BravoTV Message Boards > The Episodes

runway

January 20, 2005 - 12:04 PM

HOW MANY PEOPLE NOTICED HOW ELLE COMPLETELY DISTANCED ITSELF FROM THE FLIRT-O-RAMA THAT WAS LAST NIGHTS EPISODE?......THEY SAID IT WAS A PARTY GIVEN BY ELLE, BUT I THINK ELLE MAGAZINE WAS VERY SMART TO STAY OUT OF ALL THE SEXUAL FLIRTING AND "LOLITA" ATMOSPHERE THAT WAS SHOWN LAST NIGHT.....WHAT DO ALL OF YOU THINK?

notevayas

January 20, 2005 - 12:10 PM

Watch the repeats. Austin clearly tells Richard Johnson that Melissa is 16. He even assures him that she is drinking ginger ale so that everything is above-board!
It looks like I am hating on the man and I am not. My motivation here is that all you ladies are dumping on Morgan for being unprofessional when she is a 21 year old model, and giving a 40 to 50 year old man a free pass for some real boorish behaviour. I am interested in motivation for design but also social interaction. Why do females not support other females.. even a l6 year old.
notevayas

NoraF

January 20, 2005 - 12:19 PM

Yer right, I did forget that Austin did say something about her age in the episode.

I do think his behavior was inappropriate, but I also think that her behaviour was wrong as well. I do think that she knew what she was doing, and is used to getting a reaction from grown men. It is Lolita like, but I wil go back to my comment of if she was 18 would people be as upset as they appear to be.

runway

January 20, 2005 - 12:24 PM

....did you also notice that three female judges chose to get rid of a strong female contender instead of a weak one, Wendy, who ADMITTED SHE COULD NOT MAKE A THONG/BIKINI BOTTOM?... HELLO ALL, THAT WAS THE ASSIGNMENT.....Robert's design also was not strong but he's a male and Jay last week admitted that Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein were inspirations but he's a male too.....WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK?

notevayas

January 20, 2005 - 12:47 PM

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Hi TTB,
As the mother of a teenage girl, I was expecting that you would have something to say about the behavior of that New York Post columnist Richard '[expletive deleted]' Johnson. He knew he was on camera and being recorded and he still made suggestive remarks about a girl that Austin made a point to inform him was 16. It made me wonder how the man conducts himself when he is not being televised and recorded. Other astute posters have called him a 'pig' and I offer the word 'pathetic' for consideration. I hope all the mothers on this board direct a letter writing campaign to the New York Post suggesting they get this man some counseling.

Hey Note!

Melissa is 16, same age as my daughter - my first thought? I'd pull her from the competition...wouldn't care how much money she stood to make. And I wouldn't need to make a scene to do it; I show up, she gets in the car, no back talk, we're gone. You know me, I don't play.

Though Melissa was paired with Austin, her actions are her own and I can't say I'm surprised by them because a hint of it showed when she wiggled her butt on the runway a few times. Does this mean I think she's a bad kid? No, just not my kid...'cause if it were my child you know it wouldn't have happened.

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At the same time I was in total awe of the team that Austin and Melissa made. They were both fighting for their competitions and the editing probably didn't have to be too intense to show that they were both 'on'.

extrovert + extrovert = your name in the New York Post

extrovert + introvert = a torn swimsuit unfortunately

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...and I know that Kevin is straight and cute, but many posters have noticed the passive/aggressive problem he has with women. Worse than Mr. Classic Sportscar and only slightly better at it.. (both probably..) Wendy is out first, Robert second.. ack! don't delete me!

I think many posters are just put off by his soft-spoken nature and therefore think he's always "up to something". I spoke like that most of my young life and wasn't up to anything - my mom dubbed me "The Good One". My daughter speaks that way now and she's never up to anything...in fact, if she does something wrong, she tells on herself. So soft-spoken does not a passive-aggressive person make.

TTB

Hi ThomsTeddyBear!
Thank you for understanding what I was trying to say, even when I flubbed it up!

Do you know that one poster thought the mother of the teenage girl was me!

