Jeff Banks fashion Designer has launched an attack on celebrities featuring high street brands. He questioned the creativity that famous faces input into their clothing ranges at high street shops such as Topshop and H&M from the stars like Kate Moss and Madonna.The former presenter form the television series The Clothes Show asked “Can Kate sharpen a pencil or draw a matchstick man? I wouldn’t put money on it.â€
Kate Moss’s range will go on sale next month, Banks comments on her input into the styles were “I’ll bet she just grabs one of her many Prada bags, rifled through her wardrobe…and turned up at Topshop’s head office in Oxford Street or a quick hour’s briefing with the in-house designers and buying staff.
Banks said “I’m not against celebrity endorsement, but to claim the product has been actually designed by the celebrity simply beggars belief.â€
A Topshop spokesman insisted “Kate Moss has had a huge input in the range From every level, From the design concept of the garment to the fitting and the logo.
“The fashion industry may be a different place to one Jeff Banks is used to. Top designers like John Galliano don’t cut patterns, they have pattern cutters. That’s the industry.“Kate Moss isn’t a full time member of staff and she isn’t a trained fashion designer, however we see her a fashion icon. Most brands have made quite a lot o money out of copying what she wears.â€Jeff Banks was also quite critical of the ‘m by Madonna’ Women’s Clothing range which went on sale in March at H&M. He said 2I think she’s a very talented singer. Have clothes played an equal measure in her success as her ability to hold a tune? Sure the have. But can Madonna design clothes? I’d like to see the sketches and watch her cut a pattern.â€
 Next month sees the launch of Topshop’s latest adventure - a collection of clothing designed through a collaboration with supermodel Kate Moss. Due to a whirl of media hype surrounding it, the collection is playing lead role in what is fast becoming a common trend in high street fashion. With the success of Madonna’s collaboration for H&M and Lily Allen soon to launch a line for New Look, chains seem to have reached a new era in which the seemingly invincible bubble of the celebrity is currently looking to take over yet another area.  To create the eagerly anticipated collection, Moss and the Topshop team used her wardrobe as inspiration to design a line of clothing. Using existing items she already owned, Moss intervened by suggesting mixing and matching shapes and materials to produce something original. In an interview for Vogue, the supermodel claimed “It’s great. I can say I want this boot, with that heel. There are things I want that I can’t find. Like anyoneâ€. It is made clear that the collection was produced through a collaboration, not through Moss herself actually designing. The collection will include 91 pieces consisting of items such as tuxedo jackets, bikinis, party dresses, smocks, shorts and shirts. Available in over 300 stores nationwide and 30 Topshop franchises, the lines prices will range from £10 to £200.  The Topshop Kate Moss collection will be a huge success if past events are anything to go by. M by Madonna, a collaboration of the pop superstar and Scandinavian chain H&M, was a roaring success. The collection was, again, strictly a collaboration, however Madonna claims to have done some market research herself, by testing out outfits on her husband and friends. In an interview for Elle, the singer stated “I’ve tried to make a very chic line that’s relatively inexpensiveâ€. Working closely with Margareta Van Den Bosch, Madonna helped create a line of clothing and accessories based on her own wardrobe, representing a modern spin on her own style. At the other end of the pop music industry spectrum is Lily Allen, whose distinct, quirky style has received much attention and consequently led to another celeb/high street collaboration, Lily Loves, in New Look. Also launching next month, the collection consists of dresses, shoes and brightly coloured accessories.  There is no question that high street chains are fast joining a movement of collaborating with celebrities, but what is this movement in the name of? Fashion? I think perhaps the answer we are looking for is more along the lines of publicity and promotion. It cannot be argued that any celebrity is going to have more of a flair for design or fashion than actual fashion designers themselves, who work for these stores. While celebrities such as Madonna do have a certain style which no doubt inspires creativity in clothing to her fans, she cannot be given the new status of fashion designer.  From the point of view of the celebrities themselves, this is a fantastic opportunity. They are able to branch out and join the speedily growing fashion industry. This inevitably leads to further promotion for the star and increases their fan base as shoppers snap up their latest looks. For the high street chains, paying a star to borrow their name (and apparently fashion expertise) is clearly an investment. The press coverage alone boosts the shops publicity campaign, but also the celebrity in question consequently becomes a walking billboard for the brand. All this extra promotion unquestionably increases sales. So the collaborations are seemingly a great idea - all parties benefit, with positive publicity all round.  What about the real designers though? Breaking through in the fashion industry is commonly known to be difficult. Having the talent is only half the job, and networking and publicity is central to a designers success. When only a small percentage of these artists actually break the industry, it must at times be somewhat disheartening. Those who are lucky enough to make a name for themselves will have no doubt worked excruciatingly hard. So, to then realise that there is a new trend in town - to assign the job of designing a new collection to, not a rival designer, but a celebrity, I should imagine some are a tad pissed off. The more that stores and stars form teams, fashion designers will lose out on work due to the power in a famous name.  The new trend of teaming up, however, may be just a natural progression in a society obsessed with celebrity. What was once a question of design and artist is now one of image and star. People want fashion which creates an image for themselves, an image based on icons, their favourite celebrity. Shops reflect this shift in fashion attitude by bringing out ranges stemming from certain celebrity styles. It then makes sense that the next natural step is for the celebrities to be involved in the production process. Perhaps this is a pivotal time in fashion history, as the line between designer and star slowly disintegrates creating an entirely new face of fashion.  Philip Green, the owner of Topshop, knew what he was doing signing an iconic supermodel. Shoppers themselves will be the final judge on May 1st, as it plays host for the biggest celebrity/high street collaboration to date. The public are clued up enough to know that assigning a name to something has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Whether they choose to spend their money on these collections, however, will be the swaying tide, it is this that will encourage more collaborations with celebrities. From the rate of success so far, shoppers seem delighted to support the pairing up. Come May Day, I don’t think Green will have anything to worry about. Exclusively By Syamala UphamÂ
Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn.
Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Better Half might well be leading by five wins to Bows four, but tensions run high.
Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Better Half might well be leading by five wins to Bows four, but tensions run high.As the girls gather for their latest challenge, will they be fighting for the same side or will inter-WAG rivalry get the better of them?
editor for The Telegraph, Hilary Alexander. Combining football and fashion
the girls are required to design their own football kits, then model them in a glamorous 5-a-side match!
As the manager for Better Half, Jadene selects Heather and Cassie for the challenge (because Heather is great at design and Cassie hasn’t won a challenge.)
Meanwhile, Bows manager, Michaela chooses Julie and Nicola T.
It isn’t long before the design ideas are flowing. Cassie and Heather decide on a white kit with the Better Half logo and hot pant-style shorts, whilst Bows select a blue strip with gold sash, draw-string bottoms and pink diamantes.
Meanwhile, back at the boutiques, Michaela decides to get some more stock and makes appointments with three wholesalers. As Krystelle says: Michaela works well when she is in charge. She’s only a problem when she isn’t the manager!
Managerial skills are also being demonstrated at Better Half, where Jadene has decided to hold a sale of their denim collection to raise more money for charity.
But will the girls maintain their professional behaviour or will it prove too much like hard work? As Michaela’s quick, stock buying trip turns into a three hour shopping spree, her colleagues back at the boutique aren’t impressed.
But it is Madeleine who is really playing up. Could the spirit of naughty Michaela be living on in her?
Back on the challenge, the girls receive their kits but all isnt as they imagined. Instead of sexy, white hot pants, Better Half have been sent long, baggy shorts. Can their logo add a bit of much required glamour to the Women’s Clothing
Having selected a sexy, diamante design as their logo, the girls are reassured and get on with the difficult work of customising their kits.
Bows are finding it just as hard. But, despite an exploding sewing machine, it isnt long till Julie and Nicola have everything under control.
Unfortunately, the same cant be said of Jadene back at Better Half!
Returning from her lunch, she discovers that Cassie, Heather and Charlotte have swapped working for playing and their behaviour just gets worse and worse. Upset at the lack of support, Jadene returns to the til, still determined to prove that Better Half can win.
Sunday and, with the kits complete, it is the Bows v Better Half football match. Jadene and Julie’s other halves (Marc Bircham and Kevin Phillips) have volunteered to manage the two teams and Marc has strict rules - no lipstick till half-time!
As the match kicks off, it is Better Half who are first to score and it doesn’t stop as they continue to score a total of four goals (three via Charlotte who proves to be quite a football talent!) to Bows 0.
But, it isn’t over for Bows as the feedback on the challenge is still to come. As Hilary Alexander provides her views on the two kits, it is Bows who impress her the most. Their prize is to see the Barnet Ladies FC sport the Bows’ strip. They also receive £1,000 of kit to sell in their boutique.
With the score equalised at 5 all, there is still everything to play for and it isn’t just the challenge at stake.
Tune in at 9pm, Tuesday ITV2 to discover who will win the final challenge, who will be the winning WAG and which boutique will win the profits for their charity.
http://wags.itv.com/episode.phpnew women’s fashionThroughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn.
Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn.
Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn. Throughout the competition all the girls have worked really hard and played hard but there have been arguments and handbag at dawn.
    