The best and worst celebrity fashion line launches of all time
As Alexa Chung reveals she's launching a clothing line, we look back at the stars who did the same - with varying success
THE news fashionistas around the globe have been waiting for since switching on to T4 in 2008 has finally come – Alexa Chung is launching her own fashion line. This is not a drill. Finally, a little piece of Alexa in our lives that is all her.
The news got us thinking though - just how many celebs have attempted to venture into the realms of fashion?
#1 Victoria Beckham
The Queen of celeb fashion, VB, launched her high-end clothing line Victoria Beckham in 2008.
Despite initial doubts that she was going to be another novelty ghost designer, Victoria Beckham is now one of the most respected designers at New York Fashion Week after winning the BFA for Designer Brand of the Year in 2011.
We’ve been swooning over her handbags for years and have finally learnt to accept the fact ‘you can look but you can't touch’.
#2 Rosie for Autograph
When one of the world’s biggest supermodels launches an underwear range with high street giant Marks & Spencer, you can expect excitement from both men and women.
With a deserved cult following (the product is pretty gorge), Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has become quite the entrepreneur with brand extensions into cosmetics and loungewear.
Now we just need the VS bod to look that good in our pants.
#3 Te Casan – Natalie Portman
Influenced by Natalie Portman’s vegan lifestyle, in 2008 the actress launched a collection with Te Casan comprising of twenty pieces of luxury vegan footwear.
Priced at around $200 a pair, it’s safe to say the world didn’t react well to the word 'vegan' sitting next to that price tag.
When Te Casan folded a few months later due to falling sales, Natalie’s vegan shoe dreams went with it.
#4 Beyonce – House of Dereon/Ivy Park
Anyone remember House of Dereon? The fashion line Beyonce launched with Mum, Tina, at Selfridges in 2011? No? Us neither.
But with the launch of Ivy Park earlier this year taking the world by storm –who can blame us?!
When Queen B launched her line of athleisure clothing in April of this year, Topshop.com crashed into chaos and the British population followed suit.
#5 Kate Hudson – Fabletics
Rom-com fave, Kate Hudson is known for her crackin’ bod and earth mother glow.
She’s just one of those people that has you asking, “Do you have to be so perfect?”
It only made sense for her to give us all a product of her wisdom by co-founding membership-only workout clothing site, Fabletics in 2013.
Since then it has become our go-to for personalised workout outfits and, let us tell you, it’s a stroke of genius.
#6 Olsen Twins – The Row/Elizabeth and James
The Olsen Twins have been known to dabble in a bit of money making when they can, however, long gone are the days of endorsed products for teenage fans.
Now, they mean serious business.
In 2006 they launched The Row, a hugely successful label regularly showing at Fashion Weeks across the globe.
The following year came Elizabeth and James, a line sold at some of the biggest high-end retailers in the world with perfumes that smell like dropsheaven.
On top of all of this, they're still painfully gorge and we're still painfully envious.
The Olsens are the walking-talking evidence that two heads are better than one – especially when they’re matching.
#7 Rihanna for River Island
Collaborating with stylist, Adam Selman, in 2013, Rihanna launched her collection with River Island.
Hugely anticipated, the high street went nuts upon its launch.
With slogans like 'G4Life' plastered all over the merch, the British public lapped it up as River Island sales grew 4% in 2013.
Despite only doing three collections with River Island, Rihanna has since pushed her fashion ventures onto bigger things with her collection with Puma being showcased on the catwalks earlier this year.
#8 Kanye – Pastelle/Yeezy
Before Yeezy, there was Pastelle, otherwise known as that clothing line Kanye West kind of made, kind of didn’t, talked about a lot and then ceased to be.
In earlier days, you might remember seeing Kanye rocking Pastelle at any given opportunity – anyone remember that hoody with a shark fin hood? If not, Google it.
In typical Kanye style, Pastelle was seriously hyped and false promises were made that it would be available to the public in 2008.
In 2009, Pastelle was no more and we made way for Yeezy - a much more successful venture.
#9 Heidiwood
Heidi Montag has quickly become the mother of reality TV.
With televised screaming matches, tonnes of cosmetic surgery and a questionable marriage - there is no surprise that poor Heidi has had a few business failures.
Back in 2008, she teamed up with US retailer Anchor Blue to launch Heidiwood – a collection of affordable clothing.
Unlike her The Hills co-stars who found relative success in fashion, Heidi's fashion career was short-lived as Blue Anchor chose not to renew the year-long contract.