| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
I’m gonna miss Peach a lot. This week, the designers start at Nine West. They’re told that they have to make a disco-inspired party outfit. They each have to choose a Nine West shoe as inspiration. Anthony Ryan gets to choose first, then he chooses the person and so on. I guess Laura is being called Laura Kathleen? The winning design will be featured in the Nine West Fall campaign. Andrae’s feeling the pressure to create a look that doesn’t need explanation. Wendy Pepper really loves Rayon, which I honestly never would have predicted in a million years, but good for them.
From the beginning, Casanova seems inspired but maybe in trouble. Joanna comes in and she’s looking pretty chic. She warns Kayne of Many Colors that his stripes need to match on his pants. Then, she proceeds to hate just about everything. She thinks that Ivy’s look is too tame and Ivy says that she’s mostly thinking about the design being in the Nine West Fall campaign. She reminds Emilio that there was no good taste in the '70s. After the first day of work, it looks like everyone is in trouble. Andrae, in particular, is trying to force the disco theme into his narrow aesthetic of structural organza and whatnot. Later that night, they have a dance party in the workroom, which is maybe the most fun I’ve ever seen any of the designers have ever. Naturally, they give the moment a total of 15 or so seconds of screentime.
At the hotel, Karl Lagerfeld is on a video giving advice to the designers. He tells them to take their work very seriously but to have fun. The day, Andrae is still having problems. The models come in for their fittings and everyone is working until the last minute. Rafe Totengo, the creative director of Nine West, is the guest judge. Emilio’s color palette is brilliant! Wendy’s look is sort of trashy and mostly '90s. Anthony Ryan’s look is meh. Casanova’s dress is pretty awesome to me. I love Ivy’s green and gold combo, but the look is pretty boring. Uli’s look is someone else’s disco, but beautiful. Laura’s look is a draped jumpsuit that’s gorgeous. Althea made a Valley Girl outfit. I’m having problems deciding whether Kayne of Many Color’s gold top and flowing pants are amazing or the worst.
After the show, Carolyn calls out Emilio, Althea, Anthony Ryan, Laura Kathleen, Joshua and Rayon are all safe. Poor Andrae already feels that he’s in trouble. Wendy, Kayne of Many Colors and Andrae are in the bottom. Ivy, Uli and Casanova are in the top. I am distracted by how FREAKING unworldly beautiful Georgina Chapman is.
The designers return and Casanova is in. Uli is the winner! So, that means Ivy is in. Kayne is safe. So is Andrae! That means Wendy is out. Uli says backstage that her behavior didn’t match her reputation and she was very nice. She says that she’s going to stay friends with Rayon. He calls himself “Blue Suede.” He’s on the spectrum.
Previously: We met our rag tag group of all-stars. They were split into two teams and had to make a mini collection. Anthony Ryan was the winner of the challenge. Andrae and Peach were in the bottom and poor Peach got sent home.
I think that maybe Carolyn Murphy went to some voiceover classes. Her explanation of the prize package is so polished and news anchor-y. Diane Sawyer would be proud. Or, perhaps she would plot to have this Carolyn Murphy creature out of her way. Forever.
The designers meet Carolyn at the Nine West showroom. Rayon interviews that it was "shoe heavenorama." That makes me want to rip his fucking tongue out Game of Thrones-style. Isn't saying it's heaven ENOUGH? You add that stupid "orama" to something that is an object and there's a place that's all about that object. Heaven is already fucking HEAVEN. Honestly, I'm breathing fast right now. Carolyn greets them and introduces Stefanie Greenfield who is the Chief Creative Officer of The Jones Group (that owns Nine West). She tells the designers that their challenge is to create a party look inspired by disco. This is gonna be classy. Wendy Pepper laughs and says, "Finally. My era." She seems in remarkably gentle spirits these days. It's unnerving. I wonder if maybe the other designers defused the Wendy bomb by being nice to her last week. She reminds us in an interview that she lived through the ''70s.
They will be choosing shoes from the '70s brights trend and their model will wear the shoe on the runway, therefore the look they make has to consider the shoe that they choose. Anthony Ryan gets to choose first, then he chooses Ivy. She chooses a gold shiny shoe, then chooses Casanova. He chooses Emilio. He chooses Althea. She chooses Uli. She chooses Kayne of Many Colors. He chooses Josh. He chooses Rayon. Rayon chooses Wendy "Pepper, not salt" which touches her. Laura Kathleen is chosen and interviews that no one likes her. Can't argue there. That means that Andrae gets the remaining shoe. Carolyn tells him that she has faith that he will make something beautiful.
