Episode 3 – Here Comes Summer
This week, the designers looked ahead to the summer — creating looks that are on trend for the upcoming season.
Orly Shani is up first. Nicole Richie doesn’t like her fabric choices. “It’s a little grandpa Tony,” she comments about Shani’s bevy of mixed prints. “I do think that you should look at the on color trends… It’s really about pop of color, people are even doing neon…” Nicole Richie tells designer Shani in the work-room. “I gotcha.” Shani replies. It’s clearly a tough week for the designer.
Nicole Richie is not a fan of grandpa prints.聽
Barbara Bates and聽Ronnie Escalante –聽neither of whom have had any buys of yet — are also up in the first showcase.
Orly ditched the prints and instead opted for solid, delicious pops of color. The scoop-neck jersey dress features a great neon band at the waist, with slash pocket details and an amazing fit. The sherbet colors are what really makes this dress shine, and Saks agreed, out-bidding Macy’s with a $120,000 offer. “Really a Saks Fifth Avenue kind of dress,” exclaimed 聽Terron E. Schaefer, buyer from Saks.聽The feminine and elegant Sheath Dress was without a doubt the biggest win of the night.
Barbara Bates shirt-dress was a total hit with the mentors, however it didn’t get a buy. I’m on the fence with Bates, however I think she definitely could have an older customer, and perhaps just isn’t quite right for these particular retailers. “I loved it, loved it, loved it. I would be shocked if you didn’t make a sale this week,” exclaimed Nicole Richie. “I just don’t know if it’s special enough at this point,” remarked Schaefer. Close, but no cigar.
Escalante’s loose fitting summer dress had “so much hanger appeal,” said Nicole Christie of H&M, but ultimately, it didn’t get a buy. “The draping and the amount of fabric, that’s ultimately why we aren’t buying tonight.”
Sarah Parrott‘s maxi dress was yet again a hit with H&M’s Nicole Christie. “I have been bought twice, but I’ve only been bought buy H&M,” Parrott complains in the diary room. I’ve liked Parrott’s designs until now, but this wasn’t doing much for me at all. H&M stayed true though, and came through with a $50,000 offer.
“I want you to go put on some aftershave, because you’re feeling really feminine.” Nicole remarks of Nzimiro Oputa‘s flowery fabric choices. He ended up choosing stripes instead — and landed himself a $50,000 bid from H&M.
Jessica loves Nzimiro’s shorts, no surprise — exclaiming, “That was definitely like a Hampton’s party in the pants! I really liked it… I want my fiance to be rocking those this summer.” Sidenote, but was I the only one who thought it looked like Jessica was wearing Oscar Fierro‘s notorious “hoochie” dress from last week? Just sayin’.
Nicki Polous is worried about wedgies, all over the place. “I’m actually kind of mortified about my jumpsuits,” she confesses. “They weren’t executed the way they should have been executed,”聽criticized聽John Varvatos. Apparently Macy’s didn’t mind — offering up $50,000 for the uninspired one-piece.
Ross Bennett finally got some interest this week — enjoying the聽privilege聽of a bidding war between H&M and Macy’s for his uber-cute shorts. In the end, Macy’s won out with an offer of $120,000. “It’s an absolute win,” exclaimed Macy’s Caprice Willard.
Lisa Vian Hunter and Luciana Scarabello however didn’t fair so well –聽receiving聽no offers for their looks this week.
Edmond Newton, Lizzy Parker, and Kara Laricks are up next. Newton’s fabric choices worry Jessica Simpson, who remarks that she’s concerned about his choice of print. Parker wants to incorporate heavy metal into her looks, while Laricks creates a more formal style tuxedo pant in a neutral print. Saks ends up being the sole bid for Laricks pants, while Newton and Parker were left without buys.
Kara Laricks tuxedo style pants are available for $235 at Saks Fifth Avenue
Six designers didn’t get buys tonight. Lizzy, Lucianna and Edmond were in the bottom three, and the mentors decided to use their “save” on Edmond. In the end, it was Seattle-based designer Lizzy Parker got the boot tonight.
“And remember, it’s never too hot to be cool.” Yeah… thanks for that, Elle.
Fashion Star聽airs every Tuesday night on聽NBC, 10/9c