There are no-nonsense people and there are nonsense people. And it's been my experience that nonsense people tend to consume Cocoa Krispies and Lucky Charms and Cap'n Crunch ('nonsense food,' if you will). Consequently, we nonsense types spend hours and hours staring at cardboard creatures like the Trix Rabbit and absorbing his ethos, slowly ingesting the principles of exclusionary coolness while rapidly ingesting sugar-saturated spoonfuls of Vitamin B-12.
-Chuck Klosterman
-Chuck Klosterman
Wednesday Playlist
Perhaps I will start making this a weekly ritual...shuffling my itunes to create a 20 song playlist for a mid-week pick me up.
This Week:
1. Mississauga Goddam - The Hidden Cameras
1. Mississauga Goddam - The Hidden Cameras
2. He Knows - The Futureheads
3. Peace Beneath the City - Iron and Wine
4. The Weather Girl - Shiny Toy Guns
5. Crown on the Ground - Sleigh Bells
6. Back to Sleep - Frank Turner
7. In September - Hayden
8. Let There be Light - Justice
9. A Reasonable Man - The National
10. Magic - The Cars
11. Robot Rock - Daft Punk
12. Stop - People Press Play
13. Havana - Jesse Cook
14. Never Destroy Us - The Dears
15. Valerie (ft Amy Winehouse) - Mark Ronson
16. You and I - Ingrid Michaelson
17. 06M - Wangwen
18. Picture This - Blondie
19. The King of Carrot Flowers - Neutral Milk Hotel
20. I Want you Back - Discovery
Toronto Food and Wine Expo
Journalism interns may never see a paycheck, but once in a while we get some free tickets. I'll take it.
Fashion Blogs Rob the Magazine Industry
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| Photo from the Satorialist |
A few short years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to spot a fashionista with their staple accessory- an issue of their favourite magazine, in hand. The glossy pages filled with rich colours and seasonal designs were the source of fashion news and inspiration. Fashion journalism has since shifted. Magazine sales have decreased, and fashion blogs have increased. People are looking on independent fashion blogs and websites such as the Satorialist to get their daily dose of fashion. Those in the fashion magazine industry are beginning to wonder whether magazines will be around in the next decade or if the online phenomenon will take over for good.
Back in September The Observer wrote that 13-year-old blogger Tavi Gevinson was the ‘star of New York Fashion Week.’ This young fashionista is the perfect example of how a regular person with a unique view of fashion can use the internet as a tool for fashion stardom. The article stated that “Her swift rise to fashion fame highlights the role the internet has played in breaking down traditional barriers to entry, with bloggers being cited as influences by high-profile designers including Marc Jacobs.” Her eccentric wardrobe and intriguing observations caught the eye of many, all thanks to launching a free website.
Fashion depends heavily on the use of imagery. The photographs presented in magazines are clean and professional, but as of late people seem to be more interested in ‘real’ images. Photos of young women and men who have similar budgets and a big imagination are appealing because they are relatable. Lookbook.nu is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Fashion bloggers sign up, post their ensembles daily and await comments. Yuri Lee was the creator of the site which now has 50,000 members and gets over a million unique views per month.
Shreya Patel worked in the Toronto fashion industry then decided last year that she wanted a more culturally rich experience. She moved back to where she was born, Mumbai, India, and worked for Vogue. She believes that the established magazines are here to stay, in one form or another. “Magazines like Vogue are a classic, I think in 10 years people still will be reading and buying magazines like Vogue,” says Patel. “If online journalism does take over, maybe Vogue will open an online subscription but people will still have to pay for it.” Patel stated that she was surprised that even internationally, online fashion trends are spreading everywhere. “There were fashion bloggers sitting in the front row at fashion week in Dubai. They are pretty much at the same level as magazine editors now, it’s crazy!”
Another shift that has occurred is the trend in images. Photographs that have a vintage look have made a comeback. Magazines are trying to make their shoots look less professional and more natural- but independent blogs accomplish this with ease. Amateur photographers display their style all over the internet- capturing the realism and imperfect images that fashion consumers crave today.
The shift has been noted by fashion designers as well. Jessica Biffi is a Canadian designer who stumbled into fame after her appearance on Project Runway. Biffi has certainly recognized the change even since her days as a student a few short years ago. “With the web and the ease of access to fashion these days everything is viral. The new crop of bloggers is changing the way that people intake their fashion news,” she says. However Biffi isn’t willing to give up on print. “I read magazines on lazy Sundays, I love the images. For me a magazine is a great tool to create inspiration boards. I love editorial spreads.” Surprisingly, Biffi admits that she doesn’t pay much attention to fashion blogs. Perhaps the importance and love for magazines from fashion professionals will keep them in demand.
Real people reporting from their homes on blogs isn’t just occurring in the fashion world- it’s happening everywhere. The past few years citizen journalism has greatly increased in popularity. Derick Chetty is a fashion reporter for the Toronto Star and recently published an article about the death of magazines. He pointed out that blogs face the problem of little means of income. “Blogs, for all their web hits and burgeoning influence, are as barren as Siberia when it comes to commanding advertising dollars,” he says. Unless online sources can find a new way to make a profit off of their views, that struggle will continue.
Otiena Ellwand interned at an online magazine called Cheek Magazine. She says that connecting with other journalists is easier when things are published online, and that’s what she likes about it. “I like how people have such unique and niche interests and how blogs foster a sense of community. You start following someone's blog, you add them on Twitter, you may correspond, and you have a bit of a new friend.” Although Ellwand endorses the online world, she doesn’t believe that magazines and online journalism is comparable. “I would skim a blog, I would read a magazine through.”
Although fashion is known for recycled trends, the online phenomenon seems to be here to stay. No one can say exactly where the fashion journalism world is headed. However it’s hard to imagine a world without magazines, and the ability to physically hold fashion imagery in our hands. Perhaps the magazine is like the little black dress- a classic concept that will transcend through history.
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| Theodora Richards |
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| Fashion Week 09 |
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| Fashion Week 09 |
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