Rachel Bilson to design Edie Rose collection for DKNY Jeans

It seems that if you’re a young actress, clothing labels will sign you up to design a clothing line. Next cab off the rank? Rachel Bilson with DKNY Jeans.

What is interesting is that Bilson contacted DKNY Jeans, and not the other way around. “Fans of ‘The O.C.’ really like DKNY Jeans, and I know they make great stuff, so I thought it could be good,” she explained.

Set to be called Edie Rose for DKNY Jeans (named after her grandmother and a family friend) the collection will be a fashion forward junior sportswear line set to hit stores this September. Consisting of 15 sportswear pieces, it will include button-down tops, sweaters, jackets, T-shirts, dresses and straight leg and skinny leg dark denim jeans. The monochrome colour palette will be offset by pops of yellow, said to be inspired by a yellow scarf Bilson owned.

“I have a yellow scarf that I love and I was really inspired by it,” Bilson said. “This line is my main focus right now,” she said. “I can’t draw at all, so I won’t be doing any sketches, but I am learning to sew. I think it’s important to know more about the whole process of making clothes.”

Bilson’s fashion credientials range from sitting front row at Zac Posen and Badgley Mischka fashion shows, as well as attending Chanel sponsored events, wearing designer gowns on the red carpet and of course her work on The O.C.

The Edie Rose for DKNY Jeans collection will whole between $19.50 and $49.50 per piece, which would make the cheapest item about $50 to $150.

And this may not be a one off collaboration, with DKNY Jeans saying there is potential for a long term collaboration.

“It has the potential to go long term,” said Kevin Monogue, president of DKNY Jeans. “Stores are looking for something new to have on the floor, and we are confident that they will really like what they see. The line with Pete was really great for us and having him in our ad campaign was a huge success. But since Pete’s line was already being sold elsewhere, we saw it as more of a limited partnership. With Rachel, we are really launching her. This will be her first foray into fashion, and she’s a girl, so that will be a strong connection to our customers.”

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