Celebrity Brands :: Fashion, Beauty, Cosmetics, Lifestyle
Archive for March, 2007
March 31, 2007 · Filed under Luggage
Christina Ricci was rocking to new gig at the launch of the Samsonite Black Label Fashionaire Collection in New York last night: she was just signed on to be the new face of the swanky luggage brand.
Fashionaire is a modern day interpretation of a luggage line Samsonite released in 1968. The collection boasts some of the best names in the business behind its creation: Cameron Silver (of vintage retailer Decades) and Samsonite creative director Quentin Mackay.
Is Fashionaire destined to be some of the most fashionable baggage around? If the 27-year-old “Sleepy Hollow” star can work her Black Snake Moan wardrobe, she might as well do wonders with the luggage line.
I can’t wait to see Ricci’s upcoming public relations campaign — could be right out of my fantasy scrap book!
March 30, 2007 · Filed under Athletic Gear
Desperate Housewives sexpot Eva Longoria shows off her athletic side in the new and the hottest yet Bebe Sport ad campaign launched Wednesday.
Says Eva, “I used to be an aerobics instructor so I really know what works well for that type of activity. I love how stylish and comfortable the collection is.”
She replaced Mischa Barton, because Bebe Sport figured Mischa was more bone than
meat and just couldn’t represent the bebe look attempting to appeal to a ‘modern, sexy, sophisticated, body-conscious woman who takes pride in her appearance’.
The campaign got a kick start at a party hosted by Cosmopolitan and Bebe to celebrate Eva as the new face of Bebe Sport held at the Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Longoria in her skivvies? Hmm…… Eva in her skivvies might be just the right inspiration to get some Bebe gear and work up some fasionable sweat!
March 28, 2007 · Filed under Watches
Wear a diamond watch, earn millions. Is this too much to ask? Apparently, it was, for Charlize Theron, who just couldn’t keep up with this arduous task.
Raymond Weil, a maker of luxury Swiss watches, slammed Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron with a lawsuit last Monday, alleging she violated an endorsement deal by wearing other designers’ watches. The actress was accused of two-timing the company by wearing a Christian Dior watch in public — a serious faux pas in light of her $20 million deal.
“When companies like Weil put eight figures behind a campaign, exclusivity is very important to the brand,” explains Ryan Schinman, president of Platinum Rye Entertainment, which deals with talent buys for corporations. “The minute she’s seen wearing a competitor’s jewelry it diminishes the entire believability of the campaign.”
However, Schinman clarifies that it’s not entirely Theron’s fault. “As far as what Charlize did I’m sure it was unintentional but it is her team’s responsibility to make sure that doesn’t happen.” And, he says, the incident will likely have repercussions in the industry. “Agents and clients are likely to be a lot more careful about policing their clients in the future,” he adds.
The 31-year-old star of “Monster” and “North Country” signed on as the face — or wrist — of a $21 advertising campaign in October 2005, apparently agreeing to wear only Raymond Weil watches in public. Theron promoted the limited edition line of diamond-covered Shine watches, which sell for about $7,000.
But her sponsors were unhappy when she turned up in a Tourneau catalogue wearing a faux diamond watch over the words, “Charlize Theron wears Dior,” as part of another endorsement deal to promote a Dior perfume.
The lawsuit does not say how much Weil is seeking in damages, but the watchmaker’s lawyer, David Jaroslawicz, says his client spent more than $20 million on the Theron advertising campaign.
Celebrity endorsing brands are getting more powerful, not only in Hollywood or the USA, but worlwide. according to some key players in the industry. Catherine Zeta-Jones for T-Mobile cell phones. Gwyneth Paltrow for Damiani jewels. Courtney Cox for Kinerase skin care, Cindy Crawford for Omega watches.
Wouldn’t you? And get paid as much as $3 million for as little as a day’s work?
Apparently the South African siren found that a little too hard to stick with.
March 27, 2007 · Filed under General
American talk show host Oprah Winfrey is the richest woman in entertainment, according to business magazine Forbes. Its latest poll estimates her net worth at $1.5bn, based on the $225m she is said to earn from TV, satellite radio, magazines and other multimedia ventures.
Oprah, 52, is not only a celebrity, but Oprah is a brand. Millions of people worldwide are influenced by anything that carries the name Oprah on it. When Oprah lends her name to a book or a magazine, she’s actually lending her name, worth over a billion dollars. If the product — for any reason — is not up to par, it can damage the trust people have put into the name ‘Oprah.’
