This season will be all about team-work so it should be a bitch-slapping, name-calling, scissor-wielding mess. And, since there is no 'I' in team, you need always remember, there is an 'I' in bitch.......so let's meet the bitc.....designers:
Amanda Valentine is 31 and hails from Nashville, though she currently resides in fashion capitol Lincoln, Nebraska:
Her strengths as a designer?
“I am a 31-year-old woman, and I am very conscious of how a woman wants to look and feel in a garment. I'm always hyper-aware of proportion and line and fit”
I see construction issues.
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“I have a short attention span. By the time I'm halfway through a thought I've already moved on to the next idea. It's also why fashion is so attractive to me. You have to keep jumping to the next trend or collection!”
That Devil, Time Management, will get her.
Her favorite designers?
“Isabel Marant, Yves Saint Laurent (especially in the '60s and '70s), Balmain (Christophe Decarnin's time there), Alexander Wang, Gareth Pugh, Holly Fulton, Vena Cava, Balenciaga (Nicolas Ghesquière)”
Her favorite style icon?
“1994 Cindy Crawford - "MTV's "House of Style" era.”
Wow. A twenty-year-old style icon. And it's Cindy. This could get ugly.
Benjamin Mach is 35, and comes from Sydney, Australia, though he currently resides in London.
His strengths as a designer?
“I have a strong "inner voice" that tells me when to stop. My attention to detail has always been a strongly recognized element of my work as a designer. I have a sound knowledge and understanding of the history of fashion and how the social landscape has influenced the story of fashion over decades and, indeed, centuries. This helps in referencing the history of fashion and carrying it forward. Style is an evolution.”
Girl loves to talk about herself and how fabulous she is, eh?
His weaknesses as a designer?
“My vision can sometimes be too grandiose for the reality of the situation or environment I am in. This is not to say my designs are ostentatious; they are far from that. The weakness lies in the fact I don't always manage to really get my true vision across, because of time, material, or the quality of team I might be working with. The day will come when my vision is carried through wholly and I am surrounded by a team who are as committed to the "vision" as I am.”
Blah blah blah…..with an English accent.
His favorite designer(s)?
“Madame Grès, Madeleine Vionnet, Cristobal Balenciaga, Elsa Schiaparelli, Valentino (the ORIGINAL), Halston (the ORIGINAL), Alexander "Lee" McQueen, Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent (the ORIGINAL).”
He’s an ORIGINAL!
His favorite style icon?
“This is always a difficult question to answer, because I can be fickle and not always loyal to one "icon." I'd like to think my favourite style icon is the woman who appreciates my design and wears it well. So, women from the past, present and future who possess a powerful elegance are my favourite style icons.”
Meaning, whoever is paying him is his style icon.
Cindy Marlatt is 59, and she comes to us from Kent, Washington, and currently resides in ….. Kent ….. Washington. She, apparently, does not get around.
Her strengths as a designer?
“Strong construction skills, good time-management skills, experience with many textiles and alternative materials.”
She is all-business.
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“Over-designing.”
I see feathers.
Her favorite designer(s)?
“Joseph Altuzarra.”
Who?
Her favorite style icon?
“Michelle Obama.”
She is going for the Democrat vote.
Daniel Esquivel is 48, and born in Dallas, Texas, but now living in Austin, Texas.
His strengths as a designer?
“Very fashion-intuitive.”
I have no idea what that means.
His weaknesses as a designer?
“Sketching.”
I see stick figures.
His favorite designer(s)?
“Wes Gordon.”
Who?
His favorite style icon?
“Sarah Jessica Parker.”
Gay.
Emily Pollard is 24, and she hails from Richfield, Ohio though she now lives in bustling Falls Church, Virginia.
Her strengths as a designer?
“I'm really driven and not afraid to try things I don’t really know how to do. I take chances and am always trying to build upon my skills and knowledge base. I'm also really great with material and textile choices, and love making my own fibers from unusual materials such as black lichen moss.”
She is gonna get lost in the woods looking for moss to make a scarf.
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“I tend to get lost in what I'm doing, and am terrible at making decisions. I like to just play around with things until they feel right and it tends to slow me down.”
She’ll be like that dog from Up….she’ll be in the midst of sewing and suddenly it’s, “Squirrel?” And she’s off.
Her favorite designer(s)?
