On Tuesdays, we watch talks and interviews with artists and discuss how to present our work clearly and with confidence. This week we’ll see Anne Wintour talk about New York’s Spring 2018 Collection for Vogue.
As you watch this talk, consider these questions: Does the designer speak clearly and with confidence? Does she use gestures and intonation to emphasize her points? Does she smile and look at the audience? Does she use professional vocabulary?
Let’s talk about what she does well. Anna Wintour is a very powerful woman in the world of fashion, and you can feel her confidence when she speaks. She is easy to understand, and her speed and volume are both good. She avoids using filler words and instead pauses between thoughts to give them more emphasis. She gestures a lot, and in a way that makes her more engaging to listen to. She also uses vocal variety, or intonation, to draw the listener into her stories.
What could she improve? My only complaint is her sunglasses. Perhaps she is wearing them to be fashionable, or maybe she has a problem with her eyes, but it’s a little weird to wear such dark shades when talking to an audience. People convey so much information through their eyes that it’s really debilitating to take that form of communication away. Since she does everything else so well, she still holds our attention, but it would be better without the glasses.
What professional vocabulary does she use? She describes the show as eclectic and glamorous. She talks about the diversity of models in the casting of the show. She also mentions that Tom Ford’s collection includes real clothes and is not only for red carpet.
At the end, she uses an interesting metaphor when she says the New York designers were throwing down the gauntlet. In the past, knights would challenge each other to fight by throwing down one of their metal gloves, or gauntlets. This phrase has evolved to mean that someone is challenging someone else.
What do you think of this talk? Do you agree with my comments? Do you have questions about the vocabulary? Do you want to suggest a piece for me to discuss next week? Leave a comment below!
I’ve chosen 5 words or phrases for you to focus on today. They are in bold. If you don’t know them, look up the meaning, synonyms, antonyms, and other forms of these words. You can find links to Merriam-Webster dictionary sites at the bottom of this page.
To see the original post by Vogue on September 15, 2017, click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNcfl62RET4