Even though we do not always agree, I find your reasoning very compelling! I find Kevins eyes very compelling and if I were single I would say so on a public forum.. oops!
I do like Morgan, but when she dissed Kevin at the party I almost threw my shoes at the television! But I can see both sides with the Nora thing.. He's a heartbreaker.. quietly.
notevayas

NoraF

January 20, 2005 - 12:56 PM

I actually don't think that the female they got rid of was that strong (I think her name was Alexandria). She copied off of other designers and has not actually won any of the competitions on her own (Wendy won the party dress competition). Alexandria's problem as well as Nora's problem was that they were young and not that they weren't talented. Both I think will have a future in designing clothes that none of us will ever wear or could afford.

notevayas

January 20, 2005 - 12:57 PM

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....did you also notice that three female judges chose to get rid of a strong female contender instead of a weak one, Wendy, who ADMITTED SHE COULD NOT MAKE A THONG/BIKINI BOTTOM?... HELLO ALL, THAT WAS THE ASSIGNMENT.....Robert's design also was not strong but he's a male and Jay last week admitted that Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein were inspirations but he's a male too.....WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK?

I think that this show is much more planned than real and that the winners and losers and 'roles' were cast. I am not saying that the contestants know this or are always cooperating, but the criteria and challenges seemed "designed" to influence pre-arranged outcomes.. That is my impression.
notevayas

runway

January 20, 2005 - 01:07 PM

....I agree with you totally....you are very intelligent in that observation....too bad the show is relying on gimmicks....I heard the INSPIRATION POLICE have gotten Heidi to admit she was inspired by about 60000 models that came before her and she has admitted the error of her ways ( smile ) ....great observation by you though....I noticed how the other week when Vanessa was eliminated she didn't seem fazed and wanted to just leave instead of hearing minor reasons for the decision.....recall she said, " Can I go now?" before Heidi got to her german goodbye part....seems Vanessa didn't want to play that game....

NoraF

January 20, 2005 - 01:19 PM

Reality shows scripted....

Next you will tell me that the men and women who appear on the Bachlor and Bachlorette shows really don't find love.

runway

January 20, 2005 - 01:23 PM

...I heard there's a new reality show called, 'FASHION DESIGNERS WHO AREN'T INSPIRED BY ANYONE".....they are having problems getting contestants though.....does anyone know why? (smile)

xactlyme

January 20, 2005 - 02:01 PM

wow! let me dumb this down for you Note; precocious=smart.
and full of feminine wiles?! i said fully aware of her feminine wiles, which, translated by someone with a modicum of intelligence and/or grasp of the english language, pretty much says shes self aware. that, Note, is a good thing.

oh well, im having trouble communicating monosyllabically for Note's sake, so ill stop. trying.

and randam, i think you misunderstood, im not condoning permiscuous behaviour, simply stating reality. teenage girls, and boys for that matter, are very capable of it and know exactly what they are doing. i seriously doubt the columnist was in the market for a 16 year old, only thrust into the situation. she was the aggressor.

ninaneal

January 20, 2005 - 02:08 PM

If you mean cast as in let's pick designers who fit stereotypes I agree. For instance we need some pretty people- Alexandra and Robert, we need some crazy people who will mix things up- Jay and Nora. Queer Eye is popular let's pick Austin, that flamboyant Carson type. Call me jaded but I really don't think designs alone got these people on the show.

I know a thousand people will want to stab me with sewing shears but I wanted Robert to go. His designs just aren't strong enough. Especially since I would have loved to see Vanessa do the wedding dress and the swimsuit challenge.

notevayas

January 20, 2005 - 02:13 PM

Ah, the mother who called her daughter precocious and fully aware of her feminine wiles REALLY meant that her daughter was intelligent and self-aware! How silly of me to misinterpret your meaning!

By the way, what are masculine wiles? I know you will be able to instruct me as you are so precocious!
notevayas

notevayas

January 20, 2005 - 02:38 PM

If you watched Queer Eye for the Straight Guy you would understand how ridiculous it is to compare Austin to Carson!
Austin is fine, but definately a 'work in progress'!
notevayas

NoraF

January 20, 2005 - 02:43 PM

I liked Vanessa and thought she would make it farther then she did. I think she is more stylish then Wendy, but maybe technically not as good as wendy.

I am still going with my Robert love. I like Kevin, but he seems to let everyone walk all over him.

JenniferK

January 20, 2005 - 02:47 PM

Hi! Can someone please tell me who the designer is of the silk top that Heidi had on for the swimsuit episode. Many thanks!

jescci

January 20, 2005 - 02:55 PM

Re: Alexandra getting the boot: Everything else aside - how can you miscalculate so badly as to make a suit that is too small for a model who looks like she weighs barely 90 pounds?

Re: Robert's Women Are Like Sports Cars Remark: What in the world is so wrong about that? Perhaps he didn't explain it well, but the words slim, sleek, sexy, sophisticated, stylish, snazzy and smart all come to mind. Are these insults?

