Why do celebrities get a shortcut in to the fashion industry?

If you were to look at most celebrities’ fashion projects throughout the years, are they creative? Do they have a concept, are they creating new outlooks? Most of the time, no. With continuous celebs venturing in to debuts at Fashion Week every year, it is questionable how they get a slot on the schedule in the first place.

Yet, there is not a negative outlook on celebrities being involved in fashion, they excel collaborating with well-known high street brands and online collection launches. It is not unheard of for brands to consult the rich and famous to do a collaborative collection, undeniably this process works and is profitable for both celebs and the industry. Kanye West, however. It is undeniable that he has created established collaborations over the years with Nike, Adidas, Fendi and Louis Vuitton. It becomes an issue when ego is exaggerated, and celebrities seem to forget that popularity and status doesn’t always equal success in fashion. Kanye released his first ready-to-wear collection in 2011 and critics commented on its lack of attention to cut and construction. Lisa Armstrong from Daily Telegraph wrote "Kanye West's fashion debut was like being subjected to an hour-long MRI scan – but not as much fun ... It was the equivalent of Karl Lagerfeld launching a hip-hop career: ie absurd."

Ex ‘The Hills’ reality star Lauren Conrad debuted her first collection at NYFW in 2016. It was full of innocent prom dresses, pretty pinks and preppy burgundy velvet trousers, but lacked in newness and creativity. It was dull and inexpressive, was it purposely made for 13-year olds attending their school disco on Friday night?

E! Online even claimed the collection to be one of ‘the best shows of Spring 2016’. Coming from an over-expressive platform, known for promoting celebrities for no reason at all, they would say that.

There are exceptions when it comes to high end fashion, Victoria Beckham has been a controversial figure in the industry and lacked support since the beginning of her brand in 2008. The industry is definitely protective of who is accepted in to it, as celebrities tend to think there is an imaginary hall-pass. They have proved that by having money and status, you can release a collection without an innovative meaning or experience in fashion all together. It is dismissive to say that Beckham has not worked hard for the career she created with passion and commitment to her brand. Yet, it can’t be ignored that Beckhams’ designs are self-indulgent and do not cater to the wider public and it is known that her husband is funding her new-found hobby. So, would her success be possible without her famous footballer husband or her previous music career?

Sometimes, celebs can have a head start from being born in to fame. Stella McCartney’s’ about page states: “Stella McCartney graduated from Central St Martins in 1995. A signature style of sharp tailoring, natural confidence and sexy femininity was immediately apparent in her first collection and after only two collections, in 1997, she was appointed the Creative Director of Chloe in Paris and enjoyed great success during her tenure.” You have to give credit where credit's due, and Stella has become a well-established designer and creator of a respected brand at fashion week every year. Although, if she was not daughter of infamous Beetles band member, Paul McCartney, would she have been accepted in to the UK’s top University for fashion, based purely on her talent?

The undeniable rejection that fashion graduates face every year is insulting. How are struggling students supposed to be hopeful and successful? When the competition are celebrities who are renowned for other professions unrelated to fashion, actors or singers, the list goes on. They are catapulted in to the industry with no experience, using money and power to better their status. As a fashion student, feeling antagonistic towards celebs is inevitable. Students work tirelessly throughout the years, finding internships, working for free, establishing a name for themselves and still find themselves on the lower scale of the pay roll at the end of it all. It’s extremely hard to establish yourself in the fashion industry which is based on building connections, which is why celebrities find themselves venturing in to fashion, they have the connections.

It has to be recognised that celebrities do seek advice from well-known designers, however the thought process is not so prominent, they have a team to help create a vision. The argument still stands; celebrities have a stance of power and status surrounding them, their egos are enflaming. The revenue of the brands they are creating comes from a profound and gullible fan base, an egotistical money focused pursuit.