Happy Friday everyone! Hope you are excited for the olympics as we are! I’m sitting down to finally recap this as I’m dealing with two sick kids and a husband away for work. Good times. I’m avoiding this reality by finally sitting down to watch the Olympics of fashion (joking). After losing Amanda last week and keeping Merline I’m getting more and more annoyed with this show. But I soldier on……for you xoxo
Alyssa saunters out wearing a color blocked dress that isn’t hideous. Her sleek hair looks cooler than the early eighties matron look she’s been rocking, so at least there is that. A very special guest is going to collaborate with the designers. As Alyssa reads her list of accomplishments and people she has worked with Edmond is racking his brain trying to think of who it could be? Rihanna? Katy Perry? Edmond? Have you not WATCHED this show recently? It’s BETTY BOOP! Now I KNOW someone is smoking something in the producer’s rooms. They have to design an outfit for Betty Boop. Who is adventurous and “can work the runway in anything”. The winning designer will get to design a capsule collection to be sold at torrid.com and locations across the US. I have to look up what Torrid is. Apparently it is a plus-size clothing chain owned by Hot Topic? Why is this connected to Betty Boop?? The clothes on the site seem nice but, SHE’S TINY. Joshua is very excited and based on the leopard top he is wearing in his interview seems like a perfect fit for this brand. It’s a one day/$200 challenge. Sigh.
Merline wants to keep it young and fresh so she’s going to make a version of the same dress she’s been making all season. Shocker. Stanley is doing a mini dress over a romper. Damn Stanley…way to change it up from your normal aesthetic. Everyone is talking amongst themselves except for Joshua who needs NO ONE. It is his time to SHINE. He’s doing a Betty Boop I love NY t shirt with a mermaid looking skirt. Hmmmmm. Edmond is worried about being on the bottom again so he decided to go for it by grabbing neoprene. Char is doing the same thing. Helen is grabbing stripes. Is no one doing red? You know, her signature color?
In the workroom Joshua is sketching Betty’s face for a pattern. Anthony noticed no one grabbed red and Char says she is dressing Betty like she’s going to the BET awards. Everyone loses it. Merline is trying to amp it up and work outside her comfort zone. By adding a print to the same dress? Helen is working with mitering her stripes. I tried to do this in home ec in 1984. It didn’t go well. Edmond thinks his dress looks like an orchid. Ken thinks it looks like a vagina. It looks very Alexander McQueen. Helen agrees with me and thinks it doesn’t reflect who Betty Boop is at all. She thinks it looks like an alien. Since Edmond doesn’t know much about Betty Boop this isn’t really a shocker. He’s flipping the fabric and creating his own textile. When Stanley tells you your design looks “old”, your design definitely looks old.
Anne tells the designers that they put young hollywood icons on the cover of Marie Claire all the time and Betty would definitely be hanging with any of them. She tells Char she is getting “sock-hop” from the bottom of her look, but that the top is modern. Anne is not sure about the two fabrics Merline has put together. She tells her if she goes with one color that the shape and fit would have to be perfect. Merline should definitely stick to two fabrics. Anne is worried Stanley is using too much fabric. She thinks Fabio’s needs sex appeal. He’s wisely not cutting into it until he has to. She’s thinks Kimberly’s looks like a bathrobe. She tells Ken his look is so classic she’s worried about it disappearing on runway. She is glad Anthony is adding material to his black fabric so it doesn’t look “trampy.” Anne fucks with Edmond’s mind by telling him she’s sad he’s not using his original fabric. She also tells Joshua that he’s set himself up to make a very street look and is curious to see if he can pull it off. Will there in fact, be any McKinley magic? I want Anne’s ring that goes on every finger. She’s not seeing young hollywood in Helen’s striped look. Helen is happy she has polka dots. She tells all the designers that they have the chic part of the hollywood look, they don’t have the YOUNG part. She wants them to push themselves. And there is a message from Betty Boop’s friend coming soon…..it’s Popeye! To wish them good luck! And remind them Betty is sexy.