Re: Austin and Melissa whoring at the party: This, right or wrong, is what it takes, at least in part, to get noticed and find success in an extremely competitive business. Maybe not to succeed on a modest level, but to hit the so-called glamorous big-time - yes, with rare exceptions. Fashion these days is show business. Show business is entertainment. This is one reason I don't object to Austin's flamboyant, theatrical designs and flamboyant, theatrical personality.

nycgal

January 20, 2005 - 03:05 PM

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If you watched Queer Eye for the Straight Guy you would understand how ridiculous it is to compare Austin to Carson!
Austin is fine, but definately a 'work in progress'!
notevayas

Austin may have other claims to fame comparing to others. An early photo of Andy Warhol as a student at the Carnegie Institute of Technology around 1947 shows a strong resemblance to Austin. Austin's outfit with black gloves on his demo interview on Project Runway's website, shows him looking a bit like the host of the show Iron Chef. Project Runway so far has been a joy.

AuntieKrabby

January 20, 2005 - 03:08 PM

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I do agree that the model put Richard Johnson in a incrediably awkward position. Its not like she wore a sign saying "Hello my name is blah,blah and I am 16 even though I act and look 26". I am confident if he realized how young she actually was, then he would not have looked at her bootey being shaken in front of his face.

Someone was talking (or something) throughout this episode, weren't You???

Melissa and Austin both told Richard she was 16. It was the very first thing I heard! Richard looked shocked, as we all do, to learn this. She doesn't look 16, more power to her.

As for the rest of you prudish, stay-at-home-soccer-mom types, this is what was on page 6 (Melissa's mom was very close by!!):

August 27, 2004 -- ASPIRING designer Austin Scarlett made a splash with his sexy Monroe-esque swimsuit design for Elite model Melissa Haro at the Project Runway/Elle magazine party at Hiro. Project Runway, hosted by Heidi Klum and set to air on Bravo this fall, is already in the thick of its elimination process, with just six aspiring designers left. Haro, who had ginger ale in her champagne flute, turned out to be 16 and had her mother discreetly chaperoning as she mingled with the likes of Frederic Fekkai, John McDonald and Bobby Zarem. Austin, a native New Yorker, seems to have true star power.

allthewayjay

January 20, 2005 - 03:51 PM

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I think Wendy's "suit" did have nice colors, but it wasn't finished! Once again, her design was incomplete. Wendy should have been voted off, clearly. Alexandra has done some great work since the beginning. Hopefully next week Wendy gets the boot.

I AGREE!! I don't understand how a swim suit that did NOT meet the challenge went forward anyway. At least Alexandra's teeensy tiny itty bitty postage stamps of fabric was a finished garment (even if it did show the models asscrack)!

anOutsider

January 20, 2005 - 04:41 PM

Isn't it obvious? Wendy is one of the final three! I even think that she will be the winner. She deserves it completely because she (as all of the judges) has no talent!
Remember the discussion with paper guy about Wendy? He was disappointed that she did not tell him a good story, so he can write about her. So, he had to stick with the other jury favorite.

I am so sorry for Alexandra!

ArkansasFlea

January 20, 2005 - 05:57 PM

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...I heard there's a new reality show called, 'FASHION DESIGNERS WHO AREN'T INSPIRED BY ANYONE".....they are having problems getting contestants though.....does anyone know why? (smile)

Uninspired fashion designers... Now that's a great concept. The result... nude runway models.

JustTzujIt

January 20, 2005 - 07:11 PM

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....did you also notice that three female judges chose to get rid of a strong female contender instead of a weak one, Wendy, who ADMITTED SHE COULD NOT MAKE A THONG/BIKINI BOTTOM?... HELLO ALL, THAT WAS THE ASSIGNMENT.....Robert's design also was not strong but he's a male and Jay last week admitted that Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein were inspirations but he's a male too.....WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK?

Wendy has an argument going for her because she's won the BR challenge. Now... what does the winner get? Why, working with BR, that's what.

Alexandria was judged not just on her swimsuit but her past designs as Wendy was. And guess what? I guess they were just getting bored with her unoriginality, seeing that Heidi said herself "You need to be more creative"

Somuchforthat

January 20, 2005 - 07:53 PM

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THE JUDGES MADE REFERENCE TO A GUCCI INSPIRED SWIM SUIT OF JAYS IN A POSITIVE MANNER YET ALEXANDRA'S SUIT WHICH DID NOT LOOK LIKE KORS'S SUIT WAS HER INSPIRATION. WE ALL ARE INSPIRED BY SOMETHING, CONSCIOUSLY OR UNCONSCIOUSLY.

The reason Austin won with his retro suit is because he did not once say "Esther Williams" in public. Not at the club, and not on the runway.

