Episode Report Card Jeff Long: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Vision
By Jeff Long | Season 1 | Episode 2 | Aired on 12.07.2004
Vanessa says that she really wanted to go deeper, in terms of creativity, with this challenge. So, she's making a maternity dress. That's a pretty clever idea, and it tells a lot about her as a person. None of the other designs have been shown yet, but I can't imagine that anyone will think of an idea much more human than pregnancy as a manifestation of envy. She adds in her interview that she has the goods to be one of America's top designers. Then, you might want to remove "LONDON" from the door of your boutique in Houston, Texas.
Austin based his design on the evil queen in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He says, "I think there is a little evil queen in all of us." No comment. His dress is going to be long and severe.
Nora's dress is, in her words, abstract. She is designing a dress with cut-outs over areas on a woman's body that might be envied. That's a pretty good idea, especially since you know an envy-inducing model will be wearing the dress. She likes the design because it is subtle and "gets the point across without having to write 'envy' across the chest."
I don't think Nora was trying to slam Jay, but his design has writing all over it. He says he was inspired by the models, and by all the criticism that they endure. "My agent told me I had to lose a 16th of an inch on my hip" is an example of one of the criticisms the models have received. His design will be "a walking commentary for how these girls feel about themselves." He should attach an alarm clock to the neck.
Mario's dress is white and short. And, like the one he designed last week, it is very simple. Mario, remember, does not compromise his art. If his art tells him to make an extra-large tube top, while his competitors are making social commentaries and literary allusions, then that's just the way it has to be. He CANNOT compromise that. He says that he doesn't like to overthink things, and that some people take fashion too seriously. Methinks Mario had a bong hit too many this morning.
Wendy says in an interview that she has a lot of problems with envy. Nora says in an interview that Wendy told her that she thinks of Nora when she thinks of envy. Also, Wendy tells Nora that she has so many chances ahead of her and that this is Wendy's last chance. That's kind of creepy. This, to me, is an example of what I call the Wendy Pepper Dichotomy. She's totally calculated and manipulative, like she was with Nora. At the same time, in her interview, she was so self-aware and raw. It takes a lot to be honest about your shortcomings, and she seems to be doing it in a healthy way. She is listening to a portable CD player. I'm not sure why, but it makes me sad that she doesn't have an MP3 player of some kind.