Showbiz stars turn fashion designers

The appointment of Achille Lauro as the new creative director of the Dondup brand has caused quite a stir in recent days. Many, particularly within the industry, have turned up their noses and, whilst acknowledging the singer’s enviable eye for fashion and flair for showbiz, have asked themselves: is passion enough to become – or simply declare oneself – a fashion designer?

While it is true that no fashion designer has ever taken to the stage at Sanremo, it is equally true that the star of "Incoscienti Giovani" is in excellent company, given that, increasingly, celebrities are using their fame to become fashion designers and launch collections or even eponymous brands.

Among the most emblematic cases, the name of Victoria Beckham stands out: the former Spice Girl has long been committed to making a name for herself in the fashion world. Her aesthetic is minimalist and glamorous, just like the signature style that earned her the nickname "Posh" decades ago, back when she was still performing on stage as a singer.

Through all the ups and downs, her brand continues to sell well, and her journey as a fashion designer has even been the subject of a Netflix series. Even more successful was the Olsen twins’ debut with the brand The Row, which today represents the pinnacle of quiet luxury. Having become hugely famous from a young age through American comedies, the two have now managed to build a veritable empire and establish a credible presence in the fashion industry.

Far more talked-about, however, was the surprising appointment of Jaden Smith as creative director of Louboutin. Will Smith’s very young son had, in fact, never run a brand before and, prior to taking the helm at the French fashion house, was known primarily as an actor, dancer and singer.

Speaking of singers, it’s now common knowledge that Rihanna has for some time been earning more from her lingerie and beauty lines than from her music. Her partner, A$AP Rocky – a rapper with a passion for fashion and now creative director at Ray-Ban – has followed in her footsteps. It would be impossible not to mention reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who has obviously decided to capitalise on her fame in the fashion world by launching the Skims line.

Even amongst the brands on Galleria Cavour, we have a very famous example of a showman turned designer: Pharrell Williams has, in fact, taken up the baton from Louis Vuitton, leading the house through a radical aesthetic revolution that would have been unthinkable a decade ago, when designers such as Marc Jacobs or Kim Jones were at the helm. In short, the debate is open: can the role of fashion designer be performed with such ease by celebrities, or is it something that is learnt and demonstrated in the field after years of study, apprenticeship and hard work? We leave the difficult judgement to posterity.

Ph: Pharrell Williams, Andreas Meixensperger, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (particolare)