I love Project Runway, America’s Top Model and all those fashion-related shows. So when my husband Peter read from the morning paper that a new show Fashion Star was premiering, I thought I’d check it out.
We’re about 15 minutes in and I have to say I am loving the concept.
Hosted by Elle MacPherson (check out the promo shot on the NBC Website. Not sure it’s her best.) Nicole Ritchie, Jessica Simpson and John Varvatos (all having successful fashion lines themselves) are mentors to all the designers.
Up-and-coming, yet unknown designers send their one signature piece in three different looks down the runway.
The models are generic enough that it’s easy to focus on the designs. The lighting and production values are pretty fabulous as well, almost to the point of cheesiness. Fashion show dancers? Really? Somebody pass the crackers.
Macy’s, Saks and H&M sit on the panel as buyers. Once the designers are brought onto the stage, the fashion mentors give their opinions on the designs. Then the cameras turn to the retail buyers.
Now here’s where it gets exciting.
The designers sometimes insult the mentors. One guy tells Jessica Simpson that if she knew anything about fashion she would know his stuff is fashion forward.
NO OFFER x 3
The designers sometimes get snarky with the buyers. One designer tells Saks that he didn’t feel like putting forth his best design effort until next week.
NO OFFER x 3
The designers, mostly starving, wait for real offers from the buyers. The buyers will either submit ‘no offer’, or what they are willing to pay for that design.
In the first 15 minutes, a bartender with a fantastic skirt made $80,000 with Saks. Her designs will be available within the year at the store.
So cool.
If a designer receives a “NO Offer”, they are up for elimination. Eventually, they will pare 16 down to 1 designer, who will then win a $6,000,000 contract.
Though the fromage runs thick on the production values of the show I enjoy watching the designers. I also really enjoy pretending I know as much as the buyers and will calmly nod or shake my head in agreement with decisions.
It’s so fun to armchair judge.
Fashion Star provides instant gratification as well because the designs are already complete, thereby eliminating the sometimes tiresome creation process of other shows.
Opinions?
