Blogger Jane Aldridge For Urban Outfitters

[wheneveriwakeup]

There is definitely a lot of hate directed towards Jane. Just read the comments that are regularly posted on her blog. People questioning the morality of not only her, but her mother and entire family. I personally find that to be incredibly disgusting and unnecessary. But it comes with the territory, naturally...

The shoes are definitely rip-offs of far superior designs. Anyone who was expecting anything revolutionary was kidding themselves. Like many have already said good taste does not equate into good design. However, Urban Outfitters, as terrible as that company and the people running it are, chose Jane for a reason. She and a few other bloggers just have that 'it' factor... this is smart MARKETING people, it's not about design or aesthetics... it's about making money.

If Jane came off as self-satisfied and entitled or if she was pushing the same look as every other wannabe 'Kate Lanphear, Erin Wasson, Olsen-twin, Paris Vogue editor' blogger out there, I too would be a bit miffed by this. She's not though and that's why I can't help but applaud her for how far she has come by just being herself. Again, congrats Jane!

 

[retailqueen]

BerlinRocks, you articulated my thoughts perfectly.
she simply isn't qualified to *design* a shoe collection
plus most of her appeal and fashion knowledge comes from being very wealthy. plus she is bitting off what has already been done.

Very similar to what the Olsen twins are doing but with them it's even worse since their stuff is ridiculously overpriced.

But on the other hand she was offered an opportunity and understandably didn't spit on it. I would do the same in her position.

I don't like the shoes but am happy that she is able to realize one of her dreams.

 

[Katie123]

It's not really controversial, but I wouldn't support a company, that in the past, has contributed money to politicians that would compare my lifestyle to incest, bigamy and adultery.

Anyway, the shoes look like something you would buy at UO.

i only read it really quickly but i didn't see anything you're talking about? anyway, it doesn't matter.

the whole thing, whether people like jane or not (which i in particular do) is only going to bring up the whole people-getting-famous-for-nothing discussion, like internet celebrity cory kennedy that also become famous because of her 'style' and scored plenty of jobs and media attention just because of that at the age of what, 16?

i think no one's hating on jane, only questioning how valid the whole thing actually is, much as they've done with cory before..

and like everyone said, i wouldn't be silly to turn the opportunity down either. it's just the way the world works

 

[raerae]

People are just jealous of her, because she gorgeous and succesfull at such a young age!

I think she's very pretty, has an excellent taste, very inspiring and talented!

 

[BerlinRocks]

^ok some seriously need to stop with the "jealous" ... especially on there where obviously nobody hate her or is even jealous ...
how can you be jealous ??? you're just proud and happy for her ... i'm happy for her ...
as i am for what's happening to susie-bubble and other tfsers !

now we're just "questioning how valid the whole thing actually is" - Katie123

what i think is hypocrite is that everybody here seems happy and clap their hands but when it comes to other people (and C Kennedy is the one and only example which comes to mind !) everybody is 'meh' .... and question A LOT !

why can't we do it with Jane ?

i like questioning .................. whoever it is !

 

[Katie123]

People are just jealous of her, because she gorgeous and succesfull at such a young age!

I think she's very pretty, has an excellent taste, very inspiring and talented!

how is saying we're only saying these things because we're jealous 'she's gorgeous and successful' a valid comment?

no one is questioning her looks because i don't see how that would be on topic and no one is saying she doesn't have any talent especially because we haven't been able to see whether she has it or not yet. i just don't think it's fair to say she's amazingly talent and totally deserves it based on her blog solely. she has a great eye for style yes, seems like a lovely girl and should take the opportunity yes, but talented, who knows?

 

[Thefrenchy]

^perfectly said

 

[educo]

I am very happy for jane and her opportunity, but it also makes me very sad that the same opportunity is not passed to a design school kid who hasn't slept/eaten for days because they're working and MAKING their shoe collection for finals and such.

I don't really mind it all, but it's making it harder and harder for those who actually went to school to study the craft to have these opportunities...

IOW I don't agree with this if it robs someone else from a deserved opportunity, but if both Jane and "design student" got the same opportunity, this wouldn't be such a problem with most people.

 

[shoegal87]

I like her blog and I'm glad she has been given this opportunity. That said, the shoes are cute but I agree with the general opinion, nothing really interesting just knockoffs as we expected.

That said, does anyone have her mother's blog address?? sorry for the OT!

 

[Katie123]

http://atlantishome.typepad.com/my_weblog/

 

[silk skin paws]

Well I wish her the best.

