Okay, so we’re down to the final three…and the always fun Tim Gunn home visits. We just wish we had seen more of the clothes. Nonetheless, away we go with the q’s.
1. So Irina’s got issues with Althea about copying ideas, but was fully okay with using another artist’s renderings for her shirts without permission? Obviously, there were some lawyers involved with the show who were not so okay with this.
2. Where my Blue Devils at? Who knew Carol Hannah would take her inspiration from the Duke Chapel? I must say, it is quite stunning, especially at night.
3. Does anyone else take small pleasure in completely agreeing with Tim in real time while viewing? As in screaming at your TV, “NO!” when Carol Hannah threw that mess of a beaded belt on her dress in his presence.
4. If someone calls one of your pieces “borderline Hillary Clinton,” is that the worst thing you could hear going into Fashion Week?
5. Upon seeing that Irina’s collection was basically all black, didn’t you just flashback to Anna in The September Issue saying to Stefano Pilati, “Stefano, no color?”
In the worst season of the show ever, we finally know who’s showing (or sorry, already showed) at Bryant Park…last February. And now, on to the questions:
1. Seriously, Michael’s not involved in choosing who’s going to Fashion Week? No offense to Cynthia Rowley, who was lovely, but that’s just infuriating. Lifetime, please realize you cannot film this show in LA and still have it be relevant.
2. Cindy! Um, what’s your secret and how do you still look that damn amazing? Can we please get the number of your derm? Thanks much.
3. Mayor Villaraigosa, don’t you have a budget crisis to deal with? Also, if you think Los Angeles is the “creative capital of the nation” and “leading the way in fashion”, we cordially invite you to visit New York. Bring on the hate, west coast, we can take it.
4. Did anyone else think this Getty challenge would have been better suited for an early round where we could have seen a wider range of viewpoints? It really is one of the most culturally sound places in LA (and the views are ridiculous), making it the perfect place to get an early glimpse into everyone’s vision.
We didn’t get a chance to watch the first episode until last weekend. Our apologies for not recapping. But we’re back to analyzing Heidi, Tim, Nina and the gang as they take over FIDM and Lifetime.
1. Where’s Michael? You know he would have had some zingers for Malvin’s sling, Mitchell’s shorts, and Ra’mon’s darts.
2. What up with the chicken fetish, Malvin?
3. Don’t you bet Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn have really fun date nights? Bowling perhaps?
4. Speaking of Rebecca, isn’t it still hard to remember to drop the Stamos from her name?
5. Did Qristyl (don’t even get me started on the spelling of her name) actually call something outdated and then show up to the runway wearing what looked like a full-length patchwork leather skirt and a really bad jean jacket?
Summer Lovin’: Thank God P. Runway is returning soon for our viewing pleasure. Entertainment Weekly breaks down the new season…and got Tim Gunn to make that face in a picture. {EW}
Kate, Inc. Grows and Grows: Miss Moss is launching another fragrance called Vintage because of her love for “anything old…except old men.” {Grazia UK}
Miuccia Muses: CNN Asia scored a sit down with the designer. She says frivolity can be a good thing. Since we feel what Miuccia says always goes, we’re taking that mantra into the weekend. {Fashionologie}
We’re Peeling: Seeing how one of us (um, Abby) is way fidgety and has a bad habit of picking off her nail polish and causing unseemly nail breakage, a polish that’s literally designed to be stripped off without remover sounds pretty darn genius. {WWD}
Marvel Comics is releasing a new series of comic books on August 26th that revolve not around the worlds of Spidey and Clark Kent, but models and fashion.
What we know so far, according the NY Times, is that “Models Inc.” will feature a trio of ladies - Spiderman’s love Mary Jane, Millicent Collins or Millie the Model, and Patsy Walker who is also a superhero named Hellcat - working to clear Millie of a crime she didn’t commit, the murder of a set designer.
And their wise leader? None other than Tim Gunn - who gets to wear Iron Man’s suit!
We couldn’t think of a better choice. His calming tones and rational thinking are just what your average model turned world-saving superheroine needs, right?
What other real-life fash characters would you have make an appearance? And what would their powers be?
Last summer, Tide announced that Tim Gunn would be their new spokes-
person.
We finally saw his “Dressing to the Sevens” video and it is a gem.
In it, Tim talks about how your clothes need to do more than just fit correctly and make the perfect first impression - they also have to be clean. He gives solid advice, like to go through your closet and throw away any stained articles of clothing or anything that has, “more pills than a bottle of aspirin.”
And the way he basically says, “Treat your clothes with respect, hang them up, fold them etc.” is way nicer than the way my mom used to say it.
But now we have to sort of unbreak it, because it looks like JLo had to pull out due to a foot injury (guess she’s not used to going to so many shows in big shoes), and so Tim Gunn got to step in her place.
And there you have it. His opinions finally have some merit on the show.
“Sandals with socks are certainly up there. Generally speaking, it’s footwear trends. I mean, the Croc—it looks like a plastic hoof. How can you take that seriously? I know it’s comfortable; I understand that. But if you want to dress to feel as though you never got out of bed, don’t get out of bed.” —Tim Gunn’s thoughts on the worst fashion trends, in Time Magazine.
So if your team is in 5,498th place, or if you never made a team in the first place, it doesn’t matter at all. Points are based only on that next Wednesday’s episode.
We highly suggest going for this if you’re a design student - we know we’d feel so official if Tim bobbled “Make it work!” to us late in the night.
