Does the world really need another celebrity clothing line?

Kanye takes his bow

So Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen can ask $39,000 for a handbag, Kanye West can debut a collection during Paris Fashion Week and Victoria Beckham can be described as a great designer. Is this the last (almost) logical extension of celebrity culture into our lives…………

$39,000 for a handbag from a couple of actors?

Celebrities still aren’t content with being recognised in their field of excellence, acting, music or in the case of some, not really much at all other than having rich parents, but they still feel that they should complete themselves with a clothing line.

The saddest part of this is that (real) designers who were recognised for being creative in their own right are now having to much like writers “ghost design” on behalf of their celebrity employers who take the bow, take the credit and are recognised for something they often have had little input in whatsoever other than lending the gleam of their cult of personality.

The biggest problem with this phenomenon is that as soon as a brand appears it so often disappears, linked so closely with a celebrity that once their star fades so do the sales.

For every Sean John or Rocawear that seems to trundle on despite the faux pass of its celebrity designer in chief, there are many that have failed along the way and the mere mention of that brand makes people laugh or cringe that they ever thought this was worth their hard earned cash.

No matter how much you want to be like them, this is not a good look

Even Kanye West who just launched at Paris fashion week is not immune. His Pastelle clothing collection imploded after he took to the stage at the MTV awards and aired his complaints about Beyonce not winning.  JLO has had three clothing collections fail, JLO, Just Sweet and Sweetface, but still keeps trying! Lets not even go near the Natalie Portman and her foray into vegan friendly footwear.

My point being I think we really have to question a celebrity clothing line launched by someone who has to employ a stylist to dress them in the first place.

Rise of the Chap - The streets are getting slightly smarter!

The gentrification of menswear, particularly streetwear has been creeping up on us in the past few seasons. Smartness with a wry smile, a prod at the stuffy lord of the manor tweed jacket and plus fours of the last century. A few observations about key trends and things happening……..

Tweed with everything, from ipod covers to dunks

Rick Genest – WTF?

It’s a look, it’s a bit different, that's for sure, but what happens when everyone’s tired of looking at him?  Fashion is very fickle, so how long does he have, and how much more space is there left for a new tat? Can’t be long until Gaga, Mugler et al find another person to prop them up as cool?  Why couldn’t he just go on X Factor like all the other people cashing in their 15 minutes?

A few books designers need

Just my Type – Simon Garfield

You will think a lot longer and harder about Gotham, Helvetica or Gill Sans than you ever did in your life before and never use Comic Sans again!

Designers are Wankers – Lee McCormack

Funny title but a good book about how to get into design and the mistakes we have all made and probably will in the future, a good one for graduates!