The reason Jay was tied for first with Austin in the design portion was because he also had a standout design and he never once dropped a name in homage either. But, he was not so great at the club during the "interview." Austin got the mention in the column through his own confidence and ability. Jay, for all his catty humor and "too cool" persona, tends to get highly uncomfortable in "social/business" settings, like the 2nd challenge as well as this one.

Austin completely sold his design and himself to both Mr. Page 6 at the club and to the judges (including MrP6) without referencing his inspiration. Austin is not merely a gifted designer, he's smart, savvy, and charismatic to the nines.

(The only time I heard mention of Esther Williams after Austin's initial riff on his design, was when it came out of the "eBay" judge's mouth. Now that's a grand-slam -- she "got it" without him telling her.)

Alexandra didn't merely reference her "inspirations," she copped to it every time she described her (too tiny even for a 90lb waif) bikini. Personally, my biggest problem with her swimsuit is that it was so ill-fitting! Didn't she have measurements?? You can hardly get slimmer and less curvy than these girls (except for Martinique's great rack), and yet somehow Alex's design was too skimpy for her hand-picked model's boobs AND bum. She was incompetent not only in expressing "her" design to the judges; it was a physical failure as well. That's why, IMO, she's out this week.

As for Wendy, a thong was the wrong choice of "bottom" for that "any-size could wear it" design. And the fact she couldn't figure out how to make one is simply breathtaking, this late in the game. Maybe next week (fingers crossed).

The others I am totally meh about, including the usually fabulous Kara. Meh.

JimmyB

January 20, 2005 - 10:46 PM

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As for the rest of you prudish, stay-at-home-soccer-mom types, this is what was on page 6 (Melissa's mom was very close by!!):

August 27, 2004 -- ASPIRING designer Austin Scarlett made a splash with his sexy Monroe-esque swimsuit design for Elite model Melissa Haro at the Project Runway/Elle magazine party at Hiro. Project Runway, hosted by Heidi Klum and set to air on Bravo this fall, is already in the thick of its elimination process, with just six aspiring designers left. Haro, who had ginger ale in her champagne flute, turned out to be 16 and had her mother discreetly chaperoning as she mingled with the likes of Frederic Fekkai, John McDonald and Bobby Zarem. Austin, a native New Yorker, seems to have true star power.

Thank you AuntieKrabby for detailing the article...I had wondered what the full text was.

Did anyone happen to notice the trash stuck to the bottom or Morgan's shoe when she went down the runway?!? Now that's newsworthy!

jescci

January 20, 2005 - 10:54 PM

Spoiler (sort of) re: model elimination:

I beleive, based on what I could see in a freeze frame from the preview of next weeks' show that Erin, Julia and Olga are the first three picked and therefore are not eliminated. There's a brief shot of the other four remaining on the runway during the selection process. I'll admit a silly, minor point of interest - but build-up and anticipation is half the fun of anything.

gigilogan

January 21, 2005 - 07:08 AM

But, he was not so great at the club during the "interview." Jay, for all his catty humor and "too cool" persona, tends to get highly uncomfortable in "social/business" settings, like the 2nd challenge as well as this one.

I agree with your overall assessment. I really like Jay and his humor, and while I would never wear his designs, I appreciate that he has his own sense of style. I felt like he could have handled himself better both at the club and especially on the runway. I liked his "booster seat" joke but he needed to back that up with, no hey, I'm a kidder, but I know what I am doing. And he just didn't.

I was stunned that they took Alexandra out before Wendy who HADN'T FINISHED her creation, but I am starting to get the point that imagination is perhaps a more important part of this over technical showmanship. And I agree about the comments that Alexandra couldn't think far enough outside of her inspiration to come up with something that was going to look GOOD on her model.

I liked the jacket that Kara made and I felt like if that outfit had been done with a little more bling or color it would have been stronger.

Finally, finally - I was soooo annoyed that the complaint about Kevin's suit - though I didn't like it myself - was that it didn't "look like" a bathing suit. It was at least made of materials that would have held up to water. And who is to say what looks like a bathing suit than a designer! He was at least thinking a little outside the box. I couldn't believe he was standing next to Alexandra who was kicked out for being entirely to constrained in her interpretations week after week. Again, I didn't like it, but I at least appreciate the thought that Kevin put into it...

Okay, I'm done ranting now at the utter inconsistencies in the judge's comments....

