Thoughts on Fashion Bloggers

[softgrey]

This is the truth! I'm strangely on the opposite end of a falsely labeled "fashion blog" ... I don't write about fashion, and the photographs I include with my writing are not "fashion" images, least not in the literal sense (they're not from fashion magazines, fashion editorials, they weren't shot with "fashion" in mind) ... needless to say, I'm surprised and confused when people refer to my blog as a "fashion blog". It's gotten a bit better in recent times, as I've veered sharper and sharper from anything directly fashion (years ago, and I do mean years, I used to post fashion editorials sometimes and occasionally talked about it, that's it.)

My readers wouldn't what to know/see I was wearing every day ... if I'm not going out, I stay in my pajamas until dinnertime. And I'll wear my favorite clothing to rags! I have a very sparse wardrobe, as I don't like to have a lot of clothes/any material things.

and yet---here you are regularly posting on a fashion forum...
...

now i'm the one who's confused...

 

[Susanna-Cole]

and yet---here you are regularly posting on a fashion forum...
...

now i'm the one who's confused...

Actually, I think "regularly posting" would be a great exaggeration. I post something every couple months to a few months or so. I used to post regularly, years ago, but don't much anymore, as my interest in fashion has waned some, from when I was younger, and my lifestyle has evolved in a different direction. (Yes, you'd think I'd just delete my account, however, old habits die hard, and there's still some threads I subscribe to that I like to weigh in on, from time to time, etc ... )

I'm not implying I don't like fashion, in any way or form ... I don't see why my belonging / occasionally posting to a fashion forum would make it confusing for me not to have fashion blog, but rather, a blog about other things ...

 

[lucy92]

oh my gosh, that il covo delle soloavvilite facebook community is so funny. here are some of their photo comparisons of bloggers.

 

[lucy92]

source : il covo delle soloavvilite facebook community

 

[vikingqueen]

Actually, I think "regularly posting" would be a great exaggeration. I post something every couple months to a few months or so. I used to post regularly, years ago, but don't much anymore, as my interest in fashion has waned some, from when I was younger, and my lifestyle has evolved in a different direction. (Yes, you'd think I'd just delete my account, however, old habits die hard, and there's still some threads I subscribe to that I like to weigh in on, from time to time, etc ... )

I'm not implying I don't like fashion, in any way or form ... I don't see why my belonging / occasionally posting to a fashion forum would make it confusing for me not to have fashion blog, but rather, a blog about other things ...

seriously...posting on a fashion forum does not ipso facto mean your blog has to be about fashion! i could have an account here and a blog about mulching techniques b/c guess what? i like both!

 

[xjessiex]

Especially afterdrk IMO (not following her regularly though) is trying to come across as that all individual, minimalist aesthete, then copies that other girl. LOL. And today she added the final “twist” to a minimal shirt-shorts outfit by leaving the top buttons of her pants open. Seriously impressive….

I like her outfits from time to time, but a personal assistant and an office... I think some bloggers need to stop taking themselves so serious.

 

[softgrey]

Actually, I think "regularly posting" would be a great exaggeration. I post something every couple months to a few months or so. I used to post regularly, years ago, but don't much anymore, as my interest in fashion has waned some, from when I was younger, and my lifestyle has evolved in a different direction. (Yes, you'd think I'd just delete my account, however, old habits die hard, and there's still some threads I subscribe to that I like to weigh in on, from time to time, etc ... )

I'm not implying I don't like fashion, in any way or form ... I don't see why my belonging / occasionally posting to a fashion forum would make it confusing for me not to have fashion blog, but rather, a blog about other things ...

...
awww...
no worries susanna...i was just being silly...
i thought the...... smilie made that clear...
i think it's good to be silly sometimes...
after all...it's fashion... it's supposed to be fun!...

and this thread is specifically about fashion bloggers, after all...so i found it sorta funny...that's all...



lucy- those images from that facebook are really funny!

...

 

[liny]

I'm curious, what do you guys define as a "fashion blogger"?

To me, there are a few categories:

1) Outfit/shopping/"I like this" blogs - people who post outfits, what they bought, what they want to buy. At the celebrity end of this scale, you have the Elin Klings, the Rumis, the Jane Aldridges, the Cherry Blossom Girls...bit boring but if I like their style, I have no problem subscribing for a bit of inspiration.

