Celebrities with clothing lines are nothing new. Just because someone is a good actor, singer or simply famous for being famous, doesn’t necessarily mean they have talent for other creative endeavors. However, there are some celebrity clothing lines that are successful, not just commercially, but critically as well. The amount of involvement various celebrities have had with their lines is different, some actually designing the pieces themselves and others, inspiring the lines and giving their final stamp of approval. Also, just because someone is a celebrity, doesn’t mean their line will be successful. For example, Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes have all had clothing lines which crashed and burned. However, here are ten lines designed by celebrities that you actually want to wear.
10. Jessica Simpson
Many will argue that Jessica Simpson is by far a better celebutante and entrepreneur, than she is a singer or actress. Simpson has created (or rather put her name on) an incredibly successful line, which includes footwear, clothing, jeans, handbags, eyewear, outerwear, legwear, jewelry, swimwear, underwear, perfume, luggage, accessories and home goods for women and girls. She’s even had a maternity line. Her clothing and shoes are both sold at Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor and of course, Macy’s. She has starred in commercials for her line, similarly to a slew of other celeb designers including, P. Diddy and Martha Stewart. While seemingly everywhere, fair pricing and good quality made her line both affordable and attainable, and the popularity surely helped her be a judge on the NBC reality show, Fashion Star.
9. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
The Olsen twins started their fashion empire at the least chic store in the world, Walmart; but now their clothing is sold at some of the most upscale shops in the world, including Barney’s New York. At the young age of twelve, the twins put their names on a clothing line for the discount retailer, which soon expanded to furniture, makeup and other products. Today, the Olsen twins have left entertainment to be full time fashion designers for their lines, Elizabeth and James and The Row. In 2009, the twins were offered a spot in the prestigious CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers in America) group, putting them in a class with some of the most renowned fashion designers in the world, including Diane Von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein and Donna Karen. In 2009, they launched a more affordable line of clothing for retailer J.C. Penney, called Olsen Boye, trying to keep their look within reach for all of their fashionable fans.
8. Madonna
After previous collaborations with H&M in 2007, and Dolce & Gabbana the same year, Madonna launched her collection for teenage girls called Material Girl (after her song) for Macy’s. The line, which is designed by Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes was created for the thirteen through twenty-five year old demographic. The pieces are very bold and certainly wearable, even for those who wouldn’t step foot in a Macy’s otherwise. The successes of that line lead to Madonna creating a racier line of lingerie, fragrance and shoes for adult, called Truth or Dare, after her 1991 album.
7. Sarah Jessica Parker
Sometimes we confuse the fictional Carrie Bradshaw, with the real life Sarah Jessica Parker, because of that whole life imitating art thing. We all know Sarah Jessica Parker has been just as fashionable as her fictional counterpart, and a fashion designer herself. In 2007, she launched her line, Bitten at Steve & Barry’s, which is a now defunct American sportswear chain. Bitten achieved critical and commercial success with over five hundred pieces in the casual collection, but even that couldn’t stop Steve and Barry’s from filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. In 2014, Parker launched a highly anticipated shoe and bag line for Nordstrom. With the shoes priced in the mid $200 to mid $400 range and most of the bags in the mid $200 range, the line has also been well received critically.
6. Penelope Cruz for Mango
In 2007, Penelope Cruz and her younger sister, Monica designed a collection for Spanish retailer Mango, which lasted for several seasons until Summer 2009. There were beautiful dresses, tops for day and night and outerwear, that were rather timeless looking for the fast fashion retailer. Most people would have no idea how multi-faceted the talent of this actress truly is. Although she hasn’t designed a collection in several years, we can only hope our wardrobes are blessed with some of Penelope and Monica’s designs in the near future.
5. Adam Levine for Kmart
Kmart is probably the last place on earth that anyone with style would buy clothing, but Adam Levine is singlehandedly changing that. In addition to being sexy, style is also in Levine’s genes and jeans. His father, Fred owns trendy Los Angeles boutique chain, M. Frederic. So, Levine clearly gets his style from dad. In October 2013, Levine launched a ninety-six piece menswear line for Kmart, which was so stylish, it was even featured on GQ’s website. (You never thought “Kmart and “GQ” could ever be in the same sentence, did you?) Consisting of a variety of pieces from casual wear to outerwear, no one would believe the line could ever be sold in the same place that also sells lawnmowers and diapers. The line has been so successful, Levine expanded it to include women’s clothes in April 2014.
4. Victoria Beckham
In 2004, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham designed a limited edition collection with jean company, Rock & Republic. Her $300 rhinestone studded jeans were a big hit. This proved she was probably called “Posh Spice” for a good reason. In 2006, Beckham debuted her own line of denim and eyewear at Saks Fifth Avenue. In 2008, her first collection debuted at New York Fashion week. The world learned that perhaps Beckham’s talents as a designer surpassed her talents as a singer, earning her a “Designer of The Year,” British Fashion Award in 2011. Currently, she has several collections, including denim, accessories and ready to wear.
3. Nicole Ritchie
In 2008, celebutante and reality TV star, Nicole Richie debuted her jewelry line, House of Harlow, 1960, which was named after her daughter, Harlow Winter Kate Madden. It was available at famed Robertson Avenue boutique in Los Angeles, Kitson. In 2009, she designed a line of maternity clothes called Nicole, for A Pea in The Pod. In 2010, House of Harlow expanded to include clothing and shoes. Later that year, Nicole created another apparel line called Winter Kate. At that point, the House of Harlow accessory line was so in demand, it became available at luxury retailers Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Norstrom. She then became a mentor on reality show, Fashion Star. In 2012, Richie expanded from luxury with a line for Macy’s. Currently, she has a popular line of boho chic clothing she designs for QVC.
2. Gwen Stefani
The world was first introduced to Gwen Stefani’s style in 1996, when No Doubt’s album, Tragic Kingdom was released. Girls everywhere copied Stefani’s signature style with her blonde hair and bindis. She founded her clothing line L.A.M.B., which is an acronym for Love, Angel, Music, Baby. It started as a collaboration with LeSportsac, debuted in 2003 and had its first runway show in 2004. The line currently sells approximately $90 million a year worth of clothing, shoes, handbags and a fragrance. The line is currently sold at many mainstream department stores such as Nordstrom. Stefani also had a line called Harajuku Lovers, which was inspired by Japanese culture.
1. Kate Moss for Top Shop
Just because someone’s a supermodel, doesn’t necessarily mean they can actually design clothes, unless this person happens to be supermodel and designer extraordinaire, Kate Moss. In 2007, she designed her first collection with British high street retailer, Top Shop. The fifty piece collection included clothing, shoes and handbags with prices ranging from £12- £150. It was well received both critically and commercially. Moss has collaborated with the chain, designing a new collection for every season since. In 2010, Moss also designed a line of handbags for French company Longchamps, but just for a brief season.