USA TODAY Sexy All The Way Through

Timberlake's gear on racks, runway

Updated 10/12/2006 9:46 PM ET

Timberlake calls his William Rast line "the most normal."

By Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY


He already brought SexyBack.

Now, singer Justin Timberlake is going after the rest of your body with his William Rast clothing line, launched with his friend and roommate, Trace Ayala.

They're taking their spring '07 style to their first fashion show Tuesday at L.A.'s Fashion Week.

Timberlake, whose album FutureSex/LoveSounds recently topped the Billboard charts, jokes that he and Ayala whipped up their collection because "we were bored."

But seriously, the singer says, "it's something we always wanted to do together and never felt that there was anyone we could translate our vision to that would execute it properly."

The guys, both 25, grew up near each other in Tennessee and named the collection after their grandfathers. Their spring '07 gear consists of polo shirts, cord jackets and cashmere sweaters, along with jeans; the clothes are sold at Bloomingdale's ($180-$233).

Timberlake wears the jeans in his "normal life" and "not because he has to," Ayala says. In an industry glutted with celebrity clothing lines, Timberlake says, he is hesitant to cash in on his fame to sell jeans. "We want the brand to exist on its own," he says. "That's why you haven't seen me doing any kind of print campaign." Ayala says, "We use the celebrity in it in the best way possible." Meaning the guys and their pals — including Jessica Alba and Timberlake's girlfriend, Cameron Diaz — don the gear because they like it.

The singer jokes that compliments he gets from fans of the denim are "music to my ears." "I was in New York, and a guy came up to me, and he said, 'I love your new song,' and he was wearing the jeans. And I don't know if he knew they were mine or not, but it was one those things," Timberlake says.

What does he think makes their collection stand out?

"It's the most normal."


From www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-12-timberlake-side_x.htm

Timberlake, roommate Trace talk shop

Updated 10/12/2006 9:48 PM ET

By Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY


Justin Timberlake has a simple explanation for the success of his year-old clothing line, William Rast.

"Trace does it all and I take the credit for it," jokes the singer. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Trace. He's so much of the passion behind the brand."

That would be Trace Ayala, Timberlake's childhood friend from Tennessee, roommate and business partner. The two run their fashion line together, but Ayala does most of the day-to-day work on it.

"I think it's the perfect mixture. He keeps me on my toes, for sure," says Ayala. "I have more of a business mind."

When he sees a girl wearing the jeans, or hears how much someone likes them, that's "music to my ears, no pun intended!" says Timberlake. "That's actually more exciting than hearing SexyBack in a club right now."

Timberlake and Ayala work and play together in perfect harmony. "We're still two dudes," says Ayala.

Adds Timberlake: "The things that Trace and I fight about are brotherly things, but not fashion and not about business. We respect each other and we take it seriously."

As for creating a clothing line, Timberlake likes it to recording an album because of the lag-time between finishing a product and seeing it on store shelves.

"It's like putting together an album. I created SexyBack a year ago and I sat there and thought to myself, 'What is going to sound fresh when I put this record out?'" says Timberlake.

When it comes to their own personal style, comfort is key.

"We love jeans and sweatshirts and vintage T-shirts," says Ayala. "Being from the South, we pretty much get influences from everywhere we go. Having jeans on with an amazing belt from Japan is really cool."

Says Timberlake, who wears Rast both on the red carpet and in real life: "You really want things to fit. Our new skinny jeans are my staple for right now."