I don't think they are killing emerging talent because although celebrities are some what involved in the design process (to what extent I can't say) there is actually a designer or creative consultant steering the collection, the celebrity is just in the passanger seat smiling for the photos.Even Gwen Stefani, who seems the most involved as evidenced by the type of clothing she is putting out hired a designer for her collection.

I think comparing J.Lo (which is no longer in existance, there is just sweetface and a soon to be launched jr line that won't be called J.Lo) and Sean John to Phillip Lim is like comparing apples to oranges. It would be like comparing Phillip Lim to Tommy Jeans or something.
Phillip Lim's line costs up to 150% more than the retail prices of Sean John. And I'd like to see the volume of J.Lo's line since they went more comtemporary. I bet it's way below the 100 mil mark.
I have worked for celebrity lines, and I have worked for non-celeb lines (at comparable price points) and the non celeb line has done just as much volume as the celeb related one.
It's all a matter of demographics. I love Phillip Lim's line. I have bought pieces from him. But middle america hasn't. The moderate price lines will always do more volume because there is a larger market for them.
(And the industry standard for celebs to get paid to slap their name on a pair of jeans is 5% of all sales)

have to agree with anon. as much as i love phillip lim, his stuff is not the most flattering for real women. models, sure. his stuff is tasteful and lovely from an aesthetic standpoint, but it is not exactly body friendly.

Models and designers are being put out of business by celebrities.

Ugh! I was similarly dismayed by that NY Times article. Paris Hilton or Nicole Ritchie could probably come out with a line of clothing that would make more than Phillip Lim in the first year. It's just SAD!

I really hate to say it, but Lim needs to learn to design for women. Anyone over the age of 27 that has the funds to buy his clothes will not simply because they have a little girl asthetic. They are always interesting, but some of us may be more interested in showcasing our curves rather than hiding them in a muumuu shape.

as much as i love SJP i really hated her new line! yes its affordable but the garments are really ordinary, you wouldn't expect that from Carrie (SATC).

While Lopez does have her higher end line Sweetface, I think if you looked at the numbers the J.Lo line is where Ms. Lopez is making her money...that line is hitting mass market price points that Phillip Lim is just not hitting (disregarding his lim. edition line for Uniqlo). I don't think the J.Lo line and Phillip Lim are on the same level at all as far as quality, design, price, so I think it is tough to compare the two lines. ...they aren't in direct competition with one another. (the same goes for SJP line for Bitten and Kate Moss' line for Top Shop) Therefore, I am not surprised that Mr. Lim isn't making as much money as Jennifer Lopez or Sean Combs. That isn't to say that celebrities aren't having a negative impact on designers. I think the best example of where they are in direct competition and winning is in the fragrance industry. That isn't to say Phillip Lim and others don't have celebrity competition...the celebrity lines like the Olsen twins "Elizabeth & James", "The Row" and "Jovovich-Hawk" are all line I would consider to be in direct competition with, and I would personally rather wear something from Mr. Lim's line.

well isn't it obvious. Lopez earns more the Lim for the same reason a Hollywood dud will draw in more that a Sundance masterpiece. Or how's this instead, for the same reason Britney Spears will outsell Bjork even today.the fact is, was, and will be that in any medium of art, there is what the masses know and what the connoisseurs know. Philip Lim is a commonplace name for real fashiond devotees - almost pedestrian, even. but for the vast majority, popstars with clothing lines are much more accessible

I think S.Combs and JLo rake in so much because of their celebrity lifestyle that so many young kids covert. They know that S. Combs and JLo drive Bentleys, party in VIP rooms etc. Therefore, the closest these kids can be to being like them is to wear what these celebrities "design". That is what, I believe, constitutes exclusivity to the MTV/YOUTUBE/MYSPACE/FACEBOOK generation. It's also somewhat accessible to them financially and highly recognizable to their peers. When these kids wear something that their peers can recognize as JLo/P.Diddy, then their money is not wasted. It's just like the increased demand for LV Speedy that ensued after Jessica Simpson was seen carrying it everywhere and anywhere. So add 'herd mentality' to all the reasons. Wearing something that's not easily identifiable as Sean John/JLO may as well be a waste of money for these group because it doesn't show how "hip" your are. The same can't be said for Phillip Lim and others. Ony you, us (your readers) and other discerning fashion followers out there know the true value of Phillip Lim and others like him. We don't need him to tout a certain lifestyle that we covert in order to buy his stuff and identify with him. I'm sure if Phillip Lim et al were to have a loud presence in the MTV/pop culture, their stuff would also be flying off the shelves. I'd bet that marketing/advertising people have a name for this.This is just my observation.

Hi
I hate (really hate) JLo's clothing line. I like Sarah Jessica Parker but to be honest her Bitten clothing line sucks!!!! (I have a post about Bitten on my blog, if anyone's interested). Kate's line for topshop, may have some cute clothes but no quality...
I'm not against cheap clothes, because you can create a great and unique style by wearing either expensive or cheap clothes. But I understand what you mean with your post and I agree (because great fashion designers can't be compared to those singers/actresses fashion lines). But most people cant afford the designer brands, and with much less money they can have style and a "little bit" of they favourite artists! thats the reality.
Anyway, you have a great website
luv
x0x0
Su
(thestilettoeffect.blogspot.com)
(susanadaily.blogspot.com)

why would anyone wear the stuff
J.Lo makes ? they look ... cheap. And I love Phillip Lim.

Yikes! Who's buying all those celebrity brands?? Well, maybe... after everyone gets a cut of the pie, Sean Combs and J. Lo end up making as "little" as Philip Lim, since I reckon that there are many more people with whom to split the Celebrity Fashion Line Pie?(Teehee, typing "line pie" made me want "key lime pie.")