Jessica Simpson’s Secret to Billion-Dollar Fashion Empire: I Stay True to Myself

Though many laughed at her decision of launching a line of shoes some years ago, now it’s Jessica Simpson who’s laughing – all the way to the bank. Her fashion empire is about to cross the billion-dollar mark and she says her secret to her success is in staying true to herself.

In a lengthy interview with WWD, Jessica talks about her engagement, her personal life and, most importantly, what makes her fashion empire be such a successful business, which was built on the idea that anyone can replicate her looks with very little money.

All Jessica Simpson-branded products are high-quality, low-price goods that she personally approves before they arrive in stores.

She would never go for a higher-priced range if she can make quality goods for lesser money, because she doesn’t want to take advantage of the confidence consumers have in the now-solid Jessica Simpson brand.

“The bigger it gets, the more stressful it gets…” the star says. “[But] it all works together. I really don’t look at myself as just one thing. I’m kind of scattered and like to have my hands in a lot of different projects. It makes me who I am. It’s what defines me,” she adds.

“What I wear, what I sing, the songs I write, the projects I choose all have to represent Jessica Simpson. I wouldn’t take certain jobs if they were to take away from the positive role model that the Jessica Simpson Collection has allowed me to establish… because this is my number-one priority,” Jessica explains.

This is also the reason why she wouldn’t consent to making goods priced higher and why she insists that she approves of everything before it goes into production. Otherwise, she’d be just another celebrity slapping her name on a product.

“Image is the most important thing about someone’s career and longevity,” she says. Hopefully, the one she’s made for herself will allow her to be around for many years to come.

“I want to be around until I’m not around anymore and then some. We’ve been doing this for five years, but it feels like we’re just starting out because there’s always something new to work on, some new endeavor,” she says.

For the full interview with Jessica Simpson in WWD, see here.