Jessica Simpson expands her $500 million a year fashion empire

For months now we've been extolling the virtue of Jessica Simpson's shoe collection, in particular her sexy, comfortable platform heels and boots. So when we heard she was trying her hand at denim this season, we were intrigued---and frankly, impressed, considering the media backlash that resulted after she sported a pair of super unflattering high-wasted jeans on stage. The jeanswear has an impressive range of washes, colors, and shapes (flare, bootleg, jegging). Most impressive, though, are the price tags: jeans start at $49. We caught up with the singer-actress-designer to talk about why affordability was a priority, where she likes to bargain shop with boyfriend Eric Johnson, and how she feels now about that infamous photo. Is launching her own denim line the best revenge?

Do you need helping finding jean's for your body type? Check out our denim guide.