Thursday, March 15, 2007 by
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Quickie recap: The designers not only have to design an outfit for Banana Republic, they have to design and implement a window display for a Banana Republic store. You can read Tim's take on this episode here and listen to his podcast here.
Truth be told, we don't love this outfit.
The dress itself has some nice detailing and it's well executed but we both went "Hunh?" when Nina called it "modern." We were thinking exactly the opposite. It just looked so done to us.
See, this just falls into the "pretty but plain" category for us. It looks like a basic but well done Simplicity pattern. Not to disparage home-sewers (in fact, we love checking out what some of our talented bitches-with-needles are working on), but you have to admit ladies, there are a lot of very basic designs out there for the intermediate-level sewer and this looks like one of them to us.
And it's made doubly worse by the addition of that far-too-precious jacket.
It not only looks, as Tim suggested, a little prim, it looks a little juvenile. Like a ten-year-old's party dress.
We suspect that a big part of the win was due to Rebecca really hauling ass and working it in the window. We hope you took her out for some solid food as a treat, boys.
Despite our criticisms, we don't hate the outfit. Like we said, it's well-executed. It's just kinda basic - even for that House of Basic, Banana Republic.
And besides, it once again afforded us a minor, but delicious weekly pleasure.
The "steam coming out of Santino's ears" screencap. Say what you will about the man, he is hella entertaining. There is not one emotion that he can successfully keep off his face. He puts everything right out there. Which is why, every time we get one of these screencaps, there is only one person we can think of.
We can't be the only ones who see it, can we?
[Screencaps: projectrungay.blogspot.com]
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36 comments:
I totally agree that Rebecca sealed the win for them. And their window design was elegant, simple, and made the point. All the other window designs were horrible. So, their dress wasn't a standout, but as a total package: model, window, dress, etc.--they pulled it off the best. Rebecca is sooooo gorgeous. She just really worked everything Daniel gave her to wear, and she is simply stunning.
Love the cartoon of Santino! You nailed it.
Love ya, mean it!
when i see santino, i can only think of Rasputin from the animated Anastasia movie
If ever there was a model who sold the goods, it was Rebecca in that ho-hum frock. Not the first time a model has "made it work." And I love the Santino/Snidely Whiplash comparison! Classic.
Oh,oh! I was thinking Santino looks (and acts) like Dick Dastardly from the "Wacky Races" he's more 'fashion' than Snidely Whiplash. I couldn't remember the cartoon's name until you posted the pic.
I agree with you on all points regarding this dress. In addition I the dress is fine for evening, but I can't see it in an office, even with the jacket.
Never hurts to have one of the best models, does it? I suspect if it had been up to the judges (other than the Banana Republic judge), Chloe & Emmett would have won. Dress is ok and wearable by normal women, and it probably made the most sense from Banana Republic's point of view to use that one for production (cheaper than Chloe & Emmett's reversible jacket).
I loved when Tim told them the jacket was too precious, and they explained their idea, and then Tim says "well, then you've succeeded." Maybe the stores could sell things better if the designers were out on the sales floor explaining the clothes.
I have to get this off my chest -- Santino makes me ILL! Every time he says something I want to throw my boot at the TV! The man is INSANE!
I loved Emmett and Chloe's dress. Daniel and Andrae's -- feh.
I just love chloe/emmett dress.
this one? i thought it's plain when i saw it on tv, then i thought it's even boring now. lol.
it wins because it's normal+basic.
chloe/emmett is not that basic, so it didn't win.
i have to say those five girls just works it in the window.
This was NOT my favorite. It's "pretty," but as someone (I forgot who) said once, pretty doesn't cut it in this industry.
I actually liked this dress and it fits in real well with Banana Republic's blah aesthetic. Although, I can't imagine what type of office you could wear this outfit to...as far as a traditional office environment goes.
I liked the dress but I thought the jacket was even uglier than Zulema and Kara's. I thought the dress was prettier on television; now, in photographs, I agree that it's not all that. The detailing at the top is cute.
And, while their window was clever, it's pretty boring looking and I don't think it would grab my attention as I was walking down the street
mpb - I'm with you. Santino IS Rasputin from the animated Anastasia.
Check him out:
http://www.boxoffice.com/jpg/nov97/anastasia2.jpg
BTW - Anastasia's deep blue evening gown with the shimmery wrap was gorgeous - I mean for a cartoon and all.
I really wish that my tech guys would ban me from Project: Rungay...
Why, you may ask? Probably because I'm tired of wiping up water and bits of crackers from my keyboard and monitor! LMAO!
Here is Dick Dastardly for anybody who cares to look
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Dastardly
In France he was called "Satanas". Similar, no?
Santino = Snidely Whiplash! So very true!
Snidley Whiplash! Classic! This is why I was never able to actually hate Santino. He's so damn entertaining.
