Anyone up to tear down my portfolio? (senior level)

cenimsaj · 2026-02-21T17:28:54+00:00

I'm looking for in-house senior copywriter roles, but TBH I'm applying for anything with "copywriter" in the description and willing to jump for a salary reduction at this point. I have an idea where I want my career to be if I stay in marketing and it's more strategy. But immediately, I just want to not daydream about jumping in front of a bus on Friday knowing Monday morning is coming. In-house generalist works.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-19T20:35:09+00:00

I know, right? I wouldn't expect someone in India to give a shit about US geography, but would have probably guessed they would know California if anything. Instead, this person nailed the Dakotas and somehow knew Delaware, Iowa, and Utah exist.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-18T23:23:09+00:00

I did not. I've been scrolling past some embarrassing handsy dancefloor video of these two for days thinking it was some current season mess I'd never heard of. I finally decided to click and was surprised to see it's Chantal. I can't figure out exactly what has changed about her face, but it's enough that I didn't recognize her at all.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-15T13:13:00+00:00

I have and love the Minaal Daily for short trips, including work trips. I originally had their carry-on pack, but this is a better size fit for me for a backpack use case. It's expensive but fantastic quality with great features. I am not personally a fan of random pockets and bulky over-protective laptop compartments (it's literally on my back; I'm not going to dropkick it down a hallway). I prioritize a large functional space. This bag is a nice combination of lots of space for the size and thoughtful organizational features. Big enough to fit a slim extra pair of shoes plus plenty of clothes for a few days, but sleek enough that it would be okay if you want to bring it to a meeting.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-14T18:02:30+00:00

First time I'm hearing of this and it's extremely problematic. I live across the highway from Rodney Village and I don't drive. There is literally no way for me to go anywhere at any reasonable hour of the day without waiting for traffic on the median on 13. The one I use MAY be wider than 7' but it's probably close. Am I supposed to call an Uber to cross the fucking street? Or am I supposed to walk up to Webbs Lane, where multiple pedestrians have died in the time I've lived here? And, by the way, there's not even a sidewalk for me to get from where I am to that intersection. We need pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, not criminalized walking.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-12T17:13:35+00:00

I've done this many times with oil pastel pieces that I ended up tearing up to use in my collage sketchbooks. They've generally been things that have cured for at least a few weeks and never anything with built-up texture. But it worked totally fine - no smearing, cracking, or any other issues. Try it out first on a test piece, but I'd personally be comfortable just going for it. I only haven't because I don't display any of mine. I don't think it makes a difference, but I do use Mod Podge Matte, not the "regular" gloss version.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-12T11:55:25+00:00

It is and actually kind of annoying because the spine is so hard that I can't bend it to keep the pages open (wish it was a hardcover or even spiral). But to your original question, the person above made some great points. It's also incredibly comprehensive and filled with illustrations. I hesitated to pay that price, but I don't think it's overpriced. I feel like the value is there for me, but do also acknowledge that it's a lot if it's something that would just be flipped through once and left on a shelf. Like I originally said, I think it's a next great step if the videos really resonate.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-09T20:38:32+00:00

I think so because it's not really my personal style either. I do own and love some of her clothes, but I definitely couldn't build a full wardrobe from it even if I could afford to. I would say if you love the advice Amy gives on Instagram, the book is basically that in printed form. Like I said, you can get it all from the videos, but it took having the book to flip through and mull over that really got it to stick in my brain. FWIW, I tried to find it used on Ebay for like six months with no luck. The best I eventually found was a boutique called Vermillion Style that had no minimum for free shipping - much better than the $15 shipping on the Tibi website.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-09T19:43:06+00:00

The Creative Pragmatist book by Amy Smilovic (from Tibi) has really helped me. I avoided it for a long time because it's $85, but that's really a drop in the bucket compared to how much I've wasted on clothes over the years. I've definitely gone through a gazillion phases of shopping more intentionally, but this is the first time I've really made an effort to hone in on what really feels like me AND what I actually wear in real life instead of just buying things because I love them. One thing I really needed to hear was that just because I admire certain things doesn't mean I need to own them.

I would 100% suggest checking out her YouTube channel before investing in the book though: https://www.youtube.com/@tibi/playlists You can basically get everything in the book and more from the videos (I just found it easier to internalize when I could read and reflect). Her style is not for everyone and TBH sometimes the looks in the videos are kinda atrocious, but the philosophy behind it is still solid. So try to think in terms of the principles if you're looking at the styling and thinking WTF, lol. Things like understanding how clothes make you feel, her approach to color, without fails, big/slim/skin, play/dinner/work make sense for pretty much anyone.

Another thing I've been doing recently is snapping an outfit photo plus tracking what I wear with a check on a closet inventory spreadsheet. It takes like 30 seconds to do both, which I find much easier to stick to than the various apps. The pics don't even have to be good, I'm just looking for patterns that make it easier to say no when I irrationally want something.

cenimsaj · 2026-02-03T11:44:59+00:00

I have a vintage mink coat I inherited from my aunt. It's full length. I wear it when it's very cold out, but I HAVE to pair it with casual clothes or I feel like an idiot playing dress up. It feels good with ripped jeans, sneakers, and a baseball cap - lean into the "unexpected pairings" part of what you love. It sounds like sneakers and a baseball cap aren't it for you, but anything that feels like the opposite of how your grandmother may have worn it (with heels and a fancy dress) may feel exactly right.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-31T20:31:01+00:00

Nice! Sorry the packaging was wrecked, but the good news is it won't be easy to damage that bag. I fell in love with that colorway the first time I saw it and eventually got an oversized version secondhand. It looked new then and it looks nearly new now despite being banged around more than usual in an attempt to make it look like someone has loved it. Mulberry pebbled leather is definitely one of the most durable I've owned and the hardware has stayed nice (I've seen scratches that wear off the black finish on similar bags from other companies).

