By definition, celebrities are under constant scrutiny from the media and the fans that adore or hate them. For a public figure, looks is extremely important and contributes to the growth or drop in popularity.
Celebrity fashion is a perfect occasion for media coverage and a source of profit for designers and other fashion oriented industries. Attaching a famous (popular) face to a line of clothing, perfumes or accessories will boost or ruin sales. Some of these celebrities have unique fashion touches that can become easily identifiable and adopted by the masses. Celebrity fashion is so influential because it springs from the fans’ adulation of the fame status.
The person asserts himself/herself as a fashion icon through little details: Nicole Kidman through her vintage brooches, Dita von Teese through her classic ‘50s dresses and pale skin, Jackie Kennedy through her chic fawn coats and pillbox hats, Jennifer Aniston through her silky hair, Jennifer Lopez through her furs and oversized hats, Beyonce through her sparkly, asymmetrically small outfits. Each of them inspires a certain style that will be adopted by those who enjoy it.
In the last years celebrity fashion took a step further, increasing in popularity and availability. Stars have created their personal lines of clothing, reflecting their personal style. Such are Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, supermodel Kate Moss, singer Gwen Stefani, Victoria Beckham and many others. Each has more or less accessible fashion items. For example Victoria Beckham designed jeans from very luxurious Japanese denim that retail at $280. At the other end, Sarah Jessica Parker’s line, called “Bitten”, is specifically made to be widely accessible, with items that do not cross $20 and come in sizes from 0 to 22.
Realizing the importance of a famous face attached to a product, important companies like Coca-Cola, Nike, Apple or L’Oreal convinced stars to endorse their products - because celebrities vouching for the quality of an item will influence the customer’s behavior.
It all adds up to the phenomenon of celebrity fashion that directly affects the public’s choices. By association with the beauty, artistic talents, fame and social impact celebrities and personalities have, people will tend to imitate and adopt.
