I am so sorry this is a SUPER long post... but I promise it is worth the read. Enjoy! Wishing you all a happy Tuesday!
Let’s start with some blog history! I started this blog last Monday, totally random, I know. Some people might ask why would you start a blog now? Well, it’s a Monday night... and I am trying to avoid doing homework and studying for finals. However, the main reason I started this blog was because of my Writing 121 class and a paper I wrote for the class. The paper was all about why people blog and what the point of fashion blogging is. After writing the paper I came to a conclusion, people blog because it is an outlet for them to express themselves in a non personal type of way.
I have been looking at blogs for about a year and a half; I always thought these girls who wrote about their Marc Jacobs watch, Prada bag, and Gucci shoes just sat on their butts all day at the computer bragging to others about what their sugar daddy bought for them. I know that sounds very superficial and stereotypical, but I am sure I am not the only one who thinks that about fashion bloggers. I mean, seriously, these girls are like in their mid twenties wearing $900 Jimmy Choo shoes, how in the world is this possible? I want to wear Jimmy Choo shoes for fun too, I apparently missed the bandwagon :(. When I was doing research for my paper, I looked at several blogs, The Pink Peonies, Lily’s Style Guide, The Daybook, Pioneer Women, and Gal Meets Glam. These blogs are all pretty different in regards to what they blog about. However, I did notice a similarity amongst them, they all seem to be young and they all have expensive taste when it comes to clothing. They wear designer clothing, and do not seem to mind the price tag that accompanies such items. After comparing all of these blogs I did find that they all have sponsors on their pages. It is probably safe to say that whoever sponsors the blog gives them free things to use or to wear in their blogs; hence the $900 Jimmy Choo shoes. For example, on Rachel Parcell’s blog called The Pink Peonies, companies like J Crew and Tory Burch are main sponsors. Rachel usually wears at least one article of clothing or accessory from one of the sponsors she has on her page. Rachel also makes money from each advertisement on her blog. That is also how she affords those beautiful Jimmy Choo shoes.
Why do people blog? That is a question I asked myself quite often before I wrote a research paper
for my Writing 121 class a few weeks ago. I am an avid blog reader, there are about four blogs I read every day, mostly fashion blogs. Rachel Parcell who has been blogging for a little over a year, and claims to blog because it is a way for her to express her two loves: fashion and graphic design. While looking on Google, I found a website called The American Multi-Cinema and in their digital libraries I found an article called “Why We Blog.”The article stated “bloggers are driven to document their lives, provide commentary and opinions, express deeply felt emotions, articulate ideas through writing, and form and maintain community forums”.(36) This pretty much sums up the reasons for why most people blog. It is just like a journal, only more people can read it. I use my blog to write down all these silly ideas and thoughts in my head. It is a way for me to let off some steam.
I am sure most of you reading this blog right now are familiar with blogs and might even have a few favorite blogs you read on a regular basis. You might even be a blogger yourself. There are blogs for pretty much everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! I am sure most of you probably know what the word “blog” means, however I bet there maybe a few of you that wish you knew the definition, lucky you I granted your wish! A “blog” according to dictionary.com is a “journal written online and accessible to users of the internet.” Blogging became popular about 20 years ago, surprising I know! I have only really heard a buzz about blogging for a few years or so. Blogging has been around longer than I have been alive! When the internet became larger and online networking arose, blogging became popular. Now blogging is a serious tool in online media, promotion of businesses, and a way to express oneself. Blogging is a creative way to create business opportunities and to market yourself. Ree Drummond is a perfect example of this. Ree who started her Pioneer Women blog to keep herself sane in a family full of children, cattle and ranch life, far far away from civilization. Ree is now a super successful chef on the Food Network all because of her blog. Ree gives me hope that I one day can open my own high end boutique and become super successful. The way to become successful is by using technology to promote yourself and your business.
Through writing this blog I have learned that fashion blogging and just blogging in general is a way for people to express themselves and to leave a mark on the world. I am really glad I started my blog, and I am excited to continue to blog myself. I hope one day that my blog will lead me to bigger and better things in the fashion industry, help market myself, and being a successful boutique owner.
