Mo' Money, Mo' Problems [Part One]
[ 5 July 2010 ]
A couple of months ago, I was featured in the New York Post in an article whose premise was the fact that the average woman spends three years of her life shopping (!). The journalist, Sheila, has been reading galadarling.com for a long time, & approached me to ask if I’d like to be included.
While there are a lot of things I said in my interview about my spending habits that I would have liked to have had emphasised — like the fact that I don’t own a credit card, that part of my work as a fashion editor & writer is to know what’s in the stores, & that I believe supporting small business is really important — they’re right that I enjoy shopping & do so in a guilt-free manner. I believe we all have a right to spend our money however we please!
Money: a feminist issue?
It seems like the subject of money & how we spend it — especially as women — is a hot one right now. Ashe Mischief recently wrote Finance & the Fashion Blogger: Ignore-ance which received oodles of comments & also sparked a conversation on Twitter between myself & a few fashion bloggers I know (@thecoveted, @verhext, @ashemischief, @Birdiee & @holierthanthou).
One of the things Ashe pointed out was that fashion bloggers particularly feel the pressure to always go bigger & better, & “keep up with the Joneses”. After all, if every blogger in your RSS reader has a Chanel 2.55 handbag, eventually you’re probably going to feel like you should have one too.
When you spend a lot of time online, especially looking at style or fashion websites, your view of reality becomes immensely distorted. You start to think it’s normal to have multiple pairs of Christian Louboutin stilettos, a rotation of designer handbags & a constantly multiplying wardrobe. Newsflash: Most people cannot live up to this kind of hype! Most women will never own anything designer, & they probably don’t care, either!
Sometimes disengaging from the internet & giving yourself a stern reality check is really important!
Ultimately though, if you’re lusting after a Chanel 2.55 because everyone else has one, that is all about peer pressure. (No, it’s not just about smoking behind the bike-sheds!) Whether you succumb to peer pressure or not is entirely up to you, & I would add, how confident you are in yourself.
I have to say that while I sometimes see the items on other girl’s blogs & feel envious, it very very very rarely results in me going out & buying the same thing. I can only recall one incident in which I’ve done that, which was when I saw a pair of BCBG Mendel booties on Sea Of Shoes. After calling around the stores in NY, all of which had sold out, I added the shoes to my eBay watchlist — & bought them, at a much cheaper price, a couple of months later.
Fashion bloggers are particularly susceptible to spending a lot to keep up, because essentially fashion is ALL about what’s new — which naturally means you’re going to be constantly aware of what is fresh — & constantly aware of what you don’t have. You end up focusing on what you lack as opposed to what is already in your possession.
If you’re a fashion blogger who takes it relatively seriously, you find yourself assaulted with this information constantly. The natural conclusion is to find yourself wanting the latest, greatest things, & there are always a gazillion latest, greatest things to choose from.
There used to be a lot of buzz in the fashion blogosphere about shopping your own closet & repurposing your old favourites, but I see less & less of that these days.
It’s an interesting phenomenon, though, because fashion is not the only industry in which there is always a new hot thing. What about tech bloggers? Are they all secretly racking up thousands of dollars in credit card bills so they can be the first blogger on the block with a tricked out iPad? I don’t think so.
Again, this is so fashion-related: it’s easy to feel like you can “never have enough” pairs of shoes, pink dresses, fabulous handbags. If you’re a tech blogger, you probably only need one of each thing. One phone, one computer, one crazy cool gadget which fills a need… But when it comes to fashion, there’s no limit, except your own level of restraint.
Fashion is so aspirational. Sometimes when we look at a skirt on Net-A-Porter or a pair of shoes on Zappos, it’s as if all rationale flies out the window. We don’t see them just as a bit of fabric or an architectural heel. These things are marketed to us in such a way that we feel like our lives will GENUINELY improve, GENUINELY get better, if we only had that item in our closet. The truth is that owning stuff doesn’t really change your life at all. If anything, it complicates matters.
Do you think some people get duped into trying to buy their way into the upper echelons of fashion blogging? If not, do you think people are duped by fashion in general?
Additionally, the majority of fashion bloggers are women — & it’s such an unfortunate phenomenon that so many of us assign an assessment of our own value or self-worth to what we own &, as an extension, how we look.
Though you may sometimes wonder, ‘How does she afford that?!’ while perusing your favourite blogs, I believe very strongly that the way people spend their money is their business, & their business alone. Ultimately, you will never know their story — whatever that might be — & sitting around trying to work someone out is a waste of your time & intelligence.
There are certainly some fashion bloggers who come from wealthy families, plenty who have corporate jobs in addition to their blogging capers, & some who work like maniacs on their blogs so that they can afford to buy the things they want (I’m in this camp!). But unless someone sits down with you & has a frank discussion about the nature of their income, you should never assume anything!
Let’s face it: the way Sarah Smith spends her money may not be the way I would want to spend mine, but that’s okay because it doesn’t affect me IN ANY WAY! I feel that this is especially true with fashion bloggers, most of whom you will never meet (or know)! How does their bank balance impact on your life, really?
So I ask you…
How do you feel when you read fashion blogs? Do they make you feel good, inspired & excited about style — or do they make you feel left out, jealous & uncomfortable? Do you feel a twinge when you see other women with your Ultimate Item Of Desire™? If you are a blogger, do you feel the pressure to have the latest, greatest thing to blog about or do you not care?
Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems parts two & three coming this week!
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What a wonderful, timely article! I’d love to hear more about living without a credit card, I’m resisting one as well but I’m finding it harder and harder to live in a world where credit cards are the norm.
I have to say, I love reading fashion blogs but I’m not sure how much of them I actually take in. Most of the clothing is either unavailable where I live (and I don’t want to pay masses of tax to have them delivered) or I simply can’t afford them. I guess I equate some of them with reading magazines; I appreciatively flip through the pages and save some pics for inspiration.
I actually like to follow the DIY-heavy blogs like Lovemaegan or kingdomofstyle since I like to feel smug about making something on the cheap while others pay the full retail price for essentially the same thing. Plus, I get to recycle old stuff that way. Eco-conscious all the way.
On the whole fashion blogs make me feel inspired. Although I’m certainly not able to afford many of the ‘ultimate’ items that a lot of bloggers have, I try and find cheaper, similar things.
In the last few months or so my blog has evolved into a fashion-type blog (due to me losing a lot of weight and finally feeling confident enough to dress the way I want to!) and I suppose I do feel a certain amount of pressure to buy new things a lot of the time. To be honest though, I’ve always had a bit of a shopping addiction!
Great article, Gala! x
Whenever I read fashion blogs, I usually just look at the picture and admire, but know that I couldn’t afford it. That’s fine with me though- it’s like looking at picture of amazing food and thinking “Wow” but knowing that I can’t afford it, but that’s okay with me.
Kennedy — I have a visa debit card which is awesome. You can use it for online purchases, whatever, but you can only charge what you can afford or it’ll be declined. It’s SUCH a great thing, you have to be really conscious about your purchases & also aware of what you have in your bank account! It’s the perfect counter to that head-in-the-sand “oh well I’ll buy it anyway” mindset which I think it’s really easy to get into (I have totally been there!).
Reikalein — I think viewing some blogs as like magazines is a great perspective & excellent way of putting it.
Great post, Gala!
Personally, I never feel compelled to spend beyond my means for the sake of my blog, but I think that has lot to do with being part of a really grounded and down-to-earth blogging circle. The girls on my RSS reader, who I swap comments and emails with, are the kind of girls who value personal style over “the next big thing” and I think we all like pretty things but know that we’re more than the things we own. I think that just like in real life, you can associate with people who lift you up or with people who bring you down. I just wouldn’t follow a blog if I felt left out or inferior reading it.
A very interesting topic, Gala! To be honest, I don’t think that any of the blogs that I read are purely just fashion blogs – sure, I love a pretty shoe or bag as much as the next girl, but it’s not really the kind of stuff that I’m likely to have an epiphany about or find ‘‘life changing’‘, so for that reason, I’d probably hurl myself in the ‘‘do not care’‘ category.
Also, perhaps I’m missing the point here COMPLETELY (and oh, it’s possible!), but I kind of feel as though the more comfortable you get with who you are and what your beliefs are, the less likely you are to have your feathers ruffled about somebody else having a $5000 scarf (drastic example!) while you don’t.
While I absolutely love and adore sites like Specktra and MakeupAlley (to name but two!) they are the sorts of places that can easily turn an interest into an obsession and send reality flying out the window. They can provide great info on products and help you make choices, but they can also feel like you need to own 90% of MAC’s eyeshadows or be on top of the newest, most expensive brands to call yourself a make-up enthusiast.
Taking a look at the collection/stash posts really underlines this for me – some of these women have sunk literally tens of thousands of dollars into these collections, with so many items that they could never physically use them all. This is not to say you can’t be intrigued by and love makeup, but those sorts of sites can really give you an unreasonable perspective. People post their hauls and it becomes sort of a competition, where people are always one-upping and encouraging each other to keep buying (especially with limited edition collections). I know we all have our hobbies/interests and like to sink money, time and love into them, but it’s easy to get swept up in a wave by internet communities, no matter what the topic is!
I’m not sure really, I sit on the fence. Part of me loves fashion and art and the other half tends to be analytical and skeptical.
Like from a sociological perspective is scoring stilettos for $900 really a deal because it was originally $1,600? Or are $900 shoes in themselves a ridiculous proposition?
I think that we would all like to think that we aren’t like the “others” that succumb to peer pressure and trends and advertising but the fact that advertisers consistently spend billions in advertising tells me that a lot of us are far more susceptible than we would like to think.
So in short yeah, I do feel guilty often.
“Fashion bloggers are particularly susceptible to spending a lot to keep up, because essentially fashion is ALL about what’s new — which naturally means you’re going to be constantly aware of what is fresh — & constantly aware of what you don’t have. You end up focusing on what you lack as opposed to what is already in your possession. “
I DEFINITELY agree with this. In one of my follow up posts to the Finance & The Fashion Blogger posts, I made a point to say— this isn’t about the money we make, but making sure we realize that we’re at an risk group in general. We already love clothes and fashion, and something like 15 million people in the US have shopping addictions. It seems like a little petri dish of breeding our bad habits if we don’t keep them in check!
I don’t care where people’s money comes from or how they do it— overall, I want people to think about their OWN habits, and if they’re not subconsciously trying to live outside of their means for pressure they’re essentially putting on their self.
Since my blog isn’t heavy on the “What I Wore” aspect, people DON’T know what I have and don’t have, what my spending habits are really like… and there’s part of me that likes that. There’s some liberation from my own people wardrobe being attached to my blog (and it grants me the time to write posts like that and say— “hey, maybe we should have this conversation instead of just whispering to our blogger friends about it).
Interestingly I decided this month to completely stop shopping – no clothes shoes accessories or beauty other than
shampoo/conditioner and other true essentials.
Like gala my blog isn’t about outfit posts so the desire for newness has nothing to do w the blog. I have no excuse! I just love clothes. And though I do resell/recycle in my blog store and at Beacons (used clothing resale), I still feel that I could be more responsible.
Also like Gala I have no credit cards (I have an Amex for work stuff) so it’s not about debt – however, I did watch Oprah’s debt diet series and it really made me think. I just want to see if I can “quit” my shopping habit for 30 days.
Could you?
Great piece Gala and wish me luck xox
The Glamourous Grad Student — I love your comment! That’s so great. Yeah, the people I associate with don’t care about labels at all & I love them for it! I am so not a designer shopper, most of the time I just cannot afford it & also cannot justify the expense! I am so much happier buying vintage, one of a kind things, & even though I occasionally see things on the runway which I like the look of, & would looove to have in my closet, I’m certainly not crying myself to sleep… !
Corrine/Frock & Roll — I totally agree with you… If you’re secure in yourself, why would someone else’s spending habits upset you in any way?
Sundae — I find those “haul” videos etc. really uncomfortable, I’ve only seen a couple of them & I have to turn them off. I’m really not into it!
Renee — $900 shoes is TOTALLY RIDICULOUS! I totally recognise that. I bought them as a gift to myself for surviving New York City, a hideous break-up, & some career milestones, & I doubt I will ever spend so much on a pair of shoes again ;D
Ashe Mischief — Yep. I think I said to you when we initially spoke about this on Twitter that I have eased up on outfit posts because sometimes it feels like a “Look what I got!”-fest & I don’t know if that’s cool in this climate. ??? I don’t know.
Holierthanthou — That is awesome! Let us know how you go. I think it’s a wonderful thought experiment if nothing else.
I see a lot of fashion and design blogs as a source of inspiration. I know I probably won’t ever spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of shoes, but I can see those shoes and recognize what I like about them and maybe look for something similar that’s in my price range.
Also I look at fashion as a form of art. It’s really cool to see what’s in style and when and how and what direction it’s going in (I took a costume history class in college and it was fascinating to see this though the ages!)
I do occasionally see something that makes me want to run right out to the store and buy it, and if it’s not $$$$ then I might just do that! But otherwise, it’s just something pretty to look at!
Reading fashion blogs inspire me. They don’t particularly make me feel as though I need to spend spend spend because if you’re handy with your money and a few safety pins you can generally achieve the look that you’re after with a minimum of fuss (and sewing, thankfully). Blogs remind me to use colour & texture, think outside the square and in the case of your blog, help me to remain positive.
That being said, Haute Macabre’s Shoeturday and $25/$50/$100 and Under features sorely test my self control!
I don’t really want that many items, it’s not like I can get them because most of it is designer or h&m, f21 and I can’t get those in Mexico.
I just use fashion blogs as inspiration for getting dressed when I want to get dressed up. There are also things that I don’t like, like vintage stuff but it’s ok because I don’t have to like everything.
As for the tech blogger thing, I don’t know tech bloggers but I do know some guys who cracked up credit card debt to get the new Apple anything as soon as it comes out. I have been known to spend a lot of money on cell phones and computers and techy pieces. I just like technology better than fashion.
Thanks Gala! I agree with you so much. For me, I love keeping up with and reading fashion blogs, but I know that most stuff I’ll never be able to afford on only a student budget. I still find fashion blogs inspirational though, especially when I’m shopping in second hand and vintage shops, I see a lot of things now with potential that I may have just overlooked before.
If I can limit my time spent looking at blogs, even yours Gala, it helps me relax, get a visually appealing fix, and some inspiration. But when I start to go crazy spending hours online looking at skinny pretty girls all dressed up…I can’t help but feel so inadequate.
