‘Personality Girls’: a new blogging movement?

Setting the trend: (clockwise left to right):
Gala Darling, Queen Gilda, Nubby Twiglet, Agent Lover, Star

I was recently (and to my great surprise) mentioned as part of the new ‘Personality Blogger Girl’ trend. According to this article, myself and the girls above have these things in common:

Young female, using a glamorous pen name
A mix between personal life, recommendations of products/people, and how-tos based on everyday life (such as How To Be Fabulous)
Plenty on design, fashion, style, culture, trends
Blogger likely to be an artist or other creative person
Promotes the blogger itself as a brand
“Things I Love Tuesday” (possibly started by one of those bloggers)
Similar layouts

This got me thinking: Could I be a part of a movement and not even know it?

While I think that placing me next to these senior bloggers was a bit premature - most of these ladies have been blogging for months, even years, where as I just started - I can definitely see the similarities between us. We all love fashion, but use it to express our individuality rather than to fit in; we are artistically inclined and place high value in aesthetics, while maintaining that inner happiness is essential; and lastly, we all write about everyday events through the prism of our own experiences.

If that’s the case, then maybe it’s not such a bad trend! In fact, I think it’s revolutionary enough to inspire more similar blogs to come out in the nearest future. It fills me with GLEE to think that we may have unwittingly created a new community with a terrific purpose - to perk up and inspire women around the globe!

This movement is not some sort of a clique; it’s all-inclusive. A whole bunch of new, extraordinary blogger girls to look at and get to know is a good thing in my book! :D

Do we really market ourselves as a brand?

I think some bloggers do, some don’t, and some don’t give it much thought. I don’t like to think of myself as a ‘brand’, but I probably am. After all, this blog is centered around my life and experiences. I see nothing wrong with that though - as long as I get to connect with people through my writing, experiment, take pictures and have fun! :)

Have a lovely weekend, Deerlings!

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13 Responses to “ ‘Personality Girls’: a new blogging movement? ”

Comments:

Ashe Mischief says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm

Admittedly, I was surprised to have seen you included on the list as well, simply because as you said, the Doe Deere Blogazine is so young. However, I think you’ve had a presence for just as long as the others, through your old Lime Crime journal and website.

There’s only one thing I can think of that is negative about this “movement” is that it kind of reinforces a separation from the “Lady Bloggers” persona and those that are just trying to interact with bloggers whom they admire. At times I have noticed a bit of a clique-ish-ness between some of the bloggers, and I think it further alienates new bloggers who may just want to communicate with them. (Though I do not think that is the case so much here at DD!)

I think there is one exceptional thing about the Lady Bloggers, and that is the standard they put up. You’re all fantastic bloggers, and I think that really gives people something to strive for. However, I worry that too many people will strive to brand themselves as Gala, or as you, or as Nubby (I see it a lot already). It’s a tough conundrum– if you try to speak with your own voice, it seems to become harder to attract audiences and readers; but if you utilize another person’s technique, style, and format, you’re not speaking for yourself.

Ashe Mischief says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm

p.s. I realized I may have sounded a bit offensive; I don’t mean to say that bloggers are clique-ish. The internet is like real life, and friendships form. And for as well as everyone seems to be taking the Meta Filter question, I worry that the overall aloofness towards it may make smaller bloggers worry about their ability to interact with them.

Doe Deere says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm

♣ Ashe Mischief

I hear you, cliques are a matter of the past to me (no offense to anyone). Maybe I’m just naive or not competitive enough, but I really enjoy talking to fellow bloggers - like yourself! Actually, I just enjoy getting to know other people, regardless of whether they blog or not. :)

Ashe Mischief says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm

Oh, I hear you! I’ve just seen so many great movements, with valuable purposes & missions gets swept up and away by the wrong things. There are always pioneers in every culture, and I think this one has some great ones at the head of it. I just hate to see people get so caught up in networking, wanting to be the next new thing, that they lose sight of how great it can be to have a network of women who are bold, brash, and in charge of their life!

M.E. says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm

I agree with everything Ashe said. When I first began blogging, and really following the blogs of some of these “personality girls” I really loved the sense of community between blogger and reader. I too worry that this label will create a weird separation and kill off that wonderful spirit.

Plus, calling it a trend only cheapens the hard work that you and I and every other “lady blogger” puts into her postings.

Ah, listen to me, getting all worked up. I need a cookie! :)

Tiara says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:09 am

Hello, I am the question asker (It’s not an article, btw).

I didn’t know if all of you were friends and just wondered if this is a growing trend. One person started it, others thought “hey cool”. I saw how certain types of personal/fandom sites started off as a bunch of friends doing them, then exploding into HUGE trends independently. I figured this might be the bud of another one.

I may be overreacting here, but I’m honestly not sure why you guys (well, more your commentators really) seem to think that I wrote the question out of some pseudo-mocking thing. I was just honestly curious. I don’t think calling it a “trend” is devaluing it at all - it just means there’s a possibility of more bloggers like you, with this distinct style, popping up in the near future.

gilda says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 am

i don’t think i had given it much though until that article. i haven’t particularly gone all out to market myself in real life, but i’ve always dressed and acted this same way. and my blog reflects that.

well, if people are going to start thinking we’re part of a movement, then we’d better be bloody fabulous. :D

Doe Deere says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 am

♣ M.E.
I don’t think it ‘cheapens’ what we do at all. The fact that the trend caught on proves that it’s in demand and we’re doing something right! :) So enjoy the wave while it lasts…

♣ Tiara
100% with you, girl! Thank you for pointing it out!

♣ Gilda
Being a girl is fabulous by nature. ;)

Kate says:
August 24th, 2008 at 2:11 am

Xenia,
I’ve been a lurker about your many websites for the longest time- I used to gawk over your make-up tutorials, which led me to start my own tutorial website/lifestyle blog [so I guess that makes me an aspiring personality girl? hmm...], and I was also pretty surprised to see your little blogling up there with Gala and Nubby, just because I never really thought of you as a blogette, more of a musician/fashion designer.

Anyway, I’m just saying ‘hi’, finally, since it took me like…3 years to do so.

Hi.

Love,
Hayley Jane

Kate says:
August 24th, 2008 at 2:12 am

Sorry, I meant Kate! I go by so many names.

Hayley Jane is my stage name.

Geez, now I look like a schizophrenic spaz…

Love,
Kate/Hayley Jane

Lady Julianne le Fay says:
August 24th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

When I first read this I must admit I did laugh - “Things I Love Tuesday”? - but I’ve been regularly scrawling more detailed in-depth analyses of the fashion/lifestyle blogosphere into my notebooks for some time, and it inspired me to actually want to type some of my ideas up in a presentable format.

I’m afraid my first post on this theme will have to be a criticism of “Personality Girls” though!

Lady Julianne le Fay says:
August 24th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

I mean the concept as put forward by that metafilter post, not your post. Ahhh you know what I’m sayin’!