Michael Vollbracht resigns from Bill Blass

As of last week, Michael Vollbracht, the lead designer at Bill Blass, has resigned. This is the third time since Blass himself retired in 1999 that the company has been without a head designer, which is an alarming sign for the company - and perhaps the industry itself. Upon his resignation, Vollbracht lamented that in today's fashion industry, stylists have more power than designers. I have to agree with Vollbracht- stylists, and Hollywood in general, should not have so much control over fashion. He also lamented that fashion ignores older women in favor of young starlets and celebrities. Vollbracht's designs, while brilliant and beautiful, are more reserved than sexy, which becomes a disadvantage for the designer in today's sex-obsessed culture.

To me, it is truly sad to see such a gifted designer go. Vollbracht is right about the industry, and because he refused to adapt his designs to sell more to celebrities, he was edged out, which is truly unfortunate. Are more designers going to go the way of Vollbracht? Or will he become forgotten as the fashion world increasingly caters to celebrities and eschews real women?

Photo credit: Washington Post