The revolving door at Emanuel Ungaro (please put all Ungaro news here)

[mikeijames]

...but people still wouldve complained.

that's exactly my point. no matter who they chose, people would have complained. given that, it's really pointless to spin wheels discussing the merits of lindsay lohan before actually seeing the work product of the actual designer, estrella archs.

 

[mikeijames]

... so what exactly has recommened her above others for this job I wonder?

the very fact that people who hate her know her every exploit shows she has the very fame on which they look to capitalize. if she does arrive late, she's not just arriving late to some set, she's arriving late to oooongaro.

 

[mikeijames]

Facchinetti could have done it. She seems to me to be the most versatile designer I've known.

she doesn't exactly have a great track record of turning brands around...

 

[tricotineacetat]

It's a ridiculous thought to expect exponential growth of wholesale sales figures upon letting a new designer show one or maximum two collections, especially when a house as Ungaro had suffered greatly from changing artistic directorship every second to third year. Management board people definitely need to understand that it's also up to them to communicate a continuous, believable strategy on where the direction of a fashion house is heading. I'm pretty sure, by now, not a single buyer or press person is believing that this very questionable new team will remain to stay at this house for a long time... For obvious reasons.

 

[Salvatore]

she doesn't exactly have a great track record of turning brands around...

Nor does Lohan have a great track record of turning up.
And I find Facchinetti successful IF she was allowed enough time to get settled in. Tisci took some time to catch, but look at him and Givenchy now....

 

[Spike413]

that's exactly my point. no matter who they chose, people would have complained. given that, it's really pointless to spin wheels discussing the merits of lindsay lohan before actually seeing the work product of the actual designer, estrella archs.

Yes people would have complained regardless, because celebrities of any stature don't belong having a say in the creative output of a luxury fashion label, period. That's why people would b*tch, not because we are just so unreasonable.

Honestly I feel a little bad for Archs. She may be playing it off like it's no big thing, but I can't imagine any designer who'd be fine with finally gotten their moment to shine and having to share it with someone who doesn't deserve that kind of credit. It's also got to be frustrating to have to give a say to someone else like this. Designers are nothing if not control freaks.

 

[mikeijames]

Nor does Lohan have a great track record of turning up.

touche B)

And I find Facchinetti successful IF she was allowed enough time to get settled in. Tisci took some time to catch, but look at him and Givenchy now....

frankly, i'm not sure givenchy finds itself out of the woods quite yet. also, givenchy has also cashed in on celebrity with their latest collaboration with justin timberlake.

when you have a new designer come into a house with established clientel and great sales already (like, gucci or valentino), you don't have to wait years to know if that established client stops spending and those great sales diminish.

 

[Salvatore]

Again, temporary collaboration. To me, it is as if Lohan will be the new definition of this house which I find very disturbing.

And in the case of Facchinetti, she was in the same tough situation twice - following after two mega designers that were still alive/relevant and trying to fit into their aesthetic with a slight twist of her own. I do believe that within a few more seasons at Gucci and Valentino, profits would have been made definitely.

 

[mikeijames]

Yes people would have complained regardless, because celebrities of any stature don't belong having a say in the creative output of a luxury fashion label, period. That's why people would b*tch, not because we are just so unreasonable.

unfortunately, fashion -- even in its golden era -- has wooed and used celebrity to their end. in our era, where we've watched the idea of socialite, celebrity, and fashion player blur, it's not unusual to see this sort of thing get formalized in a position. over the past decade, we've watched celebrities take the place of models in campaigns (lohan for jil stuart), socialites at society functions (lohan at the nypl young lion benefit), muses to select designers (lagerfeld courting lohan), and finally actual employees at fashion houses (as we'll now see). in fact, the consumer (writ large) has even enriched these celebrities when they've entered into fashion ventures on their own. lindsay lohan appeared on the first episode of project runway. i don't think we've gone past the point of no return with regard to celebrity...

again, i prefer lohan doing something like this than starting yet another fashion line as a so-called designer. at least, it'll keep these historic houses alive through this tough financial storm.

 

[mikeijames]

Again, temporary collaboration. To me, it is as if Lohan will be the new definition of this house which I find very disturbing.

And in the case of Facchinetti, she was in the same tough situation twice - following after two mega designers that were still alive/relevant and trying to fit into their aesthetic with a slight twist of her own. I do believe that within a few more seasons at Gucci and Valentino, profits would have been made definitely.

it didn't take that long for pilati to make ysl sing again nor philo make chloe must-have again. they both followed marquee designers and in the process, made a name for themselves.

