Fashion Star contestant Hunter Bell, who designs the line Hunter Dixon, spent hours with Jessica Simpson each day when filming the show. Simpson typically worked with her team for around four hours per challenge — something Bell found invaluable. "Working with Jessica Simpson — I mean, she's smart," Bell said. "People don't realize it but she is running a huge business." Simpson's clothing line is said to be worth $1 billion.
Simpson often encouraged Bell to make her clothes sexier. "Even though Jessica's curvy, she still wants to play up that sex appeal," Bell said. "I hadn't been utilizing that tool as much in my designs, so she really challenged me. She'd be like, 'Remember, they want to be sexy.' I'd want to do dresses to the ground and she'd be like, just cut it off, show the leg. That was great feedback."
Bell went on the show around the time she was considering shuttering her label: "When you're so desperate, you're like should I close? I've been married for three years, I'm 33, is it time to have kids? You do start to think about these kinds of things as a woman." But Simpson and the Fashion Star casting director who convinced her to go on the show by telling her she could win the whole thing inspired her to keep going. She currently sells her clothing in Anthropologie and boutiques nationwide.
