They said/We said: Will Kanye West really be showing at New York fashion week?
Yesterday we reported that Sarah Jessica Parker is no longer working with Halston Heritage. Well, where one celebrity fashion venture ends another begins. For months now, rumours have been circulating that Kanye West is designing a high-end clothing line. Grazia is taking said rumours a step further, reporting that according to “excellent sources” the rapper is planning on showing his debut collection at New York Fashion Week. In keeping with West’s earlier statements about wanting to study at the prestigious Central Saint Martins, he is apparently getting some help from the big guns: knitwear designer and CSM grad Louise Goldin and the school’s master’s director Louise Wilson.
The news doesn’t exactly come as a surprise—just look at West’s past interest and involvement in fashion. From his sneaker collaboration with Louis Vuitton to his appreciation of Tommy Ton’s street style photos, the guy loves luxurious clothes. He’s expressed admiration for Phoebe Philo, even sporting one of her womenswear looks for Céline at Coachella. And let’s not forget the countless number of runway shows West attends season after season, Azzedine Alaïa’s couture presentation being the most recent. Despite all the evidence, though, it’s still a little premature to say the claims are fact not fiction, and Kanye, Goldin, and Wilson have yet to comment.
If there’s truth to the rumours though, will the collection be a hit, à la Olsen twins’ The Row? Or a complete laugh, like Lindsay’s Ungaro fiasco? Only time will tell…
WHAT THEY SAID…
Leah Chernikoff, Fashionista: “New York, London or Paris we can’t wait to see what Kanye has in store.” [Fashionista]
Britt Aboutales, Elle: “If it happens, we imagine it’ll be done Tom Ford–style as West seems particularly sensitive to fashion criticism. Stay tuned!” [Elle]
Alyssa Vingan, StyleCaster: “With Abbey Lee, Anja Rubik, Jessica Stam and Joan Smalls all name-checked in his song “Christian Dior Denim Flow,” there’s no doubt he’ll have some stellar girls walking.” [StyleCaster]
WHAT WE SAID…
Sarah Casselman, senior editor: “Quelle surprise! The man who (almost) attends more fashion shows than Vogue’s Anna Wintour is starting up his own line. Heck, he’s already dipped one fashionable foot into the style spotlight with his recent LV shoe collab collection. Hopefully, Mr. West will choose his own RTW adventure and avoid the Sean John route to the bank. How to do this successfully? Follow these three simple rules: 1. Don’t make it all about you, make it about the clothes. 2. Don’t perform (or play your own music) at the launch. 3. No logos; let the designs speak for themselves.”