Reared in poor, rural Mississippi, Oprah today is the only black female billionaire. At East Nashville High School, she …became a brilliant student, joined drama club and student council. After graduation in 1971, she received a four-year scholarship to Tennessee State University. She began to develop broadcasting career at 17, working for WVOL radio in Nashville.
The year of 1984 marked Oprah’s career as she came to Chicago and was chosen to host a local talk show called “AM Chicago.” Following the show’s success, its name then was changed into “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in September 1985.
Being watched by up to 20 million U.S. audiences every week, the talk show has spread its charm to more than 130 countries. Oprah’s show had collected 30 Daytime Emmy Awards throughout 1987-1998. Being the most successful talk show host in the world, Oprah took a deal to extend her show until 2011 which means that the show will have been broadcasted for 25 years.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling comes second in the list with a net worth estimated at $1bn.
But there’s a difference here. Harry Potter may be a brand, but not JK Rowling.
March 26, 2007 · Filed under Fashion Line
Bollywood actress and Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty has signed a contract to be the face of Marks & Spencer for the Autumn/Winter Collection 2007.
The Bollywood actress, who made headline news after experiencing racism the Channel 4 hit show, was spotted going to the studio on Kensal Road with television presenter Gaby Roslin, who will also be launching the new range llast week.
A source told the Daily Mail: “Shilpa spent the day at a shoot, she spent the morning having lots of clothes fitted on her so that they look amazing for the advertising campaigns.
“She is perfect for the role. She is gorgeous and has a great personality but, above all, the British public love her.”
“Shilpa is delighted, she went into the Big Brother house to get herself some exposure in Britain, so she couldn’t have asked for things to have turned out better for her,” the source said. “She is still talking to a number of film producers about acting roles, but to be the face of such a popular store is an amazing gig for her.”
The contract with the high street shop is thought to be worth roughly £150,000 ($240,000). Marks & Spencer is the largest clothing retailer in the UK.
Shilpa joins a number of famous people such as Twiggy and Erin O’ Connor, who were also a part of the retailing outlet’s campaign.
March 24, 2007 · Filed under F & B
I must confess I’m a die-hard fan of Kate Beckinsale. How could I possibly run this blog without celebrating her in every possible way???
To begin with, enjoy this commercial for Diet Coke.
Kate opens her can of soda on the way back to her lounge chair by the pool. The bubbles released from the Diet Coke and the presence of Beckinsale in her teeny bikini send the men falling into the swimming pool.
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March 24, 2007 · Filed under Fragrances
Of the 205 new fragrances launched last year, 23 of them belonged to celebrities. And Fortune magazine reports that highprofile scents attributed to the overall economy of the industry in the billions.
Britney Spears and Paris Hilton have their names on a number of perfumes on the market. bearing their names. They may not have to step foot into another studio again, thanks to a few million people and a bottle of perfume for that. These pop divas are only two of a few dozen celebrities who have ventured from music, the big screen or sports into the world of colgones, parfums and eau de tolilettes.
“It’s another way of branding their celebrity personas,” says Mary Ellen Lapsanky, executive director of the Fragrance Foundation. “It is an extension of their lifestyle that all of their fans can buy in to.”
In addition to scents by Celine Dion, Hilary Duff and Sarah Jessica Parker, male celebrities aren’t too far behind. There’s “Unforgivable,” by Sean “Diddy” Combs, “KISS for him,” “Carlos Santana for him,” and Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter’s “Driven” cologne, among others.
An interesting fact emerged in a market research conducted by the Fragrance Foundation conducted — even if consumers may be drawn to the counter by a celebrity scent/endorsement, they have to like the fragrance enough to purchase it.
Though others came before, Elizabeth Taylor remains one of the only silver screen icons who continues to successfully brand a signature fragrance. “White Diamonds” hit the fragrance scene in 1991 and continues to be a firm favorite.
The other? You guessed it, the newly single, ever-in-the-news Britney Spears.
Following the success of “Curious”, launched two years ago, Spears launched the much sweeter “Fantasy” perfume, which lists fruits, sweet cupcake accord, flowers, creamy musk, orris root, and sensual woods as the blended notes. Her newest scent, “Midnight Fantasy,” launched this year is a more rich elixir with darker fruits like black cherry, raspberry and plum.
“Due to the intense media coverage, people almost feel that they “know” major celebrities,” says Karen Marin, a fragrance merchant for Sephora. “The fan wants to get closer to the celebrity and identifies with what he/she wears, uses, endorses. Being able to own and wear a celebrity-created fragrance brings the fan that much closer to her or him.”