I’ve also noticed there is a direct correlation between the hours I spend online and the amount of money I spend.
i never feel pressured to own designer clothes if i see them on a fashion blog. to me it’s just like reading an issue of vogue, nice to look at but nothing i can usually afford. i’ve never felt i needed to wear designer clothes to feel better about myself. having said that, if i see a designer item that i LOVE, that will be cohesive with a lot of other clothes in my wardrobe, that i think will remain in style for a long time, i will find a way to afford it (even if this means living on 2-minute noodles for a week!).
i’m all about investing in good quality pieces that will last a long time, regardless of brand or price. the reality is, not all expensive clothes are good quality and not all cheaper clothes are poor quality.
i don’t know much about tech blogging but i don’t think it’s a very fair comparison to make — clothes are 100% visible. our outfits are often the first thing others notice about us, so more care is taken in what we choose to wear because we’re more likely to be judged on that, rather than what phone we use. most clothes are designed to be trendy pieces, not worn for longer than a season. gadgets on the other hand are usually hidden away in our pockets/handbags, therefore one can make a much more personal choice. they are also designed to have a much longer lifespan, so there’s less need to have the brand new model of whatever that came out last week. clothes will always be on higher rotation than electronics — maybe that’s why there are so many more fashion blogs out there than tech blogs :)
You guys have such great, grounded, positive attitudes about this, I’m so thrilled to hear it! I also use fashion blogs for inspiration more than anything — shapes, texture, contrasts, ideas. They’re wonderful in that way.
Victoria — So interesting that you have found a correlation between the amount of time spent online & the amount of money! Do you find yourself buying things worn/recommended on blogs or is it more random than that? Just get into an online shopping browsing frenzy?
Awesome post Gala. I’m not a fashion blogger, but I do have dozens of personal fashion blogs on my Reader, and I read it every day. Though I don’t really care about having a pair of Chanel shoes or a Miu miu bag or whatever, reading those blogs everyday do affect my shopping habits.
I’m 22, I’m a law student (don’t have the time to get a full-time work), but I do have little jobs here and there. I tend to save a lot (I always want to travel!), but I still get the urge every month to buy “something”...a new blouse, a bag, jeans…it’s obvious that most of those things come from inspiring posts in my favourite fashion blogs. But, I always try to buy those things in thrift stores, or in sales. Even if I do see something I want in a store, I rather wait it to be cheaper than to buy it right away.
So eventhough I’m a fashion enthusiast, I think saving money for more worthy things (traveling!!) is better :D
It helps realizing that every person has a different life, different body, etc, and not because Jane from Sea of Shoes is skinny and millionare and has hundreds of designer shoes, it makes me less worthy of fashion! I’m not affected by that :)
olive — Totally a fair point about clothing being on higher rotation, didn’t think about that! When I take that into account, though, it’s hard to find anything else to compare fashion blogging to! Hmmm. Guess we’ll just have to continue blazing our own trail, as we’ve always done ;D
fran — Well all the research they’ve done on spending money says that you derive much much much more happiness & long-lasting pleasure from purchasing EXPERIENCES rather than things, so I think you’re on the right track! xox
I definitely feel jealous of other people when reading blogs and looking at what they can afford (and I can’t) ... Sure it’ll make me feel a bit down for a while, wishing that I could have that gadget, those clothes, thoes shoes, but in the end I can’t. While I do believe that “Shopping does not make you happy anyway” is a thing more likely to be said by someone who can’t afford to go shopping often/buy whatever he/she fancies, it’s still true to me. In the end, having that one bag or pair of shoes, or even all the shoes in the world that i’d want, wouldn’t make me become a happier person. That’s the thing that I think people should focus more on. It’s not about being happy through buying the newest fashion/etc. It’s about being happy with what you do. So ultimately if blogging about fashion (and the stuff they buy/ogle for their blogs) make them happy, then that’s great isn’t it?
I think I’ve moved past the arena of envy. Now I just look at fashion blogs for INSPIRATION to help me figure out how to wear pieces I already own, & (occasionally) what kind of pieces my wardrobe needs. But it’s not like I write on my clothing wishlist, “Chanel handbag”; I write something like, “small black bag.” I’m the type of girl who loves run-of-the-mill vintage & doesn’t especially lust over labels, which I guess is why I’m able to read fashion blogs on my high school allowance without wanting to tear all my hair out.
in the fashion blogs I read (they probably aren’t mainstream) the one thing sticks out between the all: individuality. And that comes across strongly. Lots of them mix and match and I love seeing an individuals style shine through, whether the item is thrifted or a alexa mulberry bag.
I guess having never followed fashion I don’t ever tend to feel envious of items, more the confidence people have to pull of certain outfits or just their own style shine through.
I’d say not strategically following on trend fashion is what makes a true fashion blog in my humble opinion.
I think I agree with others here who have said that blogs are an inspiration, but that if I see something I love that’s out of my price range I find an alternative, or re-style something from my own wardrobe.
I’ve only bought things I’ve seen on blogs a couple of times, once when it was something I’d been searching for everywhere and couldn’t find, and the other I’ll admit was an impulse purchase based entirely on how awesome it looked in the blog photos, but it was worth it!
I’m with Steph on the colour and texture angle, seeing other peoples’ amazing outfits encourages me to step beyond my everyday “safe” items. Plus I’ve picked up a few great ideas, such as wearing a top over a dress that has an amazing skirt section (an idea from you Gala – when you styled that bright pink dress with various different tops).
p.s money is such a dubious issue at best, that I believe people have an incredibly distorted view on. The mount of money people spend week in week out on drinks/taxi’s for nights out is taken lightly, where as if you don’t do that and spend a huge chunk in one go, the general consensus can’t seem to grasp you probably saved for xx item. And then assume and back bite that you’re just probably really loaded.
If not, do you think people are duped by fashion in general?
Personally, I don’t think fashion is duping people. I think it’s advertising that dupes people. From what I understand, the whole foundation that advertising predicates itself on is telling us we are not whole, happy, or complete, and that we will be whole, happy, complete (and be like the models in the advertisement) upon purchase of said product. Basically, they sell us the idea or feeling of ourselves as happy. I don’t think this is unique to fashion advertising, although this variety seems especially pernicious to our bank accounts. How else would we be convinced to part with our hard-earned paychecks in the way that we do – multiple tubes of lipgloss, multiple pairs of similar shoes or bags, and so on – nut really fulfilling an actual need?
This isn’t to say I’m against owning many shoes, or lipglosses, or perfumes. I think it’s important that we guard ourselves against, well, the lies that advertising tells us. That we realize we are whole, and happy, unto ourselves, and don’t need the stuff to be complete. That it’s just fun, and if it stops being fun – if fashion or buying the “latest” thing is more of a competition to “keep up with the Joneses” then we need to step back. There’s no superiority in grabbing the latest trend first. Better to be the trend setter by doing your own thing, I think.
How do you feel when you read fashion blogs?
I usually feel pretty inspired. I really appreciate Sea of Shoes – I love shoes, and I love all her vintage and unusual stuff she does. I also like Cherry Blossom Girl, and how she mixes high and low end, and has a very simple, clean look. Every now and then I may feel jealous for about two seconds – until I give myself a reality check! Life is truly too short for such nonsense.
I don’t really think much about how much other people spend UNTIL I hear someone in line talking about how they’re going to hide their purchases in their car trunk so their husband doesn’t find out about it, or trying to convince their husband that they already owned those shoes, they totally aren’t new! It just makes me frustrated because women are just as capable and intelligent as men, yet it’s seen as “cute” to be clueless about money or a shopping addict. You rarely hear men proudly declaring that they just don’t know a thing about money, but I hear women do it all the time. Understanding your finances is empowering, and if you know how much you have, you can buy those shoes without feeling guilty!
I am so glad that you wrote about this! Some of us out there aren’t straight up fashion bloggers but still enjoy fashion. I really do believe that our sense of what we should be aspiring to has been hugely warped by the internet because it seems like so many bloggers have heaps of designer stuff.
Back when I was in high school 10 or so years ago, I read fashion mags but there’s no way I could have actually gone out and bought Miu Miu anything. It really wasn’t cool back then anyway to rock designer gear…we all carried metal lunchboxes for purses and wore 14 eye Docs every day!
In 1997 or so, remember finding a red slip that resembled a babydoll dress from the Miu Miu runways for $3.00 and being totally content.
Times have changed…but the point is that as you mentioned above, we are all in charge of our own funds and can make choices accordingly. It’s nobody’s business.
I do have a credit card (and think it’s important to build credit) but I pay it off every month and these days, it’s much more likely that I’m using it to buy a new fridge or house stuff!
Anyway, I am glad that you’re bringing up this topic for discussion.
xoxo
Nubs
I looove this article!
I’ve never felt compelled to spend tons of money on something amazing just for my blog, but I think that’s because I tend to gravitate towards vintage-based blogs in which super expensive pieces aren’t featured too much. When I pop over to other blogs I have been known to get a little envious of certain shoes or bags, but I know I can’t afford it right now so it doesn’t hurt too much to ignore the pull, haha.
I will admit to giving in to peer pressure once— another blogger had these perfect little Seychelles oxfords that seemed to go with everything and I had to rush out and get them myself. (I don’t regret it at all though, they really do go with everything!)
After reading other comments, another thing came to my mind. I do think that getting the urge to buy every “new-hot” thing is not worthy, and people that get anxious about it get me puzzled.
BUT I do think that there are things that are expensive but can be great buys! If you’re going to buy a Channel bag to use it everyday and keeping it for years, great! As Nubby said once in a post, everyday-luxury, I think, is the only way to justify buying designer stuff. The Cherry Blossom Girl does the same, she does have Chloe shoes and bags, but it looks like she wears them A LOT.
That applies to everyone. My mom bought my dad this expensive, well-tailored english coat once but he wears it everyday during winter and the coat is still perfect…and he looks handsome in it! :)
“Shop Junkies”?! Wow, that’s offensive — not to mention the general misrepresentation of you. For goodness sakes, it’s your job. Would they run similar pieces criticizing men for doing their jobs? Call them “junkies”? Something tells me that my husband (who says “hi!”, by the way) need not fear people trying to expose him as a “shopaholic” for how many hours he takes to keep up on the latest in tech gear for his work.
We can discuss consumerism in general and what and how much people should buy from an environmental perspective, but the way shopping itself is stigmatized and portrayed (as in this piece) is definitely unfair to women. And I love that you are willing to talk about issues like this. Your response to the piece definitely points out that it’s not you and your blog that are shallow, it’s crap like that.
Anyhow, at least it IS a great photo of you! I love the flowers in your hair! I know it’s been a while since I’ve talked to you but I hope you are doing well! Thanks again for showing people that you can love beautiful things (including yourself) and still be smart and caring.
This is such a timely issue, I’m glad you wrote about it!
I definitely have felt a twinge of jealousy before over pretty dresses and things I see on blogs. However, it’s still usually not designer duds. I rarely read blogs that focus exclusively on high-end clothing. This is partly because my lifestyle as a student for the past four years (and still living like one lately) makes it such that I just don’t find them relatable to my particular life and price point. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy looking at pretty, expensive things sometimes.
Yet in my personal experience, too much looking at STUFF all the time tends to really diminish my quality of life. I can get so focused on having things that I forget the joy of doing things, or building relationships. Not to a huge extent, but it can happen, and I’ve noticed it before and made a conscious decision to cut down on shopping or browsing stuff online.
Lastly, a lot of my attitudes come from the religious background that I have. My personal philosophy is that budgets are moral documents, and for my life (I only speak for myself, everyone is responsible for their own actions), I want to feel that I am putting money to good use in ways that help the community around me and align with my values. Still, that’s the decision I’ve come to within my particular feminist/religious beliefs, and I think a “choose your choice” attitude is appropriate here. Women should be able to decide for themselves when and how to use their money without judgment. Although I can’t pretend that “haul videos” (as mentioned above) kinda gross me out. It just feels really excessive and tone deaf to the reality of how wealth is so unevenly distributed on our planet.
Looking forward to parts 2 & 3!
I really appreciated this article. Lately, my parents have cut off supporting me in any sense other than giving me free room and buying groceries, and I need to have a financial plan. GULP!
Fending for yourself for the first time and budgeting are both extremely scary things, especially since I’m working in retail. This means that everyday I see people with phenomenal outfits and buy even more, and at the end of the day I simply look at my own wardrobe and feel a little more than conscious about it. I often look to people I respect (such as you, Gala!), and try to realize that you need to be creative and reuse clothes in a new way.
As for the specifically ‘feminist’ part of this issue, my parents often compare my savings account to my male cousin’s or my brother’s. It’s an awkward position, because as much as I want to yell, “But they don’t have to worry about keeping up their appearances with makeup, waxes, hairdye, clothes, shoes…!”, I wonder if I have a right to really say that.
Just as a side note, if you’re reading this Gala, would you ever consider doing an article about budgeting? It doesn’t have to contain personal information at all, but simply how does one budget without becoming a monk? Thanks!
even as a 17-year-old, i personally have never felt compelled to “keep up” with trends and such. my style is not completely “out-of-date”, but i could care less about owning a pair of miu miu heels (as beautiful as they are!). i shop almost exclusively at goodwill, salvation army, marshalls, tj-maxx, and various local thrift stores/consignment shops.
i often get approached about where i buy my clothes and jewelry because i’m sort of known to have an eccentric style, and when i tell people enthusiastically that i bought a dress for $3.00 at goodwill, they are usually quite shocked.
i could never afford to buy expensive things even if i had the desire to, but i just shop around cheap places very frequently, try EVERYTHING on, and then only walk away about 4 out of 10 times with something that fits, that i like, and that is inexpensive.
i read a lot of fashion blogs, but i do it for the style inspiration more or less. when i see what people are wearing, i usually figure that i could get something that looks similar for much cheaper (forever 21, anyone? i know there’s a huge debate about forever 21 ripping off expensive brands, but most of us can’t afford the expensive versions of clothing we like! unless you’re “buying for the brand”, of course, but that’s another thing entirely).
To me, it just makes the fashion bloggers seem really shallow and out of touch with reality. It makes it seem like their purchases is the only thing going on in their lives — and that’s sad.
I do have a blog but I don’t consider myself a fashion blogger, I’m not interested, plus there’s plenty of people doing it way better than I could.
I’m into looking good with myself, into DIY, and if I look at fashion blogs I like the inspiration I may get from them.
I don’t care about brands, I rather like etsy, where people make awesome things with their own hands and creativity!
I also gave my two cents about “shopping in your closet” on my blog (it actually works, and decluttering makes you feel sooooo good!!!)
And if someone can afford 24 chanel bags a day, lucky for them! I’d rather spend those money into travelling, or books, everyone has the right to spend how they want!
I generally can separate looking at fashion blogs for inspiration from feeling pressured by them to buy something. Sometimes I can’t help but feel a twinge though when I see someone wearing gorgeous expensive shoes that they probably won’t wear often when I buy mainly “practical” items since I’m pretty young & am working on paying student loans off. I also live in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, where looking homeless IS the fashion trend, so I honestly don’t feel pressured to “look” a certain way when I leave the house, which is nice & keeps me from shopping a lot. Maybe you could have a “shop within your wardrobe” challenge Gala! The goal could be to make us ask ourselves why we truly feel we need new things & to find happiness with what we have.