Frog

January 21, 2005 - 07:37 AM

first of all austin has a clear cut edge over most of his "fellow" competitors. i think alexandras' design was cool. i bet she regrets saying what she did now. plus i think shes soo hott. kevin should have been let go. his design didn't resemble a bathing suit to me. i know if i were out on a beach i would lmao at a girl wearing something like that. it reminded me of the beach scenes from the movie jaws. il miss alexandra. shes definitly going to learn alot from her mistakes. i cant see austin or jay losing. they are head and shoulders above the rest. kara has a slight shot at winning. later...

jais_girl

January 21, 2005 - 07:48 AM

~~~~~YAY AUSTIN!!!~~~~~

I'm so glad Austin won, I really loved his design. I could see that on women that aren't just a size 2. I would wear that and I'm not a size 2! I love the sparkles on the dark blue underneath the sheer light blue!!

Jay's design I couldn't really see as a swimsuit. I thought it would be more along the lines of a costume for a porn site. Makes sense, he used to work at a porn place.

Wendy's dress wasn't a swimsuit at all. I can't see anyone wearing that to the beach or even to a pool. Once wet, it wouldn't look very flattering and it looked more like she went for evening wear instead of a swimsuit that could pass for evening wear.

Robert, Robert, Robio! Where do you get the idea that women are like cars?! Show me the engine! And the steering wheel! While I like your design, your inspiration is just strange.

KaraSaun's seemed more like swimsuit/lingerie rather than swimsuit/evening wear. Was that sheer jacket thing supposed to make it evening wear appropriate? (Something that bugged me with the wedding dress challenge: She said she wanted to prove that she was versatile, but she really wasn't. Its the same design for all of her dresses. The only difference was the BR dress where it wasn't as low cut as the rest of her dresses)

Kevin's worked for evening wear, but perhaps if he made it strapless or a one shoulder it would have worked. Trusting his creation to Morgan overnight at a club was just stupid. That just irritates me that he let her go off like that.

Alexandra's swimsuit should have been eliminated because she didn't do her own design. She took bits and pieces from other designers and mushed them together to create a swimsuit. I think silver would have been better than gold.

As for the mole, if there is one, I'm a little stuck between Alexandra, KaraSaun and Vanessa. Vanessa because she kind of purposely eliminated herself in telling the judges she can't sew. Alexandra because she just seems so professional. KaraSaun because she is the professional. She's worked with major stars and then shows up on PR to compete for her own label. I would think that the revenue she got from working with the stars would be enough to start her own label.

JG

Istya

January 21, 2005 - 08:09 AM

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I was soooo annoyed that the complaint about Kevin's suit - though I didn't like it myself - was that it didn't "look like" a bathing suit. It was at least made of materials that would have held up to water. And who is to say what looks like a bathing suit than a designer! He was at least thinking a little outside the box. into it...

That reminded me of last week when they told Austin that his design was one of the worst just because it "didn't look like a wedding dress." Who are you to say that? People are DIFFERENT- we're not all conservative and bland! Fashion expresses who we are and not all of us are into what's considered "typical." So what? That's our perrogative, and it's their job as designers to cater to everyone.

ninaneal

January 21, 2005 - 09:22 AM

Well that's really kind of my point. I was being critical of how the designers were chosen. I personally do not feel that they were chosen purely for their design skills. I think it's quite possible that the producers saw blonde and effeminate and equated that with Carson on Queer Eye and that's where they stopped. Carson absolutely has a more evolved and experienced sense of fashion. I admire his style a great deal and love his sense of humor. You see that kind of thing in tv all the time. A version of something popular continues to pop up- a stereotype. For instance,the attractive wife with the chubby husband scenario. How many times have you seen that sitcom? Start with the Honeymooners and trace it all the way to the King of Queens.

Ohmy

January 21, 2005 - 10:30 AM

I was sad to see Alexandra go - especially, because she has consistently been much much stronger than Wendy on every challenge (except maybe the Banana Republic one.) People say Alexandra was not creative enough, but what does it show if you are creative but the finished product looks like a disaster.

Even more importantly, regardless of anyone's thoughts on Alexandra's talent, it is absolutely shocking that Wendy was not cut when she plain and simple DID NOT COMPLETE the challenge. Wendy designed a top, or a dress with a see-through bottom at best. Her creation was NOT a swimsuit! Furthermore, had other designers been given the option of creating part of a completed project I am sure that their designs would have turned out much differently. Perhaps Kara's suit would've been even more successful if she was allowed to focus entirely on the top and allow the model to wear her own bottom.

