Rock The Pitch #13
This critique has nothing to do with bad luck. It’s ALL GOOD, baby!!
Thanks and a shout out to Marlene Srdic, editor of Life Refined magazine and a fashion/beauty blogger at StyleSizzle, for sending this to me. Here’s what she said…
Hi Carrie,
Took a quick peek through my email and remembered this pitch, which turned into a 6-page feature in Life Refined magazine.
She immediately gave me the “Why” as well as a deeper story possibility other than just talking about the exhibit in a 250-word blurb. The lead time was well in advance which magazines always need and there are gorgeous photo options included as well.
I ended up running a full feature on Neil Lane in the magazine and also wrote a smaller piece for another outlet I freelance for.
Hope that helps!
Marlene
Holy. cow. How rare is it to get that kind of feature spread? I’m envious.
THE PITCH
It’s impressive. Very impressive. =)
From: “Razzouk, Manuela”
To: Marlene Srdic
Subject: RE: Contact Information – Marlene Srdic?
Date: June 2, 2014 at 1:20:37 PM MSTHi Marlene,
Happy to have been put in touch with you! As I know Life Refined covers all things luxury, I wanted to reach out with some interesting news that could serve as a captivating addition to your next issue.
Neil Lane, jewelry designer best-known for bedazzling Hollywood’s A-list in pieces that range from glamorously dramatic to vintage demure, will soon showcase his talent for collecting and curating rare jewelry at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston’s Hollywood Glamour: Fashion and Jewelry from the Silver Screen exhibit.
Ahead of the opening on Sept. 8, we would like to offer you an interview with Neil to discuss his approach to collecting and also designing some of Hollywood’s most striking looks, as well as a story that took him from the streets of Paris to the fabled red carpet of the Academy Awards. A bit of Neil’s fascinating journey…
- As a young boy in Brooklyn, Neil had an eye for beauty. He began collecting colored glass, eventually buying and selling enough decorative items to buy a ticket to Paris.
- It was there Neil’s jewelry curating expertise truly developed thanks to visits to Paris’ iconic museums and lauded cathedrals, while walking streets steeped in centuries of architecture.
- Armed with a deep appreciation for rare pieces that reflected specific historical periods, Neil acquired his first treasure – an enamel brooch in the shape of a dragon with a big pearl in its belly and a diamond in its mouth.
- Since that purchase, Neil’s collection has grown to include pieces by Lucien Gaillard, Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin, Cartier, Tiffany and many more while also inspiring his own designs, now well-known and admired by Hollywood and the fashion world alike.
The inclusion of Neil’s collection pieces in the MFA Boston exhibit, which will explore how the jewelry and clothing of major starlets of the 1930s and 1940s contributed to their iconic style, is the culmination of years of passionate and careful collecting.
Neil can also tell you about his passion for the era, as well as how contemporary influences, including young Hollywood, continue to affect his aesthetic and what he sees for the coming decades in jewelry design and collecting. Below I have included a few images from Neil’s collection in the exhibit and modern Hollywood looks so you can see how he has interpreted some of these influences.
Please let me know if you’re interested in speaking with Neil, and if you have any questions!
Thanks, Marlene!
-Manuela
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From the Neil Lane collection: Carved sapphire-and-diamond necklace purchased by Neil 20 years ago and designed by the renowned American firm Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin.<image015.jpg>
From the Neil Lane collection: Paul Flato (1940s) Platinum, Gold, Diamond and Emerald Earrings worn by Ginger Rogers.<image016.jpg> <image017.jpg>
From the Neil Lane collection: Carved Jade, coral, onyx and diamond earrings worn by Jennifer Lawrence to the 2014 Golden Globes.<image018.jpg> <image019.jpg>
From the Neil Lane collection: 200-carat darkened platinum extravagant necklace and darkened diamond and platinum earrings and matching bracelet worn by Jennifer Garner to the 2013 Academy Awards.Manuela Razzouk | Burson-Marsteller |
WHY IT WORKED
Marlene is very specific about what made this pitch work – it was targeted to her interests and audience, it gave her enough detail to judge whether it would be interesting to her readers or not, and it created a story deeper than just the exhibit. It was also far enough in advance of the exhibit to work well with her deadlines and included images. I don’t even have anything to add!
Bravo, Manuela – stellar job on this pitch!! Now THAT’S the way to rock the status quo!