Fashion bloggers, street style photographers – the phenomenon, hype, trend or just evolution of the fashion system: the subject isn’t foreign to The Blogazine. In Garage Magazine‘s short film “Take My Picture” the clinch between fashion editors and fashion bloggers is apparent, as well as the hysteria around the street style photographers’ darlings and stars-to-be.
When did the photographers start to outnumber the ‘objects’ to be shot? Has the extreme number of fashion/street/style/photography blogs not only created a possibility to be seen, but a need to be seen? Is everyone dressing up to be shot?
Bill Cunningham said “the best fashion show is definitely on the street – always has been, and always will be”. Then of course, Cunningham did street style photography before it even was an expression. No matter what one’s opinion might be about the statement, the truth is that the streets outside the show venues are as much of a fashion parade as the runway itself. The number of photographers and fashion bloggers trying to snap a picture of another blogger, model, it-girl, it-boy or fashion editor seems ridiculous, but who is to judge what also is an affordable alternative to an advertising campaign for young designers?
It’s a sure thing that all our digital tools have democratized fashion and created opportunities for brand publicity in a way that never was an option before. Even designers with a low, or no, budget can find ways of showing off their collections during the hottest periods of fashion weeks. The question is – does the situation, in the film compared to French warfare, create monsters, turning the glamour of fashion into a reality show? And does the great ones – fashion blogs as well as actually talented photographers – disappear in the crowd of peacocks and amateurs?
Lisa Olsson Hjerpe
