So, Rihanna is bringing out another fragrance; this time it’s called Nude by Rihanna and it will be her third. So, firstly, given that whole rumble between Stella McCartney and Nude Skincare over the rights to use the name Nude for a fragrance (Nude had it, Stella took it anyway), I have no clue how this time it’s okay for someone else to use the name Nude. Secondly, it’s just brought it home how easily persuaded we are to part with our money in the name of celebrity.
This week alone, I’ve been offered Myleene Klass False Eyelashes, an Amy Childs hair piece (kill me now), Lauren Goodger self-tan and hair rollers (Lauren also has lashes and hair extensions under the Lauren’s Way label) and now…now we are to have a male and female fragrance from Mark Wright to be called Mr Wright and Mrs Wright (appropriate because I am sure he will have a wright laugh all the way to the bank).
Binky from Made In Chelsea is *guest* blogging for Escentual.com and The Daily Mail (“Welcome to the latest BBB; (that’s Binky’s Beauty Blog, for uninitiated amongst you”). On the blog (it’s the same blog for both sites, so you have to wonder right away who is paying who for what) she tells us she “filled her bath right to the brim with steaming water and bath oil”. I doubt it – anyone who has ever filled their bath right to the brim knows you can’t actually get it in without displacing so much water that you’d actually flood the room. Dimming the lights and adding candles doesn’t really seem ground breaking beauty news either. So, bottom line of this is that Binky had a bath and that’s considered SO newsworthy and relevant that she gets paid for it. I don’t begrudge her – its common sense to capitalize on your five minutes of fame, but it’s done so carelessly (and I am positive it is ghost written) and without the slightest thought for anyone impressionable who might be swayed by what she says.
Ultimately, celebrities very, very rarely have anything whatsoever to do with the product they put their name to. They don’t care; it’s a commercial transaction between their agent and the brand for which everyone gets nicely financially rewarded. My point is that it’s the consumer at the end of this money chain that gets short-changed. Mylene’s false lashes won’t make you look like Mylene; they’re no better than any other high street lashes so why pay for her face on the packaging that goes straight in the bin? The same goes for tan, hair pieces, make-up – you name it, they’ll endorse it. Their agent just has them sign on the dotted line and they’ll be immediately ‘in love’ with said product for as long as the contract lasts.
I’m often told that X celebrity was ‘very involved’ with the making of their fragrance/tan/stick-on nails. If you ask for proof of that, there is none. I once tried to get a quote from a designer about their fragrance; they said that it reminded them of their Caribbean island beach house when in fact the main floral note wasn’t even indigenous to the Caribbean. Another, on presenting her fragrance to press forgot what was even in her perfume, despite having been very ‘closely involved’. The only one that I can think of that really did seem to love what she’d put her name to and did seem to have given proper input was Alexandra Burke and her Lip Booms.
I’m not sure I know of a parent who hopes her child grows up like someone from TOWIE or MIC, and I can’t really explain why the press thinks we’re at all interested in buying into the franchise or why they even promote them. It’s not good to try and convince young women and men that what these people, their agents and the colluding beauty brands stand for are anything approaching role models. MIC is the new Jeremy Kyle, slightly more palatable because it’s posh people. At least Jeremy Kyle, for all the sensationalism deals with very real people with very real issues. Any minute now, TOWIE, MIC and Geordie Shore will be long forgotten when a new breed of reality sets in. We don’t know what it is yet, but you can be sure that there will be a bloody perfume.
Actually, I just heard that Chris Brown is bringing out a fragrance. I think it will be the scented equivalent of owning a Pit Bull.
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24 comments
This post made me laugh so much! Purely because what you’ve written is all true! I have read Binky’s blog and thought to myself that Escentuals would be better off having guest bloggers write something half decent on there instead. I love watching MIC and TOWIE – not because I want to buy into that lifestyle or think the characters are particularly amazing but I think shows like that validate the lives of anyone with a modicum of intelligence for doing what they do (does that make sense?).
