Streetstyle Photography

In the past few years blogging has become one of the more popular trends online. People blog about anything and everything. One of the current trends in blogging is streetstyle fashion photography. Streetstyle is exactly what it sounds like, photographs of everyday people taken on the street. The people in the photographs aren’t necessarily models or designers; they are simply those who stand out because of their sense of style and confidence.

The Sartorialist

There are hundreds of fashion blogs out there, but two of the most well known are Garance Doré : Une Fille Comme Moi and The Sartorialist. The photographers behind these two blogs are real life couple Garance Doré and Scott Schuman.

Garance (l) and Scott (r) with one of their favorite women to shoot, Giovanna Battaglia

The Sartorialist is a blog composed entirely of streetstyle photographs taken in cities around the world. Many of his photographs are of men in well put together suits, or women that exude confidence because of the way they hold themselves in their clothing. While Scott’s blog is made up entirely of photographs, Garance’s began as a place for her to share her illustrations. Soon she began adding little bits of text, talking about her life and her love; fashion. Eventually she began to include streetstyle photos, and her blog evolved to what it is today. Her photographs are of chic, fashionable girls.

Garance Doré

But the subjects of these photographs aren’t always wearing the latest trends or designer clothing fresh off the runway. It isn’t what they wear, but how they wear it. This to me is the artistic element of fashion. When it becomes more than just wearing what someone else tells you is fashionable and is about wearing something that expresses who you are. Your appearance is the first thing that someone else sees, and what you wear says a lot about you. Personal style is one of the most public ways to express yourself and who you are as a person.

A homeless man photographed by Scott, read his reaction here.

I think that fashion and style are an example of emotionalist art. When someone else looks at the way you are dressed it evokes an emotion. They are able to learn something about your character, about how you see yourself and who you choose to express yourself. Art is expression, and your appearance is the most basic form of self expression.

The following quotations from one of Scott's latest posts is a perfect example of how fashion is an example of emotionalist art:

"I've said this so many times before, and recently in the intro of my book. Even though this blog is about fashion I don't really think about fashion when I look at this photo. I think about how he is communicating his sense of pride and self-worth; not by how expensive his clothes are but by how he wears his clothes, his posture and his politeness. This man is pure style."

- Scott Schuman

Garance Doré

My question to you is: Do you consider this art? Do you feel that fashion as a way of self expression is art? Are the photographs on streetstyle blogs art?