Skirt | Fashion Nexus

This week — the RTW, traditional design for the sponsor of our show challenge! More specifically, the designers were asked to create RTW looks that could be reproduced and sold online for JustFab. Tim was joined by Just Fab Fashion Director Yuchin Mao to provide the challenge details. JustFab has various style personas for their customers — Girl Next Door; Bombshell; Trendsetter; Modern Classic; Femme Nouveau. Each designer would be given a persona to design for in order to create a high fashion look that could be sold at an affordable price. In fact, the winning look would be reproduced and sold online!

Last week’s winner, Candice, received the honor then of not only selecting her persona of choice, but the persona for each of the other designers. All were mostly happy!

Candice — Trendsetter
Ashley — Girl Next Door
Swapnil — Bombshell
Kelly — Trendsetter
Laurie — Modern Classic
Merline — Femme Nouveau
Edmond — Bombshell

Everyone was then off to Mood for this 1-day challenge with a budget of only a $100. Ashley had to make some cuts at the register as she was over. And to top it off, she bought the wrong kind of zipper. But during Tim-time, others were a focus, as well as a little surprise!

Tim and Swapnil were not seeing eye to eye. Laurie was asked if she was really putting something new down the runway. And Edmond was being labeled as “basic.” Tim’s little surprise was another small component of the challenge. Each designer would have to create a label to print and wear on a t-shirt for the runway show. They would use the Brother printer to assist with the label-making process.

Swapnil — Swapnil Shinde
Laurie — Wanda Grace
Merline — Provoke Style
Kelly — Rack Addick
Candice — Ccuoco
Edmond — Edmond Newton

Model fittings actually presented a lot of major fit issues, leaving some designers unsure and others to start all over again. The “morning of” was just as crazy as the end of the night. Laurie had so much to do in starting over. Swapnil too had a wrong zipper and so he sewed his model into the dress. Merline even had her model assisting. This week’s guest judges were singer Ciara & Yuchin of JustFab.

Shout-outs — Sally Beauty, such gorgeous, flowing locks; Natural, clean Mary Kay look; perfect JustFab accessories, black clutch & killer heels!

Heidi announced this would be the last immunity given out for the season. Somehow, amidst all of the craziness with judging, Edmond was declared the winner. I’m not sure what really happened here, with the designers, with the judges. But this was pure craziness and chaos. The fact of the matter here is no designer had a great look. Edmond winning was really like the best of the worst. This is not to say Edmond’s dress was bad. I agreed with Heidi in that it’s a great red dress, super sexy, and I’m sure people would buy it. But I also agreed with Nina & Zac. This was just a basic, red dress. There was nothing special to it. I didn’t see Edmond in it. And if I saw it hanging on a Macy’s rack, it would blend in. We’ve seen this before.

Shout-outs — Such a cute hairdo from Sally Beauty and love the beauty look, Mary Kay

If there was a top 3, I guess Ashley would be there. I mean really I think JustFab would have just sold this jacket and called it a day, but the look here in its entirety was just ok. And really Ashley didn’t do much to hype up her look. The back of the crop top was very cute, but we only saw it during the judges up close critiques. The jacket was great, but with a basic crop top & flare skirt, where a so-so print is doing all of the work, how can you get all that excited.

I wouldn’t know who to put as the final member of the top 3. The judges were really all over the place. I guess the safe crowd was Kelly & Candice. I would likely wear Candice’s look over Kellys’ so I will discuss her next. Candice had a few finishing touch issues, which is unlike her. But I think she got bogged down in RTW. I don’t think this is her design forte and so she showed some struggles. She really needed to edit here.

Moving on to Kelly, her look was not bad, but it just wouldn’t be for everyone. This was like Kelly to the max and I don’t think it would fit the JustFab clientele, or at least the masses. This would be for a very specific customer and I think that was a major issue here. And really the pale blue furry vest was not a fave of mine. Nina was for sure not a fan!

But compared to the bottom 3, Kelly’s look was top notch! I’m not sure what Swapnil was thinking here. Firstly, mass production, online, JustFab — that is not this dress. And I’m not sure what the deal was with the outer portion. Did he not get that Edmond’s odd outer vest the week before had not gone over well??

Merline has had some ideas all season, but her construction has been very questionable all season as well. But here, even some okay ideas really weren’t that great. Even if this look was fully executed, I wasn’t seeing a winner. I’d rather Laurie have not been eliminated. For me, Merline has had far too many passes on poorly crafted looks.

