I think this is something that most fashion/outfit diary bloggers encounter at some point in time or another. Katy put together a good post of questions for this weeks' edition of Friend Friday.
1. Do you think personal fashion blogging is inherently narcissistic?
I really don't. I don't think it can be generalized that way. I haven't come across any fashion blog (yet) that seems narcissistic. I do it for the community aspect of blogging, because I feel like it's an easy thing to write about (for me - because I don't have to come up with in-depth topics or spend hours doing research) and because my ultimate goal is to challenge myself to be better, and to get tips and advice from other fashion bloggers to make myself better.
2. I think we can all agree that certainly some blogs are personal odes to the blogger. In your opinion what makes a blog narcissistic?
I think a blog is narcissistic if the writer doesn't make any attempt to reply to comments and be grateful for them, or doesn't comment on other bloggers' posts with constructive words. If the writer is simply posting their thoughts and opinions because they believe everyone needs to hear and see what they think, because they couldn't possibly improve any further, that makes a blog narcissistic to me.
3. Would you classify your blog as narcissistic? Why?
Nope. Because I know I'm far from great! While I'm hopeful that maybe, perhaps, some of my outfits might inspire someone somewhere, my goal is to improve because I don't really think I'm all that inspiring essentially.
4. How can we combat the idea that because we share personal style thoughts/pictures we are automatically full of ourselves?
Why would sharing our opinions make us full of ourselves? How is that different from any other blog? Just because we share our opinions about fashion rather than cooking (or crafts, or entertainment, or anything else) doesn't make us full of ourselves.
5. How do you explain what you do to others in a way that doesn't come across as narcissistic?
I blog not because I think other people benefit from it; I blog because I have a desire to improve and to form relationships with those that inspire me.
i don't think its narcissitic either, especially when the blogger is involved in the fashion blogging community
ReplyDeleteI don't think yours is AT ALL but I honestly think some out there are.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so at all!!! I love what a creative outlet that fashion blogging can be!!! I love how many wonderful and sweet comments that people write to each other! Even though most blogs are not me exact taste I truly appreciate them and learn from them!!! I have love getting to know so many wonderful people in this community!
ReplyDeleteoh, wow! strange how I happened across your blog related to this topic! Recently I had posted a specific question to a fashion blog that I USED to read on a daily basis... a simple question regarding her necklace...I had a similar Ficalora necklace and wanted her opinion/tips on wearing it. She did not respond. And you know what? I stopped following her blog. It's not like she had 106 comments. I took the time to post a comment on her blog. She could have responded to my post. Funny how one can feel slighted across the web....but it happens. BTW, you aren't narcissistic! Your blog rocks.
ReplyDeleteoh, wow! strange how I happened across your blog related to this topic! Recently I had posted a specific question to a fashion blog that I USED to read on a daily basis... a simple question regarding her necklace...I had a similar Ficalora necklace and wanted her opinion/tips on wearing it. She did not respond. And you know what? I stopped following her blog. It's not like she had 106 comments. I took the time to post a comment on her blog. She could have responded to my post. Funny how one can feel slighted across the web....but it happens. BTW, you aren't narcissistic! Your blog rocks.
ReplyDeletethank you guys for saying that mine isn't narcissistic! if i ever become that way, i hope someone points it out to me! i don't want to be that person.
ReplyDeletei do agree that there are some who come across quite narcissistic...but then i have to wonder, maybe they just really only have the time to publish their post and that's it? maybe their life is much more chaotic than they let on in their blog and they just really don't have the ability to comment?
i don't know. i try to "seek first to understand, second to be understood."
but...ursula you're right, it's amazing how one can feel slighted through the web when you take the time to pose a question to a blogger (clearly complimenting them in doing so because you're asking an opinion) and they don't respond to that.
some of my comments don't really warrant a response. and then i also wonder, if i do respond to comments left on my own blog, whether or not the commenter would actually come back to my page to see the response. when i leave a comment i don't normally return to that page to see if there's a response. do most people do that? i just don't think about it. i have an awful memory. :)
i really like these friday questions! and narcissistic or no, i love peeking into other people's closets!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way! Sometimes I don't care if they reply or not, I just want to see what they're wearing. :)
ReplyDelete"Why would sharing our opinions make us full of ourselves? How is that different from any other blog? Just because we share our opinions about fashion rather than cooking (or crafts, or entertainment, or anything else) doesn't make us full of ourselves."
ReplyDeletePerfectly put!
♥ V
http://www.gritandglamour.com