Thursday, March 13, 2008 by
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This is the third time we've seen this look from Jillian, but we can't blame her. It's a great look and it's quickly becoming her signature. On the other hand, we think she overworked it this time. There's a lot of great detailing here, but too much for one look. Although we love the splash of red and the dovetail seam in the bodice.
Love this look. That sweater is both gorgeous and different. Very chic.
We don't care what anyone says, we love those hats.
We go back and forth on this one. It's an interesting look and it certainly fits in with her armor/equestrian/military theme, but it's kind of incongruous to put such a conceptual piece in the middle of all these wearable sportswear looks.
LOVE IT. This is definitely one of those pieces that needs to be seen in person. That skirt almost looks like a special effect as it floats away from her and seems to be levitating on its own. The bodice is just a skosh too armor-like, but the ethereal skirt counteracts the effect. The crowd loved this look and so did we. Very feminine and chic.
Beautiful color, beautiful fabric, very slinky and sexy. The only thing we don't like is that raised-in-the-middle hem she's using again. It's distracting and it makes her look like she's always lifting her skirt to show her bits. Still, it's a minor complaint because it really is a beautiful dress.
The corset top is only okay, but the pants - and yes, they ARE pants - are phenomenal. Very sophisticated, sexy look.
In the end, well...we've said about all there is to say. We think her collection demonstrated a vision and an ability to make clothes that women want to wear. Her look is sporty, feminine and sophisticated and yet she still manages to do things with a slight twist to them. As much as we think she should have won, we can understand why the judges didn't give it to her. There were one or two missteps and as a whole, the collection lacked cohesion. She clearly wanted to put everything out there to show what she could do and she accomplished that, in our opinion.
[Photos: WireImage/Getty Images/Elle.com - Slideshow: Projectrungay.blogspot.com]
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76 comments:
This was such great stuff - just wish it wasn't all so very black! Can't believe she was dismissed so casually (or so it seemed). But her comments afterward -- so cleverly summed up by "Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner" have made up for it. Baby indeed!
Those pants were my favorite item in her collection. I would wear them in a heartbeat!
i loved this collection as well, but didn't really appreciate the knitwear until this post.
the grey and black party dress was great, but do you think perhaps the crowd went wild because the model was jaslene, from america's next top model?
Boys, I agree with you 100%. And I loved the twist of the final "gown" turning out to be pants.
The sweater with the eye-shaped cut-outs: I call it!
This collection was definitely my second choice, after Christian. There are a lot of really great pieces in there, and I'd love to wear any of her coats. That said, I think a few of the clunker outfits probably killed her. As for me, the only reason I picked Christian's over Jillian's was that I didn't have any emotional response to hers. Great, wearable clothes, but they didn't exactly make me excited.
I loved the ethereal, floaty skirt of that dress too! And did anyone else notice that the model is JASLENE, winner of America's Next Top Model Cycle 8?? So they DO get work after that show!
Really great collection.
there was just a few out of place pieces and few wrong details in an otherwise flawless collection.
I don't know why the judges loved Rami's more. But maybe they see something in his clothes I don't. They are fashion experts, but Jillian's was so creative and chic. Rami had many more wrong notes.
But there's no prize for second or third place, and I still think Christian should have won.
Anyway, Jillian, I think you rock and hope you succeed!
I actually think this might be the first season where all three finalists become very successful.
Really liked Jillian's collection on the computer, and even more when it was on TV. What appeared merely dark was given true depth by seeing the knits and textures in a slightly better light. The short gold dress was her only stumble; it came out of nowhere. I picked her as my favorite, and I'm glad to agree with the PRBoys! Though I understand why Christian was chosen, I am dumbfounded as to why Jillian was kicked off before Rami.
I love some of Jillian's collection - but one odd thing I've noticed she does, and has done here, is the "breasts with (sometimes downcast) eyes" thing...the last look of Part 2 has breast that look like a cat's eyes, and in Part I, the gold lame cocktail dress seems to have eyes looking downward. I think she did this in the Prom Dress challenge...Tell her boobs to quit looking at my eyes! or looking like eyes!
