Jessica Simpson says, see me grow

BY CINDY PEARLMAN March 9, 2012 6:34PM

Jessica Simpson looks forward to seeing herself thin on NBCs Fashion Star, taped before her pregnancy.

storyidforme: 26979293tmspicid: 9764878fileheaderid: 4483719

Related Stories

• From screen to the store with Fashion Star?

Updated: March 9, 2012 8:16PM

Id love some Tex-Mex about now, says Jessica Simpson as she takes a pregnant pause literally. When youre a pop star turned reality TV icon turned fashion mogul with more than $1 billion in sales, you take any pauses you can get.

During this phone interview, Simpson is getting ready to deliver in two ways. Shes carrying a baby daughter and isnt afraid to show it in a nude photo on the cover of Elle.

And then there is her series Fashion Star, debuting Tuesday (8:30 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5), which offers a far different Jessica than whats in the press these days.

I wasnt pregnant when we shot the show, she says. It will be amazing to see myself with a waistline. Ill be like a big blob sitting on the couch watching myself thin!

Fashion Star features 14 designers vying for prizes, including having the winning design in stores the very next day. The winner gets a collection that will go tomajor retail chains.

Each week, buyers from Saks, Macys and H&M bid to have the exclusive right to sell the nights clothes. Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos serve as mentors.

Simpson admits shes a bit surprised with her success in the! fashion business. Her JSC collection was the first celeb brand to break $1 billion in annual sales.

Originally, I thought Id just do shoes and handbags, she says. Success gives you more and more opportunities, so the skys the limit.

I mean, even with acting, music or being a mom or anything else I wanted to do, I know I can do it. Ive always had that confidence.

Her motto?

Life is definitely always about expanding. Thats how we grow, she says.

She talked to us about mentoring promising designers, adjusting to buyers tastes and looking good on the cheap.

Q. Did you watch any of the beauty reality shows to get an idea of what you want to do on Fashion Star?

A. No, I really didnt watch any other shows going into this because fashion has been my life for six or seven years now.

Q. How did you mentor these would-be fashionistas?

A. I really just wanted to be there and hang out and talk with the designers. I wanted to make sure that they did have a vision. You also have to make sure they listen to the buyers and what the buyers want. Its really important to be able to give Macys the colors theyre wanting or the styles that sell the best for them. I wanted to be on the show to help the designers because theyre all great. Youre not going to see anyone on the show who is not a good designer. We dont go through terrible designers to get to the great ones.

Q. Whats the biggest lesson youve learned as a designer?

A. At the beginning, I thought everything that I wanted to create was right and thats what everybody should be wearing. But then I realized that I dont wear flats, but theyre also my biggest selling shoes in the Jessica Simpson Collection. So, I had to give in and be like, OK, 90 percent of America wears flats. I had to realize it couldnt be about what I would wear.

Q. Any advice on how women can put themselve! s on a c lothing budget during tough economic times?

A. I should probably budget myself more. I think the most important thing is having one piece that you kind of splurge on and build around that. I always splurge on shoes because I feel like you can put together a really simple outfit for cheap with great shoes. The big trends now are all of the colored jeans and all of the printed jeans. There are definitely those you can find in the $40 to $60 range. Buy fun colors and mix and match things.

Q. Will you do a maternity line?

A. I definitely want to do maternity clothes. Ive started to try and come up with some designs. I havent really loved anything. Personally, Im not buying any maternity clothes. Im wearing all clothes that are just in bigger sizes. I want to make a maternity line thats comfortable, but really stylish. I believe we all deserve to feel good and look good.

Q. How has pregnancy influenced your fashion sense?

A. I walk around everywhere wanting to shrink things baby size nowadays.

Big Picture News Inc.