Originally posted on Dramatis Personae by Ashe Mischief:
I write this from a personal place, one that has been a big part of my life for nearly a decade and more thoughtfully impacts my daily life now. I’d been a stupid teenager and a stupid 20-something, racking up thousands of dollars in debt– on eating out, shoes, books, movies– some of these were my own stupidity, some of these were compensation and the results of rebuilding my life after Hurricane Katrina. At the end of the month, all I get is that bill saying that I owe this much.
We write about fashion– but we don’t often write or talk about the financial choices behind our sartorial choices.
Lately I’ve found myself recognizing how eliminating that temptation from my life has also had an impact on my ability to write as a fashion blogger. It’s crossing my mind more and more how we, as fashion bloggers, need to demystify finances and realize that spending and shopping go hand in hand– how do we do it, afford it, save for it? Or do we?
Since moving back to New Orleans, my sartorial life has taken a backseat, as I’ve tried to focus on paying down my credit card debts and student loans. As a result, my shopping has hopped in the backseat too– along with it, window shopping and temptation.
Moving back to New Orleans has taught me a bit about myself, including my habit of spiraling. Spiraling–the act of doing something once, only to feel the need to keep doing it. It happened this past month– what started as using my credit card to buy Lady Gaga tickets and added up to 2 Tarina Tarantino necklaces, a new purse from Alice & Isa, 2 new tops from B&Lu, and a couple dinners out with friends. Suddenly a month’s worth of progress on eliminating debt had been eliminated.
The only justification I have is that I bought things I really loved and have loved and wanted a long time.
In many ways, I think the rise of the fashion blogger has led to the rise of other things–increased need for consumption, a competitiveness to buy more and keep up with other bloggers. I remember reading about shopping addictions in magazines when I was younger, but I question if that’s on the rise too, with instant access to dozens of sale emails and posts popping up before our eyes every second.
Sometimes I can’t help but wonder, what’s the real cost of being a fashion blogger?
It’s something we keep quiet about publicly, but whisper about in g-chats and emails. Is that blogger always buying new things? How does she afford it all? And in an effort to keep up, we have two options: buy it ourselves or seek it out from companies in the form of payments/sponsorships/review products.
Birdiee said to me, “The act of buying is so integral to writing that sometimes I wonder how bloggers keep it up – there are a lot of bloggers who do editorials because they haven’t got the funds to keep up.”
Recently I went shopping with a girl friend in the French Quarter. We were deliberating jewelry at Ragin’ Daisy, when I realized that I wanted this particular necklace and pair of earrings (totaling $57 before tax). I also knew that I couldn’t afford them at the moment, so I’d have to pay by credit card. So I didn’t buy them.
I’ve seen whispers from bloggers who’ve hidden from their debts and bad shopping habits, but never opened up that side with their readers. The fact is, the need to buy, to remain stylish, to support our style, allow it to grow, change, evolve, has a price. Just how high do we let it get?
Jennine of the Coveted says of her own habits with shopping,
“When I first started blogging, I was well into a very destructive bad shopping habit, and when I started my blog, at first it fueled my already destructive spending. I remember reading somewhere on Style Bytes that she ran out of money, until the next credit card came in the mail, and at the time it seemed like..’oh, that’s how she does it!’ So, like an idiot, I did the same thing. I can’t give numbers, but I was in a lot of debt…but now, I have paid almost 2/3 of it off (after next month, I’ll have one more credit card to go, and I’m out of consumer debt). And I’ve learned my lesson. Bad spending habits aren’t worth it, not even for my blog.”
Michelle at Wicked Whimsy told me how real financial responsibility often holds her back as a blogger– she says,
One of the things that holds me back from doing more outfit posts, embarrassing as it may be, is that I just don’t have the cash to keep up with the constant influx of new clothes, shoes, and accessories that other fashion bloggers seem to have, even if I shopped on a serious budget. I feel like, because of this, most people don’t want to see outfits that are continual reworkings of my closet favorites (although I guess the Uniform Project could be an example to the contrary).
When bloggers are racking up thousands of dollars of debt or waiting for the next credit card bill to arrive, where do we draw a line? Form blogger support groups to keep each other from spending– and dressing– outside of our means? Or do we destroy an illusion–of carefree living, style as art– by bringing finance in to the fashion mix?
This is a very helpful post, I was looking for this information. Just so you know I located your blog site when I was doing research for blogs like mine, so please check out my site sometime and leave me a comment to let me know what you think.
Wow, this is a really great post, lots of good thought cookies
I think it is what you make it honestly. I am insanely resourceful, creative, practice discretion, and go high-end store solely for inspiration (for the most part). When I was in my early twenties, living alone, and supporting myself, I would sometimes sacrifice groceries for shopping but I just consider that prioritizing.
My goal as a blogger/vlogger now is to teach the art of styling oneself and show that it can be as affordable as you need it be. I am also very real and very transparent. Heck, I started shopping at Ross because we bought our first home and didn’t have as much disposable income. Then my blog ended up being a resume for my current job *pinches self* and I only spend a small percentage of that income on clothing. In that way, my blog is monetized I guess.
I also strive for a ‘signature style’ and you WILL see me wearing the same pieces of clothing over and over and over again. I get loads of pleasure out of being a “clothing enthusiast”, I do not need to own the clothes to get the enjoyment from them. I go to Saks for the same reason I go to the art museum, to be inspired. I also enjoy my limits because that creates a challenge and I LOVE challenges
So fashion bloggers, just do you. Do what you do best and make it work. Remember that we all have circumstances and nobody expects perfection or for you have the same budget as Vogue.
lots and lots of love
~Valerie
.-= CharmedValerie´s last blog ..Impeccable style in 3 easy steps =-.
