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68 comments:
Oh, you need to include the gold coctail dress and the grey evening gown...
I guess I just have to accept the fact that Laura is too fabulous for color.
She looks radiant on the runway, doesn't she?
The link for Laura's collection takes me to Uli's collection. Am I doing something wrong?
yes, i love the grey evening gown!
i'm so happy she made it to bryant park!
the third has to be Michael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anon 1, just type "Laura Bennett" in the search box.
Anon 2, all four of the final four will show at Bryant Park. One is a decoy, and we won't know which until next week.
These collections are unbelievable! That dress of Uli's with the blue underskirt - I'd wear that in a SECOND! And Laura... where has she been hiding all these other necklines she knows how to do?!?
I can't get to the website at ALL, please tell me Jeffrey really bombed. I hate that little toad. And I'm DROOLING to see Michael's - I thought he was a shoe-in for the win, but seeing Uli and Laura step it up SO HARD is making me think it's anybody's game.
Was Laura just too pregnant and happy on the runway? I can't believe how much she's grown on me.
I think the way it works is that all four final contestants show a collection. One person is actually a "decoy" so people can't figure out who the final three are. I feel worried that Laura's collection is so much smaller than Uli's; does that mean anything?
All 4 look great!
All four look great!
The woman manages to make clothes for real grown-ups look HOT HOT HOT.
Since Laura seems to have the fewest photos I can only assume she is the decoy - I hope I'm wrong! LOVED both Uli's and Laura's collections. I'm a little disappointed in Michael's and hated Jeffrey's (as if that's a big surprise).
Go to Getty Images and click on editorial and look at ALL of Laura's collection. She knocked it out of the park. FABULOUS. Every bit as good as any of the major designers showing this week. You can actually scroll back through the week and look at all the other collections. If she doesn't win this I will have to buy something of Jeffery's and wear it in public in protest.
I'm so worried, why doesn't Laura have a swimsuit like the other three? Was she really auf'ed?
Very sophisticated and beautiful collection. And Laura really glowed. Good goin', Bad Mommy.
Based on the photos (and knowing that one of the four is really a decoy), I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the top two will be Laura and Jeffrey. And what a contrast!
I'll be rooting for Jeffrey. That will make one of us.
No swimsuit, Laura? That doesn't bode well. Remember how they threw an extra garment challenge at the designers at the 11th hour last season? Maybe it was a swimsuit this time and if Laura is the decoy then she probably would not have created one.
I love Laura's collection. She could sell some of those right off the runway for the holiday season I bet.
Ok, didn't know about the possible swimsuit thing. Hmm. My concern is not that Laura might have lost because even if she did, she will have an amazing career. She is the best and this is a pretty goofy contest. She will benefit from the exposure. My concern about her losing is in trying to figure where I can wear something of Jeffery's and not be seen by anyone I know, or propositioned, or beaten to death. Damn, me and my big mouth.
Gorgeous. Of course.
The challenge might be "beachwear" or "poolwear" or something-wear that isn't necessarily meant for going into water, just lounging near it. The smallest of Laura's minis is plausible in that regard. (You can't stick a bikini into this collection.)
After some slip-ups with Austin's runway show, I think the producers are careful to treat the final four as equally as possible to make it impossible to say for sure who's out--they sent Tim Gunn to check up on Kara's collection and gave her the 13th Look challenge, though they didn't film it. If they told the final three to do something specific, the decoy certainly had that requirement as well.
(And if it's not clear yet, the photos have been slowly trickling online. Laura's full collection of 12 pieces is up now. And it's rather lovely, if nothing that's going to set the world on fire.)
Kara was the decoy, and she had to make the thirteeneth look last season, just like the other designers. I don't think they'd allow another obvious decoy collection like Austin's.
Stunning. Magnificent. Absolutely Love every piece. Its between her and Jeffrey.
If Laura did not make it and this was a "decoy collection", then Laura really proved she should have neen in the top 3. These were innovative, sylish and classy pieces that said Laura without being Laura.
