Nathaniel Fried
Victoria Beckham made her celebrity status as a singer, but these days, she’s more known for her fashion line. Rapper Kayne West has enough spare time off the stage to release his own clothing line too. But which celebrity fashion line is the best?
Victoria Beckham – a posh touch to fashion
1900s sensation Spice Girls wouldn’t have been the same without the sultry pout of Victoria Beckham. After the band called it quits around 2000, Victoria switched her focus to fashion. The fact that she has been taken seriously in the high-fashion realm is a testament to her fashion flair and chic collections. In fact, in 2017, Victoria was awarded an Order of the British Empire for her services to the fashion industry.
Her label launched in 2008, and quickly found its feet in the New York Fashion Week. In 2011, she revealed a diffusion line called Victoria by Victoria Beckham. Her original garments include easy-to-wear a Jumper dress and stylish separates, and the collection has now been expanded to include popular accessories such as handbags, sunglasses and shoes.
Victoria’s line always brings something new to the table, with travel-inspire cuts and prints. Her latest collections have brought together silk pyjama shirts with skirts and the ‘Shacket’, which combines a classic shirt and jacket. In terms of colour, she often uses a darker colour palette in her designs, adding a pop of vibrancy here and there with oranges and greens.
Has her fashion venture seen financial success though? In 2016, Victoria Beckham’s fashion company had revenues of £36.3 million but in 2017, reports showed that losses rose by 78%. A spokesperson for the brand said that the losses were due to heavy investment in design, production, marketing and sales. There are upcoming deals with US retailer Target and Reebok which are expected to boost profits.
Kanye West – a new artistry
You might have heard of a modest, humble rapper named Kayne West. He hit the main stage in the early 2000s when he released his debut album, The College Dropout, and has collaborated with big names since such as Rihanna and Jay Z. It was in 2015 when he launched his first season of clothing under his Yeezy clothing brand. West brought a militaristic design to the fashion industry with distressed fabrics and a nude colour palette for his range of men’s shirts — simple yet futuristic. This theme has followed right through to his season 6 collection. His wife Kim is often seen sporting the look as she’s photographed in her signature crop top, sweatpants and heels look.
Kayne’s collaborations with Louise Vuitton and a recent sneaker line with Adidas have proven popular. People have been spotted camping outside of stores for days before the release of the trainers — which is surely an indicator of his success.
Jessica Simpson – singing, acting, designing
She might not have been people’s first bet on becoming a fashion superstar, but Jessica Simpson proved us all wrong. Starting off as a singer and actress, she’s now behind a fashion brand that’s raking in millions. Simpson claims it’s because she knows what women want and need. She’s been many sizes in the past and is now a mother, and therefore understand what it’s like to go shopping as a ‘normal girl’ rather than a celebrity. Instead of going high-fashion as many celebrities do, Jessica targeted the mainstream market and it certainly paid off.
Jessica’s brand has a modern American feel, with a focus on comfort and free-spirited looks. Jessica has launched a range of clothing lines including swimwear, jeans, footwear and going out dresses that are recognisable by their playful prints and classic styles. She’s designed a collection that many women have the confidence to wear.
The story is one of success! In 2010 alone, her line earned $750 million in retail sales and her products are now sold in mainstream department stores such as Macy’s, Lord & Taylor and Dillard’s. She is also selling in 30 different product categories, including home goods, in major American department stores.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – on pastures new
Success came swiftly for the Olsen twins, starring in American sitcom Full House at just nine months old. Following a successful acting career, the twins turned to high fashion and have been well-rewarded for it.
In 2006, The Row launched as the twins’ first fashion label. The girls refused to give any interviews about the brand in the first three years of its launch, keeping their celebrity status separate from the brand. They’re all about neutral colours and chic styles, using a colour palette of khaki, beige and white to create their sleek collection. With fluid column dresses, the girls injected some colour into their latest range — bringing lilac, red and dusty rose to the catwalk. Mary-Kate and Ashley also run fashion label Elizabeth and James, which is a younger and more affordable label named after their two younger siblings.
The pair have been recognised for their work in the fashion world too. Mary-Kate and Ashley were named Womenswear Designers of the Year in 2012 and 2015 by The Council of Fashion Designers of America and in 2014 were awarded the title of CFDS Accessory Designers of the Year.
Which celeb did it best? Of course, it’s all down to personal preference — for lovers of sports-inspired styles, it might be Kanye West, while high-fashion followers may prefer Victoria Beckham’s range. When it comes to sales, it seems as though Jessica Simpson triumphs — targeting all women and making them feel great!