“Gareth Pugh, Haider Ackermann, Ann Demeulemeester, Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Sarah Burton, the late Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Alber Elbaz, Coco Chanel, Alexander Wang and Nicolas Ghesquière, to name a few. There is so much amazing talent out there, it's hard to choose a favorite”
Apparently.
The celebrity you wish you could design for?
“Angelina Jolie. I'd love to design a dark evening gown to show off her edge and ridiculous beauty.”
Oh, honey, it’s been done already.
James Martinez is 29, also from Dallas, but now lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
His strengths as a designer?
“I design for anyone. And my construction skills are strong.”
He has quite the high impression of himself and will crush his Real Life Client on that episode.
His weaknesses as a designer?
“I am not great at waking up early.”
Bye.
His favorite designer(s)?
“Viktor & Rolf, and Valentino.”
His favorite style icon?
“Lenny Kravitz.”
Well, that makes this interesting.
Joseph Aaron Segal is 30, and was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, but now lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
His strengths as a designer?
“Risk taker, unconventional thinker and material exploration.”
He’ll be The Hot Mess.
His weaknesses as a designer?
“Sometimes I make stuff that's just too strange.”
Yup. Hot.Mess.
His favorite designer(s)?
“JC de Castelbajac, Walter van Beirendonck, Lanvin, Moonspoon Saloon, Christian Lacroix, Rei Kawakubo, Henrik Vibskov, Gareth Pugh”
His favorite style icon?
“Grace Jones, Leigh Bowery”
Hot.Mess.
Kate Pankoke is the baby of the group at 23 and, curiously, has two hometowns—Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Parkland, Florida—though she currently resides in just one place, Chicago.
Her strengths as a designer?
“One of my strengths as a designer is my ability to predict color trends and silhouettes that will be popular the following season. Another strength I have is the ability to design artistic garments while still remembering that they are clothing and should be flattering to the wearer. I also understand the meaning of inspiration. I feel that some designers take it too literally. If I am inspired by something, I merely take the element(s) that I most admire and incorporate it into a design, I don't replicate the object that inspired me.”
She likes herself, she really, really likes herself. And, she’s apparently psychic. I wonder when she sees herself getting Auf’d.
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“My weakness as a designer is that I am impatient. I sometimes stay up all night to finish a garment instead of taking my time and spreading the process out . hopefully, this weakness will work in my favor.”
Time management will be her undoing, along with her fondness for Kate Pankoke.
Her favorite designer(s)?
“Some of my favorite designers/labels are Alberta Ferretti, Marchesa and Alexander McQueen. Each of these designers/labels are extremely detail-oriented and have a vintage flare that I adore.”
Again, she likes herself.
Her favorite style icon?
“My favorite style icon is Grace Kelly. I saw her for the first time in "To Catch a Thief." Her character is so effortlessly classy. Not only was she an Alfred Hitchcock leading lady, but a princess as well (basically I wish I was her)!”
Honey, you’re no Grace Kelly.
Layana Aguilar is 28, from Valadares, Brazil, and currently lives in La Grande Apple, NYC.
Her strengths as a designer?
“I really understand what I want as designer, and because I always put a lot of passion, my heart and soul in everything I do, I bring my essence of beauty and confidence to whoever wears my clothes.”
Huh? Can someone get me Casanova to translate this for me?
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“My weakness in general is that I never listen to anybody. I always do what I want, which can be very good or it can also be very selfish and hurt the outcome of a design.”
Maybe if she’d listen she’d learn how to make herself clear.
Her favorite designer(s)?
“Alexander McQueen, Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy), Olivier Rousteing (Balmain), Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig (Marchesa), and Oscar de la Renta.”
No use sucking up to the beautiful Georgina Chapman, I doubt she’ll be on the PR this season.
Her favorite style icon?
“Kate Moss.”
She likes dressing coked out models. ALLEGEDLY.
Matthew Arthur is 30, and moved from his hometown of Hammond, Louisiana, all the way to New Orleans.
His strengths as a designer?
“When it comes to my work, I have a knack for playing with print, color and alternative materials. Also, I kill it at styling.”
I see front buns and Kabuki makeup. He’ll be gone soon.
His weaknesses as a designer?
“The technical side. I scare some of my designer friends, because I have my own way of doing a lot of things. It stresses them out, but it gets done.”
Girl can’t sew? Can’t drape? Can’t sketch?
His favorite designer(s)?
