Celebrity Clothing Lines

It's no longer enough that our televisions are saturated by celebrity indulgence, and an overwhelming compensation to those who maintain their status through outrageous antics and otherwise embarrassing behavior; but now we must further be imposed upon by their severely lacking and often overpriced clothing lines. Haven't we given these people enough already? What message are we sending to the talented, unrecognized, designers dwindling under the weight of pop-culture marketing and sales? It seems pretty clear where we stand, and although we would like to consider ourselves trend setters and style guru's, it would appear we have become a nation of label junkies and category seekers. The industry has become so fast paced and unforgiving that it seems to have lost its individuality amongst the ever growing bubble created by the entertainment industry. What has happened to skill and craft? We've allowed the powers that be to determine what we listen to, watch, and read resulting in a monopoly over what we buy and what we consume. We no longer can judge value beyond publicity and hype! 

You may think my attack is unwarranted and I'll meet you half way; of course I too own a piece or two of celebrity endorsed or styled clothing and/or product. I too have a hand in creating this monster, but where I differ is the realization that this is a result of my conditioning from popular culture! The fashion industry is not about individuality and rebelliousness anymore, its about quick sales and quick turnaround. We can now enter any department store and spend an entire paycheck in order to look like the celebrity of our choice. 

Today, you can smell like J-Lo, decorate your phone like Paris, and dress like the Olsen twins; and to top it off when you look in the mirror you wont have to see yourself. I can be arrogant and over gratifying if I just rush to the store and purchase a piece from Gene Simmon's Moneybag collection. Let me take fashion advice from a man who spent a decade or two dressed in Go Go boots and carnival face paint! Must I highlight the irony?

Maybe reality T.V. is more your speed? Well Lauren Conrad and Hiedi "What's her face" from the MTV spoiled teenager backlog "The Hills" surely have something for you. Not only have we been bombarded by real celebrity fashion advice, but now amateur hour has begun and we all lined up, didn't we? Tell the young girl hand sewing garments in her parents basement, saving her pennies to go to FIT, that her services are no longer needed; Hiediwood's got it covered! What qualifies these people to design? Nothing! In fact it is very unlikely these celeb-designers design anything. So as they further brand themselves utilizing large staffs and inherited superiority, we are being duped. It's not shame on them, it's shame on us! It's time for the consumer to choose what is worthy of consumption! Let's bring back style through expressionism and creativity! We have the power to shift the market. We no longer have to sacrifice art for trend. Support the underground, the up and comers, the talent and send these celeb-monopolizers back to their agents for a new strategy. If you don't agree I must pose one last thought on the subject:

CELEBRITIES DON'T DRESS THEMSELVES, THEY PAY SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR THEM! WHY PAY THEM TO DRESS YOU?