15 Minutes of Fame

Kate Moss is preparing to unveil her last collection for Topshop. Three and a half years ago, the partnership between the supermodel and the British retailer was heralded with much fanfare with crowds snaking around the block and teenage girls and young women with disposable income foaming in full-blown “Moss Mania”.

Tastes have changed, even if Moss’s bohemian rocker aesthetic has not. As fashion houses like Celine and Chloe move toward clean, simple lines, Moss remained true to her rocker chic roots. In this, Moss seems to have ignored the secret to her fame. She was always on the cutting edge of what women wanted to wear. By refusing to innovate, Moss stagnated.



Photo Credit: The Independent Newspaper



However, that’s the reality of celebrity designers who attempt to turn their 15 minutes of fame into a full-blown hour. With the exception of the Olsen sisters, whose The Row and Elizabeth and James lines have done exceptionally well, most celebrity designers have a sell-by date. The moment passes where one wants to smell like Jenny-from-the-block or pick the children up from school in tight-fitting, high-waisted dresses a la Victoria Beckham.



The Row Fall 2010



Nevertheless, there is a reason White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor remains among the top-selling perfumes and Jessica Simpson’s brand is worth more than $400 million. Their key to success is selling, not fantasies of themselves, but what real women want.