The Fashion Show: Dream a Little Dream Coat
Markus pricks his finger on the needle of criticism.
--by Eric Walter
Episode 3: Trick Up Your Sleeve
This week on Bravo's The Fashion Show, our twelve fashion apostles were challenged to design a coat for every season with more than meets the eye. I was hoping to see something that transformed into an alien robot or a sports car, but I guess hidden pockets and detachable hoods will do in a pinch.
The host with the boast, Isaac Mizrahi, sums it up well between the two hapless hopefuls at the bottom of this week's challenge. Who is the better designer: the one with good ideas and poor execution, or the one with good execution but no confidence?
In one corner, Markus was disappointed in the craftsmanship of his high-concept jewelry wrap — but we have people for that ... right?
Where is my team of sewers, dammit?
Haven, on the other hand, was ready to throw herself off the show for sending a sub-par spring coat down the runway.
A southern girl needs her hairspray, sure, but ... a little too much junk in the trunk?
The judges were more inclined to support someone with skill than someone with good ideas. It's a very honest, work-a-day sentiment. 
Your big fancy London school might teach you to give orders to your techies, Markus, but if you can't do what they do, you'll never have their respect. Meanwhile, Haven finds herself hanging by a thread.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Andrew! Isaac initially had misgivings in the workroom, but the winsome designer hit it out of the park this week with his go-go-gadget extendable trench coat with hidden wrap.
Andrew got some help from trenchant teammate Daniella for his winning design.
If looks could kill, Daniella would be serving time several times over. Every time she's up in front of the judges, she's throwing shade at someone.
The final judgment was fascinating. Daniella wants credit. Fair enough. And I don't think she wanted to sabotage his success. But by claiming to be the brains behind the brown, she threw Andrew under the bus, albeit carefully and tactfully.
Enter puffy-coat goddess Norma Kamali to throw cold water on her with the hard truth: Design directors will hemorrhage brilliant ideas that they never get credit for. "But that's the deal," she says. "And if it is yours, that's your secret. Isaac and I have kept many secrets."
I guess Daniella's been told.
Reco's ski suit was killer, too. And despite leading the losing team, he is a favorite among the judges. Moreover, Reco is clearly a favorite to himself, as well. "These people are delusional," he says. They're designers, but they can't sew, they can't cut patterns.
Ooh, don't let me start loving myself!
But you know that? He's right. Who knew sewing would be such a challenge!
Well, bust my buttons! Isaac wants to know who has the skills to pay the bills.
It hasn't caught up with a few of his colleagues: This is a competition. (I guess those who can't do, design.) And it looks much harder than Runway. The designers seem stuck in their team formations, they have very little time, and we're seeing more errors on the runway. These aren't quite real-world conditions, but don't you think the person with the most self-sufficiency is going to win?
The contestants assume the position during the mini-challenge of basic sewing skills.
But Reco is getting way too cocky. "Y'all making it too easy," he says. I'd want to smack him, too. He better watch it. Daniella's on the prowl.
What works:
Thankfully Merlin steps out of the spotlight this week, and we see precious little of him. But I'm beginning to think he has seven pairs of red riding pants. Or he needs to do some laundry.
And Lidia wins the mini-challenge and immunity.
Yay Lidia! You can sew my shoulder pads back on any time, dearie!
Plus, I loved Anna's coat with glove pockets in the sleeves.
I'd totally buy it. I lose too many gloves!
It's a good thing Johnny was on a winning team. He's lucky he wasn't in the bottom two. His coat-cum-shoe rack gave his model a look reminiscent of the rubbish heap woman from Labyrinth.What doesn't:
And Lidia's frill-necked lizard raincoat (right) looks like a remnant from the costume shop of The Adventures of Priscilla. (Wait ... maybe that's a good thing.)
Guest judge Kamali loves James-Paul's puffy sleeping-bag coat (right), even if it makes his model look like a caterpillar, and Reco's Martian pit-crew getup (left) is a hit with the panel.
