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Kanye’s Paris Fashion Week Misadventures

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 / 3:07 PM

The fashion industry has a love/hate relationship with celebrities. Paris Vogue is just one of the European glossies notorious for choosing models over celebs for their covers. Last year, Marc Jacobs banned them from his front row because he thinks they distract people from paying attention to the show.

Kanye West definitely experienced this relationship during Paris Fashion Week this season. The rapper and fashion enthusiast managed to score invites to shows like Valentino and Givenchy, but not everyone in Paris was so welcoming.

West showed up to the Balmain show with his entourage only to be turned away. Looks like those rumors that Christophe Decarnin will be designing West’s upcoming tour costumes are pretty false. A rep from KCD, the show’s organizer told Page Six, “Mr. West requested to attend and we let him know we would not be able to accommodate him. He chose to come to the door anyway and we kindly let him know we could not accommodate him.” Ouch.

Later in the week, he tried to crash the Alexander McQueen show without an invite. Much to KCD’s (who were also organizing this show) dismay, he found his way in through a side door.

West’s ego may get him far in the music biz, but the fashion industry remains unfazed. But then again, when has a negative image ever stopped Kanye West?

By reportedly applying to the masters program at the renowned fashion school Central Saint Martins and hitting up Jean Touitou, founder of the French brand A.P.C for advice, it’s obvious that he’s determined to gain the respect of the fashion industry.

Touitou told Elle after his meeting with the rapper, “He only sees the empire, he doesn’t know the sacrifice and that real life happens here.” It’s true–most celebrity clothing lines never make it. The Olsen twins and Victoria Beckham have been successful because they’ve completely dedicated themselves to fashion and their lines.

Can Kanye West prove the haters wrong, and conquer the fashion world? We’ll be waiting to find out.


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Comments [9]

I definitely think that out of all the celebrities he’s not just going to watch a show. He’s a creative. I do like the fact that he’s actually taking the right steps: “interning” under luxury houses, applying for design school, asking for advice from people in the business. He has a big ego but that ego also won’t let him drop something that isn’t worthy of the business. He at least understands that in fashion your name/brand is everything. One misstep and it’s all over.

I think he’ll do well.

I’m looking forward to working with/for him. So ‘Ye, if you’re reading this, YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL!!!!!!

i feel like him sneaking in through a side door at mcqueen is a bit of a misstep…but it’s unfortunate that the just wasn’t let in!

i love kanye west and would love to see him relevant in the fashion world!

I don’t want to be HEARTLESS, but you don’t really need FLASHING LIGHTS to realize this guy’s style is all paint-by-numbers. He needs to have a LOVE LOCKDOWN with himself, control that anger, and quit being a spoiled RUNAWAY to have a STRONGER career in fashion design.

This is awesome for two reasons: One, I initially thought you were mimicking ADR’s style of blogging, and Two, only moments later I realized the joke.

Thanks, I’ve never seen ADR’s blog so if I was mimicking her, it would only be coincidental.

If you look past all those things I mentioned above, Kanye is a talented musician.

my favorite…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kyWDhB_QeI

Ahh, I love Hors de Prix. Such a great movie. Her wardrobe was fantastic.

that was awesome

I think this comment thread might be more entertaining than Kanye’s music and this post put together…!