They're going to have 30 minutes to sketch at the Nine West showroom, then they'll have a day to finish the look. They will be judged on how well they translate the disco stuff into a modern look. Also, the winning designer will be featured in the Nine West Fall campaign! That's huge.
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Everyone starts sketching. Andrae remembers that the judges told him his look was too complicated, but he's still going to make something that is too complicated. Uli isn't really that familiar with disco seeing as how she grew up behind the Iron Curtain. She doesn't know Studio 54 from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. She's thinking that her disco might be different from everyone else's. Casanova says he's going to make this dealio with a spiderweb on the back.
At Mood, Andrae tells us that he's going to look for fabrics with "a lot of vocabulary." Ivy says that she's going to make a jumpsuit with emerald chiffon, which will work beautifully with her gold shoe. The fabric she chooses is so pretty. Wendy is going to make a leather pant with a bold print top and a...silver chain at the waist. Scratch the last part. She says that you almost lose your mind at Mood. Sure. Just at Mood.
Back at the workroom, Uli is happy that she chose white fabric because she feels that it will stand out amongst the other designs. A little embarrassed, she interviews that sometimes you have to work it. Josh says that he's very happy that Anthony Ryan won the first challenge because, let me see if I've got this right, it gives him a chance to gloat to the world about how great Anthony Ryan is? OK.
Kayne of Many Colors wonders if he'll have enough gold lame fabric to make himself a jacket. Laura Kathleen jokes (?) that she's making a jacket from her fabric so he's better not go there. Althea seems to be looking on and says that Laura Kathleen is sweet but annoying. Ouch. She says that she's more interested in being in the mix with Emilio and Uli who she feels are designing more on her level. More ouches. Ivy thinks that she, Uli and Anthony Ryan are the designers to beat. I have to say that Ivy actually does seem in a much better head space this time around. She's focused and it's really starting to show. She's also not so horrible to behold now.
So Josh and Kayne of Many Colors don't seem so much like spray painted unicorns when they're together. They seem like two people who belong to the same weirdly styled community, because crazy in numbers always seems more normal. In fact, it's easy to look at them together and feel a little bit like, "Maybe it's my eyebrow game that's off and not theirs." Josh asks K what he's making. Pants. Kayne describes them as "a little sha-nay-nay, then boom- Donna Summer." That sounds like a complete nightmare and I, for one, cannot wait to see it. They have a moment of silence for the late Ms Summer, then carry on. Kayne of Many Colors explains that he is going to make a GORGEOUS off-the-shoulder bronze sequined top with a chevroned palazzo pant. So, if you didn't know what seizures were like before you wore this outfit... He thinks it's going to be super hot.
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Casanova is talking to Emilio about how he likes this challenge. He interviews that nightlife, slutty and Casanova all go very well together. Wendy Pepper and Rayon have developed a deep connection. I shit you not. She tells us that he's one of the most incredible people she has ever met. Well I guess there's a mitten for every paw. We see him make some sort of scissoring motion (with scissors) near the crotch of his dress form and Wendy jokes that that's as close as he will be getting to, you know, down there. VAGINA. He says, "Honey, I've been there." Jesus, look what the '70s hath wrought. Do we really need to be going back there? The decade. We're obviously not going back to vagina. Well, I say that but we really don't know exactly how good Anne Hathaway is going to be in Les Miserables. And, if it's good enough, WATCH OUT LADIES, I'll be back and looking for...someone to watch The Mindy Project with? We see Laura Kathleen snicker, then she interviews that she has noticed some friendships developing, like that of Rayon and Wendy. She says that alliances are helpful, but she's on her own (like Les Miz!) and out for herself. Did everyone just do what I did? Meaning, did you just cast Les Miz with the current all-stars? I did and Laura Kathleen is not Eponine. That would be Ivy or Andrae. Laura Kathleen is Cosette. Althea is Young Cosette. Rayon and Wendy are the "Master of the House" people. The Thernawhoevers. Obviously Uli is Fantine. Why am I doing this? Emilio is Jean Valjean and Josh is Javert, which makes Anthony Ryan a poorly cast Marius. Someone save me from myself.
Laura Kathleen compliments Kayne of Many Colors on the pants he's making. He says that he often sees people on... shows make clothes with stripes and sees them get criticized for not matching up the pattern. It's weird how he was obviously trying to avoid saying that he watches Project Runway. Anyway, his baggage. He's feeling the crunch, because he didn't get enough of the pant fabric to match the chevrons easily.
