Are fashion bloggers out of touch with reality?
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 9:01AM Have you read Gabbie Tatad's article on Philippine Star called "A fashion blogger reality check"? Do! It's a great opinion piece on the culture of fashion blogging in the country. I agree with many of the things she said, particularly in these passages:
As far as I can see, everything in this world has its place. Sure, clothes have a myriad of positive effects — changing the way you feel, skimming down features you’re not exactly thrilled with, expressing the facets of your personality only you might be aware of. And yes, I will be the first to tell you that fashion is art, expression, freedom, inspiration, and creation.
But it is also function and comfort, and days when clothes really are just clothes. Because while we’ve been made to believe that they might make the man, they aren’t magical enough to produce substance where there is none. They serve their purpose, but fall second to character, skill, intellect, and depth —something so easily forgotten in a haze of lens flare and digitally-retouched lighting.
I do have a comment on something else she pointed out.
And so it stands that there is a clear question of how far out of context fashion has been placed, especially where it’s no longer models and editors pushing an aesthetic, but “real people” on their blogs.
I think that fashion blogging has evolved, like everything else enjoying any amount of popularity on the Internet. It's no longer just "real" people dressing up - it's people dressing up for an audience who avidly follow their lives, who idolize them. The top fashion bloggers (locally and abroad) are celebrities now and they earn commensurate to their status. They dress that way because it's basically their job to do so.
Are these fashion bloggers out of touch with reality? Yes, deliberately. It's not just in the clothes they wear but in the cult of personality they have created for themselves. Teens and yuppies want to be them; they're rich, young, and beautiful. They represent everything that's not a reality for most people and that's how their fans like them. Their life (not just their style) is for mass consumption.
But that's not to say that all fashion bloggers keep their followers that way. There are those who dress "real", who have real lives. People follow them because they're also inspiring. They're passionate about what they do and (I always say this) passion never goes unnoticed in or out of the Internet. These bloggers may not have thousands of readers, but the ones that do read them can relate to them or feel connected to them in some way.
It is true that everything in this world has a place. Likewise, every blog has a place in the Internet.
Reader Comments (10)
i read the article and immediately tweeted her how much i loved it. and i truly agree! although this is what i have to say, we cannot judge them like they cannot judge us or judge people who do not perceive fashion, even blogging, the way they do.
we all have our own followers. and the world of cyberspace is big enough for everybody.
Agree! Especially the last line. :) Different strokes for different folks, I say.
This is a great article Liz. Real is relative.What doesn't seem realistic to us may actually be realistic for other people. I rotate all my every day clothes in 1 to 2 weeks and I think that's not realistic for some people who have closets brimming with clothes, but it's real to me.
"Each blog has a place in the internet." - True.
Sometimes I wonder why I click on your fashion posts. But I realized that I don't do that to imitate your style. I look at some fashion posts because it opens my eyes to other people's lives and I find it entertaining. Kind of like reality tv or 'what's in her bag' blog posts--you see other people's lives from a small window.
thanks for posting about this, Liz! i wouldn't have known about the op piece had i not seen your FB post. it's really great that you keep up to date and respond to such issues (like the Bayo ad). your well-written, informative beauty reviews are what drew to read your blog in the first place, but it's your well-thought-out commentaries and insights that keep me a loyal reader.
i think i mentioned it in another comment before but i used to read a lot more beauty blogs. i gave up mostly because i couldn't stand the horrible grammar and shallow "insights" anymore. so, umm, i guess what i'm trying to say is: thanks for being one of those bloggers who have substance, intellect and depth. :)
I haven't read her article but reading your post made me gauge what the author wants to say. I actually agree with it that most top fashion bloggers nowadays are really far from the reality. and it saddens me that new fashion bloggers out there are starting to be like them (top fashion bloggers) instead of being themselves! I still believe that there are those fashion bloggers who remain to be themselves, and I admire them for staying true and not being a fashion blogger out of wanting to be popular.
PS: May I know exactly when the article was published? Or do you know any copy of it online? I want to read it. THANKS LIZ!
Hi Isea! Thank you for your kind comment! :D
Denise - it's in the link in the first line. :)
The likes of Aaron Castro are the ones I want to see in fashion blogging. He's real and a lot of people can relate to him. Fashion bloggers now are a bit superficial, people perceive their lives are "perfect." I want to see real people in fashion blogging.
we all have our own followers. and the world of cyberspace is big enough for everybody. --- I like this bit.
Well, I've met some fashion bloggers already thanks to my work (I'm in PR). Fortunately, they're the real, down-to-earth kind ones (like Ana of The Fashionista Commuter and Krissy of Krissyfied). But, yup, there are fashion blogs I honestly can't stand anymore because it feels too, well, shallow.
I guess like anything in media, you have to pick out which blogs to read, the bloggers who have this real vibe to them...like you, Liz!
I totally agree that "...fashion is art, expression, freedom, inspiration, and creation. But it is also function and comfort, and days when clothes really are just clothes. " You can create what you want in the name of fashion but it must be comfortable to the ones who'll be using it. What you wear defines who you are. You must be aware of that. Don't be a dummy. Be yourself! Be real! <3
Thanks for this Ms. Liz :)
I prefer makeup blogs over fashion blogs(kung local bloggers ang paguusapan).
Hindi ko talaga masikmura ang mga self-proclaimed fashionista natin. Sorry talaga. sabog talaga ang "styling". I'd appreciate it if these bloggers could reference some art to their style but they're just all about merchandise kaya I really find it hard to convince myself to admire them.
I really prefer street style blogs like garance, the sartorialist, streetpeeper and the locals.
For a time, I did follow bryanboy.com because for me he was the only one that made sense and had the humor for it.