Lastly, the most mind-boggling part for me is that Alexandra has gotten a lot of flack for how poorly her suit fit. But Wendy's bottom fit so poorly it couldn't even be worn!

Somuchforthat

January 21, 2005 - 10:51 AM

Word to both posts in the previous comment. I assume the inconsistency of judging criteria has been discussed. I love this show, but there seems to be a mandate to be original and different, but a bottom line of fitting the norm. They should stop sending the designers mixed signals. They are all talented and shouldn't be jerked around for the sake of dramatics on a TV show.

Yeah, I know they all signed on. But some of the jerking around is very counter-productive to the premise, as understood by this viewer, of finding the most interesting and exciting new designer among this field. (And I don't mean according to Banana Republic.)

notevayas

January 21, 2005 - 11:01 AM

As much as I harp about my favorite (Jay) I was sad to see Alexandria go early just so that Bravo could use the tension between Wendy and Austin to add drama to the next challenge.. It took away the last shred of illusion that Bravo was letting at least Some of the competition play out naturally.
The three finalists have been chosen at this point and the challenges and criteria will be turned upside down if need be to validate the pre-arranged outcome. Stupid show.
A One-off!
notevayas

notevayas

January 21, 2005 - 11:26 AM

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Well that's really kind of my point. I was being critical of how the designers were chosen. I personally do not feel that they were chosen purely for their design skills. I think it's quite possible that the producers saw blonde and effeminate and equated that with Carson on Queer Eye and that's where they stopped. Carson absolutely has a more evolved and experienced sense of fashion. I admire his style a great deal and love his sense of humor. You see that kind of thing in tv all the time. A version of something popular continues to pop up- a stereotype. For instance,the attractive wife with the chubby husband scenario. How many times have you seen that sitcom? Start with the Honeymooners and trace it all the way to the King of Queens.

I'm very sorry for jumping down your throat, ninaneal, just because you compared Austin to Carson. You make all valid points; I just enjoy to debate everything. I even enjoy to play devil's advocate on occasion.
It does creep me out all the fans Austin has compared to Jay and Kara Saun. I can understand enjoying his idealized feminine vision. But as soon as he made with the waterworks when Vanessa was (unfairly) cut, I noticed that for some he could do... <cough>weddingdress<cough>... no wrong.
But this 'fragile sensitive guy' totally redeemed himself at the Page6 Challenge Party. So he can stand with Carson.
<but to the left and slightly behind!>
notevayas

JesBelle

January 21, 2005 - 04:09 PM

I think it is a mistake to think of Austin as "fragile". He is certainly dramatic and emotional, but he doesn't let his emotions control him. He does come from a theatre background. It takes a pretty firm backbone to tell some diva soprano that you don't care if she thinks she's the star, it's "Les Mis" and EVERYONE gets an ugly costume. I think he was genuinely sorry to have a part in Vanessa leaving, but he seems to understand better than any of the other contestants that nobody will sell him if he doesn't sell himself.

Somuchforthat

January 21, 2005 - 05:17 PM

Agreed on all points. Austin has terrific focus. When it wasn't in his interest to party, he stayed home. When it was, he was quite ready and willing! And let's be honest: would anyone else have recognized the fashion potential of corn husks!

He's obviously got the eye. And a good head on his shoulders vis a vis when to hold em and when to fold em. He's got a lot of what it takes to do this. Jay has talent but is socially awkward in front of his perceived "client" -- don't know how that'll work out for him. Kevin is either going to have a meltdown in the next couple of weeks or he'll win (just intuition talking there). Rob better step up, also Kara. Please leave, Pepper!

ELLA99

January 21, 2005 - 08:27 PM

Episode 6 - swimsuits. In no particular order.

Jay - Its pretty cool and edgy. Jay continues to come off with a good design in every project like its effortless. Sign of a great talent.

Austin - his strong suit is vintage designs and this swimsuit reflects that old Hollywood glamour he seems to like. Its very good, and I like the broach by the shoulder too. He and his model Melissa tried their hardest to get attention and sell the design too. It was funny how he was dancing like a performing monkey around her. And that Melissa sure knows how to flirt - she comes off older too - beautiful girl though. She looks like a combination of Raquel Welch and Cindy Crawford in their prime.

Robert - His swimsuit reminds me of his bad Banana Republic dress with the wrong color combination and Leopard thing. This swimsuit is so cheap looking and belongs on a rack at K-Mart. And the colors look toxic too. Not good at all. I expected him to be voted off.

Kara - I like the embroidered shawl with fringes a lot. It made her design look classy even though the swimsuit itself is pretty basic. But a nice overall look.

