NEW CLOTHING LINE
It's all about comfort, Reba McEntire says
As a kid growing up on a cattle ranch near Chockie, Okla., Reba McEntire wore lots of hand-me-downs.
''I still remember waiting for those clothes boxes to come from my older cousins,'' said the country singer, actress and author. ``And I enjoyed making those clothes mine.''
Fortunately for McEntire, she outgrew the gently worn pants, skirts and tops. And her fashion fortunes started to improve.
Starting this month, McEntire, 49, will have her own fashion/lifestyle collection, Reba, which will be carried in more than 145 Dillard's stores nationwide. The line concentrates on mix-and-match pieces that can outfit a woman for a business meeting as well as her daughter's Saturday soccer game.
''My 11-year-old granddaughter could wear some of the pieces,'' she said.
Dillard's agrees. Julie Bull, a spokeswoman for the retailer, said, ``It's not about age. It's about attitude.''
The collection includes trench coats, casual trousers, classic pantsuits, white shirts, novelty sweaters, zip-front jackets, flippy skirts and sleek little black dresses. Prices range from $48 to $289 and are available in sizes 4-14. Petites and women's sizes will be added at a later date. Items will be displayed in Reba shops decorated with blown-up photos of the entertainer.
And in an era when many entertainers and fashion models are developing their own fashion lines -- Beyoncé, Daisy Fuentes and Jennifer Lopez come to mind -- McEntire is candid about her design experience. ''I went to the design school of hard knocks,'' joked the star of Reba, her TV show, which airs Fridays on the WB. ``And no, I absolutely don't have any training in clothes design. But from 28 years in the professional world, I have come to know a lot about fashion and creating my own style. I learned by trial and error.''
The Arkansas-based retailer approached McEntire about two years ago to do a collection. ''Like many of our customers, she is a busy mother, wife and career woman,'' Bull said. ``Plus, she has a national presence. Everyone knows who Reba is.''
I McEntire works with Hilton Smith, a designer with Icon Creations, a New York fashion design firm. ''He brings me sketches, finds fabrics and gives me his ideas,'' said the singer and actress. ''We look at the fit model and I give him my suggestions -- are the pants too low- or high-waisted? Or should the pockets be flatter? He's very talented and fun to work with.'' Added McEntire, ``I own this line, so my personal involvement is important. Reba the line has to be well-designed and presented.''
If the occasion is right, the actress, who's a size 6 on top and a 4 on the bottom, plans to wear an outfit or two from the line on her show.
In addition to trendy styles and fun colors -- a personal favorite in the collection is a pistachio-hued trench coat -- McEntire insists the clothes be comfortable. ``I have more confidence onstage, or in a show, if I think I look good in what I'm wearing.''
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
As a kid growing up on a cattle ranch near Chockie, Okla., Reba McEntire wore lots of hand-me-downs.
''I still remember waiting for those clothes boxes to come from my older cousins,'' said the country singer, actress and author. ``And I enjoyed making those clothes mine.''
Fortunately for McEntire, she outgrew the gently worn pants, skirts and tops. And her fashion fortunes started to improve.
Starting this month, McEntire, 49, will have her own fashion/lifestyle collection, Reba, which will be carried in more than 145 Dillard's stores nationwide. The line concentrates on mix-and-match pieces that can outfit a woman for a business meeting as well as her daughter's Saturday soccer game.
''My 11-year-old granddaughter could wear some of the pieces,'' she said.
Dillard's agrees. Julie Bull, a spokeswoman for the retailer, said, ``It's not about age. It's about attitude.''
The collection includes trench coats, casual trousers, classic pantsuits, white shirts, novelty sweaters, zip-front jackets, flippy skirts and sleek little black dresses. Prices range from $48 to $289 and are available in sizes 4-14. Petites and women's sizes will be added at a later date. Items will be displayed in Reba shops decorated with blown-up photos of the entertainer.
And in an era when many entertainers and fashion models are developing their own fashion lines -- Beyoncé, Daisy Fuentes and Jennifer Lopez come to mind -- McEntire is candid about her design experience. ''I went to the design school of hard knocks,'' joked the star of Reba, her TV show, which airs Fridays on the WB. ``And no, I absolutely don't have any training in clothes design. But from 28 years in the professional world, I have come to know a lot about fashion and creating my own style. I learned by trial and error.''
The Arkansas-based retailer approached McEntire about two years ago to do a collection. ''Like many of our customers, she is a busy mother, wife and career woman,'' Bull said. ``Plus, she has a national presence. Everyone knows who Reba is.''
I McEntire works with Hilton Smith, a designer with Icon Creations, a New York fashion design firm. ''He brings me sketches, finds fabrics and gives me his ideas,'' said the singer and actress. ''We look at the fit model and I give him my suggestions -- are the pants too low- or high-waisted? Or should the pockets be flatter? He's very talented and fun to work with.'' Added McEntire, ``I own this line, so my personal involvement is important. Reba the line has to be well-designed and presented.''
If the occasion is right, the actress, who's a size 6 on top and a 4 on the bottom, plans to wear an outfit or two from the line on her show.
In addition to trendy styles and fun colors -- a personal favorite in the collection is a pistachio-hued trench coat -- McEntire insists the clothes be comfortable. ``I have more confidence onstage, or in a show, if I think I look good in what I'm wearing.''
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
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