The curse of the celebrity clothing range: As Rihanna’s Fenty is put on hold, Femail reveals how even Sarah Jessica Parker and Beyonce couldn’t wow the fashion world (and it’s no wonder with these dubious offerings!)

• Yesterday LVMH and Rihanna put her Paris-based fashion line Fenty ‘on hold’ 
• R&B singer, 32, and LVMH launched the brand in May 2019 and is said to be ‘sad’
• Dozens of celebs have branched out into clothing design with varying success
• FEMAIL looks at lines by other A-listers which failed to woo the fashion world

Launching a clothing label has become a common side hustle for many celebrities – but being a big name in showbiz isn’t always a ticket to success in the fashion game.

Yesterday Louis Vuitton owner LVMH and music star Rihanna agreed to put her Paris-based fashion line Fenty ‘on hold’ less than two years after its launch. 

The R&B singer, 32, and LVMH launched the brand in May 2019 and she is said to be ‘sad’ at the decision. Her popular Savage X Fenty lingerie line and cosmetics lines Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin are set to continue. 

The Fenty line was the first time a black woman had headed a luxury fashion house for LVMH. But the clothes were overly pricey for much of Rihanna’s broad fan base, with a padded denim jacket priced at £680 and a very short denim corset shirtdress costing £585. 

Rihanna poses in a pop-up store to present her first collection with LVMH for the new label, Fenty in Paris in 2019; Louis Vuitton owner LVMH and the singer have agreed to suspend her fashion line Fenty less than two years after its launch it was announced Wednesday 

Dozens of celebrities have branched out into clothing design over the years, with some enjoying greater success than others. 

Here FEMAIL looks at the somewhat dubious offerings from other A-listers which failed to woo the fashion world.

Jennifer Lopez – Sweetface

J-Lo is certainly a triple-threat when it comes to singing, acting and dancing, but her dalliance with the fashion industry has generated mixed success.

She launched her first clothing and accessory line, J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, in April 2001, designed to cater to women of all shapes – in particular the ‘voluptuous woman’ she felt was often neglected.

In 2003, she debuted its sister label Sweetface – a marked change from its predecessor, described by Andy Hilfiger as a ‘more intellectual, more inspirational collection’ and ‘less sporty, more suede’.

J-Lo is certainly a triple-threat when it comes to singing, acting and dancing, but her dalliance with the fashion industry has generated mixed success (pictured in 2006 at the Sweetface Show at Idustria in New York)

In 2003, J-Lo launched Sweetface – a marked change from its predecessor, described by Andy Hilfiger as a ‘more intellectual, more inspirational collection’ and ‘less sporty, more suede’

The Sweetface Fall 2005 fashion show – J-Lo’s first-ever runway production – was hailed a great success

Her clothing lines and two fragrances generated around £215 million in revenue throughout 2004, which made her the 19th richest person under 40.

The Sweetface Fall 2005 fashion show – J-Lo’s first-ever runway production – was hailed a success, with Naomi Campbell modelling one of her outfits.

But J-Lo halted production following the spring 2009 collection. The company said in a statement: ‘In light of new company strategies, we have decided to put the Sweetface line on hiatus while we prepare to reintroduce the brand in the near future with new messaging points and an entirely new fashion point of view.’

It’s yet to re-emerge. The original JLO line stopped production in the US in 2007.

Sarah Jessica Parker – Bitten  

Following her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, it felt right that SJP would launch her own fashion line.

But the garments from her first venture, Bitten, were anything but the glamorous, flambouyant style you might have expected given the actress’ style credentials and her SATC persona.

Arguably the clothes – launched in 2007 exclusively at the now defunct Steve & Barry’s stores – were affordable ‘mum-chic’, with items and accessories under £15.

The garments from SJP’s first venture, Bitten, were anything but the glamorous, flambouyant style you might have expected given the actress’ style credentials and her SATC persona

The novelty – and its affordability – made it an initial success, but it sparked complaints about the quality of the garments and their fit, with BeautyRiot.com describing Bitten as one of the worst celebrity fashion lines produced

The goal was to offer women ‘simple, well made clothing that they could be proud of’, and SJP advertised them with slogans ranging from: ‘Shine brightly, spend lightly,’ to ‘fashion is not a luxury’. 

Its style was basic, with printed hoodies, simple dresses, lingerie, and accessories in sizes ranging from 2 to 22.

The novelty – and its affordability – made it an initial success, but complaints about the quality of the garments and their fit arose among fashionistas, with BeautyRiot.com describing Bitten as one of the worst celebrity fashion lines ever produced.

