A few fashion bloggers and quite a lot of commenters have taken exception to this post by the street-style photographer known as The Sartorialist. What happened was that the young lady in the photo said she was a fan of his site, but he didn’t find her style blogworthy.
Photo by The SartorialistThen he had his eureka moment. Why not give her a makeover and post the results on the blog? Unfortunately, this idea — and the vehemence with which Sart criticized the girl’s current style — has led to a well-intentioned outcry about how she looks perfectly fine as is and how The Sartorialist should not inflict his opinions about hairstyles and boots on the world.
A phoenixOriginally, I was indifferent to the situation, except for the fact that the girl calls herself “Phoenix.” Inquiring minds want to know if her parents named her that or if that’s her brand-new art school identity! But now I want to point out that Bird Rising From the Ashes apparently agreed to a new ‘do and whatnot. Sart could have been much more clear in his post. “I suggested a makeover and she jumped for joy” would have been better than, “That’s when I realized she needs a Sartorialist make-over. We are not going to make some huge transformation, she doesn’t need it, but we can make a few changes that will really make a big impact on her personal presentation.” His post requires the reader to infer from “we” that BRFtA agreed to be beautified. That’s what I inferred, at least. Maybe I’m wrong and he was speaking in the royal “we” or referring to his 15 other personalities. I mean, occasionally all my personalities get together and tell me that we need a Prada bag, so anything is possible.
All my personalities agreed to buy this bag but they stuck me with the bill.If my original interpretation is correct and BRFtA did agree to be spruced up, I don’t think we have to be upset on her behalf. I’m sure we’ve all had people say to us, “You’d look good with short hair” or “Go ahead, try a nude lipstick.” And maybe we’ve even tried the new look and liked it. There are worse things than a style suggestion: for instance, making fun of someone’s name, as I have been doing, is completely unacceptable. I should be punished! On the other hand, it’s preferable for suggestions to be phrased in a gentler way than Sart did on his blog. (I’ve been annoyed for years at someone who said to me, “I love your dress. It’s so much better than what you wore yesterday.”)
It should be interesting to see how BRFtA looks post-makeover. (Ooh! I did it again! Slap me!)
You make a good point. I first read about this on someone’s blog, then I went to Sartorialist and read what he said about it. His prose is a bit matter-of-fact, however, he did seem to leave us to infer a bit. If he’d rounded out his thought process and given us a slightly more detailed account, maybe the outcry wouldn’t have happened, or maybe it would have been less vehement. I think she looks good, but it’s her choice to have a makeover, and I’ll be interested to see the results. She’ll have a lot of say in the matter, I’m sure.
I’m with you on this one. I don’t think Sart used the right words to explain the situation.
Having followed his blog for a long time and seen the different styles he’s presented, he doesn’t seem like the person to force his idea of style onto someone else. To me it sounded like she asked him for some advice.
I wish he’d made it clearer, then…at first I didn’t even believe it was the Sart writing! (you have a good point about the possible 15 other personalities involved in the ‘we’). If the girl really did ask for a sprucing-up, there’s nothing wrong, but she doesn’t look bad to me even as she is..
My opinion is that Sart is making a classic marketing blunder. LINE OVER EXTENSION if you will. Coke did it with New Coke.
Categories are rigid. Sart is perceived to be a street fashion photographer first and foremost, not a wardrobe stylist. Part of th reason for the outcry, is because people have categorized Sart as such and that categorization is unlikely to change anytime soon.
I doubt this experiment will do much for advancing his career.
Hi Wendy-I think he needs to read the title of your blog ‘Wear What You Want’-that phrase just sums it up nicely!!
You broght such a good point here.
I had seen it and felt a bit shocked. I think he could had been more gentle with words.
Could this be an estrategic campaign?
xx
This makes me glad that I don’t read the Sart. But my guess is that Phoenix’s real name is Cheryl-Lynne!
I agree completely. I do think the girl looks great already, but I think that if she’s up for a makeover, why not? Scott has proven that he has pretty good taste (although I like many outfits he would hate), so it’s not unreasonable to imagine that the girl might even be thrilled that he’s making her over.
Although anyone who thinks J.Crew is cheap is seriously deluded.
Hi Wendy, Thanks for posting this. I visit the Sart but not as often as I visit your fab blog TBH!
I posted this – “I think she looks beautiful as she is. It’s HER style, and I like it personally. I can’t help but feel you should have either used her photo on the site or not – rather than feel “she could do better” I’m disappointed in you. “
I was annoyed til 2/3 of the way through the post, which is how long it takes for the reader to realize that she’s agreed to the makeover. I think she looks fine, but she’ll probably look good after the makeover too. If she’s happy, I’m happy.
With a name like Phoenix you are bound to get burned for the sake of transformation. 😉 I can’t wait to see the Post-Sart Phoenix and if she rises from the ashes or whether she needs to call her insurance agent due to fire damages.
BRFtA – you’re hilarious.
If the Sart stopped me on the street and said, Girl, you need a makeover and I’m going to help you, I’d freaking jump for joy. The man knows what works on people.
He’s not about fashion, he’s about style, and there’s a HUGE difference between those two concepts. And the Sart has the talent to figure out what someone’s style is — or should be — just by looking at them.
It’s like a master class from Jackie O or Dolly Parton.
Girl’s so lucky!
“I mean, occasionally all my personalities get together and tell me that we need a Prada bag”
you are hysterical! i almost choked on my spaghetti just now!
Wendy: Your personalities have good taste, but they have bad manners 🙂
On the topic of the Sart post – I hear you (and good on you for taking a loving, balanced approach) but the tone of his piece was so questionable, I too wondered if it was some kind of hacker job. I really wish he’d made his case differently. Something tells me he’ll tread carefully, going forward. K
Sart does indeed need to work on his bedside (curbside? blogside?) manner. I’ve been following his Phoenix (rising from the ashes?) from interest.
And I think that even a compliment like “You look pretty!” is backhanded. (So I didn’t look good yesterday?) I always try to say that someone looks “extra” pretty today, so as to acknowledge their ongoing level of pulchritude (such a goofy but fun word).
actually, i am annoyed only when someone says i “look pretty TODAY” implying perhaps that i didn’t the day before?
anyway, it’ll definitely be interesting to see what comes out of this
someone say phoenix?
i say her real name is chandler…or better yet awatukee. because she looks like she just stepped out of those two suburbs. not that it’s bad or anything. i’m a fashion disaster 90 percent of the time. and i think fame has gotten to the sart’s head. variety is the spice of life and sometimes a little norm is refreshing like when victoria b held her own target basket and wore a grey t.
Hi Wendy
You make me laugh!Did you see the section he did on Indian women(a teensy section!)
VintageBunny
PS:My name is Joyce and will ne using that from now on as Vintage Bunny sounds stripperish without a blog!