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 

Fashion Star Episode 5: Sold Out in Stores

I made the mistake of waiting a day to try on Nikki and Sarah's H&M Fashion Star buys, and that was a day too late. Sold out at H&M Herald Square! There might have been something left at H&M Penn Station, but my feet were too hurting to walk that big block between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. It's been a long week.

There are Fashion Star pieces left at Macy's Herald Square, though, so I tried on Ronnie's lovely sheath dress (above, black and print almost sold out online) and Ross' vest (pink pin-striped now sold out online). America and I obviously have very different tastes. The navy vest was OK, but totally didn't like the pink pin-stripe. It was way too "ice-cream shoppe" and makes me want to send Ross about five years of Vogue back copies, and not from the 1950's. He's often on the right track with an idea but it rarely translates as modern. The sole exception is his adorable satin shorts from episode three.

I'm going to sound egotistical here and say I do kind of make the pink vest up there look cute. And obviously the rest of American is into pink pinstripes. The fit of this vest was surprisingly tight across the back. The 8 didn't fit me, and Macy's 8s always fit me. But I have a very broad back and this is a typical problem for me. If you are similarly built for football, go up a size.

Ronnie's sheath is a perfect sheath with a nice surprise in the back. I can't say much else, as it's not a ground-breaking dress, but is a perfectly cut LBD, print or pink addition to your dress wardrobe.


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

Fashion Star Episode 3: All About Shorts (and Maxis)

Oh Fashion Star, my prime time frenemy! I'm so hooked on you but am so over your superfluous music acts and cheesy runway, acrobats, dancers, goofy Vegas lighting and all. Why not emulate Fashion Week productions, where you have a nice long runway, 100% focus on the clothes, and the best best music and staging a big city can offer?

So why am I going back for more? Because I adore the panels and I love trying on the clothes the next day. And this show has no pretensions of being Project Runway or creating high fashion pieces. Instead it weekly churns out wearable, cute, and often very affordable looks for your wardrobe. This week it's perfect shorts and pretty maxis. First up, the buy from Macys:

Ross's satin shorts were my favorite item this week. They are perfect. They're so good there was a woman doing her damnedest to get a smaller size off the mannequin at Macy's Herald Square. GO buy these shorts.

Everyone was worried about the fit of Nikki's palazzo jumpsuit, but Macy's has cured all her fit woes. The lavender on the right is baggy because I tried the large for comparison. The groovy print was the biggest surprise, I actually prefer it to the black (not shown). This is an good fit, nice length, easy on and off which we all love for summer, and scores an all around A for Adorable.

Next, the buy from H&M:

Pretty, pretty, pretty. Again, I was in-between sizes with Sarah's H&M dress (this is my post-baby body issue) but this dress is so very lovely and sexy. Yup, you can give Angelina leg in front, and then work that sheer, racerback inset in the back. BUY this now.

Here's what all us girls should steal from H&M men's: Nzimiro's shorts. How freaking cute would these be with loafers? Or go nuts and wear it with a monster platform sandal and a tiny tank. That great oversized sweater is also H&M.


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