Merline is now making an all blue dress. She is having trouble with “sexy”. Joshua desperately wants a critique from the judges. Bitchy Ken rears his ugly head and asks Char why she is making a maternity dress. She isn’t having it and Kimberly stands up and says she loves the seams and it doesn’t say maternity at all to her. Ken thinks it looks like a hot-ass mess but wisely keeps his mouth shut because he doesn’t want to fuck with either of these women. The models come in and Helen finally figures out what she wants to do. Edmond’s dress actually looks cool, but freaking Anne is still in his head. He’s going to flip the fabric? And make a new dress??? Bad idea. Char can’t get her skirt to drape the way she wants and knows she’s in trouble. Joshua has spent so much time on his top (which is very cute) that he thinks he could be screwed on time getting the bottom finished.
On the day of runway everyone is freaking out. Ken thinks Char is in trouble. Char is in trouble and she knows it. Helen has pulled off a cute bottom to her structured top. Edmond is worried his model has never been in his new dress. Merline is sewing her model in the garment while the model’s hair is being done. Stanley is now upset because he hates his two pieces together. I think Anthony’s is cute, but now can’t stop thinking about Kleenex because Joshua thinks it looks like a tissue you blow your nose in.
I’m not even going to comment on the ridiculousness that is Alyssa’s hair. It must have taken a LOT of SPANX and some lube to get her in that sequined number. I’m not fat-shaming. She is beautiful. DRESS FOR YOUR SHAPE. Rebecca Minkoff is the guest judge. I love it when they have an actual person from the industry on judges panel instead of someone from some random show I’ve never heard of.
Ok I LOVE Joshua’s top. I get it. But the athleisure skirt and lingerie underneath? Rarely I have moments when I think, I’m too old to get this. This is one of those times. I love the shape of the skirt. I hate the netting. I’m getting an eighties Madonna vibe. I don’t hate Edmond’s. It just feels rushed and muddled. And not him. And not Betty Boop. If Alexander Mcqueen was forced to design a junior prom dress at gunpoint, this would be it. The front of Char’s dress looks like it was tucked into something by accident. I don’t think Kimberly has any idea who Betty Boop is. A mesh/floral jumpsuit with a Member’s Only sequined sheer jacket? This makes my head hurt. I love Helen’s. She mixed the fabrics beautifully. This fit is fabulous. The drape is fabulous. Stanley’s is a mix of his elegance and a youthful quality. Well done sir. After telling Char her dress looked “maternity” this is the exact same thing I’m thinking about Ken’s look. There is nothing youthful about this. Unless you imagine a baby in there somewhere. Fabio’s is pretty. There is just TOO MUCH fabric on Merline’s dress. Because of Joshua, when Anthony’s model walks out my brain screams: APRON! KLEENEX! I want Helen to win. I also like Stanley. That is all I can muster for judging. I personally would send them all back into the workroom and give them 10 more hours.
Georgina loves the neckline and the sarong skirt skirt in Helen’s look. Isaac thinks she struck a good balance this week. He says this is a flat chested tall thin version of Betty Boop, but it would look great on curves. Rebecca thinks the silhouette is great but the lines on the top feel menswear inspired which isn’t Betty Boop. Alyssa is very impressed with how she was able to cut the fabric.
Isaac thinks Merline’s outfit is about as far from Betty Boop as you can get. Georgina wondered if she knew who Betty Boop was as Betty is about bust, waist and ass and she’s not getting any of that. Rebecca thinks the back looks like an afterthought.
EVERYONE gets McQueen from Edmond’s fabric. Even Alyssa. Thanks a lot Anne. She said the front of the dress looked like “saggy balls” when it walked. Georgina likes the idea of this sort of dress, but doesn’t think it’s working. Isaac freaks out and yells at everyone “Young and Chic!! We want to see it every week!” Rebecca is distracted by the multitude of elements on the dress.
