I’m not a fashion blogger and I’m no fashionista. The most IT thing about my wardrobe would likely be my bags that I love to death. But then a fab bag maketh the outfit eh? 🙂
So I’m probably not the best person to comment on the latest blogger to capture the imagination of the fashion world – Tavi, a 13 year old fashion blogger. At an age when her contemporaries are struggling to find their fashion identity and growing out of the Mickey Mouse Club and growing into training bras, Tavi is sitting alongside the runways in New York Fashion Week, writing a column for Harpers Bazaar (January ed) and being whisked off to Tokyo to film something with Rodarte and getting fashion swag in the mail from high fashion brands.
Tavi is very articulate and writes well for someone who is all of 13 years old but I’m a little puzzled by her style of fashion which looks all of haute couture and runway but can you see yourself wearing anything similar on a normal day?
So, maybe I don’t get it – I freely admit that. Or maybe there’s this novelty buzz over a 13 year old’s take on the fashion industry. Or maybe I just need to get out more and realize that its normal and fashionable to dress in mismatched oversize clothing in a strictly tongue in cheek fashion sense; and get away with it, and be labeled a fashionista to boot.
I don’t think I get it. But kudos to Tavi for living her dream.
At 13.
Most of us don’t even get there.
I’m actually wondering if like everything else in the fashion industry, the fame and adulation will continue when she hits her 20’s and actually becomes employable. Or will there be another 13 year old fashion blogger waiting in the wings to take over the Tavi-crown? I guess we’ll have to see.
Cynicism becomes me 😛
Paris B
sesame says
December 13, 2009 at 10:43 amI can identify with her fashion as a teen decades back – it’s a creativity outlet and it’s not the stuff you will wear every day for sure. I think my fashion sense at her age was equally wacky…I used to wear pink stockings on my head, tops as skirts and the colors I chose were clashing, complete with socks and shoes. If I were younger, I would blog about fashion but now that I’m so much older, I look very ordinary…boring I say.
ParisB says
December 13, 2009 at 1:03 pmHi Sesame
I guess being quite boring my whole life, I found it hard to identify but I’m sure many do 🙂
erin says
December 13, 2009 at 11:11 amReal fashionistas are trend setters. They do sth weird, and if it gets picked by others, they become the real fashionistas. eg. Lady Gaga
I think its awesome she gets to do all this by 13. Pretty darn cool.
ParisB says
December 13, 2009 at 1:04 pmHey Erin
Yeah you’re right – fashionistas must set the trends for everyone else right? 😀 I’m impressed that she’s living her dream at just 13 too.
Cheesey Poo says
December 13, 2009 at 5:53 pmI see edgier looks a lot more here in Jakarta and I see youths walking around wearing stuff that boggles the mind. Definitely a more daring sense of fashion here. Sometimes I’ll walk into a shop and leave empty-handed AND puzzled that people actually buy AND wear the stuff.
Good on the lass. Like you, I can’t identify with her fashion sense (maybe she got Cubist stylist) but she definitely turns heads and gets people thinking.
maryinwonder says
December 13, 2009 at 7:33 pmHey,
I don’t think she can maintain this for long. One way or another she’s gonna become a teenager, then an adult and that will change a lot. It’s inevitable!
Actually, I don’t like her….and her so-called “style or fashion”. She looks like a beggar homeless who found some not wanted clothes in the garbage and put them on without any concept. Sorry, but it’s true.
I’d like to know just how old are her readers…..same ten something? the most? Children like to wear anything and everything! They don’t care if they match. Just look at those who pick their clothes every morning without Mommy and try not to look like most of the girls in their classes….Same horrible look!
IMHO the only reason she got so famous is blogging. Internet is an evil thing! Those who are lost in the world of fashion became her fanbase, then other indecisive people joined seeing how popular she is, then came the others who simply joined the band wagon coz, you know, she has so much followers, must be good!
About Harpers Bazaar and being invited to shows, talked about by stylist is not the sign of appreciation or recognition, but business! Good old business. Who wouldn’t want more customers? Even if they are 10 year old babies sucking on mommy’s budget?!
I agree that there must be trendsetters, but please, just take a look at her without emotions! Do you really think she looks great as a pile of lousy, unfitting, messy clothes????
I know I’ll be despised because of all the above, but everyone, open your eyes and think objectively!
zatilaqmar says
December 13, 2009 at 11:57 pmagree with maryinwonder 🙂
people make it a big deal because we rarely see someone at that age with such achievement – so it seems like a big deal.i don’t have anything against her,but i wonder what would happen when she’s 20.
but for the mean time,it’s good to see someone so young living her dream 🙂 (or everyone else’s)
Connie says
December 14, 2009 at 11:41 amdon’t get her :-/ I’ve seen young fashion bloggers that dress very fashionably but still tasteful and with class: http://seaofshoes.typepad.com/
I think it’s more hype over her age
L says
December 14, 2009 at 12:24 pmWow, shes 13 and we rarely see it. So we shouldn’t be supporting it? Sounds like a bunch of jealous people to me. Just because you dont ‘get’ something, doesn’t mean it isnt of substance (makeup bloggers anyone?). Fashion is not about ‘class’. Its expression. And yea, shes 13 now, later she’ll be 20. So what, you can predict the future now? Why not nurture her positive outlet? If your child shows talent in soccer as a child would be immediately go, “Oh..well in 5 years he might suck at it, so lets not even let him try”? Its…so illogical. Shes a kid WRITING (more articulate than some of the people commenting here no?) about fashion. She put actual WORK into her blog and her words, which is more than what I can say for just ‘commenters’.
“She looks like a beggar homeless who found some not wanted clothes in the garbage and put them on without any concept.” Right…Thats why Rodarte has invited her to be on his set right? Cause Rodarte doesn’t know fashion from fugly.
“Do you really think she looks great as a pile of lousy, unfitting, messy clothes?” (Um, are you fashion student?)
And
“Children like to wear anything and everything! They don’t care if they match. Just look at those who pick their clothes every morning without Mommy and try not to look like most of the girls in their classes….Same horrible look!” (A lot of fashion forward people wear anything and everything.)
I’m surprised at a few responses here given that a few of them are beauty blogs that I read (skindeco.net). Why? Um..because its about makeup. Suddenly you have to be a certain age in order to qualify as being talented for something (makeup/fashion)? The responses are so illogical. But at the end of the day, none of our opinions matter. Because no one here is a fashion student or an acclaimed designer.
“I’ve seen young fashion bloggers that dress very fashionably but still tasteful and with class” Ever heard of punk/goth fashion..80s type stuff that a designers love (McQueen)..not about being ‘classy’ or ‘tasteful’ at all. People who place a such high value on taste and class are trying too hard.