The diff between fashion editors, bloggers and influencers explained

8 June 2017
By Fashion Quarterly

Mary Kate Ashley Olsen Front Row

“Guess who was sitting in my seat?”

A whole bunch of designers, fashion magazine editors and industry professionals  have been interrupted over the last years with an abundance of a new breed of fashion people- who show up for that envied front row seat and get paid for it too.

Although the term fashion people is up for debate when describing these folks, in the evolving world of fashion there’s just no denying the faces of bloggers and influencers are very real and very, very present.

The distinctions between popular fashion bloggers such as Chiara Ferragni and influencers like Olivia Palermo  are blurred in the new world of Instagram model advertising, paid appearances and modern muses. We’re here to address that lack of info real quick.

Alrighty then. The Blogger.

The blogger, true to the name, has a product of work online such as a blog or website.

Blogs, which range from a written style such as Style Bubble (via Susanna Lau) to heavy photo content like The Satorialist, bring with them a sense of democratically positioned opinion.

A post shared by Susie Lau (@susiebubble) on

This type of fashion documentation means more style lovers can connect through different preferences and how-tos on the latest collections. Other blogs have hit the jackpot by transforming into brands of advertising and campaign projects.

Yet with all this, a blip in the blogging business radar has formed due to the rise of Instagram. Could this be the reason for the existence of the influencer?

The ‘Influencer’(s)

Another term for the influencer is the ‘Instagram It-girl’: social media gurus who are paid to have dinner with designers, attend fashion shows, hangout at fashion parties and hashtag every single photo with #ootd (okay we exaggerated on that one)

The popularity of an influencer is largely based on how many followers (who are tend to be between the ages of 25 and 35 and are active users) one entertains. Currently killin the fashion influencer game include Caroline Vreeland, Olivia Palermo and Harley Viera Newton, who have made themselves into brands throughout the process.

☀️ Sunny Spring afternoon in @sjyp.kr denim! 🌸🌺🌷 #sjyp 💃🏼😊

A post shared by Olivia Palermo (@oliviapalermo) on

A huge part of the influencer lifestyle is to wear and promote fashion products with legally drawn captions. Ever seen the typical “Pants: from @revolve, [insert heart eyes emoji]” caption? These advertisements in some cases garner between $4,000 and $10,000 per post but it gets even better. Those lucky enough to have millions of adoring followers can even get paid over $60,000 per post. What a deal!

The one you kinda knew already (because duh, The Devil Wears Prada) but wanted to be sure on: The Editor

Okay, so some fashion folk might balk at the fact we’re defining the likes of Anna Wintour, Anna Dello Russo and so on, however we know everyone might not be familiar with these legends and what they do for a living:

The vision of the fashion industry is carefully curated into a fashion or beauty magazine, all thanks to the editor overseeing, calling shots and basically being the epitome of woman power.

From styling, to doing features on the latest trends and profiles on prominent fashion people, the editor will be in charge of a publication or invest in the freelance lifestyle.

After the last couple of years, fashion editors are now sharing their seating status with bloggers and influencers alike, a prime example of the ever changing industry that we know and love.

Words: Aasha-Samara Nimo

Share:

Sign up & Join
FQ Insider

Unlock exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special offers by becoming an FQ Insider.

Fashion Quarterly Winter 2023 Cover
Fashion Quarterly Winter 2023 Cover

Sign up & Join
FQ Insider

Unlock exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special offers by becoming an FQ Insider.

Sign up to the Fashion Quarterly newsletter.

*Ts&Cs apply.
Find out more at fq.co.nz/fq-newsletter