 

[Salvatore]

Tom Ford was not that good of a designer at YSL in the first place so it was not that hard.

EDIT: And YSL did not approve of Tom Ford's work making it extra easy for someone to come in and do something appealing as long as not in the style of Tom Ford.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

touche B)



frankly, i'm not sure givenchy finds itself out of the woods quite yet. also, givenchy has also cashed in on celebrity with their latest collaboration with justin timberlake.

when you have a new designer come into a house with established clientel and great sales already (like, gucci or valentino), you don't have to wait years to know if that established client stops spending and those great sales diminish.

Timberlake advertised a fragrance, a far cry from being hired on as an "artistic director". The thing with Tisci at Givenchy is that he drew attention to the brand through his designs, not his reputation of being a celebrity brat. And besides that, the company is NOW doing well. It took some time but it happened.

If Ungaro really believes that Lindsay Lohan is their answer out of this financial mess then they really do deserve to be removed from the playing field. It's a quick fix and quick fixes never work. I would prefer Lohan stick to leggings.

Ah well, now we see why Valli wanted to get the f*ck out of there.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

I'm pretty sure, by now, not a single buyer or press person is believing that this very questionable new team will remain to stay at this house for a long time... For obvious reasons.

Exactly.

 

[fashionista-ta]

The real problem here is someone in charge who knows nothing about the business of fashion. "Everyone has a nice collection" ... well, not quite. He seems quite sincere in his belief that Ungaro simply needs more notoriety--and a younger customer.

I used to buy a lot of Emmanuel, and for awhile I didn't realize they were still in business. So we're clear on that much now ... for the time being.

 

[Salvatore]

Yes, it is the person in charge that is very disturbing as he sounds quite lazy and almost too indifferent to invest some time and creativity ways to bring the house back. It does not always require a celebrity to turn things around or rejuvenate.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

again, i repeat, while i hear all of this consternation over the appointment of lindsay lohan, who would my esteemed collegues in this forum name instead? as mentioned above, christopher kane has a job designing for versace's bridge line, versus. also, i don't know many celebrities jumping at the bit to actually get into the business of fashion -- mary kate and ashley, justin timberlake, sienna miller et al -- who don't have jobs already.

also, we have a convenient sense of amnesia when it comes to celebrity: america takes particular pleasure in building people up only to tear them down. lindsay lohan is no more sadder off than the britney spears, drew berrymores, and jason batemans of the world. most of the judgements people have of her happened before she even turned twenty one.

but again, i repeat, who else?

If Lindsay Lohan is the only one Ungaro's managment team can think of...

You could pick any young RCA or CSM grad, someone who does a good sexy dress, and they'd bring the brand back to full force. Mark Fast?

 

[mikeijames]

Tom Ford was not that good of a designer at YSL in the first place so it was not that hard.

EDIT: And YSL did not approve of Tom Ford's work making it extra easy for someone to come in and do something appealing as long as not in the style of Tom Ford.

sales soared under tom ford. yves saint laurent's erratic temperament in the years leading to his death don't really wash with the sales numbers that house experienced under tom ford (also, for the record, pilati has courted hollywood stars and filmmakers in recent seasons to bring buzz to his house).

 

[reese06]

I think you don't really know what you're saying, but it's ok.


Mikeijames, I'd start a discussion with you but I think it would be a nonsense.

I know exactly what I'm saying. However, if I am to go by the grammar in your post, there seems to be a language barrier and you just don't understand.

Appointments like this make me very upset simply because I'm busting my *** in design school learning about the business so that one day I can be a Creative Director or consultant and Lindsay who doesn't seem to have any knowledge on construction, the balance of creativity and business, etc. is appointed to this once legendary house.

 

[mikeijames]

Timberlake advertised a fragrance, a far cry from being hired on as an "artistic director". The thing with Tisci at Givenchy is that he drew attention to the brand through his designs, not his reputation of being a celebrity brat. And besides that, the company is NOW doing well. It took some time but it happened.

i think you overstate the success of givenchy. my larger point remains that other houses put celebrities on payroll in different ways. and timberlake did more than advertise a fragrance, he collaborated with their nose to create a fragrance HE LIKED. imagine the NOSE of parfums givenchy having to bend to justin timberlake.

 

[Salvatore]

Pilati hired them officially to his design team... ?