BRITAIN:Queues are expected today at the two Dublin Topshop stores in St Stephen's Green and the Jervis Centre when the much-hyped debut clothing range of supermodel Kate Moss goes on sale in Ireland and in more than 200 UK stores.
Reputedly paid about £3 million (€4.4 million) for her "collaboration" with the British retailer, Moss's collection was launched last night in its Oxford Street flagship store. Such is the interest that extra security has been planned and customers have been limited to five purchases to prevent the clothes being sold immediately on eBay.
The collection, priced from about €15 for vest tops to more than €200 for a leather jacket, consists of about 50 pieces, many of which, such as skinny jeans, waistcoats and micro shorts, will be familiar from the many photographs of the model in such attire. At a time when global chains are continuing to opt for celebrity endorsement to drive sales, it is hoped this collection will fuel Topshop's owner Philip Green's ambition to establish the brand as a global player in line with Zara and H&M, particularly in the US.
It was the Swedish giant H&M's success with their once-off Karl Lagerfeld collection followed by a similar deal with designer Stella McCartney and most recently Viktor & Rolf that has driven the trend. New Look has engaged singer Lily Allen to front a collection, and Mango the actress Penelope Cruz. However, Madonna's recent H&M collection has not been perceived as a success.
For many who had a preview of the Kate Moss collection, it is something of a disappointment. Moss's ability to forge a different look has made her a style icon who can make everything from rubber boots to goddess dresses fashionable overnight. But the sawn-off denims, skinny jeans and waistcoats in the collection are almost visual cliches.
There are, however, some cute dresses, particularly a graphic black mini, but a voile top has 20 impossible-to-open buttons and another key piece, a bandbox jacket for about €100, is let down by cheap-looking fabric.