Fashion Star 03/22/2013

Today's challenge was to create a look for two different body types that looked fantastic on both body types.  The coaches kept pushing this idea that the designers needed to find the areas of each woman's body that they wanted to show off and focus on playing them up.  I think that that's really great advice for these designers and it worked out pretty well.  Hunter went for a peplum, which I'm not a fan of but it was really interesting for me to see her design develop despite the fact that I'm not a fan of the peplum dress.  I have to say, though, I felt like I was watching America's Next Top Model for a minute when all the designers piled into their Fiats.....way to creatively "sell" the cars guys.  Come'on now, you guys can do better than that can't you?  I also wanted to note one of the commercials that aired during the show for Crest Whitestrips (sorry, it's the marketer in me).  I love the line they came up with that "if you're not whitening, you're yellowing"--it's true and I think it's a powerful message.  Do any of you use Crest Whitestrips at all?  I use their 3D White toothpaste and I love it.  Just thought I'd share.  Anyway, back to the show!

Amber's Lace Dress
Saks Fifth Avenue

Cassandra's Tunic
Express

John's team:

I absolutely loved Cassandra's tunic.  So cute! Macy's and Express both bid, too, which was awesome!  They even had a bidding war which is always encouraging for the designers.  Express ended up with the top, and I think I might be purchasing it tonight.  Loved it so much! 

Amber's lace dress actually turned out really cute, so that was good.  Saks and Express both bid, but Saks bought it, so good for her! 

Sylvia's black dress was far too big to be flattering on either model though.  Macy's bought it so I was very surprised, but Macy's called it a smart design, so I guess something was right about it. 

Brandon's shirt was....interesting.  I'm not sure that I was a fan of the color blocking on it, but Express and Macy's had a bidding war which was fun to watch, and Macy's ended up with it.  Good for you Brandon!  Everyone on John's team was bought!  Fantastic guys!!

Sylvia's Dress
Macy's

Brandon's Shirt
Macy's

Nicole's team:

I hated Johanna's dress!  It was just too goth and not pretty at all.  Not the right color choices for spring at all, either.  She didn't get offers, which I wasn't surprised by.

Pricilla's dress was cute for the skinny-sized model, but not for the plus sized--that cutout in the front was placed horribly for a bigger girl.  No bids, and I wasn't surprised. 

Danial's tree dress was a mess!!  I'm sorry but it was.  I like him, but his dress wasn't up to par at all.  Poor Nicole was probably sitting in her chair with a huge headache.

JesseRay & Gerret's Dress
Saks Fifth Avenue

Jessica's team:

Hunter's Dress
Express

JesseRay and Gerret's cowl dress was gorgeous!!  It looked fantastic on both sized models, it was perfect.  Saks and Macy's both bid, and Saks ended up with it.  Awesome! 

David's cardigan was cute, I think the pale blue was a weird color choice, but it was cute.  No bids, though, because of the fabric choice, which I think Express was right on for.

Hunter's peplum dress was adorable, not for me because I don't wear peplum dresses, but it worked really well on both sized models which is great!  Express bought it, so yay!  I really like Hunter, I think she might be the one to beat in this season's competition, what do you guys think?

In the end, David ended up going home, which was mildly sad because I think he had potential, but the man couldn't seem to focus on what was important, and I felt like he was relying on everyone else's opinions of his designs too much--which just told me he wasn't confident.  I think confidence is a must in this business.  This week was really fun to watch the designers really challenge themselves, and I think it really highlighted who was able to make a versatile design and who isn't.  Pricilla--here's one I'm not sure about.  I love love love her designs and her vintage flair, but I don't think she's able to move out of her comfort zone and it worries me.  Do you guys think she'll be around much longer?

Minty Bliss

BGBGeneration

Minty, frothy sweetness is everywhere right now!  All the forecasters have been saying this is the year of Emerald everywhere, but I haven't seen it yet.  Mint is still all over the place.  The natural transitional colors from the previous turquoise and coral to the mint and mango this season.  Next season's colors will be much more saturated;  bright emerald and magenta.  Personally, I much prefer the muted, pastel, 60's-inspired colors right now, so I've gone a bit nuts and bought too much of it!

JewelMint

I'm curious to know what your favorite mint pieces you've bought recently are!  I just bought these gorgeous mint BCBG heels from Macy's last weekend, and this super cute mint bracelet from JewelMint.  By the way, have you heard of JewelMint yet?  I'm obsessed!  I'll have to write a blog about them later, because they're amazing and I buy from them way too much!!

Express

I also love the coral/mango craze right now too though.  I just bought this dress in coral, and I'm super excited to wear it to Florida next week with my new mint shoes and bracelet!  Honestly, I don't want this color craze to go, ever!  Well, at least right now I don't.  I'm sure after awhile I'll get sick of it, but for now....I'm definitely okay with it sticking around.

Sally Hanson - Mint Sorbet

Show me your favorite mint pieces, I'd love to see them!!

