Fashion Star Episode 7: Sarah is Not Our Fashion Star

Only three episodes left! What are we going to complain about when Fashion Star is gone? I'm starting to get depressed. Sarah was eliminated last night, which normally would make me really depressed, but the whining had to end.

Who's my pick to win? Well, my track record is crap because I was a fan of Sarah's early on, but I'm thinking Kara or Luciana. Ross should have been gone this week, Nzi-me-me has been designing blahs, and Nikki seems unable to produce anything beyond a maxi. She was second in line for most annoying. Really, a mini-skirt is such a wild departure for a designer?

Luciana is more commercial, so Vegas odds would most likely be on her. And her H&M dress this week (above) is a stunner. Lined, well-constructed, nice fabric, this one is a steal at $39.95. Please ignore the fact that I can't zip up the side on the size 10. I'm in total H&M size 12 denial. I AM NOT A 12, I AM AN 8! Or sometimes a 10.

Now on to Macy's, where I'm always an 8. Relief. Ronnie could be the wild card as week after week he's quietly upping his game. Last week's swimsuit was a bold move that resulted in a very cute item. This week's gown really shows off his skill: the detail in the back and the slit in the front are just the right amount of architecture and wow.

I'm expecting the drama to be amped up next week. But I expect that every week and am always left wanting more. Perhaps that's their trick. Next week I'm in Des Moines, Iowa, on vacation (Spa Grandma), so I'm going to track down a Macy's there and see if they carry Fashion Star. If not, see you Week 9!


Macy's Herald Square 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue
H&M Penn Station 34th Street and Seventh Avenue

Fashion Star Episode 6: I Rant a Lot and Rave a Little

It was Nicole Richie's time to shine as a mentor last night and her advice was flawless. Ross doing lingerie was a great fit and I loved the outcome on TV but wasn't as thrilled with it in person at H&M Herald Square. The bra was bulky under my shirt (I'm wearing it below). Also, I couldn't try on the shorts which is great for sanitary purposes but if I loved the fit they would have swung me into the "buy" category. The white set with the green trim will be gone by tomorrow, while there was ample pink with black trim this afternoon.

Meh. And I do really like Nzimiro! But meh.

Nzimiro's dress, many of which were still on the selling floor today, was so infuriatingly difficult to get on that I wanted to tear it off the hangar and stomp it into little pieces on the dressing room floor. Seriously! There is a silky under-dress that has a side-zip and a lining but is attached to the outer "boho" sheer hanging thing, which means three layers of slippery fabric and disappearing armholes. Forget about where to put your head. Once on I found it somewhat charming, cuter than on the runway (the shoulders have been tweaked, I think, to make this more modern and less frumpy), but was too annoyed to buy. Everyone who bought it online won't have these problems as they will immediately detach the two pieces and deal with them separately. Although that means the sheer top piece will now be shifting around your shoulders. Oh, enough already, I'm exhausted just thinking about it! Nzimiro, no more overwrought womenswear, please.

Macy's buy: the swimsuit was so close for me, but this is a bathing suit that needs breasts to look good. The other end of things was perfection; it's such a relief to wear a sexy one-piece that actually covers your ass. Ronnie's cut is beautiful and I like the small design details like the sheer panels. Size selection is still a good in both colors on the floor at Herald Square.

Luciana's jacket is more than quite nice. It looks very vintage and the fabric that I thought would be heavy for spring is actually very lightweight. Upon donning the light pink style I fell madly in love (although in photos the blue (right) really stands out, right?). It's a special little jacket. All three colors are sold-out online but there are still several in store, mostly in larger sizes, but the multi-colored jacket (left) is almost gone.

Macy's Herald Square 151 W. 34th Street between Broadway & Seventh Ave
H&M Herald Square 34th Street and Broadway