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Reality TV

Fashion Star Recap 4

Laughing at Jessica Simpson is only fun for so long.

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Jacket

Sarah made a jacket. H&M is gonna sell it. Can we change the channel now?

Local blogger, designer, and all-around style gal Tina Witherspoon joins us on Thursdays to recap NBC’s attempt at a runway project.

Episode 5: Fashion StarVED. I hope this doesn’t come as a shock to any of you, but now that our Seattle designers have been cut from the show, this noise ain’t worth watching. I thought I’d give it one final chance this week. If you couldn’t stomach it, here’s what you missed:

- The buyers make the contestants team up to create a window display of their designs, and then completely ignore that aspect of the challenge during judging. Whatev.

- Barbara calls Nikki difficult and wants to bash her in the head. Nicole Richie tells Nikki her chimi-changas are on fire. John Varvatos wears slightly-smaller-yet-still-dark sunglasses.

- H&M buys a dress for thousands of dollars and sells it for—you guessed it—$19.99. The producers push the odd Luciana and Ronnie love story, despite the fact that he’s obv her gay BFF.

- Ross makes a vest that only Jessica Simpson and a hotel clerk would wear, but Macy’s buys it.

- Orly wrestles with lace, then she takes her top off. Her hideous shorts make Nicole Richie create yet another new word, “wedgina,” as in, “Your model had a wedgina!”

- Sarah I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing Parrot gets her fifth consecutive buy for a really simple jacket and tries to act humble on stage.

- Richie advises Edmond not to choose hooker fabric, but somehow he still manages to offend. She then creates a nickname for Nzimiro, dubbing him “Zee-mimi.”

- Kara’s masculine shirt-dress is adorned with a colorful crotch panel but the buyers aren’t buying it.

Of the bottom three, the mentors save Barbara because “the world needs a little more crazy.” Barbara does not take it as a compliment but she keeps her trap shut. The buyers remind Orly that her design sucked, but ultimately decide that Edmond is not their Fashion Star.

Thanks for sticking with me folks, but you’re going to have to sit through the rest of these shenanigans on your own. I will make a wild-ass guess that the final showdown will be between Kara and Sarah. The ultimate title of Fashion Star will probably go to Kara, since all of Sarah’s designs have been bought on the cheap. Somebody please watch the finale and let me know if my predictions come true.

Until then, in the words of Elle MacPherson, “It’s never too hot to be cool.”

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Tags: Reality TV, Fashion Star

Reality TV

Fashion Star Recap 3

How did the remaining Seattle contestant fare in this week’s retail game reality show?

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The Seattle contestants with Elle MacPherson.

Let us guess. You can’t bring yourself to watch Fashion Star but you’re curious how the show’s Seattle contestants are faring? And you’re wondering what Jessica Simpson could possibly add to the discussion? Local blogger, designer, and all-around style gal Tina Witherspoon joins us on Thursdays to recap the show.

I flipped out when I saw a tweet hinting that the designers would be making couture this week… NOT! The challenge was to make two pieces for completely different markets: one high-end garment, and one low-end version with broad appeal.

Local gal Lizzie Parker was cut last week, so all our hopes for a high/low victory rest with Lisa Hunter, who was shown this week in the workroom describing a high-end coat made from a “very rich fabric, $50 a yard—gorgeous!” She’s also making a low-end version in a yellow fabric. Her goal is to sell to Saks 5th Avenue because it’s the last store she shopped in with her mom before she passed away. At $50 per yard she better hope Saks 5th Avenue makes a bid, otherwise that coat will be sold at a loss through Macy’s for $79 or H&M for $39.

After the coats hit the runway, Varvatos reports that “the high-end wasn’t high and the low-end was predictable.” So, unfortunately, no offers for Lisa tonight.

In other no-offers news: Orly, of the two-fer, attempts to create a high-end look that transforms when you fold down the waistband. Her look goes from being a pair of high-waisted Hollywood pants to a pair of not-so-high-waisted Hollywood pants. Celebrity mentor Jessica Simpson jokes with her about having gotten in trouble for wearing high-waisted slacks (yes, we remember), but says she loves the look. That doesn’t get Orly anywhere, though.

