Women Campus | Hello beautiful!: The Growing Influence of Fashion Blogs: How Fashion Blogs Are Taking Over The World

It seems like everyone is online these days, from grandparents signing up for a Facebook account to thirteen-year-old boys tweeting about their middle school triumphs. With virtually everyone accessing the Internet, it is impossible to underestimate its growing importance, especially when it comes to the blogs scattered across the web. Blogs are reshaping public relations, news and yes, fashion too.

Blogs are important because they cover such a wide variety of topics, and their existence and constant use has completely transformed the world of journalism the archaic sole realm of those who write for print to anyone who wishes to chronicle the world around them. From celebrity chroniclers like Perez Hilton to news sites, to people talking about knitting (yes, I've seen them) and video games, all the way to people telling you to go to sites like http://www.lovemoney.com/creditcards/ or bragging about their new favorite designer jean label - the communication network of individual life journalists is growing by the second.

Why Are They Beneficial?

Of course there are a variety of different fashion blogs. The Sartorialist and Jak and Jill profile random street goers with great looks - these are considered street fashion blogs. A blog might focus on celebrity fashion like The Iconic Fashion Blog, or could be exclusive to Bryant Park, a true fashion blog. Regardless of its classification, each blog is helping to transform the fashion industry one post at a time. On the one hand, fashion blogs are granting unlimited access to any aspiring or practicing fashionista, no matter where she is in the world. A student in the Midwest can keep up just as quickly with the current trends as can a student studying in New York or Los Angeles. Thanks to the constantly updated blogs, there is no longer much waiting in fashion. Daily Mail writer Karen Kay says that, “These days, before a designer’s runway show has even finished, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone in the audience, or better still, backstage, has recorded every silhouette, signature shoe, styling detail and sulking supermodel, then uploaded it onto the internet for style watchers across the globe to enjoy.” Thanks to blogs, fashion is now accessible to all who is interested. Fashion blogs also help bring a voice to the consumers, who no longer have to rely solely on the industry and the established media for opinions. Kay suggests that blogs allow anyone to both critique and praise designers, regardless of the professional opinion: “Bloggers can be the harshest critics of hyped-up fads and can pull a look from the reject rail and make it hot: so influential and well-read are these internet diarists that the industry’s biggest brand names are vying for a (positive) mention on their sites, and paying to advertise on the most popular pages, making it a lucrative occupation for those that receive a large number of hits.” With the help of blogs, consumers are able to help set the trends.

Impact Outside of the Industry

Street style blogs are helping change more than just the industry, but body perception too. Menswear designer of Common Era and UCLA student Christian Halvorsen attests to the widespread impact of Fashion Blogs: “Over the years, fashion editors' casting of underweight models has written an unhealthy definition of beauty. I think the most significant impact of street style blogs’ will be to restore a healthy conception of body image. Photographers are taking pictures of real women wearing clothes they look great in, and the public is taking note.” Trendsetters no longer have to be a size 0 on the runway, but are now real women, with real bodies on the street.

Who’s Doing It?

Fashion blogs are written by a range of different ages and personalities. 17 year old Jane Aldridge writes one of my favorite blogs, Sea of Shoes. She displays young, fearless fashion and is based out of Texas. College students have stepped into the blogging world as well. Street-Spotted was started out of New York University and has begun incorporating other universities as well. The site features trendy outfits spotted on college campuses and helps readers to get the look. One student at Washington University even devoted an entire blog to profiling her hated trend of leggings serving as pants. Wash U No Pants features these “fashion victims.”

Perks Of Blogging

Blogs have begun gaining more and more recognition as their relevance to the fashion industry has grown. Designers certainly understand the vast importance of blogs and as a result often reward bloggers in many different ways. For example, writer Bryan Boy can often be spotted front row at Bryant Park and even had a Marc Jacobs bag named after him. Previously discussed Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes was able to wear a Chanel Gown and have her very own Chanel fitting for the Crillon Ball in Paris. The fashion industry is paying attention to bloggers and rewarding them appropriately.

Why Are They Successful?

Fashion blogs are so popular because they can cater to a variety of needs: some promote affordable fashion, some provide glimpses into the lives of models and designers, and some feature trendy college students whom we can relate to. College women are unbelievably busy these days and blogs provide a glimpse into the world of fashion without a serious time commitment. Blogs are easy and accessible, which is key to attracting readers of all different interests!