Some really great looks in here, but hey, PRG Boys: can you put up some information about what makes a collection a collection? I never quite got my head around that topic.
Laura already won if you think about it. All she really needed was to be able to show and she has by being in the final 4. Why would someone as rich as her need 100K or a new car? And what 40+ wants to be a fashion intern?? She's got all she needs now and I for one am happy for her success ;)
i've never known anyone who's already wealthy to decline further gold in the coffers; witness Mr. Bush's grand gift, masquerading as a tax cut to the masses, to the top 2% of earners in the nation. i doubt she'd turn her nose up at $100K or that spiffy car she'll look so pretty in. the only question would be: black, white or red?
LAURA KICKED ASS!! isn't it interesting that a lot of these garments look similar to her WINNING cocktail dress?
LOVE. WANT. AAALLLLLLL of IT! If she didn't win then I don't know who could have. Yes, it is a little Ralphesque but let's remember that that, that ex-tie maker is the richest designer ever!
It is a shame that everyone seems to be down on Jeffrey. I really like his way of not giving himself up just to please everyone. I will admit, that he is a bit harsh sometimes, but he is a very talented designer.... His clothes have a way of making you wonder what else he can do, while Laura makes me feel like I am trapped in my Grandmother's closet...
^^^^ Exactly. Yes, it does look like her "winning coctail dress".
Unfortunately it ALLLL looks like her winning cocktail dress. This is a "collection" people. You can't sent 12 black dresses down the runway. At what point do the judges start over-dosing on black lace and twill.
Love her, Love her style and wit, but this is not a winning connection.
And try really hard to remember people. This is not a popularity contest, this is not a beauty contest. This is a talent competition.
You know, I have this recurring nightmare where Heidi comes out in an SS uniform and she's got Laura and Michael with her, and she says "I can only take one of them to the final three. You decide," and I break down in tears and say, "I can't decide. I can't. Take them both!" and Heidi says "Or they could both be out! Auf wie..." and I say "No! Take the fabulous bitch! Take Bad Mommy!" And then Michael disappears, and I live for years and years with the bitter taste of regret.
And then I wake up. You all have that dream, too, I"m sure. Don't you?
major similarities in about 4 of the dresses.
I think the decoy is Laura. Her collection looks a little bit like a funeral procession and the lack of a swimsuit, or really spring/summer wear of anykind, is too much to ignore.
Laura's internal monologue:
"Holy crap, I won the cocktail dress competition with a vaguely 1920's-inspired piece with lots of black lace. MUST MAKE ALL SAME!"
To be fair, I like a lot of it much better than the stuff she put out during the show: Cruella DeVille sans the fur and on a budget. But this final collection still lacks any fun.
Love it, but as some others have said, a variation on her winning dress. Also noticed one dress that was a shorter version of the pageant dress. Aren't these supposed to be spring collections? Her pallete isn't very spring (although probably for her personally it is); that's what is leading me to believe she's the decoy. There is one dress with the gold (?) fabric that is kind of folded down the front center with the black strip across it - love it!
LOVE LOVE her, but not sure yet about her collection.
Laura's collection is gorgeous! My only concern is that some of her pieces look more as if they were designed for Fall than Spring.
I'm not worried about the lack of a swimsuit - designers commonly include beachwear in their Spring collections, but not all of them do.
Hey guys, bitch about the show or the collections, but don't bitch about each other.
oh my god. i LOVE this collection! it's beautiful, classic, perfectly constructed and truly elegant. i dont care if she made it to the final three. this girl's garments are ready to be sold. she's got a very bright future in fashion.
oh - and regarding the number of laura's dresses vs the number of uli's dresses - double check the credits on the later uli photos. some of uli's are from a past collection she did in miami.
Based on what I'm seeing I have to agree at beig dissappointed in Micheal's collection but in terms of speculating who's the decoy...I think it him. Based on what I'm seeing he is the only designer NOT to have his star model in the show. Also notice how he's the only designer that doesn't address the audience with a microphone or smile a whole bunch. There's no way he would have parted with Nazri unless he had been eliminated and somebody else picked her up! That someone was Uli.
