The O-town Scene

Laygirl Fashion by Emily Popek For the love of blogs In another life, I would be a fashion blogger. We journalists are supposed to sneer at blogs and the whole concept of “citizen journalism,” on the principle that it dilutes our product and/or pollutes the media with poorly punctuated and misspelled missives disguised as journalism. But I love blogs. Hell, my husband is a blogger, so I can’t judge. And there is something so delicious about fashion blogs _ the amateur kind that feature little more than people taking pictures of themselves wearing clothes. Of course, some of them make me want to kill myself, because the better-known style bloggers are always getting free stuff in the mail from designers. “The polka dotted dress is Meadham Kirchoff and was sent to me by Courtney Love,” writes teen fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson. Her blog, Style Rookie, draws 1.5 million monthly unique visitors, which I guess is enough to catch Courtney Love’s attention (as well as designers that fly her halfway around the world and seat her in the front row at their runway shows). I don’t have a fashion blog. And even if I did, I’m pretty sure I’d be lucky to draw 1.5 viewers, let alone 1.5 million. But some small part of me (the part that is still 8 years old) is quietly screaming, “It’s not fair! I want Courtney Love to send ME designer clothes!” Gevinson’s popularity is no doubt thanks in part to her writing style, which is, well, pretty much what you might expect from a precocious, fashion-obsessed 13-year-old. It’s like a conversation with a super-cool friend, or girl you wish was your friend. I just want to go over to her house and try on outfits with her. (Although, since I’m more than twice her age, that seems kind of creepy.) Some fashion blogs are worth reading just for the photos. Portland, Ore.-based style blogger Jen McCabe puts together the most dreamy photos for her blog Honey Kennedy. Few are her own (most are sourced from fashion websites and other inspirations), but like a gallery curator, she cultivates a sensibility all her own through the images of others. While Amy Chase of Punky Style has a personal style very different from my own, I give props to her blog be- cause she promotes clothing swaps so passionately. (Her tagline is “Swap is the new shop.” If you want to be cool like Amy, come to the Scene’s next clothing swap, which will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, at Oneonta Laser Derm. Who knows? It could inspire you to start your own fashion blog. Emily F. Popek’s fashion blog would be called ‘bon marche couture,’ if she had one. It’s French for “cheap fashion.” She’s also assistant editor of The Daily Star. SPRING-SUMMER Clothing Swap Friday, June 17, 4:30-6:30 p.m. The Day Spa at Oneonta Laser Derm, 41-45 Dietz St., Oneonta All clothing not exchanged will be donated to a local charity. Laser Derm will provide: 1. FREE DOOR PRIZES to the spa. 2. FREE GOODIE BAGS 3. Food and beverages (wine, soda, cheese, crackers) 4 O-Town Scene June 9, 2011 Hosted and sponsored by The Day Spa at Oneonta Laser Derm

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