Isaac likes Joshua’s look a lot and thinks he has done anatomy in a non-vulgar way. Rebecca says it looks athleisure but luxe and it celebrates her figure. Georgina loves the shirt. It feels very young to Alyssa and not necessarily chic.
Alyssa loves the color of Char’s dress and that’s it. Everything else is awful. Georgina is confused as to how everyone showed up with all of these weirdly draped dresses. Rebecca says that the dress looks like something out of a freshman student competition. Isaac says it doesn’t fit and looks like a mess. Well if you people had given her look last week the recognition it deserved she wouldn’t have gone outside the box batshit crazy.
Georgina thinks Stanley has done a lovely job contouring the body and it’s giving her modern Betty Boop. Rebecca thinks the collar is very chic. Isaac thinks it is a very smart interpretation and it looks very American. Isaac and Georgina basically shut Alyssa down when she says she wishes there was more cleavage. You can’t have leg and boobs according to Isaac.
JOSHUA is the winner???? HELEN WAS ROBBED. Betty Boop modeling that looks RIDICULOUS.I need to get some serious commentary from you guys on this one. Merline is IN???? Char is out?? To quote Mugatu…I FEEL LIKE I’M TAKING CRAZY PILLS. I don’t get this….I don’t get this at all…….
I can’t understand why Merline is still there. She can’t even use a sewing machine. I really liked Joshuas top. Bottom was like something from the $5 and under store
Joshua’s look was (again) hooker-ish and can’t believe he won over Helen. I was sad to see Char go home over Merlin. Isnt this the 3rd or 4th time she’s been on the bottom and she’s still there? I’m pissed…
As soon as Joshuas walked I knew it was going to win. That top is ready to buy off the rack in a Hot Topic/Forever 21 retail store.
I hate these ridiculous challenges. I understand these shows cost money and they need sponsorship, but can they not just be honest with us and set a challenge Like, “Eveningwear, sponsored by Lexus,” “Athleisure sponsored by JCPenney,” or something? I mean we’re not stupid. We KNOW there was not a meeting amongst FASHUN people who unanimously decided that Betty Boop was this season’s Karlie Kloss.
What does Kimberly have against a full pant? On the subject of Kimberly, can we talk about the LEWKS she’s been serving personally? Her style is better than anything we’ve seen on the runway this whole season!
Edmund, I want to love you, but you know you’re in trouble when even Alyssa “Fashion is My Middle Name” Milano knows that McQueen did that fabric in 2009.
Sidenote: has Alyssa apologised to her stylist for kicking that gay puppy in weHo or whatever she did? He seems to have thawed with her this episode. I wasn’t directly offended by anything she wore. Clearly her hair stylist didn’t get an apology though. She’s still being shady.
Also STOP TRYING TO MAKE MERLINE HAPPEN. SHE IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
She’s fetch.
Please raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimised by Alyssas Fashion Choices.
? me me
Merline should have been gone before this. But Char’s was worse this week. WHY did she not cut into the center of those two giant globs in the front seam them partway and insert a gore?
Both Char and Merline should get extra demerits for Betty Boo. And Char needs to learn fashion terms and adjectives if she ever needs to communicate with investors. It is Va-va-voom, not boo-voo-va-va. It’s OOmph, not omph (long O). If you sound ignorant IN YOUR FIELD, then your design must speak for you and Merline’s just aren’t the level that requires. I LIKE her as a personality, but …
I did not get fun, sexy, chic, young, or Betty Boop out of any of them. If they didn’t want to use red, then pick another vibrant color. Anything! Char had some color but fabric that didn’t flow. She seemed confused that neoprene wouldn’t drape, duh, it’s neoprene! Why would you pick black, navy, grey, taupe, or white? No matter how well sewn it was it wasn’t Betty! Judges should have thrown out the whole lot of them and said Start Over!
Thanks for listening, I feel much better.
