Biographies / Style Icons

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

Before the crazy madness that is NYFW begins, I was able to catch up with my sweet friend, StyleIT's Sarah Conley, for a little chit chat. The social media maven is busy preparing for what could be perhaps the busiest time of her entire year, but she took some time to answer a few key questions I hope will help any of you aspiring to do great things via your own blogs, Twitter, Tumblr, and the like. If you haven't already, check Sarah out at StyleITOnline.

1. For those living under a rock who aren't familiar with StyleIT, what exactly is your profession?

These days, I'm what I like to call full time fabulous - I recently left a day job to pursue writing Style IT full time and taking a few consultant roles with brands.

2. What's a typical day-in-the-office like for Sarah Conley?

Since my office is now my apartment, it definitely consists of a fresh pot of coffee, a few conference calls and focusing on publishing great content. I can find leads in my inbox, from friends or even inspiration in my apartment. You never know where you will be when a great idea strikes!

3. How do you prepare for NYFW?

Lots and lots of planning! I feel like I prepare all year for NYFW! Not only does it take a lot of organizing and strategizing, but it takes a village. From prepping the team on what to expect and making sure the shows and backstage are covered to really taking care of yourself, I honestly feel like preparing for NYFW is like preparing for your wedding, twice a year.

4. What is your "team" and how did you decide who plays on it?

I'm really fortunate to have found a great team of super talented writers and photographers who have an amazing passion for fashion and social media. They've been so supportive of me throughout the years - we're like family!

5. What's your schedule like for fashion week? Does your job description change during this period? What are some extra tasks you'll take on?

My job description during NYFW might as well say "crazy person". I'm so fortunate this season to have a really strong team in place, so in addition to writing content for Style IT and securing all angles of coverage, I also have a few other outlets that I will be covering for. We also have a few sponsors this season, so I need to make sure that we fulfill all our commitments to those brands.

6. What are your 3 must-see shows this Fall?

L.A.M.B., forever and always; The Blonds, there is no better scene; G-Star, their show is always a symphony.

7. How do you decide which shows you will attend?

With so many shows being split between MAC & Milk and Lincoln Center, it is all going to come down to scheduling and timing. But there are certainly MUST SEE shows.

8. Do you spend lots of time backstage?

Absolutely! It's so fun to see how the magic happens, and its a lot easier to cover the shows that way

9. How do you dress during NYFW? Do you amp up the style factor more than usual?

I like to tell my team to dress like they're going into a fashion war. Of course you're going to have crazy 14 hour days, and sure, you want to be comfortable, but at the end of the day you are there to represent yourself in the best possible way, so armor up!

10. You're a maven of social media, and pretty much an icon. How did you get here?

Thank you, Hope! It's pretty crazy to think that I started as a girl from Arkansas, just chasing my dreams.  To some extent, I am still very much that girl, but each day, I am just me. I'm 100% me on Twitter, 100% me on my site and that is all I could ever hope to be!

BONUS. What are your top 3 pieces of advice for someone aspiring to grow their online audience?

1: Be yourself. 2: If you don't find it interesting, that probably means no one else will. 3: Find a way to make it your own.

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

At first I was skeptical when I started reading Kelly Cutrone's book, If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You, because I really didn't think I could glean a whole lot of information from this hardcover that would be applicable to my own journey. So, I picked it up to read more as a form of entertainment than enlightenment.

Consider me corrected, and pleasantly surprised. Within the first two pages, I found myself hooked. This book reads so easily, and though I've already heard much of what Cutrone has to say, her voice is what kept me reading. She's brutally honest, completely outspoken, and totally inspiring. Whether she's sharing about her fancy-free first years in New York City, or about her professional prowess and how she climbed the corporate ladder to create and control one of the world's most powerful PR firms - and first-ever fashion PR firm, wha! - Cutrone delivers an untraditional and entirely refreshing guide to self-confidence and success.

If You Have to Cry, Go Outside is broken down into 9 relatively short chapters, each of which contains honest and often-humourous anecdotes and footnotes, and the occasional list (with catchy titles such as "Everything Good Happens After 30"). At the end of the book is a fantastic Q&A called "Kelly Cutrone Speaks" where the woman herself answers some serious and not-so-serious questions sent in by fans.

Definitely my favourite how-to book for 2010 (and yes, I'm aware it's only May), Kelly Cutrone's If You Have to Cry, Go Outside is an inspired guide to self-styled, sweet success - no matter what your career field of choice.

_{If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone, $18.50 CDN, Amazon}

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

Remember the Eames chair from Frasier?

Sit back in your own and have a read through Charles & Ray Eames: Pioneers of Mid-Century Modernism. It covers the lives of the dynamic design duo from their earliest designs through to their contribution to film.

What I love about Charles and Ray wasn't just their tale of true love. I also love the fact that this power couple had such an intense, explosive spark for architecture and design - these two made MAGIC together! From the Eames house and the Eames chair, to their work in such films as Banana Leaf and Powers of Ten, Charles and Ray Eames were two gifted individuals.

The book includes a detailed history as well as drawings and exclusive photos.

A worthy read.

Charles & Ray Eames: 1907-1978, 1912-1988 Pioneers of Mid-Century Modernism, about $15, Amazon

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

While I've not yet read either, I'm eager to turn the pages of Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom and What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell. These books come in at nine and ten (respectively) on my Christmas wish list this year.

Have a Little Faith is Albom's first nonfiction work since his first big bestseller Tuesdays With Morrie. I'll let you know exactly how it reads, but so far I've heard only amazing things about it.

What the Dog Saw is a compilation of Gladwell's best writing from his days at The New Yorker. He says in the preface that "good writing does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head." And the stories in this book are supposed to just that.

Check back in the new year for my reviews of these and more Robertson's Reads...

_{Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, $16.49, Chapters}

_{What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell, $19.24, Chapters}