NEW YORK — Jessica Simpson Wednesday night celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Jessica Simpson Collection with a party at Tavern on the Green. Wearing a black jumpsuit by Galvan, a svelte Simpson reflected on the milestone: “No, it doesn’t really feel real, but I am in a place where I’m just like trying to take it all in. The billboards and 10 years makes me feel a little bit old, but I definitely feel successful at the same time, so that’s good.”
Simpson said she never thought about the possibility of a milestone. “I just like to wear cowboy boots, and somehow they kept walking,” she said.
In addition to continuing to build her fashion company, she’s relaunching her music career. “I built a studio in my house so I can be with my kids as well. There’s so much work going on, like when I go to approval meetings. That’s when I go out, and I go out when they nap. At least, I can sing while they sleep at night, because I’m a night owl,” Simpson said.
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The new addition to her line, activewear, is set to be available at Macy’s in a few weeks. Simpson, who exercises every day, said her kids try to imitate her: “My son will look in the mirror and he’s like [making a struggling noise sound as] he tries to pick up weights. He’s super cute. My daughter is like, so if I jump on a trampoline, this is good, right?”
As for what she’s learned about fashion in the last decade, Simpson said, “I think fashion is who we are. In so many ways, when you create or when you have a brand, it’s understanding women and who they are and where they are in their time of life. And I feel like I’ve been through so many stages of life that I understand each and every woman [and] that I can create that for them.”
Many of the attendees included licensees of her line and retail executives, such as Liz Rodbell, president of Lord & Taylor and Hudson’s Bay Co., as well as executives from Sequential Brands Group, which owns the majority stake in the Jessica Simpson brand.
Yehuda Shmidman, Sequential’s chief executive officer, said his latest deal for the Joe’s brand could close sooner than Sept. 30. William Sweedler, Sequential’s chairman, is doing a separate deal for Hudson Clothing, which will merge with the parent company of Robert Graham and be renamed Differential Brands Group, said Hudson founder Peter Kim will head up the Hudson business.
Martha Stewart, who stopped by briefly, said of the acquisition of her firm Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia by Sequential in the next few months, “We’re looking forward to it.”
Louise Camuto, who cofounded Camuto Group, which once had the Jessica Simpson master license, said her company has been working on the new footwear line by Ellen DeGeneres under the ED Ellen DeGeneres label.
What’s next for Camuto Group? Alex Del Cielo, ceo at Camuto, said that he’s “always looking for new business opportunities.” He noted his 26 years at the company, stating that over that period of time he’s noticed that there’s “always a young designer looking for assistance” for a new line.