Cheap Celebrity Fashions

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

08 Jun 2007 12:03 PM

Now we're talking!

In a previous blog I discussed how franchise giants such as Target and the Gap are selling high fashion apparel at affordable prices. Well, I may have to redefine my definition of "affordable" thanks in large part to Sarah Jessica Parker. The actress and fashionista is blowing the lid off of celebrity-branded fashion with a new clothing line that is priced under $20.

Now that's what I call affordable.

Parker has partnered with Steve & Barry's (best known for its inexpensive college apparel) to create sensibly priced (see cheap) clothing that is actually good looking. The actress joins other celebrities including Madonna, Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and other stars who have reinvented themselves with clothing collections. But what sets Parker's apparel apart from that of her other mega-star counterparts is her price points. While other celebrity lines sell items for $35-$200, nothing in Parker's 500-piece collection (Steve & Barry's first for women) is priced over $19.98. And one more note: unlike Madonna's petite line of clothing for H&M stores, Parker's Bitten line is made more for the modern woman and offers sizes ranging from 2 to 20.

"I really loved the idea of making fashion accessible to every woman in this country despite her economic standing, despite her size, her shape and her ethnic background," the 42-year-old actress told reporters at the unveiling of her new clothing line in New York yesterday. "The idea of the democratization of fashion was extremely appealing to me."

I'm with Parker. I like the idea that her line doesn't stop at size 6 and I don't have to sell plasma to afford a pair of her jeans... and of course, it doesn't hurt that she is considered somewhat of a fashion icon since appearing as Carrie Bradshaw on HBO's "Sex and the City."

So what can you expect when you browse through Steve & Barry's stores? According to Parker, she worked with designers to develop a complete clothing line for women, which includes suit separates, shirts, dresses, lingerie, denim, T-shirts, nightgowns, cashmere sweaters, swimwear and other items.

Steve & Barry's is based in New York, but operates 200 stores in 33 states. Are you planning to check out Parker's new line?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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