NOTE: I think this fits FREELANCE ADVICE— when I taught at Massachusetts College of Art— strictly teaching seniors— I helped to prep them for their coming success. My last class of FREELANCE was to have them come in dressed like I was an art director and somehow they managed to arrange a meeting to show me their portfolio. I’ve got a large advertising budget and do I want to trust it with this newbie?
The truth is with the internet and with freelance you’ll be judged 95% by your portfolio— but that 5% matters too— because if you look like a stoner or you look homeless you’re not getting hired because the art directors job is on the line.
Even though the days of in person reviews are pretty much over—you can run into opportunity— and how will you look? I can hear the screams of “you should judge” coming from many of my artist friends, but I live in the real world and impressions matter.
Been traveling a lot lately and I have to say that I saw more men dressed like Pierce Brosnan and David Beckham than I did guys dressed like Gumbah's but then avoiding the Newark Airport completely may have aided that.
Gumbah's (you might type it Goombah's-- but that's incorrect) are not exclusive to Jersey, Boston certainly has its share. In fact, on the plane heading from Reagan National in DC back to Logan my wife and I sat across the aisle from each other (we both like aisle seats) and pretty much had our rows to ourselves-- but then a young man with Gum-tendancies plunked down a seat away from her and I figured we were in for a show.
Not so-- this young man pulled out a book, Raymond Chandler's LADY IN THE LAKE as a matter of fact, and he spent the flight immersed. I was impressed.
Shameful that I instantly mistook him for a mouth breather-- but that's how he was dressed. Because dear readers, we only get one chance to make a first impression. Unfair or not, that is a fact, and you never know who is going to be standing next to you in a restaurant line, seated across from you in a plane or waiting in line at California Burrito at Reagan (excellent). That first impression is your chance to impress.
I get airline travel is uncomfortable-- you're sitting in this seat for a few hours, you're sitting at the airport, you're going through security and because some moron attempted to make a bomb out of his Keds we all have to take our shoes off in the US (Ironically you DON'T take your shoes off at Japanese airports but you do take your shoes off almost everywhere else in Japan).
But I'd argue that comfort doesn't necessarily equate to pajamas-- if your clothes fit and they are the right materials you can be comfortable and still avoid looking like an unmade bed.
Some things I've learned in my nearly half century on the planet about travel:
1. No baseball caps. This is a hard and fast rule for all men over the age of eleven. You should not wear one ever. Not backwards, not forwards, not ever. You are trapping sweat and how often do you wash this thing?
2. No shorts. Veronica found this out the hard way. Planes are kept pretty chilly-- as are most airports. Pants make a lot more sense.
3. Comfortable shoes. I like to travel with two pairs of shoes-- the ones I'm wearing (usually slip ons) and another pair in my bag. If I'm traveling light I only bring one pair but that's not great for your feet. This past trip I wore my boat shoes (Sperry's to be exact) and they are the softest most comfortable shoes I own. I will only wear these between May and October and then only in 75+ degree weather since they are made to be worn without socks. Points off for me however because I ended up being barefoot in the airport going through security which means I'll have to boil my feet.
4. Layers-- layers are great-- weather changes and so do conditions, a sports jacket or a casual dress shirt over a nice T-Shirt works well to add or subtract for comfort.
5. The right pants-- since deciding I'll only wear shorts at the gym or around the house I've had to find warm weather pants-- linen is great but I don't like wearing light colored pants and I don't like wearing black pants so it's tough to find a pair that work-- but they are extremely comfortable.
Jeans-- did you know they are different weights? I guess I did but I've only just discovered the joys of 9 oz jeans vs 14 oz jeans. 9 or 10oz Wrangler's breath and move with you-- I love 'em. I'm a child of the 80s so stone washed is my favorite.
6. Stay classic and you never go wrong. If you follow trends expect to find some pictures of yourself that make you laugh in a few years, stay classic and you'll always look good.