Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
During Fashion Week Month there was a discussion regarding criticisms of designs and designers. Designer Edward Buchanan questioned “beside critiques”. The former Bottega Veneta creative head believes those who do not attend shows Buchanan argues those who see the show online get a different impression from a live runway walk. Buchanan also thinks the harsh language goes beyond respectful. Of course, public work is open is to inspection. In the viral era brands want a conversation about their clothing. How many likes, shares and comments are enough?
As the fashion industry opened up to bloggers, influencers, celebrity the exclusivity shine dimmed. Gone is the haughtiness. Whereas in the past fashion shows were for a few, today, they are streamed online for a wide audience. As brands went for mass sales reaching out to more buyers, fashion commentary changed. The big publications and houses played a symbiotic game, good reviews in exchange for access and ad buys in magazines. Those good old days are gone. YouTubbers, TikTokkers and others set the discussion pace. The take no prisoners strategy line rules. A vicious tongue in front of a camera gains traction online.
Certainly, the average person cannot buy a Dior Dress or a Hermes look. But the brands use these extravagant media get togethers down sell accessible items from perfume to trainers.
The argument is a bit elitist while at the same time meaningless.Sorry to all who think this is 1998. The fashion world opened up to the democratization. Everyone has an opinion and under arms, some stink, like or not. If a designer is so thin skinned to negative comments, perhaps not releasing the looks on social media could solve the problem. In a world where one of the drivers is exposure, not posting pictures on a platform is unlikely.
As an editor who does not attend many runways shows for different reasons, I still write about collections from photos or videos. I do not need to sit in a venue to recognise bad work.
No one gets a total life of pleasant comments unless that person lives at Disneyland.