The drama extended beyond the runway at Milan Fashion Week, reaching into cyberspace, with no less than Vogue getting its daggers out and drawing first blood in a new (and perhaps ill-advised) battle against fashion bloggers and influencers. In an incendiary article published on Vogue.com, the editors who were in attendance at the runway shows did not hide their displeasure with the bloggers and boy did it trigger a feud! Check out the comments section on the article for some spicy feedback to the writers of the piece.
We cannot deny the ability of bloggers (they are actually referred to as influencers in the article and industry parlance) to seduce both readers and advertisers with their mere presence and their reach. Here is how Huffington Post reacted to this. Yes, the Internet is on the case!
This new generation of influencers is taking the fashion world by storm and the old guard is not going to sit idly by. And we have not even gotten to models such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner who are bolstering their already substantial paychecks with endorsements thanks to their massive social media followings. Actually, even Vogue is getting in on the Snapchat act so this is as much about overcrowding in cyberspace as it is about stuffing the front row with influencers. As you can tell, this is about livelihoods and integrity so things could get messy…
Here then are five of the leading bloggers in the business, overall, as curated by AFP Relaxnews because Vogue didn’t mention any names… Susie Bubble and Bryanboy are the only two to have responded thus far but we will update this list based on any significant responses we track. After all, who laughs last laughs loudest, as they say.
Chiara Ferragni
The blogger (main picture) behind “The Blonde Salad” has been in the business for seven years and remains one of the most influential bloggers in the scene. With her own namesake brand under her belt, the blogger has also collaborated with Steve Madden and Superga for various collections. Earlier this year, Ferragni was named the European Ambassador of Amazon Fashion and boasts nearly seven million followers on Instagram. Our own research suggests that Ferragni was a cover subject for Vogue but we are unsure which edition and what issue.
Susanna Lau
She is better known as Susie Bubble and is based in the UK where she runs a blog called “Style Bubble”. With a reach of over 300,000 followers on Instagram, and a career as a professional blogger, Lau has collaborated with brands from GAP to Google. Lau was also one of the first to hit back at the writers behind the article on Vogue.com, to defend the blogging community.
Shea Marie
The Hollywood-based fashion influencer and blogger runs “Peace Love Shea” she has become a fixture on the fashion circuit. In her capacity as a blogger, Marie has collaborated with major brands such as Dior, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. Away from her blog, she is a designer with her own swimwear collection called Same Swim.
Bryanboy
As one of the few male bloggers in the industry, the Filipino has proven that men can be successful in this game as well. The blogger behind “Bryanboy” who has nearly a decade under his belt, was one of the many bloggers who was up in arms against Vogue’s criticism. He is known for his signature pose, which sees him holding a handbag on an outstretched arm, and has had a Marc Jacobs bag, the BB Ostrich, named after him.
Aimee Song
She can be called a fashion blog veteran, in the best way possible and boasts 3.9 million Instagram followers. Since 2008, when she set up her blog “Song of Style”, the blogger has developed her own jewelery and clothing brands and has even collaborated with brands such as Levi’s, True Religion and 7 For All Mankind.
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