An Open Letter to Sarah Jessica Parker

May 04, 2007 @ 11:03am

bitten_sjp.03.jpg
Dear Sarah Jessica Parker,

Thank you for your oddly worded manifesto about bloggers, as seen on The Budget Fashionista.

While it's admirable that you want to make clothing for "people all over the country," it's insulting to think that those people who appreciate you and your work don't appreciate great design - the design sadly missing from your collection.

By saying that "there's no criticism a person can make" about your clothing line, you imply that women around the country should somehow feel privileged to wear your line of $7 basics as if they were a second skin. Second skin which we haven't seen you wear, because you're photographed in designer clothes all around New York.

And when you do deign to wear your clothing line, you'll look amazing, because you'll have a hairstylist, a makeup artist, and at least five years with a personal trainer behind you. Don't forget the Manolos - how much were those again?

We don't think you should apologize for your amazing style, your success, or your wardrobe - it's inspired many women and it's amazing.

But please don't pretend that you're "just like us," that every woman in a flyover state is thrilled to wear your line, that this is a charity project instead of a way to keep you visible in American pop culture. Maybe the real problem with design in America isn't the lack of cheap blouses, it's the way mass retailers condescend to their shoppers?

You are right that every woman should "feel good when they go to an interview and they can still pay their utilities and they can still take care of their children or buy a present for a friend."

We just wish your new clothing line supported that idea a little more.

The normal women whom you champion so strongly deserve it.

posted by ashleydc

May 04, 2007 11:32AM

amen

posted by k122n

May 04, 2007 11:33AM

"But please don't pretend that you're "just like us," that every woman in a flyover state is thrilled to wear your line, that this is a charity project instead of a way to keep you visible in American pop culture. Maybe the real problem with design in America isn't the lack of cheap blouses, it's the way mass retailers condescend to their shoppers?"

AMEN!! i was actually involved in a panel for this at an ad agency that was pitching to handle the account (it's not the agency that won it), and this was EXACTLY what all of us felt about the collection and it's pricepoint. it just screams insincere.

posted by allie

May 04, 2007 11:56AM

seeeeeriously, good job faran. maybe carrie bradshaw would wear anything pat field slapped on her, but the women of america, and in fact sjp herself, have better fashion sense than that. and she's basically saying women can't criticize her line because it's cheap? please. i'm wearing a tshirt from wal mart right now, i love it, but they have plenty of ugly clothing too. conversely, if someone walked by me wearing an ugly chanel dress, i'd have every reason to call it out for being ugly. fashion is subjective, no matter what.

posted by Carolyn

May 04, 2007 12:03PM

Are there pics of this line on the web? Couldn't find anything on the Steve & Barry's web site (btw-what is this store? Never heard of it), and I'm curious to see what the hype/criticism is about.

posted by monika

May 04, 2007 12:04PM

TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Her agenda is completely transparent. What a hypocrite.

posted by guest

May 04, 2007 12:06PM

Bitten has a MySpace

http://myspace.com/bittenbysjp

posted by cristal

May 04, 2007 12:08PM

FYI...She is actually wearing the line in the June issue of Glamour.

posted by Chels

May 04, 2007 12:11PM

I thought the main critique of her line was that it wasn't unique. I don't understand how her (somewhat disjointed and ranting) statement is justification for clothes that we all said were just like stores that are already all over the country, full of affordable clothes.

I'm glad SJP appreciates that clothing doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, but it's something those of us without a movie star salary already know. I wish she could show with this collection what those of us who shop at Target already know: that fashion doesn't have to be expensive, too.

posted by Faran

May 04, 2007 12:13PM

It doesn't matter if a magazine photographs her in it - that's basically an ad. She needs to wear it on the street the way we would (except we wouldn't).

posted by Chloe

May 04, 2007 12:32PM

While I agree that the clothes aren't the greatest, I think people forget that styles and trends in New York are different than middle america for example. That's not to say there aren't trendy people there but the clothes have to appeal to everyone and not just the New York/big cities market. I remember when the Proenza Target line came out and people went crazy, yet Target's in other areas were full of the clothes. I am also sure that many people didn't even know who the designers were. We can't expect every line someone famous makes to be to our liking or to fit our lifestyle.

posted by Sempre Libera

May 04, 2007 12:33PM

Well said!

posted by bunchie

May 04, 2007 12:42PM

Yes, different parts of the country have somewhat different ideas of style (dictated largely by the climate, I've found), but the difference is not nearly as pronounced as Chloe makes it out to be. Honestly, there are plenty of people in NYC who don't know Proenza. There are people who are interested in fashion and those who aren't. NYC has a higher concentration of them, sure, but style can be found anywhere.

