The Jessica Simpson Jeanswear Launch is a Friends & Family Affair

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Not a bad way to spend an evening—quaffing mini-margaritas, noshing on tasty high-end comfort hors d’oeuvres, chilling to a celeb DJ set and watching half the players in your typical US Weekly issue at the launch of the Jessica Simpson Jeanswear line and Spring 2011 presentation last night. Editors, industry types and staffers (dressed in various Jessica Simpson looks and balancing on the tallest shoes imaginable) gathered for singer/actress cum designer to show off upcoming looks from her denim line.

For the event, Jessica styled her best friends and family, including sister Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and bestie CaCee Cobb, in five denim styles (the Kiss Me Jegging, Forever Skinny, Malibu Skinny, Sunset Boot-leg and Vintage Flare), looks from the 2011 Spring collection and vintage-inspired jewelry. It truly was a family affair, as mom Tina Simpson was on hand (and hitting the bubbly), along with Jessica's always present boyfriend Eric Johnson, who was waiting in the wings for moral support (and a PDA session or two). To complete the family reunion, brother-in-law Pete Wentz was spinning party staples including a medley of 50 Cent classics and the requisite "Don't Stop Believing".

Before the presentation began, we chatted with CaCee Cobb, styled by Jessica in an abstract earth-toned bustier top, Forever Skinny jeans and mixed metal chunky bracelets. CaCee is a serious advocate of the Forever Skinny jeans, pointing out that, "Eight out of every 10 women in here are wearing them and we’re all different shapes and sizes. They look good on everybody." CaCee also showed off a wrist full of mixed metal bangles, a rhinestone cobra cuff and chunky bracelets joking, "I feel like Mr. T, but it looks so good." We were also admiring a rhinestone embellished double leaf knuckle duster, but sadly that one's not out until the Fall.

We also managed to catch a few minutes with Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, who was really rocking ombré locks and a western chambray shirt tucked into a tiered ruffle mini matched with black platform peep-toe sling back shooties. Ashlee professed to having an "edgy" and "in between not being the all-American girl" look, but promised that Jessica's designs are versatile enough for everyone. Going slightly off subject, she also divulged that she's working on some new music, which she "can’t describe it yet", but "it’s a little, um...bluesy.”

But back to the matter at hand. While presenting ten looks modeled by Ashlee, CaCee, plus her publicist, assistant, makeup artist, closet builder and more, Jessica was charmingly off the cuff. She pointed out her favorite jeans (the Vintage Flare) and gave some insightful observations. While discussing her childhood friend's denim shorts and cargo jacket ensemble, she explained, "The jean shorts are obviously very important to me. And... we also support the military and we all love our cargo.” On the arduous task of approving designs for a series of graphic tees, "They just throw things out at you that ?it’s kind of scary and you’ve just got to think about middle America but this [design] makes me think, like...nature." Overall, Jessica emphasized that her designs fit every shape, size and personality, as well as budget with prices ranging from $49 to $69 for denim and $29 to $79 for collection pieces.

Hands down, the best plug of the night has to go to self-professed lady-jean aficionado Pete Wentz. In the same vein as many savvy trendsters, he was sporting a high-low ensemble layering a Jessica Simpson washed black denim moto-jacket over a Christian Dior striped mesh sailor sweater (which, apparently, until now he couldn't "wear with anything") and a collared white button down. He does his sis-in-law a solid by pronouncing, “The cool thing is that you could put it next to Dior, too" and when people often mistake the jacket for another designer's, Pete proudly tells them them, "No, it’s actually a Jessica jacket.”
· Jessica Simpson Jeanswear [Official Site]