There’s a roundup of hot new labels in Variety today, and the piece accidentally highlights two very big issues:
1. Celebrities are as important, if not more important, to a new designer’s success as the fashion press.
2. People actually buy clothes they see on celebs – maybe the most telling quote from the article comes from Jenni Kayne, the former Olsen babysitter who says “Michelle Pfeiffer wore one of my dresses to the L.A. premiere of ‘Hairspray’ and it was a great branding experience… That dress ended up being one of our bestsellers. People from around the country were calling to find out about it.”
We’ll admit this news was surprising – we like to wear outfits that nobody’s ever seen, except maybe, sort of, on the runway.
But it seems there’s a massive pack of girls who take their cues from the red carpet and not from the catwalks, from vintage photos, from art, music, film, or from the mess of old clothes heaped up in their bedroom. It’s all Page Six, all the time, and as Jenni found out, it pays.
But is it fun to wear something As Seen On TV? When can you do it and look like a fashion girl, and not just a fan?
Tags: Jenni Kayne
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I was in a store once looking at a dress when the clerk said: Oh, did you see that on so and so on such and such last night? Well, I hadn’t, but I was sure glad of his warning. I put it back on the rack.
Fashion people don’t do this, but normal people do.
Mana–agreed! I’m very tall and treasure Frankie B. jeans for their 36″ inseam, but every time I bought a pair, some salesgirl inevitably reminded me that Jessica Simpson had them. They should realize it’s not an endorsement for every shopper.
I feel like I don’t see it as much specifically in New York because celeb style is in a lot of ways still more L.A.. I’m much more likely to see my new Marc Jacobs or DVF on other girls like me than I am to see them on a celebrity.
I think it’s like when you get inspiration from seeing a cute anonymous girl on the street in a fierce outfit. if you dont live in a big city though, the most you’re going to see on a daily basis of fierce outfits on random people is through pictures of celebrities
Nevah, evah!!!
i like to people watch. all the different styles out in the street, who needs the celebs?
It’s not always about wanting to “be like” the celebrity, I think. It could be the first time some people see that particular item and they just say, “Hey, that’s a beautiful dress” or “cute t-shirt” or whatever. No different than seeing something in a magazine editorial, ad, or tv series. And I agree with JLBM…it’s the same reaction you have in real life. I’ve told lots of people where I bought my shoes and handed out the name of my hairstylist. I don’t think that’s because they want to be like me. They don’t know me! They just need a pair of black wedges and a trim.
i dread when something i already own appears in a magazine or ad or tvshow, because i know they’ll be girls looking for it immediately, and then within a week everyone else will have it too. what’s the point in owning something to look like someone else? inspiration is one thing; imitation is quite another.
I always thought the most interesting and inspiring things happen on the street…that being said it really depends on the “celebrity”. Hearing Kate Moss or Isabella Blow had something might get my attention whereas hearing that Britney Spears had a particular item would definitely turn me off a purchase
good article.for me, sometimes, the outfits of someone who’s called famous is goof for my inspiration, but mostly the celebs just copy their outfits from someone else and so on.
so it’s the best to have an own style, but for sure, you can be insprired by something/someone.
This is most certainly the case. As soon as a celebrity wears something from Brittique we sell out of it. That’s why PRs spend so much time and money giving our free clothes and shoes to celebs such as Kylie (who really nicely gives them back!).
I second the Kate Moss and Isabella Blow thing. Although I’d hate to downright copy, that’s wretched. But in a “Kate Moss was photographed in something similar last night” kind of way, I think it’s okay because you know you’re just buying it before it’s all over the place. Any mention of a Hollywood starlet or Rachel Zoe and I am not interested, thank you very much. Ick. Same goes for when a celeb trots out something you already own and all the masses follow — that’s even worse. What was once a prized possession starts to look like rubbish. :(
i agree with jlbm
Yes, I would.. which isn’t so original.. haha.. I always have a picture in my head that I’ll look like some celebrities if I wear same clothes like them. it’s very stupid I guess.. but that’s the way it is! haha.. maybe one day someone will copy me! HAHA