All Fashion. All News. All DC. #allthingsfashiondc

The title is pretty self-explainitary, but we’ll explain it anyway. In this series we pose one question to two Washington, DC area bloggers to get their opinion on a particular issue in fashion. 

 Since last week’s “1Q2B” was met with so much positivity we decided to treat you to another edition of “1Q2B” with another pair of blogging beauties. We are happy to present our next dynamic duo: E from District of Chic and Jennifer from Comme Coco. 

QUESTION:

What role do bloggers play in the Washington, DC fashion industry?

ANSWERS:

E FROM “DISTRICT OF CHIC”

One of the obvious roles is providing a channel for small local designers and shops to reach a broader audience. The beauty of the internet is you don’t even need a physical storefront to get customers. Since I started blogging in 2008, I’ve witnessed the success of numerous relatively unknown brands primarily as the result of blog promotion. I personally love the opportunity to highlight local designers and stores – many people don’t realize DC has a vibrant local fashion scene and it always irks me! In the same vein, I’ve learned about designers and shops I might not have known about otherwise as a result of following local blogs.

Blogs also provide a platform for networking and collaboration. I’ve had the opportunity to work with local photographers and designers because of my blog. Since blogs create so many different channels for creative people to connect, it’s really the perfect communication medium for a dynamic industry like fashion. Now, with the creation of DC fashion blogger groups like CAPFABB, I expect to see more of this in the future.

JENNIFER FROM “COMME COCO”

Bloggers ARE the Washington, DC fashion industry in my opinion. You cannot read any publication on fashion without seeing bloggers in the pictures or reading mentions of bloggers. There are SO many incredibly stylish people in the city but the masses don’t get a chance to really see them as they really only attend the super exclusive events with the politicos but bloggers are EVERYWHERE. Even if you cannot attend an event, you can look at all the style via the internet. I think that people like Lacey Maffettone and Elizabeth Fassbender (co-founders of CapFABB) do an amazing job of raising the awareness of the DC fashion scene with their monthly… you guessed it “blogger meet-ups”. Although there are extremely talented local designers here in DC, they don’t have the PR team that can reach so many consumers like a blogger can. We are pretty much free PR because we have readers that span across the globe.

Everyone knows that word of mouth advertising tends to be the most effective and a blog really is JUST that. I feel as if our readers relate to us also because we are regular girls and guys who love fashion and offer our own take on things instead of someone already in the industry that is just using a script from magazines telling you what is considered “in style”. The blogger events that are hosted in DC gain national exposure through fellow bloggers’ sites as well as gain the attention of other media and this helps bring more exposure to DC fashion.  Unfortunately, DC isn’t known for being a fashion mecca but slowly but surely the 200+ uber stylish fashion bloggers in DC are helping transform the world’s mind on this. We aren’t just a metropolis for politics… we can still be conservative government workers by day and super star fashionistas by night/weekend!

BLOGGER BIOS:

E is a DC area native who loves food and wine as much as she loves fashion. She documents her personal style and sartorial musings on her blog, District of Chic.

Website: http://www.districtofchic.com/

Facebook: District of Chic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/districtofchic

Jennifer Jean-Pierre is a recent DC transplant and is emerging as a fashion connoisseur and girl about town in the capital area. A proud Haitian woman, raised in the Midwest, Jennifer has immersed herself in the fashion scene in any locale that she resides and is undoubtedly making a name for herself. Whether it is being the editor in chief of Comme Coco, coordinating fashion shows during Miami’s WMC, styling music videos for Smitty, being the Marketing/Managing Editor of Façon Magazine, or aiding emerging fashionistas gain exposure via her blog, Jennifer is making a small but significant dent in the fashion world as a jack of all trades. Understanding the importance of the internet and social media in the world today, Jennifer has become a noteworthy fashion tweeter (@comme_coco) and her quest for knowledge has led her to enroll in a fashion marketing program to better learn the business side of the industry.

Website: www.commecoco.com 

Facebook: Comme-Coco

Twitter: www.twitter.com/comme_coco