 

[Jungla_Juana]

I am very happy for jane and her opportunity, but it also makes me very sad that the same opportunity is not passed to a design school kid who hasn't slept/eaten for days because they're working and MAKING their shoe collection for finals and such.

I don't really mind it all, but it's making it harder and harder for those who actually went to school to study the craft to have these opportunities...

IOW I don't agree with this if it robs someone else from a deserved opportunity, but if both Jane and "design student" got the same opportunity, this wouldn't be such a problem with most people.

I agree completely.

 

[shoegal87]

http://atlantishome.typepad.com/my_weblog/

thank you!

 

[MulletProof]

I think the shoes are completely suitable for Urban Outfitters, as WIW said, you certainly can't expect her to come up with something totally cutting-edge and artisanal, this is Urban Outfitters, people, and it's Urban Outfitters doing what Urban Outfitters does best: projecting what's trendy at the moment.. blogs are, Jane's blog is and so are these shoes, which being UO, must have a bit if not total 'inspiration' from the runway. I really can't see how she's stealing any chances from other people, it's a goddamn collaboration only and the girl, being a buyer, knows about shoes better than most people, even from certain male designers that come up with ridiculous stuff to wear evidently based on the fact that they've never tried one of their 'boys' on themselves... I'd probably be a little disappointed with world justice if she decided to design a collection and the guerrilla stores would pick up on that, but this UO, design students can sleep happily at night, I'm sure they didn't study that hard to be conceptually and technically strangled by a chain like that.. no need for drama.

Now, just to get this off my chest, I find unbelievably simple-minded and lazy all these comments regarding her background and income.. I think these women (Jane & her mother) could simply choose to dive into blind consumerism and dress like label-whores, like a majority of wealthy, good-for-nothing bacteries choose to do.. however, I find it very very positive that they both seem to like working hard on their passions and have this inssasiable thirst to uncover every single name out there, explore it, try to understand it and create their own concepts around them.. that need to know something (read: leaving aside the possibilities to ACQUIRE it) has nothing to do with money.. we used to have this member here, Spacemiu, who had that exact same thing, he was super young and every single day had a new name or work of art to discover and obsess over.. and he wasn't just a walking and useless encyclopedia, he didn't move on from something until he seemed to understand it.. I think Jane has that quality too, which comes from being curious, self-taught and having this constant need to learn everything, question your own eye and train it until you feel a little satisfied with the result.. now, Spacemiu didn't share all the time but Jane does and I find that.. kind. Having said that, as lazy and stupid as it is, it can be totally understandable that, if people (mostly undersage) think you're pretentious for liking Tao (based on a 5-minute trip over their collections archives, maybe less), it might even be more outrageous in their eyes to see you INVEST in something like Tao .. well.. what is Jane supposed to do?.. quit it and go to the arms esteban coartazar or marc jacobs so rich-aspiring "fashionistas" can be ok?.. too many issues, girls.

 

[toopoorforcoutur]

I can't believe she's so young, but that's great for her!

 

[daniellat]

Usually i have a problem with celebs turning designers, im in the side of the spectrum like educo said, of the fashion student who doesnt sleep or eat to have their collection ready for school etc etc. Celebs attach their names to promote their brand, and it pisses me off that they fill the market with their clothes and let us students or young designers hopeless.

But i like Jane, and i like what shes doing, shes obviously not a designer and has zero experience in that field, but who is at her age? with no training whatsoever? she has a very succesful blog sharing what she likes to do best, buy shoes. Its not her fault she has the kind of money to buy every shoe she likes, whats she supposed to do?

She seems like she really enjoys fashion and i admire her for not being just the average aeropostale head to toe teenager like many outthere. She loves vintage clothes, what girl her age even knows what vintage means? I think shed be a fool not to accept this amazing offer from UO. After all, they contacted her because hundreds of us go to her blog everyday. She does what she loves to do and she gets paid for it, shes gorgeous and shes fortunate... ill better start an "ocean of clothes" soon lol

 

[educo]

I think the shoes are completely suitable for Urban Outfitters, as WIW said, you certainly can't expect her to come up with something totally cutting-edge and artisanal, this is Urban Outfitters, people, and it's Urban Outfitters doing what Urban Outfitters does best: projecting what's trendy at the moment.. blogs are, Jane's blog is and so are these shoes, which being UO, must have a bit if not total 'inspiration' from the runway. I really can't see how she's stealing any chances from other people, it's a goddamn collaboration only and the girl, being a buyer, knows about shoes better than most people, even from certain male designers that come up with ridiculous stuff to wear evidently based on the fact that they've never tried one of their 'boys' on themselves... I'd probably be a little disappointed with world justice if she decided to design a collection and the guerrilla stores would pick up on that, but this UO, design students can sleep happily at night, I'm sure they didn't study that hard to be conceptually and technically strangled by a chain like that.. no need for drama.
.

