So Lana Del Rey is going to join the illustrious ranks of women who have handbags named after them, with today's announcement that for AW12 Mulberry have created a new bag called the Del Rey. Now I am not one of Del Rey's detractors, maybe she is authentic, maybe she is more manufactured than the Spice Girls - who cares. Her songs are catchy (in the interest of full disclosure, I'm listening to her album as I write this), her look is clearly influential with everyone from British Vogue, to Karl Largerfeld talking about her, but a bag named after her already... really?!
It was mid last year that the internet starting buzzing with talk of a "new voice". I suppose it was inevitable after the untimely death of Amy Winehouse that the media would look for a new female to fit into the box earmarked Retro and Controversial. The backlash began as quickly as the hype had started and by the time Del Rey released Video Games almost everyone in the Western world had already heard it and formed an opinion on it.
As I have already said, I like her but even I'm taken back with how quickly my industry has embraced her. Del Rey featured on the cover of British Vogue's March issue - one of the two biggest issues of the year, Mulberry have named a handbag after her. She's yet to score a big ad campaign, but that is surely in the near future with Mulberry being a front runner and Prada the fan favourite.
In less than a year, Lana Del Rey has gone from internet whisper to Vogue cover star. So where from here? I hope she tips the odds, makes good catchy albums that resonate and become summer soundtracks but I fear that we are setting her up for ultimate failure. But for the fashion houses, she will continue to be a commercial success - the Del Rey bag (below) is lovely, a vintage shape, made with soft leather, even I am contemplating buying it (just need to find a spare £900). I only worry that the bag's success will be longer lasting the girl who inspired it.
Disclaimer: Images do not belong to me.