She certainly did show what she can do, but I think there are just too many ideas in this collection -- on individual pieces and in the collection as a whole. With my students (of music, not fashion), I call this "kitchen sink" syndrome, where there's a compulsion to put every idea you have into every piece. She needed to edit. Having said that, I loved many of these, especially the knits. I am not crazy about the cat's eye bosom on the last look, or the cathouse look of the corset top. I think she could have made a breathtaking look with those pants, but it winds up looking cheap.
Also, I am confused that Jillian faulted Victoria Beckham for judging based on what she would wear and at the same time, is very clear that she designs based on what she herself would wear. It's not clear to me that her accusation about Posh is true, but even if it is, it seems a little hypocritical. Either reject both or embrace both.
Shiver, Jaslene was mentioned just 3 comments above you. By the way, LFR, I doubt that's why the look got applause. It's a gorgeous look. But what do I know? Boys, you were there: did people seem to care that an ANTM winner was on the runway?
Speaking of models, the one in the raised-hem dress: was she one of this season's PR models?
I still hate the hats. Really don't like the sweater with the cutouts. Love the jackets.
Seems like that third look is wearable, especially without the hat. (I mean, I love the hat, but love it as a piece of art...can't see many people walking down the street in it.) I don't remember how it moved...was it too bulky or something? Why do you say it's not wearable?
Didn't really care for the slinky blue dress that much, but it was well made and that's probably just my preference.
And I thought the line was mostly cohesive what with the helmets/armor/rider thing going on. I agree with you that she should have won. But Christian was awesome also.
I agree that Jillian would have benefited from an edit, but I loved the collection all the same.
I said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't think that this collection was any less cohesive than Rami's.
She should NOT have been in 3rd place with this.
The girl in the Blue dress is a PR girl-Amanda I believe from this season. She was paired with ricky for his last few challenges
Yes plenty of good ideas. Just too many. Maybe should have been saved some for another collection. Oh well the girl is inexperienced but very talented
Frank
PS her model lauren did look smashing :)
Frank
I just love that top with the red lining. Yes, done before, and yes, overworked, but if you take away a couple of elements of the overworkedness, it's a fabulous look and would cover my big ass, let's face it. I can totally see myself sashaying down the office hall in something a lot like it an loving myself in it.
Which is the point, poodles, yes?
Thanks TLo for the close-up on that one all-black outfit. Couldn't see well enough on TV to notice the fab details. I think it fits into her collection much better now.
And I liked her corset/pants thing except for the eye-boobs. Cannot deal with eyeboobs, they just gave me the heebie-jeebies every time.
To lfr and others, while the reality-TV-watching in-house audience would have recognized Jaslene from ANTM, I think we have to give credit for that dress - I thought it was gorgeous and a runway winner.
Go, Jillian!
7.I love the fit and flair coat, and will never get tired of seeing it in all of its various beautiful forms.
8. Normally I don't like sweaters with cut-outs, but these are in a very flattering place. And you could wear something under it.
9. The detail on the back of this jacket is unbelieveable. Super cute.
10. This is a very beatiful dress. The piecing on the bodice is very unusual, as is the skirt consturction. Is this the only piece Jillian has done that does not emphasize the waist?
11. This dress is very "me". I like the hem, and it wouldn't say " Look at my girl bits", if it was just a little bit longer all the way around. This dress should have been her first evening look and she should have had the sporty cha-cha as the last sportswear look (in my opinion).
12.The show stopper was not my favorite, but it was a big hit at the viewing party. I thought she should have shown the bronze short dress just ahead of this one and it would been more cohesive.
Michael Kors said she should have opened the show with the white sweater dress that she was wearing. She DID open the show with that dress.
I knew she wouldn't win whe Posh was going to be the guest judge. I think Posh is the type that wouldn't want a woman to dress her.
Paul said: "Seems like that third look is wearable, especially without the hat. (I mean, I love the hat, but love it as a piece of art...can't see many people walking down the street in it.) I don't remember how it moved...was it too bulky or something? Why do you say it's not wearable?"
I don't think you could sit down in it. The bottom of the jacket is very stiff. If you sat down it would hit your thighs and the collar would wind up around your chin.
