As if the mainstreaming of Edie Sedgwick via Sienna isn't dubious enough, we now read reports from Living With Legends: the Hotel Chelsea Blog of a Diesel Hotel Chelsea themed fashion line. Amongst those implicated are Grace Jones. We wager that Diesel aren't selling Grace's favourite Studio 54 outfit, a pair of Halston disco heels and some glitter gel in her pubic hair.
It seems to me that a label devoting it's attention to Hotel Chelsea is a gesture of self-defeat. The only observation I made of HC dressing that could be said to unite the residents was an aversion to the prominent logoing that so dominates NY dressing and a strongly semiotic edge to what is worn.
It's such a well-worn trail from the fringes to K-Mart, from creative self-packaging to slavish devotion to fashion. This week it seems the Hotel Chelsea people are going to be dragged along that path, willing or not.
If anyone saw this show and can confirm whether they borrowed my NY late-night rubber & fur look you are invited to be in touch.
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