Best line:
Isaac: "I'm into caskets, though" — after Fern says James-Paul's coat has a casket-like quality to it.
Best WTF moment:
Isaac, again, on Andrew's and Anna's first- and second-place designs: “The coats standing before us are successful, I think, because the two fabrics actually feel, to the eye, like fabric.”
Indispensable words of wisdom from our expert.
So, Markus was sent packing. It's a shame, too, because he's cute — I mean talented! But he's more William Randolph Hearst than Edward R. Murrow.
Your big fancy London school might teach you to give orders to your techies, Markus, but if you can't do what they do, you'll never have their respect. Meanwhile, Haven finds herself hanging by a thread.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Andrew! Isaac initially had misgivings in the workroom, but the winsome designer hit it out of the park this week with his go-go-gadget extendable trench coat with hidden wrap.
Andrew got some help from trenchant teammate Daniella for his winning design.
If looks could kill, Daniella would be serving time several times over. Every time she's up in front of the judges, she's throwing shade at someone.
This time, she's bitter about Andrew getting credit for some of her ideas. But you know what? He nailed it. Hello, teamwork. And, hello being a team leader and, um, leading your teammate.
The final judgment was fascinating. Daniella wants credit. Fair enough. And I don't think she wanted to sabotage his success. But by claiming to be the brains behind the brown, she threw Andrew under the bus, albeit carefully and tactfully.
Enter puffy-coat goddess Norma Kamali to throw cold water on her with the hard truth: Design directors will hemorrhage brilliant ideas that they never get credit for. "But that's the deal," she says. "And if it is yours, that's your secret. Isaac and I have kept many secrets."
I guess Daniella's been told.
Reco's ski suit was killer, too. And despite leading the losing team, he is a favorite among the judges. Moreover, Reco is clearly a favorite to himself, as well. "These people are delusional," he says. They're designers, but they can't sew, they can't cut patterns.
Ooh, don't let me start loving myself!
But you know that? He's right. Who knew sewing would be such a challenge!
Well, bust my buttons! Isaac wants to know who has the skills to pay the bills.
It hasn't caught up with a few of his colleagues: This is a competition. (I guess those who can't do, design.) And it looks much harder than Runway. The designers seem stuck in their team formations, they have very little time, and we're seeing more errors on the runway. These aren't quite real-world conditions, but don't you think the person with the most self-sufficiency is going to win?
The contestants assume the position during the mini-challenge of basic sewing skills.
But Reco is getting way too cocky. "Y'all making it too easy," he says. I'd want to smack him, too. He better watch it. Daniella's on the prowl.
What works:
Thankfully Merlin steps out of the spotlight this week, and we see precious little of him. But I'm beginning to think he has seven pairs of red riding pants. Or he needs to do some laundry.
And Lidia wins the mini-challenge and immunity.
Yay Lidia! You can sew my shoulder pads back on any time, dearie!
Plus, I loved Anna's coat with glove pockets in the sleeves.
I'd totally buy it. I lose too many gloves!
And Lidia's frill-necked lizard raincoat (right) looks like a remnant from the costume shop of The Adventures of Priscilla. (Wait ... maybe that's a good thing.)
Best gay:
Poor James-Paul! No one knows how to react to him. The producers are still setting him up as the weirdo. Everything he says to Isaac and Kelly is met with the sound of chirping crickets.
But Reco is the one talking about Aeon Flux and using "a modern-day excursion to Mars" as his inspiration! (As opposed to the jaunts your grandmother used to take to the Red Planet, I suppose.)
Guest judge Kamali loves James-Paul's puffy sleeping-bag coat (right), even if it makes his model look like a caterpillar, and Reco's Martian pit-crew getup (left) is a hit with the panel.
Best line:
Isaac: "I'm into caskets, though" — after Fern says James-Paul's coat has a casket-like quality to it.
Best WTF moment:
Isaac, again, on Andrew's and Anna's first- and second-place designs: “The coats standing before us are successful, I think, because the two fabrics actually feel, to the eye, like fabric.”
Indispensable words of wisdom from our expert.
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