Dress Like a Star, With Matching Credit Card Bill

Even though some of them are actually cute, we can’t embrace most celebrity clothing lines because we can’t believe how much they cost.

The clothes from Chloe Sevigny’s line for Opening Ceremony impressed us in editorials, and on Chloe. But we looked twice at the prices, because $300 shorts? Oh no way.

And we’d wear almost anything from Twenty8Twelve, Sienna and Savannah Miller’s line, but their jeans go for $300, and a coat for almost $800! That’s right up there with Chloe (which we also can’t, and sadly won’t, buy).

Then the Olsen twins launched two brands this year. The Row sells $300 t-shirts and their “accessible” lower priced line Elizabeth & James, offers $250 satin hot shorts.

It’s Gwen Stefani’s LAMB that confuses us most. Prices range from $200 for a top and up to $1200 for a coat. Granted it’s adorable, but part of Gwen’s talent is the way she fuses a lip-smacking smartness into sugary pop. Girls who love Gwen may think Chanel is cool, but they mostly shop at American Eagle or Urban Outfitters, where $1200 is for rent and not for closets.

Karl and Proenza have managed to make successful diffusion lines with stuff under $100 - why can’t stars do the same thing?

—BRITT ABOUTALEB

posted by mkm

Oct 30, 2007 11:36AM

dil·et·tante
–noun
1. a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.

-adj. Superficial; amateurish.

posted by esvm3915

Oct 30, 2007 9:25PM

I was just at work today and a woman came into the boutique in which I work and asked if we carried LAMB. I replied that we didn't and she quickly walked out of the store. I then asked my manger, "Do people really buy that?" Funny that you were thinking about that today too...

posted by gigi

Oct 31, 2007 5:38PM

Britt (and fashionista), you are spot-on with this post. I have often wondered the same thing. In my mind a celebrity line will never out do or replace a designer line, so why the inflated prices?
It's bad enough that your narcissistic egos delude you into thinking you are now a fashion designer because someone you've paid puts together nice outfits for you on the red carpet, but then for god's sake keep your prices in line.

posted by chunli76

Nov 02, 2007 6:00PM

I work in fashion and represent designers who are so talented in their craft, yet their price points generally fall below the prices these celeb-designers ask for. In many cases I feel that these celeb-designers have no idea who they are designing for but themselves/friends...and therefore have no comprehension of who it is that is purchasing their merch.