06th May 2012
Sunday // 12am // 3 weeks ago
are fashion bloggers in general [but at mbfwa specifically] redundant?
instant coverage. it’s a great thing right? fashion weeks around the world have official cafes and media centres including mercedes benz fashion week australia [mbfwa] where wireless internet is provided .
when fashion blogging became a “thing” it was heralded as a breathe of fresh air, a quick almost instant alternative to fashion magazines. bloggers were eager to actually blog about the shows they were seen at. in paris and new york the bloggers were often provided with a laptop in the front row.
magazines take time. australian vogue comes out when all is done and dusted and for the most part only really features dion lee and rwb [i love you rwb i am not sassing, just truth bombing]. grazia shows highlights a week after the fact. but mostly is just model off duty shots and street style.
so fashion bloggers are getting invited now even though they are not real press.
let’s keep in mind [some mainly the international bloggers] are getting front row seats and free gifts from A LOT of these designers. and goodie bags. seriously after fashion week you do not really need to buy lipstick or nail polish and hair treatments for a year. plus some designers gave away bottles of vodka, others gave away handbags or necklaces etc etc.
susie bubble came out with portable to give a series of [ridiculously priced] speeches so i am not sassing her. she did not come out here on government funds.
international bloggers bryanboy, rumi and candace lake however were guests of destination nsw [a government funded organisation]. which means a free trip and free hotel and various dinners/events in honour of them. along with a fashion week escort [dion lee, camilla, terry biviano] to show them around “their sydney”.
this is provided in exchange for their “honest” opinion and coverage of the event. but when you get a free ride how honest will your opinion truly be? anything you write is bascially a sponsored post.
let’s total it up.
susie bubble wrote about 2 shows and a designer/artist who was not showing at fashion week but susie found her work interesting. rumi neely of fashiontoast wrote about one headband and posted a fistful of photos of herself pouting. bryanboy wrote nothing. oh wait! bryanboy wrote a tweet which sparked an article on pedestrian.tv. elin kling of style by kling wrote nothing. candace lake posted twice with 3 street style photos.
of the street style photographers tommy ton posted two photos to jak and jil and has been posting on style.com. nothing from the street peeper. the facehunter has one post up.
let’s look at the “big name” australian bloggers. gary pepper vintage? nothing. k is for kani? nothing. harper and harley? 4 instagram photos of various runways interspersed with 20 selfies and pictures of juice. zanita? no content. just selfies. studded hearts had one post of street style. oracle fox? selfies. tuula? two posts of selfies. shine by three? two posts of selfies. one of detail shots from aje and one post of backstage shots at romance was born.
and those who think they are a big deal. fashion hayley wrote nothing and skipped most of the shows. sea of ghosts wrote nothing of the shows but had two outfit posts.
as guests of mbfwa who take up seats i truly feel like these people should actually be writing about the shows they see. mbfwa is an invitation only event. it is not open to the general public. it is not a time to strap on your one pair of statement shoes and pose and pout outside of the shows for the waiting street style photographer parasites.
designers have to PAY for the shows at fashion week. a show at mbfwa runs at over $10,000 if done frugally. off site shows cost the label more as a rule.
i know it is “cool” to be street snapped and be able to tell your friends “oh i’m going to fashion week” etc etc but if you are not going to write about the collections why the hell are you there? if you are not going to turn up to the show why bother rsvping and confirming your attendance?
you are taking up space at these shows where a potential buyer could be getting a look at the collection [yes buyers have their own presentations but it is one thing to see an item on a hanger and another thing entirely to see how a garment moves].
in short personally i believe fashion bloggers should be banned/discouraged from attending mbfwa or given 2 shows max to cover. with some form of contract signed that they will actually post about the shows and not just what they are wearing. if the blogger does not bother with following this they should not be invited back.
fashion week is about the designers showing their collections to the press and buyers/potential new buyers. this is one of the busiest, most stressful weeks for a designer. this week is about them and the collections. not about you, your jeffrey campbell shoes or the blazer you bought at a sample sale and are just dying to get photographed in.
either provide the service you are there for or fuck back off to the outer suburbs and compile your tumblr or blog about asos or whatever it is you do.
Not everything is "orchidaceous" and pink unicorn glitter sprinkles.
