Designer Ella of Kiss Me Stace left an interesting comment that continues the discussion on the value of fashion blogging.
I love the way I cover the shows. Humph. What is wrong with me feeling I have a voice equal to “traditional media?�
To which I say there is nothing wrong with that! And while it may not be nice to tell bloggers that we aren’t doing a very good job I think it is true. Many of us that have been at the shows frankly weren’t doing a very good because I think that the shows are just hard to handle and we aren’t equipped to comment on it as intelligently as the mainstream press because they have more resources than we do. Our strength is our ability to notice the many little things that are often overlooked in them mainstream press.
As The Manolo pointed out in the comments:
There is as yet, no right way, and no wrong way. We are all learning how it should be done, and there will be the mistakes and the disappointments along the way.
Which is why we cover the trivial, them mundane, the large, the small, the philosophical, or the just plain silly. I have no problem with reading the reviews of shows by other fashion bloggers, I rather like them. I just happen to have no desire to put anyone else through the pain of reading mine. What am I going to say besides ohh this was the color, the lines, the tailoring, and the makeup?
I guess in my world describing the clothing is stating the obvious. Because anyone can see them and chances are if Cathy and Suzy saw them up close they can describe it better than I. And I prefer my blogging to showcase the less than obvious details. If you aren’t there then you can’t appreciate the diva fits of the fashion assistants, the hierarchy, the gift bags, the sponsors, the waiting in line, the little painful details of finding internet access, the parties, the eccentrics.
But honestly at this point in the week I am done. Really and truly done with it all. It was an experience and I am glad for it but it is probably near time to let Fashionweek go and move on towards the new season. Except I am already done with the season season that is Spring and have been so for several months. So perhaps I will move to street fashion. As Millionaire Socialite reminds us street fashion is often more vibrant and engaging as a community.
You did a great job Julie! Thanks for taking me to the tents… it was a real eye-opener
There’s not much the MSM overlooks–I’ve seen stories on the people who scuff the models’ shoes, so they don’t slip. And I’ve seen stories on the falls that happen anyway. So that’s a weak argument for the impact of blogging. It’s not superior resources so much as experience and instinct that separates working press from bloggers. And at some point a blogger has to decide if being a reporter is the road for her or if she choses to have her writing stay personal. The Julia Project blog and the subsequent book is an early example of this–the blog was great, the book not so much.
The best on-line coverage was that of New York magazine. But that’s not to say that a syndicate of bloggers can’t report and interpret just as well–just not this first time.
THAT COMPANY’S SITE IS
http://WWW.ICANDYJEWELRY.COM…JUST CHECKED EM OUT!!
That is so true. And I can see and understand-by-imagining how hard it must be to review a show going through a whole hectic week of it. And since you were there in the thick of it, we are better served by stories of action and frustration.
Perhaps, the whole fashion blogging community could take little bits of it at a time. Everyone would have a fair share, and no one would be overworked. It could perhaps be a fun treat.
But I fear there is some of me wishing to go to a show, in there. And I’ve actually been frightened away from that by your *excellent* reviews of the LIFE of Fashion Week (also combined with watching a bit of that lifestyle on television).
I’m happy with my life (meaning being able to write at my home computer!
), and actually, with _so many shows_ and a full life, fashion-and-non-fashion, I was overwhelmed and couldn’t cover hardly a thing! Imagine. Anyway, I think there might always be the dream to go to such a glamorous thing, because it is exclusive. Also, because we want to feel like we matter as much as the others.
Hey, we’re doing a great job of getting respect!
So … will there be future blog-coverage of fashion week? Or are you through? (Or will you pass it on to a schmuck?
) Ha ha!