Beyonce is launching a clothing line to be released in 2016, with Sir Philip Green, owner of Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge.
Bey has been working on the new streetwear brand that will include footwear and accessories across dance, fitness and sports categories, sold across Topshop stores and Topshop.com. First announced in 2014, the range will be sold in 20 countries worldwide.
As we all know, streetwear is a rapidly expanding market, if not the dominant trend in fashion today. Even Levi's is expanding its denim designs to include stretchy jeans that can be worn like yoga pants.
While Rihanna has a deal with Puma and Rita Ora has a deal with Adidas, Topshop doesn't have a strong tradition of athletic wear, so it will be interesting to see what they come up with.
Meanwhile, fame is no guarantee of sales. Kanye's outrageously expensive street-wear is still sitting on shelves at upscale fashion sites all over the world. His shoes are highly coveted but his billion dollar sweatshirts and parkas aren't going anywhere.
Remember Beyonce's House of Dereon debacle? Don't get mad, it has to be mentioned whenever we talk about Bey and fashion.
Launched in 2006, the brand was widely panned by reviewers. 'House of Dereon didn’t deserve a spot at fashion week.' 'Ugliest, cheapest-looking clothes I’ve ever seen.' 'House of Dead Wrong.' The brand stumbled on for several dismal years until 2011.
As Popdust has already noted, Beyonce has had little success as a fashion icon despite the adulation she receives by some of the world's most ardent fans. Her style is indistinct and lacks coherence. No one wants to imitate it because there's nothing to latch on to. There's no Beyonce 'look' to shoot for, outside of big blond hair and figure hugging skirts or jeans. When the New York Times dared to point out Bey's failure in the fashion arena, the Beehive went nuts.
But if the emperor is wearing no clothes, or in this case, the Queen is wearing crap, someone has to call it out.
Maybe this time around, Beyonce will finally nail it.
