Fake it 'til you make it
How I got a job I was definitely unqualified for
The first time I watched The Devil Wears Prada, I cut my own bangs, pinched pennies from my barista gig for a knockoff Chanel pendant I found on Ebay to attach to pearls from Goodwill, and ordered a sweater from the school uniform shop (we could only wear clothes from a certain store with our school emblem on them) so that I could wear a white button-down underneath it. I paired it all with my short plaid quintessential Catholic School Girl skirt and sheer black tights. Little did I know, I was already practicing a manifestation technique — dressing for the job I wanted, and a job that I’d eventually get (sort of) a decade and a half later.
I’d been devouring magazines throughout my preteen and teenage years, hoarding them in my room, making collages out of the fun bubble fonts printed throughout the pages, hiding the Cosmopolitan issues I bought at Walgreens from my mom, using a book light under my covers to read up on the best way to give blow jobs (“just spell out the ABCs with your tongue,” they said), and dreaming (envying) the lives of the It Girls in Teen Vogue (does anyone else remember when Karlie Kloss was on the cover?!).
Reality hit when my parents vetoed my dreams of living in NYC and working at a magazine when the NYU acceptance letter came, saying it would cost $60k a year to attend. Ohio State University was the (more affordable) backup plan, where my future felt decided for me, in a way. I would attend Ohio State University and, being only 17/18 with no idea how the world worked, I would major in Biology on a pre-med route (I had to beg my mom to also let me major in English, thank god I did, and my academic advisor said it was a good idea — that it would make me more “well-rounded” for med-school). I took my first organic chemistry class and immediately said fuck this.
I switched from pre-med to pre-ed my sophomore year of college. Internships, student teaching, graduate school at Loyola of Chicago, more student teaching, a lot of student loans, and six years into the classroom later, I was told I was an incredible English teacher. That this was my calling. Maybe it was (is?).
To supplement all of the aforementioned student loans, and to scratch that creative itch, I started freelance writing, some pieces for free because I thoroughly enjoyed the process. When I noticed a local, popular magazine company was hiring freelance writers, I applied, sending in writing samples. They asked me for a portfolio with work that resembled something that could be in one of their magazines. I had nothing to show.
So, I faked it. I created a “portfolio” full of pieces that I wrote on a whim, pretending as if I already worked at the magazine. I wrote a piece about natural wine and where to find it in Columbus (which the company loved), and I also took screenshots of photos of my friend’s house from Instagram and pretended that I was interviewing them about their home (they loved that too). I wrote about the vegan movement, cool dive bars around town, and I even picked one of my favorite restaurants and wrote a story on them, completely making up the quotes, as if they came out of the owner’s mouth. I featured all of the stories in a magazine-style format with the help of Canva, so they already looked like they were published, too. I didn’t lie and say they were published pieces…but rather just pretended they already were.
It worked.
Months of freelance writing for the magazine later, I received a phone call from their editor-in-chief, explaining that they were hiring an assistant editor and that I should apply. In a field where it usually takes 5+ years of writing and editing experience, I landed the assistant editor job, with only a few months of true experience in editorial writing, plus zero traditional editing experience, besides my Master’s degree in English. My boss still brings up my piece on natural wine, which actually became published in one of our magazines.
Andy’s career at Runway Magazine didn’t truly take off until she started playing the part (the best makeover scene in cinema history).
And my new career didn’t start until I pretended it already did.
Having it all is knowing that you already do, or at least faking you do until it becomes the truth.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: I’m on chapter 18 and still don’t really understand what’s happening, but nonetheless, I love it. I know this is a very unpopular opinion but sometimes I love reading stories written by men centuries ago. Please don’t tell anyone!
Dune II: My husband and I stayed in last Friday night, made espresso martinis, and watched Dune again before going on a double date to a local theater for a Dune II viewing. It’s worth the hype! I couldn’t help but make parallels to the current Palestinian genocide (I rewatched The Hunger Games recently too and thought the same) — imperial powers killing poor countries for their resources. I think it’s worth sitting with who you’re rooting for in movies like that — obviously none of us are rooting for The Capitol in The Hunger Games, or House Harkonnen in Dune. No, instead we’re applauding Katniss and Zendaya for (violently) fighting back and protecting their rights, their land, their families. Why is it so difficult to apply that praise and admiration to the real world?
Espresso Martinis Taste Better at Home: 1 oz. fresh espresso from my Breville, 2 ounces of Tito’s, half an ounce of Kahlúa, and a dash of simply syrup (or agave nectar). Also — the key is to shake it longer than you would an average cocktail to get that creamy, foamy top.
Casa Karmelitas: vegan tacos and beer from my new favorite food truck on an almost 70 degree day last week gave me such a strong serotonin boost that I started tearing up. Feeling the sun on my arms convinced me, for a second, that the world will be okay. (Then of course, it snowed today and that all went out the window.)
A mixture of denim, cotton, and leather always does the trick when I actually just want to wear sweatpants out but it doesn’t seem appropriate. I’d say this is the step above my sweatsuit look! The key is to make sure you’re opting for vintage to look effortlessly cool. I wore this to the movies:
Speaking of vintage — I mentioned awhile ago that I’ve been scouring through 90s and y2k archived runway shows. I put together some spring inspiration using 1992-1997 Spring Calvin Klein runway looks, and here’s what I’m taking notes on: layering a white tank under a plain black t? Genius. Monochrome doesn’t have to be boring. Longer skirts, tunics, and strapless tops are so timelessly cool. So is black.
No florals for spring? Groundbreaking ;)
the girls who get it, get it
Have a great week,
<3 Sav
as a freelance writer still trying to get their foot in the door, I needed to hear this!
Been meaning to go to Casa Karmelitas, it looks so good