We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christine Morrison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christine below.
Christine, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose revealed itself gradually through personal and professional experiences — and the persistent gaps I saw in the narrative around aging.
At the turn of the century, while working on the Olay skincare business, I was immersed in consumer insights and advertising strategy. Olay, like its competitors, had long leaned into “anti-aging” language, but we were shifting the brand toward empowering messaging. I learned how deeply our culture values youth and, though I was only 30, was already feeling the pressure to fear and fight aging. I chose to embrace Olay’s evolving stance: you can age with confidence and “love the skin you’re in.”
Years later, that learning fueled my mission to change the narrative around aging. In 2017, I began shifting the language through my writing for The Fine Line (now defunct) and other media, reinforcing that aging is not something to battle, but to embrace and celebrate. That belief has guided everything I do since — from the fashion essay collection I’m writing to my work with THE BOARD, helping brands rethink how they speak to aging and identity.
I find it incredibly rewarding to have found a purpose that helps others feel seen, represented, and powerful at every stage of life.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As a journalist who explores fashion and beauty through the lens of aging, I’m deeply committed to changing the narrative around growing older—from one rooted in fear and invisibility to one of empowerment and celebration. With decades of experience in brand building, including roles across the beauty industry and as VP of Marketing at Calvin Klein, I bring a unique blend of industry insight and cultural commentary to my work both as a member of THE BOARD (a collective of fractional talent experts) and through my Substack, writing in black and white, where I explore themes of aging, identity and self-expression in greater depth.
My forthcoming book, Clothes Minded: Fashionable Essays About Finding Yourself (pre-order available later this fall), is a collection of essays reflecting the meaning behind—and the humor in—what I wore while forming my identity, finding true love, and discovering my authentic self. Whether you’re standing in front of your closet trying to decide how you want to show up today, or curious how style can mirror who we are, these essays offer a warm, honest, and often funny look at the layers we wear—and the people we’re becoming underneath.
My writing has also appeared in publications such as The Boston Globe, The Washington Post and in anthologies including BOY MOMS and this past summer’s MIDLIFE PRIVATE PARTS.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Resilience, curiosity, and empathy have been the most impactful on my journey.
Resilience has helped me adapt, evolve, and keep pushing forward — especially when taking risks, facing rejection (which is inevitable for writers, but often a roadblock for authors) and challenging long-held industry norms. Curiosity drives everything I do and fuels my creativity. And empathy is the common thread, whether I’m writing my Substack and personal essays or helping a brand connect authentically with its audience.
As a mother of teens, I find modeling these traits is the best way to teach. While resilience takes time to build, normalizing (and reframing) failures or setbacks is important. One phrase I repeat often is, ‘Rejection is redirection.’ It’s something I’ve had to learn, and I want them to see rejection not as a dead end, but as part of a bigger journey. Open-ended conversations, and ensuring they know nothing is off limits to discuss, has been integral in encouraging curiosity and empathy. It’s less about having all the answers and more about creating space for them (and us, as parents) to think, feel, and grow.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
My biggest challenge right now is releasing my fashion essay collection this fall. I wrote the first essay back in 1998, but the concept sat for years while I devoted myself to motherhood. I returned to it in 2017, and in 2020, took a book proposal class and began pitching—facing years of rejection. It’s been a true labor of love, requiring grit, patience, and unwavering self-belief. While I’m nearly done editing and more than ready to see this book on shelves, I trust the timing—and the endurance it’s taken to get here—is exactly as it should be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.writinginblackandwhite.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writinginblackandwhite/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-morrison-94381615/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
