Kanye treated Kim’s image as a project for acquiring high fashion capital.

Evidence

Once again celebrated as one of the world’s great musical geniuses, Kanye shifted his attention back to French high culture, forging connections with influential figures like Sarah Andelman from the iconic boutique Colette. He collaborated with French casual brand A.P.C. on a capsule collection. When Kanye began dating Kim, he took on her public image as a personal project. Working closely with his stylist, he revamped Kim’s wardrobe, aligning it with Parisian fashion trends from Givenchy, Balmain, Balenciaga, and Margiela. She was an eager participant. Reflecting on her pre-Kanye style, Kim confessed to CNN, “Back in the day, I thought I had the best style. I look back at outfits and I’m, like, mortified.” — W. David Marx, Blank Space, 365

Categorization

• XREF: Kim as an eager vessel for Parisian style transfer is a microcosm of individuals trafficking in cultural capital after status hierarchies flattened — connects to Bourdieu and to Marx’s omnivore monoculture frame.