1[a]) A sub-category of this would be the kind of blog that's always telling me about the latest from Prada, the new nail polish colours from Chanel or Essie, their latest fave thing from J Crew, the ASOS preview they were invited to - it's like reading a email newsletter, but with no discernable personality. It always feels really uncurated and I never see the point of people telling me what shops are selling and not even giving a proper point of view on them. And there are always too many sponsored posts.

2) Style blogs - the kind devoted to a certain aesthetic and you see some exploration of a particular look and its influences, and it's almost educational to see what these bloggers post because it seems more informed. You feel there's some thought and curation beyond "what looks good". There will be posts of interesting edits, vids, occasional outfits, critiques of a collection, films, books etc. I like such blogs even if it's not my style, Discotheque Confusion is one of them, and I like Le Portillon and Pret a Porter P too, just to raise a few examples. Style Rookie would fall into this category for me too, and so would Style Bubble. These usually have very clear and defined aesthetic and mood.

2[a]) I would say a sub category of this is the rise of those blogs that chronicle wardrobe building and developing a style - Dead Fleurette is one of these. These blogs seem to be able developing a thoughtful attitude towards clothing and shopping and I enjoy them because sometimes they talk about the very same struggles I face when I look at my wardrobe.

I feel that this 2[a] category is a subjective one and one isn't necessarily better than another - I usually end up following the bloggers whose personality or taste I happen to feel an affinity for; and that's highly subjective. I like Les Anti-Modernes, the abovementioned Dead Fleurette, Capture the Castle, Assembled Hazardly, S of the former Mommy Style, Notes from a Mouse, Her Ribbon and Her Bows, just to name a few.

(The blogs in 2 and 2[a] could easily fit into each others' categories)

3) The fashion insiders and personalities: I'm thinking of Liberty London Girl, Disney Roller Girl, Tales of Endearment, Garance Dore. Their personality is part of the content, along with their takes on what's happening in fashion, and also the content they personally produce. Garance Dore is really more than just a streetstyle photographer - she has always injected herself and her personal thoughts alongside the people she shoots.

There are many more categories we can think of surely, but I don't have enough energy and time to think it through, haha. And now we have all these Tumblrs devoted to very specific styles. I don't even know how to begin sorting those out.

I think the best blogs, regardless of what category they fall into, are ones when the blogger's point of view and personality really comes across, where you really hear a voice behind what you see.

PS: I may have lost my train of thought a bit with this post. Apologies if I've lost anyone.

 

[iluvjeisa]

^Maybe vintage blogs / fashion archives / fashion photography blogs could be added to the list.

I've seen a number of such blogs, anyway (and I have one or two). It's an entirely different thing since fashion is mostly about expressing oneself or expressing what one feels one should express. Fashion research is nothing like that....it is an interest in fashion quite separate from oneself.

 

[glitterpeacock]

Lady Gaga has vaguely delved into this discussion: http://forums.thefashionspot.com/showpost.php?p=9570723&postcount=383

Personally, I think she's completely off the mark.

 

[Drusilla_]

^yeah, I honestly don't think she understands the idea that a fashion critic may, you know, be critical of something. And I don't see Lady Gaga taking puff-piece-writing fashion editors and magazine writers to task when they fall allover themselves to praise whatever their advertisers have put out.

I think the best blogs, regardless of what category they fall into, are ones when the blogger's point of view and personality really comes across, where you really hear a voice behind what you see.

YES. So many people seem to think that "fashion blog"=pictures of yourself or nothing, but they're missing the point by miles. Sure, getting to see the face of the blog makes it easier to get the blog's "personality", but that doesn't mean there's no other way to put your stamp on your site.

 

[softgrey]

^Maybe vintage blogs / fashion archives / fashion photography blogs could be added to the list.