Among the designers who are more fortunate: Sarah makes a high-end dress with back cutouts and an asymmetrical hem that’s interesting, but it’s hard to tell how high-end it is until Varvatos proclaims it cheap—excuse me, inexpensive. Simpson likes the low-end dress and offers Sarah her sage advice: “Next week just keep making it better.” She doesn’t need Simpson’s advice, though, because once she gets to buyer’s row, there’s an offer from H&M for $60k. They want to buy both designs. Hang on—H&M? High-end design? Would this be for the recently announced luxury fashion store off-shoot they’re doing? Nope, they’re selling the “high-end” dress for $19.99.

The bottom three this week turn out to be Lisa, Ronnie, and Edmund. The mentors decide to save Ronnie, probably because of his connections to Zac Posen. H&M tells Lisa that the buyers have been asking for innovation and current trends in her designs from the beginning, and she just hasn’t shown that. Well honestly, her aesthetic is 1960s Audrey Hepburn, so what did they expect? Ultimately Saks 5th Avenue tells Lisa, “I’m sorry, you’re not our fashion star.”

So we say buh-bye to the other Seattle contestant, but it’s all good. Lisa got one buy from Macy’s and she feels she’s proven that she can take her designs beyond her boutique.

My favorite part of each show might just be Elle MacPherson’s tagline at the end of each episode. This week gets us another gem: “Who will get bought and sold on the stage? Who will take one step closer to becoming the next big fashion brand? Tune in next week and remember there’s always something special in store for you on Fashion Star.”

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Tags: Reality TV, Locally Designed, Seattle Designer, Vian Hunter, Fashion Star

Reality TV

Fashion Star Recap 2

In which one Seattle contestant gets (spoiler alert) cut.

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Gentlemen, you may now buy these shorts at H&M—or you may avoid doing so altogether (recommended).

Let us guess. You can’t bring yourself to watch Fashion Star but you’re still curious about how the show’s Seattle contestants are faring? You’re curious about what Jessica Simpson could possibly add to the discussion? Local blogger, designer, and all-around style gal Tina Witherspoon joins us on Thursdays—for as long as she can stand it—to recap the show.

Cue the lights, blast the music… Snore. These recaps are going to get shorter because frankly, I’m getting bored.

We’re down to 12 designers, and there must be five extra minutes of airtime to fill because this week the show kicks off with a performance by one of the hottest bands…of 2010. LMFAO and Quest Crew ushers in episode three with that tired ‘Party Rock Anthem,’ and even they look bored. Elle MacPherson sports a ridiculously long runway-style fake ponytail and some sort of sarong.

Last week the buyers were interested in spring fashion; this week it’s summer. In the workroom we see Orly showing her printed fabrics to Nicole Richie. Nicole glances at them and says in her deadpan way, “It looks a little Grandpa Tony.” Who’s Tony? Orly is on the verge of a crying jag.

Cut to Barbara selling her design ideas to Simpson and describing the color-blocked print that lives in her head before turning into a Saturday Night Live version of herself and telling the camera, “If the buyers don’t look at me this week I’m about to pull out a can of whoopass.” Thanks for the warning.

Minutes later, Orly is crying (called it). Varvatos, who never takes off his sunglasses, is talking her off the ledge, and there is hugging.

As it turns out, Orly’s sheath dress is simple and classic (boring) with a contrast fabric on the waistband. Perfect…for Talbots. Varvatos calls it “fun and flirty,” and Simpson, who has such discerning taste, is in love with all three colors. Orly gets an offer from Saks for $120k. Maybe now she’ll stop crying.

Barbara’s sleeveless shirtdress is interesting, but only because of the fabric. We’ve all seen the design hanging in…well, again, Talbots. Richie loses her mind, saying this was “an amazing job with the prints and the edgy details!” (What was she looking at?) Better get that can of whoopass ready, because Barbara gets no offers, and Ronnie strikes out as well.

Nikki works on a jumpsuit, Sarah designs a wrap dress, and Nzimiro talks about making shorts. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Maybe we should redefine the term ‘mentor.’ Richie tells Nzimiro that his fabrics are way too feminine and the print looks like curtains, then she tells him to go put on some cologne. Is that sexist?

