Champagne Supernovas: Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and the 90s Renegades Who Remade Fashion

“For anyone who has been living under a rock and never read anything about any of these fashion personalities, Champagne Supernovas can prove to be a reasonable primer if not taken too seriously as a primary source.”

Here is my issue: One must always consider the source. At issue is Ms. Callahan, the writer, whose credentials seem a bit short on fashion knowledge and fashion history and long on other topics like local and national politics for the New York Post. To consider her fashion credentials as the basis for her expertise on the subjects in the title would be akin to reading the Financial Times in search of the latest news on Kim Kardashian. This is compounded by the author’s thinking Sassy was a fashion bible, at which she got her start in her writing and editorial career.

That being said, Champagne Supernovas serves as a great source if you have never read a book about McQueen or Moss and never read a lifestyle piece on Marc Jacobs. In other words, the book offers no revelations about any of them.

With the tsunami of books written about the late McQueen, there is not much here that is eye opening and many of those interviewed for the book found the author less than forthcoming about her intentions when writing the book. Her biographical data is great if you have never read a book about McQueen and his world, but there are far more authoritative titles available than this. The most disturbing matter in this segment is that she vigorously concentrates on Isabella Blow who was an integral part of McQueen’s life, but on whom there is way too much verbiage wasted on already well-documented issues.

Next up, Kate Moss is another one whose life has more or less been an open book since her arrival on the fashion scene decades ago. Her drug proclivities, sex habits, and personality traits are well documented. Again, those who were interviewed found the author less than forthcoming about her intentions when writing the book. As well, Ms. Callahan spends far too much time discussing Corinne Day who was one of the early cheerleaders for Ms. Moss’ career.

Marc Jacobs is the last of the trio and, to the author’s credit, has never been the subject of any exposés or biographical books. But his ups and downs have been widely chronicled in the likes of Vanity Fair and other such monthly publications. Again, there is not much that is new here in Ms. Callahan’s telling.

How much can you believe? My reach has allowed me to speak with more than a few of the people interviewed for this book and some even said they refused to participate but are still quoted or cited. Again, there is a credibility issue at hand.

For anyone who has been living under a rock and never read anything about any of these fashion personalities, Champagne Supernovas can prove to be a reasonable primer if not taken too seriously as a primary source.

For those who are entrenched in the business of fashion, you might wonder why Ms. Callahan has decided these three remade fashion. She offers little substantive proof of such an allegation other than noting their ubiquity and their longevity in two of the three cases.