Those evening pants made me gasp. Soo cool. I agree that the jacket Lauren wore was too overworked. She lost me with the cutouts inside the elbows.
Other than the Xena dress, I loved this collection. It wowed me.
I understand why they picked Christian, but I think it had more to do with personality than the clothes.
I covet beyond all rational thought that sweater with the cut outs. And that corset with pleated pants.
Just not a third place finish in my book.
Can anyone identify the shoes/boots?
Sewing Siren, I agree with you on where she should have put the gold dress, though I'm thinking she'd have been better off leaving it on a hanger and substituting a different piece.
The details really are stunning. Thanks for the close-ups, guys.
TLo, do you have any insight into why the designers' main models were in the middle of the show rather than modeling the Big Finish piece?
Yes, I was going to comment on the same thing shiver, so it is Jaslene isn't it!
Thanks, Frank, for i.d.ing Amanda.
Veruca, too bad about the cut-out sweater--it's mine!! (Sewing Siren, I definitely would wear something under it!)
TWC, I also noticed (I think I mentioned it the other day) and wondered about the main models not wearing the penultimate designs in any of the 3 shows.
Yep. It's her favorite TV show collection continued:
Dark Shadows
Deep Space Nine
Batman
It's a Living
All McBeal
The Colby's
Gotta echo everyone else, boys - I think that dress was getting attention for the model in it, not the dress itself. Maybe both, but it seemed like such short-lived applause that it couldn't be anything other than the dozen-ish reality TV fans who happened to make it into the tent that day. Say what you will about how tacky and horrible ANTM is, but I seriously think that's why it got applause.
I HATE the silky/charmeuse (whatever it is) ruffled dress. It looks tired and done, and as for wearability? No. I disagree that everything in that collection was wearable. And I hate the cutouts she thought were a good idea on the coat and the sweaters. Yuck. Weren't cutouts among the outdated trends in one of the challenges during the season? I think sooo....*blech*
I WANT THAT SWEATER!!!
Seriously. I want that sweater.
--GothamTomato
Also .... SQUEE! So excited for you boys to rip Christian's collection tomorrow!!!
Jillian had some amazing pieces, as did Rami. But both had clunkers. And each time a clunker came down the runway, the energy came down a notch. That gold dress was a complete "thunk". And when that happens, you have to start the climb again, or have such an amazing wow piece that it erases all memory of what just preceded it.
I was not crazy about some of the necklines. The striped sweater with the cheese curl sleeves, and the two dresses at the end of the collection. I just don't see them as wearable in an otherwise largely wearable collection.
Christian may have shown influences of other designers, but he had a consistent point of view, and one piece built upon the next. Neither of the other two designers had that. Rami had a more consistent and cohesive collection than Rami's, although his overall collection was flatter. Less wow, and less WTF. While Christian's work might not have been anything I would have worn he had me entranced,....wanting to see what was going to be next down the runway. His work will influence other designers. He has shown a willingness to experiment in fresh and new ways. It will show up eventually, toned down a few notches.
Finally....what was with the cut=outs on Jillian's coat sleeves? That just didn't work for me at all.
"Bill said: Dark Shadows"
She may have the Dark Shadows coat, but Christian has the Barnabas Collins hairdoo.
--GothamTomato
Beautiful clothes, beautifully constructed. I'm a petite woman and the silhouette she uses works for me--so I can't wait to find Jillian's clothes for sale somewhere, hopefully soon. I love the skirt she often does with the bias-cut layers of ruffles or pleats.
I loved Jillian's collection. i thought she was able to make very feminine clothes, but still have a strong structure to them like you find in mens clothes.Almost like lady drill Sargent from the 50's (specifically the coat)
"Meg said...
Gotta echo everyone else, boys - I think that dress was getting attention for the model in it, not the dress itself."
I disagree, I was there and it was all fashion people in the audience. Nobody gives a shit who she is in the industry.
Count me among those that have a problem with the eye-boobs that Jillian makes. Jillian, why do you do that? It is super distracting. I have trouble seeing the rest of the outfit.
The second to last dress (blue one) totally had Rami-esque sleeves. Its weird because I hated them on Rami's looks but I LOVED it on that dress!
