Beden

Well, yes and thank you. Obviously just about everything regarding fashion design (or any design, for that matter) is largely opinion and subjective but beyond that, PR is a design competition where the designers are required to do their own construction. On that basis alone I would have tossed Ashley based on falling hems, glued on embellishments and astonishingly poor fit on her models. I might have given her a pass for a standard 1 day challenge but for the runway finale? No way in hell. I don't care (okay, yes I do...) if she had to tape the fucking hem up before the model walked just so it wasn't apparent that it was falling down. Gluing the flowers on? Seriously??? Garments which clearly didn't fit? The designers had--what?--something like 2 months to complete their final show? No excuse. Like Ashley efforts or not and the other designers output or not, the others were finished and could be fairly judged as completed looks. Ashley's clothes had asterisks after them. I'm also annoyed at her whining about haters hating, or whatever she was moaning about. That's the excuse of a junior high student dealing with the mean meanies in gym class, not a woman presenting herself as an adult and a professional.

My guess is that you're right.

I can't decide if the Brown's are weirder if they agreed to this show because they go along with portraying themselves as opportunistic morons or if they just really are idiots. With a large paycheck. So hard to decide...

It seems to me that, not only are the reactions insisting that any criticism 'anti-fat' or whatever but basically caused by Ashley's thin skin and low self esteem but are also based on the fact that no one likes to hear that the work they've done--and been rewarded for--isn't appreciated or liked. The unfortunate reality is that if you put yourself and your work out in the public not everyone will fall at your feet, especially with the anonymity of the internet. Beyond that, Ashley set herself up to be bashed with her constant crying and various appeals for people to feel sorry for her. Aside from cute abandoned kittens and small children and the like, weakness generally makes folks uncomfortable. Sorry, Ashley--'you can't stand the heat? Stay out of the kitchen and that's not meant to be mean--that's simply good advice. Broadway shows close all the time due to bad reviews (earned or otherwise), clothing lines don't always sell and there will always be those who think they know better--and sometimes, in fact, do. When and if her designs are picked up by a retailer and actually sell, then she'll have proved everyone who didn't like her stuff wrong. Till then, buckle down and make it work.

With respect I disagree with this. A good designer, one who truly understands fabric, the various pros and cons of designing for larger (and varied) body types can succeed. It's a different challenge than designing for the usual runway model body types, obviously, but it's a long way from impossible. I was a size 22 for years but managed to dress myself pretty well without resorting to a steady diet of sweats and stretch waistbands.

What I don't get is why giving Ashley's badly designed and horribly constructed collection the win was this is seen as 'brave' or 'fashion forward'. Who, in the name of God, is going to offer to produce that hot mess of ill fitting, badly constructed plus sizes? Who would buy them if they ever hit the stores? The garment industry exists to sell clothing. Even Nina, the queen of hatred for anything mumsy was on board? Is she that dependent on her PR paycheck? If Ashley's collection had actually been well done, well designed and constructed at a high level, no problem with her winning but, as mentioned ad infiditum here, it was none of those. Which makes her win a simple sop to her and plus size people--a back handed compliment. Yes, plus sizes are--finally--becoming an idea whose time may have come but it's only because TPTB have realized that there's money to be made, that larger women actually have cash and want to buy clothes which make them look and feel good. Last night's mess did neither. I was a size 22 for years before I lost some weight but I would have toss Ashley's ass out of contention the instant she admitted that she glued those flowers on that ugly skirt. This was final runway at frigging Fashion Week--get out a damn needle and thread and show that you have some skills with technique and time management. And a 2 hour finale padded by 1/2 for endless ads for an upcoming new series? What genius thought that was a good idea? This could and should have been an hour show with a special following for anyone who cared about the kid's version. I know I don't.

All too true and I have this vision of Vicki going to her favorite boutique or Channel or Saks or wherever, finding her idea of dress perfection (white, boobs hanging out, fitted to death) and the salesperson/manager/owner trying to steer her to the size 12 or 14 or whatever would actually fit her as she strains the seams and zipper of the size 6 she insists on buying and demands compliments on as she twirls in front of the 3-way mirror. Then I imagine the store/designer tags being quietly cut out before it's packed into a bag or box so no one will know that probably nice enough garments, which fit like a sausage skin, aren't credited to wherever it was bought. This is not the kind of publicity Valentino or whomever wants.

