In the suddenly web-obsessed world of fashion, bloggers are some of the industry’s brightest stars. But it’s one group of bloggers–not those of us who report on news, or those tracking trends–who garner the greatest amount of spotlight.
Personal style bloggers put themselves out there. Not only do they share their favorite fashions, trends, and ideas, they also take pictures of themselves wearing their favorite looks on a daily basis.
So it’s no wonder those in the fashion industry and beyond have embraced personal style bloggers as internet celebrities. Brands like Coach and Urban Outfitters have even hired some of them to design product.
Fashionista’s compiled a list of the most influential personal style bloggers right now: The ones really worth the advertising campaigns, endorsement deals and guest design stints. While our methods aren’t scientific, we did take these factors into consideration: monthly unique users, monthly pageviews, Twitter followers, Google News mentions, and the amount–and what kind of–advertising these style sensations have on their Web sites. We also considered the overall appeal of the person. (For more information on our methodology, email us.)
Here’s our list. Who’d be on yours?
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I couldn't agree more, or have stated that better. And by the way, YOU are one of those influential and trend setting bloggers today. I love your blog an enjoy reading your daily posts.
Dana
Love how each blogger is a character of their own.
Thanks, Dana!
We approach the rankings from a more holistic perspective, but also take some of the same information into perspective. And while we consider everyone together, quite a few of your picks are on our list of the 99 most influential fashion blogs as well.
If anyone is interested in seeing how the personal style bloggers compare with street style bloggers (and lots of others as well), we have a relatively scientifc list of the 99 most influential fashion and beauty blogs at http://www.signature9.com/style-99
I love your list…there were only 2 I wasn't following and they're now added.
I'd add Honorable Mentions to Childhood Flames, Stylish Wanderer, The Owls, Fashion is Poison, Le Blog de Betty, Clothes Horse, and What I Wore. I need to hit “post” or else the list will keep growing…yikes.
Thanks guys!
Love this, very inspiring
I will check them all!
Love this, very inspiring
I will check them all!
Also check out http://karen-wheredidugetthat.blogspot.com/ and http://moptopmaven.blogspot.com/ and http://msvintagevirgin.blogspot.com/ and http://rockinthatbling.com/
This 18-year-old girl and her mother astound me. They obviously have the means to support their great love of clothes, but it's unquestionably clear that they buy what they love, independent of who's advertising in Vogue. There's real inspiration to be had there.
great list, but also google: christeric, befrassy, song of style and happybecause. You're probs aware of these, but just in case you;re not…!
I would definitely include Rebecca of The Clothes Horse and Erin of Calivntage in my own list as they are the blogs I look forward to showing up in my RSS feeder the most everyday.
Maybe I will be fortunate enough to be considered for these lists one day as well.
love Betty too http://www.leblogdebetty.com/ and Pelayo is also amazing http://www.katelovesme.net/
Kingdom of Style is missing from your list.
susie bubble is my favorite out of those.
Gala Darling??? You cannot be serious.
You really think a blog that is basically sponsored posts/advertising and a bit of filler is worthy with the rest of these? Comments that dare to have a different opinion, criticize or are not wildly enthuasiastic are not 'approved' because they are not 'positive and happy-clappy' or some BS.
Kingdom of Style would have been a better choice. Or Karla's Closet. Atlantis Home. Stylorectic. Daddy Likey. Not Gala Darling, and certainly not as a style blogger.
These are NOT my personal choices–We looked at how many readers these blogs have, and who pays attention to them, as well as a lot of other stuff. You may dislike Gala Darling, but a lot of people love her.
Camille at Childhood Flames is my favorite personal style blogger out there. Minimalism :)
my favorites are: carolina from fashion squad, amlul, and miss pandora (louise ebel)
kingdom of style is great!
oh my goodness, an ENORMOUS thank you for including me! i'm so flattered and honored. thank you, thank you, you completely made my day (my week!)
oh my goodness, an ENORMOUS thank you for including me! i'm so flattered and honored. thank you, thank you, you completely made my day (my week!)
I want to see a better picture of Hanneli Mustaparta's dog. Can someone make that happen?
I agree with almost all of these, except for Rumi. I've tried so hard to like her but she's just a lame hipster, American Apparel, Erin Wasson android. She has no real personal style at all, she's just thin and oversized t-shirts happen to be in fashion.
while I do love Joanna, it was kind of a strange choice for this list …Hanneli I love too but really, she doesn't get much traffic, so based on that, strange. …otherwise, yes …but I would have included Karla & Betty ;)
http://www.lovemaegan.com
thank you :-)
Ms Darling's blog is not even in the same league as Sea of Shoes, Style Bubble or The Style Rookie. You're right, she really doesn't deserve the mention here.
Interesting post + great list.
I get the comments above though. It's hard to draw the line between personal style blogs and strictly speaking personality blogs, but perhaps that's part of why some people feel that Kingdom of Style is missing from the list (considering it's a very unique style blog) and also why Gala Darling's presence on the list feels questionnable to some people (not that her voice isn't unique, but her blog is really about her personality, life style and outlook).
