Celebrity Culture in American Culture

In our culture, one of the most important and constant influences on everyday, popular fashion is the world of celebrities. Every red carpet show essentially determines the “hot color” of the season, and many of the year’s trends in hairstyles, jewelry, and clothing silhouettes are revealed during these events. As soon as our favorite celebrities walk onto that colorful carpet, our focus is completely dedicated to every little detail of their ensemble; we love to praise all of the gorgeous designs, and sometimes we get even more enjoyment out of critiquing some of the stranger decisions. And although we are all curious about who the designer is, there reaches a point where we almost don’t care. We have associated that outfit with that celebrity, and the designer is often overlooked and ignored.

I have often wondered why so many average people (myself included, of course!) place so much stock in what celebrities wear. There are tons of people who have become famous simply because of what they have to say about red carpet outfits, and even more who have become rich because they can take pictures of celebrities in their everyday attire. I believe that our culture has become so obsessed with celebrities, people who seem to be somehow better than us because of their supposed skills, that we cling to their every style choice and struggle to emulate them to the best of our ability as if this we bring us closer to them. And maybe what we really want is to be closer to being them. Maybe if we can emulate their style, we can somehow begin to live their success and their seemingly glamorous lifestyle.

Our fascination with celebrities has been ever increasing for decades, and there is no sign of it fading any time soon. Honestly, I do not really want this to change; I, too, find great enjoyment in following celebrities’ lives and examining their fashion choices. However, I must try to insist that our culture begins to pay more attention to the individual designers, and not just the celebrities who support them. After all, they are the ones who are truly talented. So next time you see your favorite celebrity on your television screen, instead of getting caught up in how fabulous they look, make sure to take note of the designer who helped them to be that way.