{"id":243,"date":"2013-09-02T09:59:43","date_gmt":"2013-09-02T13:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lgoconnor.com\/site\/?p=243"},"modified":"2013-09-02T09:59:43","modified_gmt":"2013-09-02T13:59:43","slug":"using-brands-in-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lgoconnor.com\/site\/using-brands-in-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Brands in Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"louboutin__1235218576\"<\/a><\/p>\n

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN<\/p>\n

One of the many hats I\u2019ve worn professionally has included that of a marketer. With that comes an appreciation and understanding of brand. Companies brand their products to reach a specific target audience. They imbue their advertising with messaging that connects with how the buyers see themselves or what they aspire to be.<\/p>\n

I think the use of products can do the same for characters in a book.<\/p>\n

Products and their impact on people have always stuck with me, especially when it comes to fashion. A few key phrases I\u2019ve seen ring true\u2014for better or worse.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople will judge you by the clothes you wear.\u201d<\/strong><\/em> I evolved as a sixth grader in a new school being bullied for the clothes I wore, to having one of the same kids want to borrow my clothes during our freshman year of college\u2026 I do feel that your clothing can drive people\u2019s perception of you.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look good, you feel good.\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Dressing well can drive your confidence and have a positive impact on your mood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen dress for other women.\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Not only have I seen women elevate fashion to an Olympic sport, but a woman\u2019s eyes will light up if you tell her you\u2019re wearing a pair of Manolo\u2019s, while a man will look at you like you have three and half heads.<\/p>\n

Having grown up witnessing the financial strife of my parents, I loved to escape in the glitzy world of Jackie Collins and Sidney Sheldon novels as a young reader. It\u2019s where I first developed a love for designer fashion and glamour. Every summer I\u2019d stalk the magazine racks for the fat September issue of Vogue and Harper\u2019s Bazaar. When I was in my 20s and 30s I\u2019d scour designer outlets looking for affordable fashion to wear to work. In my mind, affording fashion was tangible and signified I\u2019d never be poor again\u2014a marker that I\u2019d achieved my aspirations.<\/p>\n

Is there a point to this discussion?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I use fashion and product placement in my writing to give insight into my characters. Whether it\u2019s Cara\u2019s designer shoes or her iPhone, I think it gives the reader a way to culturally connect with her while telling you something about her. Granted, she\u2019s an investment banker, so she can afford to plunk down some heavy coin for a pair of expensive shoes as a birthday present to herself. But to me, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz or Cinderella, shoes and fashion can be both aspirational and magical. Though, in the end, it\u2019s the magic we find within ourselves, separate from all of our personal window dressing, that provides us with true happiness.<\/p>\n

That said, there\u2019s no reason we can\u2019t look our best on the road to happiness. Plus, there\u2019s something necessary to the tag line: Who knew a pair of Louboutins could deliver her into the arms of destiny? \u2026 a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Do you use brand names and product placement in your books?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

photo credit: “http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/sifu_renka\/1235218576\/Ren\u00e9e S. Suen; via “http:\/\/photopin.com;”http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/2.0\/”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN One of the many hats I\u2019ve worn professionally has included that of a marketer. With that comes an appreciation and understanding of brand. Companies brand their products to reach a specific target audience. They imbue their advertising with messaging that connects with how the buyers see themselves or what they aspire to be. 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