Paris And The Hippie Chick

October 06, 2007

Paris Hilton may be making a stop at the Toronto Islands bingo night if Hanne Whitfield gets her way. That's because the lifelong island girl - complete with arty hippie parents, "Peace on Earth" button on her lapel, a mop of curls that hasn't met a comb in 20 years and not a scrap of makeup - has just been named head designer for Hilton's new eponymous clothing line.

"The whole thing is a little bit bizarre," Ms. Whitfield admits with a laugh. "We're kind of like the Odd Couple. Maybe opposites attract.

"I texted all my friends when I found out and one was like: 'I was kind of stoned when you told me, then I had a nightmare about you and Paris, and I thought it was just a dream, but then I woke up and realized, Omigod, it's real!' "

A graduate of the International Academy of Design & Technology, Ms. Whitfield left two years ago to make a go of it in the Big Apple, landing a job as the women's wear designer for streetwear label Triple Five Soul. There, she met another transplanted Canadian, Stacey Griffin, the marketing manager at design company Dollhouse. Soon after they started working with Ms. Hilton, Ms. Whitfield landed the high-profile gig of designing clothes with the world's most famous celebutante.

"A lot of people who we interviewed were just a little ... too serious," Ms. Griffin says about the aspiring impresarios who jostled for the job.

"The line is very fun and girly and colourful, so they could see with Hanne's personality that she got the vibe."

Though the hotel heiress is reportedly involved in creating the line, doing everything from picking fabrics to perusing sketches, Ms. Whitfield hasn't met her yet. (Though Ms. Hilton is in town these days, filming the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera and hosting a party at the Guvernment Oct. 20, the two apparently won't cross paths.)

But is Ms. Whitfield a fan?

"I'm a fan of her tabloid escapades," she admits cheerfully. "I find her really interesting. This person is a brand, and that's such an American invention, and an invention of our time. I want us to put a T-shirt out that says, 'Born Branded.' "

The Paris Hilton line (featuring bows, ruffles, gold sequins and pictures of Chihuahuas) is not yet available in Canada. But its low prices - the top price so far is $129 - and ridiculously recognizable spokeswoman have already made it a U.S. hit. This summer, the Los Angeles debut caused mass frenzy: Helicopters hovered overhead and the street had to be closed.

Toronto Islands folks, however, are so far mostly nonplussed or amused by the fact that Paris Hilton now has one degree of separation from their shores. That includes Ms. Whitfield's family. "I'm not too tuned into fashion stuff," admits her father, Victor Whitfield, a carpenter who specializes in rebuilding older houses. "I didn't even know who this person was. I know she makes her living being a celebrity, that she's blond and thin, and that's about it."

"I think it's hilarious," says Lacey Hammond, another born-and-bred island girl who has gone into fashion - she's soon to become costume designer for Cirque du Soleil's new production in China. "Hanne is so down-to-earth and Paris is so up-with-the-clouds. Maybe that's what Paris needs: a little bit of Hanne."

And how is Paris going to help Hanne?

"She'll help me with my bank account," Ms. Whitfield deadpans. "I can pay off my Canadian student loan."

From-http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071006.PARIS06/TPStory/National