Freelancing: Things I am careful about when choosing clothes

I have been working as a freelance writer and editor from my 20s until now, in my late 50s.

I have been careful about choosing my clothes since I was in my 20s and 30s.

This is because I have experienced many times that if you put effort into your appearance, people react better and it is easier to get work (and the reverse is also true).
The details are summarized below.

# It affects job offers! Choosing clothes as a freelancer

Freelancers are generally more likely to be perceived as "mysterious people" compared to those who belong to a company organizationas a "mysterious person".

Moreover, you don't always work with the same members.
Since teams are formed for each project, I often work with people I meet for the first time, and in interview work, the interviewee is always someone I am meeting for the first time, and often I will never see them again after the interview is over.

That is why freelancersneed to be especially careful about their first impression.

# Impression management becomes more important as you get older

When I was young, I was often given work just because I was "young" (young people accept work even if the pay is low, and they are also agile), so I chose safe clothes that were not a problem in terms of TPO.

However, as I got older, I started to realize theimportance of impression management.

This is because if your first impression in terms of hair, makeup, and fashion is good, it is easier to lead to repeat work, and the results of the work are better (conversely, if the first impression is dull, there is no repeat).

I have experienced this many times and am personally convinced of it, so Ichange it depending on who I am meeting and where I am going.

I have summarized below specifically what I do. This is just what I do to make my own impression better. For your reference.

[Advertising work]

When I was in my 30s, I was doing copywriting work requested through an advertising agency.
I would go to famous companies or their business partners to have meetings or conduct interviews, and then create copy.

The color of my clothes was black from top to bottom (e.g., a black polo sweater on top, black slacks on the bottom).
My hair was tied back. The lines of my clothes were tight and straight.

By doing this,anyone can easily project a sense of being an industry insider or stylishness.

This agency was a team that particularly liked black (because it was the heyday of DC brands, and it was a team that handled advertising for companies that mainly dealt with them = ◯i), so I often wore all black.

All black is also a common trend in the beauty industry and among hair and makeup artists.
For behind-the-scenes work, such as stage props and small tools,it is usually black.

[Politicians, medical professionals, local government officials, experts, individual entrepreneurs, celebrities]

After I became a veteran in my 30s, I started meeting various people through magazine and book work.

Until my 30s, when I was quite thin, I wore suits.
After my body shape and face changed, I wore simple I-line dresses.


[Interviews with design schools and young creators]

Advertising work published in design magazines. I am still continuing this today.
Since it is that kind of industry, if your first impression is bad (tacky), you cannot expect repeat interviews from those creators (based on experience).

I am conscious of having both a sense of trend and adult-like calmnessdrift from me.
The balance between official and casual is the key.

It seems that it is best if it gives the impression that"you have a style you like, and you enjoy combining them"rather than imitating something, including clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories.
This was an eye-opener for me.

[Temples]

When I was in my 30s, I did a lot of medical-related interviews and was interested in views on life and death, so I was recommended for Buddhist work, and I started helping with public relations magazines for temples.
I am not well-versed in Buddhism myself, but I was brought in as a professional editor, and I am still continuing this today.

The monks wear monk's robes (black) or samue (work clothes), and the staff wear navy blue office uniforms.
If I go there wearing clothes with strong colors or distinctive designs, I stand out tremendously, and it even becomes a topic of conversation, like "What about today's fashion?"
So, my tops are basicallywhite. My bottoms arebrown, black, or navy.

By the way, for this job, the monks and temple staff do editing work in a room inside a large temple, and I proofread it and look at the design, layout, and how photos are used (for example, if they have chosen a photo with noise, I suggest trimming).
The manuscripts are written or supervised by heavyweights who teach at universities.

[Publishing companies]

I go there for project meetings or urgent proofreading (business trip proofreading).

Since I have had a long relationship with the editors, there is no need to be overly enthusiastic, but I am conscious of it to some extent so that I can project an atmosphere like a professional editor.

In particular,a tote bag that can hold a tablet and A4 books/documentsis essential, andit is easy to show the editor-like quality.

　Editors at print media all have large pencil cases.
　This is because they use many tools for proofreading, not just red ballpoint pens, but also mechanical pencils, erasers, correction tape, sticky notes, card-sized magnifying glasses, rulers, and more.