I think, a lot of the time, when I read fashion blogs I do that that green-eyed monster creeping up… but then I realise that I couldn’t actually afford those things and it kind of eases.
There have been times that I’ve wanted to splash all my cash on a mulberry alexa, but for now that’s just a pipe dream. Fashion blogs generally get my juices flowing to look at my own wardrobe again and accessorise what I have different!
Gala, this article came to me at a moment where I’ve been thinking (and doubting) the exact things you’re writing about!
Recently I’ve been reading more and more fashion blogs and really taking it all to heart – to the point where I’m perusing websites selling designer clothes and thinking “oh, $xxx isn’t so bad for a purse/pair of shoes I would never realistically wear/jacket/etc since it’s DESIGNER.” Gross. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying expensive clothing – in fact there are sometimes pluses like fit and quality – I am not the person who owns or buys designer, and lost sight of that amidst all of the designer-oriented blogs I read. Reading this gave me that final nudge back to earth that I needed :).
I’m currently working about a blog post about the power of projection with fashion blogs and in your life – thinking that if you get what the other person has, not only will you feel closer to that demographic or blogger, but also, you start to believe that those things, only material things, will somehow make your hair shinier, your problems disappear, and your life seem more interesting. You start to think that you’ll be just like that other person instead of embracing your own life! Thanks so much for this awesome article – do you mind if I reference this when I finish my post?
The way I see it: having infinite funds to buy fabulous things is a nice fantasy, but in reality, it probably wouldn’t make me any happier than I am right now. I can look at a blog like Sea of Shoes and sigh wistfully over the fabulous heels or beautiful wedges or amazing handbags, but I wouldn’t instantly scuttle off to buy them for myself – the blog is just inspiration to me, showing me new ways to wear things and interesting things I might not have thought of before – the same way fashion magazines do. If I see something I really like and really want, then I’ll look for something similar and less expensive on the highstreet. I don’t see a collection of expensive fashion as something to aspire to, really. It doesn’t really mean anything other than showing that you’ve spent a lot of money on clothes. What’s the point? I’m happy buying a few bits and pieces of high street goodness every month or so – I like the excitement of the build up to payday, making lists of what I actually NEED so I can work out how much I can spend on the fun stuff, waiting for sales and then finally getting my hands on that gorgeous little dress I wanted for so long. It’s a treat for me, something to reward myself with at the end of a month of hard work – and also a social thing. My friends and I make a day of it; lunch, shopping, coffee, shopping, drinks, gossip … it’s more about that than the labels. Also, I would feel terribly guilty spending a ridiculous amount of money on anything, when I am trying so hard to get back into positive figures on my overdraft!
I’m a fashion blogger and reading other fashion blogs makes me more aware of what I already own instead of feeling like I need more things. Example: I see a piece I like on a blog, remember I have something similar in my closet that I haven’t been sporting recently and voila, here’s a new outfit built around a piece I’ve “reinvented”.
Feeling jealous looking at fashion blogs has nothing to do with fashion blogs. It also doesn’t have anything to do with fashion bloggers’ spending habits and abilities. Jealousy is an emotion that stems from within for various reasons (most of which are connected to self-esteem) and would manifest itself somewhere else if fashion blogs didn’t exist.
“Fashion bloggers are particularly susceptible to spending a lot to keep up, because essentially fashion is ALL about what’s new — which naturally means you’re going to be constantly aware of what is fresh — & constantly aware of what you don’t have. You end up focusing on what you lack as opposed to what is already in your possession.”
I’m happy to say this applies to zero fashion bloggers I follow. Fashion blogging isn’t about having the newest and most expensive items (although for some bloggers this strategy does work rather well), at the end of the day it comes down to creativity and interesting presentation. I once saw a fashion blog where the girl owned exclusively very expensive clothes and accessories (think Chanel, Balenciaga, Balmain etc., not even Marc by Marc Jacobs or some other derivative of an expensive line) but didn’t have a clue how to style them, so it was boring. I also think your readers won’t abandon you if you’re not adorned in latest (expensive) trends because we all know it’s not that easy.
Regarding your reply to Renee, I don’t understand 1. why you felt you had to justify buying $900 shoes and 2. the generalization that buying $900 shoes is “totally ridiculous”. It might be for you but not for someone else, and frankly who are we to judge.
This post brings some great perspective to womens spending habits. I would also like to say that, on the topic of credit cards, I recently (earlier this week) reactivated mine because I was shafted on hours at work and needed to pay for vet bills. I haven’t used it much since I got it back in 2007.
Before i started visiting your blog, I was mostly a jeans/t-shirt/sneaker type of girl. I liked skirts and dresses a bit, but didn’t know what to pair them with.
Now, I do own more skirts, dresses, and heels (and I am trying to wear them without pain with no success), but I am very cautious as to how much I spend. I may see a pair of shoes that I LOVE, but if it is over $60, I pass them up. I don’t try to be cheap, but I am a college student working part time in fast food. I don’t have much money available to me.
I see fashion blogging as a way to get ideas for putting together outfits, and less of a “no closet is complete without item X”. I have only 1 purse that I really use (and I found it at Target on clearence for $7).
I also like to look at fashion blogs for another form of inspiration. I love making clothes and accessories. Seeing how different people wear different items gives me ideas of what kinds of stuff to make. It is like doing market research!
I also agree with the sentiment of “your bank account is your business”. If it doesn’t directly impact your best friend (or anybody else), then it isn’t your business knowing. Also, there is nothing wrong with treating yourself to something nice once in a while. Especially if that once in a while includes a TON of milestones. Just make sure you can afford said special treat.
The fashion blogs I read tend to be more of the ‘fatshion’/vintage thrifted/high street style variety. I used to watch three of the ‘upper echelon’ blogs but I couldn’t really relate to them as skinny, beautifully French, designer wearing women and it just made me jealous of their bodies and their wardrobes. I’ve changed the way I approach fashion blogs (inspiration rather than replication) so that’s less of a problem now but why go through the hassle of ‘how can I make this designer short shorts look work for me?’ when I can frequent sites run by women with my shape and budget? I had a first recently when I bought a pair of jeggings and jeans from ASOS after seeing them on a fatshion blogger. They’re both the best fitting trousers I think I’ve ever owned and now I can implement the looks I’ve saved that feature skinny and boyfriend jeans. Much more helpful than scanning the web for days for the closest imitation Chanel bag (true story). – Sophia.
I have to admit, reading fashion blogs makes me want to start designing and making my own clothing, and possibly cosmetics.
Unfortunately, I am lazy.
Lucy — Yes, yes, & yes. I almost feel like I am preaching to the converted here because I’m certainly not a trend-follower, so the people who read me are less inclined to be trend-followers themselves! I view the world of fashion as something which inspires me, not as something which dictates how I should look (or how skinny/bushy my eyebrows should be from season to season). Nice to see so many people feel the same way!
Jessica — Love what you said about “That it’s just fun, and if it stops being fun – if fashion or buying the “latest” thing is more of a competition to “keep up with the Joneses” then we need to step back.” I couldn’t agree more!
Rachelle — That kind of thing upsets me so much, but I feel like that is more about relationships than anything. If you can’t openly communicate with your lover, well, you have bigger problems than hiding your new shoes. Being able to be open & honest is important to me. Sometimes The Dish says that he thinks I own too many pairs of shoes, for example, but I still tell him when I get new ones, & I’m not going to hide it from him because I’m afraid of his reaction. This is who I am, & this is how I live… Like it or lump it, haha!
Nubby — For real. I didn’t really get into this when I was writing it but when I was a teenager, it was so different! I wore a black $10 tank top EVERY DAY & a dog collar from the supermarket & yes, carried a little metal lunchbox! I’m sure part of this had to do with the fact that I lived in NZ (which is considerably less label-obsessed than America) but also, I don’t know, I guess times change. I think it would be really difficult to grow up in this climate, where having the best designer item is presented as the “norm”. Most ADULTS can’t afford that ish, how are teenagers supposed to?!
Pansy Lane — I love original vintage pieces too! They are always my favourite things to wear.
fran — Nubby had a totally great point about everyday luxury, I couldn’t agree more. I don’t think there is anything wrong with buying really high quality items, in fact, it is to be encouraged! But when you’re shopping just to feel the rush, & buying things you can’t afford, then it’s time to look at your habits a little more closely.
Meg in Florida — HEY girl, how you doing?! So nice to hear from you! Tell your man I say “what’s up”! You speak the truth, though. There are so many men who will spend thousands & thousands of dollars on their car, boat, truck, bike, stereo, whatever, & it is seemingly okay & never brought up as if it is “a problem”. I think the issue is really ANYONE living outside their means & suffering for it, especially when that suffering is so needless or unnecessary! Thanks for the comment about the photo, the photographer was amazing! Lots of love to you!!!
Melissa-Leigh — What you said about budgets being moral documents & putting your money to use in a way that helps the community around you, WOW. That is so rad & fascinating, I have never even thought of it like that! I would love to hear more about it if you’d like to drop me an email or leave another comment or whatever!
TheBunnyGeek — Later in the week I will have some tips about managing your money, so sit tight! Don’t sweat your parents cutting you off, you’ll get through. It might be hard or scary at first, but you’ll manage! You’ll feel really good about yourself when you buy yourself your first “treat”, too :D
Talka — Your upcoming post sounds FANTASTIC, I’d love to read it! You’re totally welcome to reference me! Send me a link when you’re done!
Eva Internazionale — Well, $900 is a lot of money to me. Almost a month’s rent. To spend that on shoes which are insanely uncomfortable — which they are — is not the smartest use of money, at least in my opinion. If I went back to that point in my life, & could do it all over again, I’d probably give it a miss. I love the shoes, I think they’re beautiful, but I certainly don’t need them & at the time I bought them, the money could have gone towards something much more productive (like rent, which I was late on!). I just wasn’t being responsible at the time. It’s all about me. Totally not judging anyone else’s right to shoes ;D
I don’t really follow fashion blogs because while I’m interested in clothes and personal style I’m not really interested in labels. I like a bit of blog envy for myself because I think when I’m looking at someone else’s blog and wanting their lifestyle, it drives me to create the sort of life I want – not necessarily THEIR life, but one in which I feel like I am not missing out, one where I don’t feel like someone else is living a grand life while I’m left behind.
Also I think tech bloggers probably are the same, or at least some are – everyone wants to be the best, the biggest, the first in their field. I’ve noticed it everywhere – wedding bloggers need their weddings to be the most original with the best photos, motherhood blogs need to cloth-diaper and post about all the eco-friendly parenting decisions they’re making, interior design buffs need to have the cutest house with the latest etsy trends, tech buffs do probably need to get the iPad the second it comes out in stores. I agree though that other types of bloggers probably aren’t as…I don’t want to say “bitchy” but hopefully you know what i mean – competitive? Envious? Probably because of the nature of fashion blogging – it’s all about appearances, and it is driven mostly by young women.
I’m the sort of person who thinks things over for a long time before doing anything, so I don’t find myself that affected by fashion blogs. I sometimes save pictures or articles that really affect me, but other than that, I take everything with a grain of salt. I’m sort of more into beauty blogs, so in that case I always make sure to read multiple reviews of a product before deciding whether or not to purchase, or try it out.
I think the only major purchase I’ve decided to make based off of blogs that I read is a MacBook, and that’s because I haven’t heard anything but amazing things about them. But other than that, nada.
I guess living by the idea of dressing stylishly rather than fashionably is my savior when it comes to blogs. Yves St Laurent said it, I believe, that fashions fade, style is eternal.
I am always hesitant to say this – because I try to be gracious, and polite, and I cringe at the thought of perhaps injuring a sensitive person’s feelings – but I am usually quite safe from temptation re: the latest and greatest. I would say that the majority of the time, the trendiest, or most “fashionable” or “stylish” items are quite hideous! My wallet is most assuredly safe :)
A perfect example of this, which I have shared with a dear poly-pal a great number of times, are those minimalist, baggy-gross Alexander Wang tank dresses. I can perfectly imagine one slightly sleazy garments of those gracing a a dirty-chic heroin addict on a public toilet-dive for a fix, ala Ewan MacGregor in Trainspotting.
However, I would be lying if I said I did not keep up with a fashion blog or too…I can’t help it! Even though I find I am mostly disappointed in what is out there (though sometimes am pleasantly surprised), I still have to KNOW what is out there.
mlle ghoul — Oui! I understand. Fashionable does not always mean flattering. I try to err on the side of flattering!
Hi, Gala! I haven’t commented on your blog in ages, but wanted to jump in and say a couple things on this post. Firstly: I think you did a great job at articulating the whole issue of bloggers vs. spending vs. peer pressure. I’m peripherally associated with fashion blogging (I tend to cross over more in the sewing/creativity/vintage fashion territory) in my own blog, but read quite a few fashion blogs of various sorts. For me, I’ve at times had to step away from the world of fashion blogging because it does get so caught up in the “new! better! designer!” frenzy easily, and I cloth myself on very little (due to necessity; I like to eat and live in a decent apartment! ;) lol). But at the same time, the point you made about how fashion bloggers spend their money is their own business, is something that viewers tend to forget. I honestly am happy that girls (like you) can wrangle their way through their careers, make money off of blogging, whatever—and afford some of these pretty pieces! It’s no one’s business how much they make or spend weekly/monthly/yearly on clothing.
The one thing that really has been annoying me is the perception that many of these ladies who have the ability to afford higher priced items (or shop a lot) are somehow dumb bimbos. I think if nothing else, the fashion blogging community has allowed many very intelligent, articulate women to emerge and blend their love of writing with fashion. Just look at blogs like Already Pretty, Fashion for Writers, your blog, etc. I have a lot of respect for women that can not only craft fantastic outfits, but intelligent posts on the why’s and wherefore’s (as well as controversial topics within fashion).
I admit, sometimes I do feel a twinge of envy or the pressure to keep up with adding new things (even if they’re items I’ve made or thrifted) to my wardrobe. It’s tough feeling like you always need to generate new content! But instead of sitting around feeling jealous and letting it eat at me, it’s spurred me on towards using more of what I have, in creative ways. Plus, I’ve gotten a lot of encouragement from readers who like seeing me mix things up I’ve worn a million times before. lol.
I’m looking forward to parts two and three!
♥ Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com
I do want to add that I intend no offense to any gal who may have a hankering toward one of those AW dresses. If one can pull it off and look great in it, more power to you!
Also, I have to add that I see remarks here and there about fashion bloggers becoming a bit self-conscious about “what I wore today” posts, and I think that is a shame. Personally I love them. I don’t really get a “OOOH LOOK WHAT I GOT” vibe from them, and even if I did…so what? I think it is a great way to live vicariously through someone else for a while. And to learn about the new things that are out there. And to see some of these styles on real people. If there is any negativity attributed to these types of posts, I am not certain that has anything to do with the blogger at all. I think it’s coming from the reader, and that’s their own problem.
