Fashion News: Bloggers

Can You Trust the Editorial Integrity of Personal Style Blogs? A Closer Look at How Bloggers Make Money

by Hayley Phalen

 Power bloggers with Dolce & Gabbana | Source: Harpers Bazaar

Once the provenance of earnest fashion fans on the fringes of the industry, blogs have evolved into legitimate media sources and, more importantly, big moneymakers. Just look at today’s WWD story highlighting “hot fashion bloggers” like Bryan Boy and Susie Bubble. The feature goes on to detail how each notable blogger makes their money, how many monthly page views their sites get, and presents an important question: “Bloggers sitting front row have become commonplace—as have partnerships with leading brands and fashion houses that often blur the nature of what they do: Reportage and criticism or marketing and promotion?”

Whether it’s by partnering with brands, styling shoots, receiving payment (or free product) for writing posts or getting commission on the sale of items they post about, some bloggers are seriously cashing in on their influence. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with making money. These bloggers work hard, are dedicated to their followers and add a unique voice to the fashion dialogue. “Bloggers produce original content; they have a unique talent [whether it be photographing, styling, writing] and it’s obvious,” says Karen Robinovitz, co-founder and chief creative office of Digital Brand Architects, an agency that reps “top tier bloggers.” “Why would you, for instance, hire any stylist when you can hire just as talented a stylist but one that also has 75,000 followers?”

But as blogs make the transition from personal style diaries to profit-turning businesses, some readers have begun to feel that original and unbiased content, once the keystone of what made blogs so relevant, has taken a hit.

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College Fashionista Feature!!!

Name: Megan Mansell

Year: Junior

Major: Retail

Favorite Designer: Alexander wang

One fashion item that you can’t leave the house without? Oversized watch!

How did you find out about College Fashionista and how did you get involved and became a writer/Style Guru? 

I was a part of the fashion show my freshman year and we advertised the show on CF’s website…I started reading the blog and fell in love…I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.

How long have you been a writer/Style Guru for CF?

This is my second semester

 

What do you love about being a writer/Style Guru for CF?

I think one of the most amazing parts is that it has opened my eyes to a world of fashion I never really saw. I catch myself up downing every student I walk by and I realize how much fashion shows somebody’s passions and creativity. I never really looked beyond the fabulous fashions of New York, Paris, Milan…but I have been so pleasantly surprised with what my fellow badgers have to offer in terms of uniqueness! 

What do you usually write about, women’s wear, men’s wear, hair, make-up, accessories? Do you have a specific focus?

Men’s wear is my focus this semester. This has been a total challenge for me because I am so particular when it comes to mens fashion. I am stubborn about what I love and what I hate.

What do you do to keep yourself updated with current fashion that helps you aid with your writing for CF? Read magazines, blogs, fashion websites? What are your favorites? (examples Style.com, Marie Claire magazine, New York Times style section).

Love style.com…I also work at a clothing store (Twigs) and being there has opened my eye to so many different fashions in so many different age groups. It has totally enhanced my ability to pick out trends ahead of the curve. I also do my own blogging and have inspiration boards at home…anytime I see something I love I take a picture…cut out a page, whatever it be to keep myself inspired.

You cover an array of street style at UW Madison, do other people’s style influence and make your personal evolve? What is your personal style?

In all honesty I have never been a big believer in being influenced by other peoples fashions. I grew up in a house of five girls where not one of us had similar styles…so I’ve always kind of tried to be the opposite of influenced by street style or the style of my peers.

My personal style is all over the place. One day I’m sport chic with high tops leggings and a v-neck and the next I’m wearing a girly dress and boots. My personal style reflects my mood…and that changes constantly!

If any of our TASA readers wanted to become a CF Style Guru, how can they become one?

One way to do it is to contact a current style guru and just meet up to talk about what the internship entails etc. another way is to get in touch with our founder, Amy Levin, who is always open to new members of the team! And as always…visit our website!

College Fashionista Feature!!!

Name: Jamey Hastings

Year: Junior

Major: Communication Arts & International Studies

Favorite Designer: Jeffery Campbell

One fashion item that you can’t leave the house without?

My classic black Ray-Bans

How did you find out about College Fashionista and how did you get involved and became a writer/Style Guru?

Freshman year I saw a girl taking pictures of people dressed cute and I asked her about it. My friend at Boston University does it and this summer I asked her about whom to contact about becoming one.

How long have you been a writer/Style Guru for CF?

This is my first semester.

What do you love about being a writer/Style Guru for CF?

Having an excuse to talk about fashion with strangers!

