Remember when we covered Kimora Lee Simmons' new Dare fragrance ad in April? And we innocently wondered how she managed to make her body look like a fourteen year-old's? We suspected body doubles then and it turns out we were right.



Body doubles was only one of the rumors The New York Post revealed surrounding Kimora's not-so-ceremonious split from Kellwood Company, the parent company of Baby Phat. According to Page Six, "Kimora was going over-budget. She'd pay herself a fee to be in the ads, plus she paid her children fees to appear in ads. It costs thousands of dollars to airbrush her because she's a size 10. Plus, they spent a ton of money on body doubles. They would shoot another model in the clothes, and take Kimora's head and put it on her body."



Hmm, kind of excessive to pay you and your children a fee to model, no? Personally, I would've loved her anyway as a size 10 so that airbrushing cost wasn't needed either.



Still, the quote from a "source" sounds like an insider with more than a little animosity toward Kimora. If they were truly doing budget cuts, couldn't they have demanded that Kimora no longer pay herself and her children to model, or used other models in the ads? And with all the revenue that Baby Phat brings in, was an airbrushing cost and model fee so expensive that they had to let the Creative Director go? They didn't need to cut her off from the company especially since she's such an integral part of the brand.



I, for one, am eager to see how the brand will continue without Kimora, and for the very fabulous things I'm sure she has up her sleeve.





What's your prediction for the future of Baby Phat without Kimora? Do you think airbrushing and model fees are valid reasons for giving someone the boot? Discuss.



Kisses,



Coutura

After fourteen years, Kimora Lee Simmons is saying farewell to the Baby Phat brand. The official statement says that Simmons will split from Baby Phat's parent company, Kellwood Company, on September 1st.



Via E! Online/Global Grind:



"After 14 years of conceiving and nurturing Baby Phat, it's time for me to move on and further expand my other businesses and create a new phenomenon," Simmons says. "I adore all those who have faithfully been with me since the beginning."



Wow. Kimora's celebrity image was so purposefully integrated with the Baby Phat brand that her departure is confusing and startling---especially when you consider her recent appointment as Creative Director of Phat Fashions. AND the fact that she starred in the vast majority of the Baby Phat ads. AND the fact that she, along with several other women, got a tattoo of the Baby Phat cat logo on her body. She built that brand from the ground up, invested everything into it and was so overwhelmingly proud of its success.



I remember being one of the first (I swear!) to wear the Baby Phat shirt while a Junior in high school, and though as I grew older Baby Phat labels were replaced by Tracy Reese and Rachel Roy, I still enjoyed attending the Baby Phat show every year. For me, it was one of the highlights of Fashion Week.



When their amazing PR rep, B.J. Coleman left, the atmosphere at the shows changed a bit and last Fashion Week (Fall 2010), there wasn't a runway show for Baby Phat at all. Fast-forward seven months and Kimora Lee is stepping away from the brand. Hmmm...



What do you think about her (seemingly) sudden departure? Do you think Baby Phat will survive without Kimora as the Creative Director...and the face? Did you see this coming?

Kisses,



Coutura