Season 3 alum Bradley Baumkirchner recently showed his Spring/Summer 2008 collection and apparently his thinking was along the lines of "Hey, those poorly fitted, totally unattractive Cher pants I made on Project Runway got me kicked off, so I think I'll do an ENTIRE COLLECTION of them!"
Honestly, we're not trying to be mean here, but what the ever-loving hell? Okay, fine. Play with shapes. That's all good, if that's what you're into. High-waists have made their comeback, so no problems there. It's just - why do these girls all look slightly retarded? Could it be the ugly, mismatched fabrics and poor fit? Or is it the bare feet (an affectation in runway shows that always inexplicably annoys us)? The horrible styling? The more-than-usual vacant looks?
Look, no one's further from Jeffrey Sebelia's aesthetic than we are and even we can find something interesting or at least not-horrible in a lot of his work, but this...it's just weird.
Although Lorenzo likes the metallic floral pants, but he's chalking that up to watching too much Mad Men lately.
Look, no one's further from Jeffrey Sebelia's aesthetic than we are and even we can find something interesting or at least not-horrible in a lot of his work, but this...it's just weird.
Although Lorenzo likes the metallic floral pants, but he's chalking that up to watching too much Mad Men lately.
(Photos: Bradley Baumkirchner)
87 comments:
Well, it should be pointed out that they are not on the best backdrop--these dresses are so shiny and have so much interest that the swirling glass backdrop is not the best to show them off.
I'd love to know where the photos were taken because I love stained glass, though!
Some shapes were pretty (tulip skirts), but I could hear Tyra Banks screaming, "DEAD EYES!" in the background.
And standing pigeon-toed is not flattering for anyone past potty-training stage. I don't care what the trends are.
WTF is going on in look #10?? Is she expecting some sort of alien-child?
To quote La Nina, "I'm underwhelmed."
Holey Mackeral...there is some EXTRA ugly there. I've seen better work from the 4H projects at the county fair!
Wow. Dress #8 is REAL inspired. What the hell ever, Bradley.
I love Bradley but I don't understand his aesthetic at all.
Oh, our poor little squidling.
Braddy-pus, dear, this is not your ocean!
He chose the worst fabrics to work with. Most of the outfits are puckering and poorly sewn. I think he plays too much with his designs.
Oh dear---some look like poorly assembled tents.
However, some of the stuff will work with tamer pieces, particularly the blue silk skirt.
~Maharhar
I'd love to share a toke with Bradley, but wear his clothes, um, no.
Then again, who knows what he's smoking? I'm not sure I want to end up understanding those clothes.
Those last two are just sad. Those capes look like window treatment. Even the alien maternity dress isn't as bad.
You know, sometimes, when you see someone walking down the street, who has dressed their dog in a ridiculous outfit (any outfit), and the dog has this expression on it's face that says, 'oh, this is embarrassing. I'm not here. Don't look at me.'
Well, Bradley has managed captured that very feeling with these models.
I wonder how many sewing machines he broke while making this collection.
--Gotham Tomato
oh it's not THAT bad. i like the floors...
I just looked at them again and I'm thinking: These models don't look like they're getting ready for a runway show. They look like they're getting ready to make a hostage tape.
I know that Bush outlawed the Geneva Convention, but is there anyone we should call? Seriously.
And what's the deal with that white dress with the black buttons (6th row). It looks like there are tapeworms fighting to get out of her dress.
--Gotham Tomato
What's with all the sc(g)alloping hems? Did he start with pre-fab curtains?
Some of these looks make me feel as if I'm hanging out in a trailer park in the Everglades.
Um....
It looks like his instructions to the mannequins were, "Okay. When you walk out there, bend your knees toward each other, as if you are pigeon-toed, and I want REALLY vacant stares. Not the usual, run-of-the-mill vacant stares, but REALLY REALLY REALLY vacant stares. Like, lobotomy kind of stares. NO SMILING! And no blinking, either."