Inspiration is my general take-away from fashion blogs. The photography and aesthetics of colour, fabric, texture and light are, to me, endless sources of inspiration and delight.
That said,the biggest change I’ve seen in myself after a couple years of frequent fashion-blog-visitation is my sense of value (monetary, mainly) has become really fluid and blurry. What, in the past, seemed ludicrous gradually became reasonable. For instance, I recently purchased a t by alexander wang t-shirt because I’d seen it on so many blogs as a great “basic”, perfect for layering. I spent about $100 for a plain tee that I could easily spend about $10 on at h&m. Crazy right? It was invigorating and liberating to buy something so exclusive and luxurious. Part of me did it just because I could and part of me wanted to see how it would feel to wear some ridiculously expensive. It’s weird because that shirt is nothin special- it really isn’t. So…now I try to just look at the pictures and pay less attention to the “shirt by…” caption. This inspires more creativity and less consumption in me.
Thanks Gala- as always, provocative!
While I am an avid reader of many fashionblogs I do have to admit that they, every once it a while, make me feel rather frumpy and, well, boring. Many of the fashion related blogs that I read, such as yours (although I’d rather label iCing as an inspirational blog) have such a fabulous sense of style – quirky and fun. Then I go look myself in the mirror and just feel like I am the most boring person in the world.
How ever, reading blogs I have realised that you don’t have to go spending an insane amount of money to find great and wearable pieces. And those feelings of frumpiness? well, that’s just something I have to work at.
Love,
Kat
lisa — It’s interesting about your Alexander Wang t-shirt purchase. I think everyone buys something out of their price range occasionally, to “see how it feels” & to feel part of the exclusive club. But once you’ve worn it & it’s lying on your couch, or whatever, you realise it’s just a t-shirt. The promise can be greater than the item itself. The good news is that you’ve once you’ve had that experience, you remember & are less gung-ho about blasting your credit card for another designer “basic”. (Not to mention, a lot of designer labels are made in the same factories as mass-produced chain-store clothing, the only difference is the label… But that’s another story!)
I used to have SERIOUS fashion envy issues. After having a baby at 19 by 22 I felt as if I’d missed a whole fashionable lifetime and reading what other people were doing only made it worse. I spent my 22nd year buying trendy items, partying, and generally doing stuff that wasn’t good for me with money I didn’t have. Ever since I paid off all of my credit cards I made it a point to keep up with my favorite fashion bloggers but to tone everything way down. Now my favorites are those that show you how to be ferocious on a budget at thrift stores and how to DIY. After all…mommy AND baby should look fabulous and have money to spare. :)
I think the tech blogger comparison is interesting. I suspect that there are tech bloggers who do go into debt over the latest thing but I think there are a few interesting differences.
1- Even if a person ‘needs’ to have every single thing Apple puts out, that is still a finite number of things, whereas there is no end to shoes, sweaters etc.
2- Tech blogs often have a team of people, whereas I think the tendency/temptation of fashion blogging is to be focused on one person’s distinctive style (this might be false… just an impression).
3- Going along with #2, there can be a large degree of specialization with tech blogs; maybe you are only talking about video game consoles in which case you don’t need to go buying loads of laptops, whereas a fashion blogger has pressure to have an awesome dress, shoes AND handbag since it is not easy or satisfying not to see a whole outfit. I think I have seen posts on Gizmodo that indicate that while a writer has eight cell phones he might use a crappy old PC and doesn’t own a TV (maybe exaggeration).
4- Tech blogs are focused on reviews; the assumption is that there is one best item, and maybe many grades of inferior ones but the point is to find the one best one. An item with inferior specs doesn’t need to be purchased, or it could be tried out in store or at a convention and also not need to be bought. Buying the item lets you evaluate it further but again since the point is performance, there are other ways to talk about that. Part of the point is that you SHOULDN’T buy everything that comes out, that not everything is worth buying.
It is so rare that fashion bloggers talk about performance! Is an item comfortable, does it fit funny, does it get ruined in the wash? Let’s face it that’s not the point of most fashion blogs! Fashion blogs are all about looking, and about looking at new things. This points to another related edge that tech bloggers have, which is that their products can often be returned within a certain window. I wonder how often a blogger tries out a laptop and then sends it back if it’s not the best product. That is not really an option with clothes since many stores won’t let you return something if it’s been worn beyond trying on and certainly not if it’s been washed.
It’s usually like a linking fest, like the blogger says, I bought these shoes “here”, and then from there it gives suggestions, then there’s always recommended websites, or even if bloggers are just wearing a type of clothing I haven’t seen, like harem pants done well or something then I go on an search engine frenzy.
I’m getting better at not actually buying the stuff, but then I get kind of pissy about it, and I NEVER forget what I want, so I have this MONSTER list of cravings in my head.
I like reading fashion blogs, but I very rarely get the impulse to buy the same stuff. I suppose it goes with being an aesthete, but I guess I was also raised in a practical household which didn’t really buy a lot of designer items. I like seeing different people’s fashion sense, and picking up new ideas, but I don’t really buy a lot of really expensive things myself.
I don’t think fashion bloggers exist to get people to buy into expensive pieces, either. I prefer to think of them as people who just like sharing the things that they are passionate about. :)
I don’t read a lot of fashion blogs purely because I don’t have the damn money to buy the clothes/shoes – but also because I really don’t feel happy about buying into ‘labels’ and the idea that the more you spend on something, the better it is.
I prefer vintage fashion blogs as that’s the type of look I like myself but also because the emphasis is less on consumerism.
That said, I think it’s cool to be into whatever you’re into…but a lot of women tie their own worth up with what they buy/wear and when what they want to buy/wear costs 100s of dollars it means the ideal ‘them’ is not something that’s easily attainable….
I don’t think all fashion blogging has to be about acquiring fancy new things. In fact, it shouldn’t!
As a vintage fashion blogger and dirty punk kid at heart, I love posting outfits that center around a dress I got from the garbage or things I traded at a clothing swap. It makes me feel like a million bucks to turn a found item into a focal point in an outfit. I think this helps me to connect to my readers who are thrifty and in to repurposing items as well.
I’m very tall (5’10) and curvy, and my feet are massive (US size 12 or 13), so I have never been tempted to splurge on the clothing showcased on my favorite blogs. Finding clothes is a challenge, not a fun pastime; what I do instead is draw inspiration from my favorite blogs and come up with creative, fashionable new looks from what I already own.
I did not grow up with much money, so I look for handbags that are versatile and will last while still looking great, not designer fad bags that will go out of style. Same with shoes: they are my fashion vice, but the two dozen pairs I have collected over the years were each very conscious investments. I have never bought, worn once or twice, then thrown away a pair of shoes. That sort of wastefulness just isn’t what I was brought up to accept. My parents always taught me that it’s better to save up for something — be it a microwave, a backpack, a cordless drill, or pumps — that will really last, instead of getting the cheapest and most trendy choice.
As for your mention of money as a feminist issue: yes, yes, YES. Way too many women grow up not knowing how to manage their finances, balance their checkbooks, and deal with their bills. What worries me is the assumption that men should be breadwinners, pay for dates, pay rent — and while that stereotype certainly is fading, it frustrates me that women seem like the first people to be financially marginalized in relationships. Maintaining one’s own accounts and fairly splitting bills/rent/dates seems to be an important feminist, not just financial, issue.
I am an inveterate shoe fiend. Terrible. It’s the only thing I really covet when I read the fashion blogs. Other than that it’s fine. Plus I am okay as the shoes are usually 1000 bucks. I can’t afford them so no problem.
My shopping has now gotten me in trouble. Not because of money but space. I am an expert thrifter and I tend to find too much that is too good to pass up. I have now found myself in a position where I will have to rid myself of about 1/2 of my clothes to make myself a comfortable living space. I could be on hoarders.
Shopping is fun. No doubt about it but there are many other things we can do with our time and I believe it can also be a crutch and addiction we use to push away other issues that need taking care of.
I haven’t finished your article but I am glad you wrote it. It is a big issue for women. Our esteem can be so tied up in what we have and we are definitely targeted and exploited by the fashion industry to buy buy buy. It’s always helpful to recognize the game.
I am hoping to take my shopping skills and use them in the future to help women who can’t afford it to find nice things for themselves. I think that women can feel very left out and worth less if they feel they can’t compete. I would like to show them it is not true.
I feel inspired by blogs I read. Fashion or not I always feel inspired to better whatever I might like in their life that is not in mine. Some blogs make me want to cook more, some make me want to sew more, some make me want to dress up and have a night on the town! (That last one if your blog ;] ) If a blog doesn’t make me feel happy or inspired to read it, I stop reading it. Simple as that :]
Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco
I’m a fashion blogger and I read other fashion blogs. Sometimes I do feel the heat to buy something new. Most of the time, I just focus on my own personal style/closet/what I have. Granted that is HARD because I do like shopping and finding good deals.
I would say that I spend a great deal of my online time “window shopping” – always browsing and clicking around. But that’s how I’ll end up finding a really great sale and lower price on something I want/value.
At the same time, I love to read other blogs for inspiration. I just get tired of dressing the same way day in and day out.
Hi Gala, great article, hope you don’t mind that i linked back to it on my blog. Like I say over there, each and everyone of the blogs I enjoy reading on a regular basis have something that money can’t buy, and that thing is skill. If I want to look at pretty pictures of the product (which I do) I also expect them to be backed up by a review, a story, an experience. I expect the photos to be well-taken, and not only that but for the said item to be incorporated well into an outfit. So I think it perhaps unfair that some good quality bloggers are being slated because they have a lucky upbringing, or have worked extremely hard at what they do to get where they have. The fact is that they are successful because they are good at what they do.
Putting the shoe on the other foot (so to speak), I believe, no matter how naively, that if a blogger is good at what they do and work hard, and have something to contribute in the way of wit and something unique to say, they can be successful without any products at all.
“How do you feel when you read fashion blogs? Do they make you feel good, inspired & excited about style — or do they make you feel left out, jealous & uncomfortable?”
It’s ridiculously hard shopping for clothes for my body type as it is. I’m one of those people who’s just happy when I can go to a store and something FITS or is in my size and not have that uncomfortable talk with a waifish sales rep: “well, we carry extended sizes…but they’re all online, you’ll have to shop around there.” Style really doesn’t register in my vocabulary – I probably don’t have any, but I never really liked what people thought was “in” in fashion either. Even if I could, I simply DON’T have the means to finance it.
Reading strictly fashion blogs makes me feel uncomfortable (no fault of yours, Gala, because you’ve got so many OTHER inspirational things going on here besides fashion!) because I’ve never been able to wear the clothes, and the styles aren’t built for people like me. I didn’t grow up spending a lot of time on fashion/beauty/style, either (I was the smart nerd girl in class), so I’ve NEVER been tempted by fashion anything. Fashion, like so many other industries, is just trends that come and go.
I am, however, a tech fiend & aspiring tech blogger/UX researcher. I don’t own the latest and greatest in that realm, either, because it’s simply illogical to spend SO much on things that won’t last. Besides that, I just don’t have the money to keep up. I never feel bad about it though, because I buy “quality pieces” of tech and invest to take care of what little I have. The other new tech toys I either go play with demos at an electronics store or borrow for a while from friends.
Maybe it’s because I grew up with only guys and not a ton of female influence, but I don’t “compete” with fashion, looks and accessories – I’ve only had to recently because everyone else is constantly pointing out that I’m not “keeping up”, which is SO IRRITATING. It’s a waste of time, money, and self-esteem to just buy to “keep up with the Joneses” as it were.
hello! i LOVE this entry. i must tell you that lately i’ve had a MAJOR hate-on for fashion particularly because of this very issue. the conspicuous consumption is OUT OF THIS WORLD! and bloggers and journalists who write about fashion seem to think that having $$ is secondary to buying with lust, therefore feeding the cycle of addiction.
to be clear, i LOVE fashion. but i really despise the way its featured in our society as if we are no more than the sum of our designer duds, women in particular.
so thank you for presenting the case for a more ‘sensible’ approach to fashion, if one can ever call it that. i also think that the argument for or against crazy spending is not as black and white as a peer pressure, societal pressures, status pressure thing, rather i think that it comes down to what people find valuable, and what they value.
that said, fashion won’t go away, and i certainly don’t want it too, but ya a fashionista must ask herself at some point, “dude, how many pairs of shoes can i really wear at one time?”
cheers,
xobolaji
Great article.
For me, putting myself in the position of ‘fashion blogger’ is putting myself at risk to fall back into my old dangerous shopping habits. I was genuinely addicted to shopping. It was a problem throughout my uni years.
I left uni in horrendous debt, despite working two jobs for the entirety of my degree (and we’re talking England here – much of uni is funded)
When I moved to the States I literally had no money, and when I did start to earn some I did notice a shift in my spending habits but some of the old traits were still there. When I got married, we got a joint credit card, to prove we were married (oh US Immigration…)
This was a problem, my reckless spending returned and caused problems in our marriage. I can basically rationalise ANY spending. It was at this point that (now having thrown both my husband and I into debt) that I realised I had to change.
Taking responsibility for myself was never going to happen, but taking responsibility for my husband, that worked. I now run our finances, having control of everything, the budget etc, helps me have a better understanding of what we have in the bank, and where it needs to go and what’s left over for shopping etc.
That said – the drive to spend and shop is still there – especially since I’ve increased my ‘What I Wore’ posts, I think “I can’t wear that, I was photographed in that last week!” Which is ridiculous.
So it is a constant struggle, and being a fashion blogger does make it more difficult. I’m certainly trying to keep everything under control and be a little more creative – I make almost all of my own accessories for example. But I love blogging and the opportunities my site has given me – so I’m not about to stop – so I have no choice but to keep things under control – but it’s not easy!
Sorry that was way longer than I anticipated!
Thanks Gala (and Ashe previously) for opening this dialogue.
Kelsi xx
Well, I don’t really agree that how other people spend their money doesn’t affect me at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. Generally I’m not one to push politics in people’s faces, and I’m not claiming to be perfect at all, but consumerist culture, everything we buy and use and discard, come from somewhere, was made by someone, and ends up some place. All of these things very much affect our surroundings.
Now I’m not saying we don’t have the right to buy ourselves things, to indulge, but to divorce ourselves from the power we hold, the myriad of negative and positive effects our actions have… I don’t know, but I feel that is a bit irresponsible. As a consumer, and especially as a (relatively) wealthy person living in western nation, what we buy certainly affects everything around us.
When I read fashion blogs, I look to learn something. I feel the fashion community has a lot of things to teach me and that I have a lot of things to teach the community. I always feel excited about learning new things, seeing new styles, and watching it impact the world. I admit, there are moments where I am green with envy, but we all have those moments where we see something delightful we wish we had the disposable income to splurge on.
