Interview with a Freelancer: Kaarin Moore, Wardrobe Consultant and Freelance Write
This interview was originally published on 8 November 2009.
This interview I welcome Kaarin Moore, owner of Closet Caucus and a Freelancer. You can contact her at closetcaucus AT gmail.com and follow here on Twitter as ClosetCaucus.
DEE-ANN: Why did you choose to use your own name or start your own business to work under?
KAARIN MOORE: I currently do two types of work:
a) I own Closet Caucus, a wardrobe consulting business in DC.
b) I do multiple freelance projects outside of my primary business, including PR, resume writing, and internal communication assessments for nonprofit organizations. The road that led to this work was winding, but my past personal and professional experience built on itself and progressed to these arenas.
At the time I decided to become a freelancer I was doing communications work at a museum in DC. Internally I felt as if my time there was winding down. I yearned for a new challenge and to try something on my own.
My initial thought was to start two businesses: Closet Caucus and a catchall for my freelance communications work called Moore Inspired. From the beginning I knew that one business would move to the forefront and the other would fall away. My vision was still being defined as I quit my job and gave freelancing a try. The past two years have been about building a foundation, clearly defining goals, and building processes and systems. Closet Caucus turned out to be much more than I ever anticipated at the outset, and thus has become my primary focus.
Ultimately I feel as though my work will always be about communication. Thus, I’m turning a corner and going after / accepting new writing projects that support my Closet Caucus brand. For example, I just signed on to become a fashion columnist with Shoestring Magazine called “Practically Posh.”
DEE-ANN: What type of freelance work do you do?
KAARIN MOORE: For Closet Caucus I work with individuals to help match who they are internally with what they express externally. I offer a number of services including wardrobe editing, style workshops, and a new service called “From Breakup to Bombshell” which helps men and women work through the transitional time after a relationship ends.
Although this work seems vastly different from my past experience, it all comes back to communication. Closet Caucus focuses on expression and clarity of message through the medium of clothing.
DEE-ANN: Freelancers tend to work from home, which means we can lose track of little things like wardrobe and style if we aren’t careful. What advice do you have for the freelancer who wants to put on a professional face when going out into the world? Going to a face-to-face meeting in sweats and bunny slippers I hear isn’t advisable.
KAARIN MOORE: If you are a freelancer you are your brand. Walking into a meeting you are your entire company, and your choices represent your work. That means dressing up for business meetings. It means minding the details.
Also, it is a myth that dressing up is uncomfortable. There are many options out there. Even if you work at your computer 90% of the time clothes can be both comfortable and polished. It doesn’t mean spending lots of cash, but it does mean keeping a conscious eye on the fact that you embody your brand.
DEE-ANN: What would you say are the similarities between wardrobe editing and prose editing? What similar issues crop up?
KAARIN MOORE: In both mediums the clutter needs to be taken out so the message isn’t muddled. Writers feel deep attachment to the words they write. In the same way, people have deep connections to clothing. Both types of editing can be an emotional experience, because it is truly about letting go. At the end of both processes, when something has been expertly edited, there is freedom in the end product.
DEE-ANN: How can freelancers express the style of their work through the style of their dress and appearance?
KAARIN MOORE: I believe that clothing can exaggerate a feeling. For example, wearing something that makes you feel sexy can push you to be cheekier or more confident. Since many freelancers work from home and don’t see their clients it can be easy to get into a pattern of wearing things that are sloppy / frumpy. Clothing can be about play – it can be about pushing a particular part of your personality to the forefront.
DEE-ANN: When would the “From Breakup to Bombshell” treatment be a good idea for a freelancer’s writing style?
KAARIN MOORE: Perhaps the Breakup to Bombshell concept can be applied to particular client situations. Sometimes freelancers just have to breakup with a client. But, that “breakup” can be very difficult, especially for freelancers who feel pride in delivering the best product possible. But, terminating a client relationship isn’t necessarily a reflection on talent / ability. Sometimes partnerships just aren’t a good fit. The only thing you can do is remain confident in who you are, pick yourself up, and push onward.
DEE-ANN: How long have you been freelancing?
KAARIN MOORE: Almost 2 years.
DEE-ANN: Full time or part time?
KAARIN MOORE: Full time.
DEE-ANN: Can you describe a typical, or at least recent, project for us?
KAARIN MOORE: I recently spoke at a networking group called 40+ of Greater Washington. Branching out to speaking engagements is a whole new area personally and professionally. I would much rather work with people one on one in order to affect change. Public speaking has been baptism by fire, and has pushed me to grow.
DEE-ANN: What have you found resonates the most with your audience?
KAARIN MOORE: Being real. Being vulnerable. Telling stories that have deep roots about who we are as people and the insecurities we have with our bodies. It’s terribly frightening to talk about, but going to that place is something that everyone has experienced in some form.
DEE-ANN: How did you get into public speaking?
KAARIN MOORE: Growing up I did a lot of theater, which gave me a background for being in front of an audience. But, I must say that speaking on behalf of your own company is vastly different than acting in character in front of a large audience. Give me a play any day of the week. But public speaking? I’m still in the stage of trying not to pass out before getting behind a podium.
DEE-ANN: What is the most important piece of advice you could give to someone starting out or transitioning into your specialty?
KAARIN MOORE: Find mentors! Surrounding yourself with savvy people will help spawn growth. Freelancing / starting a business can be a solitary road, but trustworthy advisors are worth their weight in gold. I wish someone had told me at the start of my journey to seek out different types of confidants. It has taken awhile, but I have finally found a group of people who I consider to be part of my team. I strongly recommend that new freelancers seek out these types of mentors:
a) An IT advisor. It didn’t occur to me that I needed an IT advisor until I started having problems with my computer. My friend, Navin Vembar, is brilliant in many aspects of technology and is insightful regarding the latest technological trends. He helps me decipher what technical things could be beneficial to my business and what I should not invest time / energy into.
