The second episode of NBC’s “Fashion Star” spawned Pac-Man-mouthed shirts, frou-frou bolero jackets, and “hoochie” dresses. Once again, the show was monopolized by the ever camera-ready Oscar Fierro – he remained in a not-so-positive spotlight from start to finish (more on that later).
Kara Laricks made a comeback, proving she wasn’t a “one-trick pony.” She certainly does have a thing for ties though — her second creation, a loose-fitting, angular draped dress, involved them as well. But that’s beside the point. The piece absolutely rocked, and the buyers thought so, too. A bidding war between Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M ensued and Saks won that one for $110,000.
The three other purchases were a mixed bag: Macy’s snapped up Lisa Vian Hunter’s pleated empire waist dress, which was perfectly ladylike, but a snooze that Jessica Simpson said could be worn by “sorority sisters and their mothers.” (Not how I’d want to dress, but there’s a large market there.) Sarah Parrott’s last-minute switch, a pair of tuxedo pants, wowed the critics and H&M, but not us. They looked like a better-fitted remake of Ross Bennett’s wide-legged pants from last week. Nzimiro Oputa’s contrast-trim button-up shirt had an element of surprise: a tilted pocket — the buyers liked it so much they all made a bid. Macy’s took the piece for $70,000. At press time, Parrott’s pants and Vian Hunter’s dress were sold out. Along with his shirt, Oputa’s men’s jacket from last week was still available at H&M. Are any men watching the show? They’re definitely not scrambling to buy up the goods like the ladies.
Back to that hyperactive leprechaun Fierro. Just like his fellow contestants, we were rooting for him to get kicked off the entire episode. Simpson oddly admitted to dreaming about giving birth to him (um, okay). When mentor John Varvatos called his dress a little too 4 a.m., Fierro fired back, “If I have a little hoochie in me, I’m going to bring it out and if there’s hoochies watching the show right now, a shout out to them.” The designer practically had a nervous breakdown and threatened to quit backstage after nobody purchased his cape dress – and who could blame them? It looked cheaper and trashier than a Wet Seal reject. So Fierro, you may be a star in your own world, but as H&M buyer Nicole Christie told you when you got eliminated, “I’m sorry Oscar, but you’re not our fashion star.”
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