Perhaps it is the color, Christina. Rami would have made that dress in magenta or teal.
I love the coat. Seen it before, but she didn't get criticized for that like Rami's and Chris's did. It's too much, especially the holes in the sleeves. The holes ruin it for me.
I do not to like the second sweater. The cut-outs almost cheapen it.
The third is the best look here. The coat is so unique, inspired and well crafted.
The 4th short dress is cute, but it looks like it's falling apart and something reads wrong about it in print.
The 5th dress I love the color, looks very Jillian.
The 6th look is also very Jillian, but I must say the corset detail with the boning on the outside looks like it came right from Rami's avant garde challenge.
Overall a wonderful collection. I would love to see what she does with a real full collection (50 looks!) to tie them into eachother more cohesively.
I loved the dress Jaslene was wearing and I didn't even know who she was. It's different than anything I've seen. I also loved the back of the gray armor outfit. The weaving (or whatever it was) was stunning. I didn't love the blue ruffle dress, the cutouts in the arms of the "Jillian" coat or the bodice of the last look. But everything else was great. And I thought her collection was far more cohesive than Rami's and far less repetitive than Christian's. She's still the winner for me.
thanks, Bill, once again!
I don't care if anonymous posters don't like it:
It's a Living - Splat! - spitting green tea on the keyboard!
Still like the dress, though.
lfr: Those were my thoughts exactly. I think the crowd was excited to see Jaslene, even though the dress WAS gorgeous.
While i too loved Jillian's collection, i agree with what the Fug Girls said about the elbow-pit cutouts on that jacket: reminds me too much of donating blood. Totally ruined the jacket for me.
The more I see (particularly the closer I see) this collection, the more I like it.
That sweater is awesome. And the detail on the back of the #3 top is unbelievably beautiful and well done. Unlike TLo, I liked the hem on the dress, but thought the neckline should be raised just a skooch. The palazzo pants were a knock-out, though I'd prefer a top that didn't look like she forgot to put something on over her underwear.
I loved every single one of those looks.
It has some good points, but overall it is a disaster and I hate the hats. I mean who would actually wear one of those hats and not be snickered at where ever they went?
I think Jillian did a great collection overall, with a few clunkers. Rami did a clunky collection, with a few stunners. So why was she in third place?
I thought her workmanship was impeccable, but there was no "pop" on the runway.
Project runway is a reality show, so the winner should be the biggest 'showman'.
Which was Christian.
People who sew:
The last look seems pleated, as does the little gold dress. Does the fabric come that way, or does she have to pleat it? I realize that if you sew that's probably a really basic, dumb question, but. . . I don't sew. Wish I did, though.
I think my problem with Jillians collection is there was no one complete look that I actually loved. There were peices and parts that I thought were great but for me each look just seemed to...not be right.
There were many looks of Jay's, Ulli's and Laura's collections that I would have killed for. Jillians collection just kinda didn't wow me.
Brooklyn Bomber - the fabric was probably either purchased already pleated or she might have sent it to a professional pleater.
PS - ain't no such things as dumb questions. Only dumb answers!
Loved her "signature" jacket. And I loved much of the rest that she did. But...
I didn't notice that final look was pants because I was so busy staring at the girl's "cat eye boobies." Seriously, those "boobie eyes" she's so fond of really, really are distracting.
That silvery trim on the dress Jaslene is wearing looks like the fabric underneath the boxspring of a matress.
Thanks, Gorge!
Loved the knits, Jaslene's dress and the coats (minus the cheeto sweater), hated the gold dress, satin dress and the final pants outfit (too Dynasty for me). So there were things I loved, but I see her as a niche player. Stick with the coats and knits, forget the rest.
A terrific collection!
Fabulous collection! They gave it to Chloe and Jeffrey for Christ's sake, why couldn't they give it to her?
I am in love with her "signature coat." I want one. So. Bad. With pink plaid trim, please!!!
When it aired on TV, I was not too impressed w/ her collection. I definitely thought it lacked cohesion. But on second and third and fourth glances, it is growing on me. Her attention to detail is amazing. Thanks for the close up shots! :)
However, the gold lame pleated number is seriously fug.
