"Now in its tenth year, the 2008 Gen Art Styles competition presented the next crop of emerging fashion talent at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on Monday night, May 19, before a panel of judges that included fashion designers Victoria Bartlett and Marc Ecko among others, Sak's Fifth Avenue Fashion Director Michael Fink and Designer & Agent's founder Barbara Kramer.
A sixth award, the Tone Skincare Fashion Vision Award for Radiance, a $10,000 prize given to the designer best interpreting the Tone brand's theme, "Radiance," through sketches and text, was awarded to Jolibe. [Alison and Jillian were up for this award but sadly, neither won.]
Gen Art is well-known for launching the careers of some of fashion's best rising talents today, including Rodarte, Peter Som, Cloak, Loden Dager, Duckie Browne and Sari Gueron."
Miss McCarroll was there with his ubiquitous gigantic bag.
Alison Kelly. Um....we kinda hate the outfit.
She's wearing a cute necklace from her line of unisex jewelry.
Jillian Lewis. The shoes are fun and the dress is pretty cute, but we're more in love with the bottom half than we are the top.
Kara Saun. Oh honey, no. This isn't working for us at all.
UPDATE: "So ELLE.com enlisted him to head to this year’s Gen Art Styles show and take stock of the talent pool, then pen a personal essay on rising stars, reality checks, and how to blow the judges’ minds. The result is Jay McCarroll, uncensored and (mostly) unedited." Read Jay's take on the event here.
[Photos: WireImage/ContactMusic.com]
66 comments:
Yikes! Kara's outfit make her look like she's already made the move to Lifetime.
She's a gorgeous woman - surely she can do better than that.
Jillian's dress reminds me of one of Nancy Kerrigan's skating outfits.
On a general note: I WISH that these red carpet organizers would give those photographers more space so they don't have to use those wide angle lenses. Those lenses make almost everyone look like a turnip.
--GothamTomato
Jay looks ghastly... super creepy!
I love Jillian's outfit, not sure what to think of Alison's and Kara Saun's is very unflattering.
I love Jillian's outfit but it would've worked better without the ballet leotard.
Alison is gorgeous, isn't she?
Goodness gracious. Looks like almost everyone disregarded the rule of removing one-two pieces or accessories before leaving the house. What's with all the tchotchke? On designers/stylists, no less?
gothamtomato: Speaking of Lifetime, when I saw Kara Saun's pic, I swear the first thought I had was Bea Arthur (aka "Dorothy Z." or "Maude").
Oh my god, Kara Saun, what happened to her taste level. Just, what. happened.
Jillian's dress is very sweet but I truly do not understand that leotard.
I see Jay is working the multi-necklace trend that many deplored a scant 2 weeks or so ago. His strands unfortunately look like a bad day at a crafts fair. I once made a necklace out of soda can poptops ... good times ... too bad they don't come off the soda cans anymore, my wardrobe could use a freshening-up.
Jay definitely takes the cake for the most eye-catching bling at the event.
What happened to Kara Saun? Is she still designing? She's one of my favorite designers on the show.
Jillian looks like she is wearing not Nancy Kerrigan's skating dress but that hideous monstrosity that Zulema made, and Kara Saun looks like Gladys Knight or her grandmother.
Jillian looks like Bjork's little sister.
As for Kara Saun, "And then there's Maude..." (God'll get you for that Walter.)
Kara Saun is so pretty; the dress is just overpowering, though. Looks like Rami got hold of the top of Jillian's dress
Great event! My friend and I were there representing our agency. A lot of great talent this year. And yes, moments of hilariously inappropriate behavior by you know who.
Did Jay get caught in a fishing net? Does he have a deal with The Deadliest Catch?
First thought on Alison - the Blair Witch tunic
Jillian looks like a sugar plum fairy. Cute, fun and vaguely off.
Kara Saun looks like Phyllis Lindstrom hosting a cocktail party for Mary & Rhoda.
Jillian's personal aesthetic just doesn't look right on a grownup, IMO. Although, tom in KC, you may be on to something with the Bjork parallel.
Likewise Kara joining Team Golden Girls. Wide-angle lens or not, that outfit just made her look...not svelte.
Kara Saun really needs a stylist.
Jilian needs to find a new silhouette.
Jay pulls it off because of how he carries himself.
Alison? Oh, I'm sure it was cute when she was moving about, but in the tight space of the red carpet, it looks a bit disheveled.
Bill, you kill me!!
Why is Kara Saun wearing a Japanese caftan?
