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RSS'The Fashion Show' Reco speaks the truth
'The Fashion Show' goes back to high school cliques for their inspiration, because lord knows we all want to look 15 again, right? No, me neither.
The Mini Challenge has the designers creating a look to help a New York politico reach voters on the campaign trail. When they expect to see Hilary Clinton, I wonder if they've ever watched the Bravo Network. In reality, the politician is a 17 year old girl running for student body president and they must each pick a book bag at random that contains items depicting a specific clique. Taking those inspiration pieces, they get an hour to decorate a t-shirt. Who's hogging the puffy paints? Daniella ends up winning yet another competition, gaining immunity for the evening.
The Elimination Challenge is to take their clique and design a look for the girl, now in her early 20's. When Johnny tries to contemplate what the jock girl turns into, he shrugs and says "I dunno, someone who works in Home Depot"? Somewhere, there is a girl's softball team that is planning his demise. The designers are given the shortest amount of time thus far on this challenge - less than 24 hours. Which amounts to many of them getting just a few hours of sleep. Still, that is no excuse for Haven dressing like an extra from "Falcon Crest", is it?
It is clear on Isaac's walk through who is struggling and not just by Isaac's incredulous looks or the designers' tearful eyes. When Angel admits that her main inspiration for her B-Girl clique look is Salt-N-Pepa, I peg her as the person we'll be saying good bye to. In the face of Johnny's fringe backed bicycle shorts, this says a lot. But what the montage really highlights is that Isaac instills doubt in the designers, where Tim Gunn provides valuable insight and guidance. Since Isaac is a judge, it's understandable that he tries not to get too involved, but I do miss that mentor element.
The runway show comes off better than anyone expected. Johnny's jockette is embarrassingly off the mark, of course. But Anna's sleek goth and Haven's fashionable skater immediately make up for it with smart fabric choices and details that capture the essence of the inspiration. I love the idea of Reco's grown up "Juliette", matching the ephemeral empire dress with a perfectly fitted heavy plaid mini-vest. But the dress takes the mini too far into trashy for me.
James Paul's isn't very preppy, but is very fashion forward, so he's forgiven. Merlin's is surprisingly apropos for a "Mean Girl", marrying just enough edge to it's frilly-flirtiness. Lidia's nerd too literal, with the smock and high collar. Meanwhile, Daniella's tree-hugger has pants that should be burned immediately, but from the waist up? I would but it all in heartbeat. And then there's Angel. It's bad. Very, very bad. From the wool, fitted slacks, with one leg shorter than the other, to the puffy, shiny, teal vest, it's a horrible costume mockery of hip hop fashion.
Haven and Merlin end up with the top slots for the night, which seems to shock the hell out of Haven. Which speaks volumes about her self-confidence. Merlin takes the win and he can't resist checking out the looks on Reco and Daniella's faces, which he categorizes as a true polaroid moment. The bottom two are Johnny and Angel, which shocks no one. What does end up shocking is the fight the erupts while the judges deliberate.
Johnny is that not altogether rare breed that when faced with fact that 90% of the audience didn't like his work will sniff and haughtily respond "I'm designing for the other 10%". Now I am all for artistic integrity, but fashion is a business and if you want to be successful at it you have to understand it and challenge yourself to excel at it everyday. Thus, I interpret Johnny's claim to not care what others think of his designs as fear of trying to live up to that challenge and failing. So he's half assing it instead, while bragging about all the investors he has waiting for him "back home".
I think Reco agrees with me, because he mutters "I got folks playing in my profession and I am tired of it", before walking away. Keen to incite drama and take the spotlight off his own abundant failure, Johnny tells Haven that Reco was mad that she was in the top two because he thinks he should have been there himself. Which is not even close to what Reco said. Haven, being the insecure person she is, jumps all over Reco when he returns, with Daniella egging her on. In my opinion, Reco comes out looking the best, if only for speaking his mind honestly and showing that he has so much desire and drive for the industry that he is insulted by Johnny's 'who cares' attitude.
And it's an attitude we will endure another week, as Angel is sent home. Was that a fair elimination? What did you think of the fight? Were the designers purposefully deprived of sleep to illicit the tears and anger we saw tonight?
