Catwalk Queen: Why is the New York Magazine ragging on Tavi?

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Why is the New York Magazine ragging on Tavi?

TEAM TAVI STYLE ROOKIE NEW YORK TIMES.jpg The New York Magazine has decided to publish an article on Tavi, aka Style Rookie, one of our favourite fashion bloggers on Catwalk Queen.
It starts off fairly flattering, describing Tavi's popularity and it must definitely feel exciting to be featured in an article on their site. The doubt starts creeping in as editor Jessica Coen writes:

If it weren't enough that she calls out Snoop "Doggy Dog" in the same paragraph that she drops "Margiela DIY,"

Fair enough, it isn't the norm for 12-year olds to know about Martin Margiela but any fashion blogger worth their salt knows there's been a spate of bloggers destroying their jeans to get his S/S08 look. Then it gets a little nasty:

she's "wanting" a "fringed vest" and "listening" to Feist

How can one "listen" to Feist? And "want" a fringed vest? I think Tavi "deserves" an "apology"!

It is true that the quality of Style Rookie is better than you'd expect but Coen underestimates the power of children to immerse themselves in a subject they love. I myself remember being obsessed with fashion at that age and delving headfirst into costume books and learning about Balenciaga and Dior. As for help, I'm almost sure she gets help, who wouldn't want to help out a passionate young woman?

When Jessica Coen asks us if we find the fuss over Tavi irritating she misses the point completely. The 'fuss' is merely support and encouragement that fellow bloggers shower over each other all the time. Blogging may be very public but it's often a very private and personal form of communication and the fashion blogging community is a very tight knit one. Isolated fashionistas have found a whole support network of like-minded people to exchange ideas and opinions with and as a seasoned blogger Jessica Coen of all people should understand that.

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Posted by Catwalk Queen on July 24, 2008 11:00 AM in Fashion News
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Comments

I just think making jokes at the expense of a 12-year-old, no matter how lighthearted they are, is a really low thing to do. That whole article was one backhanded compliment. Anyone could see the venom that lies underneath it.

NY Mag really should have known better than to take such a cheap shot. There is a fine line between funny and nasty.

Also, on the subject of whether she really is 12, I can understand that people are surprised by the quality of her writing and her knowledge of the industry, but I think there are a lot of kids out there who are surprisingly savvy. Look at our Will writing for Brandish.tv. He's probably one of the most knowledgeable, savvy menswear bloggers I've ever come across, his work never needs editing, he wrote the best application email I've ever seen...and he's 14.

Posted by: Gemma | July 24, 2008 12:24 PM

totally agree, it's horrible! also i dont see why they're making a huge fuss over her photos and writing when there are a lot of similar blogs out there, and why they've targetted her because people haven't raved over her any more than in the past with other bloggers? i hope coen feels very bad!

Posted by: selina | July 24, 2008 5:17 PM

I would love to be on team tavi, where can i get the t shirt?

Posted by: sam | July 24, 2008 6:20 PM

p.s I would definitely be on team Will too.

Posted by: sam | July 24, 2008 6:21 PM

I found that article fairly insulting, not just to Tavi, but to bloggers in general. The line "all those other bloggers no one cares about" speaks volumes.

And I agree with Gemma: kids that age are beyond jokes and criticism. I'd HATE to think of someone writing about my 12 year-old-self in a magazine...

Posted by: Amber | July 24, 2008 10:39 PM

Oh i love her! That was a really unfair article :(

Posted by: little miss dress up | July 25, 2008 5:15 PM