The other mentors aren’t sold on the jumpsuit, but the always colorful and witty Simpson thinks Nzimiro’s collection looks like a “Hampton’s party in the pants.” She loves everything, but it turns out she is right, because Sarah receives a $50k offer from H&M, Nikki receives a $50k offer from Macy’s despite the fit issues, and Nzimiro gets an offer for his shorts from H&M for $50k. They’d be better at Old Navy.

In the speed round—where the producers don’t think one group of designers merits air time—we see Luciana, Lisa, and Ross. Luciana and Lisa fail to get a buy, but Ross does exactly what the mentors tell him to do and gets an offer from Macy’s of $120k. For shorts. ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.

Edmund, Kara, and Lizzie are the last group to present. Edmund makes a maxi dress; Lizzie worked on a jersey draped dress with heavy metal details, and Kara comes out of the closet with her tuxedo pant. Kara’s pants get an offer from Saks Fifth Avenue for $50k. Lizzie and Edmund receive no offers.

This week’s bottom three are Lizzie, Edmund, and Luciana. The mentors choose to save Edmund, and although I was crossing my fingers for Lizzie, the Macy’s reps say they are concerned she doesn’t have range. They cut her. It’s a bummer to have one of our hometown gals cut, but I admire Lizzie for sticking to her aesthetic, and something tells me she’ll be just fine post-Fashion Star.

We’ll close this week’s recap with the same quote MacPherson used to close the show: “See you next week America! And remember, it’s never too hot to be cool.”

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Tags: Reality TV, Lizzie Parker, Vian Hunter, Fashion Star

Wedding Wednesday

Molly Mesnick x Pure Barre

Free introductory class at Pure Barre in Bellevue. The Bachelor’s wife will be there.

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The locally based star of The Bachelor wants you to meet her at Pure Barre in Bellevue.

Where: Pure Barre Bellevue

What: Been curious about the combo of ballet and pilates and weight training in those Pure Barre exercise classes? Been curious about what makes a girl comfortable with falling in love on a television reality show competition?

Knock a couple of queries off your list in one evening by taking advantage of Pure Barre Bellevue’s free, 30-minute introduction class with owner Sami Sweeny and The Bachelor’s Bellevue-based Molly Mesnick.

Afterwards, fuel up on gratis Kind Bars, shop the newest collections from Stella and Dot and Lululemon, and chat with Sweeny about your workout plans.

When: Wednesday, October 5 from 7 to 9. Space is limited; call 425-462-7474 or email bellevue @ purebarre.com to reserve your space at the barre.

(Fine print: Event is first come basis; only valid for new students. Complimentary parking in Elements garage.)

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Tags: Reality TV, Bellevue, Health and Beauty

In Person: Thom Filicia

Three opportunities to meet one of those Queer Eye for the Straight Guy guys.

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Photo: Neil Craver

Need tips for creating rooms you’ll love? Thom Felicia wants to help. He also wants you to go to the Pio Square Masins on Thursday, May 19 and the W Hotel and the Masins in Belleuve on Friday, May 20.

Where: Downtown’s W Seattle; 1112 Fourth Ave, Seattle AND both locations of the home store Masins

What: The W Seattle can entice you with Grey Goose cocktails, they can lure you with bites from Earth and Ocean, but DIFFA’s best shot at getting local and area design industry folks to come hang out lies with celebrity designer and product developer Thom Felicia. The former Queer Eye for the Straight Guy star has a new book, Thom Felicia Style: Inspired Ideas for Creating Rooms You’ll Love. He’ll be signing the book at the fundraiser; live DJs and dancing? Yes, those are on the agenda, too.

You can also meet Felicia in what might be termed his natural environment. At the interiors shop Masins in Pioneer Square; the party involves cocktails, a wine bar, luxe silent auction, and a fashion and jewelry presentation from Barneys and Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler.

The Bellevue Masins location is hosting, along with Northwest Society of Interior Designers an even more low-key book signing and meet-and-greet.

When: May 19 from 6 to 9 at Masins Pioneer Square. Cost is $40 or $75 (are you a VIP? Pony up for the latter). Tickets can be purchased via DIFFA Seattle.

