Call me old school, but I am in awe of how many doors open for you when you say “I have a blog” these days lol–it seems like everyone, whether with or without experience as the case maybe, is either an Editor, Editor-in-Chief or Fashion Editor. (Wish I thought of that scam to get free stuff 20 years ago as a penniless student! Here at Cassius Eyewear, we receive on average around 5-6 emails a week from fashion bloggers asking for press samples; some are genuine, others just blowing smoke up yer ass).
But seriously, a few months ago I wrote about Condé Nast and how in general we’ve seen a major decline in magazine circulation, due largely to a decline in advertisers, the recession and strong competition from blogger sites–but I had NO idea how young a lot of these fashion “bloggers” were/ are.
“Traditional fashion publications are all learning to adapt to this new force,” said Géraldine Dormoy, the online fashion editor for the French magazine L’Express.
Ms. Dormoy, who is in her 30s, has been on both ends of the fashion media continuum. She created the blog Café Mode five years ago and was later offered a fashion position at L’Express, a widely read weekly. She continues to produce her blog.
That a younger crowd is making its mark in online journalism should not come as a surprise. Tools available on the Web — in addition to the proclivity of younger people to adapt to them — has made it easier to create a Web site, blog or network.
“Today’s teenagers never had to discover the Internet,” said Tomas Gonsorcik, head of intelligence at the social media consultancy Interaction London. They were “almost pre-determined to master the new means of media and communication in a way that is qualitatively much richer than the older generation.”
Mr. Gonsorcik said the online projects present many advantages. Internet blogging tools offer simple layouts that resemble Web sites, making the blogs and other projects almost indistinguishable from traditional online media, he said.
At the same time,” Mr. Gonsorcik said, they “reach out a demographic beyond their own by the very ability to sit side-by-side their older competitors in the search engine result.”
And they have been received and recognized by the fashion industry in part because of the value it places on self-training.
“Fashion is one of the few fields which accepts people with little formal training,” Ms. Dormoy said. “Through these blogs, these young girls show their ability to work as stylists or photographers.”
The New York Times published an interesting article about the next generation of “Young Bloggers” that “Have Ear of Fashion Heavyweights“, and some of them are sitting front and centre at some of the most important fashion shows at New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this week. Among them: 24 year old Susie Lau, and her blog Style Bubble–last May, Lau was made commissioning Editor for Dazed Digital, the online edition of Dazed & Confused; 23 year old Alix Bancourt, and her blog Cherry Blossom Girl; 18 year old Alie Suvelor, Editor-in-Chief of Dirrty Glam–now in its 24th issue, with an English-language version; 17 year old Jane Aldridge, and her blog Sea of Shoes–most notably came to attention when Kanye West sent her a picture of him reading her blog; 16 year old Rumi Neely, and her blog Fashion Toast–from front row at BCBG in New York to special guest ANZFW later this month; and 15 year old Camille Rushaneady, and her blog Childhood Flames–the youngest and the most lucrative with heavyweight, American Apparel advertising on her site… bear in mind, this is JUST a small handful.
To think the fate of Cassius Eyewear could potentially be in their hands lol–wow. I did check all the blogs out and must say, at such a ripe young age, I admire their initiative and tenacity. Well done guys.
Géraldine Dormoy of L’Express & Tomas Gonsorcik of Interaction London, offers some explanation and interesting insights in to this current era of the “teen fashion blogger“:
Ms. Dormoy, who is in her 30s, has been on both ends of the fashion media continuum. She created the blog Café Mode five years ago and was later offered a fashion position at L’Express, a widely read weekly. She continues to produce her blog.
That a younger crowd is making its mark in online journalism should not come as a surprise. Tools available on the Web — in addition to the proclivity of younger people to adapt to them — has made it easier to create a Web site, blog or network.
“Today’s teenagers never had to discover the Internet,” said Tomas Gonsorcik, head of intelligence at the social media consultancy Interaction London. They were “almost pre-determined to master the new means of media and communication in a way that is qualitatively much richer than the older generation.”
Mr. Gonsorcik said the online projects present many advantages. Internet blogging tools offer simple layouts that resemble Web sites, making the blogs and other projects almost indistinguishable from traditional online media, he said.
At the same time,” Mr. Gonsorcik said, they “reach out a demographic beyond their own by the very ability to sit side-by-side their older competitors in the search engine result.”
And they have been received and recognized by the fashion industry in part because of the value it places on self-training.
“Fashion is one of the few fields which accepts people with little formal training,” Ms. Dormoy said. “Through these blogs, these young girls show their ability to work as stylists or photographers.”
[via The New York Times]
-
kids designer clothing
