Recaps

If you, too, were wondering why the extremely high-maintenance Hollywood couple known as Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt would sign on to be part of NBC’s new reality series ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’, the screen shot below might provide a little insight.

According to Just Jared, a rep for Heidi has recently confirmed that she will  launch her own dry-shampoo line called “Heidi Montag Dry Shampoo.” It seems that in addition to the chance to get even more screen time, the couple has used the show to promote…and promote…and promote!

Whether it’s Heidi belting out lyrics from her latest album and talking shampoo to the camera, or Spencer openly announcing his presidential campaign for 2012, it’s perfectly clear that his reality power couple came to Costa Rica on a mission - regardless of the outcome.

But if they’re already leaving the show for good, does this mean they’ve run out of ammunition? 

Video courtesy of NBC.

Last night The Fashion Show debuted on Bravo, and I can’t tell you how excited I was to see the show. So excited, in fact, that I was able to convince my boyfriend (who is so completely not the target audience for this show) to watch it with me.

The show clearly had to differ itself, and Bravo did a great job doing so. Here’s what I thought were the freshest twists:

Harper’s Bazaar Mini Challenges - These are totally Quick Fire Challenges a la Top Chef. Very creative and fun to watch the designers under pressure.  I must admit I was confused by Laura Brown’s accent, but that’s a-okay because she was responsible for the spread on The Simpsons in Paris, and I am forever amused by that piece.

Designers are judged by an audience of buyers and fashion insiders! - Totally unique twist. I loved hearing what the show attendees had to say after the fashion show. Now if I could fandangle a way to get the boyfriend into that audience. His utter confusion and commentary over the Harlem pants (or Hammer Pants, as he likes to refer to them as) was priceless and would make for some good TV.

Isaac Mizrahi  and Kelly Rowland - Not going to lie, but I was a little scared when I heard that Isaac Mizrahi was going to be a host.  Flashbacks to the Scarlett Johansson red carpet incident immediately came to mind. However, I think that he did an amazing job balancing host and fashion icon He gave straightforward advice in a very mellow and calming way.

Backstage at the fashion show - Great perspective. This truly showed what goes on backstage at a fashion show in its true light. Oh, and watching the models have to squeeze into the tube skirts made me feel so much better about myself.

The music - This is totally minor, but music in reality competition shows makes such a difference. I mean, I still get a knot in my stomach when I hear the Top Chef theme music (oh Fabio, how I miss thee). Seriously, the drum beats were very cool and refreshing for a show of such stress.

So there you have it - five things that I really like about The Fashion Show. What are your thoughts? Comment away!

Photos courtesy of Bravo. No celebrity endorsement implied.

Last night’s episode of Private Practice, “What You Do For Love,” was full of some great fashion finds - but you won’t find a lot of it online. We wanted to let you know some of the designers, though, in case you want to stalk a sample sale for some of the great looks. (It’s What We Do For Love. Get it? Heh.) First up? Addison Montgomery’s super-chic Peter Som dress with a floral top and shimmery blue skirt.

Next, we loved Naomi Bennett’s slimming cap-sleeve black Anne Klein sheath dress. We found an almost-identical Calvin Klein dress here, though.

Next up, Addison is wearing a great knit ribbon dress by Red Valentino, Valentino’s “affordable” label. It’s cute, but it’s also from fall 2008, so it’s a no-go in stores. What you can’t see, however, are her fabulous YSL purple patent pumps, which we did manage to find - at a discount no less! Buy them here.

Those were our fave looks from this episode, but we’ve got loads more products in our Private Practice shopping section here. Check them out!

Love this? Tweet it on Twitter.

Images courtesy of ABC. No celebrity endorsement implied.

Hopefully those Stylista fans who may have missed an episode caught up with everything on the recap show last week.

Last night’s new episode was a welcome return to the Elle offices where Ashlie, Megan, Dyshaun, Johanna, and Kate prepared for their next challenge.