Rayon interviews that, though he was in the bottom two for the last challenge, he got some really great feedback. He says that learning from the judges is one of the real benefits of the show, which is a really open-minded thing for him to say. Then, he refers to himself in the third-person and I want him dead. Wendy apparently thinks that the chains on Rayon's pants are on trend and decides to mimic that look (the wallet to pocket chain thing) on her outfit. Laura thinks that it looks like a costume. Josh thinks it looks like Mad Max. Casanova decides that he's going to do this spaghetti strap thing that looks like a spider web on the back of his look. It's very time consuming but he feels like he needs to do something spectacular. He jokes around at one point that the straps are a wig and we all laugh.
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Joanna comes in for a consultation. She starts with Kayne of Many Colors and reinforces his fear about getting the pants right. She tells him that they need to be perfect on the runway. She doesn't think that Uli's dress is actually from the '70s. Dude, Uli was running surveillance equipment during the '70s and that is WHAT THEY WORE. White dresses. She tells Josh that instead of presenting a show stopper, he's going to stop the show. At least we know Paula Abdul's old joke writer from American Idol has found some work. When Laura Kathleen says that she's making a blazer, Joanna says that the word "blazer" makes her shrivel up a little. Fine excuse, Jojo, but you and I both know you've been shriveled for quite some time now. Casanova thinks that it's pretty but that it's better suited for the office instead of nighttime.
Joanna asks Ivy what is special about her look. She says that she is concentrating on making the shoe the leading lady. Joanna asks if she's thinking about the prize and not the challenge, which just seems like the dumbest distinction. The judges are not going to pick a design that doesn't compliment the shoe. Emilio thinks that Andrae's look is just like the one he made during the last challenge. Joanna tells Andrae that she has never worn a coat at a disco and she knows from discos. She thinks that Rayon's look is very "white man's overbite." She has to demonstrate, effectively creating the "uptight fashion Brit's white man's overbite." You didn't know it could get worse? She tells Althea that her look is very girly, which doesn't sound like a compliment.
She thinks Wendy's look is very Halloween. She calls out this plate thing on the back of her pants and says that it looks like a trivet, though she doesn't know the actual word and is like, "Hot stuff, side of stove, my governess?" She says to Emilio that she considers the '70s the decade that taste forgot. I don't really agree with that. Sure, the influences were really out there and competing, so a lot of the silhouettes remained right there in the '70s and will likely never make it out, but some of the style then was really gorgeous. I, for one, really loved the classic '70s lady with huge hair and either a prim straight dress or some sort of flowing goddess thing. I mean, the '90s? All of that foundation and red lipstick and the fucking bangs for miles and miles and miles. Baby tees? Fine, there was Gucci and the whole heroin thing, but I feel comfortable saying that we can give the '70s a break after having lived through the '90s. Grunge? Everyone had overalls!
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Casanova says that his girl wants to have fun and wants to be comfortable, which Joanna really appreciates. She says that no one every thinks about comfort when talking about party clothes. Casanova says that when a lady goes out she doesn't need to worry about errant boobs and exposed panties. Don't I know? Do I? I don't know.
Joanna leaves the models come in. Wendy thinks that Uli's dress is something from the Ice Hotel. Wow. SLAM. Althea thinks that Ivy's clothes are not flattering. She sounds kind of like an idiot when she talks. Josh thinks that Wendy's pants are puke. Uli thinks that Rayon's dress looks like a golden refrigerator. Everybody scrambles to finish. Andrae seems really behind.
When the work day is over, Kayne of Many Colors leads everyone into the break room where he reveals a mirror ball and his intentions for them to have a disco break. Wendy jams with Joshua and she seems really into it. That was nice, if forced.
Then, they go to the Night Hotel. Carolyn sends them a message from Karl Lagerfeld, asshole Adele-hater, telling them to be creative and have fun. Rayon choked back tears the whole time and I wish he had be arrested for that. Fuck him.
The day, they're back in the workroom and scrambling. Uli is getting her stuff ready and mumbles that all of this stress is for young people. Andrae realizes that he doesn't have enough time to work with the organza that he's using. Wendy is feeling confident. Uli thinks is looks like a whore's outfit. Touche.