I think you misread what I wrote. Graduating fashion students need all the experience they can get as soon as they graduate and they usually end up at companies like UO, Gap, Banana, etc...they are not being chased after the big companies they would LIKE to end up with unless they had some serious press while they were in college.

Sure it's not a conceptual fashion students dream to design at UO , however, the majority of graduating fashion students end up at companies like that to cut their teeth. And if all it took was to put up a blog and speak passionately and sincerely about their love of fashion and shoes, then no one would feel the need to go to design school.

Obviously Jane is still in highschool, so she can't go to design school full time just yet, if she wanted to. But when these opportunities come, it does slap in the face of those who decided to take the route of educatig themselves about the craft first.

 

[BerlinRocks]

I think the shoes are completely suitable for Urban Outfitters, as WIW said, you certainly can't expect her to come up with something totally cutting-edge and artisanal, this is Urban Outfitters, people, and it's Urban Outfitters doing what Urban Outfitters does best: projecting what's trendy at the moment.. blogs are, Jane's blog is and so are these shoes, which being UO, must have a bit if not total 'inspiration' from the runway. I really can't see how she's stealing any chances from other people, it's a goddamn collaboration only and the girl, being a buyer, knows about shoes better than most people, even from certain male designers that come up with ridiculous stuff to wear evidently based on the fact that they've never tried one of their 'boys' on themselves... I'd probably be a little disappointed with world justice if she decided to design a collection and the guerrilla stores would pick up on that, but this UO, design students can sleep happily at night, I'm sure they didn't study that hard to be conceptually and technically strangled by a chain like that.. no need for drama.

Now, just to get this off my chest, I find unbelievably simple-minded and lazy all these comments regarding her background and income.. I think these women (Jane & her mother) could simply choose to dive into blind consumerism and dress like label-whores, like a majority of wealthy, good-for-nothing bacteries choose to do.. however, I find it very very positive that they both seem to like working hard on their passions and have this inssasiable thirst to uncover every single name out there, explore it, try to understand it and create their own concepts around them.. that need to know something (read: leaving aside the possibilities to ACQUIRE it) has nothing to do with money.. we used to have this member here, Spacemiu, who had that exact same thing, he was super young and every single day had a new name or work of art to discover and obsess over.. and he wasn't just a walking and useless encyclopedia, he didn't move on from something until he seemed to understand it.. I think Jane has that quality too, which comes from being curious, self-taught and having this constant need to learn everything, question your own eye and train it until you feel a little satisfied with the result.. now, Spacemiu didn't share all the time but Jane does and I find that.. kind. Having said that, as lazy and stupid as it is, it can be totally understandable that, if people (mostly undersage) think you're pretentious for liking Tao (based on a 5-minute trip over their collections archives, maybe less), it might even be more outrageous in their eyes to see you INVEST in something like Tao .. well.. what is Jane supposed to do?.. quit it and go to the arms esteban coartazar or marc jacobs so rich-aspiring "fashionistas" can be ok?.. too many issues, girls.

I do understand your point ... and it's valuable (????)

but I try to think of this as something more general. Try to put it on another level. As already said, I have nothing against Jane (for God's sake, poor girl .... she's like being the martyr of what I think of all this business).

Do these collaboration are something very valuable ?! I tend to hate this marketing plans ... That's it, I'm sorry ...
Whoever it may concern.



When a label does a collaboration with an artist or another designer, I think it's interesting ... Because these collab' are something else - other than just plain economics ...
But when it comes to 'celebs' (or blog celebs), I think it's very different, in the sense it's no more about creation, but just pure spectacle. And it bothers me at a high degree !

For what it may concern Jane, to me, she's worth much more Urban Outfitters. To me she should be a Teen Vogue access. editor or a consultant. Once I would hear this, I would be more than happy for her ! She deserves this kind of opportunity !



oh et puis ...

 

[ponytrot]

I love Jane's blog, she and her mother are so inspiring, so I'm very happy for her she got this opportunity!

 

[leyla m.]

mullet,
you said it all!