There’s no pressure for me to have the latest and greatest on my blog. It’s fairly new and a great learning process for me right now. The goal was never to be the greatest or have the most epic new thing — but to set the example by doing things that go beyond wearing that expensive shoe. Fashion is not just about being on top of the hot new trend. It is about presentation. It is about confidence. It’s about showing the world how you rock, and hoping they’re interested enough to rock with you.
It’s really hard for me to read fashion blogs. I do not have that kind of money right now, and my body wouldn’t even fit inside of the clothes. I read them every so often just because it helps me learn how I would like to dress myself if I were thinner, but for the most part, I am all about home design and spiritual blogs/blogs that encourage me to be the best me I can be.
What I appreciate about Nubby Twiglet and yourself is the fact that you still shop at Forever 21. I don’t wear their clothes, but it’s nice to see that you can pull an outfit together and feel authentic without wearing head to toe labels.
I see and read fashion blogs as online magazines and nothing more. I would expect that they do have the same impact as the glossy pages. Pretty girls, pretty pictures, advertising for various products… I try to get the most inspiration out of them and that’s all.
I do wish more fashion blogs would point out that, at the end, the most important thing is that no matter how trendy or expensive your wardrobe is, you can’t buy personal style nor personal value. It’s easy to forget in a world that is so much focused on looks and material posessions. A lot of girls in those blogs have the same style and at the end, look generic despite their expensive outfits.
Articles like this one are what I love the most in your blog Gala. I’m looking forward to read part two.
How I feel varies from blog to blog. I refuse to read blogs that don’t inspire creativity and positive emotions. I love clothes and I love learning how to use them in new ways. When I read this blog, I feel inspired to use the clothes that I own in new ways. I have a fairly small wardrobe because of limited space and funds (hey, I’m a student, can you tell?) so versatility and new ways of using basic pieces of clothing are important to me. When I see photos of outfits, I don’t think “I need that belt,” I think “I could wear one of my belts that way.” Fashion is a creative process. To buy each exact item to use in one specific way isn’t creative. But to use that item in many ways or to use another item to substitute, that’s creative.
Fashion blogs are like window shopping for me. Hours of fun, oodles of inspiration and nothing bought. There is absolutely nothing wrong with parading exorbitant “must haves” in fact it should be done more often. Those who feel they can’t live without a certain item probably can’t:) So buy away!
Blogs are so wonderful because they speak more to the readers at large and not just people with endless cash supply. In regards to personal style bloggers, it has always been about styling and not always about brands and selling. I read a personal style blog and feel inspired to try things in a new way and create. Many of the blogs I read, the woman are totally anti trend and purchase vintage and thrift and mix it with modern pieces. Many woman can find that doable. I will thoughtfully save my money for a few high quality pieces a year and then suppliment with thrift finds and non over priced vintage. Its cheaper and you wont look like a clone.
I actually don’t read fashion blogs where the owner has a tonne of designer clothes, because I just don’t find it inspirational- I can’t get inspiration for my style from Miu Miu heels and Chanel handbags, because I’ll never own those things. I much prefer bloggers like Isa from Bohemian Musings- she always looks amazing but I’m pretty sure half of her clothes are from H and M.
I’m glad you addressed the Post’s article about you. I always thought it viewed you unfavorably. Not to be offensive or anything, but it’s just the vibe I got from reading it.
I’m the same with the credit card. Instead of having a credit card I have a Visa debit card. It’s wonderful. It forces me to think with every single transaction I make about my bank account balance and what this purchase will do to me regarding my obligatory monthly expenses.
Fashion blogs are so influential, and sometimes I don’t they realize the amount of power they have over readers.
I feel like I’m caught in a Catch-22 when I read fashion blogs; I am so inspired by what I see, but I know that I cannot afford the majority of the stuff they portray. If I could go about & buy whatever caught my fancy, I definitely would. I usually try to have a reason for a purchase — if I do really well on a test or in my classes, I’ll buy something. If I’ve had a bad day/week I’ll buy a little piece of jewelry or a shirt I’ve had my eye on. Reading fashion blogs & magazines just helps me live in a fantasy world, a kind of “what if” just in case a big pile of cash falls into my lap. It helps me stay updated and just stay in tune to styles just in case I get lucky & can buy that Betsey Johnson dress I’ve been lusting after. :)
Gala, you’re right that times have changed. I am not really sure when the shift occurred, exactly. Back in the 90s for instance, I don’t recall anyone ever paying $100+ for a pair of jeans or $20+ for a t-shirt. To me, magazines are full of fantasies….the models and the accompanying spreads are full of the latest in designer fashion. The thing is, fashion blogs are often featuring real people in real situations wearing this stuff so it blurs the line between reality and fantasy because we sometimes feel like we ‘know’ these people.
Like some of the other commenters have said, I tend not to read fashion blogs that don’t have some other feel-good component. I’m not really that into fashion/style, which is probably how I avoid blog envy that leads to reckless spending, but I do like getting a quick fix of pretty things.
If I come away with some ideas about my own manner of dress, that’s cool. If I come away with ideas about how to translate a certain fashion idea into another aspect of my life (confidence-building, room decor, developing a character or situation for a story, etc.), that’s cool too.
That’s what I especially love about this site – there is so much non-fashion content that I can always find something fabulous every day.
More to the original point about spending habits, I’m not the type to have a closet full of designer shoes, but my stack of books waiting to be read grows taller every day. I have gone a little spend-crazy on a few occasions. And yes, I cringed when I saw the total on my receipt, but since reading and writing are things I deeply value, I consider it a career investment. I have a degree in English and am constantly looking to inform and inspire myself as a writer.
One point you raised in your article resonated with me as being very valid – fashion writers have to know what is available so they can write about it. How they choose to attain those things is absolutely their free choice and mostly their private business. Each writer shares their experiences differently. If a writer is upfront about looking amazing in designer items while barely making rent each month, it gives a different perspective than a writer who talks about bargain-hunting and scouring eBay to make sure they can make ends meet. Both perspectives are valuable and it is ultimately up to the reader to decide what works best for them in terms of inspiration, guidance, and practical advice.
I also really liked your point about being willing to wait for what you want. I’ll happily wait for a book to become available in paperback or online as a used edition to save some money. Most of my books are used or trade paper editions. If there’s something I absolutely want right away, I find a way to make it work, whether that means getting on the library’s waitlist or accepting that buying an expensive new hardcover book means not going out for coffee or dinner until I recoup that money.
I guess what it boils down to is finding out what you deeply value and what are your absolute necessities and building your financial literacy and habits around those things to make sure you can balance it all. Making sure you can cover what you need while prioritizing what you want.
hey gala, i know you get a lot of comments but i hope you read this!
I am an Anti-Capitalist and i rather like dressing up, i try not buy anything unless i really need it and then get a few things here and there offa ebay, in a chairty shop/ out of a bin. I spend my money extremely carefully.
I think Capitalism relys on insecurity, and im not having any of it.
After reading this article I realized I’ve never really thought of the money spent on buying all those wondrous items in fashion blogs. My childhood was the most sheltered of anyone I knew. I was never allowed to spend any money on anything, ever and as a result I actually had more money than most people I knew. The extremely-spendthrifty habits have stuck. I always plan ahead for anything I want to buy and am willing to wait for a lower price. Mostly when I’m reading fashion blogs it’s simply for inspiration. I like to enjoy them superficially and simply drool over the gorgeous clothes and shoes. I’m never seized with particularly strong ambitions to actually buy those items.
Okay, whoa. Overload!
Personally, I cannot afford really big designer purchases. I live in a small town in Canada, and to be honest, I doubt a TON of people in my town know who Marc Jacobs even is. Big purchases are limited to Lacoste polos, sometimes a good shoe, thrifty pants (I am an in between size in bottoms, so they’re already hard to find). I LOVE repurposing old clothing, and I do not care what the label says. If something is a big enough fashion trend, I can likely pick up a very inexpensive version at Forever21 or H&M. It might not be as “high quality” but in the town where I live, if I walked out of the house in Louboutins, a Chanel bag and a Vera Wang dress, nobody would look twice. But they might wonder why I am so darn dressed up for this city. It’s hard because I really like fashion and new clothes as much as the next girl, but I try to forge my own “fashion path” instead, with what I already have instead of amassing a ton of designer labels. I also don’t like the idea of paying for a name. I’ll wear a band tee instead, or make my own print. WORD!
I find fashion bloggers who are all about having the latest designer outfit incredibly boring. The only fashion blogs I read are people who do really creative things with their outfits. I’d much rather see a $5 op shop outfit!
I used to suffer under the fallacy that designer clothes were better quality, and while I’m sure some of them are, that myth has been debunked. I read an article in Vogue of all places about designer jackets and how the buttons always pop off. It was a detail, but enough to pop my bubble around designer clothes. I’d just rather spend my money on something more fun- like books, or traveling.
On the other hand, I try not to judge people dolled up in designer clothes every day of their lives. Where people spend their money is their choice- but I can’t help but think that those who wear nothing but designer clothes are boring in other areas of their lives. If you can’t be creative there, and you wear something only because it’s “designer,” you’re probably not very original in other areas of your life, either.
And while I try not to be judgmental, how you spend your money is a value statement. You’re saying, I place value on THIS product, and THIS lifestyle. I just inherently disagree with that kind of persons values, I guess. I put much higher value on creative clothes wearing, vintage finds with great stories, and a person wearing what they want because it looks great, not because a blogger told them to.
What a fantastically written piece. I have stopped using my credit cards bc last year I totally went overboard. Now I stick to my closet shopping sprees and find amazing things every time I do. Fashion is what each person makes of it and no one should feel obliged to have the latest,newest thing – it’s about personal style not trends.
Kudos to you for this awesome post GIRL!
XO
Amy
I get instantly turned off by any fashion blogs that lust after labels (different from admiring a designer’s style) or talk about a must have item. (Gag, Oprah!) I have no desire to own Louboutins ever, but love the purple vintage pumps I picked up in Wellington a couple of years ago. Each to her own.
One thing I’ve always loved about your site is that you talk a lot about personal style, ahead of just trends.
Spending time in places like India really makes you readdress your own lifestyle and shake up your values. Last time I was there I went to a tailor, a family business, with lemon and lavender coloured raw silks I’d picked up at the local markets and had them make dresses for me based on dresses I already owned. I love it because not only are they totally unique pieces but I know where they came from and how they were made. While to me they were insanely cheap (less than what I spent on a salad for lunch in the city yesterday, in fact) but to them I’d been charged more than what locals pay anyway – everyone was happy. Lately I’ve been thinking more about supporting tangible things in all my shopping – food and fashion. I love cooking, and buying food from local markets to make meals with. Likewise making clothes myself, buying vintage from small businesses etc. I want to know who my money is benefitting. With more focus on sustainability in everything these days, this line of thinking is getting more popular.
Spending money on clothes can be a very Western female thing, a Carrie Bradshaw-inspired thing, a self-obsessed consumerist thing and that side of fashion might have clouded how some people feel about it but fashion is not always selfish or shallow, it is fun and expressive. Depends on the individual’s attitude.
I definitely support your theory of treating yourself to something when you feel you deserve it – how much it costs, when and why you deserve it is totally up to you. There’s nothing cute about throwing a ton of cash at some clothing, but having said that I spent more than I have in a while on a necklace from Etsy last week – but it’s of value to me because it’s handmade, one of a kind, really gorgeous, and I love that via the internet I can support an artist girl in the States, and I deserved it because I’ve worked my ass off and won awards for my work recently – girl’s gotta celebrate. I spend a lot of (hard earned!!) money on keeping my hair platinum blonde, but that’s of value to me, and it’s my business.
Also, I grew up very poor but with a mother who loves fashion – as an only child, I spent A LOT of my life waiting for her to trawl through second hand stores for one piece she really loved and I think that influenced my attitude to both fashion and money a lot.
I went through a phase when I was younger with my first job out of university spending more money than I had (why, why did the bank give me overdrafts when I couldn’t afford it!) on clothes, accessories, concert tickets, drinks and dinners out..generally a very shallow existence, though fun in its way at the time. Am pleased to say I FINALLY paid off all that bank debt just last month and damn, 18 months of paying off debt hardout will really bring your attitude to money into check too! My wardrobe is truly at a size where it’s kind of ridiculous – I have a storage unit I haven’t been to for two years and there are piles of shoes and clothes in there that one day, when I settle down a little more and am not travelling so much, I’ll pull out and repurpose. I very rarely buy clothes now because I have so many from years of “collecting”.
Thanks for talking about this Gala, blogs are like magazines in a lot of ways but many are run by real people – so thanks for being realistic with us. It’s refreshing.
xx
I normally don’t comment on blogs – although I seem to be here more and more lately. Hm.
Gala, I don’t know what you would think of it, but I’ve never viewed your blog as a “fashion blog”. Fashion blogs are boring as hell. Here’s a pair of shoes. Here’s some dresses. Whatever. I could give a shit. This site is interesting because it gets deeper into What I Was Doing IN This Outfit, It Was Awesome, Be Inspired. That’s what’s important, and that’s what keeps me, a basic black-tee-shirt-and-jeans-no-makeup-girl coming back here. I don’t have shoe-envy. I don’t want to buy anything you wear. But I am interested and inspired by hard working, kick-ass, extra-mile people who are making it work, and doing it with sex and funk and pretty.
When I saw the headlines from the Pulse article it kinda peeved me – it seemed cheap. This blog post makes me feel much better. Thank you.
On the other hand, I can sort of relate to the Joneses syndrome with Travel Blogs. I suppose it’s where your passion is. Perhaps it’s not a bad thing, to see what others are doing and strive for the same, or more. I’m passionate about travel, and when I see someone blogging about some amazing experience in Morocco, I get a little nuts and envious and feel a crazy urge to go asap…
I don’t really read or follow fashion blogs at all, if I’m honest. The only blog I really keep up with faithfully is this one, and from there I alter between others (Steve Pavlina, Celestine Chua, and others), but in general they are all blogs that talk about, to put it, er, simply, what’s “inside” rather than “outside.”
My friend Lara, however, is absolutely obsessed with fashion blogs and follows lots of them. I remember this one time she showed them to me, and though I am one hundred percent indifferent to what’s the latest in fashion, and don’t really care about following the latest trend, I didn’t feel good while reading them. I don’t know why this was… but you writing this article here makes me consciously realise this and try to pinpoint what it was exactly that made me feel left out about it.
I think, primarily, I feel uncomfortable because I get the message that fashion is all about having. And having in the sense of buying the last pair of ___’s shoes only to buy ___’s new pair in a month (both at ridiculously high prices). I don’t feel inspired, but the opposite: I feel tied down, like developing one personal’s style doesn’t go along with fashion, where everyone wears the same. (P.S.: I’m not talking about STYLE blogs, I’m talking about FASHION blogs.)
