Nicole Richie: Confidence is the Best Thing You Can Wear

Nearly a decade after becoming famous as the brainier half of The Simple Life's fish-out of-water duo with Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie makes a welcome to television in NBC's new hit competition series Fashion Star. Richie, the adopted daughter of musician Lionel Richie, makes for a highly credible fashion mentor alongside Jessica Simpson, John Varvatos and host Elle Macpherson, as she offers sage advice that comes from launching her own two successful fashion lines Winter Kate and House of Harlow 1960. Richie speaks with The Advocate to offer style advice for gay men, disclose the lesbian celebrity she steals fashion ideas from, and reveal whether there will ever be a Simple Life reunion.


The Advocate: You have two fashion lines of your own. How did branding your own fashion lines help with the advice you give designers on Fashion Star?
Nicole Richie: Well, what I tell all of these designers is that there’s a difference in being an artist and being an actual brand and it’s about making that transition and making it in a smooth and successful way. We don’t want them to design some $10, 000 couture gown, because as wonderful as that is and you can definitely see their artistry, that doesn’t always appeal to America. So, with this show, we’re talking about how to make a name for yourself in America and how to sell to American customers.

What’s the take-away message from the new show?
It’s about creating clothes that are accessible and creating clothes that are immediate, because, you know men and women, but especially women right now, we are just wearing so many hats and doing so much. That’s what America’s all about. America is about immediate everything. So we wanted to bring something to them that was the epitome of immediate fashion, that is seeing clothes walk down a runway and then being able to hold it in your hand less than 24 hours later. Being able to order it online that night or going to the retailers the very next day is something that has never been done before.

I want to know what advice you would offer the typical gay guy. Is it more important to have a signature look or be really creative and versatile with wardrobe choices?
Growing up in L.A., I can’t say there is a typical gay guy. There are many different versions of gay men. Some have good style and some don’t. It’s not like just because you’re gay you’re fashionable. I would say to any man to just dress for themselves and be comfortable in their bodies and be confident no matter what.