Reactions to The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection Episode 7

Well - no surprises here: Calvin was Calvin. Eduardo turned out a lovely cocktail dress. And someone went home. What did you think of this episode? Please tell us in the comments!

Reactions to The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection Episode 6

Ok, anyone tired of watching Calvin act up yet again? Me neither! How about the budding romance between David and Dominique? Too bad it had to get cut short, eh?

So...what did you think about this episode? Tell us in the comments!

Reactions to The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection Episode 5

Wow - now that was something: the Real Housewives visit The Fashion Show. Tell me - did those Housewives really need more exposure? (I think not.)

What did you think about the episode? Did you enjoy it? Would you like to see more Bravo cross-over episodes? Please tell us in the comments!

Reactions to The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection Episode Three

Three episodes down....

So what did you think about this episode? How did you feel about Cesar and Calvin after they switched teams? Did you agree with the winning and eliminated designers? Please leave a comment and tell us all about it.

Reactions to The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection Episode Two

Wow - so what was up with Mike? I thought he was getting a loser edit and expected to see him go, but not of his own accord. What about the switcheroo between teams - how do you think that will end up working for them?

What were your thoughts on the episode? Please tell us in the comments!

Reactions to The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection Episode 1

So what did you think about the first episode of The Fashion Show? Did you like the (fairly drastic) changes that have been made since last season? What about Iman? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Reactions to Work of Art Episode 3

Did you watch the third episode of "Work of Art" last night? What did you think? Did you agree with the winner and the eliminated artist? Please leave a comment and tell us what you thought about the show.

Click here for the judges blogs.

Click here for China Chow's discussion of the eliminated artist, 

Reactions to Shear Genius 3 Episode 9

Last night, on Shear Genius, the four remaining stywis were given a tough customer for the Short Cut Challenge - Camila Alves. They each had 45 minutes to style her rat's nest hair into something appropriate for an event. Camila was quite the backseat driver during the process, and even after each style was done she had harsh criticism for it. She thought Brig's updo wasn't age appropriate. "I'm a mom," says Camila. Yeah, but you're 28. Hardly a severe old fossil.

In the end - of course, could it be any other way? - Matthew was given the win.

On to the Elimination Challenge: with a win in the Short Cut, Matthew gets the advantage of choosing his models first. Yes, I said, "models." The challenge involved styling 2 models and themselves for a mini-portfolio of signature looks. In 2.5 hours. All four of the stylists had struggled with the 45 minute time limit for Camila's hair, and all they had to do was style it (even though she did need some serious root touch-up) so two-and-one-half hours doesn't seem like enough time to color, cut, and style two and maybe three people.  But what's a competition show without scenes of people panicking about not finishing in time?

Brig, bless her heart, goes right for the crazy by winding multicolored extensions around her model's heads. Janine goes for an afro and a short-on-one-side-long-on-the-other 'do with purple tips. Matthew takes one of his models who already has perfect blonde hair and makes it super-blonde and curls it out to.......there. His other model has heavy bangs which make her look sleepy. Finally Yawn does a really nice job of adding extensions to a woman with very thin hair but his second look is somewhat mundane.

Although incredulous at first, the judges all came around to Brig's way of thinking. Even guest judge Oribe (whose mere presence made the stylists pee their pants in awe) thought she really showed who Brig was as a stylist. It was down to her and Matthew and just when you start thinking that Matthew is going to get the win...Brig does!

That leaves Janine and Yawn as the bottom two, and the result is pretty obvious - time for Yawn to pack his scissors and go. Even if he had done a fabulous job on both styles, we all knew that Janine was not going to be eliminated, right?

So what did you think about this episode? Please let us know in the comments.

Reactions to Shear Genius 3 Episode 3

Ok, so this week in a nutshell: the most drama came from Adee barfing on set, claiming food poisoning. Wouldn't everyone be eating the same thing, and, stuck as they are in close quarters 24/7, shouldn't everyone be sick?

The Short Cut challenge involved putting hair extensions on men, with the guidance of Extension Master Ken Paves. And of course with his own personal brand of extensions. Matthew won by making his curly-haired guy look like Willie Aames from Eight is Enough, but somehow that was considered a good thing.

The Elimination Challenge involved styling models for the covers of cheesy romance novels. As winner of the Short Cut, Matthew got to chose a partner and select their cheesy star-crossed lovers, plus pair up the remaining stylists and assign couples to them. Brig was the cheese (Velveeta, by the color of her hair) - she stood alone. How was it fair that she had to do 2 heads of hair in 2 hours, and everyone else got to work in pairs?

In the end, she managed to hide her mis-matched extensions and fool the judges into thinking she did a faboo job. Matthew and Janine did an even more (actual) faboo job and Matthew - as self-appointed team leader - got the win.

