The IFB: Where the Runway Meets the Blogosphere

Hello readers, my name is Marleisse Stephens and I’m a Journalism student at Georgia State University and part of the “intern-to-hire” program at Everywhere. When I stumbled upon the Independent Fashion Bloggers site I was ecstatic. The site morphs my two favorite things, fashion and journalism, into one. The site for Independent Fashion Bloggers also known as the “IFB” is a home for fashion bloggers around the world to exchange and promote their content, learn and share ideas about writing to make their blogs better and to meet other fashion journalism lovers just like them.

Jennine Jacob created the site in 2007. Jacob is also the creator of The Coveted, another fashion blog site featuring popular fashion blogs, boutiques and style features. Jacob began blogging just for fun and transitioned the IFB into a monetized blog with sponsorship from the Gilt Groupe, which provides discounted prices on luxury fashion pieces on a first come first serve basis to members.

The IFB offers many opportunities and platforms for its’ bloggers. The IFB “Social Network” allows bloggers to find other bloggers in their city or who have similar interests. “Links a La Mode” is a weekly list of 20 blogs submitted by members, which yields considerable traffic and promotion for the blogs selected. Highlights from “Links a la Mode”, forums and blogger features are also profiled in a weekly member only e-newsletter that is sponsored by Gilt. Lastly but definitely not least the IFB offers Fashion Week events to members such as conferences with designers Proenza Schouler. The site notes that over 300 members have participated in Fashion Week events in New York and London this year.

Anybody who independently owns a fashion blog can join the IFB. After registration each blog is reviewed and verified by the IFB before a participant can become active on the site to make sure the site is independent and completely about fashion.

Blogs and social media over all has really benefited the fashion culture in widening the forum of available feedback and reviews on runway shows and newly showcased collections. More specifically, fashion blogs and social media allow real time coverage of Fashion Week events and runway shows. Sites like the IFB provide a source for fashion followers to get an array of reviews covering their favorite designers’ newest collections from a community of several fashion bloggers all conveniently located on one site. On the designers’ side, designers are given free promotion from reviews, videos and blogs that go viral on Youtube, or on blog sites just like the IFB. Designers are able to receive first hand feedback of how the community has received their art. Women’s wear designers such as Jason Wu or Celine, who are known and praised for mastering garments for a woman’s body, are able to see how their collections are being received by the women who are wearing it via online features, reviews, blogs and photos.

To join the IFB or view blogs go to www.iheartifb.com, via Twitter @_IFB or on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/independentfashionbloggers.