Shout-out — Love the accessories, sexy heels & black clutch, JustFab & this chic updo is spot on, Sally Beauty

The week before, Laurie’s look at least had some direction, whereas Lindsey, who was eliminated, went too basic. That was Laurie’s downfall this week. Merline appeared to have had some promise with her look, some ideas, whereas Laurie’s look was far too basic — a halter and pencil skirt — not very imaginative. The top was also sheer, showing some side-boob, which was also an issue for her the week before. With that, Laurie was out.

Looks left to right — Freehand watercolor print chiffon blouse & abstract watercolor print stiff satin pencil skirt; Primitive floral & abstract watercolor drop waist jersey dress; & Trompe-l’ceil floral tapestry motif mesh blouse and skater skirt with multi-hued pom-pom hat

MBFW — Theater @ Lincoln Center

Front 2 looks, left to right — Embroidered folk print woven overcoat & Over-sized Scandinavian print wool-knit tunic

Desigual is always a super fun runway show to attend and this season the brand certainly didn’t disappoint! For Fall 2015, Desigual and Monsieur Christian Lacroix celebrate the world of creativity. Fashion’s ‘It Girls’ got in on the action as well with Harley Viera-Newton who served as music consultant and Langley Fox Hemingway, whose designs were interpreted by Desigual to serve as the backdrop and runway floor.

Abstract geometries multi-hued shift dress with watercolor print clutch

Abstract ink stripe jersey A-line dress with baroque motif satchel bag

Black turtleneck crop top & colorful naive circle motif print pencil skirt

Fall 2015 was inspired by the creative process of putting a collection together, and is a tribute to what happens in the design atelier. Abstract paintings, upholstery swatches, photographs of Africa, a voyage to northern Europe, and a landscape full of flowers are the root of the design inspiration: One that is full of creativity and originality.

Graphic floral print skirt & button-up tank blouse

Multi-hued shaggy pullover sweater and midnight blue & teal Baroque-motif vinyl pencil skirt

The collection featured geometric motifs in black and white, multi-colored cardigans with a Scandinavian feel, and structured dresses dipped in watercolors. Floral skirts in printed tulle make up the line alongside cocoon coats in true Lacroix style. The result is an eclectic and sophisticated mix that’s sure to catch the eye of women everywhere. Other highlights from the collection are multi-hued embroideries, oriental carpet motifs, and baroque tapestries woven into vivid abstraction.

Graphic floral print long-sleeved dress

Baroque floral print A-line shift dress

Black & white Cubist geometries sleeveless shift dress with faux-fur pom-pom hat

This is a global world we live in and Desigual wants you to dress like it! This collection is a reflection of a crossroads of culture coming together, where folk crafts, lush landscapes, and works of art from the North, South, East, & West all meet. Thru black and white geometric pieces, multi-color patterns from various cultures across the globe, and distinct fabric textiles speaks the brand’s motto “La Vida es Chula”, life is cool.

Abstract ink stripe faux-fur tunic dress & patterned woven trousers

Black & mustard Baroque embroidered coat with quilted sleeves with Baroque floral print handbag

The mood is anchored by bursts of medieval gemstones, contemporary paintings, and exotic flower bouquets, all rendered on printed tulles, jacquards, embossed hair, and duchess satin. Craftsmanship ties together the spirit of the many cultures set deep within the silhouettes. Just as Monsieur Lacroix exudes, “Desigual embodies the multiplicity of a woman, and women everywhere.” Women share the pleasure for living, taste for beauty and art, and joy in using fashion as self-expression. Every season is a new opportunity for Desigual to offer its a way of thinking, inevitably influenced by the Mediterranean, the sun, light, passion, and a lust for life.

Mixed Nordic-print pullover sweater and abstract floral stiff satin tulip skirt with Jade pom-pom hat

When history and the world intertwine, that’s what we’ll wear in F/W 2015! Desigual’s current brand ambassador, model Chantelle Winnie (ANTM Cycle 21 contestant), walked the runway along with supermodel, Behati Prinsloo.

Baroque floral print sleeveless shift dress

Renaissance floral stiff satin jumpsuit with floral embroidery shoulder sash

Colorful naive circle motif sleeveless shift dress with black & white naive circle motif satchel bag

Freeform graphic print jersey A-line dress with burgundy carryall tote

Special celebs & guests in attendance — Katie Holmes, DJ Harley Viera-Newton, model Langley Fox, model Adriana Lima, model Lena Gercke, actress Pauline Lefevre, DJ Mademoiselle Yulia, Rocsi Diaz, Catherine Guidici, Stassi Schroeder, Nana Merriweather, Nigel & Cristen Barker, and Managing Director of Desigual Manel Jadraque.