It's time for hair and make-up and Laura Kathleen goes to the hot make-up daddy and tells him that she is going for a "Diane von Furstenberg look." I'm not saying that a Diane von Furstenberg make-up story doesn't exist, but...it doesn't. She's just being snotty. I'm sorry, that's true. Also, that's probably the only person she knows from the '70s. I bet her look is more Pam Dawber though. I think maybe I'm going to have to go out on a limb and predict Laura Kathleen as the villain of this season, even with the presence of Wendy Pepper. A of all, Wendy Pepper seems exceptionally well medicated these days. She's rational and kind and seemingly comfortable in her skin. B of all, it takes something huge to make me namecheck Pam Dawber. I only do that when backed against a wall. And I only like being backed against a wall when I'm recreating the cast of Glee recreating the classic Madonna/Britney video for "Me Against the Music." So, she's dead to me and moving on.
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Wendy Pepper's going for a Bianca Jagger look. Kayne of Many Colors is working until the last minute. Casanova does this thing where he says that his girl is going to a party, obviously. Then, he does this disco air horn thing and dances a little bit and it's perfect. Ivy is running late and her model and Casanova help her. He says that he doesn't mind helping her because there are a bunch of other crappy designers that need to go home. Anthony Ryan says that he ain't sewing nothing for nobody, which is a triple negative and I guess means what he wants it to mean. Andrae seems like the last one to finish, but he does finish.
Carolyn greets the designers on the runway and she looks crazy good in this gown with a cut-out on the side. She's giving the best sideboob in the business. She introduces Georgina, Isaac and guest judge Rafi Totengco who is the Creative Director of Nine West Handbags. The show begins with Emilio's look. It's a long gown in this bright yellow that is almost chartreuse and fuchsia. The gown is beautiful, if a little formal for a party dress. It is, however, a proper translation of the '70s and the colors are stunning.
Wendy Pepper's look is and it's gross. Flared leather jeans. You read correctly, though disturbingly. I don't know why anyone would think that is on trend. She also made this trashy top that's essentially a halter top with chains as the straps. The look certainly has the DNA of '70s disco apparel, but it's just so tacky. Wendy says that she has to own what she does. It's good that someone will own that.
Anthony Ryan's look is this short strapless cocktail dress with black and gold. Something about the silhouette is sort of '70s, with the no boobs no hips thing. It's not very exciting though. Casanova made this red dress that is short and blouse-y on top. The back is bare with that spider web effect covering it. Very cute. He's thrilled with it. No panties or boobs showing at all. This one's a winner!
Rayon made a floor-length gold lamè dress that's actually pretty cute. Better for throwing an engagement party for your husband's boss than for the disco, but whatever. Rayon says that "Suede is in love." I mean, do I actually have to put a contract out on this guy? What does he think he's selling? Andrae's look is and he made a pretty maroon pencil skirt with a high waist and a red halter top. Over that is this purple organza coat thing. I actually kind of dig this. It fits beautifully. I even sort of like the organza. His girl is styled beautifully too. Voluminous curly hair and red lipstick. It's the only styling so far that I'll even remember.
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Ivy's look is and it's an emerald green short jumper with a translucent skirt. at the neckline is a gold sparkling collar and the shoes are gold. She says that she's thankful that Casanova helped her finish because she really thinks that is what makes the outfit. The colors are amazing. Also, I'm shocked by how much I like Ivy this season. It's like she had her shrillness surgically removed. I'm sure that it could all come back any second, but in the meantime I am going to just appreciate that she seems to be focused and doing her own thing and not killing anyone (though I should maybe talk to her about Rayon).
Uli's look is and it's this white cocktail dress with long tassels at the sleeves. It's sparkly and there are small tassels all over it. Did she create all of the embellishment? This looks so freaking complicated. It's badass and looks really Northern European. Maybe the national disco costume of Finland? It's awesome though. Doesn't look like disco. The judges look visibly excited when they see it. It's like a movie about a girl who becomes a famous fashion designer. If they just wanted to show in like two silent seconds that our young heroine just became a STAR, it would look like the judges looking at Uli's dress. I can hear the director screaming, "You love it! You've never seen anything like it. BIGGER, Isaac. Breathe faster, Isaac. CRY!" I feel like that could have been a TV movie in the late '80s starring Melissa Gilbert or Heather Locklear. Uli is happy with her dress.
Joshua made a short sleeved turquoise pantsuit with a cut-out in the back. Joshua is really happy with it and thinks that the cut-out adds a sex element that he feels defines him as designer, if not a lay. The suit is cute. I could see some fancy lady dancing on a yacht and drinking a Pinot Gris in a really big glass and wearing this. Hopefully she's wearing shoes because you know she's gonna break that fucking glass.