Helen xxx
Your right and we to get the daily influx of celebrity this and that press releases and we just junk – we don’t cover it I also think the consumer has wised up to this and I feel as we go down the road of austerity more and more consumers will not want to buy this – they know they are not buying into a “lifestyle “.
I do remember reading that Claire Powell the queen of the side bar of shame in the Mail – makes big ££ at low cost for celebrities during their 5 mins in the spotlight and I am sure it’s big £££ for her with her commission.
What will they do when the bubble bursts
You’re right, I agree with you whole heartedly, but as long as the media sensationalize these reality stars, the more ‘we’ will buy into them.
I’m one of these fools. I spent $10 on Kardashian water and $6 on a Kardashian Kookie (I kid you not). I have never, though, bought a celeb fragrance. I woudn’t dare for your exact reason… they put nothing into them.
I think SJP was actually heavily involved in hers too, but that won’t make me run down to Superdrug to buy it. No siree.
Your point is a good one, but I fear it’s in vain. Now we live in a celeb obsessed, reality saturated world, there is, unfortunately, no escaping it.
Also, one other point. Celebs and their ‘fashion ranges’ is an interesting one. I worked with Very.co.uk for a while and actually saw Fearne’s sketch book of her pieces, all very cute, but most have no input at all.
It’s SO frustrating that there are umpteen amazing designers from LCF, St. Martins and the like that never get a chance of having their own range.
Again though, celebs rule the world.
I so totally agree with you. Ive always been a bit obsessed with celebs and an avid fan of Heat magazine (until they bitched all over my twitter timeline at me) but this latest culture obsession is a step too far even for me. I watch TOWIE, MIC and all that jazz, but I wouldnt for a second want to smell like them. Lashes by Millie Mackintosh for twice the price of Eylure? Jog on. Mark Wright’s scent? Having a laugh.
What frustrates me is the teenagers that are being taken for a ride, parting with their pocket money and truly believing they’re getting a piece of their fave celeb. Realistically its just a licensing company chucking some cash at a C-lister and watching the pounds roll back in.
*Starts clapping* Here here! You put so eloquently what so many people seem to not realize or are too scared to say!
“I once tried to get a quote from a designer about their fragrance; they said that it reminded them of their Caribbean island beach house when in fact the main floral note wasn’t even indigenous to the Caribbean”
That is hilarious, truly had me laughing! This is the best thing I’ve read all week! 🙂
– Erin xo
365mu.blogspot.co.uk – One girl’s attempt at creating 365 different make-up looks in as many days
It’s got the point that I’d rather buy something on it’s own merits rather than have it endorsed by a ‘celebrity’. I long for the days of where it was about the product and longer picture rather than a fast buck.
I really do think they have no say in the products, just how much they going to get paid for sticking their name on it.
Powdered Almond – Love the comment, I do feel like that sometimes. x
@Powdered Almond. That comment is hilarious!
Celebrity or rather ‘celebrity’ products don’t register with me. I will buy something purely based on whether I like it. Though i will actively avoid products from reality stars, they really don’t need the encouragement.
Amazing post! I must say your writing style is amazing. i gripped the whole way through and your arguments were clear and well presented.
I love this line “so why pay for her face on the packaging that goes straight in the bin?” because it is so true! I never knew about this whole endorsement crap until I saw it go on Keeping up with the K’s. They literally endorse everything and that’s why it is blurred out on TV when we are watching it. It’s really unfair, and takes the realness away from it all. Long gone are the days where a celebrity could come out and say I love wearing this mascara, they’d rather be paid to say it.
I always read your blog but rarely comment, will be commenting more from now on xx
The more truthful cynicism about the whole celebrity culture the better. Fantastic that a beauty insider with such a large following tells it like it is.
Where younsay celebs rarely have any imput into the fragrance I disagree slighty because of the JLS “Kiss” Perfume, Im not saying they did everything but I do kjow that they chose the fragranve through personal fave scents and had them blended plus they chose the packaging design and the box it came in, and some of the money actually go to charity wih their one, I know Im only talking about JLS but not every celeb should be considered as “money Hungry” Although I do think Rihanna is as everything she does revolves around it she basically acts like a prostitute for a wage
i followed you because you post DA TROOOOF <3
Brilliant article. I agree with everything you’ve said, 100%. Keep up the great blog……. 🙂
I love your articles! This is the one blog that takes no crap and I love it. No fluffy stuff! I HATE celebrity rubbish. Why dont they endorse something of value, charitable causes, or use your power to make a difference – not make themselves more money!
