Comments on: the power of the fashion blogger http://www.grechenblogs.com/2010/03/the-power-of-the-fashion-blogger/ living, blogging, & surviving online Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:24:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen http://www.grechenblogs.com/2010/03/the-power-of-the-fashion-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-766 Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:21:47 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=223#comment-766 I think Colin McDowell has a point. As a blogger I applaud the CFDA for taking notice of bloggers influence on the buying public, but as a former designer I find it a bit disconcerting that someone with no knowledge of the design process can have the ability to make or break a designer. Yes, fashion is subjective no matter what way you look at it; however technique is also very important when it comes to judging. Without knowledge of these things one is merely judging a book by its cover. Enthusiasm has always played a role in promoting fashion -- where it comes from doesn't matter. What matters is that there's a "buzz" which will translate to sales (hopefully, in financially troubled times its a gamble) for the designer. What I don't agree with CM with is the age issue. The shift happened a long time ago -- it started slowly in the 50's, then exploded in the 60's with "youth culture" -- and kept growing as younger people continued to have more and more disposable income, and as a result more buying power. I respect CM as a fashion writer and expert as he has worked in the fashion industry and knows the business from a personal, insider view and is not just judging by aesthetics. However, I follow his blog and have noticed that he keeps bringing up the age issue, which makes me think he feels threatened as if he's going to be made obsolete because of his age. Frankly, I find that absurd as good fashion writing from someone who knows their subject will always be welcome. Most bloggers write about what they love from an aesthetic viewpoint and they have little or no knowledge of what went into making the garment. Yes, this creates enthusiasm, but enthusiasm will wane once the word is out that something is designed sub-par no matter how great it may be aesthetically. Additionally, fashion has not always been the sole domain of "true experts" or journalists. Originally fashion shows were produced for those who could afford to buy the garments, later they were for the customer as well as the fashion trade and journalists. The inclusion of bloggers is purely a PR move to create buzz, knowing full well that bloggers have the power to get the info out quickly and with enthusiasm. It will indeed be very interesting to see how the tides turn within the next 5 years. After all, one can debate to what degree a journalist has more right to be at a show over a client who actually spends cold hard cash on the garments? .-= Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen´s last blog ..<a href="http://ideefixemon.blogspot.com/2010/03/joe-hurleys-11th-annual-all-star-irish.html" rel="nofollow">JOE HURLEY'S 11TH ANNUAL ALL-STAR IRISH ROCK REVUE</a> =-. I think Colin McDowell has a point. As a blogger I applaud the CFDA for taking notice of bloggers influence on the buying public, but as a former designer I find it a bit disconcerting that someone with no knowledge of the design process can have the ability to make or break a designer. Yes, fashion is subjective no matter what way you look at it; however technique is also very important when it comes to judging. Without knowledge of these things one is merely judging a book by its cover. Enthusiasm has always played a role in promoting fashion — where it comes from doesn’t matter. What matters is that there’s a “buzz” which will translate to sales (hopefully, in financially troubled times its a gamble) for the designer. What I don’t agree with CM with is the age issue. The shift happened a long time ago — it started slowly in the 50′s, then exploded in the 60′s with “youth culture” — and kept growing as younger people continued to have more and more disposable income, and as a result more buying power. I respect CM as a fashion writer and expert as he has worked in the fashion industry and knows the business from a personal, insider view and is not just judging by aesthetics. However, I follow his blog and have noticed that he keeps bringing up the age issue, which makes me think he feels threatened as if he’s going to be made obsolete because of his age. Frankly, I find that absurd as good fashion writing from someone who knows their subject will always be welcome. Most bloggers write about what they love from an aesthetic viewpoint and they have little or no knowledge of what went into making the garment. Yes, this creates enthusiasm, but enthusiasm will wane once the word is out that something is designed sub-par no matter how great it may be aesthetically. Additionally, fashion has not always been the sole domain of “true experts” or journalists. Originally fashion shows were produced for those who could afford to buy the garments, later they were for the customer as well as the fashion trade and journalists. The inclusion of bloggers is purely a PR move to create buzz, knowing full well that bloggers have the power to get the info out quickly and with enthusiasm. It will indeed be very interesting to see how the tides turn within the next 5 years. After all, one can debate to what degree a journalist has more right to be at a show over a client who actually spends cold hard cash on the garments?
Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen´s last blog ..JOE HURLEY’S 11TH ANNUAL ALL-STAR IRISH ROCK REVUE My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Tamia http://www.grechenblogs.com/2010/03/the-power-of-the-fashion-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-764 Tamia Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:01:00 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=223#comment-764 Frankly, I think some bloggers were chosen as CFDA judges for the same reason celebs sit front row at shows: publicity. These are individuals whose online readership (and to a certain extent, influence) is the same as or greater than that of publications with multiple paid contributors. The print industry is scared, and the fashion industry is riding the wave. What sells clothes is a distinct point of view, which the most popular bloggers certainly possess. It works for designers, too (see: Alexander Wang), but bloggers have an advantage in this area because it's much more efficient to distill a single personality into a distinctive POV than to incorporate multiple editorial opinions, all of which will ultimately be diluted. Bloggers are more potent, and therefore very effective! .-= Tamia´s last blog ..<a href="http://thestylesample.com/2010/03/15/stop-traffick-photo-shoot/" rel="nofollow">Stop Traffick photo shoot</a> =-. Frankly, I think some bloggers were chosen as CFDA judges for the same reason celebs sit front row at shows: publicity. These are individuals whose online readership (and to a certain extent, influence) is the same as or greater than that of publications with multiple paid contributors. The print industry is scared, and the fashion industry is riding the wave.

What sells clothes is a distinct point of view, which the most popular bloggers certainly possess. It works for designers, too (see: Alexander Wang), but bloggers have an advantage in this area because it’s much more efficient to distill a single personality into a distinctive POV than to incorporate multiple editorial opinions, all of which will ultimately be diluted. Bloggers are more potent, and therefore very effective!
Tamia´s last blog ..Stop Traffick photo shoot My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Poochie http://www.grechenblogs.com/2010/03/the-power-of-the-fashion-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-763 Poochie Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:18:03 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=223#comment-763 It's not coincidence that many of the publications are courting or hiring these bloggers (especially the two named). The traditional media is definitely shaking in their boots a bit because of this transitional time. No one knows quite where print is going and where the influence is going to grow. If Vogue hires a notable blogger does that help them recapture the interest or does it diminish the independant? I think the next five years are going to be very interesting on all fronts. .-= Poochie´s last blog ..<a href="http://shoedaydreams.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-sad-news.html" rel="nofollow">More Sad News</a> =-. It’s not coincidence that many of the publications are courting or hiring these bloggers (especially the two named). The traditional media is definitely shaking in their boots a bit because of this transitional time. No one knows quite where print is going and where the influence is going to grow. If Vogue hires a notable blogger does that help them recapture the interest or does it diminish the independant?

I think the next five years are going to be very interesting on all fronts.
Poochie´s last blog ..More Sad News My ComLuv Profile

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