My gorgeous friend Jennine — The Coveted blogger and Independent Fashion Bloggers founder — pulled off quite a feat yesterday with the Evolving Influence Fashion Blog Conference. Three hundred bloggers from all over the world came to attend four panel discussions and an after-party.
I moderated a panel called Navigating Blog Ethics. Because I was planning to ask a lot of questions that had to do with how bloggers’ financial opportunities affect their editorial integrity, I decided to wrap myself in dollar bills.
Clowning around with Pamela from Market Publique at the after-party.
My panelists were Imran Amed of the Business of Fashion; Diane Pernet of A Shaded View on Fashion; Jessica Schroeder of What I Wore; Gina Garrubbo of BlogHer; Mary Scherpe of Stil in Berlin; and Clark Hoyt, the Pulitzer Prize-winning public editor of the New York Times. It was a lively discussion. I think everyone agreed that the concept of ethics for bloggers is still evolving. (Clark pointed out that the current ethical standards of newspapers have only existed for about 60 years.) The one thing we were missing was a representative from a fashion magazine on the panel. A hot issue lately is whether freebies from fashion companies, aka swag, affect what bloggers write. The typical blogger comeback is, “Magazines do it too!” That drives me crazy because they’re disparaging the credibility of the magazines AND proposing to emulate them. I would have liked to hear what a magazine editor had to say on the topic.
The highlight of the panel came during the Q&A session. A woman who identified herself as a new blogger launched into a monologue defending swag. She wound up comparing it to the barter system and then said something like, “The Jews barter!” The whole audience gasped and, as my atheist-Jewish jaw dropped, I thought happily, “I’m going to Tweet this shit!” Nothing makes a panel memorable like a moment of astonishing stupidity. And just for the record, I don’t barter. If you want to buy Wendy Brandes jewelry, you’ll have to pay cold, hard cash.
Also for the record, I must confess that right after moderating the ethics panel and interrogating people about whether they accepted gifts, I strolled offstage and gave my youngest blog friend a silver “G” ring from the Gaga set I made for myself. So if Tavi Gevinson says anything good about me, don’t believe her! Unless, of course, it turns into a barter situation and Tavi makes me that special red-lipped t-shirt I’ve been wanting. Is that too Jewish of me? Anyway, the rest of you shouldn’t count on getting any Wendy Brandes freebies unless you’re a close personal friend who is having a birthday, or you’re extremely little and cute and happen to have a last name that begins with “G.”
Tavi is wearing my "G" ring. Look closely!
Here’s one more picture for the road: me in a vintage Christian Francis Roth dress, Tavi in an impressive headpiece and Jennine wearing my Cleopatra necklace. That last one was just a loaner, I assure you.
Jennine is wearing my Lasting Lust MAC lip color.
I might do a follow-up post on ethics when I’m not so exhausted, but right now all I can think about is that I wore my slip backwards and Jennine told me to eat more bran. Good night!
UPDATED TO ADD MORE CONFERENCE COVERAGE:
- WWD mentioned the conference in its cover article on fashion bloggers here.
- Nice post by Sammy Davis Vintage.
- The incredibly adorable and petite Clothes Horse got a picture of me in the dress I wore before I changed into the money dress.
I’m glad the gathering was so popular, but as the IFB grows, the stupidity of certain attendees will no doubt be in equal proportion!
Sounds like you managed everything with your usual unflappable grace & style! Wish I could have been there…next year, next year!
xoxoxo
ok, so I literally had to ask via Twitter if I had heard what I thought I had heard. WTF indeed? All I can do is roll my eyes at the stupidity of some people. I’m dying for someone to identify her.
I thought your panel was one of the most intriguing and you did an amaazing job moderating. Your questions were perfect, but yes, I agree that a magazine editor was missing. I loved the addition of the NYT editor. He added a much needed voice.
You and Pamela look hot! Sounds like an exciting and informative event. Look forward to seeing more photos from the evening.
So glad it was a roaring success! I simply adore Tavi. And I agree, people are always claiming that magazines do the same thing but isn’t the novelty of blogging the fact that we’re alternative media? Different from magazines, more brutally honest?
Btw, where can I watch the livestream?
This sounds like the whole blogerr conference thing was a lot of fun! The ethics panel sounds relly good to me too, and I like how you dressed up in “dollar bills” for a reason haha
p.s. Humm, I happen to know a guy whose last name starts with G and I am not married yet…. LOL Just kidding 😉
p.p.s. What kind of a nice cpinsidence is that? The captcha above just asked me to type “toorich” haha When I get there, I’ll have to buy lots of your jewelry.
Julia O. xo
I am certain there are a bunch of us who want to hear more about the conference. Can’t wait for bloggers to post more deets.
Love’s yer humour dealing with weirdness!