May 20 from 3 to 5 at Masins on Main Street in Bellevue. RSVP to Bellevue (@) masins.com. This event is FREE.

May 20 from 6 to 9 at the W Seattle. Cost is $30 and includes cocktails and appetizers. RSVP to Christina Madden at rsvpevents.wseattle (@) whotels.com or purchase tickets on dot429.com.

All proceeds from all events benefit DIFFA.

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Tags: Reality TV, Home Decor, Barneys, Celebrity Stalking

Leanne Marshall Styles Southcenter

Project Runway Season 5 winner visits the south end mall.

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Slideshow: Leanne Marshall takes us through Westfield Southcenter’s Style Closet

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Slideshow: Leanne Marshall takes us through Westfield Southcenter’s Style Closet

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Leanne and the grey-clad Westfield crew prepare for the crowd

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Westfield crew members armed with iPads check shoppers in

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Fans snap photos with Leanne between stylings

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Rose, 15, won a drawing and got to be styled by Leanne. The consultation started with a session at the Beauty Bar.

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Rose and friend Heather get a personalized tour of the Style Closet

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Aly Scott shows us her favorite Westfield find

Project Runway victor Leanne Marshall was at Westfield Southcenter mall last weekend dispensing free fashion tips as part of Westfield’s Style Tour. The designer lives in New York these days (who doesn’t?), but the ex-Portlander finds time to visit the Pacific Northwest “about four times a year.” She says she jumped at the chance to come to Seattle.

Post-Project Runway life has been a whirlwind – that last wedding dress challenge transformed her collections; they now include way more bridal looks than she had ever anticipated. Not that she isn’t still trading in petals and waves. “Architectural elements will always have their place, but making clothes that are flattering and innovative is most important – making the woman feel beautiful,” said Marshall. Ah, yes. That. When asked about Tim Gunn and the final judging she smiled. “I’d say it worked out for me. I remember Kenley saying, ‘I should’ve been nicer to Tim.’”

Then again, Kenley might have been nicer to a lot of people. Check the slideshow here for a recap of Marshall’s appearance.

Aly Scott, founder of StyleChic, and contributor to Access Hollywood, Extra, and E! was also on hand talking trends, and hashing out the looks in Westfield’s Style Closet, all of which are available within the shopping center.

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Tags: Reality TV, Project Runway

NYFW Report: Logan Neitzel

The Seattle native and former Project Runway contestant shares his NYFW success.

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Slideshow: Images of Logan Neitzel’s s/s 2011 collection from New York’s recent fashion week.

View Slideshow » Photo: Jeffrey Kilmer

Slideshow: Images of Logan Neitzel’s s/s 2011 collection from New York’s recent fashion week.

View Slideshow » Photo: Jeffrey Kilmer
View Slideshow » Photo: Jeffrey Kilmer
View Slideshow » Photo: Jeffrey Kilmer
View Slideshow » Photo: Jeffrey Kilmer
View Slideshow » Photo: Jeffrey Kilmer

The designer Logan Neitzel

Last we heard from Logan Neitzel, Vogue.com was into his leather goods. That was last spring. Last week, as New York Fashion Week was coming to a close, there was even better news from the former Art Institute of Seattle student and Project Runway alum.

Neitzel told me that when he showed his spring/summer 2011 collection, none other than Elle editors Anne Slowey and Kate Lanphear (aka La Lanphear, she of the most coveted cool in American fashion media) showed up to check it out, as did editors from Italian, French, Japanese, and Chinese Vogues. And the response was good. How good? Half of the collection — flip through the slideshow here to see what it’s all about — is currently in the possession of French Vogue, who are shooting it for a December editorial. That’s good.

Oh, and, the New York Times’ T Magazine has let the designer know of their plans to give his work some ink as well.

As you check out the slideshow, keep this in mind: A collection is more than clothes. The hair and makeup supply the mood behind the garments, and give the designer’s colors, shapes, cuts, and references some context. You’ll note that these images of Neitzel’s collection really have a solid narrative, cinematic feeling. That vibe has Seattleites behind it, too. Gene Juarez juarez/ style guru Charlie Perritt and his Identity team flew to New York to create the street urchin-in-Chanel lipstick look you’ll see here. Wait there’s more: Multi-talented Seattle-native Rachelle Robinett produced the whole genius thing.

