Women in Clothes discussion, with editors Sheila Heti, Leanne Shapton, and Heidi Julavits discussion
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Hi Molly, thanks for your questions.
#1—I didn't have any such moments. I had lots of revelations, and they keep coming now that the book is published. I think about style as "a person's way" and that everyone has their own "way". When we were making the book, I imagined that "way" manifested (equally) in everything in a person's life, but now I don't think so. A person can be more "themselves" in some areas of life than in others.
#2—I am probably closer to these people you describe than Leanne or Heidi is. I don't laugh at people who care about fashion, but until doing this book, I would have put myself more in that camp (of those not caring) than in the camp of those caring. I think when more and more women and types of women feel comfortable talking about this subject, it will seem more and more normal and less a specialized arena of life (for "the superficial" as many people believe) and it will not be seen as opposed to the "serious" things in life. Anything can be seen as serious if it's treated in a smart way.
#3—We showed the book to a number of publishers; there were definitely publishers who weren't interested in the book, and a few who were. We had the agent send around a proposal that included a sense of what the layout would be; I think that made the book more appealing than if we had just tried to describe it. It's sometimes hard to persuade someone of something if you're describing it, but if you can show them what it will be, and they take enjoyment from it, then it's easier.
#1—I didn't have any such moments. I had lots of revelations, and they keep coming now that the book is published. I think about style as "a person's way" and that everyone has their own "way". When we were making the book, I imagined that "way" manifested (equally) in everything in a person's life, but now I don't think so. A person can be more "themselves" in some areas of life than in others.
#2—I am probably closer to these people you describe than Leanne or Heidi is. I don't laugh at people who care about fashion, but until doing this book, I would have put myself more in that camp (of those not caring) than in the camp of those caring. I think when more and more women and types of women feel comfortable talking about this subject, it will seem more and more normal and less a specialized arena of life (for "the superficial" as many people believe) and it will not be seen as opposed to the "serious" things in life. Anything can be seen as serious if it's treated in a smart way.
#3—We showed the book to a number of publishers; there were definitely publishers who weren't interested in the book, and a few who were. We had the agent send around a proposal that included a sense of what the layout would be; I think that made the book more appealing than if we had just tried to describe it. It's sometimes hard to persuade someone of something if you're describing it, but if you can show them what it will be, and they take enjoyment from it, then it's easier.
is there a moment in a book where your definition of style was crystallized? Was there a Eureka moment for you?
question #2 (is this allowed?!)
How do you deal with individuals who laugh at the idea of a woman being both interested in fashion and politics or academia? what do you say to the haters? Why do you think the idea of "fashion" has become opposing to the more "serious" things in life?
Question #3 (SORRY)
Did you have to shop your book around? Was it difficult to convince some publishers of your vision? (because to me, it is revolutionary)