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like Gala (I do) but to me she's more life style than fashion style. Her fashion style is quite mainstream compared to all the others who made the list and her fashion articles reflect that as well (there are other avenues where she's more gifted like advice and stuff). In contrast, people like Jane from Sea of Shoes, Judy from Atlantis Home and Michelle from the Kingdom have actually impacted fashion through their style. It's not the kind of influence that can be measured by blog stats (quantitative methods) but it's a fact (qualitative evaluation) and I'm guessing it could be where these comments came from.
It's not a critique, just a spontaneous reaction, I loved the article !
xo
Completely agree Sarah. Apart from my gripe with the blatant advertising posts & blocking comments, I just don't see Gala Darling as a 'style/fashion blogger'. At a push, 'lightweight positive thinking', but really now it is often just links to other people's posts and random articles/pictures.
To deem something 'influential' by going by blog stats, number of readers etc. in this regard is a bit misleading in my opinion. Obviously it is only my opinion but the fact GD ended up on here says it all. To me, an influential medium, whatever it may be, could be read/noticed by a smaller number of, in turn, influential people who dilute/spread it to a more mainstream audience. For example in print, I would consider Love, V, Purple, ID etc more 'influential' than Vogue, Elle etc. who are in turn more influential than Glamour or Cosmo but who has the higher circulation? The same can be said for clothing designers. You can see how Susie Bubble breaks new tiny designers & has been a huge influence to people, with minimal advertising. Luxirare, who I am sure has a smaller readership, has done something quite unique with a blog and is changing the face of what a blog *should* look like. These to me are influential personal style blogs. Just my opinion!
Totally get what you mean–but it depends on how you define influential. Lucky, for instance, is far more influential than V when it comes to coercing people to actually buy things. It influences the masses, which is what I was going for here. V influences all of us in the fashion industry. These bloggers inspire people–whether or not we agree with their methods. I did factor in “overall appeal,” which is why people like Susie are at the top of the list. She is able to draw in a huge audience AND introduce people to new and interesting things. And as for Luxirare–she is my personal favorite–but she is so afraid of promoting herself that her influence will never be as great as we'd like it to be. Thanks a million for your thoughts/ideas–I will definitely consider all of this next time we're putting a ranked list together.
I'll see what I can do!
big hearts xo
Right, Sarah. I agree with what you've said. Gala's blog began as a fashion blog, but evolved to include all of her interests (from what I've heard from several of her interviews).
here's the most influential blog
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/index.html
Spot on analysis Jackie + it's nicely refreshing to hear such genuine opinion. I agree with most of your points, except I don't think it makes for a misleading ranking because it's meant as an overall picture and it takes different types of influences into account. Other than the personality/personal style issue I already mentioned, what stroke me was the way it showed how most blogs are somehow quite specialised. Very few are equally good at being a powerful media and a genuinely creative avenue, except people like Susie Bubble who achieves both (as Lauren points out).
It shows how diverse the blog world is, some blogs are all about creativity and showcasing new and unique stuff (Luxirare is the perfect example) and perhaps that can be defined as one type of “influence”, versus contributing not so much in terms of creating a never before seen item or style, but rather through making it available to a much larger audience based on a more mainstream outreach, which makes for a completely different type of “infuence” (Gala Darling fits that description in many ways) . I agree with Lauren that both do qualify as influence, just not the same type.
Lauren, I was interested by how you linked this to what goes on in print media in terms of outreach and appeal.
Thanks ladies for great food for thought ! xo
This list is unsurprising in that it's what I would expect to see when “influence” is defined primarily by size of audience, advertising and similar criteria. For that reason, Lauren, I have no qualms with it (except Gala's presence, which while I agree that she's got a lot of visibility, she's more of a lifestyle blogger).
Sarah and Jackie raise the great point that influence has a wider definition. I would be especially interested in seeing a compilation of the personal style bloggers who are at the front of the bell curve. They're the ones who are the Innovators as defined in Gladwell's The Tipping Point. They're the blogger equivalents of Lula, i-D and Purple. These are the bloggers who don't necessarily have huge endorsements and massive readerships but are still read widely by those within the fashion blogging network.
One of my personal and relatively little-known faves is dreamecho. Back when taking a photo of oneself in front of the mirror was de rigeur, she was at the forefront of featuring editorial-esque photos on personal style blogs. And, at least among insiders/longtime blog readers, she's recognized as one of the most thoughtful, critical fashion bloggers out there. Kingdom of Style is another of my longrunning favorites. The Queens' distinct, confident and witty voices have not wavered over the years, and their style is simply groundbreaking and one of a kind. I would also say Childhood Flames, Luxirare, The Clothes Horse and The Glamourai belong to this category of blogs at the beginning of the curve. I think what all these blogs bring to the table is a commitment to being true to themselves and a sense of innovation. They're the ones who are really coming up with new approaches to fashion.