Pleated pants, on the other hand, fabulous.
I felt like too much of what Jillian did was something I had already seen, the exception being that one sweater with the cut-outs. That was very cool.
Her bitter attitude was a total turn-off though.
mandy said...
It has some good points, but overall it is a disaster and I hate the hats. I mean who would actually wear one of those hats and not be snickered at where ever they went?
RIGHT! I so agree. Who would wear those hats. Yes, they are cute in a fashion show, but in real life, folks would look at you like you are nuts with that silly hat with the ridge down the middle.
She was Bitter McBitterson wasn't she? That exit interview? Come on!
I really considered her a contender for first, and a safe choice for second. Just really fantastic stuff, and I was disappointed to see her go out so early when to my mind Rami had more clunkers. (I don't dislike Rami at all, and if I ever need an Oscar dress I'm digging up his number, but his collection was weak.) Ah, well. I'm sure she'll do just fine.
Compared to some of the crap I've had to suffer through at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week L.A., Jillian's collection looks fresh, innovative and sophisticated. She's great. I know she'll go far.
Loved all her separate pieces and knitwear but her dresses were mediocre at best. Really hated the silver "ethereal skirt" one. Ditto for the gold lame cocktail number. Did not get her choice of belt for the corset top w/pants.
Still, she deserved 2nd place.
Can you guys be surprise guest judges next season? Just throwing it out there!
Jaslene still looks tranny to me.
I LOVED her collection, with the exceptions that you guys noted...especially the gold lame dress. But I would have worn just about every piece in this collection.
i'm sorry, but weren't cut-outs featured as BAD fashion in a challenge this season? i must say i'm NOT a fan of them.
I loved the knits! How refreshing to actually see sweaters in a fall collection-I hardly saw them anywhere.
I would love those last pants on their own with a black turtleneck a la Sharon Stone.
But, my favorite of everything was the dress she was wearing. It was styled perfectly.
Good for you Jillian
Reen31
I am still apathetic over her work. The coat is nice.
I have no problem admitting what an ANTM-loving pedestrian I am and say I was excited to see that Jaslene is getting work! I will, however, go on record that ANTM is really tacky but a guilty pleasure.
As always, Jillian's work is great -- except it needed a littler more color. =)
one thing about the 4th look on this post: I agree on everything you said, it a gorgeous dress to die for. And moving out from a guy point of view (yes, you still are men even if you're gay!), but,specifically, the top of the dress is weareable if you don't have boobs. That area around the boobs looks like part of the sleeves, there was no thinking about fitting a woman's breast there at all. I don't like how it looks, even how it fits a boobless model... It's just a no-no for me.
...and going back tomy previous post, I think Jillian has a problem fitting "women on top". That's the only thing I hated in most of her outfits on the show: the top. The last look has that effect I hate so much: the eye-boob. You said it before on a challenge (can't recollect right now), but that top on the last look on this post looks like those breast are eyes. Never liked the way she emphasized on the chest area with that technique.
I thought her collection looked like somebody who was already established and had been doing this for years. Not that it was derivative . . . just that it looked totally professional. You could have told me it was Michael Kors latest and I would have believed it.
That said, I still think Christian deserved the win, because he just wowed me more.
sam said...
She was Bitter McBitterson wasn't she? That exit interview? Come on!
Yeah, but we tend to forget how young she is. I mean Christian is almost embryonic (21!) but Jillian's only 26 (a toddler!). I think she really believed in herself and was really really disappointed.
Not everybody can be Mahatma Chris March . . . that kind of perspective comes with maturity.
Yeah, loved that one dress!
Nearly all her clothes were absolutely lovely, fresh and nicely crafted. She should certainly have been at least second, not third. On the whole, her collection wasn't cohesive enough, and I was sure they'd nail her for that. They gave Rami a pass on several fugly garments, but that's our judges!
Her auf'ing interview was edited to smack of sour grapes. Overall the editing made her seem to be somewhat jealous/peeved about Princess Puffysleeves. Probably the first time Princess Jillian has come across another child prodigy, even younger and more talented than she is.
Doesn't seem to have taken it well. I'm sure she'll have a great career, but so will Christian, whatever she says.
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