Assistant’s Challenge:

The remaining five Stylistas were given their assistant’s task: Prepare a room for a supermodel Maggie Rizer and her dogs for her visit to New York for a photo shoot. With $300 dollars in hand the model’s list of items requested the Stylistas set off to prepare the best suite. We honestly thought Kate who seemed to zoom past everyone else and get everything on the list would win. However, it was Dyshaun who chose to focus on quality not quantity when picking which items to get who Maggie Rizer chose as the winner. He was also smart enough to keep the food on the low table wrapped so her dogs wouldn’t eat it.

Editorial Challenge

Dyshaun chose the teams for the editorial challenge where the team would style, create, and direct a shoot for an Elle layout. In the same formula that everyone has used in previous episodes, Dyshaun tries to eliminate a strong competitor (Ashlie) by putting her with the weakest perceived competitor (Kate).

Honestly, based on the shoot and the chemistry within the team we were conviced Team One’s Ashlie and Kate would win with their 80’s inspired colorfest. Team Two, led by Dyshaun, seemed to keep it too basic with their shoot and layout and we assumed they would chastised for this by Anne and Joe.

Eliminations

After a heated argument where Dyshaun and Kate had a war of words over Kate’s refusal to help name a hairstlist for the layout credits(can you blame her?), it was time for eliminations. We must say were all on pins and needles wondering who would rule in the boardroom.

Ultimately, although Anne and Joe wish that Team Two would have taken more chances they felt the layout was very “Elle” and was cohesive. Ashlie’s decision to have multiple pictures on a page, as well as the overworked concept, was criticized and Team Two won the challenge. Ashlie and Kate faced eliminations. Depsite, Kate’s plea that Team Two never checked in with their hair and makeup team during the shoot she was not saved from being eliminated and was told by Anne she was not the “right fit” .

Kate left on a good note, thanking Anne and Joe for all she learned and happily carrying her banker’s box into the office. We’re not certain but we can bet she won’t miss Dyshaun.

We open last night’s episode right where we left off on Episode 3 with Ashlie and others balling their eyes out at Cologne’s elimination. Back at the house the sadness and shock don’t subside and the Stylista’s prepare for the next challenge.

Assistant’s Challenge

The following morning Devin receives a call from Brett asking she and all the Stylista’s to meet her at Department store Henri Bendel where they will be personal shopping for Anne. While most are excited about this challenge there is also a feeling of terror at having to pick out an outfit that Anne will find both suitable and stylish.

The Stylista’s rush around the store on a tight $1,000 budget trying to put together Anne’s look and then meet Brett on the street with their outfit for Anne’s inspection. Just like the breakfast challenge we marvel at the unknowing mistakes some of the Stylista’s make in picking out pieces for Anne. How was Ashlie to know that Anne loves color but not orange which she says is unflattering on her? To make matters worse Brett announces two Stylistas will go home.

Anne picked Devin’s sapphire colored tie-neck blouse and cream pants as the winner of the assistant challenge making her the Stylista responsible for picking the teams for the editorial challenge.

Editorial Challenge

Brett announces that the Stylistas will be split into teams of two where they will style a fashion spread with a look from designer Tory Burch. Devin picks team one as Danielle, Ashlie, Kate, and Megan seriously denying she chose the members based on their friction. Then she chose her own team choosing to work with Dyshaun, William, and Johanna. Immediately there is friction as team one tries to plan their layout. They all four have different ideas and Kate continues to threaten that she will be heard or she will say something at eliminations.Team two seems to agree and it appears as though with their cohesiveness and their and team work that they will take home the win.

In the prop store Ashlie, Danielle, and Kate lean towards a retro feel as Megan seems to feel like they should go in another direction. Kate picks a retro TV she loves and thinks it will be perfect for the shoot. Team two decides on a minimalist aesthetic which seems risky but depending on the team works it could actually be fashion-forward. Team one continues to argue as they build the set and even as the model comes unto their set to pose. Megan retreats and barely participates. Meanwhile, team two seems to be working smoothly with mannequins lined along a back wall with their model as the focal point in the room.