“Alexander McQueen, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Marc Jacobs, Gareth Pugh, Thom Browne, Vivienne Westwood, etc.”
Yes, etc.
His favorite style icon?
“Kelly Bundy.”
Yes. He did.
Michelle Lesniak Franklin is 34, from Portland, Oregon and now resides in …. Portland, Oregon. Does no one move anymore?
Her strengths as a designer?
“My strengths are that I am unwavered by trends, I follow my own design aesthetics, I am not afraid of color and texture, and I design for all women.”
I’m sensing ugly.
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“Frilly. I don't do frilly. I also have a hard time with patterns, which is odd, since I have a background in printmaking and love repetition of images.”
I want a Frilly Pattern Challenge just to watch her head explode.
Her favorite designer(s)?
“Bottega Veneta, Marc Jacobs, McQueen, Derek Lam .”
Her favorite style icon?
“Auntie Mame.”
The Gays will love her.
Patricia Michaelsis 46 and comes from Taos, New Mexico where she still lives, though she will remind you that she has traveled the globe.
Her strengths as a designer?
“I approach design from a contemporary Native American view.”
Feathers and beads? Cher in Half Breed? What?
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“I take longer to complete a garment, because of the unique textile fabrication.”
♪♫T-i-i-i-me ain’t on her side. No it isn’t♫ ♪
Her favorite designer(s)?
“Tom Ford, Prada, Diesel, Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, Etro, Alexander McQueen, Diane von Furstenberg, Stella McCartney.”
Her favorite style icon?
“Anna Wintour, Audrey Hepburn, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Grace Kelly, Catherine Zeta-Jones.”
Oh, this is gonna be a train-wreck. Native American Anna Wintour anyone?
Richard Hallmarqis 39 and lives in my hometown, Sacramento, California, where he was also born.
His strengths as a designer?
“I understand my textile of choice and how it falls on a woman's body.”
He’ll throw something on the model in the last second before the runway.
His weaknesses as a designer?
“I'm so critical of my own work.”
Critical of your own work? Two word: Nina. Garcia.
His favorite designer(s)?
“Maison Martin Margiela.”
M’kay.
His favorite style icon?
“Grace Jones.”
Is Grace making a comeback?
Samantha Black is 28 and moved from The Bronx to Fairfield, Connecticut.
Her strengths as a designer?
“Aesthetic, use of fabrications, and knowing a woman's body.”
In other words: design, sewing, and draping.
Her weaknesses as a designer?
“Trying to do too much.”
I can hear it now from Tim Gunn: “Times UP, Samantha!”
Her favorite designer(s)?
Her favorite designer(s)?
“McQueen, Balmain.”
Steve McQueen?
Her favorite style icon?
“Lisa Bonet, Grace Jones, Madonna.”
It’s like a Who’s Who of Crazy.
Stanley Hudson is 45 and from Lynwood, California, though like most self-respecting gay men, he now lives in West Hollywood.
His strengths as a designer?
“Forecasting very strong, pattern drafting.”
Wait. He’s a weatherman?
His weaknesses as a designer?
“Playing it safe.”
I see onesies.
His favorite designer(s)?
“Cristobal Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, YSL, Jacques Fath, Halston.”
His favorite style icon?
“Halston.”
Translation: I wanted to be at Studio 54 in ’81 sippin’ and snortin’ with Liza, too.
Tu Suthiwat Nakchat is 26 and hails from Chacheangsao, Thailand, though he now lives in a more avant-garde Springfield, Virginia.
His strengths as a designer?
“I’m trying to push fashion forward and willing to take a risk.”
Riskier than being Thai in Virginia?
His weaknesses as a designer?
“I don't really like ironing and time management.”
Wrinkled, half-finished clothes.
His favorite designer(s)?
“Cristobal Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten, Maison Martin Margiela, Miuccia Prada, A.F. Vandevorst, Alexander McQueen, Riccardo Tisci, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Consuelo Castiglioni (Marni), Rick Owen, Viktor & Rolf, Stefano Pilati (YSL).”
It’s all gibberish, except for YSL and McQueen—not Steve.
His favorite style icon?
“Queen Sirikit, Aung San Suu Kyi, Nicole Richie, Lady Gaga.”
WTF is Nicole Richie doing in there?
So, there you have our season eleven designtestants.
Let the games, and the bitching, begin…….Tonight!
0 comments:
Post a Comment