The art of being a freelance fashion girl, according to Shelly Vincze

“Surrendering to uncertainty is key.”

As any freelancer will tell you, going it on your own can sometimes feel like a circus balancing act. You’re never going to be just a writer (or a designer, social media manager, stylist, etc). Freelancers need to be shrewd businesspeople, and many balance their creative ventures with more traditional jobs. It’s a career path that’s fulfilling and demanding in equal measure.

Despite the challenges, freelancing remains one of the best ways to establish a name for yourself in the creative industry. It’s an art form that takes practice, confidence and a little bit of help from caffeinated beverages. 

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Few people embody the life of a freelance fashion girl more than Shelly Vincze, a multihyphenate creative living in Sydney. Working as a content creator, model, stylist, producer and seller of pre-loved clothing, she’s very much a woman on the go.

Naturally, she relies on a handful of clever products to streamline her workload. She’s recently been porting the new 20oz Venti Tumbler by made by Fressko as a close companion throughout her week, as you’ll see.

Designed for life on the go, it features a leak-proof flat-top lid and a titanium straw – ideal for iced matchas, coffees, smoothies and bubble tea. Shelly’s career shows just what it takes to carve out a space for yourself in the industry, without sacrificing your sense of self. 

Taking the leap

From the outside, it can look like freelancers waltzed straight out of university and into exciting, glamorous careers. It’s difficult to imagine a prolific creative like Shelly ever doing anything else. But her transition into freelancing was a gradual progression. At first, her creative gigs were side hustles to a full-time job – a period she describes as feeling like ‘limbo’. 

Nearly every freelancer goes through an unglamorous phase that’s rarely shared online. A question lingers in the back of your mind, ‘Is it time to finally shift into freelancing full-time?’. In the end, it’s a personal decision based on your appetite for risk and your faith in yourself. For Shelly, the answer was clear.

“It got to a point where I felt like I had enough momentum and the financial means to take the leap into solely freelancing,” she says. “There’s never really a ‘right time’, but surrendering to uncertainty and re-directing all your energy is key.”

What now?

No freelancer is guaranteed success. When this realisation starts sinking in, it can be tempting to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes your way. Even if a project doesn’t pay enough, even if you don’t have capacity, even if it doesn’t align with your values, your brain will trick you into thinking that a ‘no’ will automatically exclude you from future opportunities. No matter how strong that feeling is, you need to ignore it. 

“Learning that it’s okay to pass on opportunities has been a powerful shift that has helped shape my creative journey. It allows me to put more time into projects that feel like an extension of myself,” Shelly tells me. 

The same urge to take advantage of every opportunity can kick in when you’re thinking about seeking representation. There are benefits to talent managers, but it’s not the right choice for everyone, so it’s important to reflect before committing. For now, Shelly’s decided to stay independent. “I’ve heard mixed reviews about talent management from friends in the industry. If the right opportunity aligns, I’d be open to management, but I haven’t felt the need to actively search.”

Behind the scenes

Some people argue that if you do a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Others say that you should never do something you love, because it will become a chore rather than a hobby. If you’re a believer in the former, how can you ‘fill your cup’ creatively to sustain both your career and your love of it?

Shelly tells me that the key to staying a step ahead of burnout is prioritising your wellbeing. She explains that, for her, freelancing offers a holistic solution to the demands of a society where most of the week is spent working.

The flexibility of freelancing allows her to make time for mindfulness, taking walks in nature (Venti Tumbler in hand, of course) and caring for her mind and body. To avoid her passions becoming chores, she keeps some hobbies sacred, done only for herself.

At the risk of sounding cliché, aspiring freelancers need to protect their mental health. Putting yourself out there often risks experiencing imposter syndrome or insecurity, so reframing rejection and celebrating your wins is especially important. 

“For a while, I felt like the classic ‘jack of all trades but a master of none’, so naturally, I had imposter syndrome. I decided to switch the narrative and truly believe I could progress,” she says. “Looking back on my freelance journey, I’ve had incredible growth in experience and confidence!” 

Purchase the made by Fressko Venti Tumbler online here.