I've seen a number of such blogs, anyway (and I have one or two). It's an entirely different thing since fashion is mostly about expressing oneself or expressing what one feels one should express. Fashion research is nothing like that....it is an interest in fashion quite separate from oneself.

i like that sort of thing a lot myself...
and i also like blogs that are about pattern making ...
and ones comparing similar editorials...
like really old ones next to new ones...
or really vintage designer pieces next to new designs that are very much the same...

i like the historical references like that---and just knowing where stuff came from and seeing how (and if) it has evolved...
those are the blogs that are really fashion with a capital 'F' in my book...
they are entertaining and also informative...

personal style blogs are ok---but they get boring really quickly...
i almost never follow them..
i just look once and then keep moving...
you have to bring more to the table to keep me interested...
and i want a point of view...
but not necessarily every detail of your entire personal life...
*that's when the vanity issue kicks in for me*

i think you have to edit yourself carefully...
i see it as having my own mini magazine in a way...
which i enjoy...
even if nobody reads it...

i really love everything i post on there and i love the way it all goes together and you can really understand why i've chosen to post the things i've posted...
it's all the same point of view..
it's not pictures of me...and yet it is ...
if you get what i'm saying...

and it's nice to share it with others who might enjoy the same type of things...
*even better when they post comments!
...

it is so fun when a complete stranger says that they really like something i posted...
it makes me feel so good that i brought them some moment of enjoyment...
and in a very real way, we are sharing something...even if it is in the virtual world...

so...
yeah...that's the kind of blog i like...

 

[Vogue Love Child]

Once I first started to frequent style blogs, I really enjoyed seeing what outfits the bloggers put together. I honestly was clueless when it came to styling outfits and they served as great inspiration. After all, the thing I liked most about them was that they all had individual style and confidence in that. But after awhile, I did notice that they all started looking the same and their "individual" style wasn't really exclusive to them, everyone was copying each other. When I started my blog focusing on my love for fashion magazines, at first I wanted to be the popular blogger, but now I just post for myself when I think about it. I find that the bloggers that write as if noone were reading or following them make the best bloggers; the ones that blog for the fun of it, not for popularity or fame.

 

[Lapin de Lune]

Is it even possible to have a style which is entirely exclusive of all others? I have been wondering about this, and although I have been irked by the sameness of many fashion blogs in the past, I came to the conclusion that like attracts like, and that it isn't so much an issue of 'copying' as it is discovering things in others which are also reflections of yourself - i.e., having similar influences and tastes. So perhaps these similar-minded bloggers simply flock together, and when a certain style or trend has gained enough momentum it can create a sort of homogenous treacle effect.. the sensation that you are wading through a sort of facsimile soup. (crappy analogy, sorry folks!)

I guess I am saying that the words 'copying' and 'inspired' have taken on rather potent meanings here, and hardly anyone will be prepared to admit (or accept) that they might be copying.

Do people think that this will be more prevalent in younger bloggers? Might there be an age, background, educational aspect to this also? I have noticed many people actively trying to extract themselves from the homogenous soup, and yet sometimes this in itself leads to yet another trend-as-we-know-it. I am always interested in how these things work, and tend to like reading both blogs which are similar to my own aesthetic as well as those which are wildly different. I would actually become bored if I limited myself to reading only those which were directly relevant to me.
I think that we all have such individual tastes when it comes to blog reading, and I wonder why so many of us take it so personally...what one person loves, another will surely loathe, and so on. Still, it is nice to know that all of our tastes are somewhat catered for, or else the blogging universe would be rather dull. I guess I'm just intrigued by it all, in a somewhat detached way, it is such a revealing and exciting element of culture.

I would also imagine that blogs which are solely in the game of copying would not actually stand the test of time. I would hope that it might take much more effort to keep something rolling for so long. A copyist mentality would become quickly fatigued by a lack of response. Just thoughts...

 

[lucy92]

this scott schuman guy is hilarious going on and on about how much "integrity" he has when his photos are highly staged. and please, he'd love to work for a prestigious magazine. (the-talks.com)

Talking about financial benefits. Do you make money off your blog or do you make money because of what you have created around your blog?

Both.
How?

American Apparel bought advertising for the whole year and then I just got an email yesterday that Net-A-Porter.com is going to buy advertisements for the rest of the year (2010) as well. So those two ads alone are a good fraction of a million dollars: more than a quarter million and less than a half a million. The key for me, and for Garance also, is like any good business: diversity. I make money from shooting campaigns and editorials, from prints, the rerelease of my photos in different magazines, and from doing personal appearances. I make money from a bunch of different places.
So are the times when a blog couldn’t make any money over?

