Did You Hear The One About Kate Moss?
21 09 2006Who said cocaine is bad for your career? Not, it appears, if you are Teflon girl Kate Moss.
Less than 12 months after revealing pictures of Kate Moss allegedly snorting cocaine were sensationally reported in the press in September 2005, resulting in the loss of several major modelling contracts – Kate is back. Along with billionaire Sir Peter Phillips, Kate, known to be a style icon, is now creating a new fashion range for Topshop, one of the UK’s biggest and most successful fashion retailers.
Not only is she back, her profile has reached even dizzier heights than before, with her annual income estimated to have risen to about 30 Million uk pounds. More than enough for several lines. Fashion lines. What else?
Now, you might ask, how is this possible? Where are all those bleating, sorry, hypocritical, sorry big fashion names that hastily dropped Kate on the cocaine allegations protesting (albeit reluctantly) that having a coke-head modelling for them was bad for business because it might send the wrong message? Well, I’d guess that they are all in line with blank cheque books waiting patiently to sign her up (again) for, oh, probably around double her usual asking price. But if, perchance I am wrong, plenty of others are lined up. Ms Moss isn’t going to run out of work anytime soon.
By the way Chanel and Burberry were two fashion houses who said, according to reports, that they would no longer be working with Kate Moss. Burberry, according to reports in 2005 said that it was to end its association with the model following the cocaine allegations. Considering Burberry was one of the first to say “how high?” when Ms Moss said “jump” hypocritical doesn’t really come close.
According to the Business section on BBC News Ms Moss is currently featured in at least 15 major campaigns for clients, including Rimmel, Agent Provocateur, Virgin Mobile, Dior, Luis Vuitton, Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney, Bulgari, Chanel, Nikon, Versace, Calvin Klein Jeans and Burberry.
Now that’s a coup that must make even Madonna shake her head and wonder where she went wrong. Probably just by being Madonna, but that’s a whole other story and we won’t go there.
As a recovery stage from drug use allegations the Topshop deal certainly takes some beating. Far more serious for some, however, might be the the fact that Kate Moss is credited with sparking the return of the skinny jean, mini dresses and hot pants. If this particular allegation is true, resign yourself to them being around for a long, long time.
Despite all her “wrongs”,she is still one of the most beautiful women on earth and she’ll always have work.There’s no doubt in that.And everything looks amazing on her.
The cocaine thing was just a scream :”Hey you fuckers!I am still here!”
I guess Kate is back…although she’s never been gone.
@Carol - I think she’d never been gone. If she can bounce back after all that I say go Girl! She does what she does extremely well, so more power to her.
I thought the whole reaction to the cocaine thing was hysterical - because of how huge the hypocrisy was - from the press, right up to the fashion houses. Like they didn’t know it goes on all the time…yeah, right.
It is hard for every designer out there to turn their heads away from her.
She’s expensive and wild but she’s worth every penny and many pennies have been made on her back.
In my opinion the reaction wasn’t so hysterical because we can’t just accept the cocaine as becoming a part of our media,of our fashion…
Just because we know it it doesn’t mean we have to indulge it.No matter who it is.
In the moment we accept that then there’ll be cocaine lines on every table on celebrity parties or on MTV’s TRL or whatever the name , shown on tv and the kids will think is cool.
Consider the press sometimes as being the big brother or that type of mother who’ll kick your butt every time you go wrong.
I wonder how much of it is a case of tough old Kate fighting back against the meanies in the media, and how much of her instant renaissance is simply down to having the cash - and the savvy - to hire a really scorching hot publicity team.
A good enough publicity team can put a positive spin on anything. I doubt we’ll see Gary Glitter doing adverts for Toys R Us or anything daft like that, but it seems to me that the old adage about no publicity being bad publicity is never more true than today.
@Carol - I would never condone drug taking, and don’t think we should. Doesn’t matter who it is. Agree with you there. But the reason I feel the reaction by the fashion houses, and to some extent the media was so hysterical and hypocritical is that they were condoning it - by simply turning a blind eye to the fact that it happens and has been happening for a long time. Kate Moss taking cocaine wasn’t really the issue. Otherwise, they’d have dropped her before the story became headlines. There is no way I will believe that was her first time, nor that those she modelled for and worked with never knew about her habit. Kate Moss being SEEN taking cocaine and hitting the headlines is/was, however a VERY big issue.They are two different things and there lies the hypocrisy.
And, even if we generously give them the benefit of the doubt, the fact that they signed her back on almost immediately makes a nonsense of their supposed shock and horror, makes them bigger hypocrites, and she knows it. Btw if I remember rightly, I think the photos were shopped to the press by a “friend” of Kate’s rather than the press doing any original sleuth legwork. Or perhaps that was part of the sleuthing…
As for cocaine lines at every MTV celebrity party… you’re joking right? - You mean it doesn’t already happen??!
@Gary - Interesting. I would agree it is probably part of it. (Although she probably sacked whoever her PR team was during her “troubles.” If she had one then they were useless at stopping the press trying to bury her.
I think it is a lot to do with having the money and savvy to hire a good legal team though. Don’t forget that (in spite of the photos) the allegations were eventually dismissed. Which means the prosecution could not make their case that she was guilty. And to her credit, she did admit she had a problem and went into rehab - although must admit to me it seemed really quick.
I personally think that she is too much in demand by fashion houses for it to be solely the work of a publicity team, however good they are, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are NOW turning up the volume.
She sells clothes, does it well enough to command almost whatever she wants, and makes money for them.
As for Gary Glitter - you’re right, no Toys R Us ads for him - but he’d already used his “Get Out of Jail Free” card with all the computer stuff