ARMOURELLE, Author at ARMOURELLE.com

Feel the Fear. But Do the Work You Need to Do Anyway.

October 26, 2015 By ARMOURELLE

Do the work that's important. Not busy work! // ARMOURELLE.COM

I am afraid.

I am afraid to write.

I am afraid to write what I should write, so I write other works instead.

I am afraid to do my real work.

I am afraid that if I write my real work, you won’t like it.

I am afraid that if I write my real work, it will end up hidden in a folder on my hard drive, untouched. Or if I get the guts to print it, the manuscript will get layered under a stack of notebooks filled with words that don’t matter as much as the ones I let get buried.

Since I am afraid, I keep myself busy with other things: Writing proposals. Writing ‘fun’ articles. Writing product descriptions. Writing press releases. Writing email pitches. Writing everything else besides what I should write.

I’m doing everyone else’s work but not my own.

So does this make me a fraud?

If I am all about choosing your own adventure and I refuse to choose my own, am I a false prophet?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Over the last month, I kept getting this message: DO THE WORK. I heard it in conversation. In a panel discussion. In a Periscope broadcast. In a Twitter chat.

I argued with myself and with God that I didn’t know what “my work” is or should be. “What is THE WORK!?” I asked (of course as I said this, I tilted my head to the sky for maximum display of agony).

Friday, I had a conversation about “the work” with my new friend. She explained so clearly what our work is. She even ended her definition with, “and that is the work we have to do.”

Then I saw a post on Instagram that, again, clearly defined “the work.” Another message. I listened to a podcast that just so happened to define “the work” while describing other tasks.

I know a few things–not a lot–but what I DO know is that I received the message. I need to get started before I miss the window of opportunity. I shouldn’t say window, because I’m not sure if it’s a window or a doggie door. Either way, I need to do the work so I can shimmy through it when I notice it’s cracked open.

Maybe the window crack is now, and it’s just a sliver of an opening, but enough to get my fingers underneath the sill.

Maybe not.

Again, I know a few things–not a lot–but what I DO know is that I need to get to WORK.

NYFW SS’16: Tips I Learned Working as a Consultant

October 13, 2015 By ARMOURELLE

New York Fashion Week is a coveted event fashionistas, bloggers, and even industry folks want to attend. It’s like being able to sit at the table with the cool kids, even if you’re in listen-only mode.

One of my clients, a talented emerging fashion designer, hosted a presentation at NYFW SS’16. It was lots of work, but it was so rewarding for the client and for me as a consultant. I LOVE helping people realize their dreams! If you didn’t know, I’m on the communication side, and helped gain publicity for the presentation. Here are my takeaways from a sales, marketing & PR point of view:

Have several volunteers available.

You’ll want volunteers helping your PR/Events person manage crowd expectations, keep attendees happy and prevent the press from grumbling. (Trust me, you do NOT want members of the media complaining.)

Point B: Make sure you and your staff of helpers all know and can easily recognize the major players by face and name.

Point C: Don’t overlook digital influencers. They may not be someone you know, but they have devoted followings. Instagram is powerful, as we all know!

Give something away.

One client gave away shades from the beauty collection associated with the SS’16 fashion line presented at NYFW. I’ve had another client give free manicures at a pop up nail bar. At one show I slid into, the designers gave away a goodie bag for those perched on the front row. Inside was mini lookbook and generously-sized product samples from the sponsors.

Snag everyone’s business card at your fashion show, even if you have them on a spreadsheet as showing up.

There will be people attending your show who will slide under the radar, or prance in as a +1. Make sure your PR person is greeting the right people and gets you a ‘hello’ and short face time with those that snuck in unannounced. (Many times, these are the important people you should talk to!) This gives you as the designer a chance to talk to media and establish relationships.

Follow up with attendees ASAP.

Send an email or postcard thanking everyone who showed up to your fashion show. Follow up with media and buyers with a friendly pitch.

Be ready to sell…something.

If you’ve got the goods, people will want it. Be ready to sell the pieces you show to the influencers because they WILL want it.

This is the time to think positively and assume your collection will be well-received. Following fashion shows, buyers and media will want to see look books, media kits and/or line sheets. Better yet, have mini lookbooks as take-aways from the show. (Of course, this depends on how you structure your marketing materials.)

Check yo’self before you wreck yo’self.

Keep your resistance in check, sis! As a creative person, we struggle with resistance–especially if you’re a designer and not only a curator. If you’re resisting sales and publicity, take a moment to acknowledge it. Understand this: Presenting a fashion show for your brand is a sales pitch to buyers and a publicity pitch to the media. Condition yourself that selling your art to someone who wants to stock it in their boutique or wear it isn’t selling out.

Whew! Okay, so that was a LOT.

Putting on a fashion show or presentation is a huge planning process for you and your label. However, it’s so rewarding for your business. All these tips may not apply, but definitely keep these in mind as you move to gain publicity and loyal fans of your brand.

You Ain’t Gotta Lie to Kick It.

September 4, 2015 By ARMOURELLE

You-aint-gotta-lie-to-Kick-it

“You ain’t gotta lie to kick it, my n-gga/You ain’t gotta try so hard…”
—Kendrick Lamar, You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)

Man. Hold Up.

Let your Drunk Auntie–and by ‘your Drunk Auntie,’ I mean me–dissect this for a minute. We say phrases like:

Fake it til you make it.
People will believe whatever you tell them.
Fame is in the follower count.

“You ain’t gotta lie to kick it!”

This was something we used to in junior high. It was our way of gently calling each other out when one of us was boasting a few too many stories. And, it was our a way of proclaiming allegiance to an unpopular opinion about something. Think: My mama buys me Payless shoes. I ain’t gotta lie to kick it!

Now that I’m older, I see it all the time. The demeaning “power quotes” about being a boss that shade employees. Photos of exotic vacations complete with fancy cocktails and luxury jewelry. And of course, it’s all hashtagged with #MyLife #DoingMe #Blessed #Boss.