Fashion Prodigy or Hype?
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 4:45PM Tween fashion blogger sensation Tavi Gevinson is the latest obsession in the fashion in- crowd. The fashionista's blog "Style Rookie", which she created back in 2008, has an impressive fan base that would make any fashion blogger a little green (myself included). 
She has sat many a front row seat at New York City's fashion week, was recently the guest of honor at Comme des Garcons' holiday party in Japan, has been photographed for the cover of cutting edge magazine POP. She has also been personally invited by Rodarte's Mulleavy sisters to participate in a video about their upcoming Target line, and has been asked by Harper's Bazaar to write a piece on her take of the Spring collections in the upcoming January Issue.
Here is an excerpt from her column below:
The idea of looking "effortless" is always in style, but designers re-invent the idea each season. So now they're having fun mixing prints, textures, and accessories (at Louis Vuitton especially), going all out and not thinking twice about it. The breezy coolness simply comes with having the confidence to slip into a shirt-and-skirt combo with naked ladies printed all over it (see Miu Miu) or a dress with holes carved out (Viktor & Rolf's literal take on "cutting back").
Amazing, right?
But let's think about this for a second. Is it insulting that a 13 year old has been hired to do what it takes years for most professional editors to hone? Doesn't it take many hours of slaving away as an assistant, learning and absorbing knowledge of the industry, to get to the level she's at? To her defense she has been writing her blog for almost 2 years and she started when she was 11 years old, so I guess there is some experience. I'm not knocking her, she definitely is unique, has a sense of style and is witty "for her age". However, how are fashion buyers or women looking for fashion advice suppose to take a 13 year-olds advice seriously?
Look, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I thought she was smart and intuitive. Or that I'm not curious to see what her next blog post will be about (her blog is one I stalk regularly). I do encourage any child's passion for fashion, music, blogging, etc. But I think she has turned into a bit of a media sensation solely because of her age and people see this as a smart marketing opportunity to be attached to.
So let's be honest. Isn't that what fashion is all about, the next big thing?
Right now it's Tavi!
What do you think is Tavi a fashion prodigy or savvy marketing stunt? Please post your comments?
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (12)
You know...I was at the shows in NYC this past September and there was this girl sitting next to me at Patrik Ervell. I didn't know who she was yet EVERYONE was dying to get a pic of her. I thought she was someone's daughter who was hanging out and thought it was cool they let her sit in the front row... I could not stop looking at her. Maybe because I was confused but more because of her look and style. I thought she could be 20 something and just look young... but then it hit me..it's TAVI! I grabbed the canon and shot away with everyone else!!!! Tavi rulz the fashion scene. She is organic and self created. I love her. Her style and sense is not learned and not jaded. She just has IT.
x
TT
TT,
I think she's an original, and you can't learn what she's got, "IT". But I don't think most women will connect with her particular aesthetic, it is more Avante Garde. I do however think people will appreciate her efforts. Unfortunately for Tavi, youth is her hindrance when it comes to getting respect from her would be peers. Ironic since, fashion is a youth obsessed industry.
xoxo
No 13 year old is writing that blog. She's the "face" of some good marketing ploy by someone much, much older.
I have to agree with the above commenter. Some of Tavi's 'wording' seems to reflect that of someone who has definitely been around a lot longer than 13 years. I don't know many 13 year olds (even the most intelligent, mature ones) that are fluent in 80's quotes and references. I don't buy it.
there is this fear in us grown-ups and older ones about the new ones and the silliest manifestation of our fear is when we think that restraining talent by age barriers is defending us from them. let the kid do her thing and just leave it unsaid except if it's support because even if she is cool and wise she is a kid. there is so few of the young ones who get the support and exposure and respect. and hey, this is fashion, she's not thrown into a room full of vampires like dunst's character was.. watching that movie can freak you out but Tavi's thing... let's just all be at her side and protect her when the first attacks hit in if there should ever be any. except it will be coming from fellow toddlers because that's their business: ) weird isn't it that for a kid to be interesting to masses of adults they have to be like an adult..
I would say that its more about the hype. People just want publicity. I think I saw this chick on The City... blah blah blah.
I never heard of her before reading this blog but I am not a fasionista or anything close. I love what I love and do not rely on someone else to tell me what I should/should not wear. Although, I have always been a free-thinker and looking back over the years I cannot believe I wore some of the things I wore.. Then again, it was the 80's. Moving on and back to Tavi. I think in this day and age we are living in it is all about the hype: youtube, blogs, publicity stunts (balloon boy), reality t.v. (Jon & Kate), and A.I. Most everyone longs to be known and have more.. especially young kids that constantly have these images of fame, fortune, and good looks shoved in their face. Only time will tell if this 13 yr old will withstand but unfortunately as we move further along I have less hope that our society will go back to the the basics and sway away from all the mass media hyped buzz.. I live in a world in my mind where MTV still played music videos all the time.
Tavi's appeal now is her age. Very soon she won't have that advantage, then what will happen to her. At least for people who have worked their way up in the industry they know how they built their place in the industry and who likes them and why. Tavi's "fans" will drop her when she is no longer a child prodigy and she'll feel abandoned. I hope for Tavi's sake she really does have a passion for something that she can care about when she is grown up. I hope she has people in her life who won't judge her when she is no longer a star. It probably would have been better for Tavi to have never become a media darling.
ps. love your blog j.a. :)
And then she'll die young and abandoned like Mozart? C'mon... This girl says it right:
http://17blocksfrombarneys.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/the-mozart-of-fashion/
People shouldn't push her down or be pessimistic about her future just because she is much more interesting and lively and committed than most others are, but that's just what a lot of people do to those who are indeed one-of-a-kind.
Workigirl,
Yes, definitely she will have haters it's inevitable, that's what happens. Time will tell if she has any real staying power and as far as her opinion being relevant in Fashion, I don't think Anna Wintour or Carine Roitfeld are worried about their jobs just yet.
I'm not quite in agreement with the link you posted, here is a quote from there :
"(do 12-year-olds even have blood pressure?) – even her witty writing makes me want to call it quits."
I think her blog is definitely creative and unique, and I like visiting it, and it doesn't make me want to throw in the towel. But that's just me!
I'm just enjoying reading the comments on this one. JA knows I'm the girl who isn't high fashion. I'm t-shirts & cargo pants. However it's nice she has this blog as I'm learning some fashion, learning about awesome ideas that won't cost me an arm & an arse & should something call for nicer clothing (aside from work clothes) then I've got a good source. I think JA expects this next comment out of me.... I see WINGS in those pictures!!!! LOL!
I guess I can say Tavi has done her studying, there are young prodigies of music who would know more than I do, same for movies & other art mediums. Wish her the best of luck but again I'm me & I'll decide what I wear & in all my years I've never followed the fashion trends of what's hot & what's not. I wear what I want & that makes me unqiue.
Thanks for sharing Johanna.
sucks that she's doing, at 13, what most people work up to. i mean ,what's she going to do at 30? play hopscotch?
i think it's great that kids get to do adult things, but while they're actually kids, they should be, erm, kids.
growing up too fast is bad (see Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Jonathan Brandis, the 2 Coreys etc etc)