Yes, the blog itself is really making money. My audience is so much larger than everybody else’s that advertisers, well at least American Apparel told me that I am not in their internet budget. My order is so big and they have to pay so much that I am actually in their magazine budget. That comes from having a good size audience.
Also the price of an ad on your page for a whole year is still fairly cheap compared to, let’s say, a double page in a big fashion magazine.

Oh yeah definitely. But I think the thing that has worked really well, and this is potentially a new day in media, is that what they are buying into is not just the image but also the amount of integrity. The thing that I am very proud of is, even though they bought ads for an entire year, I have no relationship with my advertisers; I have no contact with them.
They are not calling you saying, “Every month we need to have this and that.”

No, there is nothing. I don’t think of them as advertisers; I think of them like a sponsor. They are kind of sponsoring the site. They let me go out there and do my thing.
Have magazines lost their integrity because of the power advertisers have?

I think everyone knows not to believe in magazines anymore, they know that magazines are just page after page of advertisers.
What do you mean?

Magazines are driven by fear: they have to keep these advertisers and do these things for them. But now blogs have grown so big that I get emails like that all the time. But we know, Garance and I, that the thing for us is the level of integrity so we just don’t do it.

 

[Lapin de Lune]

His modesty humbles me....

 

[educo]

Lately, I've been staying away from the "style" blogs, because frankly most of them don't have any style and it's starting to abuse my imagination. I've decided to go back to my version of a style blog by reading the biographies of the most stylish women in the world and using my imagination to put the outfits together based on what's been described by the author. It's a fun game for me as it also has me challenging myself to dress to express my personality and not my wallet. Right now, I'm currently reading Infinite Variety a book on the Marchesa Luisa Casati. It reminds me that real style comes from discovering your own "treasures" so to speak and creating a new visual language.

The style blogs of today are just ridiculous, same format, same language, same style of linking (like, "oooh, I'm wearing this jacket today, see how I styled it another way "here"). It's just hilarious now. People start blogs to talk about their style and slowly but SURELY they start to look just like the others.

 

[jey47key]

this scott schuman guy is hilarious ...

seeing him on a too big for him bike in the street of Paris is quite hilarious

i've only been "interacting with/watching" streetstyle bloggers who shot pics after fashion shows, and i really hope that "bubble" will explode soon like the internet "bubble" back in the 2000's.
It's really becoming a parody of what street style should be about in my opinion.

 

[Mrs.Smith]

I've read liny's post and those which followed only now, and I find the question really interesting! As I already said, I think in the end everyone is entiteled to call himself fashion blogger, there's no authority, that statues any requirements. but to me it's just strange, when people don't add the tiniest bit of thought into their blog, which IMO needs some written statements. I also post outfits and shopping postings from time to time, but for me it's not an essential, especially since I don't dress in a very individual way. and I subscribed to some outfit blogs, but don't follow them regularily. on the other hand I must say that outfit- and random shopping postings on my blog get A LOT more clicks than any sophisticated thoughts.....

still, I agree with softgrey, and I write about the things that I'm interested in, even if nobody wants to read it.... (and since there are A FEW that are interested, I'm more than pleased).

in other blogs I also like photography a lot, because I'm totally into it, without being an expert. so I like daily instagram pix, holiday pix and anything more professional. I think I also like liny's 2a cathegory best, and most of the blogs, she mentioned. when I spot a posting about a book or film, I like too (or even if I don't like it, but liked to read the blogger's thought), I usually follow that blog, no matter how the blogger dresses.

I've read my earlier posting again, and I must say, I sounded really too harsh (and stuck up), sorry for that. I just don't understand the idea of promoting yourself, or better to say the personality you created. For me a blog is the essence of the person behind it, and I like to follow blogs of really different people, who somehow bring in their background, even if they're not writing a personal diary. So for me that essence is missing, when you created some online identity, whose full-time job is dressing nice and having someone to take your picture (in paparazzi-style), and going to blogger - events.

 

[Lanc3]

Lately, I've been staying away from the "style" blogs, because frankly most of them don't have any style and it's starting to abuse my imagination.

As you have rightly pointed out, there are just too MANY blogs around, that they bury some of the really good ones.

My question is - who are the really good ones? Anyone care to share?