Episode Report Card Jeff Long: C | 1 USERS: C YOU GRADE IT Dress Them Up
By Jeff Long | Season AS1 | Episode 12 | Aired on 03.22.2012
Here's Mondo. He introduces himself to the audience and says that his collection is titled "Therapy" because he needed therapy while he was designing it. And, on with the show. The first look is a see-through black blouse with white polka dots (those who live in glass blouses... re: his constant ribbing of Kenley and her druthers). He has paired it with a short gray skirt that has a little squiggly pattern on it. Mondo has a little bit of a Keith Haring thing going on and I feel stupid for not having picked it out until now. Anyway, carry on. The next look is a short-sleeved POLKA-DOTTED black dress with little round pockets at the waist. Joanna seems very excited for him backstage. The next look is a little tunic tip, with contrasting black and white patterns à la Mondo and some tight black slacks. Joanna says that the look is very flattering for the model, which is something designers overlook. Really? Isn't that their job? To be flattered by the clothing? Next is some wide-legged high-waisted slacks in black and white stripes with more of those round pockets at the waist. There's a similar short jacket. I'm not really impressed with that. But here we have his Rorschach test dress and it's pretty spectacular. So interesting and sexy. His finale is a red and silver metallic gown. It's floor-length and very pretty. Joanna points out that he gets a lot of applause afterwards.
Michael's onstage now. He does this little boy thing with his voice sometimes that I find irritating. That said, he tells everyone that his collection was inspired by the Serengeti. OK. The first look is a jumpsuit with super wide legs. Joanna is backstage and tells Michael that it looks very luxurious and is very flattering to the model. You couldn't wear a bra with it, but it looks like Coles is picking her battles. I could see a Kardashian wearing the SHIT outta this thing. Next is a skintight zebra print dress with long sleeves and a high neck. It's covered with a little metallic vest, which Joanna says is very useful and that those little layering pieces are bread and butter for designers. You would need a special bra to wear with this dress. Here's a looser jersey dress with an animal print and pockets(?) or some sort of interest at the waist. I think I'd like it more if it was smoother at the hips. You know, I kind of really like this stuff. He should take DVF up on her request that he call her after the show. This shit would be perfect for her. You could wear a bra with this dress. Next is a little short set with a robe top. This is really cute. Joanna tells him that she loves his shorts. You know what? I don't believe that she liked Austin very much. Maybe they're just throwing us off because the audience is already such a big fan of his, but the qualitative statements she has made about Mondo and Michael are much larger than anything she said to Austin. In fact, I felt like he seemed sort of lonely at one point as he was watching and wishing that maybe someone who liked him was there to share it with him. Next up is a strapless top and wide legged slacks -- all zebra print. It's so weird, I was thinking, "This looks old. It's the first one in his collection that I'm not really wild about," and just as the thought was fomenting, Michael says that this look is favorite. Fine. He points out that it is separates though, which would in fact be a selling point. Now he has a beautifully draped white dress with black belt and straps on the back. There's also a little black vest that is cute. Joanna says that this is the moment when those in the know would realize they were looking at a Michael Costello collection. Then, everyone starts applauding. Joanna tells him to savor moments like this. So, yeah, nothing like that for Austin.