NEW YORK - She won fans and became a fashion icon with her tales of single life in Sex and the City, and yesterday Sarah Jessica Parker sparked a shopping frenzy when she unveiled her own clothing collection.
Hundreds of women queued in a New York mall tosee Parker launch her Bitten label, based on her belief that it's "every woman's inalienable right to have a pulled-together, stylish, confident wardrobe with money left over to live."
But while Parker's character Carrie preferred high-end designer clothes - from Ralph Lauren, Dolce and Gabbana and Escada to Manolo Blahnik shoes - the actress' fashion line, which she designed herself, is considerably more affordable with $20 dresses and $10 tops.
"We love her," said Kris Young, 34, a make-up artist who got up at 3am with three friends to drive to Manhattan from Columbia, Maryland, and queued several hours to see Parker.
"I think it's a great idea that she made it so affordable and the sizes are so broad," she said.
"This is more real-life, everyday and everyone can have a piece of it."
Parker's fashion collection is being stocked by retail chain Steve & Barry's and the company's Manhattan Mall store was mobbed by hundreds of mainly female shoppers, with many leaving laden with bags of clothes.
"We came to see Sarah Jessica Parker today because we're big Sex and the City fans and we think she has a great sense of fashion," said Lucille Barresi, 49, a fashion teacher from Livingston, New Jersey.
The launch of a clothing line by Parker - whose motto is "fashion is not a luxury, it's a right" - follows a trend of retailers hiring celebrities to help win an increasingly competitive battle for fashion-savvy mid-market shoppers.
Singers Madonna and Kylie Minogue have designed clothes for Swedish chain H&M, model Kate Moss put together a collection for Britain's Top Shop, singer Lily Allen struck a deal with Britain's New Look and high-end designers Stella McCartney and Josh Goot designed ranges for Target Australia.
