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Weekend Reading: marketing messages, ethical fashion, & the death of street style
Some good reads this week:
- What happened to street style? I mostly agree with the author’s lamentations, but wonder why he’s overlooking all the smaller, true-to-form street style blogs. The most interesting issue to me is the way money and success corrupt creative vision.
- Opinions in this post are 100% my own. On the topic of the influence of big brands, this post explores the perfunctory disclaimer we see so often on bloggers’ product reviews. It’s a great discussion about biases and objectivity.
- Ethical chic: How women can change the fashion industry. “As more women take on more authority as leaders in the fashion industry, they are poised to challenge the long-standing assumption that our ethics are limited by market forces.”
- Marketing targets. It’s fascinating to examine what sort of consumer target you are. It’s unnerving, but also a powerful way to train yourself to resist these messages.
- Justina Blakeney on the illusion of work/life balance. Her perspective on this issue is so refreshing. Even without children, I relate to her feelings of guilt.
image above: From my instagram feed this week. The first camellias are blooming!
Comments
Jessica
January 24, 2014 #
If you are looking for some serious street style you should look up Bill Cunningham. He takes his street style photographs (in New York City) of what he wants not what publishers want him to take.
Sarai
January 24, 2014 #
Yes, and the documentary about him is available for streaming on Netflix. He’s a fascinating man, a true artist.
kc
January 24, 2014 #
I couldn’t agree more about the Bill Cunningham documentary. I even cried at the end, he’s such a sweetheart.
Regarding the links, though, Sarai: would it be possible to have them open in a new window instead of taking me away from the Colette blog? It would be so much easier to check everything out, especially when you have a bunch of really interesting-looking articles like today.
Sarai
January 24, 2014 #
Hmm, I like to leave that choice up to the reader since some people don’t like tons of windows/tabs opening. This way, you have the choice to right click and open in a new tab or not.
*em
January 24, 2014 #
Thank you soooooo much for these links! It is so important to realize that commercials don’t just stop on your TV! Although I am happy people have found a way to make money while at home, I am super disturbed that it is by turning most of their blog into COMMERCIALS!! Adding the disclaimer that it is all their own opinion doesn’t change the fact that it is STIll a commercial!
Sarai
January 24, 2014 #
It’s complicated, because the business model for blogs (and the internet in general) is to offer up a whole lot of content for free, and then make money through advertising. I think if a blogger is putting a lot of time and creativity and work into what they produce, they have every right to earn a living.
The best bloggers do this in a way that is useful to their readers and to the advertisers. I think that is completely achievable. But to say that you aren’t influenced by the money or product you’re receiving at ALL is a bit disingenuous.
Amanda
January 24, 2014 #
great reads, thanks for sharing! :) I also really liked the body image one you posted (last week?) by the massage therapist – so touching and beautiful :)
Paola
January 24, 2014 #
I’m enjoying these posts very much – I’ve read so much interesting stuff that I wouldn’t have found otherwise…thanks!
Robin
January 24, 2014 #
Thank you Sarai, for these links. Coletterie is my only book marked sewing and fashion blog for this reason – for about a year now it’s always been enough to keep me informed and satisfied about these topics!
The article on street fashion reminds me of a recurring fantasy. I live alone in a big city (therefor no compromise to my style is demanded by loved ones I don’t want to embarrass) and I wear whatever I want every day. Whatever my workplace is, they don’t bat an eye. I enjoy my sense of style while shopping, in the street, at the theater, in a coffee shop, wherever I am. And what I wear inspires others that pass by to think, Why not? Or, Nice idea!
In reality, I am satisfied if what I am wearing does not look like it was bought from a rack, like it is hand made, bespoke for me, but not homemade with those negative connotations from childhood, when only store-bought was worth having.
cynthia gehin
January 24, 2014 #
great posts. Keeps us thinking. Are we all just ‘targets’ for merchandisers? I like to think that my purchasing power isn’t controlled by outside influences but by what my real needs are. I know what my basic needs are but with two, 4year old grandkids that are so influenced by media I can really see the impact of outside influences. Homemade T-rex versus the bionic battery powered variety? That cool Disney princess costume versus the homemade swirly dress? Are we any different than those kiddos?
Kat
January 24, 2014 #
In the vein of street style – I LOVE Bill Cunningham New York…great flick..great man.
cathy
January 24, 2014 #
I’m loving all your WA posts and this additional reading posts – they’re really making me think and rethink many things.
coffeeaddict
January 24, 2014 #
Thanks for an interesting selection of topics and aritcles. Perfect for starting my Saturday!
Maddie
January 25, 2014 #
I love your statement on money and success killing creativity. I’ve been thinking about that lately. I used to have high aspirations for my blog. I dreamt of it being big enough that I could quit my day job and pursue it full time. That’s changed. Yes, I still have big goals for Madalynne (book, patterns), but I wonder if I would feel pressured to create different content if it were my primary source of income. Right now, I feel free to post whatever I want, because at the end of the month, it doesn’t pay the bills. That freedom puts my creativity on overdrive. When I feel stifled, such as by money, wealth, or readers, I go into a creative coma. Because I have these feelings, I wonder if other people’s creativity suffer as well when money and success is factored into the equation .
Sarai
January 27, 2014 #
It’s so tricky! I believe you can keep your creative vision and, most importantly, your values while making a living and even gaining success.
The important thing is defining what “success” really looks like to you. Is it being popular, having lots of social media followers, growing big, making more and more money? Or is it creating something you are proud of, maintaining your own life and interests, having relationships with your readers/customers?
The hard part is that the first is extremely easy to track and see, and the latter is not. So we default to measuring success by numbers and outward appearances.
Also, you can’t be a sustainable business if you don’t care about the former at all. To some extent, you have to care about keeping the money coming in. Especially if you have employees or others relying on you. That can interfere with your other, perhaps ultimately more important, goals.
I have a lot of thoughts on this, it really deserves to be its own blog post!
Guro
January 26, 2014 #
Thank you for inspirational weekend reads. I love your blog/web page :)
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