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What do loungewear and tarot cards have in common? Nothing really, but 'The Fashion Show' used both for challenges this week, so pull on your PJs, call your psychic friend and lets recap!
It's the Mini Challenge that taps the designers to wake up thinking about fashion, with a special delivery of silk bathrobes as their inspiration. Apparently, the morning is no time for looking chic, because most of what the designers turn out is just tired. But Anna manages something the is cute so she's the de facto, really.
Isaac tells the designers to meet him on West 29th, and when they arrive they find out they will receive a psychic reading. While I listen to the blood curdling screams of the religious right, James-Paul wonders exactly how creepifying fashion is supposed to be and Reco contemplates possession as a career move. It's no celtic cross spread, but each designers listens to their advice and wonders what they are supposed to do with it. Well, use it as inspiration, of course, darlings!
And this is were listening skills, interpretation and fashion collide. Most of the fashions are related to their cards in only the most ephemeral of senses, but some seem to actively contradict the psychic's advice. For example, James-Paul was told to be more practical with his High Priestess card. But there is nothing intuitive or aware of sensibility in what he creates. Even Isaac asks what makes the outfit practical, and James-Paul seems to think that the fact that it is a skirt and a blouse is practical. But not when they look like sad and droopy gathers of excess fabric hanging off in unflattering ways. A big saggy butt is never practical.
The rest of the runway for the Elimination Challenge is equally hit and miss. Merlin's color scheme is great, but there are so many details in straps an piping and gathers and flaps and belts that the overall look feels sort of aimless. Reco's is far and away my favorite, and at this point I am an unabashed fan of his work and want him to win. His look is a suit that feels precise and modern without being fussy or repressed. In fact, it feels youthful and romantic. Impressive, to say the least.
Also romantic feeling is Anna's dress. Though I would not wear something that so clearly accentuates the hips, and honestly what woman over a size 2 would? I can recognize that it is different, extremely well proportioned and with sublime color and pattern decisions brought into it's execution. It's unflattering done in a flattering way, which is all the more clear when compared to James-Paul, which is unflattering done in an offensively boring way.
The last two are the worst offenders in my book. Daniella's outfit is something that I swear to you, I wore to high school in 1994 (yes, I just completely dated myself). I think the only difference was that mine had a little bit of abstract print trim at the cuffs that matched the abstract print skirt. Other than that, same outfit. It was wrong then and it's still wrong now. Only now it's wrong and dated. Lastly, there is Johnny, who apparently saw Jean Paul Gaultier's fall 2008 show. Sure, the cage skirt is nothing new, but mixing it with lime green and off the shoulder design? Yeah, I saw that couture too, Johnny. Gaultier did it better. Much.
It's a tidbit that I am surprised the judges didn't call him on or even put him in the final two for. Instead that is passed to James-Paul and Merlin, and the judges find Merlin's lack of clear direction more galling than James-Paul's floppy shoulders and seat. However, in the clips for next week, it seems someone gets nabbed for making a knock-off and I have to wonder if it's Johnny. The win this week goes to Anna, but it seems it is only because her design more clearly followed the psychic's advice, because Reco's outfit if to die for. Anna's is cute, but I am baffled by Bravo's market version of it, which looks more like a clown costume than a cute summer dress.
Who do you think will be in the final four? Which collection are you most looking forward to seeing?
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oh thats look great
Why did the blonde woman (from Harper's Bazaar) act all rude towards Daniella?
When Daniella was talking about her piece (which was a jumpsuit) she sort of laughed and said something like "cause I always wear a jumpsuit to bed..." and the blonde woman rudely answered with some snarky comment about how they're different in that sense. Wasn't what she (blondie) said but definitely HOW she said it. Bugged me.
You're right about BRAVO's version of Anna's dress....it's not cute at all. Doesn't do the original dress justice.
It seems like the judges have given James Paul way too many chances. He's been off the mark SO many times, and they keep him because of his 'genius'. Not a fan.
this was a week i really didn't get. i thought reco should have won. my other top vote getter was merlin. my friends and i loved the sweats and would have killed for the coat.
while james paul didn't 'exactly' make practical i loved his dress. it was a quirky thing that definitely has been worn in some similar way on the red carpet. he would not have been in the bottom.
my two hiddies were daniella and johnnie, and while it's hard to pick who offended me more - johnnie with his 'nobody's gonna wear that anymore' or daniella with her 'now that's just plain ugly' - i'd have to give it to daniella. but of course the judges weren't gonna do that. they need their daniella drama to make the show.
sadly, cuts are now going to be made as much for value to the show as hideousness. jean paul and johnny are next. probably reco setting up a 'friendly' anna and daniella final.
Merlin's was hardly the worst. It's become increasingly obvious that the final decisions aren't about what anyone thinks, except the producers and what they think will make for good TV.
I also agree that the blonde 'Mini Challege' witch is just obnoxious and adds nothing to this show. The whole Mini Challenge adds nothing. I'd rather see more footage of the designing and working and angst over the final piece that goes down the runway.
I also keep wondering week after week WHY WHY WHY er have to listen to Kelly Rowland yap about fashion. What does this bimbo know about fashion?? NOTHING. They need to lose her, lose the Mini Challenge, and lose the blonde witch.
God, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE, is my Tim Gunn???????????
Yes I'm tired of meeting the blond witch as well. I agree her comment to Daniella sounded really vile and obviously daniella took it that way, but in hindsight I think it was sarcasm and implying they did have something in common - I think that only because she was wearing an ugly jumpsuit.
Normally I don't like Merlin but this week he was definitely top 3 for me. There was a HUGE gap between the top 3 and bottom 3 (the latter being D, J and JP). Those were all awful, uncreative and unsellable. JP probably would have been my elimination fighting it out with D. I don't like D at all, but given how awful Johnny is and how JP can't seem to put his vision onto a model, we know the top 3. Then it'll be Reco and Anna. I didn't agree with some of the earlier decisions but this top two was probably inevitable.
I like the minichallenge concept, but agree Kelly has nothing to add. She's a poor dresser, a confused inarticulate and unengaging host and unknowledgeable to boot. Katee Lee Joel was better at least she wasn't intrusive.
I liked Merlin's outfit, too. Guess that shows what I know! I thought Daniela's outfit was horrible. Anna's was just impossible and unwearable by anyone other than a beanstalk! Adored Reco's pantsuit!James-Paul may be a genius, but there are a lot of geniuses out there who are going broke! Make clothes we can wear, please!
As for Johnny, I just can't even stand to look at him. And his clothes are atrocious. Oh, please. . . make him or Daniela go next!
i liked merlin's outfit too--how funny--guess i have no fashion sense either.
Wait who went home??? I did not see this episode, but my guess is Merlin. Someone please reply with an answer.
Why bothering posting if you're not going to read the recap and comments since the answer to your question can be found there?