I remember when Marc Jacobs did that collection especially for Suzy Menkes ... IMO it was quite awful. I think many designers take the critics too seriously. I have seen even very good critics just not 'get' a collection before.
We all know here that a collection takes time to sink in, but critics have to get their reviews out quickly. It may be an educated opinion, and it may be published in an important newspaper, but it's still one opinion, and there's nothing infallible about it. It should be informed and interesting and provide perspective, that's what I expect from a review. Probably there is something any one of them would like to take back ...
I wish designers would take it all with a big rock of salt, and give those giant egos a break. I guess they feel like they're being graded, and they want to argue about it. But why respond? Let your success speak for itself. I have a straight pin right here that I'd be willing to loan any designer needing to deflate anything ...
I think they are so unused to any straight up criticism at all that it just freaks them out. Stop surrounding yourself with sycophants and it will all come as so much less of a shock
