Words in Fashion Journalism
Why is fashion journalism so fascinating?
In Fashion on the Beat I tell the story of how I became so much interested in fashion journalism over any other kind of genre of journalism. I’ve emphasized more the outcomes of my decisions, what other people thought about me, and how many people bet against me. I don’t think I’ve been exhaustive enough in explaining exactly the reason why I was attracted to this form of writing.
Fashion journalism is a customized niche in journalism and in the editorial industry. Fashion journalism has the power to be intertwined within an umbrella of topics and interests in media, from entertainment to music, from politics to education. Dressing up and sharing your looks are sociological expressions. The business aspect of fashion is the most dynamic factor that moves and sets fashion journalism apart from other genres, by analyzing numbers and data (which determine trends). The decisions made inside the fashion industry lead to much more than just collection. The fashion industry gives jobs, provides spaces for education, opportunity, creativity. Fashion journalism is important because provides a variegate vision of the world.
What is significant and significative?
The history of (Western) fashion journalism goes back to the 19th century, followed by the days of fashion walks, shows, and weeks during the first half of the 20th century. Articles were full of words that would describe the clothes and their collections, especially because at that time people didn’t have the visual media that we get to see today. There were no interactive projects or exhibitions that could showcase a collection. There was no Internet or high-quality photos that could be easily accessible to the general public. There were very small crowds or people who could get access to see by themselves the pieces. The public, who were in majority people who would eventually buy the clothes from a collection, needed a descriptive and graphic syntax that could help them visualize the products. Journalists would use almost an aerial language that could make the readers dream and imagine those pieces, using both technical and poetic adjectives. The significant was mixed up with the significative: what mattered started assuming importance through a surgical and creative dictionary. A mix of creative writing and reporting. Fashion journalism is much more than reporting news: it’s a stylish form of writing, with poise in words and in storytelling.
What things can fashion journalism do?
Fashion journalism illustrates the dynamics of society. It emphasizes the importance of art, marketing, and culture among different communities.
Fashion journalists do more than just writing how beautiful or how horrendous was an haute couture collection. They analyze the business behind it, the activism involved in that event through messages launched by the pieces themselves, the people chosen to be part of a campaign, the impacts on entertainment and education. There’s a lot that fashion journalists can offer and dive into.
Fashion journalists and their industry must receive their flowers more often. People should realize how much these people can actually serve society and put it at ease, by providing intriguing and informative content.