Eliminations

It’s no surprise that Tory Burch herself is the guest judge and the Stylistas seem delighted to have her. Although Tory admits she was not inspired by a retro feeling when she designed the beaded tunic she likes Team One’s layout. Anne and Joe agree but feel similar to Megan as far as taking a theme and being too literal. As Megan proceeds to tell the judges they worked as a team and she went with the concept, Kate intercedes and tells them this is untrue. Additionally Danielle admits that she helped plan but basically abandoned their photo shoot. Tory was confused by Team Twos concept and found the mannequins strange. Anne and Joe did not like it either however Joe did commend them for taking a risk and being fashion forward.

Although Team Two took a risk with their layout it feel flat and they lost to Team One. It was down to Dyshaun, Devin, and William as the bottom three. Ultimately William was eliminated for not showing his point-of-view and Devin for her lack of leadership and point-of-view. We leave the group as Dyshaun is welcomed with open arms and the eliminated two pack their boxes.

Watch the trailer for next week when the Stylistas will have to dress to the nines and network. Can you say drama?

We have a Stylista Spoiler! Apparently tonight not one but two Stylistas are going home. Do you think you know who they will be? We must say after last week’s elimination anything can happen. We certainly did not see Cologne going home.

Come back tomorrow for our Stylista Poll - and read Cologne’s interview giving her thoughts on her elimination, her time on the show, and her style.

The name of this episode says it all. There is no time for playing nice in fashion and this episode clearly showed that. Unfortunately our dear sweet Stylista Cologne had to find this out the hard way.

As if being on the receiving end of Ann Slowey’s demanding glare isn’t enough last night, the Stylistas were on the receiving end of her little niece’s icy glare. Anne announces that as their assistant challenge they were to plan than execute her nieces birthday party. To absolute perfection, as only a niece of Ms. Slowey could do, she touts “Don’t embarrass me!” We love this line, because naturally we know one of these Stylistas will do just that.

After we get through the pandemonium of the Stylistas visiting party stores and children’s stores to gather materials to present to Anne we settle in for the presentations. From Eloise themes, to Jimmy Choos and kiddie cosmos the Stylistas were seriously innovative. Then….there was Kate. We can’t tell if she wanted to make a mockery out of the challenge or if honestly - that was the best she could come up with but her over-the -top Scottish Bagpiper  and grown up decor suggestions fell flat.

Johanna’s pink party complete with cupcakes and a fashion show reigned supreme and she was voted as the winner. Teams were then picked for the second part of the challenge where they would execute Johanna’s party and then choose a mother daughter team to showcase in a Elle Trends layout.

We got a laugh as Johanna freaked out putting her party together, but were shocked when people began fighting over a mother daughter couple for the layout. Brett asked the woman to pick the team she wanted to be with and she couldn’t, so the Stylista’s were left to duke it out amongst themselves. Cologne trying to make things easier decided she would pick someone else and take herself out of the equation making it easier on the other teams but tense on her own team.

The posh party wrapped and it was on to put together ideas and Trend pages. Although Kate had embarrassed her team and others trying to nab the stylish mother daughter pair everyone wanted and whining about it, she had some great ideas for the trends page which were ignored by Cologne and Ashlie (honestly can you blame them?).

At eliminations designer Cynthia Rowley was announced as a guest judge joining Joe Zee and Anne. Team One Devin, Danielle, and WIlliam were praised for their eclectic colorful trends page, and Team Three Johanna, Megan, and Dyshaun were praised for their sleek stylish page.

Team Two Cologne, Ashlie, and Kate were left out in the cold with their Steel Magnolias Trend page which was not cohesive and in fact seemed very hodge podge. The judges warned that Metallics is an outdated trend that is on its way out and should not be featured. Anne criticized both Ashlie and Cologne for not listening to Kate, ultimately it was Cologne’s job as leader to keep it all together  and consider all points and so she was voted out.

