When you make it in music, you won’t know it by the Grammys you win or the other artists aching to collaborate with you. Nowadays, as with several other career paths, the sign you are successful is when you come out with another album…along with a fashion line.

Since fashion lines from songstresses aren’t anything new, some are focusing just on certain areas of fashion for their first run. And what’s a simple and fun item to create a fashion line around? If you’re a female, shoes, of course!

Brown Shoe Co. recently collaborated with singer Fergie and her footwear collection was unveiled at FFANY in June. Fergie described her line as a mix of “hip-hop, everyday casual and high fashion with an edge” to Footwear News on June 2. Carlos Santana, Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani haven’t received a bad mark yet on their footwear designs. I know I wouldn’t mind buying a few myself – this shoe by Santana is just plain hot, Simpson makes some sexy booties and open-toed oxfords, and Stefani obviously channeled her Harijuku girls and anime when designing this shoe.

There are other musicians out there with fashion lines (Justin Timberlake’s William Rast jeans, for example) but shoes seems to be the smart and safe way to break into the fashion business.

He sings a falsetto that makes many gasp (wondering if it is painful to do so I’m sure), has a ‘sexy back’, dances, produces, acts — well, if you call it that. Yes, I’m discussing Justin Timberlake and his newest assignment, being the new face for Givenchy Parfums’ men’s fragrance. I suppose since his tour is finished, his clothing line William Rast is sailing along, and his current squeeze is away in London filming, he thought why not (we know he doesn't need the money). As for Givenchy, this a great coo for them, because Justin has a built-in audience. With that will come thousands of screaming fans — 13 to 40 — rushing the international doors to get the fragrance, and thousands more of amors, significant others, drowning in the scent to keep their partners happy. Cha-ching!