Fashion Bloggers v Pam Hogg

There’s a couple of fashion (or rather, fashionish) bloggers that I follow, most specifically Queen Gilda and Gala Darling (which I’m sure that you've pick up on). Also I am a Twitter addict, so I follow some of the same bloggers through Twitter (where I mostly learn such informative things as what they're eating).

Anyhow, Gilda had an intriguing retweet the other day; and I've ended up semi-following this story about an issue between a blogger (Susie Bubble) and a designer (Pam Hogg). Unfortunately I missed the initial post that caused all the ruckus - *sad face* - but from what I can tell it goes something along the lines of: Susie taking photos of herself trying on Pam Hogg's designer jump suits in the changing room of the store, and then posting it on her blog with accompanying positive and excited review; Pam Hogg's media manager then contacting Susie and asked her to take down the review and images as it was "bad publicity"; Susie is embarrassed and takes down post with accompanying explanation.

Obviously, bloggers need to be careful about what they choose to post in terms of intellectual property (I'm always so careful with this *snort*) and I personally think it's dodgy posting photos of oneself in clothes that one doesn't own. But really, despite the dodginess, is it really BAD publicity to have an extensively followed blogger rant about your product in the most positive terms? The implication throughout the correspondence and accompanying blog commentary is that the reason Pam Hogg's company considered the review "bad publicity" was because Susie wasn't some ridiculously small size and/or a scenester (Peaches Geldof comes up a lot). I think this casts some rather damning aspersions upon the company itself, but I guess that's the fashion industry...

I'm interested to see how this pans out. Fashion bloggers are SO numerous, and LOVE posting pictures of what they're wearing, and I would think that as a designer this would maybe be something to enjoy, celebrate, exploit? Surely it's cheaper than glossy photo spreads in those traditional mediums (maga-somethings). I'd be interested to know what other people think too. Korero!

READING:

• http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2009/06/hogg-roasted.html 
• http://wbjewelry.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-really-grinds-my-gears.html 

By the way, this is the jumpsuit in question. I personally think it's the most hideous thing in the world, but, whatever (click through link to Page of Origin).