The Rosie O’Donnell/Eileen Fisher debate’s made its way into WWD.
Today’s paper talks to a handful of designers about their customers – both their fantasy and reality customers. They discuss the lack of control they have over clothes once they leave their studio and what it’s like to see their collections on not-fifteen-year-olds.
Most answer diplomatically, Alexander Wang says, “Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing real women in my clothes. The girl I envision for the brand helps create the clothes in my head, but it’s the element of surprise — when I see my friends and girls on the street incorporating the collection with their own personality and style — that is the most inspiring and gratifying;” some genuinely, Rick Owens says, “I think you’ll have a hard time finding a designer who’s gotten this far imagining only skinny 17-year-olds are buying his clothes…I always feel lucky that anyone responds to my clothes at all. Truth;” and some just honestly, Carolina Herrera said, “Have I ever been horrified to see someone in my clothes? Many times, but I close my eyes and look the other way. That happens to everyone. What can you do? Go and tell her, ‘Don’t wear that dress again’?”
But Yigal really hit the nail on the head, “New York is a bubble;” sometimes we all need a reminder.