The Portrait of a Mirror
Ep 2. Dog Whisperer
You’re reading Ep. 2 of the Zero to Fashion Empire series. An interactive “Choose Your Own Adventure” series where your votes influence the direction and outcome of the story.
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Hi all,
Last week, you voted overwhelmingly for me to go to Mood Fabrics and find a fashion designer.
That didn’t happen.
Let me tell you why.
I got sick.
My voice was the first to go.
Then there came the background mental fatigue that made any sort of focus or concentration impossible.
If you teleport a hunter-gatherer from African-bush to midtown-Manhattan, would they feel scared, confused, or disoriented?
Several times I’ve woken up in the middle of the night full of itches. I’ve thrice-examined my room for flying insects and crawling insects and found none. Either I’m being tortured by microscopic bedbugs or getting random immune reactions…
The heat has been unbearable. I lay awake for an average of 2-3 hours at night, bringing my total “bed time” up to around 10 hours. Up to this point I’ve been respectful of my tenant’s request not to turn on the AC while I sleep, but my patience is wearing thin…
Therefore I’ve gone ahead with Option 3: “Make a Short Form Video” given that I was in no state to go out and socialize and spread contagions.
Here’s how to: download Spotify songs, download YouTube videos (option 1, option 2), find B-roll (ie. supplemental footage), download sound effects (eg. a bell whistle, camera click, etc) (option 1, option 2, option 3).
Here’s the short-form video I made. It’s 20 seconds long and I stayed overnight in a phone booth to pull it off.
As I come out of my sickness, my desire to engage has been increasing. I’ve made a habit of when I ride the subway — to find the best-dressed person on the subway car and make an effort to talk to them. Here are some social tips that I’ve learned:
Yes there are lots to hate on Manhattan and New York culture, but it’s probably the best place to practice your social skills:
You walk outside; there’s 200 people. You walk outside again, two minutes later, there’s 200 different people.
It’s a great way to get over any residual social anxiety you might have. You can ask for directions or a recommendation. You can help a tourist find where they’re looking to go. You can walk up to someone and say “it’s a beautiful day” and see if they agree with you.
The Secret to Somebody’s Heart:
Most people love their pets, and if you can show them you get along with their pet, then [by extension] they will like you. I’ve found this to be a safer method than connecting with somebody’s kid. One time I was exchanging glances with an 8 year old girl, then her dad walked between us and just stood there… menacingly. I have no doubt he’s probably being protective of his daughter but it was a highly tense situation.
When Approaching a Dog:
Most people go directly for the “pet” — this is a mistake! Remember a dog’s primary sense is smell, and it needs to smell you in order to trust you. So I always stick my hand out in a loose fist and let the dog come up and smell me. This may sound counterintuitive (or even scary!) to some people, as you’re essentially extending a limb and saying “Dog, you can bite me”, but it works! It’s how I get along with pets, and by extension, the owners of those pets.
How to Open a Conversation
Context is everything. “Where are you from?” is a generic and safe opener that works in a lot of cases. But if you can attach a specific context behind it — it’ll make your opener a lot stronger. If somebody sits down next to you and smells like alcohol, you might ask “Have you had anything to drink?” If you like a specific choice that person made that day (eg. the way they dressed themselves or arranged their hair), you might point that out. You can be direct and say “Excuse me, mind if I come over and sit with you?” It’s how I invite myself over to a group of people having dinner at a table.
How to Get Into $$$ High End Places Without Paying for it
Same reason a janitor can clean the richest place in town — because they have a reason for being there.
So assign yourself a role that makes sense — that feels authentic to you — that you believe in.
“Hi I’m new to the city and I’m looking for X place. Can you give me a tour?”
“Hey my friend is coming into town on X date from Y location and I’d like to scout Z place to see if it’s a good fit. Can I take a look around?”
“Hi I have an uncle from X foreign place who is looking to invest in properties in Y area. He’s tasked me with scouting places ahead of his visit. Can you show me what you have?” — I haven’t tried this one yet, but I imagine it would work for places like penthouse suites in Manhattan.
These tips are highly valuable for intel gathering!
They’re how I’ve sat in 5-star hotel lobbies (eg. The Evelyn) and found venture capitalists in the entertainment industry. Or people who come to New York for fashion and I ask them the top three designers they like. One girl on the subway told me Celine (never heard of), Chloe (never heard of), and Gucci (which she felt compelled to preface by saying: This is going to sound really basic, but …”)
Which path do you choose?
Our mission is to create a fashion media brand. Think a Joe Rogen show or Late Night but instead of interviewing martial artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, comedians, actors, musicians, and celebrities — our guest list is fashion designers, stylists, and costume designers.
Option 1:
Go to the fashion segment of Madison Avenue, find an outdoor cafe at the midpoint where there is most foot traffic, and observe the styles’ of passerbys. Jot down styles in a journal.
“The best fashion show is on the street; always has been and always will be.” ~ Marc Jacobs
Skills Improved: Taste, Observation
Option 2:
Literally transform raw fabric into an item of utility. A pillowcase, a shirt, a handkerchief.
Skills Improved: Sewing, Garment Construction
Option 3:
Go to scenic places in NYC and find people who are taking photos/videos with a non-mobile device. Ask for tips.
“As much as I love YouTube University, I prefer learning in-person. I need somebody to show me once, I try it once, and usually I get it after that.”
Skills Improved: Photography, Videography
This is such a fun concept and adventure Leo. It's very courageous and inspiring to see you place your trust in your readers to guide your next steps.
…garment has to inevitably happen sooner than later…