Who Will Be the Next ‘FASHION STAR’?
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanWhat’s all the buzz about on television these days?
A new reality competition show is joining the ranks of The Celebrity Apprentice and The Voice on NBC TV. Premiering on Tuesday, March 13th at a special time at 9:30 PM/8:30 C, ‘FASHION STAR’ is looking for the next hottest fashion designer to hit the runway and the stores across the country with their tantalizing fashions. The show is a mix of creativity and commercialism to realize a lifelong dream.
‘FASHION STAR’ is on a mission to launch the next big fashion brand. One winner will ultimately receive the $6,000,000 prize of launching their collection in three of the largest American retailer stores in the country; Macy’s, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Even though it’s all about the designers themselves and their journey to the finish line, the show boasts a stylish cast with experience to their credits a mile long. Elle Macpherson hosts and is one of the executive producers and Jessica Simpson, John Varvatos and Nicole Richie play the style savvy mentors.
Fourteen contestants set the stage. They each have their hearts set on the big win and have interesting backgrounds from the relatively unknown to the emerging designer.
We have a breast cancer survivor and founder of a foundation providing prom dresses for underprivileged young women and men from inner-city Chicago schools. We have a male model with a love of the arts and a desire to preview his own line. A former schoolteacher is out to pursue her real love for design. A vintage boutique owner is determined to take it one step further. Another boutique owner moved out of the corporate world and into the fashion world and already is successfully marketing her own clothing line. An Argentina native who studied at Parsons School of Design is set on climbing the ranks and has gone from making dresses for consignment stores to her own dress line. An Australian male model has been fruitful in fashion receiving his modest beginnings in a screen-printing business. A very creative eco-friendly designer has mixed fashion with marine research and coral reef conservation. A Detroit native has a knack fro transforming old clothing into new designs. An Israeli native has a dream for design and an entrepreneurial spirit that will take her far to follow in her parents’ footsteps. An animated ‘master manipulator’ with a fiery spirit owns four assisted-living facilities and finds time to also design several unique clothing lines. Going from the ranks of the U.S. Navy to the ranks of the design houses of Ralph Rucci and Zac Posen, has fueled a California resident to develop his own lifestyle brand. With a passion for fashion and a love of hunting and fishing, we have a dress designer who is ready to make a name for himself in the industry. Lastly, we have a housewife turned emerging designer and winner of People’s Choice Award at Charleston Fashion Week.
As the show opens each week, the curtain comes up on a very action-packed fashion show featuring musical performers, dancers and models all taking place in front of a live studio audience. This theme is built around a weekly challenge for the contestants in order to take them to that final step of developing and expanding their own brand for retail distribution.
Each of the three stores, Macy’s and H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue, has sent a very knowledgeable representative to judge and be in every step of the decision-making process. They have a huge stake in the decision since the winning brand will be sold in their store at the completion of the show.
The American audience will quickly latch on to this individualized concept through participation. As the show comes to an end each week, fashionistas across the country will have the opportunity to immediately purchase the winning designs showcased on the episode that particular week. The clothing will literally go from the screen to the streets to the stores.
So you may ask, how do the contestants get narrowed down to reveal a winner as is the case with all reality competitions? Designers who do not sell any of their items to the buyers are on the chopping block for elimination, however, each week the celebrity mentors will be able to save one competitor.
This show format was developed by Ben Silverman of Electus (NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”, “The Office”, “The Tudors”), Rick Ringbakk of Emmy Award-winning 5×5 Media (“Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution”) and E.J. Johnston and James Deutch of EJD Productions.
In the words of Elle Macpherson, “To become the next big designer and pursue your dream it takes so many winning qualities such as commitment, courage, dedication, concentration, humility and persistance.”
It is a show filled with motivation and glorious glamour. Watch it today and wear it tomorrow. Sign up for text reminders to tune-in and get the looks; Text “STAR” to 62297. (Message and Data rates may apply). Like “FASHION STAR” on Facebook and follow all the episodes at http://www.nbc.com/fashion-star/.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF www.nbc.com, Zimbio, Getty Images
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