I love your blog! I hate celebrity endorsed crap!
I wish they’d use their status to make a real difference to the world instead of looking for ways to make a difference to their bank balances.
This is the only blog out there that says it like it is. No fluffy stuff! Thank you.
Love this post and absolute so true! Xx
I don’t understand the whole cult of celebrity, a lot of it started up after the advent of Big Brother and people becoming famous for being famous. These are people with no talent or reason to be famous.
That said, I was given Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker and it was a really nice scent. But I don’t have so much of a problem with her as she has some semblance of talent, albeit in an industry nothing to do with perfume. These MiC, TOWIE and Kardashian people are just bottom feeders from what I can see, preying on people who are silly enough to fall for the crap they are peddling.
Well put. I buy perfume based on how it smells and whether it makes me sneeze, not on whose name is on the label.
Brand licensing is a huge industry that involves everyone but the celebrity!
They sign themselves over to agents to sell their image as the agencies wish, and the first they know of it, is when they turn up at the photo shoot! Even then they may have no idea what they’re being photographed for.
The agents liaise with brand licensing agencies whose job it is to source products and get retailers into contracts to stock said brands.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a good example – brand agents liaising with brand licensing companies who tied up a deal with M&S. She pitches up for the shoot and in return for her % cut creates a story for the magazines and papers. The first she ever saw of the collection was when she put on the knickers for the shoot!
I love this post and particularly your closing line “I think it will be the scented equivalent of owning a Pit Bull.” I nearly spat my tea out reading that!
I hold my hand up I watch Towie, MIC etc – they’re a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine but there is absolutely no way on this earth I would buy anything with any of their names on it nor take beauty advice from any of them. The mere thought of even smelling a Mark Wright perfume makes me gag. I have for years hated these “celebrity” fragrances. To me perfume should be pure luxury, an affordable indulgence into something from the very best designers. It was bad enough when the likes of Britney were bringing out fragrances but now Steps, people from Towie – what’s next an X Factor perfume? Kill me now!
From Binky’s “BBB”:
“I decided to trade MiC for TLC and treat myself to a real beauty treat”
Such lazy, lazy writing (ghost or not)! I get so frustrated by the infiltration of D-list celebs into every single aspect of life these days. It’s so tiresome. x
I’ve never ever bought a celebrity endorsed product for the very reasons outlined in your post. I’m always dumbfounded on seeing anyone swayed into making such purchases. Where would be without the straight talking BBB! x
I was completely with you until the Chris Brown/pitbull comment – I own a loving, bull breed dog and we’re constantly judged and avoided because ‘he’s one of those’.
Please don’t make snarky comments about the height of someone’s bath water, then a poorly judged slander following silly media hype.
Your writing is far better than that bored cliche, especially as a dog lover.
HI Anon.. comments like yours are infuriating. I used the breed Pit Bull because it is not a legal breed in the UK and deliberately distinguished Pit Bull from any other bull type breeds.. You are correct, I am a dog lover and love staffies etc as much as anyone. Pit Bulls are not legal because they are deemed to be dangerous, as I think is Chris Brown near women.
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post, especially as you clearly feel very strongly about my being offended and disappointed.
You make a very slim distinction here, I don’t understand why align ANY breed with Chris Brown.
In my opinion, to deem a creature inherently ‘bad’ or illegal by it’s breed, for someone
who thinks of animals as more then objects, isn’t a million miles from racism.
Even Chris Brown was not born bad – he chose to be.
I’m glad you find my comment infuriating. You can’t denigrate a style of writing or product promotion that’s derivative, empty and blithe about any ramifications in the real world, then also buy into a similarly manfactured sensationalist image/idea which you cannot argue does not encompass these breeds.