Reese Witherspoon

[Hamatron]

What is the demo? Boring rich people? I just visited the site, and it's just shit I could get a Target for under $30. Only at Draper James (which sounds like Mad Men) it costs $100-$500.

[luminosa]

May 7, 2015 13:04:27 GMT -4 Hamatron said:

What is the demo? Boring rich people? I just visited the site, and it's just shit I could get a Target for under $30. Only at Draper James (which sounds like Mad Men) it costs $100-$500.

That is actually a good question. I just assumed she was trying to cater to people like her (or the image she projects) and I am not that in the slightest.

[freelancergirl]

May 7, 2015 11:45:07 GMT -4 canuckcutie said:

I'm guessing that it is motivated by money. She hasn't had a box office hit in quite a while so in guessing it's difficult for her to negotiate big dollar pay checks. She's probably doing ok but the lifestyle of a celeb is expensive to maintain. If she's hiring people to run the site for her then in terms of actual work there isn't much work for her.

Goop's financials were pretty awful were they not? But I imagine there is a lot of stuff you could now try and write off as a business expense if you are selling yourself as a "lifestyle guru".

It's motivated by branding. Reese still commands a good paycheck - millions, and she's branched into producing, which garners her a lot of money too. But by branding herself - if it works - she becomes a product, so to speak, not just an actress, and products are more versatile and have a longer shelf life. They also become household names of a different sort than actresses. Just think of Goop. No one would really be talking about her if she were strictly acting.

So in that sense, yes, in a round-about way, it is about the money. But I think it's more about longevity and branching out.

In some way, I don't blame these actresses for trying on a different (figurative) hat. Many of them ARE bored with their current situation, which is why they transition to producing (something Reese does well) or directing or...lifestyle. I have quite a few industry/actress friends who say that, as they get older, the appeal of the industry wanes. Much like any other job. And then you want to try something new. Whether or not a lifestyle brand is the right and/or annoying tactic is up for debate, but I don't blame them for attempting to have a career outside of acting. I'm in a creative field that many would think is amazing (and it usually is), but sometimes I get the itch to do something new too.

[discoprincess]

This dress looks like something one can find at Ann Taylor (or at LOFT).

[luminosa]

So I followed discoprincess's link and yup. Exactly what I was expecting. The quality of all the clothing looks pretty cheap. Same with the blankets and home goods.

Anyone going to see Hot Pursuit?

[Atreides]

$98 for a horseshoe-shaped paper weight? $14 for a box of six pencils? $38 for a key fob? Who is buying this shit for that much money?

[celerydunk]

These lifestyle sites are the new perfume. Remember back in the day when everyone and their stylist had a perfume out... now its lifestyle branding. I'm not going to bother to click on any of these until Britney Spears' team launches hers.

[ladyboy]

I just want one to be all low rent and real. Not the $48 pencil or the $1700 brandy snifter. I want the $4 cocktail tray. I basically want some celebrity to buy Lilian Vernon and rebrand it with a new name and build a destination website around it.

[chonies]

Yesssss. Lillian Vernon!! I wonder who could pick up the mantle? Amy Sedaris comes to mind.

[Hamatron]

Target kind of does that with it's designer collaborations. Unfortunately, shopping for those items are as dehumanizing and Black Friday as possible.

I think it's funny that celebs are trying so hard to have a lifestyle brand. Most of them are awful.