Get to Know Kristen Bateman, Writer & Creative Consultant
Graphic by: Sara Plank
By: Caroline Vazzana
I was sitting at a fashion show a few years ago, when I couldn’t help but notice the colorful, eclectic Kristen Bateman. And how any modern-day relationship is formed, I then found her on Instagram, followed, of course, and was immediately drawn in by her style. I mean, how could you not be? Filled with Miu Miu, Margiela and Saks Potts, to name a few, her social media is a true treasure amongst the minimals feeds out there. But who is Kristen Bateman? The writer who has bylines in the New York Times and VOGUE, as well as a creative consultant who just shared with us she’s working on her first book — yes, can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! Kristen proves that you can truly have your hands in a little bit of everything, all while wearing the most colorful clothes! Read on as this bold New Yorker shares her journey with us and her tips and tricks to Making it in Manhattan.
Growing up, did you always have an interest in fashion?
Yes, I remember always being really specific about what I wanted to wear and wanting to dress up as a child. I would constantly watch my mom get ready and loved looking through her closet and seeing what she had and hearing the stories behind a vintage Chanel necklace, or a feather boa. Despite this, when I was really young, I wanted to be an artist and didn't realize the variety of careers one could have in fashion.
Where did you go to college and what did you study?
I went to Parsons in NYC and double majored in Integrated Design (a create-your-own kind of major where I took courses in knitwear, printmaking, illustration, design history etc.) and Literary Studies/Journalism (at Eugene Lang at The New School, the university that houses Parsons).
What was your first job out of college and how would you say it impacted your career?
I started freelancing while in college and had a bit of an unconventional career path... I did a number of internships in fashion magazines and pitched editors story ideas while in school, so I ended up writing for Glamour, Marie Claire, etc. By the time I graduated I had already written for New York Times and had a contributing editor title for Harper's Bazaar digital, so when I graduated, I decided to continue working independently. I continued to write for many of the publications I mentioned as well as Observer, i-D, Dazed, and took on a freelance in-office position at StyleCaster as well. StyleCaster was a really valuable experience because I was able to sharpen my SEO skills, writing and building posts directly and it also gave me more of a taste of the inner workings of how a digital media staff works.
What advice would you give to someone right out of college hoping to move to the city?
Go for it, intern as much as possible and observe the people around you - try to learn as much as possible and try new things. I did many internships from working in the beauty closet to working in the advertising department of a food magazine and even blogging for a retailer. I know unpaid internships can be daunting. I did a mix of paid and unpaid internships and was also doing paid freelance writing to support working for free when needed.
What did you wear to your first interview?
I actually don't remember! There were many interviews I did, and many jobs I didn't get! When I interviewed to be an intern at Harper's Bazaar I had bright purple hair and wore it in space buns along with a turquoise cheongsam dress from Pearl River. It was definitely a bold move.
You currently write for some of the biggest publications in the industry from VOGUE to The NY Times, could you walk us through your career journey a bit and tell us how you got to where you are now?
I mentioned it above, but all of my internships and freelancing throughout college gave me a lot of experience working with many different publications. I was pretty sure when I graduated that I wanted to stay independent and work structured as my own business, but I also felt a little scared because no one else I knew was doing this at the time and it's really not something they teach you how to do in school.
I personally also struggled with finding a full-time position that was right for me - I was told I had too much experience to be an editorial assistant and not enough for the next level of associate editor. After doing contract gigs at StyleCaster, L'Officiel and has became really clear that I prefer to be my own boss when it comes to writing and editing. I've continued to build up clients, pitching editors story ideas and traveling everywhere from Budapest to Paris Fashion Week for my work, on my own. Consulting is also a huge part of what I do. I've been able to take what I learned in media, with everything from writing copy to working with photographers and more and apply it. Brands started reaching out to me a few years ago and it's been great to work with a variety of indie fashion brands to major beauty brands on everything from content to general advising and more.
I'm sure no two days are ever the same, but could you tell us what a "typical" work day looks like for you?
It totally depends, but every day I'm working with brand clients, whether that means advising on strategy or writing copy. If I'm writing a story, it's a lot of research, reporting, talking to people and of course, I always try to pitch new ideas as often as possible... I don't really have set hours, sometimes I'll start working at 6am for example and I always work on the weekends too, but it’s really because I love what I do so much! Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like work.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before starting your career, what would it be?
You don't have to be pigeonholed to one thing. In Journalism school, and I think even in other advice I received when I was younger from people in the industry, they really drill it into you that you need to have a "beat". I used to get so anxious that I did multiple internships in beauty, fashion and food and that I wrote about all those things, but it's been an amazing advantage because I can write about someone's home for Wall Street Journal one day and about makeup for New York Times or Dazed the next day. It has allowed me a lot more financial freedom because of that. I also used to be so worried that consulting and writing copy for brands would make me seem to ad-centric for editorial gigs but it's also been a huge advantage.
You have such a fun, unique sense of style! Where do you look to for inspiration?
Thank you! My mom has always been my biggest inspiration when it comes to style. She’s always encouraged me to wear what I want and she still loves fashion herself - she currently has bright yellow hair and is always up for wearing something fun!
Who have been your biggest mentors in the industry, and what is the best advice they have ever given you?
Some of my former bosses who really encouraged me to share my ideas and to write have inspired me a lot. My mom also always encourages me. She is a writer herself and has given me ample advice, ideas and inspiration.
You are also a creative consultant, could you tell us more about your work in that field and how you started as a consultant?
It's really about networking which as an introvert is admittedly very hard for me. Brands I've worked with or written about or that read my work began reaching out to me a few years ago. What I do ranges from creative direction to sourcing talent, casting models, writing copy, social media management, creating collaborations, and more, and it's all using my experience I've had working in media, working with other brands, being on set, etc. As a team of one I’ve had my hands in so many different things that I don’t think I would have if I had a more traditional career path. I think in order to consult, you have to have experience to build upon. A lot of young people DM me asking how they can do consulting but in my opinion it's not just something you can jump into without having a base to work from. It's similar to being a creative director, it's a job you have to work up to.
Where do you hope to see yourself and your career in the next 5 to 10 years?
I'm currently working on my first book which is being shopped around to publishers! I hope to write many books. I hope to work with some of my dream brands like Gucci or Miu Miu. I'm very close to hiring people to work with me full-time as well, likely on the consulting side, and hope to reach that capacity very soon in the future.
I'm sure a lot of our readers would love to become freelance writers and consultants, what advice would you give to people hoping to one-day follow in your footsteps?
Don't be afraid to put your work out there, the worst that can happen is people don't respond or people say no. A lot of people in this industry make a lot of assumptions... but I grew up raised by a single mother in a rural area (literally West Virginia at one point) with not a lot of money and absolutely no connections to the world of fashion. When I was in middle school, I started a blog, and when I was in high school, I cold pitched Vogue Italia editors with my blog being my only publishing experience and began writing for the Vogue Italia magazine and website when I was 16. Starting a blog or publishing your work on social media early is the best advice I can give anyone! A regular portfolio website showcasing work is great to have too.
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