Leave it to the celebrities
By Jane Muhlstein
Last week, in a land far, far away, there was a very big party. Musicians, movie stars, socialites and, of course, models and designers gathered together in one place, celebrating a cause of great social concern.
As New York's Fashion Week introduced the styles that will hit the streets in fall, the entertainment world merged into an indistinguishable blob of celebrities.
The finale of Fashion Week was the premier of Jennifer Lopez's Sweetface. Its up-and-coming creator is new to the design world. Her prior experience is limited to a mid-priced line carried in juniors sections in malls across America.
But despite her shallow roots in the industry, Lopez was discussed in gossip and fashion columns across the country with the frequency of such established names as Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Michael Kors.
The line between designer and fashion icon has virtually disappeared in recent years. While classic stars like Grace Kelly served as the inspiration for designers' creations, not the inspiration for their own works.
While Lopez's new line was praised for reflecting the personal style she has displayed throughout her career on the red carpet, fragrances have become at least as popular an outlet for entertainment's pretty faces to expand their brand names without the continued dedication to the field.
Earlier this month, Sarah Jessica Parker announced the development of her new fragrances to be released in fall. She follows less-distinguished starlets like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton into the world of fragrance. I am a bit cynical about the input they have in the mixing of the chemicals making up their signature scents.
When it comes to clothing design, however, this trend makes sense. It seems natural that people who made careers working with designers, picking the dresses and trying desperately to avoid worst-dressed lists would develop a passion and knowledge of the inner workings of the fashion world.
I could be disgusted by celebrities' attempts to build their empires. But throughout Hollywood's colorful history, stars have inspired and, at times, virtually designed their own looks without taking full credit. It is said that Audrey Hepburn worked with Givenchy on almost every outfit she wore publicly, and had tyrannical reign over the direction his clothes took. Maybe it's time to let these icons be more than just pretty faces.
* Contact Jane Muhlstein at (408) 554-4546 or jmuhlstein@scu.edu.