Laura Kathleen's look is a loose floor-length jumper with a short lamè jacket. It's cute, but it's not very modern. This is actually exactly what they were wearing during the disco era. She says that she really feels that she has channeled Diane von Furstenberg. I mean, sure. It's kind of illegally similar to her work. Laura Kathleen and Gunnar from Season 10 need to go in together on some voice classes where they learn to place their voices in their freaking chests. She's so nasal that I sometimes lose the word sounds and it feels like she's just humming a really bad song or playing a kazoo.
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Althea's look is . It's a pink and fuchsia cocktail dress with one shoulder strap. There appears to be a little bit of ruching on the bodice. It's cute and I could see someone wearing this at a party, but there's absolutely nothing '70s about this. She says that, yes she was born in 1984, but she knows the '70s and, yo, she got this.
Here's Kayne's look. I mean...it kind of works for me. He has these pants in bronze tones with the chevrons peaking in the front and they seem to be done perfectly. The fit tightly at the waist and flare in a grade to the floor. It's matched with a bronze sequined top that's sexy and, I mean, this whole thing is pretty tacky, but I think I like it. The only thing is his model is wearing sunglasses and it looks so stupid to me. He says that he was going for a Michael Kors resort wear/ JLo look and I can see that, but I still hate the glasses.
Afterwards, the designers return to the stage. Anthony Ryan, Emilio, Althea, Laura Kathleen, Joshua and Rayon are all safe. The models for the remaining designers return to the stage. Ivy goes first and says that she wanted to create a look that complemented the shoe without overpowering it. Georgina likes the flapper quality of the dress. Isaac doesn't like that the shiny sparkles stop on the back and says that the first thing you do on an expensive dress when you can't afford the embroidery. Rafi thinks that it should be shorter.
Wendy says that she tried to make a tuxedo pant (no she didn't) and chose a punchy fabric for the top. She also says that the chain is an ode to her 13-year old daughter. Carolyn feels that there's too much going on in the look. I think Carolyn is so cute. She looks like she feels a little bad criticizing the looks, but that's almost more damning. Georgina doesn't think the pants are tuxedo pants either! Rafi is confused. Isaac thinks it looks "theme park." Ouch.
Kayne of Many Colors says that he was trying to make something that didn't compete with his tangerine shoe. Carolyn doesn't like the top. She likes the silhouette, not the top. Isaac thinks that the JLo adjacency works against the whole disco thing and I agree with that.
Uli says that she was trying to make a party dress that wasn't slutty. Her model is wearing yellow eyeshadow and it's amazing. Rafi says that he wants to go dancing with Uli's girl. How did she make this? Isaac thinks its futuristic Cherokee, but he wishes there were more happening on the back. Georgina thinks that she was doing something smart with the shape, which allowed her to concentrate on the embellishments.
| Season AS2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.01.2012
Casanova says that he wanted to make something that a girl could have fun in. Isaac loves it and thinks it's sexy without being dangerous. Georgina loves the color but thinks that it would have been more chic with a longer length.
Andrae tries to say something about how he was trying to inspire? Then, he stumbles because of cotton mouth or something and sort of shuts down. Isaac hates the coat and thinks that the look is beautiful without it. Everyone likes the styling though.
The judges confer. They all liked Uli. Isaac doesn't think it was '70s and sells Georgina that idea. Everyone liked Ivy, but Isaac wished it were a dress. Georgina isn't as into Casanova's dress as everyone else is. Carolyn thought that Wendy's dress was from Spanish Harlem. Rafi thinks that it's embarrassing that Wendy mentioned her kid. Rafi says that Andrae needs to learn to take criticism. Isaac doesn't care that Kayne worked on his pants forever. He still doesn't think that they're good.
The designers return to the stage. Carolyn tells Casanova that he is safe. Uli is the winner! She is so cute and interviews that she feels like crying. Ivy is in too and looks kind of depressed backstage. Kayne of Many Colors is safe. That means it's down to Andrae and Wendy. Andrae is...in. He closes his eyes with relief. Carolyn reminds him that he can't rest on his laurels and he does this weird bowing thing that I sort of love. Wendy is super gracious about being kicked off. Backstage, Uli tells her that despite her reputation, she is very nice. Wendy jokes that she can't lose her street cred. She interviews that she was looking to channel her competitive spirit from her earlier appearance on the show, but the reality is that she has a lot of respect for everyone there. Wow, Wendy Pepper just had her short but necessary redemption arc and it was very successful. I only really have nice thoughts about her! Rayon, on the other hand, cries and calls himself "Blue Suede." I. Can't.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at long.jeff1@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.