Fashion Star

For those of you who didn’t watch, Fashion Star is a new reality show that searches for the next big brand in fashion.  The show features host Elle Macpherson, and judges Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos.  14 designers compete for the chance to launch their collections at Saks, Macy’s, and H&M (each store has a buyer representing it… the Saks rep is Terron Schaefer, a good friend of the Natori Company.. holla!).  What’s even cooler: at the end of each episode, the winning designs of the show will be in stores immediately!

As you may know, I love lists, so below are my top 10 takeaways from Fashion Star.

1. Concept: Fashion Star definitely isn’t Project Runway, but that isn’t necessarily bad. Since the designs are going to be in stores right away, the looks have to be more commercial than runway.  While the designs definitely aren’t as showy, fashion is fashion and the show was still interesting.

2. Hotty: Elle MacPherson is the host.  She came to fame in the late 80′s when the “Sports Illustrated” Swimsuit Issue was a big deal, and she was always the featured model.  It is nearly 25 years later… and she looks like that!  Amazing.  Jealous.  Girl crush.

3. Chicken of the Sea No More: Jessica Simpson is honestly amazing. I watched Newlyweds a few years ago, and it sure seemed like she had jumped the shark with the famous Chicken of the Sea episode. Now she has a billion dollar apparel business.  A billion dollars! You go girl. Jealous. (But no girl crush.)
4. Favorite 1: OK.  On to the actual show.  I wasn’t necessarily overwhelmed by any of the designers, but one of my favorites was Nzimiro Oputa

The men’s looks he put out looked cool, and were more interesting/runway than the other presentations.  I was into the slim fit cuts.  Looked good.  I liked it.  Available now at H&M!

5. You Need a Strategic Consultant Part 1:

This guy used to be an Australian model, and became a designer.  He presented men’s motorcycle jacket looks, which no one liked.  When Jessica Simpson (who was a sweetheart all night, mind you) gave him constructive criticism, he basically told her that he could respect John Varvatos’ comments because he was a man, but couldn’t take advice from a woman about men’s clothing.  That led Elle MacPherson, who is also an Aussie, to tell him he was basically an embarrassment.  And he is a bad designer.  Nicholas- this did not go well for you.

6. Reality TV Aside 1: Can we talk about “The Bachelor” for a second?  Argh.  I kind of liked Ben during Ashley’s season, but this season literally gave me convulsions.  Ben and Courtney- you can have each other.  For the record, my fave was Emily, the PhD student/rapper, who went home way too early.  Ben- your loss.

7. Favorite 2: Nikki Poulos

My mother-in-law is Josie Natori, and Nikki’s flowy caftans reminded me to some degree of a Western version of the classic Natori caftan.  Cool accent too.  Available at macys.com!

8. You Need a Strategic Consultant Part 2:

Kara seems very talented and cool, but she decided to feature a tie/collar accessory look.  The problem was that her runway looks featured this accessory over other people’s clothes.  This did not go over well. She basically bought clothes and then threw her tie/collar thingy over them.  Kara- you got to be in it to win it!

9. 10 Minutes of Fame… Not Really: So, there are 14 contestants, and the show started with 2 designers being featured at a time. Each had a little personal vignette, followed by their full runway show, and then their feedback from the judges and buyers (interrupted by a commercial.. by my count, there were 27 commercial breaks during the hour-and-a half long show).  I thought each designer was going to get featured, but 3 basically totally got skipped with no love.  So, to the three designers who weren’t featured last night, don’t worry.. you are getting your pictures featured