Adee and Faatemah were chosen as the bottom two. Faatemah was unceremoniously given the boot by the warm and charismatic Camila Alves, while Adee was left to whine and complain another day. I'm starting to see a pattern here....

So what did you think?

Reactions to Episode 5 of Launch My Line

The fabulous Lady Gaga was on Launch My Line last night - but only for about 3.5 minutes! A bit of a letdown, no?

So what exactly were the designers supposed to create again? Something avant garde? A stand out piece? Don't really know if anyone really followed that rule, but the Catens (Squeak and Squawk) didn't make an issue of it during the judging. DJ Eric wins, with his spangly "disco ball" mini. He owes part of his success to Miss Amanda Fields who really worked that dress!

The least favorites were Marilyn's white gown and Patrick's "shaded" purple mess. Once again I thought it was curtains for our dandy Dandy, and once again I was surprised to see someone else get the boot. Sorry Marilyn, they've cut your line.

So what did you all think about it?

Reactions to The Fashion Show Reunion/Finale Part 2

Anna Wins!

What did you all think of this hybrid reunion/finale show?

theminx: I felt the reunion part of the show was dull. No need to give us a rehash of the top designers' looks. Yawn. Where were the outtakes? The funny stuff? The stuff that shows us that these designers actually had some personality? Oh, that's right - The Fashion Show is about fashion, not entertainment. My bad.

I am happy that Anna won - she was my favorite. Although I could appreciate what James-Paul was trying to express, I wasn't sure how to wear many of his pieces. I know Daniella's collection was the judges' favorite (winning her a check for $10K) but I wasn't feeling it. The bad 80s styling turned me off, as did those creepy peach shoulder pads. Like someone ripped the shoulders off a mannequin and hot-glued them to a top.

Anyway, I hate to admit it, but I'm glad the show is over. I hope, if it comes back for another season, that we see some major changes.

Now tell us what you thought....

Reactions to The Fashion Show Episode Ten

Ooohhh....scandal! Oh, not really. And yeah, I get bored too sometimes, Isaac.

Scary-looking Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar magazine, Glenda Bailey, and even-more-scary-looking designer Isabel Toledo (what's with the eyebrows?) judged the HB Mini Challenge this week which was all about drapery. Shades of Rami Kashou! Wait...wrong show. Anyway, I liked the challenge because it involved actual design. And I thought the results were pretty good, even Johnny's twisted-not-draped number. I liked Anna's more than Daniella's, but both were well done.

For the Elimination Challenge, the designers finally got to do evening gowns. I was skeptical about Anna's choice in fabric, but lining the shoulder bow with crystals was genius. I agreed with Fern Mallis' remark that she should have incorporated a few crystals into the centers of each flower on the dress, but otherwise thought the dress was stunning. I did not like Reco's dress at all - it looked cheap and a bit tawdry. And why was the torso so lumpy? James-Paul got excoriated for his dress, but I liked it! I think it was my favorite thing he's created all season. I liked the fabric choice and his subtle use of crystals. But he made it into the Final Four and that's what counts. What he produced for the final show is another matter altogether. :X

As for Johnny - his Maggie Gyllenhaal dress was great. Probably the best thing he's done yet. Unfortunately, someone did it first. And the prevarication! We all heard him mention Maggie and the leopard print Lanvin at the fabric store, although he said something about the print being red, didn't he?

Left: Johnny Rodriguez; Center: Maggie Gyllenhaal in Lanvin at the 2009 Golden Globes; Right: original Lanvin from Spring 2009 collection.

Actually, I like Johnny's dress better than the original Lanvin, especially the elongated version that Gyllenhaal wore.

What do you think?

Reactions to The Fashion Show Episode Nine

Well, that was an interesting episode, wasn't it? A Mini Challenge that involved sewing, and a visit to the tarot card reader....

theminx: I really enjoyed this episode. So nice to see the designers whittled down to a handful, so we can spend more time on each design (hate that we get only cursory glances early in the season because there is so little time/too many designers). I liked that the Mini Challenge had actual design and sewing content this week, but that guest judge - she had quite the sourface, didn't she? The looks of disdain she threw the designers as she looked at each of their offerings - wow. I knew Anna would win because she was the only one that didn't get a sneer.

The tarot card reading field-trip was a nice touch - something they should have done more often. The field trip, not the card reading.... It was interesting to see how the designers chose to interpret the cards. Personally, I loved Merlin's yellow coat; the sweatsuit, not so much. But his interpretation - something to wear while taking a trip - was apt. And he ended up taking a trip - off the show.

Anna's dress was - wow! Loved the fabric she chose, and the shaping on the skirt was beautiful. It looked like a good choice for gals who are not curvaceous. (Remember the week Keith got eliminated? Had he done something like this, shape-wise, he might still be around.) Bravo is offering the dress on their site, but they've changed the fabric to something resembling clown barf. Unfortunate.

