14 DAY TRIAL // What is it with celebrities and lifestyle websites? Why do these A-listers insist on imposing their rich and fabulous lifestyles on the rest of the world when only several millions of dollars in the bank would be able to finance such luxury?
The answer to that question isn't really something Blake Lively wants to hear, since she's just taken in the footsteps of Gwyneth Paltrow and launched her own lifestyle website which she oddly decided to call “Preserve,” something often found scribbled on jars hidden away in grandma's pantry.
The actress seems to be very proud and yet very humbled at the opportunity to share her tips with the rest of us, common folk. In her editor's note, she writes, “Sitting down to write this editor’s letter has been the hardest thing I’ve done yet on my Preserve journey. I’m more intimidated than I should probably admit. I’m no editor, no artisan, no expert. And certainly no arbiter of what you should buy, wear, or eat.”
At least, she's not as brazen as Paltrow who, on her website, claimed to be this all-knowing guru. Of course, this is the same woman who, at one point, tried to convince her readers that water has feelings.
Lively's site, however, takes on a different approach to lifestyle entertainment. She showcases artisans, like hat shop proprietor Orlando Palacios, opinions like the one about ice cream sundaes being “a message from the subconscious, a stratified glimpse into a man's desire hierarchy,” as well as the more regular pieces on style and home design, with the ubiquitous shopping column.
In her own words, Lively explains that Preserve will be a collection of “people, stories, essays, videos, and goods that hopefully inspire your home, your style, and your tongue. There's expensive stuff. Inexpensive stuff. And everything in between. But their value, that's up to you.”
It looks like Blake is trying to move away from the direction in which Paltrow has been heading for some time now, promoting cheaper products, whereas Goop only showcased the move expensive products.
Of course, there are those rumors that Goop is slowly heading down towards the inexorable dark corners of the internet where no one ever visits your website, which is why she chose to announce her divorce there and thus drive up traffic, but this is all just speculation.
It remains to be seen if Lively will be more successful in her venture and able to convince a larger number of people to follow her recommendations on the Preserve website.