Ben Widdicombe Blind Item
Which niche designer who first hit big 20 years ago looks like he might be about to break ties with the powerhouse cosmetics firm which makes his incredibly profitable fragrance? As the playwright said, "Attention must be paid."
thierry mugler or ck?
ReplyDeleteCalvin Klein.
ReplyDeleteThierry Mugler, FTW!
ReplyDeleteI don't get the "Death of a Salesman" reference here - "Attention Must Be Paid".
ReplyDeleteBeside, Mugler blew up in the 1980s, which would make it 25-30 years ago since his star rose.
I actually collect Mugler fashions on eBay and love his old stuff, although I don't much like his perfume.
I don't like the perfume, myself. Smells like chocolate and vanilla. ick.
ReplyDeletei think the key here is 'niche designer', so i'm going to go w/ hilfiger or the FUBU creator guy. they've both niched themselves into specific markets/demographics and both have fragrance lines...the FUBU guess might be off tho given that it's on been around since '92, so it falls short of the 20 year reference.
ReplyDeleteHalston? on clue. actually he's dead,no?
ReplyDeleteCK would fit for this very well. 89? yup, we all wore something calvin klein then.
MARC JACOBS....OR MICHAEL KORS, BOTH OF THEIR SCENTS ARE YUMMY
ReplyDeleteI believe this to be Tommy Hilfiger - All his fragrances are manufactured by Estee Lauder.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing Hilfiger. I don't remember hearing much about him before the late 80's.....Tommy Girl would be a pretty profitable fragrance.
ReplyDeleteCK is one of the few designers who is not 'niche.' He is universally popular, usually minimalist (which appeals to a very broad market).
ReplyDeleteI think it's Hilfiger. Huge sales, but 'niched' himself VERY $uccessfully 20 years ago.
@ libby, you totally spoke my mind. I'm on the TH wagon.
ReplyDeleteTom Ford. He is now definitely niche, with his overpriced men's shop in NYC (where the blind is based). And his fragrance line is distributed by Estee Lauder. Black Orchid, the first one, was a big success for Lauder.
ReplyDeleteTom Ford. Big name due to his Gucci involvement, now has a niche line for men. He has his own fragrances and a remake of Youth Dew for Estee Lauder, as well as a collection for them.
ReplyDeleteAll of his ads are graphic and attention getting, borderline "adult".
@Mistik
ReplyDeleteGreat minds, haha!
michael kors signature perfum is absolutely DIVINE.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the Tom Ford train. Tommy Hilfiger is too mainsteam to be niche anymore and it wouldn't make news if he made a split.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Tom Ford is a sexy beast and yes, I know he's gay.
I believe Tom Ford hit big in late 1995 when Madonna wore his (Gucci) satin shirt and low slung boot cut pants to an awards show (MTV?)
ReplyDeleteI think this is Marc Jacobs, who first hit big in 1989 when he was with Perry Ellis.
Jean-Paul Gaultier
ReplyDeleteok, how many of you have worn ANYTHING by Tommy Hilfiger since last century? i wouldn't be caught dead in Tommy now.
ReplyDeleteunless the niche is soccer dads and 'hip' english teachers...ain't gonna fly.
Tom Ford----Works with the "Tom Ford for Estee Lauder" collection. Estee Lauder is owned by LV powerhouse. They own: MAC, Clinique, Stila, Dior, LM, Benefit, EL, La Mer, Trish McEvoy, Givenchy, YSL, Lancome, L'Oreal, etc., etc., etc.,
ReplyDeleteJust to add a different name ti the mix - how about Jean-Paul Gaultier.
ReplyDeleteI am probably the only person who still wears the perfume (I love it) - actuallly i have no idea i never go perfume shopping
and designing for movies such as The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and The City of Lost Children has made him niche designer - I guess i don't really follow fashion much anymore.
But I don't know who Ben Widdecombe is and whether he would have any idea about french designers - I just thought of him cos I dont want them to stop making my favourite perfume!!!!
oh and ti = to!!
ReplyDeleteDragonLady, I still wear the classic cologne by JPG. If you want something similar, the Michael Kors signature scent mentioned by QuintessentialSoutherner above is really great. Also, any of the Bulgari scents are good. I get the green tea scent for my sis every Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHas Tom Ford been around 20 years? If so, then this is probably him.
I am on the JPG train.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna guess Narciso Rodriguez.
ReplyDeletebut maybe just because I love his perfume....