Laura K: I have never been to a psychic and after seeing this episode, I never want to. That place was CREEPY. It must have been warm in there too. Ick.

Also, after interviewing many of the eliminated designers, not one of them had anything nice to say about Isaac. I think he has a favorite and his favorite is James-Paul. Isaac is always commenting on JP's "genius" and his "talent" but frankly, I don't see it. Is THIS genius?



On the other hand, James-Paul is adorable and most if not all of the designers have mentioned him as a true friend.

Finally, I really like Anna, and I think she would be a great "Winner" for the show. She is talented, lovely, likable and articulate, but I'm just going to say it...

Her winning dress reminds me of something from Leanne Marshall. I can't be the only one to notice....am I?

So what did you think about the episode? Please post your thoughts in the comments.

Reactions to The Fashion Show Episode Six

So, what did everyone think about episode 6 of The Fashion Show?

Theminx: Both the Quickfire Harpers Bazaar Mini Challenge and the Elimination Challenge shared a theme this week. The former seemed more of a graphic design challenge, and it showed that Daniella has skills in that department too. A little expected, perhaps, but well-excuted.

I liked the Elimination Challenge and thought most designers did a pretty good job this week. I didn't notice any loose hems or random safety pins. I agreed with Haven and Merlin being in the top two - loved Merlin's color scheme and the sweater fabric. And Haven herself was adorable in that 80s-throwback Krystle Carrington look she wore for the Elimination! (Sigh, I miss the 80s.)

Poor Angel, excoriated for not being familiar with b girl fashion. Personally, I wouldn't know it if it bit me on the...well, you know. It could have been worse, you know - she could have known the original definition of the term, "b girl."

Laura K: It seemed to me that Angel was eliminated because she didn't know what a B-girl was. Kelly seemed to be personally insulted by this rather than an "impartial" judge.

At the end of the episode when Johnny and Angel were standing with their models, my son came into the room. "Who do you think should be off?" he asked.

"Okay, look at the designers. Look at what Johnny is wearing. Now look at Angel. Who do you think is the best designer? Who do you think that I would prefer?"

"Oh. The girl," he replied. (He is only twelve.)

Also, I think that by including those tacky accessories in the "inspiration" backpacks, the designers were led down a specific path. Angel designed an outfit for the kind of person who would wear those glasses. And really, anyone wearing those glasses would not be considered stylish at all. It would be as a joke, a costume, or she would be an eight-year-old, not a twenty-something.

Now it's your turn. Please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Reactions to The Fashion Show Episode Five

So, what did everyone think about episode 5 of The Fashion Show?

Theminx: I thought the HB mini challenge was a time-waster. Since when do designers have to draw things from memory in a short timeframe on a regular basis? Design is about inspiration, not copying. I also thought Lidia should have won the challenge.

As for the main challenge - what a bunch of whiny babies! While your models might have been larger than a size 0 or 2, none of them were overweight or grossly out of proportion. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average American woman is 5'4", weighs 163 lbs, and has a 36.5" waist. Get used to it. I did agree that Reco and Danielle had the best designs, but I liked Haven's as well. AND...I liked Merlin's jacket. Sadly, I agree with Keith's elimination, in that his design was not what it could be.

Laura K: Congratulations to Daniella for winning the Mini Challenge as well as the Elimination Challenge! I LOVED the Mini Challenge. That was one of my favorite parts of the episode. I enjoyed the twist of having the designers sketch Kelly's dress rather than Isaac's design.

However, how was "Placing one of the designers in the bottom three" a "Serious advantage in the Elimination Challenge?" That was no advantage at all. Honestly, if anything it was a DISadvantage.

Why would the judges eliminate a designer just because Daniella chose her to be in the bottom three? They wouldn't and they didn't. So now we have manufactured discord between Daniella and Angel. With emotions high it is not in Daniella's best interest to have another designer pitted against her. At this point, they need support from one another so that they will each be able to put forth their very best work. This was nothing but a lame attempt to manufacture some unnecessary drama and to call it an award or an advantage for Daniella was completely ridiculous.

Your turn. Leave your thoughts in the comments :)

Reactions/Poll - Finale Make Me a Supermodel

Image courtesy of BravoTV.com

Branden, the youngest contestant of this cycle, won Make Me a Supermodel. What are your reactions? Did the best man win? Were Jonathan or Sandhurst the better choices? Vote and tell us what you think.

poll by twiigs.com

Reactions to The Fashion Show Episode Two

What did you think of the looks the winning designer and the eliminated designer created? What about the Harper's Bazaar challenge? Had you heard of Tinsley Mortimer? What did you think of the judge's comments? Was this episode better than the last? Discuss!

Reactions to The Fashion Show Episode One

What did you think? Will you watch the show next week? Did you agree with the judges? Who were your favorites?

I'll admit that Merlin's design was my favorite. I was kind of surprised by the choice of winner. Were you?