I don’t “feel a twinge” when I see other girls with the latest It item, but I feel uncomfortable because after reading so many blogs insisting on that It item, I start to feel as if I SHOULD have them, or long to have them. I have an example for this. This summer (January) my friend got some new boots with those metal tack thingies (can’t remember their name!) on them, and which at first sight I thought were HIDEOUS. Fast forward four months later, where I’m shopping for another friend’s birthday gift, and (not kidding) EVERY SHOP IN THE MALL had those boots, slightly different versions of them. I got out three hours later with a big headache and almost wondering if I should get them… I realised that after being bombarded so with the same boot design, I had been convinced that I liked those boots! That I should get them! (For my friend. Er.) It may not sound as dramatic here as I felt it was there, but I honestly felt that something or someone had messed up with my own personal and independent thinking, as well as likes, etc. As if I’ve been forced to like something. Today a pair of boots, but tomorrow?
How can one develop a personal style with that kind of bombardment? And I am not talking high fashion designers; I’m talking ‘bout normal clothing and shoe stores, nothing out of another galaxy.
honestly, looking at a fashion blog has never caused me to feel envious of other people having expensive designer things. i love some fashion blogs because they’re just plain interesting and have some beautiful things to look at.
i’ll never be the one to spend hundreds of dollars on an article of clothing or shoes, but i know that’s not something i could justify in my budget. i tend to think anything over $30 is too much, and i’ll most likely forgo it unless i’ve been saving for a particular item.
but i do find blogs such as yours to be inspirational in creating an exciting look. even though i don’t feel the need to buy the exact outfit you might be wearing, i do enjoy looking at how you’ve paired items together and using that as an idea for my own look.
Gala- the exclusivity of it all is what fascinates me. The stuff we buy is so shrouded in symbolism and illusion…on the one hand, it’s exhilarating that I, just like celebrities or fashion icons, can purchase something that someone seemingly wealthier and more successful than me is wearing. Somehow, it closes the gap. Foolish or fabulous? I tow the line. It’s weird because I used to know better…I see a lot of talk here about how we were raised and whatnot and I relate. Still…there’s something alluring about luxury and then, when it is revealed that these items are simply stuff, like everything else, there’s something very grounding in having that lesson hanging in my closet: A silky, paper-thin reminder that even the most beautiful illusions are transparent in the right light.
In one of my favorite books, The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp, Mrs. Tharp makes a point that “Whom the gods wish to destroy, they give unlimited resources.” I think it’s so true! Our budgets only limit our style if we choose to let them. However I think that reading fashion blogs and shopping online are best done moderation like anything else.
I’m so glad you finally addressed this topic! I’ve always wanted to ask you if you owned credit cards, and how you feel about the attitudes towards consumption on fashion blogs. Thanks for reading my mind!
I have no interest whatsoever in fashion bloggers that focus heavily on designer labels and trends. The blogs I read are more personal in nature where the fashion is just incidental, such as Nior Till Fem, or The Black Apple/Some Girls Wander. They usually have other jobs that inspire me (graphic designer, illustrator, stylist, musician, etc.) and I’m just interested to see how a fellow creative dresses and lives. I’m interested in how their style reflects their history and personality, how creatively they put things together, and how they are photographed.
With that said…. Though you do a marvelous job of talking about self-love over material-love, I do feel the urge to spend beyond my means after reading your website sometimes because it seems like, “Oh, if only I got a filofax I could be more organized!” or, “Oh, I’m feeling bad about myself, I need to treat myself to a manicure!” Maybe it is a confidence thing, but often times I do feel lacking because I can’t afford MAC cosmetics, spa treatments and two-hundred dollar shoes. In getting inspired by your life philosophies and confidence, I often forget that while you are a very hardworking writer in her mid twenties, I am still a college student working parttime who can’t afford the same luxuries.
It’s such a taboo thing to discuss income, but I don’t think it would be crass if bloggers addressed these topics more often. It might help to tear away any unrealistic ideas we have about how much our inspirations are really spending or sacrificing for fashion. You could address it not through explicit data of your income or ruining the fantastical element of fashion with full disclosure about item costs…. But with posts like, “50 valuable things that don’t cost any money”, “sexy savings: 20 glamourous ways to spend less money” (Split meals with your lover! Walk instead of take the train!) etc etc etc.
I’m in high school (in Australia), so I wear my uniform most days, which helps. I think that when it comes to the beauty/fashion industry, I mostly get sucked up into the beauty side. If I see a gorgeous dress or shoes that I can afford, I’ll buy them, but otherwise I spend most of my time begging my parents to get me a Clarisonic or whatever.
Ironically, I’ll be going shopping with a friend in about 20 minutes. I’m looking for some new eyeliner, Blu-Tack, a hula hoop, stickers and a peacock ring I saw and loved at Diva (:
I love clothes but I’ve never enjoyed clothes shopping. I’m a weird size (wide swimmer’s shoulders – even though I don’t swim!) so things always have to be tried on and tailored after purchasing. Back in the US, it was much easier to impulse purchase trendy items. After 4 years in Australia, I still haven’t gotten over the sticker shock and tend to do my shopping on trips back to California.
I have noticed that my want for a new trend decreases the more I see it. Case in point – the YSL stacked platforms that I first saw on Victoria Beckham. Loved them, looked at them on eBay, netaporter, etc, lusted over them but never committed to buying them. Then the knock-offs came out. I still liked them, but something held me back. Now they’re everywhere, and I can’t abide them. They look trashy and played out to me now. So, if I just wait for the trend to hit the high street shops, I usually don’t want it anymore. Some trends pass this test (I sill love my shoe-boots), and that’s when I know it’s ok to go ahead and spend the money. As a result, my shopping is kept reined in pretty well.
Maybe it’s just the bloggers I choose – but I find their post inspire me to combine my thrift store finds, DIY crafts and special pieces (high or low end) into creative and expressive outfits. I treat trends as a reason to try out something new at the thrift store; a crazy print, fabric, style or combination I would have otherwise passed by. Sometimes they work…sometimes they don’t but I can rest assured my expences at the Salvation Army have heped A LOT of folks get off the streets!
Those who are victims of lables would be that way whether we were discussing katsup brands, cars or zipcodes. Lets not blame it on clothing. It does not take money or lables to look great. I belive that whether you spend a lot of a little it should be something you can afford and something that makes you feel good wearing it. Fashion should be about having fun.
when i read fashion blogs its just for curiosity. i like to study humans i guess. especially the ones that everyone follows.i tend to try to dress invisible or something, maybe. there is probably a better word ,but i cant think of one right now.i dont get jealous or uncomfortable. i just try to see the spiritual whatever that means. your a good fashion blogger by the way. i guess, im not even sure, the colors you have can be nice. color is good i guess.
hmmm, I love fashion blogs! but I could feel myself being sucked in and was spending money on things i didnt need when i should be saving for my trip to south america. (i figured, no one in south america is going to care what designer made my jeans right?) However, i was finding more pressure from my best friend than fashion blogs. She’s a little older than me and (i thought) she was in a financially secure position. She buys expensive designer dresses and shoes and accessories and gets botox and her hair & nails done all the time. But all our conversations would be about who was wearing what. It got on my nerves that she was becoming so vain and superficial but I also started to feel jealous because i couldn’t afford all the beautiful things she could and i started to feel unattractive when we went out together. (Ridiculous, i know!) So i had to do something about it, i told her how i felt and i didn’t want a friendship that revolved around our wardrobes. I wanted to have a substantial conversation for once! things are good now, I’m happy in my skin and have found my own style. Its nice to have nice things but if it messes with your head it’s not worth it!
I like reading fashion blogs, but some times it gets really hard for me to sit back and think about what you said – it’s not anyone’s business how someone spends their money, and you don’t know how hard they work for it. I actually e-mailed you awhile ago asking about this issue, but I know you’re super busy so this article and these comments are perfect! I do get jealous reading fashion blogs, especially A Sea of Shoes. The first time I went to her blog, I saw this amazing necklace she had on…only to realize it cost more than my two junky cars combined!
Since I’m posting this anonymously, I’ll say it…taboo or not. I make $7.35 an hour and I sometimes get full-time, some times not. IF I have any money left over, I have a bad habit of looking at it this way – is this $7 ring at Forever 21, or anywhere – worth an hours worth of work? I try to justify that at 23 years old, I am still wearing clothes I had in high school and that I deserve something new…but argh!
I agree that fashion bloggers should write some nice cheap ways to do things – fashion, dates, anything! I’m HORRIBLE at DIY, sew or no-sew so maybe some new ideas!
this: “I think I said to you when we initially spoke about this on Twitter that I have eased up on outfit posts because sometimes it feels like a “Look what I got!”-fest & I don’t know if that’s cool in this climate. ??? I don’t know.”
I like how you pointed out, in that twitter conversation, that outfit posts (and the “look what I got” attitude) do have a time and a place. A lot of people just want to look. Like Reikalein mentioned it’s more like viewing mag spreads. I like to think of blogs as each writer’s personal mag – and personally I like features as well as those voyeuristic outfit photos (good articles like this) in my media.
Lisa said, “It was invigorating and liberating to buy something so exclusive and luxurious. Part of me did it just because I could and part of me wanted to see how it would feel to wear some ridiculously expensive. It’s weird because that shirt is nothin’ special – it really isn’t.”
And isn’t that an underlying motto of luxury these days – to look special without trying? To own/wear that effortless chic? I don’t buy a lot of designer goodies that I see and have a chance to snatch, because they don’t speak to me, even though a blogger’s outfit with that item might. I don’t think you have to own luxury/designer goods to look good.
I am a poor uni student who lives at home. I shop mostly vintage, all my furniture is from second hand shops, and or vintage shops. I love doing up old furniture and I work part time in an Enviromentalist Education Centre.
I read fashion blogs every day. I love reading Gala Darling, and I feel inspired when I see a gorgeous photoshoot. Or a new bag or thing you might have. The bottom line is I am me. I have my own style and I may say I am rocking it. So when I see other people rocking their style it makes me happy.
Life is too short to place to much emphasis on money. I mean, people always say love is fleeting. I have this view about money, you earn money to live, yes, but spend a bit on what you want to spend it on.
Personally for me that is silk and lace vintage dresses, coats from the 30’s and my saving goal is to own a Chanel, not because ‘everyone’ else has one, because they are fucking amazing bags. Class, and have been made with the utmost care!
In grade 11 I bought the coolest cardigan for seven dollars and three years later I am still wearing it. Two blogs I love are Sandy, from niotillfem and Gala Darling, because I sometimes see the same pair of shoes, or swimming costume, or whatever! Love it. I hate this quick consumerist buying, ooo let’s buy a shitty dress I will wear once for this outing, and it was made in a sweat shop, by people who will never earn as much as you, and will have half the lifespan as you do. I think that enviornmentally savvy buying is the best! I am not talking about not wearing fur, or leather. So no fashion blogs do not make me jelous. I suppose that is what this long and winded comment is about; they inspire me. I love fashion, and personal PERSONAL style, in my opinion money has nothing to do with style, neither does having a credit card, or a designer handbag. Uniqueness is alot better than being like everyone else. xxI haven’t posted a comment in ages, but it just so happened that I was minding my friends clothing boutique for her yesterday and I got looking at your site which is the only ‘fashion blog’ that I read. I clicked the link to all your Daily Outfit posts and really enjoyed looking at them for hours! I find seeing someone with such unique style such an inspiration, so was a bit disappointed to read you are limiting these types of posts. I know blogs evolve and perhaps yours is moving away from that kind of post, but just to let you know I am one avid reader that will really miss them. I find them so inspirational and they ALWAYS pick me up when I am feeling down about myself and my clothes etc… Your Daily Outfit posts make me feel like taking risks with my style and I inevitably find new and exciting ways to wear things I have had for ages! I never feel jealous or think ‘wish I had that’, they simply make me look at my wardrobe in a new light. xx
Hi Gala, interesting topic! I read quite a few fashion blogs, and I NEVER feel left-out, jealous or uncomfortable. Perhaps this is because I know that it is their JOB to blog about fashion, and that most ordinary folk can’t afford half the things they buy. When I read YOUR website, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS leave feeling uplifted, inspired or thought-provoked. I feel like your posts are pretty accessible to ordinary folk, and even when you do blog about material possessions, they are usually things that most people CAN buy (eg: filofax, stuff from chain stores, etsy, etc). I LOVE that you support small business and handmade and that you give everyone a fair go, I think that’s REALLY important. Whenever I see one of your daily outfit posts, I always feel inspired to re-create a similar outfit with what I already have in my own wardrobe, or sometimes I will see something you have on and try and find a cheaper alternative online or at the shops – my recent daily outfit post was very ‘gala darling’ I’ve been told, haha (http://box-of-glory.blogspot.com/2010/07/daily-outfit-040710.html). So, my point is, I think ultimately it comes down to the reader’s interpretation. You can blog all day about accessible fashions but if the reader is already insecure and feels threatened, then there isn’t really much you can do to change their perception. It’s really all up to them to change their perspective and be happy for others’ success rather than allow it to alienate them. It’s kind of like the whole law of attraction thing you were talking about in your latest Love & Sequins…. no point sitting back and feeling shit about the fact that other people have what you want… go out there and make it happen for yourself! That’s my moto in life. There are only two times in life: now and too late! Thanks for the thought-provoking post! Looking forward to part two! xx
Posts like these give lots of space for discussion and that’s an amazing thing that should get right on your TiLT list ;)
I use a debit card only and like it that way.
As for fashion blogs… I simply love them and use the pictures as an inspiration. Sure, sometimes looking at Net-A-Porter causes me some “pain” but when looking at all those amazing dresses I just keep thinking that one day I’ll be able to buy them…and really, really believe it XD
Nowadays, I tend to buy basic but good quality clothes and then slurge on accessories and shoes. My first inspiration comes from Chanel and I’m thinking of buying the 2.55 bag with my first paycheck(s). ;)
I just happened upon this post (and blog) today, and I found this article spot on. It seems that women are pigeon-holed into an odd stereotype of blind followers of trend that spend enormous amounts of money for the next big thing. I am pleased to find fashion blogs that have a good mix of things that are more representative of personal style than a big push towards one section of what’s available (designer, cheap, indie, vintage etc.) I suppose I should confess that I am an indie designer, not much of a blogger, and I don’t generally follow trend as a point of business, but take a personal interest in what people are wearing; mostly because I just love clothes and shoes. It is more interesting to me to see what people are wearing rather than what I might want to buy next. I glad I found your blog, will be going back to read, and looking forward to part two!
Ahhhhh too many people to respond to! I am so enjoying reading all these comments, though, & I am really thrilled to hear your perspectives. You’re such a smart, thoughtful, articulate bunch, it makes me really really proud to have you reading my stuff!
