Celebrity endorsement....Err- yes please! But which ones?

The PussyCat Dolls


 All entrepeneurs or any genre, up and coming or established with a product to sell/brand to promote will understand the importance of a celebrity endorsement, which in my case is clothing and fashion design.
 Where some fashion designers may use a celebrity as a muse for a particular collection in a bid to gain press coverage and possibily that, that celebrity may endorsement the collection.
 I may not doing myself any favours, as when I create my designs, I am- myself my only muse. I know what the rules say: you should never, as a designer use yourself as your own muse.
Which, of course I totally get- if you create a line, at say the age of 25, based on your style at the time. You effectively will create a market/niche of customers for that.....so what happens, 10 years on, if your style changes drastically. Which inevitably will mean, you would want to design differently, possibly at the risk of eliminating your already established client base.
But hey! Rules are meant to be broken- aren't they? And there are absolutely no guarnatees that when you play by the rules you win the game.
Actually, if I am completely honest, when I design and create anything, for me it must be two things:
1) The dreaded 'C' word: Commerical and wearable- 'Fashion is not just art its business'. It is the only rule of this game I intend to completely abide by! I made 'Dancing Dolls' http://www.dancingdollsuk.com/ a brand that can be appreciated outside of a photoshoot or runway.
Where avant garde and androgynous creations are delicious to look at, they are not always suitable for persons outside of the fashion industry....and neither do I have the money or status to get away with it

2) I have to be comfortable to wear it. I have even twisted and tweaked the basic pattern draft to create my own signagture cut, because as a woman of colour. The standard industry blocks are not suitable for my body type- and many others, in this now culturally diverse society.
Then, if no one likes the collection, at least, each season I will have a whole new wardrobe. I can wear!

Jessie J.

Having said all of this, there are celebrities out that I feel embody the vision of Dancing Dolls and in turn, do wonders for my line. I would gladly dress and re-dress them in a heart beat. They are: Jessie J, Amber Rose, Kimberly Watt (Ex-Pussy cat doll), Melody Thornton (Ex-Pussycat doll) Nicole Scherzinger- hell any of the Pussycat Dolls, Jodie Connor http://www.facebook.com/missjodieconnor?v=photos#!/missjodieconnor, Amelle (Sugar babes) and Nicki Minaj.


Melody Thornton of PussyCat Dolls. No copyright infringement



Amelle Berrabah

 Sooooo, if by any chance, any you fabulous dolls happen to cross this blog- Lol- and would like to wear any of my creations. Don't forget 'Dancing Dolls by Paulinah N. Eboh-Sampson' is the name! Holler!


Amber Rose



Jodie Connor.




 Disclaimer: None of the images used for this blog, belong to myself and are solely displayed for the purposes of idenifying the celebrities in the images No copyrights infringements intended.





Dancing Dolls @ Clothes show live 2010

Image by Myles Noton http://www.mylesnoton.com/

 From the 3rd-8th Dec 2010, Dancing Dolls was featured on the main stage catwalk show @ Clothes show live a the birmingham NEC.
What a wondereful way to finish a fantastic first year for my line! Yeahay!
Okay- so I hear you utter "Well, other designers have achieved huger success and critical acclaim with their debut collection."
 Of course, this is very true, but then unlike most designers, who have most likely studied at the world famous St, Martins college, or graduated with a full degree in fashion or a fashion related subject. I have neiuther.
Neither, am I based in the fashion capital of the UK-London. Which notoriously makes life as a fashion designer ever more difficult.
So, taking all of that into account, whilst also considering that 'Dancing dolls' was never supposed to become my main line, but the sister line to the brand I am dying to one day and ...and God willingly will create. You can say 'Not bad goin!'

The show was awesome! I attended on one of the days and loved it. Sitting up in VIP, so my friend and I were right up close to the stage action.
I sat in anticipation wondering, which of my pieces from the 10 called by the stylist had been selected- if any! Its one thing to have your pieces called by a stylist and another for them to actually make it to the show!
My palms were sweaty from nervousness- "What if, none of my pieces where even used!" I wandered.....and then it happened. Out came the first of my creations. I couldn't help squealing like an over zealous teenager. It was a combination of relief and excitment. (So much for me being a cool, calm fashionista, as I'd intended.) It was the first time, I really felt credible enough to call myself a fashion designer, instead of aspiring.
Three more of my creations followed shortly after. Each piece beautifully styled giving the garments a new, fresh lease of life. It was sooooo refreshing to see my work like that. I couldn't stop saying. "I can't believe it, Chantelle" (Chantelle, is my girlfriend, who I've known form way back and grew up with) and "O my days! I made that - and that..."
Just writing this entry, takes me back to that day and reminds me of the emotions I felt then.
Damn- this girl did good, and this girl is me. I can actually, say I am really proud of myself. Hadn't felt like that for a while, then 2010 came.
All the running around, persistance and hard work is beginning to pay off.
It even looks like I'm going to have even more of a pay off as more of my pieces for Dancing Dolls has been called for the Pandora's Cafe catwalk show @ the Spring fair 2011.
A show which I know is again very prestigious with lots of international buyers of various types. I know, cos I attended Spring Fair 2010 (not to showcase) and got to see the catwalk. Which, too is beautifully styled with clothing that beautifully compliments the accessories, being showcased. This year, my creations will be amongst those clothing. More yeahay!
Yep- I did good and I am going to keep trying to do good. So help me God.

 

As styled and worn at Clothes show live



Stylist- Alexis Knox