I've noticed that some blogs with larger audiences (a number of which are included in Fashionista's list) often appropriate content from smaller blogs like the ones in the paragraph above. While being inspired by others is par for the course, what's disturbing is that some of these widely read blogs do not feel the need to cite their sources. By omission, these popular blogs will claim the original ideas of others as their own. Perhaps that's how some of them rose to the top? One could say that it's survival of the fittest, but I don't think it's all to different from, say, Ghesquiere at Balenciaga outright copying Kaisik Wong or Erin Wasson's appropriation of Bliss Lau's body jewelry. The big name gets the credit and makes a profit off of a smaller name, without having to do the actual inventing. It's not so different in the blogging world, I think.
someone very important got left off the list…how about a male fashion blogger
FASHION BY HE
http://fashionbyhe.blogspot.com
Wow, it's great to come back later on and see such interesting and in-depth comments! Love reading comments like these.
Lauren I think we are basically on the same page – I totally get where you are coming from with the choices. 'Misleading' was a bad choice of words on my part – I guess when I think of influential with regards to fashion, I think of the top-tier and forget that Random Twentysomething thinks Topshop kicked off a skinny jean trend all on its own. And doesn't really care otherwise, which is fine.
Like CityofHuntress mentioned, I too would love to see a list of 'underground' influential fashion bloggers – it has been so long since I have had the time to seek out new style bloggers I would love to see who is quietly making waves. The last (only?) person that blew my mind was Luxirare, that was so long ago and is she going to be impossible to top? Anyway would really like to see who other people have discovered.
Great article. Love a bit of a debate! Thanks girls :)
Great list, I didn't know a couple of them but will now follow. I also like these style blogs…
http://www.thinkthrufashion.com/ She does this cool thing where she wears pieces over and over but they look totally different. It's pretty inspiring.
http://cheapjap.com/ She has a cool mix of style and I love her writing. Very funny.
Liebemarlene Vintage should have been included !
On another note, I wanted to point out that Rumi Neely has to be at least 27 years old now. Her age was listed as 25 in an April 2008 Teen Vogue feature.
http://www.teenvogue.com/style/blogs/fashion/20…
i love ringo,have a banana and cat party.
Bryanboy might be fashion but certainly NOT style. nor taste.
Why no black blogger ? Racism in blogosphere like in model industry
Check this http://www.maybach-carter.com/2010/04/le-courri…
An follow some french black bloggers
http://www.maybach-carter.com/blogroll-speciale…
Hmm! Fascinating read – especially the comments!
It's always interesting to read the difference in opinions, and I think it's always important to remember that mostly that's what this is all about – opinions!
The beauty if the blogosphere is that there's something for everyone. If you don't like something, there's always another blog waiting to be read.
I also think there's a big difference between style bloggers and fashion bloggers. That's not to say that one can't be the other and vice versa (does that make sense? I'm jet lagged!)
Susie Bubble for example is a style blogger who has additional editorial content… making her both a fashion and style blogger (as is Tavi) and then you have the three 'french one's' Alix, Betty and Louise. All have amazing photographs displaying their fantastic style (honestly all three of these girls are so so inspirational) but they're definitively style bloggers over fashion bloggers.
I would agree that I'd have a hard time classifying Gala Darling as a 'style' blogger (by my definition) but she is most definitely a fashion blogger, and Jo (Cup of Joe) I feel similarly about. Correct me if I'm wrong (I don't read her blog as regularly as I should) but other than wedding and engagement photos I can't remember seeing any personal style pictures. She is still, however, a fashion (and lifestyle) blogger (and a great one at that)
Anyway I've rambled on far longer than was my intention but if I was to add any to the list:
- Ms Pandora
- Blog de Betty
- Mademoiselle Robot
And in my dreams…. Dedicated Follower of Fashion ; ) (http://dedicated-follower.com)
I hope very much to one day see this http://fashionforestry.blogspot.com/ lady on a list such as this. She's truly a gem in the online fashion world!
Surprised that there was no mention of Emily of Cupcakes & Cashmere anywhere on this list or in the comments – she is by far my favorite blogger! Also agree that Betty should be high up on the list. I personally tend to gravitate towards the more like-able, relate-able bloggers, and a lot of the blogs on this list aren't quite that.
This is a great list. There were some bloggers that I wasn't familiar with who I will now be following. I especially like the blog, FashionToast.
Love all three :) Amlul particularly! Check out her friend pelayo!
Ooh err… who are you accusing in this list that re-appropriates content? I hope it isn't me… because I work VERY hard in trying to ensure my content is mostly my own… sourcing my own photos, arranging them, writing a good deal, not relying on press releases and generally trying to make sure that i experience most things 'in person' as opposed to through the internet…
In fact, I rare other blogs before creating my posts….
I'd agree though about the blog choices that were omitted…. because I've considered them as influential for a looooong time as well…. Luxirare, KoS and The Glamourai especially are inspirational…