Fashionista - Fashion Designers, Models, Shopping, Style

Nov 05, 2007 @ 1:46pm

elana f.JPG
The Guardian has an article up today dealing with that burning issue of our time: What to wear in your Facebook photo.

Hadley Freedman sternly offers up this advice:

"Ladies, vanity is obvious and it is never a good look. There are other websites out there for this kind of flirtatious nonsense and they are called dating websites.

Because, contrary to what Facebook seems to believe, a "friend" is not someone you once met seven and a half years ago, haven't spoken to since and don't plan to in the future, near or distant. It's someone who knows pretty darn well what you look like and therefore needs no (and will not be deluded by any) soft-focus nonsense."

We agree that "soft focus" is best left to '80s family portraits and Janice Dickinson reality shows. But what about fashion networking opportunities on the site?

With the crush of up-and-coming labels hitting Facebook (House of Holland just got a profile; so did Dazed and Confused, is it any surprise that a source recently confessed "before I picked my interns [for a major fashion magazine] I checked them out on MySpace and Facebook"?

So here's our advice: You don't have to look gorgeous and date-worthy in your Facebook photo, but if you don't look like the type of kid who can show up with Stam's dry cleaning at 7 am sharp (while looking cooler than everyone else on set), maybe you should pick another picture.

--ALISON COOL

posted by Kara

Nov 05, 2007 2:18PM

Elana, MK wore that dress a year ago to a Teen Vogue party.

posted by Heather

Nov 05, 2007 2:27PM

There are children dying of AIDS and malnutrition in Africa and elsewhere, and the most pressing question in someone's life is what to wear in their Facebook photo? Oh to be so lucky as devote that much stress over something so trivial.

If I may borrow a phrase from Santino Rice -- lighten up, it's just fashion.

posted by rachael

Nov 05, 2007 2:28PM

Its not only the fashion industry that is using facebook during the recruiting and interviewing process. Major finance and accounting firms also scroll through potential employees facebook profiles. Its pretty creepy. So ladies, no matter what the job you're looking for may be, don't post a slutty picture. PLEASE.

posted by elle.

Nov 05, 2007 2:57PM

with what rachael said in mind, don't post anything that makes you look like a raging alcoholic/druggie either.
=)

posted by Faran

Nov 05, 2007 3:00PM

Hi Heather,

I think you might be confused - this is a fashion news site, so everything we discuss here relates to style.

If you're looking for a website that helps with the relief effort in Africa, our favorite is TheGlobalFund.org

xo F.

posted by Jac

Nov 05, 2007 3:33PM

Yeah, I don't think that worrying about your FB pic is that vain a thing to do--esp. on a fashion website. After Halloween, so many girls put up ridiculous pictures. Don't they know how they look?

posted by curious

Nov 05, 2007 4:27PM

i interned at a major mag and a design co's PR team and both looked through facebook and myspace for the prospects.. and people were rejected immediately because of ridiculous pics

Nov 05, 2007 4:40PM

I'm not confused that you linked to the article, but I just find it galling that someone would actually take themselves seriously enough write to a newspaper to ask for advice on the subject.

posted by bigglassesgirl

Nov 05, 2007 4:53PM

I don't make my photo viewable in the search.

posted by gutyan

Nov 05, 2007 4:55PM

you can just set the settings to the minimum, and there will be no trouble. i don't see the problem.

posted by Lindsay Sue

Nov 05, 2007 6:38PM

Thank God for safety features...

posted by guest

Nov 05, 2007 9:09PM

if we friend you...will you accept??