Kevin - This design confuses me. The bottom and the top seems like mismatched ideas. It looks like a short sleeve shirt and scuba skirt or something. Maybe if the black skirt has a shade of white instead of the blue the outfit will look like they at least belong together. He's off and on with his designs - I really liked his wedding dress last week, but this is average to me. (Btw, he sure shows control when it comes to dealing with people that are being annoying to him -- like Nora and Morgan's bratty attitudes, and that whiney, slave driver Olga.)

Wendy - Very pretty. Her original thong is like yellow and would have showed through and complement the swimsuit better if it was finshed. I like the color combinations even though I'm usually not into bright colors. A similar longer length design would work as a summer dress too.

Alexandra - Actually this is the only design she's done that's not one of my least favorites. I liked the gold chains and hoops she added to decorate the swimsuit. She usually does the same variation of the same dress too - but finally something different and she copied from someone's collection apparently. (its not wrong to be inspired though) Also, I couldn't believe when she said she's one of the top 3 along with Austin and Kara. She actually thinks she's better than Jay?! What an over confident young girl! She's just moderately good, and Jay is very talented and more creative. No wonder they didn't show her talking much on the show - she must have been saying delusional stuff like this and they didn't want to embarrass her. Goodbye Alexandra - you shouldn't have outlasted Nora and Vanessa anyway - although you're better than Robert.

jescci

January 21, 2005 - 08:55 PM

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Jay has talent but is socially awkward in front of his perceived "client" -- don't know how that'll work out for him.

Jay reminds me of The Simpsons Comic Book Guy - chubby, brite, but bitter, sarcastic, acerbic and yet in the end amusing. He shouldn't try so hard in public presentations. He should just be himself. That's plenty good enough.

Kevin's outfit looked like something thrown together in a five minute run thru K-Mart. He insists on making woman look cheap. That's not always unsexy, but it is disrepectful. Unlike Austin who seems to glorify women and the female form.

Only two designs from the show so far have moved me emotionally: Austin's BR garden party dress and Austin's swimsuit. Part of the appeal of each may be the involvement of Melissa. I'm not sure how much, but they are my favorite pairing.

paillette

January 22, 2005 - 08:33 AM

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Jay continues to come off with a good design in every project like its effortless. Sign of a great talent.
Austin - his strong suit is vintage designs and this swimsuit reflects that old Hollywood glamour he seems to like.
Kevin - This design confuses me. It looks like a short sleeve shirt and scuba skirt or something.

Actually, this was the only design of Kevin's I liked a little, though I agree that it was inappropriate for a swimsuit challenge. But if it were a different context, say, an outfit for a casual summer party, I think it would have worked nicely. But I can see why it was poorly ranked for this challenge.

Kevin also was strongly influenced by another designer, though unlike Alexandra he had the intelligence not to trumpet that fact. Last year Nicholas Ghesquiere, head designer for Balenciaga, received very favorable attention for a collection he did with a lot of neoprene and scuba themes, along with white shirts. His were a little different -- the neoprene had special, custom-designed prints on it -- but for someone making an outfit with mass-produced fabrics, Kevin's was about as close as possible. Crystal-clear to me that this was his Ghesquiere moment.

PaleFire76

January 22, 2005 - 03:43 PM

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Only two designs from the show so far have moved me emotionally: Austin's BR garden party dress and Austin's swimsuit. Part of the appeal of each may be the involvement of Melissa. I'm not sure how much, but they are my favorite pairing.

Thus far, the following designs have moved me emotionally. Most of them are from episodes 1 and 2, which included challenges I thought were the conceptually most interesting out of all the 6 episodes that have aired so far:

1. Vanessa's mesh, cajun, trash bag dress from ep. 1: very hot Southern Gothic.

2. Austin's corn husk dress from ep. 1: maybe it was the "spine" on the corn husks, but the top reminded me of the vaulted ceiling of the Chartes Cathedral. Incredibly imaginative.

3. Nora's lounge chair dress from ep. 1: like a neon light buzzing at night--electric and phosphorescent.

4. Austin's envy dress from ep. 2: maybe it was Martinique's sinuous walk, but the way she wore the dress reminded me of a slinky eel floating on the bottom of a black ocean. To me, Austin's ep. 2 dress personified envy: a dark, slimy feeling.

5. Jay's BR Chrysler Building dress from ep. 3: Although I know Jay drew his inspiration from the Chrysler building, his BR dress also reminded me of I.M. Pei's pyramid at the Louvre, probably because of his repeated use of triangles and the interplay of blue (symbolizing the sky) and metallic glint of silver (the steel criss-crosses holding the pyramid together).