Egads. This is all a hot mess. The pants are especially Fug.
i dont get it at all. bradley was sweet on the show. but i didnt get him at all. how boring!
btw...gothamtomato you kill me.
What. The. Hell.
Is this a joke?
Those look like Halloween alien costumes.
Entirely unwearable.
Why the hell did the model in the ivory dress shove a hula-hoop under it?
I can only see the alien maternity dress working if you were actually pregnant. And you were also Bjork or someone equally otherworldly (Helena Bonham Carter, maybe?).
And what's up with the cream colored dresses with matching (!!!) semi-opaque tights?
Alexis
Laugh now if you must, but after the nuclear winter, when mutants walk below the surface of the earth with oddly shaped arms, hips and chests; when shoes are no longer available because all the leather has been used to craft restraints and fan belts to run crude turbines; when aluminum will be prized for the attention it brings to your calves; then you shall see what a visionary Bradley Tokin' Baumwhatever was!
Oh no, and Bradley was so cute....
I haven't got anything particularly witty to add, nothing that hasn't been written above. While the pigeon toes can look high-fashion-dorky in 4" heels it just looks toddler dorky in bare feet. These clothes supposedly being for adult women makes me very uncomfortable and makes these women look older than I'm sure they are. Creepy.
I think he used the Children of the Corn for his models. Is this a Halloween joke? I'm seriously creeped out.
wannabe/rundeep said...
Laugh now if you must, but after the nuclear winter, when mutants walk below the surface of the earth with oddly shaped arms, hips and chests; when shoes are no longer available because all the leather has been used to craft restraints and fan belts to run crude turbines; when aluminum will be prized for the attention it brings to your calves; then you shall see what a visionary Bradley Tokin' Baumwhatever was!
LMAO!
Brilliant!
I can totally hear James Earl Jones narrating this monologue!
Emma P.
Some of the stuff was butt ugly, but a couple of things were kind of cute, if you're very young. The thing that strikes me the most is that all of the clothes make the models look bigger than they probably are, unless Bradley was using plus-sized models. (Not that there's anything wrong with that....)
I guess if you're just having fun with fabric why not? but if you're trying to market yourself as designer who will actually sell your designs that collection is a no-no.
Bradley's off the dot. OK, I get it.
But Bradley, pigeon-toed, half-dressed doe-eyed women dressed as doll-babies and looking stupid (or as T&L say, retarded) is DISTURBING.
Women are NOT girls, and girls are NOT more attractive when they look like they're confused.
OK, I asked a bunch of my colleagues at work if they'd wear any of these outfits and the answers were: 'nope', 'god no', 'no way', 'no even if you paid me'.
Forgive me for being brutally honest, but the collection is hideous. Nothing appealed to me.
I know that the concept of “beautiful” is a subjective criterion, but in my opinion and in our culture, fashion is supposed to make a woman beautiful. These clothes are unflattering and unattractive.
I disagree. The collection is unique and unlike anything you see out there. Who wants to dress like everybody else?
The collection is GORGEOUS! Bradley, you're the best!!!!
Bare foot ??? fine
No shoe in tights??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A health hazard, not to mention way to make stick skinny girls look like they've got chuncky legs!
I think the girls all know how ugly they looked hence the dead eyes.
Actually I'm not sure it's the clothes that are bad (OK, the fit is not perfect, but there are some interesting colors and shapes there). But I think there are myriad errors that could be corrected with better styling (where's Michael/Mychael when you need him) and better direction on how to have the models move. Does Bradley think that by stripping away the usual finishing touches, it would somehow highlight the clothes better? Something philosophical is undermining him and I wish he would let go of it.
A grown-up woman doesn't want to look like a doll. That's just weird.
Well, if you ever wondered what happened to Baby Jane... Now you know.