Fashion Star 03/15/2013

Last week's Fashion Star was the season premier.  I was so excited that Express was in as a buyer this year, so I had to watch!  Glad I did!  Lots of really fun, interesting fabrics and styles came up.  I was really bummed that Bret went home, cuz he tried to challenge himself and do something new, and it didn't work well for him.  I think that's sort of discouraging for people everywhere, because a lot of us really like to challenge ourselves and try new things, you know--think outside our own personal, mental "box" if you will.  I think they should have given him another chance, but oh well.  I love love loved a few of the dresses, so I was really interested to see what this week brings.

Today's episode, I had really big expectations.  Sex sells, and that was the challenge this week.  It's funny because I noticed designers this week that I didn't even notice last week--which I'm sitting here wondering to myself is it because they weren't charismatic last week, or their garments sucked?  Hmmm....  Anyway, so here's my breakdown of today's episode.

Nicole's Team:
I hated Daniel's dresses.  So awful.  Completely hideous!!  But Macy's bought them--and the uglier one is already sold out, only 10 minutes after the show is over!!!  NUTS!  I just don't get it.

Daniel's Dress
Macy's

Johanna's Dress
Express

Pricilla's dress turned out cuter than I was expecting, but didn't get any offers.  I guess I'm not surprised, I really really didn't like the shiny fabric she chose on the bodice--it just made the whole dress look cheap.

Johana's long/super short dress was gorgeous, but I don't really see it being worn on the streets... the slit was uncomfortably high in my opinion, but Express bought it so we'll see.  It was definitely adorable, and she thought outside the box for this one which is always (well....last week taught us not always) a good idea.


John's Team:

I did not like Brandon's jacket.  I thought he was right in choosing the khaki color over the black, but since he didn't get bought, I guess maybe I was wrong and John was right?

Cassandra's Dress
Saks Fifth Aveue

Sylvia's Dress
Saks Fifth Avenue

The nude version Sylvia's dress gorgeous, but the green so totally hideous! Saks bought it though which was fantastic, but I only see the nude available online, so I guess Saks thought the same thing I did?  I love it though, check it out!

Not a fan at all of Cassandra's dress at all, but Saks bought it.  The sheer was too long at the bottom, and I didn't like the sheer on the top either.  The color choice was awful--reminds me of a grandma dress.  I guess I'd be really interested to see how it sells.

Amber's Dress
Express

I LOVED Amber's dress, though I'm sort of unsure about the fabric choice.  Express bought it, which I wasn't surprised about at all.  It's so completely right up their ally!  I actually really really want to buy it!!  Too bad I'm broke!  I'm going to the mall on Sunday, and I'll definitely have to peek in Express and see if there are even any of these Fashion Stars pieces left!

(UPDATE: I'm so bummed!  They're not carrying these pieces in-store at Express!  I went to the Mall of America, you'd think they'd at least carry it there, but nope!  So sad!!)







Jessica's Team:

Gerrett & JesseRay's Dress
Macy's

I was really excited about the sweater dress that the man-boy pair (sorry, Garrett and JesseRay--that's my weirdo nickname for them) were making, the weaving of the fabrics together, I thought that was really interesting, and they definitely came through!!!  Very very interesting, not like anything I've really seen before which I liked.  I wouldn't buy it myself, but it was definitely interesting.  Saks, Macy's and Express had a bidding war over it, so it had to have been great!  Macy's won the war, which I was surprised about, cuz I could totally see that dress at Express.

I hated Tori's dresses!!  They were so totally awful, they didn't fit right, they were the wrong patterns, etc.  I guess the buyers didn't like them either, cuz she didn't get bought.

Hunter's Dress
Express

David's jacket with the leather under.....not a fan, and neither were the buyers--Macy's had a great point though; his jacket was not a spring piece at all.  Had it been fall, it might have done a lot better!  I loved the idea of the peek of leather underneath...but it just didn't scream sexy for me.

Hunter's dress was OKAY...but last week she really wowed me and this week she didn't.  Regardless, I have a feeling I'm really going to like her stuff this season.  Saks and Express both liked her dress even though I didn't, so lucky girl.  Express bought it, which is great!


Tori went home, and I'm honestly not surprised.  I wasn't a fan of her pieces last week or this week, and I don't think she had all her shit together at all.  She needs to figure out what she's doing and try again....maybe.

Here's my tiny rant for today, then I promise I'll shut up for now.  Why is it that Saks is being super cheap, only spending $50,000 on the pieces they're buying (while Macy's and Express are offering 3 times that!!) and then turning around and selling them for 3 times what Macy's and Express are pricing the pieces they bought for?  Makes me wonder about all the other items Saks sells.  I definitely don't think I'll be buying from Saks anymore, if that's the case.  I definitely appreciate a retailer that passes their savings onto their customer much much more than one like Saks, who "has a reputation to uphold".  Eff that.  Sorry.  Not my idea of a good way to gain customers.  Anybody else with me on this?