Apologies for it being so long since I posted. I was busy (blah, blah) and then I was in Australia doing the family & friends thing. While I was there, I attended the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival's business seminar. During such seminar Australian Vogue's EIC, Kirstie Clements, made a statement that has had the internet slightly abuzz (especially as Australia hardly gets any fashion attention outside some fantastic designer exports). When I heard it I was surprised, bordering on shocked and fashion journalist Patty Huntington responded with an immediate tweet. What was this scandalous statement?
In a discussion with Calvin Klein's EVP of communications, Malcolm Carfrae, she asked him if they deleted negative comments off of the Calvin Klein social media forums. He responded with no and she (quite emphatically and almost happily) gave up that they remove negative comments about designers posted on the Australian Vogue website.
News got to Cutblog who felt free to share. It was also reported in Melbourne's The Age newspaper when Vogue issued a defending statement.
The fashion industry isn't particularly known for being nice. Critics have been banned from studios and shows for harsh reviews and as with any creative field, it can be diva central. But, while understanding that in tough times its necessary to be nice to advertisers, I guess we can ask where it starts and where it stops. The internet is meant to be a democratic forum where we all can have a say and there have been plenty of stupid comments posted on many a blog and website. What can be so bad that it needs removal anyway?
so we can ask:
- does a publication have the right to monitor their comments to make everyone sound good? Should they? If bloggers have to state that they received complimentary goods, should editors have to do the same (and state that they have edited their forums)? After all, isn't this the same? all in the name of truth and full disclosure?
- how will knowing that Vogue censors change comments that are left on it? The teacup that is Australia isn't big- better believe this got round fast.
- how important is the truth in something like this? Is everyone doing it? Does anyone really care? Is anyone really paying attention to these comments? Or are they?
tell me what you think.