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i had no idea what a B-girl was either, felt sorry for ANgel.
Angel was a mess so its hard to argue, but Johnny should have gone.
I didn't appreciate Reco's childishness or his lies that he wasn't saying anything. Then of course repeating it all loudly to the group when pressed. I agreed, but it was poor sportsmanship to say it (especially that way). Haven came off the best then Reco, then Johnny with Daniella flailing about in her pool of bitter meangirl wannabeness.
Daniella is evil, I hope she goes home next. I don't know why the judges liked her outfit so much, I thought it was ugly.
right on reco. i love this guy even if his design for the drama girl last night was a total train wreck. normally he is an amazing designer. i'm rooting for him, merlin, anna, or jean paul. daniella is evil. way too full of herself for one so young.
and johnny you are playing in your profession. you have talent but be grateful and humble. arrogance is ugly.
it was time for angel to go though. she messed up last week, and this week was just embarr***ing. not know what a b girl is? what planet does she live on!! what shows does she watch? magazines does she read? you need to get out of fashion if, as the judges said, you don't know what the young people are being. my goodness girl.
wasn't sure how i'd feel about this show compared to project runway which i love, but aside from thinking kelly rowland is an ick brain and brings nothing to the show, i actually love it better than project runway. love the mini challenges.
I don't know much about fashion, but I haven't heard the term B-girl and I listen to hip-hop AND I am a black man, so to have Kelly Rowland blast Angel for not knowing the term ****ed me off kinda. I don't hear the term in streets either and if Kelly's definition is correct then we just said "urban" to describe that look. Furthemore, Kelly's little buffoon dance she did to show what a B-girl does is the reason why Beyonce is touring the world and she is co-hosting a show about a topic that she seemingly doesn't know much about. That dance was a slap to MY face and I am sure about half of anyone involved in the hip hop culture today.
And where is Issac's hip-hop inspired line? Has he ever done one in the past? Good questions that I would like answered. But on the other token Angel's outfit was hideous and looked stereotypical, but most of ther others were as well.
Reco was right. If someone didn't give a damn about the show then why waste everyone else's time? I don't hate Daniella, but I think she is getting full of herself and that's going to quickly lead to her demise.
This show is one of the meanest, stupiest shows I have ever seen!! The hosts are beyond stupid and they gossip and think they are so great. I can't stand them and the way they treat the designers! They should not be going in like Tim Gunn, and pre-judge what is being made, since unlike Tim Gunn they're actually judges, not mentors. They never say how much money they were given to get the material. Come on! Always only two top designers at the end and only two bottom??
And you people on your high-horse about B-girls. I don't know what that is, nor many of what they named. But, you think you're so smart because you do and then slam someone who doesn't (just like the judges). The way they treated Angel was IT for me!! No reason at all to degrade her (or any of them) like that. She already told the two hosts when they came in to check how everyone was doing, that she had no idea what a B-girl was, etc. Would she really sabotage herself? Please.
This show is a joke and a fake!! The two hosts need to go! This is just another "Make Me a Supermodel" show!
Don't even compare it to "Project Runway". That show has cl*** ... and the designers are treated with respect ... even when critiqued.
I'm sorry, but anyone who loves this show, sure must hate him/herself. Because, anyone with self respect, would not be watching a show with such hate, and degrading insults, etc.
But, whatever! Enjoy!
I'm outta here!!
I think it's fair to criticize a wannabe successful designer, who goes on a television competition to make that happen, about not knowing about popular culture. Do these people not watch any of these kinds of shows BEFORE they go on them?? That's just crazy if they don't.
However, I do agree that the judges shouldn't be looking at and making comments about the designers' work while it's still in progress. Especially when their comments sometimes influence the designers.
Bye AC!
where did that comment come from judge kelly in the last episode saying to angel that she was insulted by her hip hop design! kelly portrays herself as a cl***y woman but underneath her true colors has shown the ghetto side, and how ridiculous and ignorant she was!
I hope Ms Rowland in the future sincerely apologize to Angel. Kelly really showed forth her true colours, an ignorant lady!
What the heck is Reco's website? Surely he has a website? I want to see more of his work. Love the attitude.