It is an interesting topic that one could talk about “till the cows come home”. Would love to have been there. x
I wish I could have come along to the conference, it looked great. Unfortunately too far from the UK but watched the live stream. Some really interesting conversations and debates particularly about ethics. With something evolving as quick as fashion blogging there is bound to be many varied and interesting views!, well done for your input and also to Jennine for organising such an amazing event. It was such perfect timing for these discussions to happen.
Love your dress- gorgeous.
I was hoping for an explanation to the tweet.
An a expression of nationalistic antisemitism is incredible and stupid. I can’t believe it! Surprised your swear rings stayed on your fingers – imagine if they could launch themselves and scream in the face of stupidity and ignorance.
Well, you are the first person to make Tavi look cute and adorable. Everyone else portrays her as a functioning adult in a child’s body but you and Jennine neatly show us she is just a kid, with a cute smile.
Judging by the tweets and your fantastic recap post, I’d say this event was a smashing success! Kudos to you and Jennine (both looking gorgeous in that last photo, btw). I wish I could’ve been there…I guess I’ll just have to comfort myself with men’s alpine skiing coverage on TV as I work from home.
P.S. I was pretty curious about what the anti-Semitic comment was after you tweeted about it! Yikes.
I would love to have attended this event. Australia is so far away! Next year I am will make it 🙂 Do you know if there is a way to watch it again, I was only able to catch an hour of it before falling asleep!
Congratulations on moderating a panel, that would have been such a wonderful experience. Any help with watching it again would be wonderful 🙂
About the ethics. I wrote about your spike-inspired ring in my site (in Russian), with links of cause. Is it ok? I swear I don’t need the ring as a gift 🙂
The USD is appreciating!!! Or am I just appreciating the dollar more now?
I’m with you on the swag. I’ve only been offered a couple of minor products to review, and believe in full disclosure if something has been provided to me gratis.
How do I get invited to this shindig next year? Do I actually have to blog about fashion?? 😉
Firstly, that dress rocks. Secondly, this sounds like an interesting debate (bar the isolated stupidity!) I wish I had been there!
Spam word – ladygaga…HOLLER!
Do we have video of this panel yet?
Ok, so my bday is in October and my name starts with A.
Just sayin..
Loved seeing you last night and looking forward to Wed. darling 😉
Goy vey.
(I have a birthday coming up in May!)
I really have to add to my last comment.
I just can’t believe people are *still* making ignorant, insensitive, idiotic comments like that.
Furthermore, I can’t believe people still feel alienated—as entire groups—from one another.
Oh you three look amazing. I can’t wait to watch the videos!
I think we were all pretty blown away by that comment. I’m really surprised she stuck around after that, but she didn’t seem phased by the negative reaction she got. LOVED your money dress. It was great to see you in action even though I didn’t formerly introduce myself. My favorite part about the blogger ethics panel? All of us in the audience were sitting there with swag bags at our feet…
You always make such a statement. I think that blog ethics still have a lot to be smoothed out. Things are getting a bit too commercialized for my taste, people are starting blogs to make money rather than to be part of a community.
WOW! What a great dress, WendyB! 🙂 Reminds me of Maison Martin Margiela dollar sandals. 🙂
P.S.: ♥Please don’t forget to join the Howbeadyful giveaway!♥
Good luck!
♥
You look so money!!! IsS that too 90’s? Oh well!
Eat more bran? LOL! My anti-spam word is “so hungry”. I guess bran is the answer.
thanks for the post, sounds like an exciting night. I cant believe what that lady said…..fucking awful. Looking forward for next posts!
xx-LJ from SOS!
That money dress is amazing!
I’m really curious to hear more about the ethics panel discussion. I’ve accepted freebies for review on my blog before, but I never accept payment for a review. I always say what I honestly think about the product, and I’m upfront about that with those who send me the product. I think it ultimately has to be an issue of trust that the blogger is saying what they honestly think about a product they are reviewing.
your panel definitely kicked it up a notch yesterday! i love that clark hoyt from the times was there, which seemed like a of voice of reason from outside the fashion industry. i think we could have devoted an entire day to this topic. i would have also loved to hear from a few magazine editors, as well as designers- both mainstream and independent. speaking as an independent designer, i am often frustrated with bloggers that expect free merchandise in order to do a post. this is especially frustrating when it comes from lesser known bloggers who do not have the audience to give you worthwhile results. i think there needs to be more discussion as to how all of this affects designers- some of us are operating under very tight financial restrictions who can’t afford to just give stuff away. it’s also important to remember that the most successful blogs are updated so often during the day that content often disappears so quickly that even if a designer piece is featured, it can easily be overlooked or forgotten, which is also a main difference between blogs & magazines. there was a lot of talk about protecting the interests of bloggers yesterday and i would love to hear more about blogger/ designer relationships, as well as protecting the interest of indie designers.
