Celebs Paid to Attend Fashion Shows?

UK designer Nicole Farhi tells the Daily Mail that although she will never pay a celeb to attend any of her shows, many other designers do.

Nicole Farhi has become the first major industry figure to speak out about the practice, calling it ‘abominable’. She said: ‘It is so unprofessional. I have never paid a celebrity and I will never do it. It’s stupid.’ The 65-year-old French-born designer, who lives in north London with her husband, the playwright David Hare, added: ‘What do they show you in the papers after a fashion show? Not the clothes, but the celebrities who are being paid to sit at the show." Farhi believes her comments are likely to see her shunned by fellow designers, but continues, ‘They will all hate me for it. I don’t give a s*** because I think it is abominable.’

I wouldn't worry too much, as her most recent show saw arguably the most influential woman in fashion, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, in the front row.

 Having star presence at London Fashion Week becomes vitally important as the different fashion houses battle it out for the estimated £100million spent on orders during the six days of events. With about 100 shows taking place, designers vie for coverage in the next day’s newspapers. Mulberry saw its show splashed across websites and papers after it enjoyed a celebrity-filled front row including stars from ITV1 drama Downton Abbey. 'I have never paid a celebrity and I will never do it. It’s stupid' Joining them at Mulberry were fellow actors Tom Hiddleston and Michelle Williams and Elizabeth Olsen, and singer Lana Del Rey – who recently inspired a Mulberry bag design. All were unavailable for comment.

 Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label show also drew a host of big names, including Heston Blumenthal. A spokesman for the celebrity chef said: ‘Heston was invited to attend and was not paid.’ Emma Whitehair, a fashion PR who runs White Smoke Communications, said: ‘Absolutely it happens, but it would be professional suicide to mention brands and celebrities involved.Unfortunately the public can’t identify a designer who has a genuine relationship with a celebrity or has someone paid to be in the front row. But it’s fair to say some of the biggest brands will have a ‘talent’ budget. Brands with money need to guarantee coverage and that’s the only sure-fire way of getting it.'

 In the U.S. it is common for celebrities to have their travel, hotels, meals, clothes and make-up paid for by the fashion house in return for their attendance. Recently reputable fashion news website Fashionista claimed singers Rihanna and Beyonce Knowles can get up to £63,000 for an appearance at a catwalk show. Mulberry and Vivienne Westwood were unavailable for comment.