Black is Black; We Want Some Color Back
Considering my disappointment with the other reality show I cover, it is comforting to not have a ‘horse’ in this race- I like and respect all three of these young women and their assistants Gordana, Christopher and Logan, who are super supportive. Carol Hannah cannot stop weeping in her illness and Chris is a brick, Gordana promises Irina she will not leave her and Logan tells us how proud he is of Althea- this is grace under pressure, which is how JFK defined ‘class’, PR fans.
As Fittings, Hair and Make-up, THE 13th look and girlish tears from pressure and illness, get in the way of finishing, line-up and re-vamps- (Oy, as they say in France!) it is literally awesome to see the speed and teamwork of these fine talents. In my dreams, I wish they could all win, but maybe they do, in that industry movers and shakers are watching and picking up some of those who do not win. In truth, I hate the ‘one winner/ all the rest are losers’ mentality, and want to feel optimism for all of them. Things like the Super Bowl make me sad- only one wins, and I believe all 163 Best of Breeds at Westminster are winning dogs! Back to fashion.
While all three want to win, there is a pleasing kindness towards each other, which is really surprising in a contest. Perhaps paying for taking the first month off, Irina is a ball of nervous energy, while sick Carol Hannah can be grateful she started ASAP, so now she has only look 13 to work on, while Chris handles details and adjustments to her 12 items. To me, Althea seems a bit overwhelmed and spaced out, and Logan is grounding her, or trying.
At Bryant Park, When models should be lining up, only 10% are dressed and made up and Tim really begins to lose it- this is not a crew that is exactly obsessed with time and making a deadline, which, in Tim’s defense, would really annoy me too. In a panic of poor pre-planning, the threesome scurry, threads and needles flying, artistic hands shaking, to get the models together, as Tim says he is counting backwards.
Here we go, finally… Gorgeous in hot pink silk- Heidi introduces judges Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and Suzy Menkes. Looking very put together, Althea is our first course and introduces her Sci-Fi-inspired line. To my eye, most of the pieces are strange or not new and a tad amateurish. There is not one piece that calls to me and the judges look less than thrilled. In spite of all backstage chaos and the flu, our second course, Carol Hannah, looks pretty, poised and polished. Her line is lovely and exquisitely detailed, with one bad black cocktail which looks like a blimp. Very satisfying to her (and to me), her applause is great. In a tribute to New York, bound to be a crowd pleaser, Irina is our dessert course, and what an ending. Leading off in black leather, she has a lot of knits, and an odd fur vest and some good jackets. As I think her all black collection looks the most professional, she is now my bet to win, with Carol Hannah coming in as my 2nd choice.
The judges like them all: Kors think Irina’s warrior woman leather has been done before, Nina says black gets little editorial as it does not show well in photos(see below). Carol Hannah’s first look is popular as is the Grecian Goddess dress and Suzy loves the tulle- me too. In an amusing contradiction, Heidi thinks the collection is not connected, while Michael likes the ‘structured thread’ of the collection and says that is CH’s forte- opinions! To Michael, Althea’s sportswear is good, and all of them like individual pieces, but think the last three looks are not in keeping with the rest of the collection. Liking Carol Hannah a lot, for her cuts and ideas and impeccable tailoring, they find Althea ‘cool’ and plugged in to the street, but with an ‘assemblage’ of clothes. Proving that the devil or the winning touch may be in the details, the judges feel Irina has the best sense of showmanship with hats and other accessories, but is so dark; they love her tee, but not the ending gown. The winner is IRINA- no surprise here.
(Top: Irina, Carol Hannah and Althea)
IRINA:
Carol Hannah:
Althea:
Good Luck to All.