The question is, is SJP marketing her line to the fashion conscious consumer or the SATC fan? They are not one and the same.

posted by Brittany

May 04, 2007 1:01PM

"Maybe the real problem with design in America isn't the lack of cheap blouses, it's the way mass retailers condescend to their shoppers?"

I completely agree, and it seems as though the "celebrity fashion line" is starting to flounder, as people are more interested in the design and quality, such as with the go:international campaign with Target.

posted by Fauchon Junkie

May 04, 2007 1:09PM

scout report:

Went to the Manhattan Mall "Steve and Barry's University Sportswear" recently out of morbid curiosity.

Their "high fashion stuff" is in the front. It looks like the back Old Navy. mild negative...may they changing corp strategy?

Then I touched the materials. Recoiled in horror. Old Navy is significantl better quality. I don't think the shopworn weathered rough look is intentional in this clothes. It's just default?

I wouldn't put my dog in this stuff. And my dog is goofy crazy 18" mutt with heart the size of Russia. NOT a designer dog.

Then The Boy pointed out the $15 sneakers by some basketball player. Apparently they are a sensation among the young Y chromosome set. They felt like they were made of welded packing peanuts.

posted by canary

May 04, 2007 1:12PM

That "Bitten" MySpace is pretty funny. Quick, look at it before it's taken down!

posted by Jabooty

May 04, 2007 2:32PM

As I read this...I imagine you typing away, with a very wild and angry look in ur eyes, on ur laptop...thanks for being our voice! I couldn't have put it better myself...Bravo Faran!

posted by chloe

May 04, 2007 2:59PM

In response to your question i think SJP is marketing her line to women who want to buy nice affordable clothing. She is not marketing it to fashion conscious consumers because she would have chosen a different store to sell the product (think kate moss and topshop) and would have marketed it differently nor do I think she is marketing it to SATC fans because the clothes do not resemble the looks worn on the show...even if they were similiar replications for the fraction of the price. She obviously expects to profit off of her name and success but what famous person doesn't. How many women will go in and just buy one of the t-shirts because it fits and they like it and they don't know who SJP is? I mostly think people are mad that someone who was associated with a show that crossed fashion boundaries would put out a line that no fashionista would like. I think people missed the point that it's not for fashionista's but for women everywhere.

posted by kat

May 04, 2007 6:07PM

SJP's theory that people want these "really well made, affordable" clothes will be decided by the marketplace.

And it seems the clothes aren't doing well. Her intentions are in the right place, and who cares if the line is at a no name store, but the point is that she has styles no one wants to buy.

She made a mistake. And she is trying to pretend she didn't by bashing anyone that doesn't like her clothes. It is all pretty tranparent.

posted by Em

May 04, 2007 6:54PM

Do these clothes come in plus sizes? If not, then she's entirely missed the boat because we know that half of American women wear a size 14 or larger.

It does my heart good when I see that the Go International designers at Target have cut their styles in XS-XL for tops and sizes 1-15 for bottoms. I probably don't have to mention the fact that it's the bigger sizes that sell out first!

posted by ae

May 04, 2007 7:00PM

I think SJP went in with the best of intentions. Having worked (briefly) for S&B's, they are very enthusiastic about their ideals - getting very cheap clothes out to the masses.

However, I'm sure once she signed the contract and they introduced her to their ridiculously constrictive manufacturing guidelines (the CEO once bragged about how they were able to get raincoats for like 50 cents or something from China and get around the tax that would have raised the cost basis by a dollar by making it out of crappier material! Woo-hoo!) she did the best she could with what was available.

It's very hard to mass produce something at S&B's price points (and they are very staunch about nothing in the store costing over 20 or 25 dollars) and make it of good quality. I commend SJP for her efforts given the circumstance.

posted by Icant

May 04, 2007 7:07PM

I can't believe any of you care about this. It has nothing to do with actual fashion or style. Moreover, I can't believe Faran gets paid for this. As I personally witnessed time and again under the tents, she has no fashion or style. I only stay anonymous for Liz's sake.

posted by guest

May 04, 2007 7:39PM

I think you're missing the point when you complain about SJP not wearing the clothes in everyday life--this is totally irrelevant. SJP is saying that the clothes are made for people who don't have tons of money or connections, i.e. not her. She's not knocking designer clothes, but stating the reality that some people can afford it, like her, and others can't. This line is for the latter and not the former.

posted by Faran

May 04, 2007 8:00PM

Not missing the point at all - it's a little heretical for a style icon to say "sophisticated style is for me, because I'm special, but you real women out there get crap."