Humbly submitted,
Dr. Holmes
P.S. Laura's collection was flawless. She must have won.
Very very nice. As someone said, where have all these necklines been hiding?! A couple dresses looked familiar, but still very well done. I'd love to have that long black one with the scalloped deep neckline. Think I've seen something like that on J.Lo though.
J'adore Laura, but this is extremely referential. I love it, I'd buy it, but it's not fashion innovation. It is however, screaming to get on the racks at Barney's.
I think I like Laura's best of all. Best variety of design, best execution and a cohesive collection.
Yes, not as much color as I'd like. After all it SHOULD be a SPRING collection.
nevertheless.
isn't this supposed to be a Spring collection? where's the color?
By far the weakest collection of the four. She's not the decoy, and she's not the winner.
If you know anything about fashion and showing a collection, you know this kind of monotony and one-note blandness is suicide.
It's elegant, well-made and sophisticated. It's also extremely referential, homogonous and uninspired.
They are looking for a designer, not a tailor.
Anon 5:18 again. Anon 5:54 - you expressed my thoughts better than I could. Just wants to say thanks and please replace Barney's with B. Altman's. *evil grin*
Anonymous (5:18 PM): ...it's not fashion innovation. It is however, screaming to get on the racks at Barney's.
I couldn't agree with you more, Anon.
I'd wear that camel turtleneck dress, definitely. And I like the beige empire-waisted dress with the black belt just below the bustline. But to be honest, I've seen all these clothes before and as impeccable as they are I can't get excited about them. Some of them just scream "$1000 per plate Republican fundraiser."
If there's one garment in there that I genuinely dislike, it's the one with the feathers at the shoulders; that's just too Alexis Carrington Colby for words.
I wish she'd used some color, or at least thrown in some more light neutrals; I agree with everyone who has said that for a Spring collection it's awfully dark.
As for the lack of a bathing suit--well, she doesn't have any casual, everyday clothes in there, either. It's all cocktail and formal. I would have liked to see a couple of day dresses, and maybe a suit.
It's probably the most cohesive collection of the lot, but unfortunately it's the least innovative, fresh, and imaginative. I don't think she'll win it, but that's going to stop Laura from being hugely successful.
I don't think she'll win it, but that's going to stop Laura from being hugely successful.
Argghh. Make that "that's not going to stop Laura from being hugely successful."
oohhh I am starting to think she could win!!!!Michael's collection was so fug, poor baby. What happened? oh well I'm 100% for Laura now!
Yawn. No color, little variation. They're very wearable, but I want some more creativity. Doesn't deserve to win in the least, but it's pretty and very accessable.
Breathtaking!! Absolutely breath- taking! I'm so proud of our girl. She's a winner no matter what. The lines are so clean and classic and would be flattering for most women.
I love me some fitted structured garments with some flirty curves and sparkles to spice it up.
You go MOM!!
ugly.
all of you have good points about the negative aspects of her collection, but it's still the most aesthetically pleasing.
I think it's breath taking. She doesn't need the win, but I think she's a contender.
If you look at Michael's collection, Michael has 2 swimsuits, and Jeffrey's swimsuit matches another dress in his collection. So I don't think the swimsuits are the 13th look; it would've been impossible for Jeffrey to get cloth from the same dye lot. I think it was Laura's decision to not put one in...and remember, in her favorite decades, the 20's and 30's, swimsuits were practically bermuda shorts.
Some of Laura's fashion-mojo is due to her age. I'm a year younger, and frankly? I wouldn't wear a damn thing on PR save for Laura's. It's classic, it's reliable, it's well-made, it's wryly humorous, and it's GLAM.
I love the collection and Laura looked absolutely fabulous.
Her collection is gorgeous! Bergdoff Goodman's buying team should be begging to have the exclusive for Laura's collection, NOW! So what if it's not innovative or edgy? It's beautifully done, very tasteful, chic and timeless. Investment pieces shall I dare say?
