Amanda Bynes Launches dear, a Fashion-Forward Brand with Budget-Friendly Prices.

Casual Sportswear Collection for Today's Younger Woman Exclusive to Retailer Steve & Barry's

PORT WASHINGTON, New York -- This summer will be one that comedic actress and Hollywood "it" girl Amanda Bynes remembers forever. First, her blockbuster movie Hairspray became a hit, and today she launches dear[TM], the star's first-ever apparel, accessory, and footwear line, with casual apparel retailer Steve & Barry's([R]). Bynes, who also starred in What a Girl Wants, She's the Man and will play the lead in the forthcoming Sydney White, collaborated with a team of dedicated Steve & Barry's designers to create the collection of high quality, affordable and comfortable clothing for young women. The dear line is sold exclusively at Steve & Barry's, the national retailer known for keeping every item priced at $19.98 or below.

The dear collection reflects Bynes' personal sense of style and comfort - casual, fun items of clothing every girl will love to live in. It hits stores just in time for back-to-school and features pieces Bynes says were designed "for girls to hold 'dear' for years to come."

The partnership between Bynes and Steve & Barry's was announced earlier this year, with the momentum building up to today's launch. "From the first time I met the Steve & Barry's folks in one of their stores, I got it - I totally got what they were about and knew I wanted to be a part of it," said Bynes. "With dear, I think we've developed a lifestyle brand that girls are going to embrace. I love the fact that girls can shop for a whole wardrobe and mix it and match it in so many ways and still have money left to go out and show off their cute new looks!"

To help celebrate the launch of dear, Bynes will make a special appearance at Steve & Barry's New York City location to greet fans and sign autographs. Later this month, she will go on the dear Tour, visiting several Steve & Barry's locations throughout the country.

The initial assortment of the dear collection offers more than 220 pieces comprising a head-to-toe collection with great-fitting denim jeans, casual pants, dresses, fitted polos, and unique graphic hoodies, cute shoes, adorable hats, bags, belts, and fun, youthful jewelry. Outerwear is also available, including down vests and jackets.

Bynes came up with the name "dear" during her first creative session with the Steve & Barry's team.

Steve & Barry's President Andy Todd said, "Our design team was brainstorming creative direction and Amanda said she wanted to call the line dear. She wanted it to reflect her personal style and all the things that were dear to her. That became our benchmark for all the design elements."

Bynes has been intimately involved with the Steve & Barry's design team in all aspects of the creative process - from developing signature prints, to selecting colors and fabrics and ultimately the cuts and styling on the clothes.

"Amanda is a terrific partner for Steve & Barry's," said Steve & Barry's co-CEO Barry Prevor. "Her fashion sense is young and smart and her collaboration with our designers has yielded a collection we know young women are going to be excited about. But more than that, Amanda is totally in sync and 100 percent behind what we're doing here - creating great quality products for our customers at prices that leave money for fun."

"Steve & Barry's philosophy really drew me to collaborate with them on a clothing line. It is such an important message for teens to know that they don't need to spend a fortune on clothes to look great and have the confidence that goes along with that," said Bynes.

The dear collection is exclusively available in a store-within-store environment featuring specially designed fixtures and signage at Steve & Barry's locations nationwide. More information about dear and Steve & Barry's is available online at www.dearbyamanda.com

ABOUT STEVE & BARRY'S

New York-based Steve & Barry's([R]) is a leading casual apparel retailer that offers high-quality merchandise at astonishing low prices for men, women and children. Founded in 1985, the company operates over 200 anchor and junior anchor shopping center and mall-based locations throughout the U.S. The entire family can find incredible values on Steve & Barry's full lines of denim, t-shirts, cargos, jackets, footwear, shorts, sweatshirts, jerseys, hats, hoodies, chinos, tanks, polos and more. In addition, Steve & Barry's recently launched two of the most high-profile and industry-changing product lines in all of retail. BITTEN([TM]), the first-ever apparel line created by actress and global fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker, and the Starbury[TM] Collection of athletic and lifestyle apparel created with NBA([R]) star Stephon Marbury, are available exclusively at Steve & Barry's stores. Additional information and store locations can be found at www.steveandbarrys.com.

ABOUT AMANDA BYNES

Born and raised in California, the young actress began her career at a comedy camp. As she continued to work on her craft, it was at a showcase performance in Los Angeles that she was discovered and added to the cast of Nickelodeon's All That before becoming the youngest performer to host her own variety sketch show, The Amanda Show. Working steadily since the age of 10, Bynes charmed audiences in the hit comedy Big Fat Liar, What A Girl Wants and the comedy feature She's The Man. Known for her unique style of bold, no-holds-barred physical comedy, Amanda just finished filming the Universal Pictures film Sydney White, which will be released on the heels Hairspray.