We recently connected with Christine Morrison and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Nearing forty, I walked away from my successful career as the Vice President of Marketing at Calvin Klein, Inc overseeing Ready-To-Wear and beauty, including the launch of the brand’s third attempt at a makeup line. Having spent the previous fifteen years in ad agencies, with an emphasis on beauty brands, the role was hard-earned.

I was newly betrothed when my fiancé was relocated to Boston from NYC. I did not wish to start the marriage in separate cities, but leaving Calvin left me at a crossroads. I took the leap of faith to begin freelance writing. While I had a Journalism degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and spent the years in NYC taking evening writing classes at Parsons and NYU in hopes of breaking into women’s magazines, I didn’t have clippings needed to secure work. Calvin Klein gave me my first assignment — to craft text for the e-commerce launch. I spent the following year writing gratis or for small stipends, anything I could do to finesse my writing and build a portfolio. As former Calvin clients left for other fashion brands, I landed new branding writing assignments. It took years to become established, but by 2017 I was pursued — and compensated well — by online and print magazines.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Through the decades, as I spearheaded marketing for beauty and fashion brands, my greatest learnings were insights into women’s motivations and what drives them as they age. The observations began while working on Olay at the beginning of the century as the brand transformed to develop mass-tige products that allowed women to “love the skin they’re in” — I was part of a core team that traveled the globe speaking to women and have never forgotten the experience. When I began writing for the now-defunct “The Fine Line” in 2017 — an online publication that was ahead to its time as it was geared toward women over 40 who sought style, beauty, wellness and fitness features — I was able to tap into my background and my own personal experiences with fashion, beauty as well as fitness as I became a certified Crossfit coach at age 49.

I am most proud of my dedication to writing about fashion, beauty and wellness through the lens of aging. Since The Fine Line dissolved, I have had the opportunity to become a voice for my generation, helping to change the narrative of growing older. Through my Substack (writinginblackandwhite.substack.com) and my work with THE BOARD (https://www.wearetheboard.co) among other outlets, I speak freely about the merits of aging from wisdom and greater creativity to confidence and compassion. When writing for beauty and fashion brands, I am singularly focused on aging as a construct that we can redefine. As studies reveal that our attitude, mindset and how we perceive aging can significantly impact our well-being, I advocate for an optimistic and empowering approach that celebrates aging as a journey of self-discovery and growth.

I am most looking forward to my next great adventure, publishing my fashion essay collection this Fall. “Clothes Minded: Fashionable Essays About Finding Yourself” taps into my eternal belief that what we wear shapes who we are and who we strive to be. While it’s an entertaining, fashion-nostalgic romp through my journey, told through the lens of the clothes I wore, its essence is about self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of fashion; themes every woman can relate to, especially as we age.

While my path showcases that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams, what makes it all possible for me is being embraced with love and support by my husband and identical twin teen boys.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Through my work and words, I am striving to change the narrative of aging. Eradicating phrases like “anti aging” from both the beauty category as well as our daily vernacular is something I am vocal about. By chipping away at conventional thinking, the world can begin to see aging for what it is — a gift — rather than something to fight. As we spotlight the beauty of aging and how it emboldens us, we can shape the younger generations who, sadly, are notoriously afraid of growing older.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The odds of becoming a published author are slim, at 1-2%. This staggering statistic, along with the fact that even fewer aspiring authors even finish writing the book, make my becoming an author a story of resilience. I wrote the first essay from my forthcoming fashion essay collection over 25 years ago when the concept was a daydream. From evening writing classes in NYC in the aughts to crafting subsequent chapters during the early years of motherhood a decade later, I shaped the book. A book proposal class in 2020 led to finalizing the concept and plotting to make publishing a reality. For years I pitched book agents — and received numerous rejections; agents praised the writing but feared my small social media platform would not attract a publisher. I did not let this deter me. This summer, I agreed to proceed with a hybrid publisher (founded by a NYT bestselling author) who has been championing my work for years. My book is slated to publish this Fall. Moral of the story: Never give up on a dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.writinginblackandwhite.com
• Instagram: writinginblackandwhite
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinepw24
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-morrison-94381615/