The idea that she created for the "have nots" with this collection, and not from a deeper sense of design, shows us two things:

1. She doesn't think that all women deserve access to great style.

2. She's not a very smart business woman.

I think the line is vastly insulting to all of her fans, even more insulting than the amusing anonymous comment about my apparently terrible taste. Huh, who knew ;)

posted by guest

May 04, 2007 10:07PM

Have you ever seen pics of SJP on the street in NYC? She doen't do high fashion off the red carpet much. She dresses very casual in items that I suppose could be designer labels but certainly look like things I can get from Old Navy.

Yeah, it's a bit of a branding of SJP with the clothing line and perfume but a 40+ yr-old actress has to think about other options cuz you're nearly dead to Hollywood at that age.

posted by ANP

May 04, 2007 10:09PM

SJP is from Ohio.

posted by Fashion Noire

May 04, 2007 10:16PM

ae - I understand what you're saying, but at the same time you're proving how insincere she is. If her true agenda was to create a line that was fashion forward, good quality and affordable, she should've done her research before joining forces with S&B. Image is EVERYTHING in her business, so why risk her image by collaborating with just any ol' company? That's just bad business sense, and her lashing out at her target demographic hurts her even more.

posted by casey

May 05, 2007 4:24AM

Well said Faran.

I iwsh someone really would do a charity project-- like make stylish clothes that are flattering and super easy to put toghether (like, say, paint by numbers) and sell it at very very low margins (if any)... Sooo many women (and men!) of America are deeply lacking in the wardrobe department and could really use the help and the confidence boost.

posted by SNC

May 05, 2007 8:14AM

I think it is great that Faran and The Budget Fashionista have called SJP on this. I love her, but this line is terrible. In the Glamour shoot she did for this month's issue she coupled one (two at most) of her items with Oscar de la Renta, Louboutins and other big$ designers. This made her whole "style for the "real" women" mantra even more insulting.

I'm sure she has good intentions, but her response to the bloggers and the interviews she's been giving on the line only prove how out of touch she really is.

PS Casey your idea is genius.

posted by Mala

May 05, 2007 7:18PM

The market has decided, so even this and the Fashionista's response to SJP is meaningless blather. I never even heard of S&B, but as soon as I heard that SJP's stuff, in her words, would be priced at under $25, I knew it would be cheap stuff. Too bad she got involved, but...you win some, you lose some.

posted by anothericant

May 07, 2007 9:17AM

I second icant. F's a social climber with no class at all.

Run for the hills people! This is utter shlock!

That nonwithstanding, if this line sucks, then it sucks.

posted by anon

May 08, 2007 7:47PM

I used to be a fan of SJP, but I am pretty sick of her at this point. She looked ridiculous on SATC most of the time.

Anyhow, I think her clothing line is hypocritical for several reasons. As already pointed out, SJP would never be caught dead wearing any of the S&B stuff in everyday life. Secondly, she is saying that fashion shouldn't be a luxury. However, most probably S&B are able to produce these extremely inexpensive items because they have their laborers (probably children) working in horrible and unfair conditions overseas. Since S&B have retail stores they don't have to adhere to the vendor guidelines of places like Target. To me, it seems like they are sending a contradictory message to the public.

posted by teresa

May 16, 2007 8:45PM

SJP has style that no one can buy...most people do not spend alot on clothing, so I think it is a realistic line for the masses...I believe it is a false economy NOT to spend alot of money on good quality pieces but that does not mean that one cannot find clothing a cheap prices that look good.
When you buy Manolos or Choos you are paying for fine craftmanship...I can tell a 'fake' from 100 yards away.
From what I see in Glamour Magazine the peieces are well made (I design and sew clothes) I am wondering how the heck they can make the jacket she is wearing for $15.!!!!

posted by gigi

May 19, 2007 1:11AM

I saw her stuff on oprah and then looked at the s&b website. some of the stuff looks really classy and nice. i'm excited to go and see the stuff. other stuff looks like it came from walmart. but isn't that what shopping is all about...hunting around for that good deal...

posted by ck

Jun 07, 2007 11:25PM

Went to see the stuff today, very disapointed. Looks worse than stuff at Walmart. Went up the mall to Fashion Bug, had pretty, well made inexpensive clothes that fit well. The SJP stuff was not something I would wear. You have to be a size 4 to even be able to pull it off. She could have done better. The only think I liked was some of the costume jewelry and one purse.

posted by loveandhateit

Jun 08, 2007 10:32PM

I just spend a lot of $$ buying her stuff. BUT I haven't bought myself clothes in over a year and needed to rehaul my wardrobe anyway. When I saw the clothes in the store I thought "great, I can get a bunch of basics real cheap". I have to say the quality is really good for the price you pay. But stylish, they are not.