So recently, CNN and Fashionista.com teamed up to create “The 10 Most Powerful Women in Fashion” list - which surprised me a bit. I, of course, expected names like Anna Wintour, DVF, and Prada to show up. I’m not surprised by Pat McGrath or Cathy Horyn either. I am surprised though at the absence of Carine Roitfeld and Emmanuelle Alt. What about them? There are plenty of women I would’ve definitely placed on this list in lieu of some of the mentioned (Anna dello Russo, Glenda Bailey, Nina Garcia, Suzy Menkes, Hilary Alexander, Angela Missoni, Sarah Burton etc etc etc) but I find it rather insulting that Carine is definitely not on here.

Maybe because Emmanuelle is new at Vogue Paris but Carine definitely belongs on that list. For the love of fashion, the woman was the editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris for the last 10 years. She’s worked for some of the biggest names and designers, responsible for some of the most cutting edge editorials in the game. I mean, I could go on and on about Carine but… she’s just Carine. To me, she’s almost as ubiquitous as Anna, if not more so…

YES, I WENT THERE (and here’s a little bit why)

stephkornblum:

Andre Leon Talley: What’s shocking to me is how important the red carpet is. At one point I thought it was ruining [fashion] but I don’t think that anymore. I dont think any celebrity can take away from fashion. Not even Kim Kardashian could take away from fashion…Though, of course, Kim Kardashian didn’t come to the Metropolitan Met Ball but [her boyfriend] Kanye West did.

Ralph Rucci: And see that’s the thing: Many people who I think are the celebrities, other people don’t think are the celebrities [implying that he doesn’t think Kim Kardashian is a celebrity.]

Robin Givhan: So would you ever dress Kim Kardashian?

Ralph Rucci: No, I think that’s bastardizing yourself [as a designer].

^^My hero.

This is really interesting. Ralph Rucci has been judged in the past for being a bit of an egomaniac (most prominently seen in episode two of Kell on Earth). Still, I can’t help but agree with him on this notion.

Celebrity endorsement (paid or unpaid) is a huge business. Specifically talking about design, creating a custom piece for a high profile celebrity client is probably one of the best things that can happen to a fashion designer - especially an unknown, up-and-coming designer.

This influence of fashion can be traced back to Louis XIV and his obsession with luxury, glamour, and elegance. Anything seen in Versailles was the à la mode. Today, celebrities have become the trendsetters in fashion. The second a celebrity wears a major designer’s garments, they instantly become a fashionista. From red carpet award shows to celebrity gossip magazines, media coverage of “who” a celebrity is wearing has become the focus of events. We all gab about how they wore “it” and how great or poorly they looked. We see stories on “how to get [Celebrity X’s] look” – further proof of how celebrities can potentially influence a person’s decision to buy the latest designer clothing and accessories.

This has become a primary focus in fashion marketing: the idea that celebrities are effective in imprinting a brand in the customer’s mind, which can incidentally prompt sales and generate new levels of success.  But who are celebrities?  They range from film and television stars to musicians, sports personalities, royals, politicians, and even socialites who have no defined careers apart from looking beautiful and attending the right events. In the fashion world, the list of celebrities would include designers, their muses, models, photographers, and any prominent person involved in the artistic aspects of fashion.  Somehow, because they are in the spotlight, they become advertising mavens, capable of convincing customers of the credibility of any given brand’s offerings.  For luxury brands in particular (like that of Chado Ralph Rucci), celebrities contribute to greater brand awareness, increased sustenance of a brand’s aura and position in the market (aka holding it true to its luxury status), and revival of a dormant brand (like Rucci’s – since he has shown on and off during fashion weeks and isn’t quite as active as he used to be in American fashion).

The keyword in this whole debacle is Kardashian. A name that has plagued 21^st century pop culture in ways I cannot begin to describe. To support Rucci’s statement, let me remind you all of the five rules of celebrity endorsement for luxury brands: credibility, global appeal, personality, power, and constancy. First, a celebrity must have a high level of expertise and talent in their fields – which both bring value to the brand and imply the brand, is associated with the best. In this case, I, like most, cannot truly identify any Kardashian expertise, talent, or field, for that matter. Secondly, global appeal refers to awareness and appreciation worldwide. I’m not sure if any Kardashian is well liked everywhere. Thirdly, perhaps the most important rule, a celebrity’s personality must match the brand’s personality. Most brands associate themselves with celebrities based on their popularity rather than demeanor. Last time I checked, Chado Ralph Rucci is all about elegance and class – two qualities not normally associated with reality television.  Fourthly, the celebrity must have power to promote the brand but not overshadow it. Lastly, the celebrity must invoke sustainability: their career must be predictably successful. The celebrity must be able to maintain their image and career accordingly. Given the Kardashian empire (and the work of Mama Jenner), there is no lasting power to their family’s brand. Chado Ralph Rucci is timeless. See the disconnect?

YOU GO RALPH RUCCI.