Darkening things up as the winter season nears, Ashlee Simpson showed off a snazzy new jet-black hairdo while out in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.

Giving a big smile for the paparazzi as she strolled along with a gal pal, the “Pieces of Me” singer was out for a visit to a local medical building for a doctor’s checkup.

The sighting comes amidst reports that Miss Simpson is planning her own fashion line, supposedly called the Ashlee Simpson Collection.

Of the idea, a source tells Star magazine, “Ashlee wants to start a clothing line. She wants it to be both preppy and punk rock. She thinks she can really succeed in fashion.”

Looking a tad flustered, Ashlee Simpson was spotted going through security at LAX Airport earlier today (September 2).

The “Outta My Head” star is traveling just ahead of the season premiere of “Melrose Place” – which airs this Tuesday, September 8th at 9/8 c.

And it sounds like Miss Simpson enjoys her “Melrose Place” character, Violet Foster.  In a recent interview she told, “It’s going to take a while for the audience to figure her out, which has been a lot of fun to play.”

Ashlee continues, “She does lots of things that leave you hanging. We’re still working on developing her. She does sneaky things that the other characters don’t know about, but the audience will know that she’s doing it.”

After a night of fun and excitement at the CW pre-Upfront party, Ashlee Simpson was spotted up and at ‘em this morning in New York City.

The “Pieces of Me” songstress looked focused as she strolled down the Manhattan street after leaving her hotel en route to the CW Upfronts.

In related news, it has officially been announced that Simpson’s show “Melrose Place” will begin its run on the CW immediately following “90210″ on Tuesday nights.

And given what a potent combination this was for the FOX network back in the 1990s, perhaps we’ll have another dynamic duo of shows to look forward to this fall.

Making good use of their time in New York City, Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz split up yesterday to tend to their own affairs.

The Fall Out Boy rocker opted for some father-son bonding and took Bronx Mowgli out for a walk in his stroller as the paparazzi looked on.

And of course, Pete donned his typical urban hip vibe with a black FC zip-up hoodie teamed with a pair of black jeans and a newsboy cap.

Meanwhile, Ashlee was also out on the Manhattan streets, toting around a large Coco Chanel handbag along with a white top, blue skirt, and black stockings.

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is moving into “Melrose Place.”

The singer-actress has been tapped as a lead on the CW’s “Melrose” update, returning to series television seven years after landing her breakthrough role on the WB’s “7th Heaven.”

On the CBS Par-produced “Melrose,” Simpson-Wentz will play Melrose Place’s newest resident, Violet, a bright-eyed but shrewd small-town girl and recent L.A. transplant who has come to town with a secret.

Her character draws parallels to the original series’ blond, budding-Southern-belle starlet, Sandy Harling (Amy Locane).

On the new “Melrose,” Simpson-Wentz joins the previously cast Michael Rady and Katie Cassidy.

Simpson-Wentz is returning to television after a four-year hiatus from acting to focus on her music career. She guest-stars on the March 18 episode of “CSI: NY,” also produced by CBS Par. In the episode, she and husband Pete Wentz will play Bonnie-and-Clyde wannabes.

Simpson-Wentz is repped by CAA and her father and manager, Joe Simpson.

I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister’s weight. A week after the inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman’s weight or figure as a headline on Fox News.
All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms and just because you’re a celebrity, there shouldn’t be a different standard.
Is this something you would say to your wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, or even a friend?
I seriously doubt it.
How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure?
Now can we focus on the things that really matter.