When we left them, most of the Stylistas were in the throws of a natural fit at Cologne’s elimination and many were reduced to tears. All except one. Did anyone else notice this? We won’t spoil it for those who missed it but this storyline is sure to get juicier!

Last night we were introduced to the eleven stylistas Arnaldo,Ashlie, Cologne, Danielle, Devin, Dyshaun, Jason, Johanna,Kate, Megan, and William who are vying to the the next Junior Editor at Elle.This first episode had everything we dream of: cattiness, anguish, and fashion.

Despite their best effort on each stylistas part to create a healthy and stylish breakfast, it was fashion assistant Ashlie who won the assistant’s challenge by preparing Anne Slowey, clad in sky-high pumps and a YSL necklace, a simple and chic breakfast tray. Later that day Joe Zee, Elle’s Creative Director, was called in to teach the group about style the ” Elle way.”

Due to Ashlie’s win Brett Ramey, Elle’s Photo Director announces that she will get to pick the teams for the editorial challenge where each team will be let loose in H&M to put together cohesive looks, put on a fashion show for Anne and Elle staffers, and then create a contributors page describing those looks. Brett, cleverly puts the bug in her ear to “strategize” about her picks to give her team an advantage. Once we saw that Ashlie placed each of the stylistas with the poorest remarks from Joe Zee together we knew the next segment was going to be fun. We also know judging from the look on Megan’s face that she is NOT thrilled about the team she’s been placed on by Ashlie. Can anyone say tension.

The following day each team picks their looks from H&M. Some groups such as team two had a bit of a power struggle as Megan took the lead totally disregarding most of what Arnaldo and Danielle said. Even group three had the issue of whiny Kate who complained about the looks not being “her.”

Back at Elle (okay the fake Elle), each group got a chance to work it in the fashion show and present Anne with their stellar style. Then it was off to the office where each group worked together to make their contributors page. Again, team two struggled as Megan convinced her team it was to be 30 words per group not per person. Once in the boardroom where the stylistas presented their pages to Anne it was clear not only that Megan got the assignment wrong but others like group three missed the mark with their bright yellow page.

Ultimately, it was group one Ashlie, Cologne, Johanna, and Dyshaun that took home the win with their ‘The Belles of Elle‘ layout. Watch clips and read more about the stylistas here.

Stay tuned next week for more power struggles and …(gasp!) even an ambulance!

I’m back with another update on the dirty details of the Project Runway Episode 501 Designs. Today I got a peek at both the good & the bad!

First for the bad. While Jerry was upset about leaving the show on the first episode, it had to be someone; and after seeing his garment in person, I know why it was him! The judges stormed on Jerry’s rainy day fun outfit. His idea was had potential, but his execution was nowhere near making the cut. Jerry’s rain jacket was made out of a shower curtain liner, using the hooks for buttons. Props for the creative buttons and the unique cut of the jacket hem. However, it was poorly constructed–it was cut so small across the back, it had to be taped to the model for the runway. Jerry also made a shift dress out of gauze and a lavender plastic tablecloth to go underneath the jacket. This also was badly executed: it did not hang well and was badly sewn. Interestingly enough, Jerry’s garment wasn’t last in the auction–it was second to last, raising $50. To Jerry’s credit, it was difficult to be the first to leave, but it seems his party would’ve been rained on sooner or later.

Now for the nitty gritty on Keith. While I would love to dish on him for using an unoriginal fabric–a checkered black and white tablecloth–I just can’t. His dress was well constructed with good detailing. Keith’s dress had a deep v neck with a volumious bubble skirt. I absolutely loved the skirt on the dress–it had a fabulous, flirty shape and movement. Keith also incorporated laundry bag netting into his skirt to add interest and texture, which he dip-dyed black. The only fault to this dress was the pins holding the back seam together. Keith also made a belt out of shinny silver squares–a trendy touch. Keith’s dress went for $105 to a “mommydelbear,” do you think his mom is starting a collection like Blayne’s mom?

Check back tomorrow for another update on the designs–I’m covering a few of my favorites! Make sure you bid on your favorite auction designs!