What do you usually write about, women’s wear, men’s wear, hair, make-up, accessories? Do you have a specific focus?

The section I write for is “Fashionista/Fashionisto Spotlight” and I conduct an interview with people I find dressed fashionable around campus.

What do you do to keep yourself updated with current fashion that helps you aid with your writing for CF? Read magazines, blogs, fashion websites? What are your favorites? (examples Style.com, Marie Claire magazine, New York Times style section).

I’m an avid reader of NYLON Magazine. It’s a good combination of high fashion and street style, which is what I love. I’m also addicted to fashion blogs. Like, really addicted… My favorite includes Cupcakes and Cashmere, Lookbook.nu, The Blonde Salad, Fashionary EYE, and refinery29 Los Angeles section.

You cover an array of street style at UW Madison, do other people’s style influence and make your personal evolve? What is your personal style?

Other people’s style in Madison definitely influence my style. Not only do people dress very individually but also people who attend the University of Wisconsin are from all over the nation so you get a good varied of style from different parts of the country. The best way to describe my personal style is how I stated it in my Style Guru Bio on the site: “LF Stores had a lovechild with the Pacific Ocean and put on a pair of Jeffery Campbell shoes… Trendy with a beachy laid-back feel.”

If any of our TASA readers wanted to become a CF Style Guru, how can they become one?

If you go to the website there is in big orange writing in the right corner that says, “Become a Style Guru!” That’s probably a good place to start!

College Fashionista Feature!!!

Name: Caroline Radaj

Year: Senior

Major: Journalism and Communication Arts

Favorite Designer: I’m not big on designers since I can’t afford them and it just breaks my fashion driven heart, but I adore the unbeatable Mr. Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel. I also get happy when I see anything done by Christian Siriano, especially because he has such great shoes.

One fashion item that you can’t leave the house without? A gigantic purse and lipgloss.

How did you find out about College Fashionista and how did you get involved and became a writer/Style Guru? I became involved with CollegeFashionista on accident, really. I was interning with Moe Publicity, a small, independently run PR firm who put on Wisconsin Fashion Week (yes, Wisconsin has a Fashion Week!) I came across CollegeFashionista one afternoon as I was just looking online at websites and I thought it might be interesting to have the site cover Wisconsin Fashion Week events. I contacted Amy Levin, the founder of the site and she said she would love to have CollegeFashionista have a presence at the events. At the time, there were no spots open on the Wisconsin Style Guru team but eventually Amy asked me to write and here I am!

How long have you been a writer/Style Guru for CF? Two years!

What do you love about being a writer/Style Guru for CF? It’s been really amazing to see the site grow as it has. When I started the site had a small following but now CollegeFashionista is one of the top ranked websites for college age students and we’re increasing our partnerships with other websites and businesses. We’ve had events with Juicy Couture and in Madison we’ve had numerous events with Bop and have a lot of neat and exciting things planned for this semester! I also love when I photograph someone and they get really excited or say it makes their day. That’s the excitement and rewarding feeling that comes from writing for CollegeFashionista. 

What do you usually write about, women’s wear, men’s wear, hair, make-up, accessories? Do you have a specific focus? We have different columns each day of the week and I’ve written for Style Advice of the Week and Weekend Forecast, which are columns that feature someone and their outfit and then how readers can incorporate that Fashionista/o’s look into their own. This semester I’m writing the Fashionista/o Spotlight which is a weekly interview with someone where they get to talk about their personal style and what inspires them.

What do you do to keep yourself updated with current fashion that helps you aid with your writing for CF? Read magazines, blogs, fashion websites? What are your favorites? (examples Style.com, Marie Claire magazine, New York Times style section). I’m addicted to Twitter so I follow a lot of fashion people on there and follow their blogs. I’m also really inspired by the people I see on the street. I learn so much from others regarding fashion just walking to class!

You cover an array of street style at UW Madison, do other people’s style influence and make your personal evolve? What is your personal style? Just like seeing people on the street keep me updated with current trends, they definitely inspire my own style. I also dread being asked what my personal style is because it changes daily! One thing that is cohesive in my style are my accessories. I’m obsessed with big rings and it’s gotten to the point where if I forget to wear one, I will literally go back to my apartment in risk of being late for class.

If any of our TASA readers wanted to become a CF Style Guru, how can they become one? CollegeFashionista does a hiring process one every semester and then for the summer. The process is an interview as well as a mock submission of a blog as if you would submit it to CollegeFashionista. Right now we have all of our Gurus set but Spring semester hiring will be starting very soon! Make sure to follow us on Twitter @CFashionista and “Like” us on Facebook so you can get updates on when we’re hiring.