Episode One of Next In Fashion gave the designers the challenge of creating a red carpet look/gown in two days. They are split into teams of two, with some of the teams being friends and other teams being complete strangers.
After being told their challenge, they are presented with one thing that makes their experience better than Project Runway: an on-site fabric, trim, embellishments, and finishings storeroom! (It is beautiful and gloriously presented to them.) This mini store will be updated for each episode since there are different types of challenges. There is even an Epson printer for them to create their own fabric patterns and prints.
The designers get to work sketching and grabbing fabrics from the storeroom. The teams each have their own workstation table that has the sewing machines at it (unlike Project Runway where they have to share the sewing room. There are constant fights over machines and blames of who is breaking them. I really love that Next In Fashion has them sew at their station.) They are using Juki sewing machines.
Half of the design teams are working well together, and that seems to be the teams that knew each other before the show. The teams that consist of strangers are butting heads when it comes to the design style that they want to use for their red carpet designs.
The Judges
The judges for episode #1 Red Carpet challenge are of course the hosts of the show Tanveer "Tan" France and Alexa Chung, as well as judges Elizabeth Stewart and Eva Chen. So what makes them fashion experts you ask?
Elizabeth Stewart is a celebrity stylist and fashion editor. She spent twelve years working in the style department of the New York Times Magazine, and 10 years at WWD and W Magazine. She works with Cate Blanchett, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Rebel Wilson, and more for their red carpet appearances and brand collaborations. Her recent work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Interview, Marie Claire, and L’Uomo Vogue.
Eva Chen is the director of fashion partnerships at Instagram, an editor, and a children's book author. Previously she was editor-in-chief of Lucky, and beauty and health director at Teen Vogue.
The Runway Show
The runway that was created for the show's first episode was absolutely STUNNING. They had video panels in the background as well as the catwalk, which create a magical experience. There were glittery waves of blue water topped with hot pink flowers that were falling down the background and catwalk. I don't feel like it was an appropriate look for a red carpet show, but it was beautiful none the less.
My top pick of episode #1 was designed by Minju Kim and Angel Chen which was a fabulous hot magenta pink gown made from a satin-like material. I found this quite funny because I hate the color pink but I think part of it honestly is how great it looked with the beautiful runway... they just happened by chance to match each other. But I love the criss cross fabric on the chest, and the flowing layers created over the skirt. I normally am not a fan of bows on any garments, but the bow on the back of this dress is charming... the look could have easily stood up without it, but it kind of adds that last special touch to their design. They said that they have never made a red carpet look before, so I am really impressed.
My next pick is from team Carli Pearson and Daniel Fletcher. This surprised me because I cannot stand satin material, I've never liked it. The top on this is a very classic silhouette (aka boring) but I ADORE the used of navy. For the past five years I have been saying that "navy is the new black" and I am glad that someone else agrees with me. I am also excited that there was a pant underneath the skirt. It shows that you be fabulous on a red carpet but still remain COMFORTABLE and chic. The cherry on top? The panels of the dress that appear to be black are actually a really fabulous green color! Mixing Navy with Brunswick Green is a really smart fashion forward move.
Other Eye catchers for me were the designs by teams Narresh Kukreja / Lorena Saravia Butcher, and Angelo Cruciani / Charles Lu.
The print that they chose here for their red carpet dress was so eye catching and photographs very well. They were definitely thinking about editorial looks. I hate the gloves.
This is a very good example of creating a showstopper look. When this walks out on a red carpet and the wearer drops down the train for photographers, they will go hog wild with delight (everybody loves a "reveal" on the red carpet or runway.) The peekaboo red is just enough spunk to make this dress edgy and not just a basic black dress. I am not sure how I feel about the cut out on the front of the dress but they are very trendy right now. I think that the red should have been a different color because if it is an actual RED carpet then it won't stand out. I would have done Chartreuse.
The Judgement
Guest judge: celebrity designer Monique Lhuillier.
The judges watch the runway show and then talk to the designers after the show back stage. I like this process better than how Project Runway does it because they get to talk to the designers about how/why they chose their designs BEFORE the final judgement. Sometimes there are stories to be told about a design and if you don't know that before hand the look can fall flat and have no meaning.
Top contenders: Angel and Minju, Angelo and Charles, Carli and Daniel.
At risk: Isaac and Nasheli, Julian and Hayley, Farai and Kiki.
Winners: Angelo Cruciani, and Charles Lu
Eliminated: Isaac Saqib, and Nasheli Ortiz-Gonzalez
The judges thought that the satin didn't work well with the snakeskin leather and it looked uncomfortable to walk in on the runway. The model threw them under the bus and said she couldn't use the bathroom for hours while in the dress.
I do not agree with the judges whatsoever. I would have put this look in the bottom two compared to the rest of the designs but it was not as horrible has they said. For starters, HIGH FASHION IS NOT COMFORTABLE. Red carpet looks are getting more "user friendly" now but a real couture dress that takes months to create is NOT a comfortable dress. They are usually very tight, heavy, large, etc. Think about Kim Kardashian's looks for the MET Ball... she couldn't sit in her water drop dress and had to lay on the floor in her limo! She too couldn't use the restroom and took an hour just to get into the dress. For the judges to say comfort was a reason for elimination is just absurd. Even though I agree that the chains and snakeskin leather were tacky and "too Game of Thrones" as one judge put it, there are still celebrities out there who would love this look.
Isaac Saqib is from Pakistan and is the designer for MERCY X MANKIND NEW YORK.
The brand says that "through exploration of self and life in the depths of the concrete haven that is New York City, Saqib exhibits his supreme expression as a way to connect with other human minds."
Nasheli Ortiz-Gonzalez is from Puerto Rico and received a MFA from Savannah College of Art & Design, a BFA from Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico as well as an AAS from Altos de Chavón, affiliated to Parsons the New School of Design; all studies in Fashion Design. She performs as the Chair and Associate Professor in the Fashion Design Department at Moore College of Art & Design. Nasheli Juliana’s self named brand works with research of political, social and religious issues from an apparel point of view. Nasheli has presented collections both nationally and internationally as well as being featured in magazines such as Vogue and Forbes, among others.
Who I Think Should Have Lost
The judges said that this dress was "very difficult to achieve in such a short time, subversive, dangerous, and intricate." I think that they are crazy.
The dress that Claire Davis and Adolfo Sanchez made looks like it is from Girlfriends LA mail order catalog that I used to get when I was in middle school in the late 1990's (ha, remember that?!) I was so disappointed because I really like them! The design itself, with the patchwork like blocking, looks like something a kid would make in their first high school sewing class. The piping/lining looks just tacky and ugly. There are lace-up cut outs on the side that again, are so 1990's it makes me cringe. Fashion recycles itself every 20 years... but I view that as saying that it should be used as inspiration to create something with a new twist... which is not what this dress is. The sparkly fabric looks cheap and to make matters worse I believe it was technically sheer *cringe.* All I see when I look at this dress is a trashy prom dress from the DEB store at every small town mall. (Okay so I just found out that they went out of business in 2015... goes to show how long it's been since I've been to a mall, lol.)
Honorable Mention for Best Dressed
I have to say that I am really digging Farai Simoyi-Agbede's personal style, so she gets my "best dressed" mentioning for episode #1. This yellow kimono wrap inspired outfit is super cute and stylish but yet looks comfortable and has a streetwear edge to it when styled with her sneakers and fanny pack purse.
She polished off the look with trendy red tassel earrings that add some sass to the outfit but still keep it simple and a more casual street style.
Stay tuned for my blog article on "Episode #2: Prints and Patterns."
XO, Krista
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