Star Wears

The Goods: L.A.M.B., Stefani’s collection of printed skirts, glamazon dresses, edgy sweats and rasta-stripe handbags, first rocked the retail scene in 2004.

Fashion Forecast: The singer’s most recent album, last year’s The Sweet Escape, may have garnered mixed reviews, but her clothing line is routinely cited as one of the best. Which could explain prices that have edged into very sophisticated territory indeed: A velvet-trimmed leather satchel sells for a cool $725; a cotton trench, $385.

Wear It Well: Stefani’s military-inspired pencil skirt could work with boots or stilettos, while her cropped, Fair Isle print cardigan would look great over a clingy tee and jeans.

Jennifer Lopez

The Goods: Sweetface, launched in 2005, features off-the-shoulder tops and tiny dresses perfect for those wanting to rule the red carpet a la Lopez.

Fashion Forecast: A mixed bag: JLO by Jennifer Lopez made its debut in 2001 but has struggled at retail. By contrast, Lopez’s higher-end line Sweetface is considered pretty, well, sweet. Another jewel in the crown: A new line, Justsweet that will offer leather jackets, hoodies and denim at a lower price point.

Wear It Well: Sweetface’s skinny jeans have legs beyond the runway: Try them with flat riding boots and a slouchy oversize top for balance.

Beyonce Knowles

The Goods: House of Dereon is a line of slinky tops, cropped pants and denim that the Dreamgirls diva created with her mother and longtime stylist Tina Knowles. Launched in 2005, the brand’s name refers to Beyonce’s late grandmother, Agnez Dereon.

Fashion Forecast: “We get phone calls every day asking about the line,” says Theresa Watts, owner of Washington boutique Lettie Gooch. “Customers are very excited about it. They know it’s Beyonce¿ and everyone wants to look like Beyonce or be associated with her.”

Still, Watts is debating whether to stock House of Dereon this spring, citing high prices and inconsistent fits.

Wear It Well: A wrap-front pleated jacket would pair wonderfully with a printed A-line skirt.

Jessica Simpson

The Goods: Shoes! Bags! Sunglasses! Jeans! When it comes to her forays into fashion land, this designing woman has taken a more-is-more approach.

Fashion Forecast: To hear some industry analysts talk, Simpson probably should have stuck with her day job. Her shoe line, launched in 2005, is popular with shoppers looking for trendy styles, but the singer and actress has reportedly ruffled feathers for failing to embrace one of celebrity fashion’s most basic commandments: Thou shalt wear thine own brand’s clothes. “A PR disaster,” says Claire Brooks, president of brand consulting company ModelPeople Inc.

Wear It Well: High fashion right now is a sea of chunky-heeled platforms, but ballet flats still look classic dressed up or down – and they’re one of Simpson’s bestsellers.

—LA TWP