Celebrities drive fashion sales at East Valley boutiques

A framed page from the celebrity magazine Us Weekly — featuring Jessica Simpson wearing a Rebel Yell T-shirt with the words ‘‘More More More’’ printed on it — is the centerpiece of a Tshirt display at Estilo Boutique.

Co-owner Kelly Dixon — who is wearing the same lavender shirt — says her north Scottsdale upscale clothing store sold out of the shirt after Simpson was photographed wearing it last month.

"When we bought these (Rebel Yell) shirts five months ago in New York, you have no idea who’s going to be wearing them,’’ says Dixon, 26. "We just liked the shirts.’’

But Dixon says celebrities help drive fashion sales. She cites New York handbag designer Andrea Brueckner as another example.

"Lindsay Lohan was pictured with the saddlebag, and one of the Simpson girls has been pictured with the same bag a couple of times,’’ she says of the purses, which sell for $300 to $600. "People come in and just buy them like crazy. We have waiting lists for them right now.’’

Dixon says the boutique sold more than 60 of the bags in 10 days.

"We have 10 people on the waiting list now,’’ she says. "Since a few celebrities were pictured with the bag, it’s become the ‘it’ bag. People will ask if we carry the bag that Lindsay has.’’

‘ACTUALLY ACCESSIBLE’

Evon Yaro-Fig, senior buyer and director of store operations of the neighboring Electric Ladyland and Floozy, says women increasingly are taking their fashion cues from younger celebrities such as Lohan, Simpson and her sister Ashlee, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton.

"Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow, they’re wearing Gucci and Valentino and things that the average woman can’t afford,’’ says Yaro-Fig, 26. "The younger crowd wears jeans and T-shirts and wife-beaters that say something, and these things cost $30, $40. They’re actually accessible for people.’’ yet,’’ she says. "The jeans I want are $300! But they’re so hot, and everyone in Hollywood has them.’’

$390 FOR JEANS

Yaro-Fig says True Religion is the hottest denim line among celebrities.

"(They) made this jean called the Woodstock, and it’s really destroyed and it has patches all over it, really bright, colorful patches,’’ she says. "Faith Hill is a fan.

‘‘We’ve gotten about three or four shipments of this, and we literally sell them out of the box. The jeans disappear before they hit the floor, and people love them so much that people are buying a second or a third pair. . . .

‘‘The thing that surprised us was the price tag. They’re $390, and that doesn’t seem to faze anybody.’’

Yaro-Fig says True Religion released a popular line of Daisy Duke denim cutoff shorts that are big sellers due to the upcoming "The Dukes of Hazzard" movie in which Jessica Simpson flaunts a pair.

"(True Religion) wasn’t even the brand she was wearing,’’ she says. "She just wore plain old Levis. They were upwards of $170 for a pair of denim shorts that’s ripped up. I think we may have one pair left.’’

STYLE ICONS

So why do women follow celebrities’ fashion lead?

"It’s like a status thing to say you have what they have,’’ Yaro-Fig says. ‘‘It’s the perceived notion of what their tastes are are cool.’’

"It’s the same reason why people buy these (celebrity) magazines every week,’’ Estilo’s Dixon adds. "They want to live that whole fantasy. It’s just fun. That’s just what fashion is — finding the hot thing and making it your own.

‘‘(Celebrities) are like the style icons. That’s how it’s always been, from Jackie O. to Jessica Simpson. That’s how our culture is.’’

For Yaro-Fig, it helps determine what she stocks.

"(Celebrities) are the ones marketing companies are going after,’’ she says. ‘‘They get free clothes out of it. If I’m reading Us Weekly and I’m seeing Beyonce with a cool bag, I have to track down that bag because I know it’s going to sell.’’