So I came across this …
"To Summarize I personally feel a “fashion” blogger now exists a dime a dozen and with selfies, and OOTDs and pushing for brands & endorsements, there is nothing authentic about them. A true fashion blogger in MY opinion is someone who writes ABOUT fashion, is well researched and presented and has a firm understanding of branding and marketing. " – Pearls & Sequence Rashi B.
Which got me to thinking that I need to stop calling myself a fashion blogger. Even personal style blogger.
Blogger is better.
Yeah I sometimes write about fashion…but I'm not constantly researching fashion.
Initially I did. Then I became so overwhelmed by the vastness of the never ending rabbit hole of fashion business and over-consumption.
Marketing and consumption. Drowning in it.
The more that I read and saw the sicker I got.
The latest trends, the must-have-items, the new "it" bag. What happened to yesterday's must haves? Only a few months old?
Then I got hooked on vintage clothing. Something with history. A piece of clothing that was valuable enough to last through the decades. I wanted the clothing to mean something. Have that earned value associated with age.
Maybe it's because I'm getting older and can personally relate to the idea of "out-with-the-old in-with-the-new."
Am I soon-to-be tossed out? Discarded like last year's "it" bag? No longer relevant in the cycle of life?
Who is the clog in the wheel deciding what is "in" and what is "out"? What has value and what no longer does?
Nothing tangible in life has intrinsic value.
Value is created as the reflection cast by the light of our own desire upon something.
For bloggers value should not be directly associated with novelty, youth, money or success.
In life I believe value should be earned. Acquired through hard work, difficult times, regrets and dreams lost. Through sheer determination to continue on despite the world around you. At that point you've earned your value.
That is me in the spiffy red and blue ensemble.
What kind of blogger are you?
Do you let others (marketing, branding, etc) dictate to you what is of value?
A stylentonic blogger! 😉
So perfect photo! xxx
http://www.stylentonic.com
I usually would describe myself as a personal style blogger, but even that is probably a bit misleading as three posts every week are about non-outfit things (mail, movies and whatever I want on Mondays….)
An interesting post, as usual Suzanne.
I never consider myself a fashion blogger. My blog exists as an online journal and has become a place to refine my own sense of style…while reflecting on this transitional time in my life. I personally have refused all offers of products and referrals as I prefer to keep my site purely personal.
Suzanne I always appreciate your posts questioning the validity of ‘fashion blogging’. I agree so many personal blogs are becoming merely marketing tools for brands. I truly enjoy your blog… it does cover fashion… but your blog offers so much more. Thank you for another thought provoking post my dear!
Good question. Still would say a style blogger, I think. But that encompasses a lot of territory in my understanding of what “style” means. There was a book by Quentin Crisp, “Doing it with Style” in which he detailed his thoughts about “style” extending to every element in his extravagant and then-scandalous life. I was very taken by his attitude.
I admire a thoughtful blog like yours, and it’s been a pleasure to read. I especially am drawn to a thoughtful approach to what one wears, and that very rabbit-hole quality draws me to sorting out what I think about it.
The desire for meaning, to ascertain and imbue meaning in our lives, is one of our prime markers of our humanity. The older I get, the more elements of my life take on meaning that I had not recognized earlier. That seems to be happening for you as well! Happens to us all, I think, if we’re lucky.
GREAT post Suzanne!!
Echoing what Jan says i consider myself a life & style blogger-my personal life & style. i’m not hunting down brand endorsements or c/o stuff or anything like that. I’m just documenting my life with my girlfriends…
Look at you, all little and blond!!
I have very little love for the fashion world specifically, though I very much enjoy getting dressed in the morning! And I actively work to try and make sure others aren’t dictating my perception of value–that I like something because I really do like it, not because I’m told that it’s ‘cool’. I’m sure I’m still influenced by the marketing that surrounds me, as we all are, but I try to stay a little bit outside so that I can keep my own opinions.
I’m a personal style blogger, and I focus on hats. My blog has plenty of room for psychology, history as well as the photos of me in hats.
Tricky tricky ; )
I think we need to figure something else out, like Jill of All Trades Blogger.
It is so nice that you know your niche and stick to it.
I applaud you for avoiding the traps of marketing and I appreciate that you focus on your own handmade items.
I agree that the older we get the more likely we are to spend time reflecting on our lives. I think that also this year with illness comes reflection and appreciation.
Style is all encompassing I suppose. Maybe I will stick with style blogger after all.
I love your insightful comments Jan.
Your blog wouldn’t be the same without all the doggie photos and hilarious weird photos you find online.
Yep…hard to believe that was once me. LOL
I think you have a very specific niche for sure Kathleen : )
Thank you for posting this! Lately, to be honest, I have been questioning my role in blogging. I don’t even discuss blogging at work and I don’t even call myself a blogger since I’m not sure what that means anymore. With so many bloggers who are considered social media famous it’s difficult for me to think of myself as one. Are you only considered one if you are earning income? I don’t blog to make money. If I did, I’m not sure how my feelings would be towards the blog I currently maintain. I suppose it’s all relative but it’s becoming something I’m currently trying to figure out myself!
xo,
nancy
THIS.IS.AWESOME….. and now I am thinking that I have NO IDEA what kind of blogger I am??? I am not sure I even care to define it, but I know for SURE that I am not a “fashion” blogger. I actually don’t give a crap about “fashion?. Hmmm…. great post!! Loved this…
In life I believe value should be earned. Acquired through hard work, difficult times, regrets and dreams lost. Through sheer determination to continue on despite the world around you. At that point you’ve earned your value.