Not many come close to the mystique that Jennifer Lopez built around her multi-million dollar empire which includes music, television, a clothing line and a collection of fragrances.
Almost four years ago, she introduced “Glow by J.Lo” which tallied $80 million in sales followed by, “Still”, “Live by Jennifer Lopez,” and “Live Luxe” released in 2006. Her latest fragrance, “Glow After Dark” is also said to doing very well.
“When you admire someone you are more apt to be interested in what they like,” Marin says. “It’s a way for the client to bond with the celebrity and feel a bit of the glamour of the celebrity mystique.”
“Celebrities are very smart; they know what to do,” she quipped. “People want what has a celebrity’s name on it.”
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When installing an outdoor wall fountain installed, it’s a good idea to consult the specialists. Going to stores that deal with living room sets or dining room tables is not going to be fructiferous.
March 23, 2007 · Filed under General, Music
Paul McCartney becomes the first artist to sign with Hear Music, a brand being created by Starbucks.
The anouncement was made toward end of the coffee giant’s annual meeting in McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center. Chairman Howard Schultzoward announced that Paul McCartney would be the first artist for Starbucks’ new record label, Hear Music.
“It’s a new world now,” said the rock icon said during a video chat from London with Schultz, conducted in front of over 6,000 people at the annual shareholders’ meeting. “People are thinking of new ways to reach the people. For me, that’s always been my aim.”
“Let’s get on with it, man,” McCartney told the crowd as he held two thumbs up. He said that the new album would reflect the past and that he was excited to be a partner with Starbucks.
The new yet-to-be-named album would be distributed in early June in 13,200 Starbucks stores in 39 countries and other retail outlets.
The take on McCartney represents a sort of return to Starbucks’ earliest — and most successful — marketing strategy: putting together new music and a familiar name. For those of you who can recall, Starbucks promoted the Ray Charles album “Genius Loves Company”, which went on to sell more than five million copies.
Schultz also said the coffee giant would open 10,000 more stores in the next four years. Company executives went on record saying that Starbucks would be in Russia and India by the end of this year.
March 21, 2007 · Filed under Fragrances - Female
Avon Products Inc. announced last week it had signed love musical “Dreamgirls” singer-actress Jennifer Hudson to represent longtime Imari line and new scent, Imari Seduction.
“This is an honor for me and very flattering,” said Hudson, 25, whose dreams of stardom appeared shattered when she finished seventh on “American Idol” in 2004.
But her show-stopping singing and sympathetic character as the spurned lead singer of a female trio in “Dreamgirls” won her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar this year. It was Hudson’s first movie role, for which she also picked up Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.
Avon, the world’s largest direct seller of cosmetics, said Imari had been its best-selling fragrance since its launch 20 years ago. Imari Seduction will go on sale in August.
“We believe that our Avon representatives and their customers will be truly inspired by Jennifer’s dream-come-true success story,” Avon executive vice president Liz Smith said in a statement.
Imari Seduction, a fruity Oriental, is a blend of luscious plum and purple orchid with tantalizing hints of warm vanilla, amber and musk. It will be offered by Avon’s 650,000 Representatives in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as well as through the company’s web site, avon.com.
March 20, 2007 · Filed under Fashion Line
Madonna - named Style Icon of the Year at the Elle Style Awards - is leading the way with her M by Madonna range for H&M, which goes on sale around the world on March 22, 2007.
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H&M the international retail giant and their head of design Margareta van den Bosch have teamed up with Madonna to create a line of clothing and accessories that are scheduled to arrive in all stores carrying the women’s wear collection.
The ‘M by Madonna’ fashion line will reflect Madonna’s timeless, unique and always glamorous style. A long standing cultural icon whose enormous global influence on how people dress and look is without equal, Madonna worked hand in hand with Margareta van den Bosch to create a wardrobe of clothing and accessories that represent her own personal and modern spin on her very own wardrobe staples.
The line is full of lumber jackets, blazers, kimono dresses, handbags and, of course, sunglasses with her signature M on the side. The line has been described as ultra glamorous and very sexy.
Madonna, apparently thrilled as well, says:
“I’ve made no secret of my love of fashion. Working with H&M was an exciting and new creative challenge. I’m happy with the results and look forward to wearing M by Madonna along with the rest of the world.”
Anyways, we’re excited that she’s giving us something a little more exciting than tracksuits.
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