Who: Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mama and the woman behind her “Barbie in Vegas” look launches a fashion line called Miss Tina for “Forgotten” women ages 30-50 on the Home Shopping Network.
What the fashion heads say: WWD—”....I love the fact that the sizes go all the way up [2 to 24],” (Tina) Knowles said. “There’s a forgotten woman who wants a pencil skirt, too, or a blouse that’s a little lower cut. Beyoncé has backup singers who are full-figured women. Being a woman over 50, I try to think about the things I have going for me and the things I want to hide, like my arms. I’m giving them options with shrugs. I’ve been a stylist for so many years, I know how to accentuate the positive.”
What I say: I’m all for offering more options to the “grown and sexy” fashionista, but Mrs. Knowles has a reputation for going a bit over the top with her designs, with a tendency for a more gaudy than fashionable look. Plus the price points are high- from $39 for a t-shirt, $250 for a suede hobo, $150 for a pair of boots.
Also while we can appreciate the nod to sizing (sizes 2-24) and to age, the philanthropic spin that is being put on this and other celebrity backed lines is a bit condescending . Like Sarah Jessica Parker and the Bitten line, it makes business sense to target your line to a wide ranges of sizes. However, I can see Mrs. Knowles actually wearing some of the clothes from her HSN line on the red carpet and for that, I’m totally willing to give it a try.
Turn in to HSN on August 15th to learn more.
Previous entry:
Daily Deal: Little Black Dress Seeks Thrifty Girl for Fun, Possibly More >>
Next entry:
<< Fashion Advice: Conservative Fashion Tips for Plus Size Student
Comments
What “philanthropic spin”? I don’t see that in either the Bitten lines or this one. Catering to a range of sizes is a (smart) business decision, yes, but it has nothing to do with charity.
The Philanthropic spin is that these celebrities are doing us all a BIG favor by creating lines in a range of sizes or in a price range that most women can afford.
What it does do is make excellent business sense and I give them crazy props for that. But don’t tell me it’s because you’re doing good- like broke and/or plus size women are charity cases…
P.s. I love Tina Knowles.. She’s one hot mama…
Does this mean we can look forward to pushy stage-mom clothing lines from Dina Lohan and Lynne Spears next? Enough already! Beyonce herself is far over-exposed as it is—now we have to hear from her Mom, too? OY.
I will definitely check this out. Mama Tina has crazy style. Yes she is flashy but I appreciate the fact that she tries to keep it sexy. But you should have known that the prices was going to be high...House of Dereon is outlandish.
Hey, cool. I like some of her “House of Dereon” stuff. I bought this super sexy bag from her with a lot of embroydery. It wasn’t flashy at all. Quite stylish actually, it was a very nice creamy dark blue. It’s really original and goes with anything, plus it’s a definite eye catcher. I’m not a fan of Beyonce, I think she’s pretty overrated, but some of the clothes are nice.
I’d love to see more of the line if you can get any images because I don’t get HSN in Kuwait.
Does anyone know about the shirt Beyonce’s wearing? The shirt...who’s the designer?
for 39 bucks for a top I could get a mid level designer top on clearance at loehmanns or maybe even more. p-shaw… as if I would ever buy it
Tina Knowles is a beautiful woman, isn’t she?
Doesn’t she design for the House of Dereon too?
I’d be interested to browse the new line for something stylish for my mom.