I'm Too Sexy for My Shirt

Celebrities are hounded by the paparazzi all day long, no matter where they go. We get to see their kids, their significant others, where they vacation, and most importantly, what they wear. Celebrities’ outfits are caught on camera regardless of whether they are red-carpet ready or just going to the grocery store. By now the stars know that their appearance is being judged, no matter what the occasion is, which is why many stars are always dressed appropriately.

Whether we realize it or not most celebrities influence most of our fashion choices choices. When they wear certain brands and certain trends, we hear it and see it, and it becomes more fashionable to us. “That star influence plays out in fashion magazines, catalogs and store displays; which women feel more comfortable crediting, but ultimately it still goes back to the celebs,“ explains Kim Kitchings, director of research and planning for Cotton Incorporated.

Unfortunately this isn’t always a good influence. Celebrities aren’t perfect. They make mistakes. They try to be fashion forward and sometimes it’s a flop. Even though we think we may be good judges, or the magazines and blogs we read are good judges, we get confused too. Every era has had bad trends that were in some way celebrity endorsed. Ponchos, midriffs, shoulder pads, platform shoes, and rompers to name a few. They are created by fashion designers but brought to the public eye through celebrities. This trickle down effect can dilute the original intent of the style, and makes the public think that it can look good on anyway. Sorry guys, it doesn’t.

One of the greatest influences celebrities have is making women think it is okay to dress inappropriately. Celebrities often sport racy and over sexualized styles, to keep the attention of the public. Women and girls then think that they should dress this way as well in order to look hot and get attention themselves. Paris Hilton in a barely bikini is a prime example. Or Lady Gaga being way overexposed. Yikes, that’s just scary.

Celebrities and their stylists need to be aware of how the fashion choices they make affect the clothing market and the decisions of American women. Stay classy LA.

Posted by Julia Cooch