How to Make it: Tips For Becoming a Successful Style Writer

Everyone can talk about the cut of jacket or the unique print on a shirt, but how are you setting yourself apart? By establishing your lane with a unique voice or outlook when discussing fashion and style, you're giving yourself a better opportunity to get noticed. But make sure it's authentic. People WILL call you out. Or fuck it, let them call you out, just be thoughtful and strategic about how you respond and react. Be professional and stand by your ideas above all else.

Whether it's keeping a journal handy to jot down a "trend" you've seen multiple times, or keeping a Tumblr with inspirational photos for you to look back on, documenting the things that keep you interested is a key. Actively searching for things to write about is fine, but you shouldn't have to do it all the time. You should have a hundred ideas bouncing around in your brain at any given moment, and if you run out, replenish the supply by reading the paper, browsing your RSS feed, or lurking around your favorite bar or coffee shop. Nothing you encounter is exempt from your discerning eye as a writer.

If you want people to bother reading your work, you'd better provide something that they can't find elsewhere—original information. Become a source. Work the style beat like reporters used to in the olden times. Whether it's the wool sourcing locations of Loro Piana or who was walking the runway in the latest Hood by Air fashion show, it's good to learn and keep knowledge of all facets of the industry. It ain't always about "that shit looks dope." Sometimes describing the intricate features or relishing in the history of a product is more rewarding to the reader. Make phone calls, do in-depth research, read obscure magazines and books to get your knowledge up. Earn respect by putting in the work.

Sure, you know the ins and outs of classic Americana menswear, but can you break down the segmentation of the street goth movement? If you love fashion and style, you have to love everything about it, not just the pieces of it that truly resonate with your personal style. Expand your horizons, my friend, and who knows? You might adopt some new shit to contribute to your personal style and your style of writing. Like music and movies, you need to understand historical and cultural context in order to make sense of things within the bigger picture.

Get out to events to meet people. Cool people. People who write. People who don't write. Just meet people. Don't even talk about style writing. Just meet. Show your personality. Let them see you "the person" and not you "the writer." Aren't in a location you can easily meet all these industry folks face-to-face? Reach out via social media or email. There are more people out there willing to listen and help than you think. Just don't be annoying or overbearing. Or send your music. No one wants to hear your demo, bud. Sorry.

This is a given. If you don't have an understanding of style, in general, how can you write about it? It makes you more believable. If you've established a strong sense of personal style, you will better be able to articulate ideas abotu style to your readers. When someone reads something you've written and sees what you look like/how you dress, they identify how you look with your writing. If you look like a pud, they may not take your writing seriously. Shallow, but true.

Self-deprecation and self-loathing are rites of passage when it comes to style writing. Even when you kill your idols, you do so respectfully. If you can't learn to tell yourself that there are writers out there who have been doing it better and longer than you, you can't be an honest writer. This also helps keep you humble, making you hungry to write more and better. Your journey needs to have a destination. If there is on one better than you, then you've got nothing to aspire towards.

Remember two seconds ago when I told you to know there are other writers who are better than you? Forget that. You are the best writer ever and the first thing that comes from your brain and goes down to your fingertips is biblical. If you don't have the confidence to go with your first instinct when creatively writing about style, you're going to be second-guessing everything and wasting time. You are the shit and your writing should be a reflection of that.