As I skimmed through fashion blogs looking for writing inspiration, I came across an article on Fashionista.com that caught my eye: ‘Sammi Sweetheart Wants to Get Into Fashion, Design Hair Extensions.’

My initial reaction was fear, which quickly turned into frustration. It’s bad enough JWoww has her own clothing line, Filthy Couture, but now we have to deal with another fashion disaster. Celebrity-turned-designers, for the most part, do not work.

Around 95 percent of the time, celebrities have nothing to do with the designing — they merely use fame to get their own lines and collaborations.

My heart grows heavy every time a celebrity puts a dent in the fashion industry.

Take Avril Lavigne’s fashion stint, for example. In 2008, Kohl’s decided to team up with Lavigne to create her line Abbey Dawn, and they even let her pretend she could actually design. But really, there was no creativity involved. All Kohl’s did was mass-produce Lavigne’s wardrobe and call it a clothing line. The only thing Abbey Dawn proved was that even a washed-up rock star like Lavigne could have a second chance at short-term fame.

And let’s not forget Lindsay Lohan’s brief position as artistic adviser for fashion label Emanuel Ungaro. It created a huge stir during New York Fashion Week 2009, especially when she got fired shortly after. Under Lohan’s advising, Ungaro’s collection looked unfinished: It was poorly executed and looked immature for such a distinguished label.

Women’s Wear Daily described the spring 2010 collection as ‘cheesy and dated. … The collection displayed none of the promised younger side Lohan was supposed to deliver.’

Even though I am against celebrities becoming designers, there are a handful of them who have proved they are more than just actors and singers. Over the past few years, celebrities like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Victoria Beckham have managed to gain a huge presence in fashion.

The Olsen twins’ upscale line, The Row, and contemporary line, Elizabeth and James, have proven time and time again that Mary-Kate and Ashley know what they’re doing when it comes to fashion. Designs for both lines tailor perfectly to their target audience, not to mention how stylish and trendsetting their collections are each season. The Olsen sisters were inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2009, which further acknowledged their success and respect within the industry.

Victoria Beckham’s eponymous line has also shown great potential during recent years. At first, no one took Beckham seriously, and I wouldn’t have either, looking back at Posh Spice’s wardrobe malfunctions. But under the mentorship of Roland Mouret, Beckham slowly transformed her design aesthetic into beautifully tailored collections. Five seasons later, she is standing stronger than ever.

The fashion industry is all about survival of the fittest. It doesn’t matter how famous you are prior to your clothing launch. Everyone starts out in the same boat, hoping to pave his or her way into the eyes of editors, buyers and consumers. If you work hard and take the industry seriously, respect and acknowledgment will be given in return. Showing the slightest sign of weakness and uncertainty, however, will land you on fashion’s D-list, along with every other failed celebrity attempt out there.

Vicki Ho is a senior public relations major. Her column appears every Wednesday, and she can be reached at vho@syr.edu.

Published on October 5, 2010 at 12:00 pm