In Defense of Celebrity-Turned-Designers

Image via GQ Australia, July 2006

Victoria Beckham, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Jessica Simpson, Gwen Stefani, Rachel Zoe, even Kanye West.

You've probably heard of these names. If not all, probably separately, individually. Some  of these people are associated with film/tv, others with music, some even cross-over to both genres. But there's another thread that connects all of these people together, however loosely knit, and that is fashion.

Celebrities have always been in the forefront of fashion. In many ways, celebrities have helped launch several clothing brands and continue to drive the fashion cycle. They are part PR, part trendsetter, and some part fashion icons. Today, celebrities have evolved to become synonymous with current fashion.

So it's no surprise that some have ventured into a different sphere of fashion, the business side. Whether it be Victoria Beckham's eponymous label, or Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B., or the Olsen sisters' the Row, all of these celebrities have managed to permeate within all levels of fashion (from mass retailers to designer) and have done so successfully, with little to no signs of stopping.

However, there has always been a stigma connected with brands with a celebrity's name attached to it, and for good reason. Many of them are not particularly involved in the design and creative processes, and people naturally assume that they're only in it purely for profit. While this may be true, I ask the reader to put themselves in the celebrity's shoes for a moment, however high they may be.

While fame might be important to celebrity, another driving force to the celebrity machine is their image. The public's perception of a famous person can be the determining factor between a celebrity's success or failure. Like fashion, celebrities have a life cycle and must adapt to the current environment. A celebrity needs to say "current", otherwise, they might just end up losing one of the most important tools that they have: relevance. One of the reasons that celebrities invest (or license) in clothing brands is to promote their image. By starting a brand, they are able to, in a way, sell a part of their image to the public. Therefore, it is in the celebrity's best interest to produce clothes that are not only profitable, but presentable and at the least, trendy since it is essentially an extension of their image. While I'm not condoning disposable fashion, I do think it's a smart business move on the celebrity's part to be able to have their fans get just a little closer to their idols, whether it be through shoes, accessories, or clothing.

On the other hand, this raises the question of whether these brands only pollute the stores with clothes that are poorly made, ill-fitting, overpriced styles that would later just end up in a trash pile. In other words, fashion for the sake of profit. And only for profit.

While I have no personal qualms about harmless capitalistic ventures, I do sympathize with the people who look away at brands that have no integrity in their designs. While I understand that fashion is a business, I deeply and sincerely believe that profit and good design are not mutually exclusive of each other. And fortunately, I have proof.

This year, the Olsen twins were awarded the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award for their clothing line, the Row, 8 years after Sean Combs won the Menswear Designer of the Year award. Before debuting their high-end line, the Olsen twins have already sold their clothes at mass retailers (Wal-Mart and JCPenney), specialty and contemporary boutiques (Elizabeth & James), and even online (StyleMint), bringing their net worth close to $1 billion.

On a smaller scale, Victoria Beckham's sporty/casual looks and Rachel Zoe's haute hippie collection continue to progress and develop and people are beginning to notice, (even fashion critics are starting to warm up) while Sienna Miller's contemporary line, Twenty8Twelve, has also started gaining ground.

Whether we like it or not, celebrities have become embedded in our culture. They are major players in different facets of our culture and fashion is no exception. And while many may still turn their noses up at the idea, they should actually first go in the store, try it out, and see for themselves before dismissing it. You might just be surprised.