We’re always psyched to see local minds creating waves out there in the world — and when they’re doing it with a nod to the nihilistic beauty of Rick Owens and the mystery and power of the future, so much the better.

You can purchase Neitzel’s dark and sexy designs at store.loganneitzel.com, at Eva in New York, and at farfetch.com

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Tags: Reality TV, Logan Neitzel, Art Institute Seattle

Events

Walk This Way

Project Runway and Portland resident Seth Aaron on mixing it up at SAM with you and Andy Warhol.

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Seth Aaron is looking forward to meeting 1,000 strangers on Friday night

First things first: If you don’t already have tickets for tomorrow night’s Remix at SAM, you might as well avoid heartache and make other plans. The museum’s every-season city-wide parties are sold-out, solidly packed affairs. Though I did hear something about free entry for the first hundred people to show up wearing a wig …

Among the guests this time around: Project Runway winner Seth Aaron. The Portland-based (okay, Vancouver, but he’s about seven minutes from downtown) designer is leading one of SAM’s My Favorite Things tours. I spoke with him on Memorial Day (he hadn’t given himself the day off; he was cutting patterns and getting ready to deliver them to a Portland factory when I rang) about what he’s got planned.

“The Warhol stuff did it for me. That’s why I agreed to do a tour. My stuff is all about pop art so its’ a great fit,” he told me.

Did he get a chance to come up and preview the other exhibits, or is he going to wing it?

“Nah, I don’t like to plan ahead. I don’t really know what else is there – I’m getting in around 3p and I’ll be able to walk though and check it out, but I’m more into just doing what feels right at the moment. It’ll be really fun to meet people and talk to everyone. That’s where I’m most comfortable. *I like the idea of a room full of 1,000 people that I don’t know.”*

Any interest in the Kurt Cobain stuff? After all, his stuff does feel … sort of rock- and 90s-influenced, too.

“Oh yeah, I mean, I had Nirvana’s studio album about a year before it came out, and I own all their records, it’ll be cool to see that stuff, but it’s about Warhol.”

What type of art is he most drawn to?

“Photography is definitely an interest. I’m fascinated by all of — I guess I don’t really care for folk art, but I grew up in a house where art and design were in our every day world. My dad was a cartoonist, he worked for Disney, and my mom was always sewing and making things. We had an art-filled life. We just shot my collection for the July issue of Marie-Claire, and I’ve been a fashion stylist here in Portland for ten years, so I work with photographers all the time, I love fashion photography. "Rafael Astorga,”:http://www.rafaelastorga.com/ here in Portland is one of my favorites."

And how’s life after Tim and Heidi?

_"You have to work every bit as hard. All the doors are open now, bu you can’t just sit around and wait for things to happen. I’ve done 101 interviews from radio to TV to print, and I’ve got a publicity company in LA and I’m with DMA in New York, but yeah, I’m still cutting my own patterns. Anne Bocci sells my stuff here in town, but she’s been sold out for awhile and wanted more. As you get bigger, you can always have your personal projects, so that’s what this is for me."

So the Northwest still feels like home?

"I’ve had so much support from this area, and stuff like this (SAM’s Remix) is how I can show my support in return. The next morning I’ll be back in Portland to be the grand marshal at the Rose Parade. It’s good to mix it up."

Indeed.

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Tags: Reality TV, Visual Art, Locally Designed, Style at SAM

News

Logan’s Run

Ex-Seattleite and former Project Runway contestant Logan Neitzel gets a shout out on vogue.com.

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This just in: More evidence that you don’t have to win Project Runway to reap the benefits of Project Runway. Case in point, this rather nice write-up on Art Institute Seattle alum Logan Neitzel.

None other than vogue.com calls the former Seattleite’s leather collection “beautiful and unique,” full of “androgynous charm” and “cool conceit.” We expected nothing less.

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Tags: Reality TV, Locally Designed, Leather, Logan Neitzel

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