Could be, Jenkins but it seems that this train has plenty of passengers, don'tcha know? I know; it's a little embarrassing...

Vicki seems to me to be a clone of Jill Zarin in that the combination of her ego/low self esteem got the better of her, got her thinking that she's the show's anchor and linchpin. In fact she's simply another hired cast member, there to fill a role. On Broadway cast members (other than major major stars) have short contracts; 4 or 6 months to make sure that no one becomes complacent or bored in their roles. They know that management is always watching, assessing their performances. No one is irreplaceable and there are always others waiting in the wings. Andy and TPTB are watching their casts as well since the real bottom line are ratings/money, not the ego of any one cast member--unless they happen to be driving the ratings. Jill was fired. Vicki could be as well, as could any one. If Vicki has become a liability she's gone. If she can wrangle her story into a redemption plotline, she may have a chance. Stay tuned.

I agree with you Josie on a human level and hear what you're saying but back in the day, back in college the professors would purposely go easy on their students as they took the position that they were young and still forming themselves and their skills. They were kind to their students but I believed then that they weren't doing them a favor. Unfortunately criticism is a fact of life and one we have to learn to cope with, unpleasant as it may be. I understand that it can, indeed, hurt a young designer but dealing with bad press or bad reviews is, sadly, often part of the job and one which has to be learned if you're going to succeed or even last. I also get that with the at home visits the producers are trying to humanize their contestants and, as far as a TV show goes, it makes perfect sense. But as professionals, curves and slings will be thrown at them--maybe not on national TV, but they'll be there and are part of the job. I guess it's a question of tough love. And being cruel to be kind (cue the music...)

Does this mean that the season was filmed before the trials for fraud? Imagine my disappointment.

It looks to me like she managed to match the pattern repeat on the left and right sides of the slacks but, because of the 3-D reality of the model's legs, the red flowers had an unfortunate placement. It's a fairly large bunch of flowers and, well, didn't work well with as close a repeat as that fabric had. When I had to shop in the Plus size departments (or the Women's department, another euphemism, as opposed to ladies departments) You'd sometimes see size 16 but it seemed that they mostly started about size 18. Regular sizes generally stop at 16, give or take. I also add that sizes are not standardized in the US so a size 4 for one company could be a 0 or an 8 for another. Part of that is just sort of random, part is vanity sizing so you can feel good about buying a size 2 or whatever. Plus sizes are also quasi hidden under the cover of 1X--roughly 18, 2X--roughly 20-22 and so on. I was always pissed off at manufacturers or designers who refer to size 10 or 12 as XL. Bite me. But the thing is that whether Candice's mother was an addict or Ashley's father was an alcoholic or Edmond's brother is addicted to gambling or their cat died last, while tragic, has nothing to do with whether or not these people can design and make clothes. My mother was an alcoholic. Sure, I have personal feelings about that and about her but I've never injected that into anything in my professional life. Personal lives have little business being injected into a workplace. No one I've ever worked for knows anything about it and there's no reason why they should. Was it fun? Hell no. Would that have made any difference if I missed a meeting or a deadline? Shit no and it shouldn't. Of course, on a human level, it matters, of course it has to be dealt with and hopefully successfully addressed but does your boss want to know about it when an order has to go out this afternoon? You can make excuses and rationalize til the cows come home but the bottom line here is whether or not you can get the job done.

Thank you, I was going to say roughly the same thing. I used to be plus size, was for years and I sew--I know how hard it is to correctly fit a larger person. Even Ashley said something along the same lines. No, I'm not making excuses for her but it is true that fitting a size 0 model--basically straight up and down (yes, with variations) is easier as larger women and men get larger in different ways--some are 'apples', some have huge butts, some are top heavy, try fitting pants when thighs are rubbing together and arms are a problem not just because of size but because they can rub against your sides and cause problems there and so on. And having said that, if she wants to design for plus, she should get her shit seriously together with being able to make the adjustments. It seems to me that she's a basically nice person who's very young and not just in years. She needs to ramp up her fitting and sewing skills big time--that's obvious. She should consider a course or two in color, texture and textiles. Those pastels are vapid. One or two pieces, fine, but they, collectively, looked washed out. Her final look, the purple pant (skirt?) lace thing...yikes. Okay, I personaly dislike the current trendy see through look in skirts and such with your legs showing but, well, yikes. No one wants to see granny panties showing through. I suspect she's stuck on the gathered skirts she chooses to wear because they're comfortable, if not flattering. Extra fabric adds weight and bulk to a figure, so do peblums. Her decision to reference Mexico in the 50's was fine but she took it too literally. She essentially did 50's Mexican, without adding any updated aspects; not good. And her models were plus sized. Size 12 is considered plus in fashion while the average size of American women is a 14. Yes, they were young and toned but not everyone who's heavy is a tub o'lard and even those who are still want to look decent.

