The cards predict a confusing show peppered with lameness!We will say that despite the somewhat institutional issues with this show, there is a slow arc of improvement going on over the season. The show's not as dark or as sloppy as it once was. Everything's tightened up a bit and everybody is asserting themselves in their roles, for good or bad. While we didn't love everything about this episode, it was one of the better ones, just like last week's.
As far as inspiration for a look goes, Tarot's no worse than any of the other silly things they could have thrown at them. At least there was no trash or car parts involved.
But sitting them down and subjecting them to a reading? EL LAME-O GRANDE. Super-lame. Lame to end all lameness. Embarrassingly lame.On the other hand, the clothes this week were pretty good, but that's more of a consequence of narrowing the contestants down to the more talented ones. We doubt very much that they were so inspired by this incredibly not-lame inspiration challenge that they all suddenly became better designers.
So congrats, Anna! We love this dress. It's probably not the most practical dress in the world, what with sitting being so difficult and all, but it's pretty and stylish and trendy.
And those three qualities are COMPLETELY ABSENT from the manufactured version of the garment. They went from "chic little garden party dress" straight to "Mrs. Clown." They couldn't find ANY fabric closer to the original than THAT?
Because the original fabric is really pretty. It makes the dress almost as much as that crazy skirt does.
The only weak note in our opinion is the belt, which is in too nondescript a color for so much dress. It should either have been in a high-contrast opposing color or it should have been a completely neutral black or white. That bluish gray isn't really adding anything.
Doing those pleats was a huge risk for her because of the "non-flattering" factor and also because of the "way too much" one.
Somehow, she knew just when to stop before either issue reared its head. They are exactly the right size and shape for what she was trying to do. Girl knows what she's doing.
And our Chicken Diva goes home. We are both sad and at the same time very, very confused. To our eyes, there is way more good going on with this outfit than there is bad. And there were FAR worse outfits on that runway.
Let's start with that coat, which we think is amazing, but the judges nit-picked to death.
Beautiful color, amazingly well-executed with lots of detailing. The judges acted as if there was way too much, but have they seen some of the coats out there lately? There's a pocket and a compartment for every possible item one could conceivably leave the house with.
And we thought he did a great take on the unfortunate American habit of traveling in sweat suits.
It was chic and looked great on her and also had some great detailing. On top of everything else, it was practical.
As a traveling outfit, it afforded her some comfort while still looking chic and she had compartments all over her clothing for everything from tickets to breath mints. What else do you need? Maybe he should have added some compartments for holding her shoes. The judges love that sort of shit.
The ONLY part of the outfit that undeniably sucked were those ridiculous pants with their ballooning knees. We understand that they were SO awful that they may have overrided most of the outfit's good points, but the judges completely overreacted to them.
And why did the judges completely overreact to this outfit? Because the crowd of "fashion insiders" did. That's probably our biggest complaint about the show, the judges are forced to restrict their decisions to whichever garments got the lowest and highest scores, which means by definition, the judges are forced to judge their way around other people's decisions and criteria. It's a murky process made doubly so because we have no idea who the vast majority of these people are (except for a shot of maybe 6 or so every episode) and we have no idea what information they've been given about the challenge and what the designers were required to do. "90% of the audience said they wouldn't buy your outfit." Well, okay. Who the fuck are they, then?
7/3/09, 11:40 AM
As usual another suckular episode...Poor Merlin...I can't wait to see the hump that develops on Anna's back in what I hope is a few short years, tiresome hag.
7/3/09, 12:09 PM
The problem I have with James-Paul is that he is too hung up on being an "artist" and being different. Fashion is art, yes, but there's nothing wrong with doing a simple and chic garment (especially when the challenge called for it), instead James Paul gets too hung up on concepts and ideas that just result in some ugly clothes.
He should have gone home.
7/3/09, 12:22 PM
Really Bravo?
You took a clever dress in a pretty, delicate print and made it into that fugly clown dress?
Part of worked for Anna was the print which was fresh and fun without being over powering.
(and I understand the fabric may have been too expensive to use for retail, but nothing could be found that had the same look and easy hand?)
Merlin's outfit was cute (for someone younger) and very well made. I was really surprised when his model walked out instead of Daniella's sheer hot mess.
7/3/09, 3:16 PM
Can you imagine if Uli had been on The Fashion Show?
My God, how many dresses of hers could they have fucked up?
7/3/09, 5:40 PM
I'm DYING at Anna's watered-down dress.
And I disagree; the grey she chose for the piping and belt is a grey in the print, and I think works perfectly. Visualizing a black or white belt, the outfit is overpowered and looks too disjointed. The grey provides a break and definition in the shape without competing with the print.
And the bad knock-off features no belt when it REALLY needs one. Seriously, who is designing these things for the website?
7/3/09, 6:00 PM
I have respect for Fern's expertise, but in her critique of Merlin she came off as an old fuddy duddy. Like me trying to explain the internet to my great-grandmother who is becoming increasingly agitated because the concept is just too foreign.
7/3/09, 7:19 PM
merlin's spiel before his elimination was GENIUS. I couldn't help but yelling, "GO MERLIN!!!"
7/3/09, 11:46 PM
I am soooo happy to know that I am not going crazy. I loved Chicken Divas coat, and the sweatsuit was not horrible. This might be the final straw for me and this god awful show. The two outfits that got passes were unforgivable, and I wanted to hear some bitching about them damnit!
I don't care how much 'vision' and 'talent' JP has, if you can't get it across and can't even execute what you attempt, there comes a time when you are done.
