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Hollywood star Amanda Bynes came to the Steve & Barry's inside Oakland Mall in Troy in support of her new clothing line "Dear." The 21-year-old actress signed autographs for her fans on Thursday. She is on a nationwide tour to promote the clothes just in time for the holidays.

The new fashion line includes everything from t-shirts to skirts to handbags and jewelry. "Dear" also offers jackets, hooded sweatshirts, jeans, button-down shirts and much more. It's only available at Steve & Barry's locations across the country.

In an exclusive interview, Bynes describes her decision to start the fashion line: "I've always been a big fan of clothes. I love drawing. It's a fun little side job for me to do."

The actress joins Sarah Jessica Parker and Vanessa Williams with clothing collections at Steve & Barry's. "It's very exciting. I love them both. It's a very fun thing for me," she said.

The "Dear" fashion line launched at Steve & Barry's stores on August 16. All of the items are guaranteed to be priced below $20. The clothes are targeted towards teenage girls. "It's a fast selling line," the actress said.

Everything was designed by the star herself. Steve & Barry's ran some ideas by her but she had to give final approval before anything was produced. Bynes said: "It took about six months to a year" to go from ideas on paper to the final product.

Bynes is a very talented girl. She's been in lots of movies and TV shows including What I Like About You which was taped from 2002-2006. Her latest film is Sydney White and she was given the main role in it.

What does the 21-year-old star enjoy more...performing in a movie, for a TV show or designing clothes? "I love them both," she said. "I always loved performing. I always loved drawing. I hope I don't have to get rid of one of them. Let's just say a little bit of both."

Hundreds of fans filled Steve & Barry's for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the Hollywood star and get an autograph. People were lined up zig-zag throughout the store like an individual would while waiting in line for a ride at Disney World. There was also people lined up outside the store. Many of them had to wait an hour or more to see the celebrity.

"It's cute," said Kayla Gallagher, a 12-year-old from Commerce, as she describes the new clothing line. "She liked our outfits. We were shopping last Saturday and a guy came up to us and told us about it. I like the movie she's in. I saw Hairspray a couple weeks ago."

"I think she's cute and quirky," said Elizabeth Brocqway, who came with her niece and sister from Hazel Park. "We didn't know she was coming out [with a fashion line]. She's very nice. I really like her TV show. I really like Hairspray."

"She seems really down to earth," said Carol Camacho, a Lincoln Park mother. She arrived at 4:30 p.m. with her daughter to see Bynes and get her autograph. "She's very pleasant. I said, 'Hi Amanda!' She liked my daughter's sweatshirt."

"She's really pretty," said Melissa Yacheson, who came with her friend Melissa Casada, both from New Baltimore. "They're really cute. I bought a purse," said Yacheson of the new clothing line.

Amanda Bynes will wrap up her tour of her new clothing line "Dear" on Saturday, December 8. She will appear at Sardis Road in Charlotte, North Carolina at 10:00 a.m. and at Eastpoint Mall in Baltimore at 3 p.m. Fans are required to show a recepit from Steve & Barrys dated up to five days before the appearance to get an autograph.

For more information, visit www.dearbyamanda.com.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Amanda Bynes makes an appearance at Steve & Barry's in Troy, Mich.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The actress shakes the hands of a parent who brought her daughters to the store to get an autograph.

 

©AMERICAJR.com

AmericaJR.com's Jason Rzucidlo meets Amanda Bynes at Steve & Barry's.

 

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