Jessica Simpson Collection
Fashion Star
Weight Watchers
Jessica Simpson’s famous friends and family members feted the second-time mom-to-be at L.A.’s Hotel Bel Air on April 14, Us Weekly has learned. The Tom Sawyer-themed shower was attended by actress Jessica Alba, hairstylist Ken Paves and former personal assistant CaCee Cobb, who happens to be expecting her first child with husband Donald Faison.
The guest of honor’s mother, Tina Simpson, was one of the first people to arrive, a source tells Us. “Tina was so thrilled to be at the shower and seemed over the moon for Jessica,” the source says. ” She was so bubbly and happy.” Jessica’s younger sister, Ashlee Simpson, showed up just before 2:30 p.m.
Yellow and blue gift bags were placed on a table near the entrance, and according to the source, “there was also a child-sized, royal blue antique-style car” on display. (Jessica revealed in March that her second baby — joining big sister Maxwell, 11 months — is a boy.)
Wearing a blue Diane von Furstenberg mini-dress and nude Brian Atwood heels, Jessica arrived moments later with her adorable little girl. “She woke up super tired,” the 32-year-old Fashion Star mentor was overheard telling pals.
Attendees gathered around antique wooden tables and distressed wooden benches and dined on comfort foods including pigs in a blanket, mini sliders and salad. There was also a three-tiered baby blue cake featuring a Tom Sawyer topper. “Jessica looked so happy and content with her family and friends around her,” the source tells Us of Eric Johnson’s fiancee of 29 months. “She had the biggest grin on her face.”
At Jessica’s rustic baby shower for Maxwell in March 2012, the “I Wanna Love You Forever” singer was surrounded by her mom and sister, in addition to actresses Alba, Ellen Pompeo and Odette Annable.
After Jessica Simpson announced the worst-kept pregnancy secret in Hollywood on Christmas morning with a tweet featuring 7-month-old daughter Maxwell Drew and the words “big sis,” Weight Watchers quickly scrambled to publicly make nice with the former reality star. But they also stressed the fact that Simpson is, indeed, still under contract to shed her baby weight.
It was rumored company execs were furious about her second pregnancy in the midst of her $4 million deal with them. But Weight Watchers solved that problem, confirming to Confidenti@l that Simpson will still work on the “Expect Amazing” campaign after she gives birth to baby number two next summer. In other words, she’s not getting out of this one.
On Christmas, Simpson debuted a Weight Watchers commercial where she flaunted her 50-pound loss. Earlier she’d been featured in a video that showed her from the shoulders up, sparking rumors she was struggling to slim down from her high of 170 pounds for the company.
“This year is all about new beginnings for me,” Simpson, dressed in jeans and a flannel, states in the new commercial. “Being healthy has become a part of who I am, which is great timing, because I’m having another baby.”
The same day, Weight Watchers sent her a tweet saying: “Congrats to @Jessicasimpson, Eric (Johnson) and big-sister-to-be Maxwell! Your WW family is so thrilled for you. What an amazing year you’ve had!”
Weight Watchers execs played saccharine-sweet after reportedly fuming behind the scenes over her new bun in the oven. And a rep for the company insists there will be “no changes” to Simpson’s contract and that she will remain their ambassador, even though she won’t be on the program during her pregnancy. She will just have to lose the weight the second time around.
“There have been no changes to our business agreement with Jessica. We have a great relationship and are very happy for her,” company spokeswoman Stephanie Schulman tells Confidenti@l’s Marianne Garvey. “After she gives birth, Jessica and her doctor will decide when she may resume following the Weight Watchers program.”
That’s when, not if. Even though Cheryl Callan, senior vice president of marketing at Weight Watchers, says, “We couldn’t be happier for Jessica, Eric and big sister-to-be Maxwell.”
After 34 years of marriage, Tina and Joe Simpson, parents to pop stars Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, have decided to call it quits.
“It is an amicable split and there is no third party involved,” the couple’s rep told People magazine. “Any other related allegations are completely false. The family appreciates your respect for their privacy at this time.”
According to TMZ, Tina Simpson, who married Joe in 1978, filed for the divorce on September 24 in McLeannan County, Texas, claiming, “The marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict in personalities.” Tina also stated that she has separate property from her estranged husband that she is looking to keep.
In August 2011, Joe shared with his Twitter followers that he and Tina were celebrating their 33rd anniversary in Hawaii. “Enjoying 33 years of adventure with Tina Ann drew,” Joe tweeted. “Celebrating in Hawaii!”
Joe, often referred to as “Papa Joe,” is a former youth pastor and Baptist minister and is the longtime manager to both his daughters.
Joe and Tina were often featured on their daughters’ MTV reality shows: Jessica and ex-husband Nick Lachey’s “Newlyweds” and “The Ashlee Simpson Show.” The couple recently celebrated the birth of their second grandchild, when Jessica and fiancé Eric Johnson gave birth to daughter Maxwell in May.
“Proud PaPaJoe !! Beautiful baby girl,” Joe tweeted. “What a miracle!”
Ashlee has a 3-year-old son, Bronx, with ex-husband Pete Wentz.
Last month, Joe Simpson pleaded not guilty to DUI charges after being arrested in Los Angeles on August 4 on suspicion of driving under the influence.
She just had baby Maxwell Drew two weeks ago, but Jessica Simpson is already giving birth to another venture: a maternity line. The designer announced plans for her latest collection, aptly named Jessica Simpson Maternity, just this morning.
Simpson’s new line — which will be available at Destination Maternity, Motherhood Maternity and Macy’s stores this fall — includes “breezy, everyday pieces aimed at the modern mom-to-be who wants to maintain her fashion edge throughout her pregnancy,” according to a release.
“I’m so excited to partner with Destination Maternity to design a collection of fashionable styles that make you look and feel great,” Simpson said in the release. “You want to wear clothes that are flattering to your baby bump; you want to show your bump off.”
The clothes (see a sampling above) will have a vintage 1970s feel, and include printed tops, maxi dresses, jackets, blazers, sweaters, knits and denim, starting at just $36. Wonder if we’ll see any leopard-print caftans in the collection?