Ummm, both Allison and Kara Saun look preggers in those designs~very unflattering unless, of course, you are with child (the fecund Mother Earth look is very 'big' right now, let us not forget! Perhaps its baby envy) Speaking of babies, Jillian just looks like she is in denial about growing up, confusing ethereal with juvenile. Where are her tap shoes? Jay is just so Jay; heart him, heart his look.
Jay ROCKS!!!!!
JILLIAN - Dress and shoes? Cute. Leotard? Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Alison's dress reminds me of the Nicholas Guesquiere couture collection for Balenciaga in 2006. That had prints of birds on telephone wires. Gillian's dress looks like Rami hijacked the bodice. Kara? Oh Kara.... sigh...
If Miss Jillian would drop the leotard underlayer and make that dress in a color (even say, matching the tropical punch pink from her shoe's pattern), it would be quite cute. Sure it could easily veer off into bridesmaid territory, but I think she's capable of pulling it off.
But as for the others, meh.
Was Jillian going to her ballet lesson after the event? I don't get the leotard AT ALL, kittens.
Kara Saun, darling, how can you go from "Gucci" to this?
Why would a lovely woman like Kara Saun think it is a good idea to dress like Mrs. Roper?
Jay - Very Jay.
Alison - You can't sit down EVER, honey, if you're wearing silk.
Jillian - Cute.
Kara Saun - The look is too matronly for her.
WHAT is going on?? Jay looks like the ghost of Jacob Marley with all those chains.
Jillian could be going to meet Beatrix Potter's ghost for tea with Jemimah Puddleduck.
Did Kara just get out of the Japanese bath?
And Allison just fug, period, especially the shoes.
----StkrShock
thank you everyone for your hilarious commentary --- what a great way to start my morning. bill, you just crack me up -- love the reference to phyllis lindstrom. (and so a-propos)...
i agree that jillian's outfit would be much cuter without the leotard underneath -- was it particularly cold that night? just doesn't work.
alison's outfit is really boring and kara's really does channel maude or phyllis or mrs. roper -- really fug and does nothing to flatter such a beautiful woman.
these are some of the top, upcoming designers? yikes!!! if they keep this up, pretty soon they will be dressing like vera wang...
Jillian's outfit has such potential but the long sleeves turn it into a Mormon prom dress.
Christopher said...
Why would a lovely woman like Kara Saun think it is a good idea to dress like Mrs. Roper?
DING DING - We have a winner! Perfect Christopher!
Jay's skunk-do makes me think of Alexandra Cabot from Josie and the Pussycats. I wonder if that would please him.
I actually like Alison's outfit the best--I like all of it in fact. It might not all match perfectly, but she looks like a person who has a lot of interesting clothes, and she put this outfit together without trying to hard. The proportions are just right, and the footwear is particularly cool.
So disappointed with Jillian. I admire her work so much. You all are right that it's time for her to bid adieu to that childish silhouette. And the top of that dress is just a disaster.
I am seeing Rami-style draping from the shoulder on Jillian's leotard. Not her "thing," doesn't look right on her or her designs!
Does anyone recognize Alison's booties? I want them.
It looks like Jillian had a crisis of confidence about going bare in the shoulders and donned a modesty garment.
That can't be what was meant, but that's how it looks.
JAY JAY JAY.
With the proportions of his whole look, if you shrunk him down and gave him stringy hair, he would be an Olsen Twin.
OUCH!
"Well before Project Runway made a farce of fashion design -- reality television directing Heidi Klum to talk like a femmebot Nazi or Parsons fashion department chair Tim Gunn into a knitpicky queen -- GenArt gave design students a chance to become real professionals. Last night, GenArt's tenth anniversary Styles show -- a competition of thirty finalists in five categories -- proved the tightest exhibition yet of promising new clothing and accessories designers. The proof is in the talent."
"Going back to Project Runway, I'm sure the submissions to that show equal or perhaps surpass that of GenArt. But from where I'm sitting it's a zero sum game for a student who wants to build a serious fashion career. The most famous winner, Jay McCarroll, has his own website of tees with circle prints and bags. At best, he's the American answer to Walter Von Bierendonck. (Look it up kids, WALT, as he's known, is whimsical fellow from Antwerp who makes kitsch but intelligent clothes.) At worst, McCarroll made his name on a hype machine of not quite reality TV, and certainly not craftsmanship. It's bull. Where are the other winners? Does anyone in fashion care? Certainly not Anna Wintour, who for better or worse, can make of break a career. Better to apply to GenArt, where a judge like Michael Fink, Fashion Director of Saks, can actually review your work. The rest, even if televised on national TV, remains a joke that no stylish woman would be caught dead wearing."