Project Runway cannot come soon enough. I was talking to a coworker about the show and I was like "well, its sort of like project runway, except that this, this, this, this, this and this suck. I also have complaints about this and this." Then I stood there feeling like an idiot for continuing to watch it.
7/4/09, 12:12 AM
Has anyone mentioned how gorgeous Merlin's model was? I just loved her in that coat. Her expression, the authority, she was great!
7/4/09, 2:42 AM
Anon 12:12, I think she was one of the models that walked in TLo's Fire Island fashion show. She is very pretty but usually gets stuck wearing one of the losing designs. Maybe it's a signal to the judges.
7/4/09, 9:42 AM
Let me 'splain it to youse again. The point of this show is drama for entertainment= ratings. It is NOT really about fashion. Do not be confused by the "reality" label. That is why most of this type of reality contest shows are subjective--a question of taste whether in fashion, cooking, modeling, etc.
The "audience" vote is there in order to manipulate the voting and judging to further the drama. The producers can say the audience voted whichever way the producers want them to vote. Then they tell the judges how to vote. Producers do NOT go by what you and I and the rest of the viewing public thinks. They get the opinions of "focus" groups and opinion gurus and other biased and skewed samplings. Which is why they sometimes pick a winner that we all hate and send home someone we like. If they do that too often, the show tanks in ratings. Their aim is to find an ultimate winner that we all like and thus will watch next season's show. Sometimes they get it right.
7/4/09, 10:03 AM
Anonymous
7/3/09 10:57 AM Was I the only one who saw a bit of Siriano in Reco's suit? The ruffled shirt reminded me at once of him.
Alright, its bad enough that someone bitches about biting off of Leanne everytime they see a pleat.
Is it going to be like this everytime someone sees a damn ruffle?
7/4/09, 10:19 AM
BTW, this challenge was so fucking stupid I could wretch!
7/4/09, 10:32 PM
I can't believe Merlin went home over some of the other tragedies that got sent on that runway. And the manufactured dress looks terrible
7/5/09, 7:34 AM
Why are Merlin's model's boobs down near the bottom of her rib cage? Am I just hallucinating?
7/5/09, 11:52 AM
I like Anna's dress, but thought it looked a bit like an umbrella.
Skate pad knees aside, I had no problems with Merlin's outfit, and I loved that jacket, as well as the overall color combination.
This show loves to eliminate anyone who has the rocks to create anything vaguely interesting or experimental. I'd rather see an interesting experiment crash and burn over some generic Target fail.
7/6/09, 9:38 AM
Could you imagine the lint and detritus that builds up in that thing after time? EWEWEW!
This is why we wash clothes, darling.
7/6/09, 12:38 PM
So, I was wondering what you would say about Merlin's outfit. I really liked the coat and the color actually. I liked the cute belt on the sweatpants. You know what I didn't like? Merlin himself. Not that he should have been let go for that reason. I think I would have sent Daniella home myself. WTF was up with that top?
Good Lord, if Bravo can't replicate the designs with some respect for the original, why are they bothering? I thought the pockets would be the hard part. Instead they picked that Cesar Romero as the Joker palette? Fail.
7/6/09, 12:43 PM
Could you imagine the lint and detritus that builds up in that thing after time? EWEWEW!
Carlabarla said:
This is why we wash clothes, darling.
*giggle*
Though even with washing or drycleaning, there's gonna be lint buildup. You've never turned your pants pockets inside-out after a few months and found a nice little ball of lint?
7/6/09, 6:03 PM
I loved Merlin's outfit. The pants had their issues, but other than what are really quibbles, I would have bought that coat at the very least in a hot minute. And Miss Target Designing Mizrahi should not be casting stones at designs found "in bins."
James Paul's dress was a hot mess, illustrating yet again that he doesn't have the remotest interest in the bodies or the person wearing his stuff. Fashion doesn't hang on walls or mannequins, it's meant to be worn, and until he grasps that, he can't begin to compete in this arena.
Merlin really grew on me and I will miss him. I would have loved to see what he could do with a full collection.
7/6/09, 7:08 PM
Whew, I feel vindicated because I thought Merlin/Chicken D/Cantinflas' outfit was really cute and looked great on the model. It was an outfit I would actually wear myself if I looked good in the gathered-knee britches. I usually admire JP's creativity, but his saggy grey number was more than hideous and he should have gone rather than Merlin.
I liked Anna's cupcake dress but the Bravo knockoff looked like it could provide homes for about 10 kangaroo joeys. Why the hell can't they approximate the original design and find similar fabrics for the Bravo versions? The dress really needs the contrasting belt and couldn't they have found a better print than polka dots?. Clown costume is right!
7/7/09, 8:01 AM
I finally watched this last night, so I'm a little behind (it was a long weekend, mmk? :-P). JP definitely should have been sent home. That dress was ridiculously ugly and it looked uncomfortable. And the two jackets of Chicken Diva's outfit were great. If he had made better pants, I think he would still be in it b/c that coat was awesome. I would wear it constantly. Also, the judges made a big deal about it being something a teenager would wear. So? Not that I wear it or like it, but Juicy Couture seems to be doing okay in that market...
7/7/09, 1:22 PM
I loved Merlin's outfit and thought it thought it was one of the best. Very sad.
7/7/09, 3:53 PM
I love Merlin's outfit, and I hate those stupid judges for eliminating him. Merlin's traveling outfit is so chic, cute, and practical. If he shows it in Project Runway he may be the winner. The judges in this show have simply bad taste... And I think they should eliminate Kelly Rowland first.
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