The designer, now best known for the Target collection which brought the mega-chain to the attention of the fashion crowd, is a great catch for Liz Claiborne. The president of the brand said they’ve “been lacking a clear and cohesive vision” which they hope Mizrahi will fix.
Mizrahi, the fashion darling of the 90’s, won the CFDA in 1990, but stopped designing for financial reasons just eight years later.
Hopefully, this move will help him reclaim his spot in the industry - he says the new position will afford him “fantastic opportunities for growth in my own brand.”
But we really hope that he and Tim Gunn, Liz Claiborne’s Chief Creative Officer, become the best of friends and Isaac ends up as the newest guest judge on Project Runway. (Remember Isaac on the Style channel? Yes, we miss it, too.)
I’ve recently sworn off fast fashion - ok, so maybe not entirely, but I’m slowly weaning myself off almost daily trips to H&M, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, etc.
I rarely buy nice things because:
1. I don’t take very good care of my clothes - for three weeks out of every month my bedroom generally looks like it imploded.
2. I wear something a couple of times and I’m over it. I know - it’s a very serious problem.
A good friend of mine rarely shops, and when she does, she buys pieces worth their hefty price tag, like her two major purchases this fall: a classic Philip Lim winter coat and her perfect Costume National boots.
Tim Gunn recently said the number one problem he encounters with the women on his show is “So many clothes in the closet. Lots of clothes.” He gives the oft-repeated advice, “Buy less and buy better quality.”
I’ve decided to shop more like my friend and follow Tim’s advice, making my purchases slowly and with a lot more thought, investing in pieces that will last a few years, if not forever.
But it’s a practice easier said than done. Sometimes I just need a quick fashion fix, like the little brooch I’m craving from Screaming Mimi’s that I tell myself doesn’t really count as “fast” since it’s vintage. I can only imagine the excitement of looking forward to buying one or two amazing pieces, (that I swear I would hang properly in my closet), every six months.
Do you invest in a few great pieces every year? Or do you find yourself picking up loads of clothes that fall into the, “I can spill my drink on it and not care” category?
7. Tim does not like Christian. Well, that wasn’t a question, but… he doesn’t. Maybe because Christian went to Central St. Martins instead of Parsons. Or maybe it’s just his aggressively silly haircut.
4. Come on, viewers, would you really trust Tim Gunn’s style over Nina Garcia’s? Really? Or did they rig the poll to help hype Tim’s Guide to Style?
3. Is Elisa the Rodarte of Project Runway?
2. Kevin, why do you keep saying “Thank you” when someone compliments Victorya’s dress? You helped sew, but those “omigosh” moments are hurled at your temporary boss.
1. But would Carrie Bradshaw have worn the losing design, that Pocohontas poncho thing? Oh yes, she would have, and she would have thought it was fab-u-lous (or at least fab-u-less).
Last week, we told you about Fafarazzi’s Project Runway game, the Fantasy Football inspired tracking game that we know you’ll all play along with us.
We’re going to be posting about our team’s results every week, starting this week- starting tomorrow!
If you haven’t already, register at the game’s site and pick your three favorite designers at some point today- at least before 10pm EST, when season 4 premiers.
Remember, designers don’t just get points for obvious stuff like winning a challenge or getting saved from elimination- crying gets them three points each, and fights with other designers earn four.
Also, keep in mind that you can change your players every week- the points are what counts- so choose wisely.
We’ve already picked our favorites for tonight: So far, I’m betting on cool/tough-looking Elisa, experienced Rami, and Jersey boy Kevin.
Meanwhile, Faran is going for Rami and Elisa (who can resist a designer who names Benjamin Cho as an influence?!) plus Simone because of her pink lipstick.
A problem with fashion is the relentless drive for “next.” Trends have to zoom; models must morph; editors try and churn pages of “the new” and “the fresh” and “the It” for fear of being left behind.
This is great for reinvention, and usually for business, but sometimes it puts young talent in a weird place.
Witness the case of Ashleigh Verrier, whose first collection - created as her senior thesis project at Parsons - got bought, in its entirety, by Saks. This was in 2004, when Tim Gunn was her thesis adviser and Proenza Schouler was her boss (she was their first-ever intern).
Soon, the 22-year-old was billed as an “up-and-coming” by magazines and newspapers, about a year after she could buy vodka. Now 26, Ashleigh is still younger than most emerging designers, with a sponsored show in Bryant Park and a list of celebrity clients fit for Page Six - not to mention a licensing deal in Japan that could grow her company and label.
Still, the “up-and-coming” title hasn’t vanished, despite newer newbies like Alexander Wang, Vena Cava, and Chris Benz (who shared several college classes with Ashleigh!) hitting the scene. “But I’m not complaining,” remarks the San Francisco native. “Sometimes, when I work with my seamstress, I feel like I’m still in grad school!”
Maybe - but does anyone in grad school make dresses for Courtney Cox?
That rumor we spread about Mark Fast doing a line for Topshop? It's true. And it's in last week's Sunday Telegraph magazine which means it was true before we even said anything and we've had it in our lap since... Read More
Meet Blue Logan, if you haven't already. A couple of years ago a friend dragged the soft-spoken Brit to a show at London Fashion Week, Aquascutum he thinks, and he started to draw the models as they walked down the... Read More
Okay, so we’re down to the final three…and the always fun Tim Gunn home visits. We just wish we had seen more of the clothes. Nonetheless, away we go with the q’s.