I was really surprised that the judges didn’t trash Josh’s look – instead they all raved over it! Were they looking at the same outfit I was seeing? To me, the underpant(ies) looked like some kind of post-surgery truss – the top was OK, but definitely nothing earth-shattering, and the skirt was nothing out of the ordinary. What did they like about it? Helen’s offering was head and shoulders above Josh – she was not only robbed, she was drawn and quartered. I actually liked Edmond’s dress and was surprised they didn’t. I know zero about fashion so I don’t have a clue when something looks llike Alexander McQueen . Is that bad? Stanley’s design did nothing for me at all – didn’t like the lace neckline, or anything about it. Merline and Char had equal disasters – both their dresses looked like what they were – poorly designed and executed, with big wads of material pulled up in front to try to hide the massive flaws. It was really a close call between those two. Don’t know how Merline keeps slipping through the cracks – if she doesn’t go home next week, something is really suspicious. Unless I see photos of each and every creation, I can’t remember what I thought unless it was really good or bad. Without that reminder, I’m kind of lost. BTW, what did Alyssa do to her hair? It looked like a two-year-old styled her. Actually, to be fair, she looked very washed out and under the weather to me, as though she was fighting the flu or something, so maybe that accounted for her looking droopy.
Oh thank goodness you commented! I was really waiting to just kinda see what everyone else was thinking!
Love the post surgery truss! I would love to see a show of ladies hands who would ever wear a black netting skirt over big white granny panties?
This is high fashion, Kipper! Not supposed to be for every Tom,Dick and Harry. It’s not the Macy’s fashion show which maybe you would prefer to be watching. Maybe you can request that someone “create” a fashion show sponsored by Macy’s and JC Penney!
I have my own opinions and they won’t always agree
with everyone elses. I love this show, high end fashion and reading everyone’s comments! Even the judges can’t always agree…
CJ? You got this, beyond excellent recap considering what you’ve got to work with! Thank you!
I liked Joshua’s top even though it was commercial imo not an interpretation…it’ll sell though. I’ve shopped Torrid when we had a store here for a few years but THE small mall here charges horrendous rent, very few chains stay..anywho it’s a store that sells to the above average size girl that wants a sexier more youthful look then say Elaine Bryant…we had that store too, again briefly.
I think a lot of the designer confusion stems from the flat critiques they get from Anne. It seems like she has little clue to what their strengths are and how to pull that out and up in them. That and the very shortened amount of time they have to work? We see more about the hair, make up and accessories wall than we do really any one single designer and their work.
Helen’s look will look fabulous on a voluptuous woman if it’s made to allow for a full bosom (underwiring, boning?)
I love Stanley’s look but I like understated classic looks…this is NOT a Betty Boop look!!!!
Alyssa’s last hair look? Reminded me of something reminiscent of the “bad guy” in a kid type movie…can’t put my finger on it but not the flattering finger curls of Betty!!!
I think Alyssa thought her hair looked like Betty Boop hair.
Helen WAS robbed.
Merline must go.
Helen isnt “good tv” could that be an influence on the vote?
Poor Alyssa, she is really a very attractive woman who wears unflattering silhouettes. The legths she wears are not flattering either. She needs a stylist pronto.
Once you cut all of your hair off, there aren’t a variety of styles to wear.
The only place that Helen should be designing for is funeral parlors. She would be the face of her ads so no need to hire and pay someone for that. Her motto could be: Hi, I’m Helen a/k/a “The Crypt Keeper.” See how pasty white or yellow-grey I am? This is what happens when you are actually not alive and your skin turns these colors. And…yes, I can do this for you too! Let me create some “deadly” outfits for you to go with this total zombie look. Promise the outfits will be ghastly!”
My favorite part of this episode was that SNARKY KEN IS BACK! He’s been so well behaved this season and just can’t hold it in anymore.
Also, I thought Ken should have won.
I agree.
Love snarky Ken but am enjoying the toned down version too. Hope he makes it to the end.
Does anyone remember him from Braxton Family Values? He was interviewing to be Tamar’s assistant but didnt get the job. Tamar called him Mr Bowtie due to the neck tattoo.
Actually, I did think Joshua should win. His outfit is what Betty Boop would wear if she was walking down the street in 2018. Really. It was cutesy and sexy, but not too sexy.
