Blogs are a personalized space in which you can discuss and share your opinions on numerous topics.

The “blog,” a derivative of “web-log,” has become an increasingly popular way to communicate your interests and thoughts to the world at large.

The freedom we have today in expressing our individuality not only goes for fashion; we are also free to choose how to convey these messages through various blogs, which are set up in order for us to do just that. Literally any and every topic is available for people to blog about, from interior design to sports to travel.

Typically, blogs feature regular entries and updates, and may include links to other blogs and interesting sites.

Various formats are possible. Visual blogs, commentary or personalized journal entries are just some of the genres of blogs out there on the Internet. Unlike the other social networking tools out there, such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, blogs can uniquely represent the person who creates them.

Yes, there are guidelines and privacy policies, but overall you have control of what you put out there for your followers to access.

As Andy Warhol once said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

In a way, we are all looking for our 15 minutes of fame, resorting to sites such as Facebook to get our own personalized page just for us.

Fashion blogs have multiplied into the thousands and are not only a place to voice opinions but have become the “go-to” sites for current and upcoming looks from the fashion meccas of the world.

Among the many sources fashion lovers rely upon for the latest news in the industry, such as television and magazines, blogs have the ability to not only see the styles created by designers, but get the perspective of the people who wear it and have the passion for fashion. Aspiring individuals seek out or create blogs of their own, as well as industry insiders and outsiders.

Consumers are key to the blog community, as they are what keeps the industry afloat.

“Before a designer’s runway show has even finished, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone in the audience – or better still, backstage – has recorded every silhouette, signature shoe, styling detail and sulking supermodel, then uploaded it onto the Internet for style watchers across the globe to enjoy,” writer Karen Kay noted in the Daily Mail.

Recognized bloggers have gained exclusive access to designer runway shows around the world and are oft-featured in well-known magazines, such as Elle.

The involvement of bloggers has been displayed, for instance, by the girls from Go Fug Yourself by their coverage of Fashion Week New York 2006. Other bloggers have been contacted by companies like H&M to advertise on their sites.

Blogs in general seem to be growing in number, but this can only mean more information, thoughts, ideas and rants for fashionistas to read and blog about!

Published in Volume 64, Number 12 of The Uniter (November 19, 2009)