　I have been using a genuine leather pouch for many years. I found it in Kobe, and I really love its brown and light blue bicolor design and the stitching.

　Young people today surprisingly do a lot of handwriting, and many people, regardless of gender, are particular about their stationery, so it is fun to see what everyone is using.

#Regaining the 'self' and 'likes' I had given up on

　'Fashion reflects the person'

　This is what a fashion illustrator in her 30s who works as an instructor at a design school said.

　She says that if you observe various people's fashion from the perspective of 'why they chose those clothes,' you can imagine their values and lifestyle.

　That was during a period when I was convinced that 'at my age, nothing looks good on me, and I can no longer enjoy fashion.'

　I see, so that means my current fashion reflects that sense of resignation, I thought, and when I looked at myself objectively again...
　I had become a boring person with no distinctive features, just wearing plain work clothes...

　My greatest weapon, 'youth,' was long gone. That is exactly why I needed to be creative.
　I reflected on myself...
　　

'You should just wear what you like!'

　This was the comment from another fashion illustrator I interviewed at the same time.

　Yes, that is true, but no matter what I wear, it doesn't look good at my age...

　At the time, I was smiling on the outside, but complaining like that in my heart.
　
　As the days went by, the phrase 'things you like' kept coming back to me.
　What were the things I liked? I had completely forgotten, but I knew they must have existed. I started to become conscious of that.

　So, I remembered that I liked bamboo, natural leather, and silk scarves, and I started to find and wear items with designs that didn't feel out of place for my age.

　When it comes to things you truly liked, even after a long break, you still know the tricks for coordinating them well.
　I also started to understand the tricks for coordinating outfits that suit my age... Once that happens, it becomes fun.

　Recently, every time I peek into a shop, the staff members have started using my belongings as a conversation starter, saying things like, 'The bag you have now is probably hand-woven, and so on.'

　When I had completely given up, shop staff wouldn't even come near me or talk to me when I entered a store (this is what first impressions are all about).

　I was able to regain this joy thanks to the words of those young creators.

　While reminding myself that 'if you give up, that sense of resignation will show in your hair, makeup, and fashion,' I want to continue finding things I like and enjoying them.

　By the way, the colors and designs that improve your image vary depending on each person's facial features, body type, and atmosphere.

　If you don't know which colors or designs improve your image, getting a personal color or personal design diagnosis is one way to go.

◉Appendix

　The following is about choosing clothes for practical purposes.
　I will include it as an appendix.

【Outdoor use】

　For outdoor interviews or when I have to go to a place that is a 30-minute walk from the station (when walking is the only means of transport for both ways), my outfit is determined by the weather forecast.

・Heat protection
　UV care, cooling agents, sweat wipes, folding fans, etc.
　Tops with loose armholes that do not trap heat.

・Cold protection
　Down coats, extra warm innerwear, Heattech, disposable body warmers, and something to wrap around my neck.

・Rain and heavy rain protection
　I have extremely curly hair that turns into a monster with humidity and wind, so a wide-brimmed hat is essential.
　Waterproof shoes, black or navy pants.
　If it looks like a typhoon will be rough, I wear a waterproof outdoor jacket. Underneath is office casual.

【Restaurants】　

　Interview work I did when I was a beginner in my 20s.
　
　Since I would visit many places in a day to do tastings, I wore clothes with adjustable waists.

【Tourist spots】

　Work for a travel guidebook that I did when I was a beginner in my 20s.
　
　Since I would just walk around constantly, I wore casual clothes, sneakers, and a backpack.
　UV care was also essential.

【Farms, fisheries research stations, experience facilities, etc.】

　Work for a certain local government's public relations magazine that I did in my 30s.
　I was interviewing for all kinds of projects and facilities.

　Since I would conduct interviews while experiencing things, such as at farms or tourist facilities where you can try making soba or pottery, I wore clothes in colors that wouldn't show dirt. I brought an apron if necessary.

　Inside factories, I wore helmets, and at places like fisheries research stations or sake breweries, I wore white hats, clothes, and boots provided on-site to cover my whole body.

　People tend to think that any safe choice of clothing is fine for work, but this was a story about how it is actually quite important for freelancers!