Hollywood style icons turn fashion designers

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LOS ANGELES - They sure know a thing or two about style, and Hollywood celebrities are putting their fashion skills to good use by launching clothing and accessory lines either independently or through tie-ups with companies.

From singers Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham to actresses Katie Holmes and Lindsay Lohan, many Hollywood A-listers have taken the plunge.

Lopez, a hit singer and a modestly successful film actress, launched an entire range of clothes and accessories way back in 2003. It is called “JLO by Jennifer Lopez” and includes casual jeans, T-shirts, coats, belts, purses and lingerie. She also retails a jewellery line and has an accessory line that boasts of hats, gloves and scarves.

Two years after the success of her initial idea, she even kickstarted a new clothing line called Sweetface, followed by a new juniors’ line called JustSweet in 2007.

Following in the footsteps of Lopez, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham too emerged victorious when she switched to creating her own line of jeans for clothing brand Rock & Republic in 2004. Later, she graduated to launch her own denim brand with the name dVb Style and, as a matter of fact, she is now more popular as a designer than as a singer.

Success or failure of celebrities notwithstanding, fashion designing has emerged as a must have on the portfolio of all in showbiz.

“Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker admits she was apprehensive about going ahead with the idea.

“I was really dubious and quite skeptical that this could be done. I want to make fashion accessible to all the women irrespective of the economic status, ethnic background, age, shape or size,” Parker, who launched a range of clothes under the name of Bitten in partnership with clothing chain Steve & Barry’s in 2007, has been quoted as saying by the entertainment media.

For most of these celebrities, venturing into designing is a way to get closer with their fans through clothes, which have their personal touch.

Supermodel Elizabeth Hurley came up with her beach wear collection called Elizabeth Hurley Beach, which she also models every summer while socialite Paris Hilton launched an entire range of tops, dresses, coats, and jeans in Los Angeles in the name of Paris Hilton Clothing Line in 2007. Hilton has continued to launch new collections ever since.

Many have tied up with different retail chains to design a personal range.

Pop queen Madonna launched her fashion line in collaboration with Swedish clothing company Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) in 2007, supermodel Kate Moss exclusively designed for popular international chain Topshop chain and model Heidi Klum created a clothing line for American company Jordache.

Klum also recently launched a maternity line for mums-to-be.

“I experienced fashion challenges during my four pregnancies and combined my knowledge of what works in terms of style, comfort and practicality to create these lines. Being pregnant shouldn’t stop you from being fashionable and feeling great about your changing body,” she was quoted as saying.

Actresses Katie Holmes and Miley Cyrus collaborated with their respective stylists for their range of clothes.

In 2009, Holmes joined hands with her stylist Jeanne Yang to launch a women’s and kidswear collection. Miley Cyrus followed suit and got together with French designer Max Azria to create a range offering plaid shirts and high-waisted shorts.

The trend of fashion designing as an alternate career has continued this year.

Singer Britney Spears launched a new back-to-school-theme line for girls. It includes jeans, denim vests, leggings, lace crop-tops, tank tops, T-shirts, miniskirts, et al for the young and raring to go girls.

Now, even Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole is planning to launch her own line of ultra-stylish frocks while Madonna is thinking of giving her fashion instincts a boost with the launch of a Material Girl Clothing Line, with daughter Lourdes.

This new line will include clothing, shoes, accessories and jewellery catering to girls between 13 and 25 years of age.

Disney star Selena Gomez is also expected to lend her style to a line of sportswear, handbags, belts, scarves, hats, hair accessories, socks, and hosiery all aimed at juniors, as is veteran actress Betty White.