Fashion News Alert: Whoopi’s Transgender Model Reality Show, Michael Kors’ Bag Returns, and D&G Rejects ‘See Now, Buy Now’

On Monday, it was announced that Whoopi Goldberg will executive produce a reality show about a transgender modeling agency to premiere on the Oxygen network in the fall. “Strut” will center on transgender models from Slay Model Management—the first exclusively transgender modeling agency—as they attempt to forge a path for themselves in the fashion industry.

“Strut follows a group of inspiring and resilient trailblazers who are working to change the modeling industry, and the world around them, by simply being true to themselves,” Rod Aissa, executive vice president of original programming and development at Oxygen Media, said in a statement. “These individuals will empower viewers as they live their lives fully and unapologetically, despite facing many obstacles throughout their journey,” in a recent eonline.com article.

This groundbreaking reality television show follows on the heels of the successful modeling career of Carmen Carrera, a former contestant on “Rupaul’s Drag Race” who later transitioned to a transgender woman. Carmen Carrera is signed to Elite Model Management.

‘See now, buy now’ no way

Stefano Dolce and Dominico Gabbana (D&G) have always been very opinionated. However, their opinions about the new fashion business model ‘See Now, Buy Now’ has never been expressed more strongly than when they addressed the British media during London’s Vogue Festival on Sunday.

“Designers continue to work on a collection, and to change details, up to the last minute before the show. With ‘see now, buy now’, we would not be able to do this. A show remains a promotional event, in which we can excite the audience,” explained Stefano Gabbana, while Domenico Dolce added: “If you adopt a ‘see now, buy now’ approach, you have to design clothes five months in advance. There is no creativity any longer, only trade.”

While designers such as Alexander Wang, Mara Hoffman, Monique Lhuillier, and other American ready-to-wear designers are adopting this new retail business model, Dolce & Gabbana are adding their voice to a growing number of European designers who feel that the ‘See Now, Buy’ business model would be anathema to their creative process.

Bag return

Nordstrom’s has dropped Michael Kors’ handbags from the majority of its stores. The reason for the discontinuation was an overwhelming amount of returns.

“We heard from a few managers that more stores would be phasing the brand out by the end of the year because of waning interest from customers, as well as Macy’s constant discounting of Kors’ product,” wrote analysts from Wedbush, a financial services company. Other sources contend that the discontinuation is due to a bad craftsmanship.

Some stores have replaced Michael Kors’ bags with handbags from Kate Spade and Coach, while other major department store retailers are shrinking their handbag departments.

“Although the move will have some sales implications for Michael Kors, we feel the bigger takeaway is that the brand equity continues to wane and it will be difficult to maintain an aspirational image without Nordstrom,” the Wedbush wrote.

—William S. Gooch