy. Black absorbs light, the absence of color, and appears somber. Black is usually worn to formal events and funerals. While black can be chic live and in person, online, black absorbs light and can dull you out. Unless you mix it with sheen, or texture like leather or satin, and mix up textures like a black moto jacket with a graphic tee. White reflects light, and will make you disappear if you’re pale and on a white background. Colors can energize or soothe. There’s ways to choose colors and close to capture your character and that you want to convey online. Bright colors like orange, yellow, and pink energize. Deep dark colors like burgundy and navy convey a serious attitude. Midtones and neutrals convey calm, like Dr Brix in her neutral colors and signature scarves.
Time to experiment:
This may be an interesting time to experiment as well. One of my clients is growing out her grey roots, and deciding to go from brunette to all grey – like a true Jane Fonda reveal on Oscar night! Whether you decide to keep your hair, shave it all off, keep the gray or rush back to the salons for a fresh new coat of color, or get those nails done, take this time to really explore these different expressions of
yourself.
A great way is to go on Pinterest and start a style Pinterest board and pin images and references for inspiration. Growing out your hair to chopping it into a bob, growing out a beard to keeing it groomed, see what the celebrities are doing, and see what inspires you. Everyone is trying new things like making bread and virtual mhajong, so play with your image now is a really fun time to experiment. A bold new lipstick color, a fabulous new pair of frames. And now there’s a ton of DIY and how-to videos online from touching up your roots (a la Samantha Bee thanks to Eva Scrivo NYC)
While there are so many things out of our control, you do have a certain amount of control over what you wear and how to show up online. It’s going to be very interesting to see how we emerge from this with both of our inner changes and outer changes. Are you brave enough to embrace the new you? Or will you run back to the salons and gym and stores to retain the former you? Either way, show the world the YOU that wants to be seen, and own it.
Hair Stimulus
How to keep your hair healthy while you’re stuck at home, plus an easy guide to care for curly hair with Fallon Fitzpatrick.
Hi! I’m Fallon Fitzpatrick, master celebrity hairstylist and CEO & Founder of The New You School, a 12 week inner and outer transformational coaching and makeover program. I am committed to empowering women and helping them achieve a new look, a new mind, and a new life.
I’d love to share my professional hairstylist tips with you on how to keep your hair healthy while you’re stuck at home, plus an easy guide to care for curly hair!
If you’re struggling to keep your hair healthy between salon trips, try one of these hair masks to keep your hair luscious and healthy.
For Oily Hair:
Having naturally oily hair is something that so many people struggle with. I totally get how frustrating it can be.
First, I recommend trying to wash your hair less. I know, it sounds like the total opposite of what you want to do! But reducing the amount of times you wash your hair per week will help bring balance to your scalp and will likely reduce oil production over time.
For the mask, mix one egg white and lemon juice (about half a lemons worth). Egg white are awesome for combating excess oil production, and lemon juice will also help remove build up.
Leave the mask on for at least an hour if you can. Rinse with warm water and wash as normal!
For Dry/Damaged Hair:
Trying to manage dry, damaged, or frizzy hair can be super annoying. This mask will help bring moisture into your hair to make it a little more manageable!
Mix one whole egg, a teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of olive or coconut oil, and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. The egg, honey, and oil will help bring in moisture, while the apple cider vinegar helps smooth the hair shafts!
Leave this mask on for at least an hour if you can. Rinse with warm water and wash as normal!
For Stimulating Hair Growth:
If you’re looking to promote hair growth while bringing in moisture and shine, try this hair mask!
Mix equal parts coconut oil and cinnamon! Coconut oil is great for moisturizing your hair and keeping your scalp healthy for hair growth. Cinnamon is anti-microbial and will also stimulate your scalp for hair growth (plus it smells great!)
Leave this mask on for at least an hour if you can. Rinse with warm water and wash as normal! All of these masks can be adjusted to suit your hair length!
I love using hair masks to keep my hair nourished and healthy!
Here’s how I like to maintain my curls.
Redken’s Curvaceous Curl Refiner and Curvaceous Ringlet are my absolute fave products to keep my curls looking bouncy and shiny!
Use Redken Curvaceous Curl Refiner first, then Redken Curvaceous Ringlet. Squeeze the product in your hair while it’s very wet, and let it air dry.
Once it’s 80-90% dry flip your head upside down, massage the roots without pulling your hands through your curls! Then scrunch the ends. Total effort = 30 seconds
Here’s a quick curly updo: Super fast and easy to make it look fancy. Just pin it up when it’s 100% dry. You can backcomb a section if you’re worried about it falling out. This works for straight hair too!
Take a round 1 inch by 1 inch section wherever you want you bun to be. Place the comb at the ends of the hair and push all the way towards the scalp. Really pack it in. Don’t be afraid.
You shouldn’t be able to stick your fingers or even a comb between your scalp and the back combing. Now you have an anchor for your bobby pins so there is no need to open or bend them and it will last all day!
I hope these tips help you stay chic while you’re staying at home.
Stay safe and good luck!
