As a ‘web fashionista’ (LOLZ) I was more than chuffed to find that I’d been quoted in the Times today, result! Marcus Leroux explains that the the big high street retailers are catching up to the fact that bloggers mean business. Arcadia blogger event was a watershed moment in the fashion industry, and Leroux thinks it will mark the acceptance of online bloggers and journalists. Fingers crossed.

*Of course I sang this song in my head most of the way home. Go on, listen to it, I dare you it’s actually quite good.

Last night Arcadia held a press day for bloggers and online press, with a dress up room and photo studio so bloggers could try on clothes and pose for pictures.

It was a really packed event, with fashion royalty like Susie from Style Bubble, and Richard Mortimer from Ponystep (excitement!) The atmosphere was really upbeat and festive, and there was a whole host of Arcadia PRs to chat to. I’m a little out of the loop, as there were quite a few blogger faces I didn’t recognise but it was such a friendly event that it didn’t matter. I met the gorgeous & statuesque Catherine from Red Carpet Fashion Awards, who is trésemmé nice and we chatted about blogging, her interview in the Evening Standard and her incredible photographic memory. Also there was Disney Rollergirl looking classy as ever, we caught up over mini burgers about her exciting projects.

It was the first time a retailer had put on an event like this specifically for bloggers, Oasis did do a blogger lunch a while back and of course you will get invites to a selection of press days but this was quite a sweet way to go about things. I can remember my first press day, being absolutely terrified of the pristinely groomed PRs (but then I am a total scaredy cat so it’s not really surprising!) but here the PRs were very friendly and on hand for a chat. Like I mentioned before it has taken a while for PRs to adjust to the various forms of online fashion sites. It’s tricky because you can’t compare with someone like Dolly Jones from Vogue.co.uk with a bedroom blogger even though they’re both online but I think people are starting to come round.

My chaperones for the night were Rachael from Fur Coat, No Knickers, one of my favourite blogs, and Laura from Fabsugar UK who thankfully is as much of a fan of hamming it up for the camera as I am. Laura slipped on a great lace swing top and leggings and I sported an Anthony Price for Topman suit which we pinned up the back, and some pretty comfortable Dorothy Perkins heels (which is saying something as I hardly ever wear heels). I would totally wear this cobalt blue suit on a night out, with a quick stitch up the back on the sewing machine you’d be good to go. Might have to investigate Topman a little more closely…

People who don’t know me may (or more realistically may not) be surprised to find out that I love to lark about, hence the moronic quality of these pictures.

I love the picture on the left where Laura is just cracking up, so funny! Also, can you spot a peachy youthful resemblance to Jane from Sea of Shoes in the bottom right picture?

I remember the old days of blogging, when you would ring a PR and after a few mins of excruciatingly slow conversation you’d have to explain that a blog was ‘like a magazine, but on the internet’.* The worst experience I can think of was a PR telling us they ‘weren’t doing online till next year’ Err, cool try telling the internet that. To be perfectly fair dealing with online press has obviously been a big transition for PRs used to dealing with print magazines and 3-month lead times, and although they don’t always get it right they’re definitely trying.

I recently had a chat with Arcadia‘s online PR about their online press day next week, they’re trying to connect with bloggers and online journalists and do it in a way which is more tailored to their medium. She explained that they’re creating their own live photoshoot so that bloggers will be able to play dress up with clothes from Topshop, Dorothy Perkins etc…

You can try on the clothes and there will photographers on hand to take pics and upload them straight to your blog. There was also the mention of food and cocktails which as a greedy pig always gets me going, as well as a trip to the roof terrace (weather notwithstanding). Fingers crossed, because the Arcadia roof terrace is mega spesh, you have to walk through Philip Green’s uber posh offices to get there and the views of London are amazing. Can’t wait!

*Internet aside:
This always reminds me of the time I tried to check the internet when I was staying with my grandparents. My Grandma explained to my grandad how email was like an electronic letterbox which made him ask ‘but will it still be open on a Sunday?’