Emma — I’m not giving up on daily outfit posts! I love doing them (a LOT), though I haven’t done that many recently because I don’t have anywhere in my apartment that I can set up a tripod. Which is a drag. So anyway I am definitely not giving them away, but I am just trying to be a little conscious of the stuff I buy, & so as an extension, I am being more thoughtful about the message my outfit posts send. I love that you are inspired by them, that is totally the point, & it inspires ME to do them more often! So thank you. xoxoxo
Bravo on a great post, Gala. I commented on Ashe Mischief’s original IFB post and said something along the lines that many fashion bloggers can afford to shop because they’re lucky enough to be wealthy, they have great jobs, or they live at home and can afford to spend money shopping without going into debt. I fit the latter two categories. But I agree with you 100% that a blogger’s finances are their business. It irks me when I hear passive-aggresive judgemental statements about my spending habits or my consumption choices (“I would never spend that much on a handbag…that’s crazy!” or “At least I’m original, unlike all those girls you see with Chanel/LV/Gucci purses”).
Incidentally, I have a Chanel 2.55 (which I saved up for and paid off in full when the credit card bill came…I use a credit card to earn rewards points and for the convenience, but I never charge something unless I know I already have the funds to pay it). And it wasn’t a purchase influenced by reading blogs and other things…I just knew that that was what I wanted and no substitute would suffice. :)
“You end up focusing on what you lack as opposed to what is already in your possession.”
Truly wise words.
I find that right after I get my paycheck is when I spend the most money online. I guess I’m just so excited to have money in my checking account that I feel like I should celebrate (by, er, spending? Not a healthy habit…) Also, I shop online when to cheer me up when I’m sad. Especially when my partner is out of town, I buy things online to make myself feel better. Which I regret later, and that makes me feel worse, so I shop to cheer myself up again. It’s this big cycle of emotional spending. Instead of emotional eating, I shop. Ouch, typing this out really makes me realize how unhealthy it is.
However, I don’t have a credit card, only a debit card like you, Gala. That means I can’t spend money I don’t have, which is a plus.
I also mostly read fashion blogs for inspiration. But it usually turns into almost buying things because I click on the links people post, and that takes me to online shops. Online shopping also distorts the prices of items for me. For instance, a $40 dress online is a bargain, a steal even. However, at a brick and mortar store, a $40 dress is two twenty dollar bills that I could be spending on groceries. Online shopping skews my perspective. Does anyone else experience that?
QUALITY > QUANTITY. This also applies to the makeup blogs that I see everywhere. There’s always going to be the new “must-have” item. For me, it’s more about being inspired by makeup/fashion blogs & making it your own. It’s tempting to go out & buy what these blogs promote, but having staple items are more important to me.
Before I began my fashion blog I was just a spectator. I don’t recall feeling the need to go buy something I spotted on someone at that time. Now, that I have blogged for a year or so I find myself looking up a piece or two here and there. But, two things usually stop me from buying the item. One, I don’t like to wear the newest, most popular trend item that everyone is wearing. I like to find something that may be similar, but more my style. Second, we all live in different parts of the country and therefore the stores near me are rarely the stores near other bloggers.
An example, the moto jacket from F21 was something I lusted after. I wasn’t sure about ordering it and F21 is at least 5 hours from me. So, I as I was making my Christmas list I found a moto-style sweater at Victoria’s Secret. Much more my style and unlike any I’ve spotted on any blog.
Also, if I find myself liking a new trend that I may not be able to afford I look through my own closet. I usually find it! Or I’ll check the cheaper stores for the trendy items. I don’t think I shop more now than pre-blog either. I find that I’m more creative in my outfits now that I have a fashion blog. I also follow real women that I can relate to. I’ve also swapped with fellow bloggers in the mail. It’s a great way to try out new styles. I don’t feel like I’m trying to “keep up with the Jones” or that I’m focusing on what I don’t have. I’m focusing on what I do have and having fun and sharing it in a community niche.
hi Gala,
interesting post! i think money can definitely be a feminist issue. remember Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”?
Gala,
I read fashion blogs, like mags, for eye candy. I feel upbeat and inspired by blogs more than mags. I think most mags tend to deflate my reading experience with tons of advice columns or dreadful health scare stories or worse the diet mantra. With the fashion blogs I read, it’s basically about the clothes and enjoying life. I wish I didn’t have hard-to-fit feet because I’m usually pining over not be able to wear stilettos or cute shoes I see some women wear.
How do you feel when you read fashion blogs? Do they make you feel good, inspired & excited about style — or do they make you feel left out, jealous & uncomfortable? Do you feel a twinge when you see other women with your Ultimate Item Of Desire™?
I like (love!) style blogs, rather than label- or trend-driven fashion blogs. The main thing for me is that the blogger has to be interesting, with their humour, insight or practicality. I don’t read fashion bloggers that don’t engage me. Because I’m in NZ, so many style blogs are 6 months out of whack, so I’m not coveting your summer frocks right now – I’m enjoying my cosy knitwear!
I enjoy fashion blogs. I read some that wear designer, some that thrift, some that buy at Target. I used to look at them in the same way someone else mentioned, more like a magazine. I have a good eye though and if I see something I want in a magazine I can often find some sort of cheap knock off somewhere if I want it. After a couple of years of reading your blog and a few other really good ones I now have my own. It’s a catch all sort of blog though so I’m not really part of that community. Years ago when I was younger I would try to buy designer stuff off of eBay cheap but I would usually get screwed. Often the piece would have some sort of defect. So I pretty much gave up on that. Then a few months ago when I started getting back into fashion I came across all of the designer sale sites like Gilt. It’s fun to be able to get something nice once in a while at a decent price. As I said, I’m not in that group but I could see how people would feel pressured to fit in with new stuff all of the time. I sort of aspire to the film buff crowd & I always feel like I’m missing something when I don’t go see every movie I want to see at the theater. I also feel like using polyvore is a way that I can experiment with styles for fun without spending any money. I used to do the same sort of thing when I ran a fashion site for the show Charmed years ago. It’s like window shopping but more fun.
I have recently started a no shopping for 6 months pact with myself. I use to spend all the money i owned on clothes. I love looking nice. but now i have all this money free to spend on actually going out and doing things. i actually think that i was addicted to shopping. enough was never enough. $700 on shoes when instead i could have been taking yoga classes or sewing classes or whatever. dont waste your whole life shopping. everything in moderation i think now! xx
I love fashion blogs such as Bleach Black & Rumi but sometimes when reading fash-mags at the hairdressers, i am astonished at how many (say) pairs of designer shoes etc the woman profiled have…
Not judgemental but more like how t.f. did she get all that? What is wrong with me…?
Then i have to remember a very basic fact about nearly all the chicks profiled in the fash-mags – they are in fashion p.r. They get a lot of free stuff…
I think it’s sad when – for instance – young office workers or students who are gorgeous & stylish but on a limited income feel like they should be aspiring to a handbag that a decade ago would only even be considered by a banker or a money matron…And they are hankering for these things at the expense of their own financial security.
I enjoy fashion blogs because I feel like they’ve helped me hone my own taste. I know exactly what I like and don’t like now and I have a relatively good idea of where to get the things I like. As a accidentally-became-a-fashion-blogger ( morbidfashion.tumblr.com/ ) I’m more inspired to find clothing from cheaper stores and independent designers that give nod to the high end brands I drool over. I also grew up with a good understanding of just how easy some things are to recreate yourself (my mother and grandmother are big on diy) so I’m a lot less likely to purchase something that has added studs at a large markup when I could just add the studs myself for a lot less.
I’ve gotten more compliments on unique, vintage and one of kind items I’ve owned than on the relatively expensive items I splurge on.
Also, yes, tech bloggers are not immune to the must-have-new-gadget thing. I think it’s true of any consumerism based blogger. I know whenever I see movies/books in the genre I review in regularly that I simply “must have” them and my husband “must have” new computer items, tech gadgets, video games and car audio items when he sees new things on blogs. As easy as it would be to blame blogging for this I really don’t think it’s the cause. Hobbies and consumerism encourage people to spend money, blogging might push some shopaholics into dangerous territory, but their finances are not my problem.
On the whole, I find fashion blogs inspiring. A year ago, I decided not to spend any more money on fashion magazines. I am not an avid follower of fashion, and I found that those magazines were just making me want what I can’t have, and were offering very little inspiration, and cutting them out of my life has been very beneficial.
My favorite blogs are the ones that feature ordinary women wearing ordinary clothing in extraordinary ways. I am not interested in reading blogs that update you on all the latest fashion trends, because I’m not a trendy person. I don’t follow mainstream fashion, and prefer to wear what makes me happy, so I don’t feel the need to keep up.
I started blogging because I wanted a creative outlet. Six months ago, a friend wrote to me begging me to include daily outfit photos, because she loves my personal style. To this day, my outfit photos are the most popular posts on my site. I try to encourage my readers to experiment with fashion in a fun way, without spending millions on designer up-to-the-minute gear. I love showing off the same item, worn lots of different ways, to highlight the versatility of my wardrobe.
i’m late to the party and this isn’t COMPLETELY relevant but i’ll just leave my new favorite quote re: fashion/shopping/sexism right here:
“That fashion is pleasurable for many women is why it’s considered “frivolous”, due to the long-standing cultural belief that if a woman is feeling pleasure, something must have gone wrong.” from pandagon.net
I see fashion as simply another aspect of design. Clothing, shoes, all of it, is great art, and I enjoy it as such. It is very unlikely that I will ever own a pair of Christian Louboutins, just as I will never own the Monet or Cezanne of my dreams. This doesn’t mean that I cannot appreciate or enjoy all three of these artists. I haven’t always seen it this way, and it has never improved my level of happiness.
There is no escaping, of course, the fact that America is a very consumer based society. I’ve fallen into the trap before of thinking that if i just find the right beautiful piece of clothing that I will start to believe that I too am beautiful. Then, one day (It was a bad day for me), I bought a dress, a beautiful dress. I took it home, tried it on, and then asked myself if it made me happy. So, I returned it. I still like getting dressed up, wearing the most ridiculous clothing combinations I can. (One of my life goals is to be chronically whimsical.)
(I would like to thank you, Gala Darling, for sharing your writing with the world through this media. You have been so fantastic to read over the years. You honestly did change my life, but that is another story.)
In conclusion, a very silly boy once told me this:“You are the only one that has the power to make yourself happy.” I think he was correct in saying that.
Fashion blogs have always made me feel inspired.
Lately though, I find myself more interested in sewing blogs, because since February I’ve been on an experimental clothes and shoes shopping ban (it’s been much easier than I expected).
I hope that by making some of my own clothes I end up with a well-loved and more considered wardrobe, rather than the wardrobe of impulse items that don’t necessarily work together that I had before (and still have now. Sewing is hard and slow).
I still love fashion blogs, but now instead of reading about some awesome new item and hunting one down for myself if it pushes the right buttons, it gets added to the list of things to try to make instead.
Great article!
I love fashion but I don’t really follow high fashion at all. I am inspired by fashion blogs that showcase great creativity. I’m not attracted to brand names or designers any more than I am to the item itself. With that said, however, I am willing to pay more for quality. And usually when I decide I want something, I will search on the internet relentlessly until I get it at the best possible price.
Gala, I’ve been inspired by this (and steve pavlinas 30 days to success) to give up shopping for 30 days. I’m blogging about it here glitteratzi.co.uk/ My bank balance thanks you in advance! :D xx
I disagree strongly. It’s true that you don’t post so much about designer items as other fashion bloggers do, but you do contribute to the “overly consumerist/spend happy because I can” nature that those bloggers do. Other than using outfit posts as filler posts, you make entire posts about the shoes you’ve bought or your new trendy haircut or the tons of packages you received full of expensive clothes, and you just gloat gloat gloat away about it. You don’t write anything practical about the clothes either it’s just “oh guys look what I bought consumerism is so fun!!!” When I come to think of it, you really don’t write about anything else you do besides shopping and getting massages and travelling and eating out every night . So I don’t think you can single yourself out so easily from other bloggers.
Also, I think it’s beyond naive to consider that how a blogger achieves their expensive clothing is not “important”. Excuse me? It’s not like designer items fall from the sky everyday, especially for bloggers that claim that they make their full income from blogging. One of the most important factors about fashion and how it affects people is pricing, whether it be ridiculous or justified and the fact that fashion bloggers completely dodge the pricing/capitalist aspect of fashion is what makes me indifferent to consider fashion blogging as “real blogging”. I mean come on, you call yourself a Carrie Bradshaw carbon copy-that’s not something “cute” to say and it’s really a turn off when you try to pull the “but shopping is my job” card. Believe me, you’re not the only blogger doing it, but to try to single yourself from others because you don’t mention trends is very jaded, really.
Ella, I strongy disagree with YOU. Gala’s entire Love & Sequins, aside from one chapter I believe, has entirely been focused on helping people put self improvement into practical and fun steps, that aren’t overly serious but are very applicable to life – and have NOTHING to do with fashion. Yeah, it costs a little money to read them but for what you buy it’s entirely worth it, and for the amount she puts out and the quality, I wouldn’t spend a cent less. She still has to earn a living and if getting her wisdom & experiences in a monthly podcasts, I join the hundreds of other people who say ‘that’s worth it’.
Also, I don’t think Gala refers to herself at all as a Carrie Bradshaw carbon copy – in fact, another person refered to her as that (as per her Hello! I’m Gala post), so don’t pull that. If you’re going to make blase claims do a little research about what you’re saying before you go pointing fingers about what people ‘call themselves’.
She might mention clothes & her life, but this is her blog and I think this article above – if you’d care to read – highlights the fact that she ISN’T like other fashion bloggers, who DON’T highlight these considerations.
Oh, and using ‘you just gloat gloat gloat about it’ as a point validating your argument? I think that’s what seven year old children say when their siblings get bigger Christmas presents. Grow up.
Great article Gala!
I do read some fashion blogs, but mostly check street style websites. It’s inspiring to see how creative people get with their style, mixing all kind of pieces. Some look outrageous and I love it.
There was a period in my life when I felt pressured to keep up with trends. Moving to a big city and trying to blend in with a new crowd made me miserable when I first went to college. Now I laugh about it and realise how dumb I was, but I thought straightening my hair and getting new clothes were the solution to make me feel more as a part of the crowd.
Now I think fashion is supposed to be about self expression and fun, not cause distress!
If its wearing all designer and spending thousands in it or sewing it all by hand with a recycled fabric, it should be a personal choice and reflect who you are.
Having an expensive item doesn’t give you more value as a person, but not using them doesn’t make you “better” either. They’re just things after all.
I personally love fashion blogs, they’re inspiring and by and large have a sense of ‘realness’ to them that convential publications don’t. (Though I adore Vogue!)I love anything DIY fashion, seablanket and kingdomofstyle are big faves. While some blogger’s may be independently wealthy,or work their arses off, how they spend their money is their concern alone. I truly have no interest in anyone elses finances beside my own. What I care about on blogs i read, including fashion blogs, is excellent writing, creativity and fun.
With with regard to free stuff that bloggers get sent, i think thats’s rather lovely for a reader as you get an unbiased opinion about a product minus the marketing speil, but I think people forget you can’t pay your rent in shoes and dresses.