XOXOXOXOXO!!!!!!!!!
I also don’t know how to define myself, but I think I’m tending to just be a conversational blogger. I blog because I don’t want to sit on the sidelines! I have conversations with mostly the same women, and I don’t make an effort to sell myself or my blog. Clothes and outfits are just a medium to start the conversation, and seeing how other women dress has given me more inspiration to push my own boundaries.
Suzanne – I just got home after a 12+ hour workday and am exhausted so this is going to be short, but this is a great post. I also feel like I got lost and overwhelmed, which is part of the reason I’ve taken a few months off. To tell you the truth, I don’t even want the title “fashion blogger” – granted my site is teeny, but because what you’ve mentioned – the endless self-promotion and over consumption and just the emptiness of it all – it’s so easy to get wrapped up in it. I love the above poster’s idea of clothes being a medium to start conversation, and not the end all of the blog.
PS – I had never seen your etsy shop, but I’m dying here over the pug stuff!!!! I may have to pick myself up a little somethin’. 😉
I echo what Nancy said. I have been thinking a lot about these “famous” bloggers and how everything is so disposable. I see them selling items that have been worn for pictures only. I am thinking to myself, who buys stuff just to take pictures?
I am not immune to current trends and the latest “it” thing but I am certainly do not dictate my shopping choice because of it.
I consider my blog more like my visual closet to help me remember what I own 🙂
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
No way am I a fashion blogger, I never read fashion mags, have no interest in designers or current trends and can’t even remember the last time I entered a clothes shop that wasn’t a charity shop. Fashion is so transient, designed to make people fit in and look the same. I’ve worn maxi length dresses for the last 20 years ‘cos I like them regardless of what Anna Wintour or the rest of the fashion nazis tell me. xxx
PS Love that family photo, how gorgeous was your mum?
I’m happy to hear that I’m not the only one that struggles with this.
Thanks Melissa. I would define you as part inspiration, part comedy, part fashion. You always seem to make me laugh or get teary eyed and that is a good thing.
Ah yes…I am a big pug lover : ) That is why I’m currently ga ga over your newest little one. I was going to name our pug Chloe, but then decided on Zoe. Everyone in my family owns a pug. Once you have one you can never be without.
I like the idea of a visual closet.
I know…my Mom was smokin’! : )
I love the fact that you’ve always marched to the beat of your own drum and also that you’re a huge thrifter. You have made a mark with your style and won’t be forgotten. Of that I am sure.
Hi Suzanne, you hit a complex issue. My blog name is No fear of fashion. Which is just a silly name I made up in the spur of the moment, never thinking I would actually do something with the blog I registered.
I have only a small knowledge of what is in or out, but I like fashion. Just don’t know why. Like I don’t know why I blog. I have been questioning my reasons a hundred times and stilli find no answer. I am certainly not a good stylist. Better said I have not got a clue and rely on others to style me. So why do I continue blogging? No idea. I might just pack it up one day. All of a sudden.
As I said, a difficult topic.
Greetje
That is so funny that your blog name was chosen on a whim. I love the name, and I do think it suits you and your blog. You must have grown into it.
I do think that people start blogging with certain expectations. I started initially to market my business. Then the business subsided and I decided to switch gears and go into fashion blogging because I’ve always been a fashion freak and clothes horse.
Other people think that they will be able to start blogging and make some decent $ at it. They don’t realize that it rarely happens that way.
This year I was really trying hard for my fashion blogging to make more of an impact. I was forcing myself to post every day.
Then my husband got seriously ill. Shortly after that I too became very sick. It changed the way I blog and the way I think about blogging.
Now I do it to connect with people like yourself. Share a conversation. A moment. Comfort someone.
Sure I still do a bit of fashion because I love it, but I’m no longer chasing the readers. I blog about me, what makes me laugh, what makes me sad and I share those moments hoping in some small way to either entertain or help someone out.
When my husband got sick I came very close to quitting blogging. But all the wonderful supportive responses from people that I didn’t even know read my blog kept me from quitting.
In the end you will need to do what you feel is best for you. You’re fun to have around and think many of your readers would miss you and your bubbly personality.
BTW I love your idea of bloggers meeting up!
How are you and your husband now, Suzanne?
I am still in recovery. I go for another ultra sound this week and then have a scope scheduled for November that I am not looking forward to at all. After that I’m hoping that I get a clean bill of health.
My husband is much better. He had what we thought at the time was a very large cancerous tumour removed from his kidney. In the end it turned out he was one of the 3% that wasn’t cancer. We were so lucky.
For me I had a surgery that went bad and they ruptured my bladder. It was the worst thing of my life.
These little incidents really teach you to value your health and your life and stop taking the daily details for granted. I hope to pass that along although it has been my experience that you won’t really “get it” until something happens to you that forces you to stop in your tracks.
You are very lucky to be able to travel with your husband and see all different areas of the world and experience different things. I think you squeeze lots out of your days.