overall, it was a great conference! thanks to you & jennine and all of the others that made it happen! i’m looking forward to more events like this!
oh my.. I have no words for that poor, unfortunate blogger. My jaw is still touching my toes from her comment- I was sitting in the audience cringing, waiting for her to just stop. But she wouldn’t. Some people just don’t have a clue. Not only was her comment anti-semitic, it was misplaced and added no value to the discussion. I’m so appalled. Aside from that, though, I was overall very impressed with the conference as a whole, the panelists and the amazing bloggers that I had the opportunity to meet. I felt like I was in the presence of superstars! btw- ahhhhmazing money dress!
wow i’m so jealous!
Missy
For everything about fashion:
http://thefashionfusion.blogspot.com
Even with the random anti-Semitism it sounds like a blast. & you look awesome in that dress.
I thought Imran of BoF had the best point of all – it’s not a question of whether it’s worse for bloggers or traditional journalists to accept swag
but to question fashion media on the whole. It’s hard to say whether these gifts influence a writer’s opinion no matter how transparent they are. On the other hand, I agreed with Jessica of WIW’s point that in the emerging media of personal style blogs, every post is essentially an advertisement for the items worn that day, and monetizing such a blog means formally endorsing these companies. I’m interested to see how the standard of blogging ethics will develop in time. Thanks for moderating such a great panel!
So the anti-semitic comment was in the middle of the ethic’s session? Oy Vey!
Who the hell was this chick?
I love that money dress!!!
Tavi looks really cute…her hair looks almost grey? Or is she just a very ash blonde?
I’d accept a freebie, but I won’t put up ads. Of course, if I had an etsy shop or something I would definitely put up my own ad on the sidebar. If I didn’t like the freebie I just wouldn’t write about it, or I’d be honest. If it had a major defect I would want to let people know, and if it was absolutely stellar I’d also want to let people know. Hmmm.
i wish i could have been there! it sounded so fascinating. and o.m.g. at what the new blogger said about freebies. wow.
Today Miss J is adorned with her fantastic WendyB Boleyn necklace, which she paid for in cold, hard cash. Or at least, Mr. J did. Evidently, he is a non-barterer…
Miss J only WISHES she had something fabulous enough to barter for some other WendyB pieces…She’s had her eye on any number of rings for years now. The Marie Antoinette Ring, the Queen Min Ring, etc., etc.
I am SO happy to have made the trip and the conference! Sounds like the panels we missed were quite the experience…ignorant comments and all. And I certainly hope my next NYC trip will coincide with another one of your sales as I’m still sad that I missed it. : (
This was quite the event! I’m so happy I was able to attend every panel, too. Thanks for lending an ear during a mini meltdown on my end. 🙂 You looked gorgeous, as always.
sounds like a great day! fabulous pic of the trio at the bottom 🙂
“I’m going to tweet this shit!” That whole paragraph is perfect. Nothing like laughing right in the face of discrimination.
I love the Boleyn necklace! Sad that I missed your session:/ but look forward to reading your post on it. Couldn’t help but giggle about the bran 🙂
Man was that Ethics panel rough for a second there. Between the NYtimes guy trying to attack Jessica to the anti-semite with a loud mouth. In all: So much was learned. What I got out of it, be honest with your readers and be prepared to defend yourself against “scandal”. I talked to Jessica and she was nervous about the NYtimes guy, I think she did kick ass defending herself.
Joy D.
iplayfaves.blogspot.com
You all look so freaking fabulous (especially you in that dress!). It’s sad people will let free swag effect their postings, honesty is so important, heck it’s why I don’t read nylon anymore feels like one big ad.
Awesome dress and definitely appropriate. I love random, delusional rationalization – you can’t try to understand the line of reasoning, but it makes for great tweets.
Hope to be there next year!
Ha! Belette’s comment was on the money. Wish I were there; looks like a great time!
You look gorgeous. I got a pair of jeans adorn with pearls and crystals. So yes, my jeans are definitely sparkly. : )
I never cease to be amazed by what people say. In public. In. Big. Public. Places.
Good for you on moderating, it was obviously a fabulous panel, and I’m loving the pic of you with Tavi. But even more, I’m loving the vintage dress, thematically it’s perfect!
You rock Miss Wendy. Yeppers, you do.
tp
Your dress is effing amazing. Seriously. Amazing.
I am so sorry I missed your panel. Looking forward to your post regarding the topic. You look fab in the color of money. You rocked it. xo Mish
Hi there-as always, looking stunning my dear, this dress is just awesome and it sounds like you had a very interesting, debatable time, just the person for the job!!
What an interesting reunion!
xoxo
B* a la Moda