The last ten years have seen a deluge of celebrities lend their names to fashion brands and launch their own labels. That they now dominate front rows during fashion week and orchestrate the shows (think the Kardashian Klan at the Yeezy Season 3 show is more proof that the biggest force in fashion these days isn’t designers or retailers but star power.
It’s hard to keep up with all these celebrity designers, let alone the many celebrity-designer partnerships, limited-edition lines, and capsule collections about to hit stores this summer. But we know that keeping ourselves abreast of what major fashion house Rihanna is going to collaborate with next is of utmost importance, secondary only to getting our hands on Karl Lagerfeld’s limited-edition, $2,825 “Karlbox” pencil chest, a collaboration with the world’s largest pencil manufacturer that launches in September. It may cost twice our monthly rent, but life is all about making sacrifices.
Mike D. x Clare V.
As if we needed further proof that the fashion industry loves referencing and resuscitating culture icons, Mike D (Mike Diamond) of Beastie Boys fame has collaborated with Clare Vivier, the preppy-hip accessories designer, on the brand’s first men’s capsule collection: “grown man” tote bags, minimalist wallets, novelty t-shirts, and the like.
The collection was partially inspired by Diamond’s self-consciousness about bringing a backpack to the studio while working with the stylish French dance duo, Cassius. So he teamed up with Vivier to produce $600 “studio bags” like the Tomas Tote, and thin, sleek wallets. “I don’t like the George Costanza-style wallet,” he told Billboard in an exclusive interview about the collection.
Kate Moss for Equipment
Best known for their signature silk blouses, Equipment has partnered with Kate Moss on an eponymous capsule collection featuring skinny jeans, cropped sweaters, flares, and shirts in a variety of rock n’ roll-inspired prints.
“I wanted the lightning bolt print—very Bowie—and the stars and the anchors,” the supermodel told Vogue.com of the design process.
The collection debuted exclusively at Equipment stores and on Net-a-Porter.com in May, and is now available at other retailers.
A$AP Rocky for J.W. Anderson
A$AP Rocky love affair with high fashion has manifested in his music (he’s rapped about Prada and Jil Sander), his wardrobe (he’s a fan of Gucci’s fur-lined mules, which are mysteriously beloved by Sienna Miller, Derek Blasberg, Mary-Kate Olsen and a host of other stylish celebrities), and his cozy relationship with big-name designers (he’s currently the face of Dior Homme).
Now, he’s collaborated with British designer J.W. Anderson on a line of men’s casualwear: $275 knit beanies, $600 knit track pants and sweaters, and a $1,300 faux, “teddy fur” jacket.
Rihanna
On top of her own fashion line, Rihanna has produced a slew of capsule collections with high and mainstream fashion brands in recent months, from Manolo Blahnik to Puma. She collaborated with the former on a line of ankle boots, stilettos, and over-the-knee boots, including a pair of nearly waist-high denim boots (the collection crashed the shoe designer’s website when it first launched.)
Her line with Puma tapped into the bizarre furry-shoe trend, and also features orthopedic-style sneakers (apparently ugly shoes are cool again). And she’s just come out with a line of futuristic-looking sunglasses for Dior.
Alexa Chung for Marks & Spencer
The British “It” girl has lent her name and willowy figure to brands like AG Jeans, Madewell, and Steven Alan. Here’s hoping her new “Archive by Alexa” collection for Marks & Spencer--31 pieces hand-picked from the M&S archives by Chung--will revive the high-street retailer’s flagging sales.
Harley Viera-Newton
Don’t miss this line of summer dresses from celebrity DJ and model’s HVN resort collection.