They all presented professional looking collections in NYC. Michael was a let down, but c'mon? What's his signature look? Anyone? That's right, he does not have a look or an identity strong enough to make a mark as a designer. Despite all the flack that Ulli, Laura or Jeffry get for being "one-note" at least they have an identity that they are faithfull too. Jeffry is the deconstructed-Rock'n'Roll-Comme des Garcons-Everything-we-see-in-LA-minus-the-jeans look, Ulli is the Cavalli-old-Versace-South-Beach-printy-flowing-dresses look and Laura is the classic-chic-timeless-Oscar-de-la-Renta-Carolina-Herrera-Saint-Laurent-rich-bitch-opening-night-at-the-MET look.
The winner based on the collections shown should be Laura.
You go! ;-)
To me, this is what a COLLECTION should be - a cohesive vision, variations on a theme. A COLLECTION should make you want to have a place to wear the clothes, and that is what these pieces do for me. Brava, Laura!
She is magnificent. If I was gay, I would wrestle Laura to the ground.
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Of course it's primarily evening wear and I don't have a problem with that. All four of the designers geared their designs for a specific market segment and Laura was no exception. As others have said, these gowns would translate immediately into the Designer/Couture eveningwear collection at Berfdorf Goodman.
looks like i'm a minority here, but i quite don't like a number of these. the feathers. the goddamn feathers. a whole bust made of feathers. oy. and the long sleeved black lace number with the feather-esque shirt? again i say oy. i do like the gold cocktail dress with the black band, and the flapper like dress, but... oy.
Brava- This collection is stunning! My money's on Laura- that is, if she doesn't win, I'm buying something of hers!
all of this anonymous bitterness looks like cry-baby-jeffrey-speak to me.
Julian Black: Some of them just scream "$1000 per plate Republican fundraiser."
This is SUCH a good description of the collection. I haven't been able to get it out of my head.
I think Laura just moved down to third on my list. After Uli. Ahead of Michael.
I like Laura's collection. It has a vision and a story to it. Michael and Laura seem to be the only one's that understand that. They're my top 2, after Jeffery and Uli. And I loved her final piece - stunning!
Having spent the last few days viewing these collections, I have concluded that Jeffery's is very, very good. It's fresh, and innovative. However, I absolutely dislike him and his work on PR.
Laura's collection is elegant and well-done and as someone said, aimed toward a particular niche market.
I'm around the same age as Laura and the reason her work appeals to me is because it's designed well, it's tailored, and it's wearable.
But I agree with others -- it's definitely not an innovative collection.
Holy crap her stuff is gorgeous!
They only gave her $8K and she made that? Methinks she was pilfering from Mr. Bennett's Goyard wallet to supplement!
Oh boy, are those mothballs I see.
I recall seeing those same outfits at my local church flea market. I actually have an antique photo of a funeral procession, where the quests are wearing the same outfits....Those are what to wear when you are going to an event and you DON'T want to be noticed......
Laura reminds me of Scaasi: impeccable-yet-glam eveningwear for women with lots of (old?) money and conservative taste. Here's some of his stuff:
http://dept.kent.edu/museum/ exhibit/scaasi/wellington.htm
I added a space before 'exhibit' to make the link fit
Laura wins. Game over. Much as I like Michael, Laura has style, taste, technique, variety AND unity of theme. Uli's one note is obviously what she should stick to, and Jeffrey's collection is a hot, no, lukewarm mess.
Don't know if she'll win but I like what I see (although I am concerned about the see-thru lace).
miss nell, I'm with you and it's not just an age issue. I'm a decade younger but I'd go to Laura first if given the choice of PR designers. L-O-V-E her!
She has a few pieces I like, but I get the feeling that she's only emulated her creations from the challenges. And, that, in a way, is far worse than being simply one-dimensional. It's weird... She is one of undeniable character and class, though. Still, her collection is quite insipid.
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