Kim Kardashian - Acceptance In The Fashion Industry

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Whether it be from gaggles of idolizing fans on Spring Street, or from celebrity-bashers on TV, chances are you're all too familiar with the Kardashian Klan. At the center of the world’s most over-sharing, intrusive set of siblings, Kim is by far the most controversial. And now, thanks to New York Magazine’s fashion issue, we’re invited to (once again) get the discussion started. As author Benjamin Wallace questions her merit in the industry, the likes of her $60 million e-tail venture, ShoeDazzle, proves fast fashion, at least, has faith in her.

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In the issue, Kim speaks highly of her current beau (Kanye West for those of you living under a rock) and their collaborative relationship. She divulges “If I have a design meeting, or he has one, we come back and talk about how our meetings went. It’s cool, cause you can definitely get more in-depth with someone who actually knows what you’re talking about…When this whole life is done, and it’s just the two of us sitting somewhere when we’re 80, you want to have things to talk about that you have in common. I think that’s something maybe I didn’t value as highly as a quality I cared about in someone.” Suggesting, it seems, that she will a) be married to West and b) that their sartorial ambitions span a couple of decades.

Love her or hate her, she’s a conversation starter and undisputedly a fashion-industry success story. Her "career" already boasts a string of boutiques, a handful of clothing lines in national department stores (set to go global), a plethora of perfume and nail polish collections, and a museum's worth of magazine covers... all from the seed of a sex tape. Though personal style may be subjective, designing for a broad market requires business insight and thoughtful creativity, non? So, question is: Is Kardashian’s involvement in fashion just a mindless money maker? According to on exec at New York Mag, yes. “I think she sees fashion as another means for making money. I don’t think she’s ever going to want to go to a fashion show for her love of clothes. She’s going to want to get paid for going to that show.” What would Kim need to do to gain acceptance? “Quit all her other jobs.” Unlikely, but we're sure we'll find out, willingly or unwillingly, every step of the way.
(The Cut, New York Magazine)