Fashion & Beauty

The 10 worst celebrity fashion collaborations

Word on the street is that this spring, Isaac Mizrahi — that flamboyant ’90s fashion designer-turned-TV host who felt up ScarJo — is designing a “collection” for Kleenex.
Yes, Kleenex.
This made us think of all the disastrous, ill-conceived collaborations celebrities have promoted over the past few years.
When it comes to these things, there’s one rule of thumb: If you’re not an Olsen twin, cease and desist.

“Abbey Dawn” by Avril Lavigne

Mark Von Holden/Getty; Kristina Bumphrey/startraksphoto.com
By all existing evidence, Avril Lavigne is a 13-year-old girl, so it only makes sense the she named her label, launched in 2008, after a childhood nickname, “Abbey Dawn.” Glitter, skulls, punk rock! Flop.
Although the collection somehow finagled its way into New York Fashion Week (Kylie Jenner modeled in the spring 2013 runway show), critics were quick to slam the clothes for being even less surprising than the poseur singer herself. Blackbook dubbed it “Abbey Yawn,” adding the attempt was merely “Avril’s reflection on celebrity narcissism.” So much for her happy ending.

Lindsay Lohan at Ungaro

Michael Euler/AP Photo; Dominique Charriau/WireImage
The biggest WTF fashion moment of 2009 — possibly ever — came when Emmauel Ungaro, the venerated French fashion house, appointed a 23-year-old, mid-meltdown LiLo to act as “artistic adviser” under designer Estrella Archs. Needless to say, it was a bigger disaster than “The Canyons.” WWD called the collection — neon leggings, nipple pasties, et al. — “an embarrassment,” online commenters called it much worse, and just a year later the relationship went kaput. Although the whole situation spoke for itself, Lohan was unable to discuss the details of why she left the label. Legal issues, of course.

Kanye West for A.P.C.

Kanye West has fared much worse in other fashion ventures than in his capsule with impossibly cool French label A.P.C., which hit stores and online last July (and sold out soon after). Yeah, $120 for glorified Hanes is steep, but a relative steal considering Saint Laurent’s price tags. The real crime is that people willingly spent good money on basics that bore no trace of the rapper beyond his name on a thin red label, a ploy boasting Minajesty, the new fragrance by Nicki Minaj, as its nearest relative. Do fleece plain hoodies, jeans, and T-shirts really need West’s seal of approval to sell? If so, the problem is well beyond him.

Miley Cyrus and Max Azria

Walmart/AP
Remember 2009 Miley? The “Party in the USA,” pre-ratchet mess Miley? Nostalgia for those peaceful times is so strong it’s tempting to overlook how bad “Miley Cyrus and Max Azria” actually was. But buffalo plaid, Union Jacks, fringe, ruffles, leopard, leggings — all motifs that should have been an easy sell to the middle-American tween set — sold dismally at Walmart until the plug was pulled in 2011.

“Bitten” by Sarah Jessica Parker

Dara Kushner/INFphoto.com; Caitlin Thorne
For years, the myth surrounding Carrie Bradshaw has led some to labor under the delusion that Sarah Jessica Parker is the queen of all things fashion. Those people clearly don’t recall “Bitten,” the line of budget clothing SJP fronted from 2007 until 2009, when its exclusive retailer, Steve & Barry’s, went bankrupt. Granted, the offerings were a tad more tasteful than, say, anything else on this list, but with cheesy mom chinos and generic mall tops, the line delivered as much “bite” as a soggy bowl of oatmeal.

Kardashian Kollection


The Kardashians have invaded our kollective konsciousness in such terrifying ways that an eponymous fashion line seems almost innocuous. Anyhow, the Kollection, sold at Sears since 2011, features everything you’d imagine middle-sis Kim would doodle on a sketchpad if you could imagine her doing anything beyond getting her nails done. But don’t think it stops at keyhole dresses and nude pleather pumps. Oh no. The Kardashians extend their love of leopard and gold to handbags, sunglasses, bath towels and even bedding (insert sex-tape joke).

“Material Girl” by Madonna

Lola Leon, Madonna and Kelly Osbourne at the ‘Material Girl’ photo shoot.WireImage

Because there just weren’t enough thrift shop options for fans of “The Carrie Diaries,” in 2010, Madonna teamed up with daughter Lourdes for a juniors line inspired by the punk style she flaunted while rising to fame in the ’80s. It’s a shame the “materials” are cheap and — as customers have complained — the sizing too small for the latter half of its intended 13 to 25 demographic. Overall, if the clothes had half the stylistic spark Madge worked in her heyday, we’d shut up. But sadly, the offerings leave everything to be desired. Mother-daughter projects are generally adorable, but this one is borderline ugly.

“Dollhouse” by Paris Hilton

Getty

Paris loves fashion. Paris loves Paris. So no one was surprised when, in 2008, the reality star delivered “Dollhouse,” a lineup of skinny jeans, sequin tanks, track suits and tees printed with Warhol-esque versions of Hilton’s face. Kitsch — um, Kitson — picked up the line, since Hilton’s taste for tacky clothes over 10 years strong is single-handedly keeping them in business.

“House of Deréon” by Beyoncé and Tina Knowles

Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images
We all know the name, but despite the Beyonce’s staggering universal popularity, no one can tell you much about the “House of Deréon,” her and mom Tina’s faux-dynastic fashion line, created in 2006. In fact, most of us consider the line an extension of her alter ego (Sasha Fierce loooves her Deréon jeans!), since not even Beyoncé herself wears it. We can tell you that the name derives from Beyoncé’s grandmother, and looks an awful lot like Bebe. But how do customers feel? One online reviewer described it as “tacky, silly, country bootleg couture.” Oof. Sorry, Queen Bey. The people have spoken.

“Heidiwood” by Heidi Montag

Frazier Harrison/Getty Images
For a time, it seemed Heidi Montag was the most with-it of the “Hills” characters (though everyone in LA was a Rhodes scholar next to the lobotomized Audrina). But then Spencer Pratt happened, and we saw her sad, all-too-real decline unravel before our eyes. In 2008, during her second face period, someone told her she could start a fashion line. Lucky, no one save the courageous Fug Girls paid attention to the calamity that ensured. The girls road-tested the line for NYMag, and their findings said it all: “Flimsy, panty-line-molesting dresses at nearly 40 bucks? Sure, that’s a steal compared to Marc Jacobs, but not far enough removed from what you’d pay at the Gap for something that’s at least 100 percent cotton and unlikely to give you a rash.”