6. Austin's BR rose-print dress: What Marie Antoinette would have worn while romping around in the rose garden at Versaille on a golden afternoon with Louis XVI. (Since Melissa seems to adore roses, she must have loved this dress.)

I admit the comparisons I used are pretty far-out. But those were truly the images/feelings the designs evoked when I first saw them.

Although I've been impressed by designs from episodes 4-6 (especially those by Kara), no other pieces have dazzled me as much or elicited such strong emotional reactions as those described above.

JustTzujIt

January 22, 2005 - 05:05 PM

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The reason Jay was tied for first with Austin in the design portion was because he also had a standout design and he never once dropped a name in homage either. But, he was not so great at the club during the "interview." Austin got the mention in the column through his own confidence and ability. Jay, for all his catty humor and "too cool" persona, tends to get highly uncomfortable in "social/business" settings, like the 2nd challenge as well as this one.

Jay was tied with Austin because of their designs but what made Austin win was Jay's completely unprofessional "high-chair" answer. Come on, Jay, you can do better than that!

JustTzujIt

January 22, 2005 - 05:11 PM

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That reminded me of last week when they told Austin that his design was one of the worst just because it "didn't look like a wedding dress." Who are you to say that? People are DIFFERENT- we're not all conservative and bland! Fashion expresses who we are and not all of us are into what's considered "typical." So what? That's our perrogative, and it's their job as designers to cater to everyone.

Amen.

JustTzujIt

January 22, 2005 - 05:19 PM

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Agreed on all points. Austin has terrific focus. When it wasn't in his interest to party, he stayed home. When it was, he was quite ready and willing! And let's be honest: would anyone else have recognized the fashion potential of corn husks!

That cornhusk thing was TOTALLY his Eugene, Oregon background. (They recycle like their life depended on it) Eugene ROCKS!!!

Go Ducks!

jescci

January 23, 2005 - 02:34 AM

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2. Austin's corn husk dress
3. Nora's lounge chair dress
5. Jay's BR Chrysler Building dress

These were cool too, but, imo, strictly from a creative/conceptual point of view - not as finished wearable products.

Nora did nothing of interest after ep 1 imo.

Your comparisons aren't weird at all. Designers are supposed to summon images and stir emotions - if they have any talent. That's why I like Austin so much. His first inspiration always has to do with a mood or a feeling - and a strong one. Fabric, shape and details follow and they almost always translate well to his original concept.

Had a dream last nite that some actress wore Jay's wedding dress on the red carpet of an awards show (color may have been a tad darker) and looked STUNNING. He's growing on me. I'm not really into the loose, flowing, ruffley, chiffon look. Tho that seems to be "in" right now in both the couture and casual arenas.

harlow

January 23, 2005 - 06:55 AM

I'm sure Jay did not lose the swim suit challenge because of his booster seat (not high chair) comment. Remember that we only saw snippets of the actual dialogue that took place. There was probably more discussion going on, but the booster seat comment was pulled out in editing because it was just FUNNY. My guess is that the comment was NOT met with stern glares as shown, either. Editing. The page 6 guy insulted Jay by insinuating that he could not conduct a business meeting and Jay shot back. I wonder if Jay's model had waved her ass in front of Mr. Johnson if the results would have been different. That display by Austin and Melissa was downright disturbing.

corprip

January 23, 2005 - 07:37 AM

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Agreed on all points. Austin has terrific focus. When it wasn't in his interest to party, he stayed home. When it was, he was quite ready and willing! And let's be honest: would anyone else have recognized the fashion potential of corn husks!

That cornhusk thing was TOTALLY his Eugene, Oregon background. (They recycle like their life depended on it) Eugene ROCKS!!!

Go Ducks!

According to Page Six, Austin is a New York native. Oh wait, nevermind. Austin is a liar and a fraud, so he would say that to Richard Johnson.

lisakaz

January 23, 2005 - 10:36 AM

Me too. That boy could design me a dress any day of the week. That's how I judge 'em usually. Would I want to wear it? Could I wear it? On that score, I really like Austin, Kara, Kevin (except that rock outfit that won; Jay's was better imo) and Jay.

lisakaz

January 23, 2005 - 10:38 AM

I could see that. New question: I thought the staging Jay/Austin "fight" was hillarious. What did other people think?

jmfitz619

January 23, 2005 - 11:46 AM

Loved the "fight". In the previews, PR tried to make it almost seem like a genuine brawl, but in the full context, it was really great to see these two guys lampoon themselves. I think both Jay and Austin know their personalities are quite dynamic, and good for them for their willingness to show a little tongue in cheek. I also think that their humor, combined with their talent, is why we'll see them as two thirds of the fashion week trio.