DEE-ANN: What one IT insight would you say has made the biggest difference in your business?
KAARIN MOORE: Creating and implementing a strategic social media plan. Twitter made my business that first year. I didn’t have any money to advertise, but I did put time into thinking through ways of building an audience.
b) Someone successful within your field. Kristen King is my business go-to gal. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the ethical way she conducts her company. Thus, I turn to her for advice on how to handle difficult clients, questions on billing, and topics that require both thoughtfulness and moxie.
DEE-ANN: What one piece of advice really turned on the light bulb for you on how to handle a difficult situation?
KAARIN MOORE: Kristen has a very solid sense of justice, which is an amazing personality trait. It’s something that I call “pink furry” – the ability to be kind and at the same time stand your ground. Freelancers can be placed in very vulnerable situations at times, especially when it comes to money. Sometimes clients try to get out of promises regarding payment and benefits. I witnessed a client try to pull something over on Kristen and she wasn’t taking any of it. She stood firm, and didn’t resort to being nasty / critical / angry with the wrong people. A classy move from a classy lady. Totally inspired me.
c) A mentor who knows you from a past job. Shari Werb is my former boss and a valuable resource. She knows how I work, thus is aware of my strengths and weaknesses. She is outside of my industry, which is incredibly important in order to get a broader view of my professional objectives. Shari is also a member of my target demographic so I can go to her and say, “Would this service be interesting to you? What do you think of this idea? This language?” and know that her voice represents many of my clients.
DEE-ANN: What’s one area where Shari’s understanding of you really made a difference?
KAARIN MOORE: A couple of months ago we were having dinner and Shari said, “What you are doing is answering a question. You are testing a hypothesis.” She went on to say that my curiosity about the connection between communication, clothes, and body image was something that I wanted to study, and that it would take me to interesting places. Her comments were salve to a place internally where I was still wrestling between the pull of two seemingly different worlds – fashion and communication. She is a person who can speak to a very quiet part of me, and thus has the ability to completely reframe things.
d) An advisor who loves you, is a cheerleader, and asks, “Are you sure?” My sister, Carey Moore, has a head for business and the rare gift to see three steps ahead. She can also say things to me that many others cannot – i.e. give me a reality check that is completely founded in love and compassion. I recently went to her with an idea and said, “What do you think?” She liked where I was going, but pointed out that I currently don’t have the infrastructure to support my idea. I still will pursue my initial plan, but will go about it in another form when the timing is correct. Carey’s honesty and ability to see problems within my structure has saved me money, aggravation, and hours of work on half-baked ideas.
DEE-ANN: How did you pull together your group of mentors? Any tips?
KAARIN MOORE: I just keep an eye out for people who are on fire. People who speak their truth and are passionate. I have never asked someone, “Hey, would you like to be my mentor?” I don’t think it works like that. Instead, I just ask someone out for a cup of coffee and ask lots of questions. Usually people are open to talking about their opinions.
DEE-ANN: What’s your favorite part of your work?
KAARIN MOORE: Closet Caucus is deeply fulfilling. The most exciting part of my job is observing as a client’s framework about his/her own beauty shifts. Watching others go from, “I feel frumpy and unattractive,” to, “I’m sexy and feel ready for anything,” in 48 hours is a high unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
DEE-ANN: Do you find you learn anything about yourself in the process?
KAARIN MOORE: It’s amazing how people’s insecurities tend to be more alike than different. I never realized how many people feel so alone in their struggles. And for what reason? If people are feeling similar fears why aren’t they discussed? It’s pushed me to become more open and helped me realize that we are more deeply intertwined than we can possibly understand.
DEE-ANN: What would you rather farm off on someone else?
KAARIN MOORE: All of the nitty gritty work involving money. Invoicing, processing, and keeping up financially with various clients / accounts can be quite tedious.
DEE-ANN: Do you use an accountant?
KAARIN MOORE: Oh yes! My accountant is amazing. I really can’t say enough about her – she is kind, honest, spunky, and intelligent. Would recommend her services to anyone, especially freelancers:
Donna Barwick, CPA
Andrews, Barwick, & Lee
280 Charles Dimmock Parkway, #1
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
804-520-1384
DEE-ANN: As a very, very general rule, do you find wardrobe or writing clients to be easier or more difficult to work with?
KAARIN MOORE: Working with wardrobe clients takes more out of me emotionally. I do a lot of listening about a client’s life, and it’s an honor to be entrusted with that information. But, I come home from Closet Caucus appointments completely spent. It is a good kind of exhaustion, but it is still exhaustion. I’m learning about how to have empathy while keeping healthy emotional boundaries.
DEE-ANN: Anything else you’d like to share with Freelance Survivors?
KAARIN MOORE: Don’t expect everyone to understand your vision. When I decided to become a freelancer I assumed everyone would be thrilled and want me to succeed. It surprised me when some friends were not supportive. It took awhile to realize that it was okay if other people didn’t understand where I was going and why. Regardless of if I succeed or crash and burn I know that a) I’m giving it a real shot and b) it’s an amazing adventure.
The decision to live your dream is powerful. It pushes buttons within people in ways that are unexpected. Both support and resentment will come from unlikely sources. Your main job is to keep pushing toward the dream that is within you. Listen and weigh other people’s concerns and anxieties, but make sure that you take advice from those who deeply care about you and want the best for your life. Then fight like hell to make your vision a reality.