The ugliest of the uglies for me were the limp tank tops paired with high waist pants. Really, really no redeeming value whatsoever.
ummm- looks like Bradley's using again, AND on the sauce as well....as that's the only way to explain forgetting to take the hanger out of the dress halfway through the process!
Nothing to say that hasn't already been said. The fabrics are really dreadful and it goes downhill from there.
I'm wondering if y'all have seen this bowl 'o mess:
http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/go_fug_yourself/2007/10/fugly-wearstler.html
Yikes. Looks like Bradley graduated from weed to crack. WTF was THAT?
Can I just add one of the funniest PRG posts EVER was the exchange between him and Alison in the park during the dog challenge??
Look it up people, trust me.
OMG what the heck is the white thing that looks like it has a cloths hanger stuck half way down it? i do like the barefoot look.
Heidi In Wis...
Who buys his clothes? Seriously, I'm not trying to be snarky; I really want to know.
I love the stained glass backdrop!
What happened to their footwear? It's missing in most of the photos. I'm perplexed by the entire collection ... fabric choices, presentation, the backdrop, the lack of shoes, the models' poses ... I just don't get it.
Ridiculous
I like the capes and smocks and the Alice in Wonderland tulip hem dresses.
I heart Bradley.
-- desertwind
PS - Could the formal shorts look just go away.
PS -- Re the models - This is why size 0s are used on the runway. They make better coat-hangers. Seriously.
-- d'wind
His stuff always looks like instead of spending actual money, he's gone to Goodwill and challenged himself to modify the ugliest shit he could find...
...into even uglier shit.
There's a place for Bradley, I dig the guy...I'm just not sure where.
Put down the crack pipe, Bradley!
Doobage, lot's of doobage....
Bradley, I'm pretty sure you like women, but this isn't a very strong arguement for the fact....
Looks like something a grandma would make for her grandkid's halloween costume. Eww.
Some people are not meant to be fashion designers. I know I'm not!
Gotham, you are in fine form this evening.
As for Bradley, well, anyway. I wouldn't go all the way to fugly, but certainly bugly.
The thing about Bradley is that he's so adorable that you just really want him to succeed. But, maybe this collection is a success. Somehwere.
this all looks like the sort of thing debbie would wear in "Napoleon Dynamite." Definitely not a fan-- that era has gone! give us some new stuff!
Half of it looks as though it is off the rack at Wal-Mart, and the other half looks like it is off the rack at my local Halloween costumes r us.
These are not clothes, they are Halloween costumes for women who wish to play Emo Chicks.
it was nice of him to hire an armless model to wear the first one
That's it!
Haute Couture for the Emo Set.
No shoes cause laces are for hanging-
So many places to hide the cuts...
Starve yourself yet the pants will still make you look fat...
Emma P.
Y'all are right. Japan is the only place this could sell.
Please pass the eye bleach...
did somebody actually finance this fugly array?
It looks like a bad Home Ec project from an artistic alternative school. One thing is bad design/fabric choice but it is also poorly made
CP
If this is as put-together as the runway collection looks, I shudder to think how well-constructed and flattering the versions for real people will be.
I think I have the shoe thing figured out - Remember the Kara Saun Dollhous Shoe Drama?! Perhaps our poor, stoned Bradley was a wee bit confused and thought he would be disqualified for allowing his models to wear shoes of any kind.
Regarding the comment,
"The collection is unique and unlike anything you see out there. Who wants to dress like everybody else?"
I must respond - I don't want to dress like everybody else, but am not convinced that I must dress like a killer clown from outerspace (ie the little white number with the alien trying to escape) to have a unique style!
Call me crazy but I like the fabrics. The alien maternity dress is scary.
Bloggin Project Runway had an article about the show. There was even a Vincent sighting.
one word...yuck!
FashionFanatic said...
He chose the worst fabrics to work with.
Agree-Some of the fabrics look so wrong for the designs. And just WTF was our squid thinking when he pulled that craziness with the dress that has the points sticking out on each side?
Bradley at least has not made anyone's mom cry....