I like the dress, but the jacket is so cutesy. TAlk about your wicky-wack trim. But I understand why BR picked it. Remember WENDY won this challenge in S1. *shudder*
I can see why the judges chose this one, but certainly not my favorite. I thought the window was boring.
RE: Santino, no, you're not the only ones who see it. It's just amazing how the man reacts to another designer's win: anger, outrage, arrogance... Only one other PR designer has ever had such a mobile face: the Pepper, whose every snide, envious, insecure, jealous thought could clearly be read on her face.
Daniel and Andrae's dress wasn't bad, but not that great either. Zulema's check I liked for once, but it wasn't very a very office work during the daytime look, was it. But I have to admit she saved their bacon, because Kara was just sinking... I presume from the crushing weight of big Z's presence, ego and ruthlessness. I'd better wait for the: 'cut and cry' window to emote on this.
Hilarious!
LOL. OHMYGOD. That last picture...hilarious!
The problem is that they had to design a dress suitable for the racks of Banana Republic and this one does it.
Rebecca ROCKS! She is the best model!!
If El Greco had painted Judas, I think he would have looked just like that photo of Santino.
Priceless.
GEN-IUS!!
Because I am a PR freakshow I own both Banana Republic dresses and Angela/Michael/Laura's INC outfit.
Hate to say it but Wendy's is the most flattering. Andrae's dress makes me look ENORMOUS and I never actually wore it. The INC outfit is the most comfortable though.
Ugh, so over-rated. This outfit was very plain. And the window display was boring.
Chloe and Emmett should have won this one. Their dress was gorgeous and their window display was adorable and whimsical. Emmett has a gift for illustration.
Shut up, Santino's bitchface. He's insufferable.
toadily right on the head of the nail with the dress that danny and andy made being for a preteen girl. my little sis actually has one just like it! lol
Is it me, or doesn't this dress look rather reminiscent of Wnedy's BR win from season 1????
Vanessa
OK I am repeating myself, but I just checked the screenshots and it is so reminiscent of Wendy's Black Satin, square neck, with little precious jacket/cape thing on top design from S1!!
I guess someone has a good memory....
Vanessa
I LOATHED that awful cape dress! Couldn't believe it won the BR challenge at the time.
I HATE this outfit. Very few women can pull off a dress that pulls in at the hips. Add to that the SECOND horizontal line of the jacket at bust level and you have a recipe for looking about 70 pounds heavier than you are.
Short jackets really only work with higher waisted garments for real women, I think.
This episode, I got to see in person. I live in the neighborhood where this Banana Republic is, and was going by when they were setting up, so I asked what was going on & then hung around til they set up (there was a looong delay because they were all late finishing up). Then I voted. I was trying to avoid the cameras but ended up on screen anyway.
None of the displays looked too hot in person, but if I recall correctly - they looked much better on camera where you can't see the detail close-up.
If I recall correctly, I voted for the outfit that was Emmett & Chloe's.
--Gotham Tomato
I was underwhelmed by this dress on the show, and then a friend of mine bought it in some BR raffle (I think there were only 500 made?). It was "cute" and all, but truly even more underwhelming in person. It looked quite a bit cheaper than it was. I think the above posters are correct, this was similar to Wendy beating Jay in the season 1 BR challenge. Chloe and Emmett's was better, but less bourgeois and more expensive and difficult to reproduce.
Very few women can pull off a dress that pulls in at the hips. Add to that the SECOND horizontal line of the jacket at bust level and you have a recipe for looking about 70 pounds heavier than you are.
Janie, I couldn't agree more. Very few women would look attractive in this dress. I also wonder how that odd blouse-y top would look on women with actual, you know, breasts. I think the extra material would simply make anyone larger than a B-cup look very top-heavy, and not in a good way. When the jacket is added...yeah. Just a recipe for disaster. Even on the lovely Rebecca it looked blah and basic. Yawn.
This bitch with needles agrees with you. It is quite basic. I do think the model sold a lot of Daniel's outfits.
Hate to say it but Wendy's is the most flattering. Andrae's dress makes me look ENORMOUS and I never actually wore it. The INC outfit is the most comfortable though.
Wow, that's really interesting! Thanks for the info, Suzanne.
Also, Rebecca is a very pretty girl and a good model, but she's got a serious case of bitchface. Lighten up, girl, it's only fashion!
Never thought of Snydley Whiplash, although I would LOVE to see Santino in a stovepipe hat. I agree the first thing that comes to mind is Rasputin. He is great TV and fun and all that but the man scares me just a little bit
MT
Santino=Snidely Whiplash ... heee!
Santino does look like Snidely Whiplash, but he looked more like the villian from Superman II. Can you not see laser beams shooting out of his eyes? What a great screen cap THAT would be!
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