We hosted a fashion roundtable a few weeks ago at our Times Square showroom; Media Oasis. One of the questions I asked was; “Does a reality TV show inspire fashion the same way an aspirational fictional program does?” The answer from the apparel manufactures in attendance was a resounding “yes." I started to sync up how reality shows inspire new dialogue, slang, and fashion and even affect the choices of where some people elect to live or what cars they lease. 

This past week Michelle Waller’s apparel brand Royal Plush has inked a deal with Bravo’s Real Housewives. My question is, will the housewives receive a financial kick-back off of what they have inspired? This brings up a whole new category in licensing deals for apparel because most of these reality shows we know operate without stylists, wardrobe consultants and leave the cast members to dress themselves or bring in friends to help them.  

It’s a catch-22 that in return the show gets a licensing deal off of what the reality cast has worn. Will the cast now be required to wear the garments while on air