When the American discount clothing chain Steve & Barry’s filed for bankruptcy in 2008, Bitten also bit the dust.

SJP went on to launch an eponymous luxury shoe and handbag brand in 2014, and in April 2018 she partnered with Gilt to launch a ready-to-wear bridal collection for modern, non-traditional brides.

Mandy Moore – Mblem  

Singer-actress Mandy Moore launched her contemporary Mblem line in 2005, with aim of catering for taller women in particular.

It began primarily as knitwear but expanded into a line of dresses, tunics and tops in 2007 and was sold at the likes of Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Macy’s.

Singer-actress Mandy Moore launched her contemporary Mblem line in 2005, with aim of catering especially for taller women

Unfortunately the brand ultimately flopped and folded in 2009, with Mandy shifting her focus back to her music.

But the fashion world may not have seen the back of her; she told WWD at the time: ‘I love the fashion world. I’m fascinated by it. I’m humbled by it. 

‘If I were to dip my toe back in there, it would have to be the right situation… a great partnership that could represent a true reflection of me and my ideas and you know that wasn’t happening. So next go round, that needs to be top of the list.’

Heidi Montag – Heidiwood

The Hills’ Heidi launched Heidiwood, sold exclusively at Anchor Blue, in 2008, with the range aimed at girls ages 16-21.

It featured pieces (often short and skimpy) that could be ‘dressed up for a night on the town’ or dressed down ‘for an afternoon at the mall’.

The Hills star Heidi Montag launched Heidiwood, sold exclusively at Anchor Blue, in 2008 (pictured dressed in items from it)

The range was aimed at girls ages 16-21 and featured pieces that could be ‘dressed up for a night on the town’ or dressed down ‘for an afternoon at the mall’

It was inspired by the reality TV star’s personal style and included bright coloured crop tops, seriously cheeky shorts, mini dresses and a ‘signature’ zebra tie-back top. 

It was cheap; prices ranged from £7 to £43, but it had limited appeal. A writer at The Cut who once tried on the garments remarked ‘no self-respecting grown woman should allow herself to be seen in these… flimsy, panty-line-molesting dresses.’

Following its runway show, the line lasted a year before Anchor Blue pulled the plug. 

Beyonce Knowles – House of Dereon

Prior to launching her athleisure Adidas x Ivy Park range in 2016, Beyonce teamed up with her mother Tina Knowles and created House of Dereon in 2006.

Carrying the strapline ‘where the sidewalk and catwalk meet’, the line was largely casual wear including embroidered hooded sweatshirts and trousers, blended with hip hop influences and ultra-feminine flourishes, such as embroidery and ruffles.

Prior to launching her athlesiure Adidas x Ivy Park range in 2016, Beyonce teamed up with her mother Tina Knowles and created House of Dereon in 2006 (pictured at the House of Dereon launch at Selfridges, London, in September 2011)

Models on the catwalk during the House of Dereon launch at Selfridges, London in September 2011

It was introduced on The Oprah Winfrey Show and featured on The Tyra Banks Show, and made its UK debut at Selfridges during London Fashion Week.

It attracted controversy in May 2008 when adverts for its Dereon Girls Collection showed seven-year-olds in full make-up and high heels. Some critics accused the brand of oversexualising young girls. 

While it enjoyed glamorous catwalk shows, House of Dereon wasn’t a sell-out hit and went into hiatus following a rebranding announcement in 2012 and has never been seen again. 

Lindsay Lohan – 6126

In 2008, the Mean Girls actress launched a clothing line in collaboration with Kristi Kaylor called 6126, specialising in leggings. The name of the line represents the birth date of Marilyn Monroe; June 1, 1926.

The leggings had their own separate lines of styles under names like Lust, Fame, and Star, and were sold at the likes of Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and D-A-S-H, the Kardashians’ boutique, for the same price as a pair of designer jeans. 

In 2008, Lohan launched a clothing line in collaboration with Kristi Kaylor called 6126, specialising in leggings (pictured). The name of the line represents the birth date of Marilyn Monroe; June 1, 1926

The line went on to expand into a full clothing collection in May 2010, including dresses, leather jacks, coats, miniskirts, corsets and blouses.

The brand fizzled out the following year, when photographer Scott Nathan sued and prevailed over 6126’s parent company after being promised a one per cent interest in the clothing line for photographing Lohan in the leggings.

With Lohan in rehab, a settlement was reached by her lawyers and business partners on her behalf.  

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