The Ambassador's New Clothes

For The Cut, New York Magazine writer Rachel Corbett takes a look at the allure, effectiveness, and saturation point of celebrities signing endorsements to represent fashion brands as ambassadors, models, or both: “For actors, shilling was once seen as a cheap money grab, a gig they took overseas to secretly hawk canned coffee or ramen noodles. Now, it’s a savvy career move as film and TV studios tighten budgets, production slumps, and streaming residuals dry up. Fashion is just one component of their earning portfolio, and the paychecks have only gotten bigger and bigger.” (Subscription might be required to access the article in a few days.)