BCBGMAXAZRIA faux fur coat // Malorie Urbanovitch FW15 dress // Malorie Urbanovitch socks // TOMS suede fringe boots // TOMS Jarrett sunglasses // Prada clutch from Haute Classics
I love love love the editors at The Kit’s Compact magazine because they send me advanced copies of Compact every month and also, they graciously accept my commentary and willingness to start a conversation with each issue’s most controversial piece. Last month it was bangs, this month it’s fashion bloggers.
They have me eating out the palm of their hand.
So let’s get to the dirty work. On page 22-23 of their Oct 2015 beauty issue, they’ve enlisted Jill Dunn to uncover the truth behind the industry rumour surrounding bloggers and our demise. I mean, they didn’t ask for my opinion on the subject for the piece but thankfully the fires of hell have yet to swallow up my domain name and thus, I will volunteer my two cents here, on my blog. How meta.
As the trajectory of the fashion blogger has gone from free voice, to fashion doyenne, to multi-million-dollar business, Jill Dunn sees the space closing between traditional media and influencers with the dawn of social media as a sort of deus ex machina. It’s anybody’s game now. Eva Chen can get a job in social media just like Man Repeller has erected a publishing juggernaut, employing tons of writers and editors, on her mini-Vogue-meets-the-Onion website.
But what about all of us stragglers who have yet to hit the cash money records? Is it really all becoming just a fakery, as Robin Givhan quotes, in the struggle to make it? This article definitely got me thinking and pondering some of my contemporaries’ quotes.
Anita Clark writes there is “no humanity, no soul” in blogging nowadays. I find this view to be symptomatic of an inability to embrace evolution with agility and an open mind. Sure, there are lots of people who have figured out the formula to blogging and slavishly spend their days populating their feed with Chloé bags and RewardStyle links, but there are still those of us who refuse to sell out.
Do I plan my blogs? Sure I do. I think we should all be thankful that the days of grainy, yellow outfit pictures taken with an iPhone 4 and Valencia IG filters, are gone. Bloggers have pushed their craft beyond its origins, evolving vis-a-vis the technological advancements to produce the best (and prettiest) version of themselves. Isn’t that something that should be celebrated? We fucking made it, guys! Why mourn the old days when we can now afford to eat and pay our rent doing what we love?
My approach to the death of the fashion blogger is to be ready to transform at a moment’s notice. I’m embracing Snapchat, Vine, Youtube (late to that party), Periscope and whatever else is out there with the same underlying principle. I’d like to be paid for my brand partnerships if I’m creating content, beautiful images and telling a story in my own high-brow words, but I’ll only do it with brands that I truly love and believe in. Like Margaret Zhang and Aimee Song, churning out a quick promo for a quick buck is less and less attractive. We’re here to build lasting relationships with brands, fusing our world with theirs. And of course, always balancing that out with unpaid content like the post you’re reading right now.
If the fashion blogger as we know it is dead, I say, REST IN PEACE.
Ah! Justine you killed this!
Every time I read your blog I feel like I am listening to Carry Bradshaw. It is so rare to see those who blog, but can actually articulate a well written article. I am waiting for your column in a magazine!
Loved it!
xox
AHHHH thanks so much, Katrina! My dream is to have a column in a magazine where I get to preach my truths about underwear and the underbelly of blogging. Thanks so much for your support!!!!! xoxoxo
Ditto for my sweetie! Great article!!!!
Um, everyone knows you bought your followers. You can’t sell out because there’s nothing to sell. All pretense.
Yes I know you’ll delete this comment.
Thanks for reading! xo
Amen Justine! Bloggers are not dead and in fact, I think in Canada we’re finally beginning to get the recognition we deserve! 5 years ago, it was different. Sure the industry was smaller, but the most I ever got was free product, and paid jobs were almost none existant. (WS is my third blog btw.) Now we can turn this whole crazy blogging thing into a legit career. Just look at you! #dreambig #workhard. And you’re right- there blogs out there who don’t sell out. Thank goodness for that!
Xo, Nathalie
Ah, you know I completely agree with you, Nat. Of course the temptation to make money is always there but I think there is a healthy and organic way we can turn our passion into a profitable career – just like in any other “arts” industry. If I ever become a squawk box, lemme know, tho. XOXO
I cannot even with Ms. Zhang. and I mean that in the best possible way. Her, Alice Gao of Lingered Upon, Shini from Park & Cube, and this site called JetsetJustine (harhar) are my favorite fashion bloggers to read. Great photography, smart collaborations, brains, and sharp writing are what make you fine ladies stand out.
Yes, there is a ton of crappy, cringe-worthy fashion, lifestyle, etc. blogging that are driven by “spammy” affiliate links, bad writing & grammar that no other job would allow, and is, in some cases, shady tactics. It can easily clutter the market & give a bad name to others. But I look at the blogs I follow the same way I look at the foods I choose to eat, the TV shows I like to watch, the books and magazines I read, and, yes, even the porn I occasionally shame-indulge in on a boring weekend morning: some of it is bad and demeaning. It should be called out. But it’s always the consumers choice to find a better option because there always is one :) Those who only see the end are choosing to not dig deeply.
/end rant.
-Jocellyn
Ps: great coat.
Aw you’re so sweet! I agree with you. There’s so much pressure in this industry to “do the most” but often you have to ask yourself, at what cost? It’s nice to make money for what you love however some collaborations just don’t feel organic and obviously it’s so easy to get followers. I’ve tested the formula myself: Celine bag = 1000 likes. It’s kind of sad how predictable the majority of people are. Most of the time I try to stick to being different – to put my true self out there even if I know that a picture of cupcakes would have gotten more likes or a “view from above” with flowers is how to get to the explore page. I’m taking the long route because there are way too many Sincerely Jules wannabes out there and I have more to give than an arm party, even if sometimes, I do give an arm party. Know what I mean? Thanks for being a discerning customer. I appreciate having readers like you! xoxoxoxo J