Want To Be A Dubai Fashion Blogger? Listen To This Fashion Expert...
Famous front row critic Godfrey Deeney spills the beans...
30 October 2017
Anna Wintour famously once said "You either know fashion or you don't" and truer words have never been spoken.
The world of fashion bloggersis a tough one to crack, with industry leaders constantly battling for the top spot and up-and-coming designers pushing boundaries to compete against each other. This makes it difficult to be a fashion blogger in Dubai but luckily Fashion Forward Dubai offered some top tips to help.
Fashion blogging, previously known as fashion journalism (in the predominantly print era preceding ours) is a full-time task that involves research, observation, speculation, and then some more research. Whipping up a feature about the latest trend is the simple bit, but finding what may become the latest trend is what sets fashion journalists apart.
At the recent 10th edition of FFWD, we had the opportunity to attend a talk by Godfrey Deeney- the king of the front row.
Who is Godfrey Deeney?
For those of you who are not familiar with the who's who of the fashion industry, Godfrey Deeney is Global Editor-in-Chief for Fashionnetwork.com, which is considered to be the Reuters of the fashion industry and is based out of Paris.
Having previously served as Editor-at-Large for Le Figaro (France's largest Daily), Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Hommes and Fashion Wire Daily as well as the Paris Bureau Chief of Women's Wear Daily; Deeney didn't always have his toes dipped in fashion. Starting off with a background as Finance Journalist for the Wall Street Journal in Milan, he worked his way out of finance and into fashion and has since never looked back.
What does it take?
Apart from a keen interest and eye for fashion, fashion bloggersneed to be 'present' at all times. As Deeney suggests: save money, take a flight to Paris or any of the fashion capitals and just be there. Being at the right place at the right time can offer a world of opportunities, so keep an eye out for fashion events happening around you.
Speaking from personal experience, Deeney said that he was actually mistaken for a fashion journalist while attending a business lunch in Milan!
Content is key!
Fashion is a vast subject, so find your niche and stick to it. It's better to be an expert on one topic rather than a know-it-all who's not quite there yet. Having said that, keep an eye out for any new topics that might be a novel read for the audience. A good way to always stay relevant is to help discover and promote new talent. It's a win-win, as both you and the talent get exposure!
Fashion exhibitions such as Fashion Forward Dubai have become very popular recently and is the perfect place to start blogging. Carry a camera and a notebook and talk to as many people as you can. Gone are the days when you had to wait months for an invite to a private runway show, fashion brands are now laying out their goods for everyone to admire in public expositions such as these. So don't miss the opportunity.
Collaborate
With bloggers now becoming the voice of reason in every field, the fashion industry also sees them as a great marketing tool. Find ways to collaborate with brands, big or small and let that lead the way. Big fashion brands are collaborating with bloggers to reach out to a mass audience.
Dolce & Gabbanarecently did a show in Milan where they put bloggers on the front row, as well as on the runway to express their involvement with the millennial generation.
And lastly, stay true to yourself...
We have all wanted to go out of our way for a compliment. However, the euphoria only lasts for a few moments. The key to remaining consistent, relevant and to always write honestly, without the fear of being criticised.
As Deeny concludes his talk, he is reminded of Le Figaro (the play, based on which the publication got its name) and it's closing line "Sans la liberté de blâmer, il n'est point d'éloge flatteur" which translates to "Without the freedom to criticise, there is no true praise."
