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Here’s a trend to ponder this weekend, if you plan on doing some shopping.

Celebrity-branded clothing increasingly is showing up in stores.

Most recently, chic handbags, tall boots and clothing designed by Ashley Judd, who is an actress and the daughter and sister of country music stars, landed in Goody’s stores. To the left is a marketing shot of her showing off some of the apparel.

The good news is that this merchandise, from skinny jeans to high-heeled pumps and sports wear, is affordable, since it’s carried by retailers that already categorize themselves as discount stores.

Try on some of these local examples for size.

• Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear, with a location at Tanglewood Mall, introduced Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten line earlier this year, and last month, it began selling the dear line by Amanda Bynes. Look for Venus Williams’ active wear EleVen apparel to show up on store racks in November.

• Ashley Judd’s collection of casual and dressy blouses and denim is sold at Goody’s stores, including the one at Tanglewood Mall.

• Payless Shoes is carrying handbags and several pairs of footwear created by designer Lela Rose, from short boots to peep-toe pumps. They’re not yet in Roanoke area Payless stores, but they are sold online.

The motto of Parker’s Bitten line is “Fashion isn’t a luxury, it’s a right.” Retailers are using big names to lure customers into their stores, with a mission of affordability. For Bynes’ dear clothing, you’ll find $14.98 jeans, $19.98 v-neck sweaters and $10.98 quarter-sleeve, casual shirts.

We may see this trend for awhile longer. Private-label products are on the rise at many stores, and designer co-branded items are making up a growing chunk of the selection, according to reports by some retail analysis firms.
In 2005, we saw an example in the Roanoke area of how retailers use well-known people to advertise products. Elizabeth “Buffy” Waltrip, wife of NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip, modeled jewelry for Fink’s Jewelers Christmas catalog.

Does this marketing approach work? As a consumer, do you care which celebrity is branding or endorsing clothing, accessories or any other products? Let me know your thoughts.