2005年NPR美国国家公共电台三月-Why Buy Fashion from Celebrities?

Celebrities 1 looking for income beyond record contracts, movie deals and commercial endorsements 2, often start their own fashion lines. Rock musicians, actors and sports stars have all thrown their hats into the ring. But commentator 3 Rosecrans Baldwin says he's not sure he'll be expanding his wardrobe any time soon.

In the bowels 4 of Los Angeles must exist a secret bunker and inside is a small, sleek 5, white computer that each week prints out a list of rules for all celebrities to follow if they want to remain famous. This week , Rule Number One: be thin. Rule Number Two: If you can't be thin, try star in a reality TV show about trying to lose weight. And Rule Number Three: Start your own fashion company. Comedian 6 Steve Harvy sells suits. Boy George with a line called "B-Rude" has clothes for boys and girls and those in bewteen. Rap King Shan Puffy Corns is perhaps the best known example of the celebrity-turned garment mogul.In 2003 ,his fashion company Shan Jiang made 300 million dollars.And at the Academy Awards this year, he not only wore a tuxedo 8 of his own design, he also bragged 9 at the host Christ Rock with rocking Shan Jiang too.I don't own any Shan Jiang clothing.I have seen a few Shan Jiang's suits and felt temptation.They look nice,well-made and attractively cut.So who knows, maybe some day I'll be famous too .And over martinis one night in the Hamptons, Puffy will pass me a cigar, light it with a 24-carat blowtorch and ask me to wear one of his tuxes too. Because for me and presumably for many people who pick up an *（某商标名） occasionally and feel guilty for days, the question is kind of obvious."Why would we buy these people's clothes?"We know they won't design the items themsleves,so why should we expect their shirts to be any nicer than what's at the Gap?"Anyone knows celebrities don't dress themselves.They have stylists,and assistants and make-up consultants 10.They even get free clothes from real fashion designers.Of course it's not just clothes being branded with notable names.Jessica Simpson has created a line of beauty products.David and Victorial Beckham will soon have their own fragrances 11.A few weeks ago , my wife and I attended the lunch party for Paris Hilton's new perfume.It was held at Duvet,a club in Manhattan, where instead of providing stools and boots for its customers,there were mattresses 12 and private group bedrooms. That's right. Paris Hilton,a young woman who became famous for an X-rated sex tape ,hosted a major business event in a room full of beds. After a few hours, I am sad to say I left without seeing Paris,though I did get to smell her perfume. We normal people don't often get to meet our favorite celebrities. So when a famous person sells his own product, with his own star studded name on the box, it is our chance to finally bring him into our home,really get to know him.In the case of Puff 7 Daddy and his well- tailored suits,I take him to be a sharp guy,a person of good character.In the case of Ms Hilton,if her perfume is anything to go by,she plainly stinks 13.

Rosecrans Baldwin is co-editor and publisher of the Morning News.org.