LOVE. JAY!!!
Jay looks like a gay Drew Carey!
My friend turned me on to Alison's jewelry and I love them. I had no idea he designed jewelry too.
What's with all the fugly fashion?
Unisex jewelry? Who is she kidding? It's pretty, but my boyfriend would run around school in his underwear before he would wear that.
YAY! Alison looks gorgeous!
Kara looks ENORMOUS. Wazzup wit dat?
"With the proportions of his whole look, if you shrunk him down and gave him stringy hair, he would be an Olsen Twin.
Ha! So funny!
*Thanks for making my day a little brighter...
With different shoes, Alison's outfit might've worked.
Kara Saun looks 10 years older in that thing.
"Jillian Lewis. The shoes are fun and the dress is pretty cute, but we're more in love with the bottom half than we are the top."
I agree, it is a pretty dress. It just didn't need that leotard underneath. It kind of ruins the classy, soft look.
Kara Saun says that hyperhidrosis affects your wardrobe...so does bad taste.
That's a whole lot of look on Jay. That shit must weigh a ton. Love the black nail polish, though.
I would like to know what Jay is hauling around in that tote bag.
lenora,
my thoughts exactly!!!! every time I see pics of him with that gigantic tote I wonder the same thing.... I like the tote though....
God I luv Jillian.
-- desertwind
PS - Me thinks Jay is mockin' the current lotsa-big-stuff-around-the-neck-multiple-necklaces-worn-at-once-remember-Nina-sporting-this-look? trend.
-- d'wind
i'm a big fan of jay's hair
It's nice to see Jillian in something other than those weird short things she always wore, but can she get someone to do her hair and makeup?
E.-
bettie --Gen Art is one of the hottest tickets in town during fashion week. It's always a thrill to see a designer being launched and applauded by peers.
I love Jay!!!!
Thanks for the update, guys : - )
Great picture of Jillian! I absolutely love her coats and I can't wait to buy on of them. Hurry up, Jillian!
"lso, Kara Saun from season one of Project Runway was there to hand out trophies to the winners. Apparently she is the spokesperson for underarm sweating and I guess Botox helps out with that. I will refrain from any kind of commentary. I like Kara Saun and I’m sure she got herself a good deal. I hope that Botox helps to get you a sweet apartment in the hills. I tried to see her backstage but I couldn’t find her. So many f$#@ing people guzzling free drinks."
LOLOLOLOL. Jay will never change!
Isn't Jay so cute? I just love him!
Kara Saun's entire getup is very Bebe- tacky trying to look expensive and not really succeeding. This is a big disappointment because I really liked the majority of her work on Project Runway... maybe she originally had something absolutely fabulous to wear and spilled red wine on it on the way to the event and was forced to run into the mall and the only store open was Bebe.
Jillian looks adorable, but I'm not sure I mean that in an entirely good way. Jay and Alison look like they're trying a little too hard to be hipsters. And I'm not sure what Kara Saun is trying to do, but it's not her best look.
bettie said...
OUCH!
"Well before Project Runway made a farce of fashion design -- reality television directing Heidi Klum to talk like a femmebot Nazi or Parsons fashion department chair Tim Gunn into a knitpicky queen -- GenArt gave design students a chance to become real professionals. Last night, GenArt's tenth anniversary Styles show -- a competition of thirty finalists in five categories -- proved the tightest exhibition yet of promising new clothing and accessories designers. The proof is in the talent."
And then to read Jay's ELLE entry was hysterical. Whatta juxtaposition, whatta gas, whatta lotta hoo-haa on the GenArt Screamer.
Blah-blah-blah. GenArt doesn't give you a Bryant Park show or $100,000 cash, a car and whatever other tchotchkes when you win.
As for 'industry influence' - Jay's time spent in the GenArt scene didn't seem to do him nearly as much help, industry-wise, as being on Project Runway was at introducing him to a wide audience *and* industry insiders.
The industry-insnider gives me the impression she thinks her insights into 'fashion' are purer. 'Project Runway' and GenArt are apples and oranges... except the apple gives the winner $100,000 and even the 'losers' at second, third and fourth place get a Bryant Park fashion show... .
Basically, it all comes down to how the designers themselves handle their careers and their career choices and what may constitute a success in one fashion forum may mean absolutely nothing in another fashion forum.
Still... reading those two articles one after the other was a lot of fun. Thanks, Bettie, for pointing it out.
First impression of Jillian's dress: Princess Leia goes to the sock-hop.
Both Gen Art and Project Rungay will launch your career. They're different but both are good, and a designer would be pleased to win either.
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