The New Front Row

   The New Front Row- Fashion Month 2016

When one thinks of the fashion industry, a few words that come to mind are pretentious and unwelcoming, but thanks to an uprise in influence for new age bloggers and public figures, all of that is changing. In an article titled Ciao Milano!, Vogue.com editors discoss the triumphs and failures of Milan fashion week. One editor commented, “Note to bloggers who change head-to-toe, paid-to-wear outfits every hour: Please stop. Find another business. You are heralding the death of style.” This “note” would not go unnoted by the hundreds of successful fashion bloggers that are attending every show more frequently now than ever in the front row.

One blogger, Shea Marie was quick to respond the Vogue article with a thoughtfully written post on Instagram.  She argues, “I’m sorry if you can't accept that what a public figure wears on the street is undoubtedly more influential than your post-fashion week column. The numbers stand for Shea whose instagram alone has 1 million followers and receives an average of 20,o00 likes a photo. Fans want autographs and pictures of the peaceloveshea.com owner and are willing to buy anything she wears directly from an instagram link. Editors these days are rightfully frustrated with their diminishing power and influence but should rather be learning from these bloggers than hating them. The term A-listers and Influencer, is beginning to change in meaning and while not all can agree on who fits this description, fashion houses are certainly making a statement on who they think they are. At the Dolce and Gabbana, spring 2017 ready to wear show, the front row was made up of mostly millennial “instagram stars”  which to a Vogue editor's opinions, were barely recognizable.

One might ask who it is that finds them unrecognizable, the office bound magazine editor or twenty year old style watcher? The fashion world is changing and with it, the typical front row. While fashion editors used to rule the front row they now battle bloggers for power and a seat. There is no question that Editors play a crucial role in the fashion industry and there will always be a place for them, however not accepting change will get them nothing but negative attention. Negative attention from loyal fans of the blogs they are bashing. Traditions are being broken, the fashion industry is getting a more welcoming reputation, and industry leaders should be thanking bloggers rather than resenting them.

Spring Summer 2016/17 runway shows are the beginning of a fashion revolution. Expect to see more bloggers and “insta-stars” in the years to come. Shea Marie is just one example of the hundred of bloggers who have captioned the attention and hearts of millennials. The blogger epidemic is unlike any other, never before have industry leaders seen such attention facing their work. While not all of this is to be credited to bloggers and much to be given to the work of Anna Wintour, bloggers have a positive impact and it's about time editors recognize it.