Thank you. I realize that these women are desperately trying to hold on to their long gone youth but having your over-inflated, plastic boobs constantly hanging out really and truly, honest to god and no kidding isn't a good look on anyone who isn't standing under a streetlight looking for a 'date'. Most people tend to see those puppies and wonder what the hell's wrong with you. Less is more, no kidding. Oh, and frozen faces, at least around folks in my life, don't say you're still just a girl who's taken extra special care of herself and is still a hot ticket, it's actually obvious that you're fighting nature a scootch too hard and Mother Nature is gonna win that one every time. Mirrors don't lie and De-nile ain't just a river, as they say. You're not kidding anyone. Seriously, pathetic isn't attractive. JMO.

Yes, Candice's dress had obvious references to Spanish tangos but am I the only one who, when I first saw it, thought 'Damn--it;s Morticia Addams dressed up for the holidays?

Well, actually, depending on where she grew up, they might have hitching posts on Main Street. I've tied a horse to a parking meter on occasion--putting a quarter in the meter, of course. And there is usually a convenient tree or bench around if necessary.

Broderbits is right. The forms they're using are sized to a standard, though I don't know what size--maybe a 4? 6? Adjustable dress forms exist but these aren't them. And yes, they should have the model's measurements either provided or simply take them when they know which young woman will be wearing whatever they make that week. The designers should use the actual measurements anyway--almost no one is a perfect size whatever and a lot of people have one breast larger or higher than the other, a hip or shoulder out of line or so on.

It looked to me that this season is simply reaping what the producers have sown (yes, that's a pun) regarding the bad decision to have virtually all 1 day challenges which means not enough time to create, think of a decent design, rushed pattern making, not enough time to properly sew a decent garment or produce good finishes. Yes, they're saving $ on production costs but they're also killing what made the show interesting and are just coasting on what was a pretty good reputation back in the day. I don't care who you are or how good--creativity takes time and good craftsmanship does as well. Sure, there are exceptions like Christian Sirrano who could sew like the wind but, frankly, despite the major love and talent he engendered, some of his stuff sucked to me--well made though it may have been and his year they had many more 2 day assignments, or so memory serves. I also agree with a previous poster who mentioned that the casting people seem to have opted for personalities instead of sheer talent. Sure, you want someone who can bring a degree of entertainment to a TV show, but c'mon--my dog could design better than some of the contestants the last couple of years. Absolutely, some of these people are genuinely talented but are hamstringed by the limitations put on them. I realize that's part of the 'fun', but it's also cramping their abilities. As for last night's episode...okay, there were all the problems of not enough time; hence the poorly or unfinished garments. Sure, some of that was just lack of sewing skills but it was also caused by not enough time to properly plan and then ditching first tries and restarts with borrowed or savaged fabric. If they'd had, say, 2 days, I suspect that wouldn't have happened...at least not as much. As to the complaint about how this is supposed to be a design competition, not a sewing skills duel--no matter what the art field, if you can't master and fully understand the hows and whys of your craft, you can't fully understand the possibilities and limitations of your materials, be them paint and canvas, fabric or sheet metal. Clothing designers must be able to know what fabrics, pleats, hem finishes or collar treatments will be appropriate in different situations. And as for the products being boring or 'been there, done that', you're all right. But these items were for a mass market and catalog/internet sales, not just runway creations. They were supposed to be salable to a specific market--young, hip and all that. No, they didn't all work but the designers were given a specific challenge and some of them failed but a couple hit the park--that red dress would sell well to a certain target, as would Ashley's jacket. Not cutting edge but marketable and on that level they succeeded. The whole point of the garment industry is to sell clothes--most people want something which is wearable, makes them feel good and can be worn for a while in different situations--is versatile or classic enough to keep on going for more than a single season. And having said all that, the woman from JustFab knew her shit--she knew what she wanted, what would sell and what she knew was a waste of her time. I was impressed by her.

