Jessica Simpson & Nicole Richie at the Billboard Music Awards in 2003. Photo: Getty Images

Last month NBC’s Fashion Star announced they’d landed their first mentor: Jessica Simpson. The popstar turned fashion designer would coach young designers on everything from design to business and publicity. Now, as the show gears up for its fall premiere, they’ve added two other mentors to a cast including host Elle Macpherson: Nicole Richie and John Varvatos. If Simpson’s conquered one end of the celebrity fashion market and the Olsens another, Richie lies somewhere in the middle. Her jewelry collection, House of Harlow, and clothing, Winter Kate, appeals to both tween fans and fashion forward women. Richie hasn’t been on TV since The Simple Life—which feels like eons ago in reality TV time—but has proven herself first watchable, and then lovable. It’ll be Varvatos’ first time on national TV and a huge boost for the menswear brand. One of NBC’s VPs said in a release, “Jessica, Nicole, John and Elle make the most exciting team we have ever worked with on a reality television show and we are thrilled to feature such an extraordinary group of mentors and designers.”