Helen’s dress fit beautifully, and the bottom was great, but the gray in the top made it look slightly ‘corporate’. Betty Boop is not going to the office. She’s hangin’ out in Joshua’s outfit!
How, in the name of all that is holy, is Merline still on this show?? She was not even in the bottom 2 this week! She makes the same dress, over and over again, and it never looks that good. I don’t get it. Who does Merline know?? Is she paying someone off to stay on the show? It is bizarre that the judges keep her in the competition.
Thanks for the recaps! Love them!
In what universe would Betty Bop walk down the street with an I love Betty Boop T-shirt on? It makes ZERO sense.
Well… Betty Boop would wear that T-shirt because…she’s a cartoon. 🙂
Joshua’s look was fun, silly,
and cartoon-ish.
So ihis outfit really worked for this particular challenge.
The other designers looks weren’t frivolous and young enough for a Betty Boop challenge (even though some of the other looks were pretty).
Totally agree. Joshua’s ensemble was Betty circa 2018!
I got a Minnie Mouse vibe from Joshua’s dress. Totally agree Anne’s comments to the designers aren’t helpful.
Can anyone tell me why Tim’s not on All Stars?
You want Amanda the Whiner over Merlene? Amanda kept claiming she didn’t make the worst thing out there, that she should be safe, and when that didn’t work, she started slinging dirt anywhere she could throw it. She would’ve thrown Tim Gunn under the bus if she could’ve. I’m just thrilled that the whine factor has finally dropped off. Amanda hasn’t ever made a good looking garment on PR–ever. The only designer I can think of who was just as bad would be Lindsey Season 14. Those 2 are of the same caliber to me.
What a bummer about the Betty Boop translation by Torrid. How can you so thoroughly drain a garment of it’s entire esthetic? I want the mesh skirt with the white hotpant and who wants a Betty T-shirt that fits like a tent?
I would so LOVE to get a Josh McKinley design. Bummer.
Thanks for soldiering on CJ. Hope the kids are better. My dvr still refuses to pick this show up. I think it’s due to another season of Alyssa looking pathetically ghastly? Or McQueen-ish or not, maybe the dvr knows I thought Edmund had the best sexy, youthful look Boop look?
It seemed to me that went from a Betty Boop challenge to a young Hollywood challenge. It’s confusing. Why not do an updated Betty outfit? I don’t think the designers really understood either.
This episode was a throwaway…your recap is the only good thing.
So right. And it COULD have been SO GOOD!
So right. And it COULD have been SO GOOD!
The title was certainly apropos — they WERE thrown for a loop. This has been the worst, as in disconnected, runway in recent memory.
I think if Helen’s top had been black and white, or red and white, or turquoise and white, ANY color with white, she would have won. Mixing stripes and polka dots was a huge trend in 1964, the mod look and it looked classic yet fresh, but the gray, while lovely, was not YOUTHFUL. I did not like the super long side of the asymmetrical skirt. I HATE asymmetrical not done well, and most PR designers do not seem to understand asymmetrical BALANCE — as opposed to just hacking off or adding on something. Josh did channel Betty Boop better than anyone else, but that body suit was so 1980s MTV videos. It distracted from the other two pieces; a plainer panty would have served better. I guess the judges are letting no-sew hems get by this season. And I do think that is OK; when you have an unGodly deadline, they can’t expect everyone to “Michael Costello” it out. Raw hems — but not crooked sloppy hems — REPRESENT a finished look. These time limits allow for DESIGN prototypes, not finely finished garments. Unless Merline steps it up, she needs to go over a talented designer who just has a bad day.
Is it just me or were Isaac and josh having a moment during judging? the leering grin and eye lash batting variety.
No, the rumor is that is why Josh is on the show…
Makes sense but then why has he not gotten any attention from the judges. Because his work should have sent him packing weeks ago? So better to just let him skip by until s tacky challenge came by for him to win? It reminds me of that smirkly Sam kid.