A lot of churches/ministers/pastors/priests offer marriage/couples counseling as part of their services. Of course, that doesn't mean that it always works and, in Ryan and Sarah's case, may be a waste of time. And, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. My sympathies are with 4 kids who'll be impacted by these idiots for the rest of their lives, even after they've grown and have moved on and it looks like the deck is stacked against them. As for Brooks cancer...this horse has been beat to death. If the man really has cancer then I genuinely wish him well, all good luck and have no answer (aside from $) why he--or anyone--would allow this fiasco to play out on national TV. If it turns out he's faking (and I give him the benefit of the doubt--innocent until proven guilty and all that) then he should rot in hell. Either way, this storyline is a heinous and cynical attempt for controversy and ratings and should never have been allowed for many reasons. Oh, and I believe that there are 'bibles for blondes'...versions which use small words and are annotated to explain the oblique references. There are also bible classes where everything will be explained to you slowly and patiently.

Didn't the sales person at Mood say that silver/lace/hole fabric was over $100/yard? Okay, it was clearly...uh...misused last night but I wonder why it was so much? What was it made of? What mill produced it? Seriously--why so much? And, yeah, even if it had been lined, that tube top still would have sucked.

I'm neither a Kelly or Bethenny apologist or fan but it was evident that Kelly was having some kind of breakdown on Scary Island, which she still doesn't seem able or willing to acknowledge or accept. I'm fine with that, though it's unfortunate for her that she's still this (what?) delusional or in denial about her behavior. As to Beth's reaction, I'm just saying--without implying that she was justified in her reactions to Kelly--that she'd just been through her estranged father's funeral and was in a what's been called a dangerous pregnancy. I know that when I was pregs I was a hormonal mess, bursting into tears at the drop of a hat, flying off the handle--180 degrees from my normal behavior--and there was nothing I could do to stop it for a while. I was embarrassed by that, apologized to the poor folks in my path but I really couldn't control it while it was happening. I'm willing to accept that Kelly was, indeed, having a breakdown and that Bethenny was hyper-hormonal. Of course, her refusal to acknowledge that now (from both women) is just unfortunate for them and makes them both look less than rational.

But there wasn't any reason why A&S had to fly 1/2 way around the world to be part of the reunion show; they have this new thing called satellites now. They could have participated from their living room. Thank you, I was thinking the exact same thing when she came out with that bit of idiocy. Of course her ex is paying support, and I suspect quite a bit. Didn't she also get (or have enough $ to buy) what looked like a quite nice place in the Hamptons to go along with her NY apartment or condo or whatever she has? I doubt that her writing career is going all that far to finance those places along with her and her two daughter's upkeep.

Less than no harm done and no apologies of any kind needed, nor did I think for moment that you were trying to start any unpleasantness. I suspect that we're pretty much on the same page, both morally and literally as far as this goes. It's all good...now, back to the snark.

Apologies for a delay in responding to those who called me out for this, that Meghan didn't actually violate any laws--my computer was down. With respect, you may well be right; it's possible that she didn't violate the letter of the law in her quest for justice. IMO she did, however violate the spirit of the law in her search for proof--pro or con--regarding Brook's medical condition. I worked for a doctor for a while, just one of the people who answered the phone and did billing, made appointments. It was during the time when the HIPPA laws were enacted and we were told that we couldn't tell anyone anything about anything unless they were standing in front of us, were the actual patients (or parents/guardians in the case of minors) and could prove their identity if we didn't know them. We weren't even allowed to give test results over the phone, they had to come in to hear that their PAP tests or whatever were okay (obviously we would have called them ASAP if they weren't). No one could nose around about a patient--period. Even if she didn't come out and ask about a specific patient's treatment or prognosis, she was out of line. She had no business to waste the doctor's office time with her BS. Lying and healthy or terminal and dying, Brooks' --or anyone's--medical condition doesn't concern her unless that person asks her to involve herself. Legal violation or not, Meghan is out of line in her quest for a story line and camera time-IMO.

The other part of this, which I haven't seen mentioned, is that what Meghan did was in violation of the HIPPA laws, the privacy laws, ..what she did was against the law. With respect, that doesn't seem to me to much of an improvement. Okay, maybe--maybe--a small one. At best. Even if that's true, and it certainly could be, she agreed to do it.