Most of the outfits are puckering and poorly sewn. I think he plays too much with his designs.
Bettie said...
Well, if you ever wondered what happened to Baby Jane... Now you know.
5:02 PM
Fabulous comment!! I bow to your wit!!
Oh, hee. I needed that. I swear I saw that stance and blank look several times this morning, but I was hosting a Halloween party for a bunch of 3 year olds. These are funny.
bradley, you're such a sweetie. :)
but the 80s called--they want their ill-fitting, unflattering pants back.
oh, and my stretch pants & loose tank top with no bra wearing, chain-smoking mom (who goes barefoot most of the time) just hollered from her trailer in arkansas--she wants you to stop copying her look.
seriously--who tucks a tank top into high-waisted pants?
--zoe
I actually sort of like the tulip dresses, (left, row 1, 2 and 7) but I'm worried that I'm seeing through rose-tinted bradley-love goggles.
Laugh now if you must, but after the nuclear winter, when mutants walk below the surface of the earth with oddly shaped arms, hips and chests; when shoes are no longer available because all the leather has been used to craft restraints and fan belts to run crude turbines; when aluminum will be prized for the attention it brings to your calves; then you shall see what a visionary Bradley Tokin' Baumwhatever was!
LOL! I wannabe rundeep.
Actually, I see a lot of potential in his designs and a lot of interesting lines. I didn't like his work on the show but this is actually good and solid.
If you are not going to allow a model to EAT properly then PUT A WIG ON HER!
I'm sick of seeing thin, stringy, unhealthy long hair that has been dyed with peroxide!
Oh the clothes....YUCK! WTF is up with the points on that white thing? She looks like a cartoon snake where the characters are trying to get out! LMAO
Mad Men?
My hubby is totally hooked on that show, I just can't get into it though!!
It works...if you live inside a music box.
OH look. He discovered color.
Presh.
actually the colleciton looks very nice to me. i don't know where you get retarded from? the clothing? or the way the models look?
i think most people who have commented have missed the inspiration of the collection. and although some "women" may not want to dress like a child. doesn't mean all women want to dress like a vamp like Laura (or the Catherine Malandrino collection).
the alien piece is very weird, but the other pieces are quite wearable and dainty.
and you guys are just great. you pressumably since the photos are credited to Bradley, you asked him for the photos. just so you could turn around and say these things. too funny.
I love Bradley, I really do, but his clothes...not felling it. Sorry.
" Anonymous said...
i think most people who have commented have missed the inspiration of the collection. and although some "women" may not want to dress like a child."
There is not a woman in her right mind that would want to dress like a child.
there are interesting pieces and volume outfits, but some of them are like bad costumes. and some of them don't have neither signature nor personality.
let's give bradley a chance.
"just looked at them again and I'm thinking: These models don't look like they're getting ready for a runway show. They look like they're getting ready to make a hostage tape."
Gothamtomato, you slay me!
Bradley you lost me at "Hello", or you would have, if the first look had arms for waving Hello... or arms...
ProfP
I'm just catching up due to being surrounded by fire last week, but I just had to pop in to say...
GAH! That is THE SERIOUS UGLY. Good gawd. I... just no. NO!
aimee said...
I'm just catching up due to being surrounded by fire last week, but I just had to pop in to say...
Hope everything is OK.
XO
T&L
"it was nice of him to hire an armless model to wear the first one"
That's it! It's for special needs clients. Thalidomide people and those with deformations of the spines and hips!
In that light, he's a great designer!
Yeah, anonymous, some of the designs are "wearable", but just because you can wear something doesn't mean you should.
I suppose if every garment I own disintegrated and the only things left in my house were these I guess I would wear one to Wal-mart so I could get some decent clothes to go shopping for good clothes in.
So did they leave the ugly stick IN look #10, thus making it stick out to the sides? Because I have to say, beating his whole collection with the ugly stick was probably cruel enough.
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