Just read this article right now, and you make great valid points! I know so many of my friends that are fashion bloggers, feeling the pressure to buy things because it would make great style posts. And some of my friends use the fact that they have a fashion blog to justify their purchases. Even though i’ve never been in consumer debt, I too, catch myself doing that sometimes! Luckily i’ve been pretty good at my spending habits lately, but I guess I have no choice since i’m paying for university myself haha.
I keep wondering how fashion bloggers keep buying things, and travel EVERYWHERE as though it were no big deal. So I googled a string of words and found myself at your article. For some reason, it still hasn’t demystified how the just out of college fashionistas are going from city to city traveling, and always buying more. I have a job, but I’m also still in college… and I want what I see everyone else wearing. But … I know I can’t afford it – so how can they?
Thanks for this article.
It’s so much easier to spend than to make for us bloggers out here. There are a few things I’ve learned and try to live by (although I slip up from time to time) when deciding to shop. Moderation is the key really in that some of us get caught up in the “oh, I got this on sale so even though I spent $250 I could’ve spent $500 so it’s ok.
1. Never buy anything full price. Typically I only whip out the plastic when I can save 50% or more and I do research to make sure it’s actually 50% off the original price. Price compare at Shopstyle and find out who’s got the best price, not always perfect but a great tool.
2. Don’t sacrifice a monthly savings account in order to shop. Seriously, I’ve done this in the past and regretted it.
3. Along the same lines as what Charmed Valerie said, in that I really love window shopping and finding a luxe look for less.
4. Read lots of reviews before buying, especially for cosmetics! Makeupalley.com is great site.
5. Take advantage of free shipping and free returns for online shopping because those costs can add up quickly.
.-= Sophie´s last blog ..Jeffrey Campbell Fall-Winter 2010 Lookbook =-.
I understand completely… I’m happy to announce that I had only 1 yr in my 20something decade where I became materialistic and wanted it all and so on and so on… Ive always been down to earth and believe fashion is a form of expression… one, where u can mix and match making it look good with your own confidence and it all depends how you carry it on… But with that single year… I made a snowball effect… which I may say its still taking me time and money to pay off…
I’m glad I made this mistake at my 20 something when I’m still young to start clean and fresh… I now understand… shopping is not a sport and its not a sin… wearing brands is nice but not mandatory… having it all doesn’t bring happiness just provides pretty things to look at, etc etc…
Thanks for your article… No one ever writes about living outside your budget…
One good day, I took a look on my clothes-spitting closet and realised that, even when I bought many pretty things that i liked at the moment, I still had so many cravings on the latest-objet-dé-désir!
And then, I asked myself: am I meant to be only a consumer? All I have learnt, loved, worked, and suffered ends up piling up in a corner of my room-and, of course, on my credit card account?
I think that fashion blogging is some kind of a tool to change a little bit fashion biz-because now it’s not only about having the latest, but to have the creativity to make things work with vintage or even DIY stuff. An advice for the shopaholics? sign up to Poupeegirl and shop for your avatar doll: it’s free and funny, and works for the shopping craving!
I actually almost gave up on fashion blogging because of this problem. The thing is though, I do write about the financial side of fashion. I was in love with some $15 Anna Sui nail polish and I told the readers that I just couldn’t afford to buy all of the colors. Then I came up with a DIY project so I didn’t have to buy $90 worth of nail polish. Another post I did was about my frustration with fashion blogging. It seems that alot of people feel the financial pressures of blogging. Some bloggers pt the price of what they bought on their blog so it feels like they are actually paying attention to what they are buying. There are others who are just in all designer clothing. I tend to gravitate towards the thriftier bloggers because they isert more personality into their outfits. If everything is off the runway then of curse it’s going to be chic. However if you have constraints, like a budget, your own sense of style can be displayed better.
Fashion bloggers going into extreme debt is a very scary proposition, because I think as part of the fashion community it would be easy for us to unwittingly reinforce the problem.
Although I have wondered how some bloggers are able to afford all their new clothes, I have to admit the first thing I think when I see a post featuring a beautiful pair of Ann Demeulemeesters isn’t, “wow, aren’t you supposed to be a struggling art student?”, it’s “Ooh, love your shoes!”
Like Carla said, it’s easy to use your fashion blog to justify clothing purchases. (I know I can be guilty of this.) It’s probably even harder to stay in control when you get streams of comments telling you how cute your new purchases are.
Great post! I’ve never really thought of blogging from this angle.
As a 15 year old with no allowance, I depend on the money I get from my Birthday and Christmas. So I go to Primark (a very cheap shop) and second hand shops to get me through. When shopping, the last thing I think about is ‘oh I should buy something because I haven’t done an outfit post in a while’. I think ‘How often will I wear this? Do I have anything similiar? Do I need it?’ There’s nothing wrong with using some pieces over again in outfit posts, even if it’s a statement piece like a dress. Also, do bloggers really need to own 3 variations on basically the same bag just because it’s Alexander Wang and -insert fashion blogger here- has one?
This was a very well written post with some serious information. Just starting my blog I always kept thinking “well maybe if I had the it shoes of this season…” but realistically I am a student on a budget. I work hard for every dollar I spend, thats why thrift stores are my best friend!