I don’t think its so much the spending, its HOW we’re spending. I work in a music / hifi store, lucky enough to wear my own clothing each day and the amount people spend is crazy
I think the true value of money is some what lost, like the task of saving and earning it, let alone considering how many hours it takes to make an object like an ipod
It’s a disposable culture, the new versions of items are coming out closer and closer together, its not just in fashion but with other aspects of consumer culture – the constant upgrades.
At least with fashion when you upgrade you can sell off what you dont use
or you horde
and there lies a problem, the stock piling of “stuff” which had dead energy – you dont wear it, but you dont use it at all, so it sits in a wardrobe or a floordrobe and there it stays for months – I think there needs to be a trade, like when you buy a new skirt you get rid of another item by selling it off or donating it – creating a less is more, a higher value for items
rather than – “hey, look at all my stuff, aint it neat? yeah i only use 10% aye”
I’m starting this process this weekend, a stuff clensing – I say this weekend cos I have alot of “stuff” to declutter ;)
As someone who only looks at a few websites regularly (this one included) it’s interesting for me to look at fashion blogs because I literally do not get it.
I’m not much of a shopper, I have a few things in my closet I could not live without and I sort buy clothes to make these things more weather appropriate or when they start to wear out. It’s pretty rare for me to go out shopping because usually I don’t have the resources and if I have the time, I want to do other things.
I love coming here because I don’t feel like I am being bombarded with labels or what I should be wearing, it’s more personal that that, which I can get on board with. I don’t have a lot of money to spend, so coming here and seeing all the vintage and some re-purposed clothes gives me lots of good ideas.
Great post Gala, it’s a very important subject and I’m glad you addressed it.
I admit to feeling jealous and uncomfortable when I read fashion blogs, because there is no way I can afford to dress as “fashionably” as I’d like now. I have in fact stopped following most fashion blogs for this reason.
It’s good to remind myself that I am not obligated to dress in any way just because I may be as “fashionable” as all the girls I read about.
i find them inspiring, but then when im at the shops all i can think is, everyone else is getting something new so why cant i? hence i spend my money..and my bank account drops. i just feel all excited about getting something new, and i think part of it does come from online…i find it really..i dunno.it makes me feel like ive been sucked in and that im without-either stuff or my money.
Money is absolutely a feminist issue. On average, we make 70% less of it than men, and we sometimes forego making it all together when we have kids… Whether fashion blogger envy is a feminist issue I’m not really sure. Perhaps it is, to the extent that we direct our resources toward keeping up with the fashion Joneses (or Aldridges) instead of putting it towards our education, our savings account, a share portfolio, property, superannuation…
As for fashion blogs, I’m with all those who have already commented that they use them more as inspiration. When I see something that’s gorgeous and inspiring, it’s not because of that exact piece or whatever brand it is. It’s because I never thought of combining colors in that way, or layering that over that other thing, or I never knew how to rock that certain accessory and now I can do it with confidence.
I love what you have to say about money being a feminist issue. In general, our culture is so effed up about money that we can’t even talk about it without freaking out. I’m trying to start a “let’s talk about money like it’s not a big secret” revolution in my own life, especially in my relationship, and it’s an uphill battle.
Usually pretty depressed. Most blogs I’ve seen emphasize either expensive fashion or DIY, usually so extreme that my limited talents with a needle just don’t cut it. The idea that I can’t really look good until I have either piles of cash or fashion designer talent is kind of sad :/
Really, truly, honestly?
If I see a fashion blogger who is decked out in designed duds from hat to heel – I ignore it. I flash by. Why? It’s not realistic. I’m not inspired by your ability to procure $1200 shoes with your credit card. I blog for a living – I don’t make nearly the salary that some of these chicks do (which means I qualify for fancy cheap housing – yesss!), so when an outfit post is basically just an “I got new shoes that happen to be exceedingly trendy right now” post, it does nothing for me. My juices aren’t flowing, my pupils aren’t dancing – I’m bored.
I read the article you were interviewed for and was sure that you’d be a little disappointed. They really painted you into some kind of materialistic “LIKE OMG SHOPPING!!1” girl that I know you’re not. But hey – that’s business, baby! I’m glad you set the record straight here.
This post is SO on the money (no pun intended). I regularly feel inadequate when reading fashion blogs because my income cannot handle Marc by Marc Jacobs, let alone Chanel, and it’s easy to lose touch with reality when so much time is spent in the worlds of people whose shoe budget exceeds my annual salary. To combat the desire for the unattainable, I keep an eye out for less expensive versions of what’s hot, and frequent Goodwill. Lucky for me, the current trend is to look like you got everything at a thrift shop or the local sex shop!
I agree that experiences are much more valuable than material goods, so in the rare times when I do have enough cash to purchase Louboutin on clearance, I always stash it and buy a ticket to a faraway land instead.
Most of the fashion/lifestyle bloggers I follow are more into doing “their own thing” or digging through thrift stores than they are keeping up with the newest and the shiniest. That being said, while I am usually inspired to go through my own closet and come up with new outfit combos when I read fashion blogs, there are times when I just. Need. To. Shop. Especially after indulging an hour or two of blog-perusing. But whenever I do this, I have to wonder whether I’m really interested in buying the new clothes or whether I’m actually trying to emulate the attitude and lifestyle of these bloggers, who can accidentally be transformed in my mind into icons. If that’s the case, then I try my hardest to focus not on the clothes the blogger is showcasing, but the self-confidence and inner style instead.
I don’t really have much interest in fashion but I do like to look at fashion bloggers’ personal styles. To be honest, I find the main draw of fashion and style blogs to be the fact that they’re usually loaded with very beautiful pictures of good-looking people in nice clothes doing fun things.
There was a point when I was reading those kinds of blogs regularly and felt a little self-conscious, not at all because they had clothes I coveted/money to buy lots of nice things/etc., but because their lives seemed bohemian, fun and totally flawless. Time moved on and I grew up and became more comfortable with myself and the fantastic-if-not-flawless life I had. I have also grown disinterested in fashion blogs and prefer to read blogs about people’s lives, about the problems they didn’t take pictures of, the days they didn’t dress up because they were busy or tired or bummed, and about the flawed and flawless aspects of their lives together.
I guess that fashion/style blogs were escapism to me, seeing as I had no interest in reading about fashion. Now I need no escape, I’m happier in the nitty-gritty reality of my own life, and in reading about others’ realities.
I actually prefer not to read a ton of fashion blogs… start wanting what I can’t have. I’m actually being turned off to the whole internet thing in general… :-\
Fashion blogs..inspirational and fun, but we all have to take responsibility for our own outcome, they are another view on the world, but ultimately a frivolous and fun one (and this is coming from a real “fashion” girl). We can all make up our own minds, but it is light relief and fun to read another person’s input. There is only so much paid self indulgence you can take before you think “right must get back to work, cook tea, pick up the kids, walk the dogs, call the plumber”. Fun escapism, as Ani said before me! X
I’m a bargain hunter to the core (it’s actually how I found your blog, Gala, back when you were in Melbourne, you wrote a piece on your favourite bargain spots!), so I treat fashion blogs more as inspiration than instructions.
But your article made me think of something else – I think for a lot more people now, spending money on any clothes is just not as simple as it was. Personally, I’ve found that since I bought a house and all the fun-money eaters that come with it, I’ve spent significantly less time on fashion blogs.
I’m curious – do you know if fashion blog hits have dropped since the GFC? I can’t see it happening to your blog, Gala, you’ve made it fairly ‘recession proof’, but perhaps other blogs? Or has there been other changes, perhaps the tone of the comments, or the number of responses to different articles (ie a ‘buy these designer shoes!’ article getting fewer than one on repurposing your clothes)?
ScienceGeek — Those are really good questions. Hits on my blog certainly haven’t dropped due to the GFC, I’m very fortunate in that mine has gone from strength to strength, but can’t speak with any authority on anyone else’s traffic.
I think the number of fashion blogs has exploded in the last few years, which probably has nothing at all to do with the economy, it’s just that it has become a more popular past-time. I have seen some backlash against bloggers who others consider to be “spending frivolously” but who knows whether this is because of the GFC or just the usual jealousy & ire that is commonly aimed at people who the population perceives as being “better off”?
I also think that in times of economic crisis, people need escape even more than usual. If you can manage to strike the balance between inspiration & real, actionable advice that people can apply to their life, no matter their budget, I think your blog’s traffic & popularity is pretty safe. But if you’re all escape all the time, there’s a portion of the population who are going to get sick of it. I don’t know if you saw The September Issue but even in that, Anna Wintour is telling her Vogue staff that they need to be seen to be aware of the financial problems most of their readers are facing!
Don’t know if this answers your question or just gives us more to think about, haha!
Gala! My love, respect and admiration for you just increased by about tenfold. You’re the only blogger I follow that has even mentioned this issue! I completely agree! I have a small fashion blog that I started just for fun as a creative outlet. However, the more people that started reading my blog, the more I felt pressure to “deliver content” to these people. Sometimes I decide not to post because I just don’t feel like what I wear is “exciting” enough or creative enough, or frankly, expensive enough. Even though I firmly believe that style canNOT be bought, sometimes I can’t help but feel less stylish due to my college student’s budget. I also agree about the idea of owning that special article of clothing you desperately want seems like it would make your life better. When I fantasize about my perfect life, it always begins with a vast and incredible wardrobe. Thanks for talking about this issue, I really feel that it’s a big one.
I found this post very interesting.
On the one hand… I do enjoy some fashion blogs and I especially enjoy yours and a few others that stress originality, vintage clothing, fun inexpensive ways to look glamourous and the like! I find them inspirational but…
On the other hand… I am on disability currently and therefore don’t really have any extra money to spend on clothes. I have also lived in pretty extreme poverty at some points of my life. So sometimes looking at these blogs makes me feel, not envious exactly, but sad that not everyone can buy a new dress with such ease. I find fashion magazines worse though because they portray a strange elite world where everyone owns Prada bags and Chloe shoes and that is the norm. I think it’s okay if that’s what you want to do with your money but don’t pretend that everyone can spend a thousand dollars for a purse.
It’s complicated. Once I discovered fashion blogs, it was like all my fashion mags. had come to life. Suddenly you got to know who was wearing what, how, and where. Bloggers are sooo much better than models, because they’re actually wearing these clothes in public and describing what it’s like to teeter around in 5 in. stilettos, not just posing for pics. only to walk off in their own clothes hours later. I enjoy reading about where the person bought her stuff and why. On the other hand, most of the famous bloggers (Sea of Shoes, Fashion Toast, Style Scrapbook, What is Reality Anyway) pretty much are models. They look, dress, and are the size of models, so it’s not like I’m seeing a ‘real girl.’ And they seem to do nothing but scamper around the country getting endorsements and buying designer anything and everything. Ok, once in a while they’ll slum it and wear something from Target or Goodwilll, but it’s not like they have real jobs or anything! It’s a mystery how they afford their lifestyles. I prefer the more normal looking bloggers who will straight up tell you that they went without lunch for two months to afford their shoes. It does foster envy especially when you’re just a normal woman, with a normal job and normal figure. It is as much a fantasy as Vogue sometimes!
I am usually inspired by all of you lovely bloggers-I love to see the ways you put things together and the funny, quirky, intelligent things that go through your minds as you write pieces like this one or you’re jsut trying to put an outfit together. I have just started my own blog, just for fun and I now realize how much work goes into one to make it look and feel good to the reader as well as offer something entertaining or useful to read. I’m still finding my way….my blog is definitely still blah, but I’m having fun learning. I think you are right-how people spend money is their business. I love to look at blogs for style inspiration so that I can shop my closet and get creative with what I have. Not so say that I don’t find things here and there that I have to have-it does happen. But I’m trying to make it happen less often. I have more than enough of everything. When I see a blogger in designer duds I think, wow! good for her!
Thank you for a great article-I look forward to the next two!
I like fashion blogs because I like to see what others are wearing, and to stare and judge by my standards without getting caught or being rude – I can sit here and freely go, “Ugh, what hideous shoes” or “Wow, that top does wonders for her waist.” Then apply that knowledge. It’s nice to see unique silhouettes, as opposed to the standard tight-top-high-waisted-poufy-skirt-heels routine that’s been the standard since the 1950s, it’s so prevalent, but to be honest, it takes a lot of hunting to find anything like that at all in the fashion-sphere.
My style is my own, though, and buying an item that isn’t either very inexpensive or super-utilitarian is very rare for me. I didn’t blink about shelling out $200 on timeless boots that would take me through many winters fashionably, but if I’m buying a jersey top, it’s gotta be under $20 or I’m frankly being ripped off. I get really DIY when I want something, though, and I’ve block-printed my own “Chanel” tees and made a few interesting bags and scarves with a screenprinter friend. I also make a lot of accessories out of fur and deerskin that I’ve killed myself. I’ve never bought anything through a blogger’s referral link. Ever.
I think it’s incredibly short-sighted to give up credit cards because you can’t control your shopping habit, though. It’s a very childish mindset that credit is there to be spent on sparkly things and purses; someday you’re going to want to buy a house or a car or a yacht or a private island and you’re going to be punished in one way or another for not building any credit whatsoever. I myself have a few credit cards, but they don’t come out in Lord & Taylor, they come out at the emergency vet or at the car dealership.
Finally, I notice that many of the more “idolized” fashion bloggers are either in the industry, or are full of shit in regards to where their money comes from. If a blogger’s shopping out of your trust fund, are dealing coke on the side, or are a kept woman, fucking own it – too many people see them and think, “Oh hell yes, I’ll make a living posting pictures of my little outfits, quit my job, and swim in Dolce forever!”
I’ll point out Steff Metal ( www.steffmetal.com ) as one of my favorite fashion bloggers – not just because we have similar taste in music. She re-uses pieces in different ways, wears a lot of OOAK and handcrafted clothing, and most of all, features outfits that are UTILITARIAN and AFFORDABLE – I’d rather see a blogger outfitted in boots and jeans that show that she’s a woman who can run around and have fun, rather than being physically crippled by spike heels and tulle.
And to wrap it up – where does your life go if you’re spending TWO HOURS A DAY shopping? Good lord.
I’ve never let the fact that I can’t afford the things I see in Vogue and Elle put me off reading them. I find most high street fashion to be dull and uninspiring, but for years I’ve borrowed my mum’s copies of Vogue to see something a bit more interesting. I’d much rather be inspired by that and then work elements of it into my own wardrobe through making, customising or thrifting something similar – that way I get something that really fits my own personal style.
I’ve been unemployed for a year and before that I was a student, so I’m used to not being able to afford very many clothes at all let alone anything with a designer price tag. As a result, the few pieces of Vivienne Westwood jewellery I own are treasured because they were given to me after I worked hard and achieved something. Much as I’d love to be able to go into the Westwood boutique and clear the place out, I don’t know if I’d appreciate it anywhere near as much as the two that mean something special.
Just my two (belated) cents :)