Update (03/13/2015). This post has gotten a lot of attention and it remains one of my most popular entries even after almost 8 months, so I want to clear a few things up:
– I don’t hate anybody, I only love ? (the word hate, believe it or not, makes the title more “catchy”)
– This post came after I wrote another one called: Top 5 lessons from fashion bloggers (with far less traffic, why am I not surprised?), so I am the first one to recognize the good things fashion bloggers have to teach us.
– I am not a fashion blogger, I don’t want to be one and this is not an attempt to show my anger towards successful people. I am happy for them and they have great stories we could all learn something from.
– I don’t know why there’s a panda bear in the featured image of this post.
I know what you are thinking: “only 5?”, but I am a busy person and I could only dedicate so much time to this nonsense.
1. Fashion for everyone? Nah…
The original blog (about fashion or anything) was good because it was written by regular people that other regular people could relate to about regular things. It was a hobby, catharsis, nothingness. If a fashion blog was ever about bringing fashion to the masses, that idea died along with the soul of its authors. The most famous bloggers are seen wearing no less than mid-tier luxury brands, yes, maybe they only do that now that they are semi famous and have the money, but why are so many people going to their blogs, then? To check out things they can’t afford, a very natural human tendency. The modern fashion blog became a showcase of luxury brands that very few people should buy, rather than an independent take on fashion and style. To belong to the fashion blogger elite, it seems that these women have to go out and buy whatever their superior counterparts are wearing. A sad adolescent behavior that should not be confused with having any sense of style.
2. Sustainability, what?
With all the atrocities that happen in the fashion industry in places like Bangladesh and China, where both human and animal rights are being violated everyday, I would expect at least some of them to talk about this, but I have seen nothing. If you can tell me of a major fashion blogger commenting on these issues and refusing to wear the brands that perpetuate these crimes, I will make sure to give the right credits to those who deserve it. This topic has stayed among ethical fashion bloggers and humanitarian news sources. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please read this article about the Rana Plaza incident and this one about the “faux” fur industry. Sustainable fashion is not just about being a dirty hippie, but about acknowledging that our consumption patters have gotten way out of hand and when something seems too cheap, someone else is paying the real price.
3. Where is your college degree?
Any data on this would be appreciated, but my hypothesis is that many of these women don’t have any other skill than picking outfits. Need more research, coming soon.
Some could say, “but who cares, if they are making money?”, but I counter with: you can only be a fashion blogger for so long and after that time is gone you either have to evolve or turn the skills you learned into a real career. The smart ones have their own clothing lines and have started marketing agencies, bravo for them!
4. Real beauty is not in your clothes
I wish some of these girls said something about their eating or workout habits, you know, something that could actually help people. If they look great with certain clothes is because they look great. Period. (and Photoshop). But I rarely see remarks on healthy living or tips to stay in shape. If these people could use their “fame” for good, it would be inspiring young girls to be healthy, to develop their entrepreneurial skills and learn to be comfortable in their own skin.
5. Conflicts of interest
I know you are making money with all the stuff you promote on your blog, but please be transparent. Just say it, it’s alright and an acceptable way to make a living by today’s standards, but many people don’t know that and they might get the silly impression that you are being 100% objective. For most “traditional” information of professional endeavors, conflicts of interest must be disclosed and I don’t see why this should be any different.
Do I follow fashion bloggers? Not really, I feel that they contaminate my sense of style, I want to have my own and it’s too easy to want to take “inspiration” (copy) girls in magazines with designer shoes. They do pop in on Instagram frequently, so I like to keep up with marketing strategies and ways in which they develop their careers. And I look at their shoes.