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It’s week 8 and honestly, I expected more by now. I love fashion, but the fashion-designer-reality-shows never hold me for long. They’re over edited, uninspiring and the challenges are staler than last week’s bread. That said, the show must go on! Last week we said goodbye to Lidia and it was about time. She didn’t have the creativity or the skills to keep up with people like Reco or Daniella, who we know will make it to the finals.
Bravo Photo: Barbara Nitke
The Mini Challenge
Laura Brown of Harper’s Bazaar pops up for the mini challenge. Isaac tells the designers that there are seven fashion houses that have truly enhanced where fashion is today. The designers will undergo a quiz on fashion history. This worries Reco who is all self-taught and says he doesn’t know his fashion history.
Isaac starts the quiz and it’s multiple choice! Alright, well that makes it far easier from the get-go. After questions on the little black dress and the famous YSL quote, “Fashion fades, style is eternal,” Anna wins the challenge and gets an advantage in the elimination challenge. Isaac tells the designers to meet him at The Fashion Show runway for more info on the next challenge.
The Elimination Challenge
The elimination challenge is to create a look that represents the iconic designers of the past. Isaac says the key is to let the aspiring designers voices to shine through while paying homage to the fashion greats. Anna gets to assign the iconic designers to each aspiring designer. She chooses Chanel for herself, and gives the other designers houses they aren’t familiar with. Reco gets Halston, but decides he can make it work.
The designers get to work. Merlin thinks the girls are out to get him and James-Paul, and Reco thinks everyone is underestimating his vision. This involves giving his Halston-inspired dress a corset, which is a major no-no. James-Paul throws Merlin a bone with his Madame Gres-inspired dress, giving him an idea of what Madame Gres’ pieces were like. Daniella decides on doing pants for her Dior-inspired look, even though Haven points out that when she thinks Dior, she doesn’t automatically think pants. Daniella shrugs this off and says she’s going with her vision instead. Good for her, but it may not prove to be the smartest idea in the long run.
Isaac and Kelly stop by. Isaac is worried that Reco has done a corset for his dress, and Haven is nervous about how her suit is coming out. She doesn’t feel it’s quite YSL-worthy, and frankly, I don’t think Haven has the fashion chops to pull off such a task. James-Paul is with me and talks about seeing Haven’s sketch. With YSL the crucial factor in the suiting for women is the fit, which makes the suit so sexy and modern on a woman. Johnny is afraid the audience isn’t going to get his interpretation of Versace (big surprise there) and Reco thinks Anna’s strategy is going to backfire on her.
On the Runway
Haven/YSL – OK, but this doesn’t really read as YSL.
Daniella/Dior – Ew!
Anna/Chanel – This would have been fabulous with a BLACK jacket! The red totally cheapens it.
Reco/Halston – Surprisingly, this works!
Johnny/Versace – This honestly looks like a modern take on Versace and is actually quite wearable.
James-Paul/Pucci – This is too boring.
Merlin/Madame Gres – This is nice, but it’s clear Merlin isn’t familiar with the designer.
Judging/Elimination
Bravo Photo: Barbara Nitke
This week’s guest judge is Peter Som. Isaac brings out the top designs, which were best rated by the audience. Daniella, Anna and Johnny’s models are brought out. Daniella’s, seriously? I think this thing is a train wreck! Johnny has a great explanation for this dress and the judges are definitely buying it. Kelly comments that Johnny’s attitude is improving, as is his work. 84% of the audience think Anna’s dress is well-made. Peter says that if the jacket were blackand Isaac tells her to remove the jacket all together. Instantly the dress reads as modern Chanel. Daniella says she repeatedly tried to do a skirt, but it didn’t feel young enough so she’s please she went with the slim pants. Peter likes the collar, but Fern says she wishes there were more brave colors. Daniella says she seldom works with color, and Isaac points out that she must open herself to color to be a cutting edge designer. Johnny wins the challenge, and it’s well deserved.
James-Paul and Merlin are deemed safe. 90% of the audience said they would not buy the dress. Peter says with the corset-waist, it looks like a wench costume versus heading to Studio 54. Reco explains he’s never studied Halston and that he desperately wants to be in the competition. Haven says she wasn’t satisfied with the fit of the pants, while Fern says nothing about her design says Yves Saint Laurent. Isaac is shocked by Haven’s choice of brown wool fabric for her suit and he’s right. YSL is all about rich colors and fabrics, not nubby texture and drab hues.
I understand Reco missed the mark, but his skills cannot be put in Haven’s league. She has no real skills and probably can’t hem a pair of pants with pristine finish much less construct a pair of pants from scratch. Sorry, but it’s true.
In the end, Haven’s given the boot. It’s down to the wire now!