Style blogs and freebies

[FallonColby]

Is it just me or does anyone else get annoyed with the amount of freebies style bloggers get. For example, one blogger was berating the fact she had nothing to wear to an event, unsurprisingly she was then contacted by a company who gifted her a dress. I am sure this was not the bloggers intention but I am annoyed at seeing blogs I have previously enjoyed turn into a constant advert. It just takes the reality out of it.

I'll try harder LP

@amber - I disagree. I have been blogging for a year. I have received freebies, I have done sponsored posts. NOT ONCE had anyone/any brand told me what to write.

You must be working with some strict brands.

@FrugalFashionista I have met some life long friends through blogging and for that - ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE - I am eternally grateful

Fair enough A57, the ones I've been asked to do have asked for some editorial control which I don't want to relinquish!

A big clue is if non gushy comments are deleted. That will tell you all you need to know.

Hell's bells, I hope some of you don't work in customer services You do realise that businesses pay an arm and a leg for this kind of feedback? To be fair, most bloggers on here are being thoughtful and constructive and I wish you well.

and you can always remove them from your' Bloglovin list if they jar with you THAT much. That's exactly what I have done in many cases and so, by the sound of it, have other posters. Now is this because a) We're women haters who can't bear to see a sister doing well? or b) because we're bored with reading blogs that sound like they've come straight out of Johnny Boden's PR department? You decide.

Ambernectarine if you're still reading, I really enjoyed your blogpost a few months back about hunting for a winter coat. Any chance of doing more of that sort of thing?

This thread was crazy! We are getting miffed over a few freebies? I doubt that DMB40 & SGS post just because they got something free if they didn't like it. I'm not saying there aren't bloggers who do that but these ladies no way.

I like to read blogs to get inspired - not to feel holier than everyone or end world hunger (leave that to those who are into heavy lifting). If you get something for free you SHOULD state that, I HATE the bloggers that don't. THEY are the ones you should be angry with not the ones who are honest and tell you (heaven forbid) they actually liked what they got.
Yup, spend hours of your free time on something you like doing, make a few extra pounds or get a free top, share with people who are not obliged to buy anything you post or read it if they hate it or even discuss it with a single person, then get sh*t on for it by loads of other WOMEN. Sounds like these women are killing puppies and babies.

Keep up the good work!
School Gate Style
Does My Bum Look 40
Poppy's Style
Susie So So
Chocolates Cookies and Candies
Style Guile

Plus these blogs that weren't mentioned (sorry to these bloggers if I bring the wrath to you but I like you) who are amazing and I wish them loads of success and a few jumpers.

Avenue 57
Treasures n Pleasures
Fashion Mommy
Style at Every Age
Falling in Style
The Flaky Fashionista

I'm not sure how we have come from saying that blogs that get lots of freebies are annoying to killing puppies and babies .

We haven't have we dexter. Just that sponsored posts iz shit

Now Avenue 57 is a fantastic blog. It gives all sorts of women the opportunity to share and ask for advice about clothing. Nothing to do with freebies. I have come across blogs like:-

ChroniclesofDollydaydream

Fashion40ish

MyFashionable40s and

TheDorset Fashionista

All women in their 30's and 40's having a bit of fun and sharing their inspiration. You should check them out and see what you think. I always go for blogs that are similar in style and age to me. Any that become irrelevant I cease to follow. Knowing a lot of the bloggers I really don't think they would wear or recommend any clothing that they didn't like.

N.B But they might be up for killing a puppy or two. :)

lol at Dorset fashionista

oh yes its all going on in Blandford

I'll take a look at those Frugal.

I think its pretty normal to get bored of a blog too - because most stylish women in my opinion tend to stick to a 'look' as they've worked out what suits them. If that's also similar to your 'look' then that's great. So personally I like Susie SoSo as she has some stuff I have and is a similar shape/size.

Kat is lovely but her stuff would never work on me. And after saying I hardly buy stuff that's blogged any more, I got a nice shirt from gap this week that I saw on missionstyle. Again though she is a similar shape/height to me.

ha - just read it , its her poncing about in restaurants

GO STURMINSTER NEWTON

We're not miffed.
We're not offended.
We're not trying to put other women down
We're just bored. Of PR dressed up as blogging.

If bloggers choose to take no notice then that is entirely their perogative but ignoring, never mind insulting customers who offer feedback is not generally a smart business move.

Floisme - thanks for that - yes I will try and do more posts like that. It's rarely I actually go on the hunt for something (more of a random impulse buyer) but the next time I do, I'll do a proper post. That coat was the best thing I bought last season!

And I'm not remotely offended by any of the constructive criticism of my blog - as I said upthread, if rather people opine on it than unfollow!

Agree with Floisme. It is dull to be sold to all the time. Especially on the sly. No problem if people are upfront.

amber I really appreciate your input in to this thread as it's been really interesting to hear from the other side of the fence, good for you for saying no to the brands who wanted some editorial control. Before this thread I hadn't actually seen your blog so you have gained another reader from it . I had ordered the green Great Plains dress you have but sadly it was totally shapeless and unflattering on me, I loved the print though so got the blouse instead.

Thing is, I love reading Vogue, Harpers and W. But I am also aware that I am being 'sold' stuff. None of those lovely things photographed so beautifully were discovered by fashgion eds as they wandered the streets of our fair cities. They were pushed at them by PR, coolhunter and marketing companies.

It is an illusion. A beautiful illusion.

I am happy to have the vogue/ harpers beautiful illusion. It would be sad to lose that and just have low quality shots.

God yes, more beauty definitely. I know when I've had a bad few days because reading these magazines is such escapism. I know it is fantasy but that is what many of us need.

I'm not a big fan of Annie Leibowitz style photshopped shoots that bear no witness to reality but some blogs (Tales of Endearment) are art with a capital A.

Yep and to go all Meryl for a minute every level needs that illusion. Copies in Zara as well, nothing wrong with that, but it is a house of cards.

I used to buy Vogue every time but I rarely bother now. I agree that some of the photo-shoots are still lovely but the content is dire: writers interviewing their old university chums or sometimes even each other Never a word against any designer or retailer; so bland and dull that I want to chew my own arm off. I assume they're terrified of offending their advertisers but they've lost my custom.

A good blogger could fill this void and, believe it or not, I would like them to succeed. (I'm looking for stuff to read!) But they need to avoid falling into the same trap.

Ambernectarine you could write a fabulous blogpost about your impulse buys: what drives you on; the rewards and the pitfalls; your best ever random buys - and your worst. Take lots of photos and name those names I'd read it!

Floisme I'm a longtime Vogue reader but both the Br and Am versions have gone downhill - I totally agree the writing is really inane and I feel they have lost touch with reality (the same issue features Tesco ads and couture clients).

I read US Elle and Glamour earlier this week with zero expectations - they had such a wealth of great content! Book recommendations from hot new writers, a to-die-for red A Wang zipper top and a few stellar and affordable high street suggestions from TTH, great recipes, and well-written feminist-leaning articles on time management and grassroot health activism. And the Glamour Lena Dunham cover was edgy with tattoos showing and the interview was zany and funny... Instead of abandoning the mags on the plane, I took them home and am rereading them!

As for blogs, I prefer visually pleasing ones and that means high quality photos...