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SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t seen the fourth episode of Fashion Star, this may ruin the surprise. It’s re-airing with alarming frequency on E! if you’re interested.
No New Tuxes?
Both Kara and Luciana incorporated formalwear elements into their winning designs. Kara showed not one but two tuxedo coats, and I was struck by her sleek tailcoat with satin lapels and a Chinese red bow in the back. Luciana’s dress referenced the tuxedo shirt with a beaded lace bib. We’ll be seeing more of this casual formalwear look as we get closer to fall (especially in menswear). You can get the looks here and be ahead of the curve for next season.
Tweet of the Week
I’ll be live-tweeting @Saks during the show every Tuesday at 10pm EST. I’ll also be on the lookout for the best tweets from Fashion Star fans. This one made me chuckle (perhaps menacingly)…
@VuittonPrince: The Saks buyer’s voice will haunt you in your sleep #fashionstar
High End vs. Mass Market
The theme of Episode 4 was creating both a high end and a mass market look. For many of the designers, the mass-market look turned out better—maybe the freedom from high-end expectations gave them a creative boost. This was true of Luciana’s beaded dress, which outshone her longer high-end piece and convinced me to buy.
It was an interesting challenge because it’s so relevant to a conundrum facing many designers today. It’s hard enough to define a unique sensibility for your own line. Designing a second line that is distinct from the first, that stands out in the marketplace, that comes in at a lower price point and that doesn’t cannibalize sales of your original line…that takes a boatload of talent.
The successes tend to follow a few basic rules:
1. Don’t rush into a mass-market line.
Marc by Marc Jacobs line (see below) had come into its own. The same can be said of Yigal Azrouël and his Cut 25 line, among many others.
2. Add plenty of youthful energy
Don’t try to recreate the successes of your original line. Find something fresh and new to be your signature. Half the fun is escaping the expectations of the high end line (see looks from Cut25 below). It’s an opportunity to let your hair down and your id out.
Fashion Star Secrets
We’re all open kimono here, so I might as well let you in on a little secret. Sometimes, we got a sneak peak at the clothes the night before the taping.
We didn’t get to see them on models—and yes, I complained about it. As every frequent shopper knows, it’s impossible to get a good sense for how clothes will fit from the hanger alone.
What Do You Think?
Were the mass-market pieces better than the high-end ones?
Did Lisa deserve to go home?
Let me know in the comments…
MORE:
Watch Online: Missed the show? Watch it online!
Terron’s Takes: Terron gives his takes for each episode of Fashion Star.
Visit us on Facebook: Meet mentors Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson and John Varvatos — and sign up for updates.
Shop the Looks: Shop the winning styles from every episode of Fashion Star.
Fashion Star on Josie Girl: Fashion Star’s Kara and Luciana are featured on Josie Girl.