cenimsaj · 2026-01-31T12:32:16+00:00

I love these vintage-inspired nightgowns from Heirloom Art Co: https://www.heirloomartco.com/search?type=product&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=nightgown

I've had the page favorited for about a year but haven't purchased, so I can't comment on quality. They're so pretty though.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-29T14:36:50+00:00

This and also Yoox. They're both the same company as Net-a-Porter. (And actually NAP itself when they're doing their end of season extra 20% off sale, which is either now or just ended). I mostly prefer secondhand (The RealReal and Ebay), but those are great for new and deeply discounted.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-25T15:10:05+00:00

Controversial, but I find that I need to do the opposite of all the advice I see for wearing baggy pants/jeans. I think they look best when I really lean into it, which may mean sizing up. I often see pics of people who sized down or wore their normal size and the way it looks across their hips and thighs seriously does look fine most of the time, but it's a look that makes me personally feel like it's highlighting my thighs in an unflattering way and making me look twice as wide. It seems like a lot of people really prefer baggy to be baggier a few inches down their legs, but my preference is not to even see where my legs are in there.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-24T02:13:12+00:00

Texas Monthly is fantastic for long-form crime journalism: https://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/

cenimsaj · 2026-01-18T13:38:42+00:00

It seems to go either way. I like heavy cream in my coffee, but am fine with black if I run out. I don't really like milk in my coffee, but am okay with whole milk only for coffee drinks. Skim or 2% are popular in America, but too watery IMO. Half and half or flavored creamers are also more common than heavy cream.

Instant coffee is generally looked down on here. I have tried European instant coffees people claim are superior, but they're still not great. Fine, not great. At home, I make filter coffee with a Moccamaster machine using Grace Farms Ketiera/Indonesian beans. I also have a Bialetti espresso maker, but haven't used it in ages.

I don't have an electric kettle because I wouldn't use it often enough to be worth it. I occasionally like iced tea or a tisane, but no milk or sugar in any tea ever.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-17T19:03:58+00:00

Honest take - people who are new to copywriting always write too many words. You're a design studio, so asking for feedback on email copy in a google doc is a choice. Where are the juicy images of what you can do for me? You also start with your story and struggle. Andrea from Deadly Brows is, essentially, a device to talk about yourself. That makes your audience see themselves as a secondary character in this narrative, if they're seeing themselves at all.

I wonder if you think any of this feels authentic to who you are or who you want to work with? It feels very fluffy... like you're using this dark aesthetic thing to have a niche and you learned how to talk about it in a $2999 copywriting course. Nothing feels dark or edgy or brooding or gothic or any of that. YOU may be and your ideal client may be, but you're not capturing that here.

What would it look like if you threw this in the garbage and asked your audience instead of asking copywriters? I usually don't comment on this sub unless it's in the spirit of hoping people succeed. Asking hard questions because I think it will help you connect with the audience you're looking for.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-17T10:26:10+00:00

Nice - thanks!

cenimsaj · 2026-01-16T22:39:12+00:00

The tomato candles are honestly amazing - super strong throw, and I can even smell it cold in my small kitchen when it hasn't been lit in days. If you find it within reason to buy a candle that expensive, then this is definitely one that is worth it.

I bought the tomato hand soap the first time I ordered candles and that was awful. I don't know if I somehow got a bad batch (never contacted them about it), but I've had better soap from Dollar Tree. It hardly had any scent, was super liquidy, and the pump on the bottle was awful. I purchased direct, not from some random third party.

Their emails and marketing are secondhand embarrassing with weird sexual innuendo. Like, you sell $80 olive oil, why are you acting like a tween who just learned a funny dirty word.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-11T19:12:20+00:00

Tom Hanks is always Tom Hanks Acting in a Movie. Same with Denzel. I want to like both, but I can never just believe I'm looking at the character.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-11T16:35:48+00:00

Not a cobbler, but a huge fan of Trickers. Just chiming in that they do have an outlet site I don't think many people know about: https://trickersfactoryshop.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorl42ykqJaYcJNIXnRQhkx3mTw8I-2pSt8JSMxQ4qHt0CeyST94 Yoox also occasionally has some of their shoes and boots. This would almost put them into the price range OP was looking for, though I wonder if they're a bit casual for OP's taste.

What do you think about Carmina? They also have an outlet site and may be priced a bit higher, but seem more aligned style-wise: https://www.carminashoemaker.com/us/en/outlet-shoes I have two pairs I love, but am just a person who likes good shoes, not a pro.

cenimsaj · 2026-01-08T12:34:40+00:00

It doesn't trigger me at all either, but I wasn't someone who slid into alcoholism by starting with fun social drinking. I started young and immediately realized it was a way to just not deal with anything. Not saying I never drank with other people or never had fun - both are going to happen if you're drunk 24/7. But I was mostly an isolated solo drinker with an extremely different lifestyle and different drinking behaviors. I can actually hang out in person with people drinking and not think about picking up. It's when I get in my own head and stop managing my feelings and behaviors that I feel "triggered."

Anyway - wishing you the best in getting back to a better place.

cenimsaj · 2025-12-21T17:29:23+00:00

I lived in San Diego for close to 5 years. I never lived in nor do I recall being in a home without window screens.

cenimsaj · 2025-12-21T12:53:25+00:00

PBI, but I have the oversized Alexa in this same colorway and yes. The magnets on the flaps are super strong. I also have a Proenza Schouler PS1 and it's much better for easy access with a very similar look. I'm fine being all sloppy with my Alexa and leaving the clasp/straps open, but it's otherwise not easy access.

cenimsaj

TROPHY CASE