Thursday, January 7, 2010

Expert Commentary on Today’s Top Fashion Designs? Child’s Play.

The question has been batted around social media in the past year, what makes a journalist? The question becomes even more intricate when you pose it in an arts related genre. Style is subjective. While fashion has a rich history and is a technical industry, originality and attitude can rule all.

Milan, Paris, Tokyo, New York, fashion weeks are an exciting staple for fashion journalists. A front row seat and backstage pass to New York Fashion Week previously reserved for only the editorial team of the nation’s top fashion magazines and experienced bloggers is now offered to bloggers who have yet to go to prom. In this case, Tavi.

Tavi Gevinson is a mere 13 years old, but her blog “Style Rookie” caught the attention of Rodarte, who decided to use Tavi’s unique fashion commentary for their new launch at Target. Included in this partnership was a spot in the front row at the Rodarte runway show during New York Fashion Week, complete with backstage pass to discuss the new line with senior editors from Seventeen, Teen Vogue, and even Vogue.

The experience was taped, mostly by Tavi herself, and released on YouTube. In the three weeks since its release, the video has been seen over 13,000 times. The video is, of course, supplemented with posts on her blog “Style Rookie,” where Tavi creates outfits using Rodarte’s new Target pieces to complete her unique style.

Tavi has earned herself rights that others have struggled through years of schooling and latte orders for. Is she a fashion Einstein, or a generational normal who simply got lucky? In a time where journalists are getting laid off by the boatload, you have to wonder where we’re headed in the new decade. Is there or should there be a distinction between laptop-owning fashion enthusiasts and classically trained journalists

Via Heidi and Sara