In an article posted on Refinery29 yesterday, the writer questions the role of New York Fashion Week in regards to fashion — posing the question: With a greater general public interest in Fashion Week as an event, mainly due to its growing presence on blogs and social media, has it actually become more exclusive?
How could that be, you may ask. The article goes on to explain that as bloggers take over the front row of Fashion Week (squeezing in seats that were once reserved for editors and buyers), and create buzz about their experience, the more the the people on the “outside” (ranging from those not involved with fashion to those sitting in the third row at the same show) have a classic case of FOMO. That’s right: The Fear Of Missing Out. This, in turn, actually creates more of a divide since more people are aware of the rift.
Fashion bloggers, in a nutshell, are a major piece in the growing gulf.
One quote from the article, in particular, from an anonymous PR senior account executive, explained: “There’s an ever-growing sense of entitlement. Don’t get me wrong, the evolution of the blog and plethora of social media channels is invaluable. But now there’s a host of self-proclaimed ‘style experts’ who attribute everything they know to spending hours watching reruns of Project Runway, and cause a scene at the front door in some outlandish outfit (you know, for street-style pics, duh) demanding entry. At the end of the day, fashion is a business.”
But maybe the bloggers in the front row are just a part of the changing tide — it was Glenda Bailey who may have hit the nail on the head, “just because more people came to see your movie doesn’t mean it’s going to win the Oscar.” Meaning, just because more people buzz about your show on the internet, doesn’t mean necessarily mean it’s of worth.
How do you feel about the exclusivity of Fashion Week? How do you feel bloggers have changed the landscape of Fashion Week? Is it for the better, worse, or just simply, something different?
[Image: Ryan Lochte at New York Fashion Week]
I do think bloggers have changed the landscape. I think if it were remain pure (no pay for wearing a designers wears), it would be a great thing. REAL people that wear the actual clothes because they WANT to.