Ryzenberg On: Politically Fashionable
If Oprah drove the masses in 2008 to vote for Obama, Anna Wintour hopes to do the same with fashionistas in 2012. Vogue’s supreme authority recently commissioned 22 designers (many of whom dress First Lady Michelle Obama) to create a product line to benefit Obama’s Victory Fund.
The collaboration will be sold online at www.store.barackobama.com and among the participants are Joseph Altuzarra, Alexander Wang, Tory Burch, Rachel Roy, Narciso Rodriguez, Diane Von Furstenberg, Tracy Reece, Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone and Jason Wu.
This is a risky move on designers if you ask me. Many, like Jacobs’ parent company LVMH, feared it could alienate the Republican clientele and told its brands to steer clear of the cause. Donna Karan stayed put and refrained from participating, while Marc, on the other hand, stood to his rebellious ways and went ahead.
I guess when Anna says jump, many designers simply go, ‘How High? And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the power of Vogue. The roster is more like ‘fashions for the one percent,’ since most of the designer’s price points cater to upscale shoppers, except for maybe Rachel Roy who sells a line at Macys and Jason Wu, whose collaboration with Target launches next month.
But the buck doesn’t stop here; Ms. Wintour will also throw a ‘Runway to Win’ party next month and A-lister Scarlett Johansson will be the hostess with the mostess. This soiree is sure to bring a bevy of celebrities and fashion elite to contribute.
I am not sure I agree with bipartisan fashion. I love the message behind motivating Americans to hit the polls, especially in such a critical time with all of the economic and social hardships hitting our society. However, the ‘99 percent’ (Obama’s staunch support from 2008) won’t go out to purchase a tee or tote designed by a CFDA member. They are more concerned with finding jobs, our debt crisis and the current banking woes.
So remember do your duty as an American citizen and rock the vote. (whichever candidate is your choice) After all, this is still a democracy.
One thing is for certain, some Democrats will be sporting fierce fashions on the campaign trail.
Ryzenberg On, is Signing Off