TLo’s podcasts are incredible and I listen to every episode. Just as I’ve been reading their blog daily since 2010, have bought their books, and gone to their in-person events. They’re wonderfully thoughtful, sassy, hilarious, and have a great eye. I’ve learned so much from them about how to think about fashion, culture, imagecraft, and much more, and will continue to support everything they do.
I want to offer some notes here with love, because this is honestly the only place where we are able to share uncensored feedback. First off, this is their platform, and TLo should absolutely moderate and shape their site however they choose. Given what they’ve recently shared about the difficult state of independent media on their 20th anniversary, however, I think they should consider relating to their audience in a warmer, more engaging way going forward, and creating a sense of community through their blog.
It’s well-known that TLo liberally deletes comments on their site - again, this is their every right on their own platform. It’s gotten to the point, though, where I don’t feel comfortable and no longer comment on their blog even as a diehard Bitter Kitten. I understand deleting bigoted comments and clapping back hard when it’s called for in this political and cultural climate. But TLo barely engage with their readers in the comments except to clap back, and often they’re about trivial, snarky things like “No you’re wrong and we’re right that this celebrity’s makeup is too harsh.” This leaves an audience of sycophantic commenters who write like they’re looking for TLo’s approval - not exactly a fun place to hang out in. And when other readers and I have left TLo feedback because there were INCREDIBLY politically problematic ads on their podcast? Crickets and/ or excuses.
I’m not sure this is the way to engage and attract readers in 2026. TLo are absolute pros, and they don’t need me or anyone else to tell them how challenging it is to run an independent blog right now; they understand much better than we do. Most of us consume TLo’s blog and podcast as an escape from our dumpster fire of a world, as they themselves often acknowledge. I’m looking for a place where I can have fun discussing pop culture and fashion, without looking over my shoulder to see whether my good-faith comment will be deleted or be snarked on by TLo.
I understand your point that you want new readers to be able to discover your blog, so don’t want to go the Substack route. I get and respect that. But people are looking for a sense of community in 2026, not for bloggers to decree their imperious opinions from on high like it’s 2006. Most writers and creators are soliciting ideas from and engaging with their audiences warmly, on Substack or otherwise. Again, it’s absolutely TLo’s prerogative to choose the style of engagement that works for them. As it is though, I’ve a hard time seeing how they’ll grow new audiences with their current approach and at times oddly hostile tone toward their own audience, especially when this is pretty out of step with what other writers are doing at this point.
I’ll always keep listening to and reading TLo no matter what, but I hope they’ll engage in some sincere reflection - as I’m sure they have - about how blogging and communities have changed in the last 20 years, and how they might be able to respond to what this moment and modern audiences are calling for.
