I've said it before and I'll say it again: blogs are an ever-evolving and almost limitless platform for content. What we can achieve through them is limited only by our gumption and skill sets (and/or budget). Web design is changing (almost always for the better, less Facebook) at a delightfully rapid pace, diversifying the ways content can be shared and compartmentalized online and for mobile devices (iPad reference! I know technology!) This can be couched in the rhetoric of a digital revolution, or we can just tacitly accept the fact that it's What's Next. Duh.
As for print...my magazine buying habits have changed dramatically over the past few years and everyone reading this, whether you are an avid consumer/borderline hoarder of printed matter like me, or a casual Us-Weekly-in-the-checkout-line-picker-upper, knows that it's the internet's fault. Because the internet is a bish like that. These are the blogs that have entered my life and, in one way or another, to some degree, killed print for me. Just a little bit. And P.S. yes these are all fashion-y blogs because I don't read anything else or care about it bluh whatever. Photo Stevie Dance for Shop-Ghost.
Jump the cut to find out which five blogs I'm talking about! Do it!
01 Into The Gloss In a nutshell: it's the shit. Business of Fashion declared it, "one of the most compelling new voices in the fashion and beauty blogosphere with the potential to grow into a full-fledged media business for the digital age." Natch. Emily Weiss started ITG in 2010 and late last year brought on my Future Husband (Jewish Edition) Nick Axelrod as editorial director. I don't know exactly what the title means, but I do know that their work together has created a pretty much flawless site design, and the editorial voice is as relatable as ever. Again, I don't know numbers, but Self Service chose to break their new issue's three covers exclusively on ITG rather than Models.com - that's some kind of measure of influence, right?
Replaces: Allure, Harper's Bazaar, InStyle
02 Garance Doré Garance is the most charming person to ever write for the internet, which is a big plus. Her photography is also really beautiful and she makes great use of video, working with director Lina Plioplyte to shoot fun and even more charming snippets of her fashionable life and travels. Her site design, by French digital agency Colorz (they also did The Sartorialist) incorporates design elements to help the French blogger share inspiration in supplemental posts - brilliant, and another great example of the way in which good design can help publishers build magazine-esque content diversity into their blogs through smart structuring.
Replaces: Vogue, Elle
03 Stil In Berlin This Berlin-focused blog was recently given an aesthetic overhaul by creative studio Cheesecake Powerhouse (motto: "Think. Feel. Do.") and it is blowing my mind. With full-on lifestyle coverage of everything from bookshops to salons, people on the street and in their cozy homes, Stil blogger Mary Scherpe's dynamic website is a treat to navigate. Plus, it's the perfect travel guide to the capital city of one of my favorite countries!
Replaces: Elle Decor, Travel + Leisure, Frommer's
04 Park & Cube Graphic designer Shini Park's personal blog is so visually stimulating, I want to live in it. It's got nooks and crannies for wishlists and inspiration and a big scrolling window for featured posts, and you can still choose "classic blog mode" if you find it all a tad overwhelming. Even her ads look good, and don't get me started on her photos...and her sophisticated style! *swoon*
Replaces: Elle, Living Etc.
05 We Have No Style Iris and Daniel's blog is the "indie fashion rag" of this bunch. All content is produced like an editorial feature and it all looks professional. The post-production work they do with their photos...I can't! Plus, I love that we're on the same wavelength when it comes to "trend reporting," because yes, I need to know if you're also thinking about how to DIY Raf Simons' last collection and if you picked up on this season's, "boxy arm sling motif."
Replaces: i-D, Dazed and Confused, Arena Homme +
There are plenty of other great blogs that are "killing print" for me, but people like the number five, so sue me. There are also plenty of publications I buy religiously: apartamento, Monocle, and Inventory among them. What blogs have replaced 'zines for you, and to which mags will you remain forever devoted?
