First off lets define what authenticity means.

Authenticity is defined according to Dictionary.com as genuineness, legitimacy.  Being true to who you are as a person no misconceptions or puffed up information.

Monday, January 17th we celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. If anyone epitomizes authenticity, it is him. I have include a video of Dr. King delivering his famous “I have A Dream Speech.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

When I hear the speech, I think about being a “for real person” in every area of my life.  No, I am not perfect; but as I have said before, I’m a work in progress.

As I sit down to write, I think to myself when I put together posts for my blog.

What is real? What is a misconception of truth?

I have to think about what kind of content I want to put on my blog.  My blog represents me, so it should have my voice. Well that’s what we are talking about this week on Friend Friday with Katy Rose of modlychic.

What does my blog say about me?

Question 1. Most readers and fellow fashion bloggers value authenticity in the blogs they read. How would you describe blog/blogger authenticity?

Blogger authenticity is creating your own content and not using articles from other venues and calling them your own.  Reposting an exact article does not seem authentic to me. In contrast, posting an article and putting my own personal spin on it makes it more authentic because I am expressing my opinion on how I feel about the subject matter. If an article is only regurgitated and there is nothing further, it is useless to me because I can look at the original article if I wanted to see that.

For example,  WWD.com posted an article about Rachel Zoe on January 11th, entitled “Rachel Zoe: Mother of Invention.” The article, written by Jessica Iredale, informs the reader about Zoe’s new clothing line.  Rachel Zoe is very popular as you know and a lot of people think that just the mention of her name in the title or linking that article will get some hits; but that is not necessarily the case.  The title or the link may get a visitor to a particular site, but what’s going to make them stay there and eventually want to come back.

Rache Zoe WWD.com

A fashion merchandising course I had taken about a year ago encouraged me to read different articles and then write about what I thought in great detail. I had to take my own spin at writing a response to an article that had intrigued me. By doing that sort of assignment, it made me feel that it was my writing and I was being real.

Question 2. When it comes to your blog how do you infuse it with that true/authentic feeling?

I think that getting my voice for this blog took some time. I am still growing; but I believe that when people read my blog they can get a little inkling of what’s in my makeup. I do not use this blog as a platform to discuss my personal life; but I do use it to showcase the pretty things I enjoy wearing, making or any other thing that may suit my fancy.  By doing this I know that I stay true blue and real.

Question 3. Have you stopped following a blog in the last three months? What made you lose interest?

This is an odd question in regards to authenticity but I will answer to the best of my ability.

I have stopped following a couple in the last three months because:

1. The focus has changed a complete 360, so what I originally followed the blog for is no longer the blogger’s interest.
2.  Conflict of personal style ethics.
3. I do not have time to read a lot of blogs and my Google reader was full.

Question 4. We can’t communicate effectively on our blogs, something we don’t live in real life… what are some ways you try to live an authentic life?

I have to write about the way I live my life. I think that it would be very hard for me to write a fairy tale and a half truth.  I don’t pull any punches in life so I don’t hold back on my blog either. What you see is what you get, plain and simple. When I was younger I would see kids try to follow that cool kid and would try to imitate their persona. That is not the case with me.  I have to be me and dress myself for what works for me and my body shape.

Question 5. Give a shout-out… Which bloggers do you think are truly genuine and why?

This is a trick question, right? Okay really, I would hope that the majority of bloggers are genuinely real on their blogs.

I can see a deep and heavy discussion: Bloggers aren’t celebrities; but in some aspects there is a similarity because you don’t really know them unless you have met them personally. Is this true?

I can say that the bloggers I have come to know through reading their blogs are really special and I think they’re all genuine. How could I say different.   I have met some of the nicest people who have either said something nice to keep me trudging along or helped me with my blog in some way.  I am experiencing all this goodness because I created this little blog here in lifestyle blogdom.

It’s pretty amazing how a person through blogging lets you into a small fraction of their life, so I am not going to name names.

Seeing that small fraction of a person’s story is precious in itself.

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Postscript

I will be doing a future post on whom I think in the blogger community is truly authentic. After reading some comments I realize that it’s okay. I didn’t name names because sometimes people feel intimidated or ask questions of why didn’t you pick me but I don’t want people to feel that way instead I hope people will feel encouraged.