It's big, it's beautiful, it's sexy.
This has never been done before.
It's their life on the line, and their careers on the line.
14 designers, one winner.
Tonight, an epic journey begins...
I don't want to find the next great designer.
I want to find the next great fashion icon.
The search for a fashion star...
I live, sleep, eat, breathe this thing called fashion.
I'm supposed to be here.
And for the first time ever,
America's favorite retailers will fight it out
for the hottest designs.
Macy's, saks fifth avenue, h&m--
any offers on the table for luciana?
It takes a lifetime to get into a room
with people like this.
Here's the twist-- everything bought on the show,
you can buy at the end of the night.
That is amazing!
- You can wear the winner... - The next day.
I love the sequin, and I would wear it right now.
Mentoring these designers are three of the very best.
Billionaire fashion brand...
- So we sent... - Thinking about white too.
I think white's harder to sell.
Trendsetter with two global brands...
You can't just be an artist.
At a certain point, you have to be a businesswoman as well.
Former head designer for Calvin klein and Ralph Lauren,
with his own internationally renown label...
You can be a wannabe, or you can be an about-to-be.
And your host... The iconic supermodel
with a multimillion-dollar lingerie line.
With these mentors,
the designers have everything they need to succeed,
and in the end, the winner will have
their very own collection sitting on the shelves
of all three stores.
It's a contract worth...
It is the big daddy of all big daddies.
Terron, would you like to change your offer at all?
I'll up it.
I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long.
From the runway to your closet,
watch it today and wear it tomorrow.
Come on, let's go shopping.
This is...
We gotta go.
Okay, everybody in position, please.
- Watch your back. - Let's go.
In position, dancers.
Places, please.
Make sure we have a path for our models coming off.
- Okay, guys, stand by. - All right, very quiet, please.
Very quiet. Stand by. Five seconds.
4, 3, 2... We are rolling.
Thank you, everyone.
America, right now these beautiful girls
are wearing lingerie that I've designed
and turned into a multimillion-dollar business,
but backstage are some very nervous designers
who are hoping to achieve the same success,
and this stage represents
the biggest moment in their lives.
Here's how it works.
Each week, the designers will be presenting a showcase
to the buyers, who will decide
on the spot if they want to buy the clothes.
Go hit that button.
The buyer with the highest offer
wins that design for their store.
It's going to be a huge seller,
and we're happy to buy this style.
And that designer is safe for the week.
Those designers who do not make a sale
risk being eliminated.
At the end of the night,
the mentors will get to save one designer...
We need to protect the dreamers.
Before the buyers send someone home.
You're not our fashion star.
You're going home.
First up to showcase their signature looks to our buyers
are orly shani and Edmond Newton,
two up-and-coming designers looking for their big break.
I'll grab the other one.
At this point, it's in your hand, chickadee.
As a bartender in new York city,
orly shani has been dreaming of a different life.
When people ask me what my job is,
I tell them I am a bartender.
Do you want an olive?
And I hope to be a designer.
You know, it's tough going to bed at,
you know, 4:00 in the morning, but it pays my bills.
I'm broke, so I can't buy everything
that I want all the time, so I wanted to create something
that I could maybe get a little bit more
than just one wear out of.
The name of my line is tuc+wes.
It's actually "cut+sew" backwards
because it's cut and sew tees
that can be worn many different ways, forwards and backwards,
so everything in the collection is convertible.
This week, our branding exercise
was to pick one signature piece
that really represents who you are,
and we have to create it in three different looks.
Yeah, so I know the two that I want.
My only concern is gonna be figuring out my third piece.
The signature piece that I chose,
it was inspired by walking in new York city
with a sexy skirt-- a mini-- where there was a wind tunnel,
and me flashing my -ha to every cab on the block.
So I had this idea of doing a really great,
fitted, semi-high-waisted mini black skirt
and putting right around the waistband a little zipper.
And you can zip on skirts, basically, like shells.
I think that that's gonna set me apart,
because I'm gonna have to try to come up
with a way to make one piece do two things,
and to still make them both wonderful and not gimmicky.
While orly worries about her unique design,
Edmond feels his party dress will win over the buyers.
I love fashion.
I mean, I live, sleep,
eat, breathe this thing called fashion.
In addition to being a fashion designer,
I'm also a barber stylist.
So we've got the rocker girl, we've got the glam chick,
and then we've got the beauty.
My style would be-- I consider it to be
studio 54 meets 2012.
We're gonna go a little crazy with your looks.
My signature piece is my bubble cocktail dress.
It's the dress.
When you're looking for that one piece
that's really gonna set you apart and stand out
and get you all of the attention
at this event that you're attending,
this is actually the piece that you need to pull out.
And maybe right when you're about to stop, unzip it.
That way, you have the full eight seconds
to make sure that it comes off no problem.
Okay.
Howhow do your boobs feel?
You don't feel nothing's gonna slide?
Nothing's gonna shift? Okay.
- I think we're good. - All right.
I'm living my dream, you know, with this opportunity,
so I'm-- I'm really excited.
I'm excited to see the models on the runway.
I am ready.
Edmond, come on over here.
America, here's my showcase. I hope you love it.
I hope you want it. I hope you own it.
All right, here we go. And quiet, please.
Go.
How brilliant was that? Orly and Edmond.
Hi.
Well, let's hear what our mentors thought.
Let's start with Nicole.
Orly, your models walked out,
and immediately you were getting "oohs" and "ahs."
I mean, the energy was up in here.
I liked it. I thought it was fun and playful.
I think it needs a little refinement,
watching it kind of zip-a-Dee-doo-dah itself apart,
but I think you're on to something,
and I give you a lot of respect for being innovative
and trying something new.
Thank you very much.
My mom and I call it a twofer.
I think that it's important, like, with a customer,
like, they know they're getting two things in one.
I'm broke, so, for me, I can't buy, like, one great staple
if it's not giving me a little bit more function.
Right, and you can-- you can use the zip-off
on all parts of bodies.
I like it.
Now let's talk about Edmond.
Party!
Ha! You had the party dress.
I actually adore it.
My favorite was the black and white.
That was... Thank you, thank you.
That was my favorite.
One of the dresses was very '50s,
and then the two other were a little bit '80s.
So they didn't necessarily fit
within the same designer, to me.
But I really loved the black and white.
Thank you.
I thank you for the insight on it.
And we'll see what the buyers think.
Well, let's have a look what the buyers think.
We have Macy's... Saks fifth avenue... And h&m!
Nicole christie of the global fashion juggernaut h&m.
Representing 2,300 stores worldwide,
Nicole has a wicked eye for detail and is on the hunt
for hot, fashion-forward trends.
At h&m, we believe that design
is really not a matter of price.
Terron schaefer of saks fifth avenue.
Executive vice-president of the preeminent,
high-fashion brand with designers such as...
Valentino. Yves St. Laurent.
Roberto cavalli. Ralph rucci.
Terron demands luxury and style.
And caprice Willard, Macy's.
I'm really looking for more originality.
With 17 years buying for America's department store,
you're probably already wearing something she's bought.
These buyers spot the trends that the world wears.
But will they buy tonight?
Okay, buyers, do we have any offers for Edmond?
You made it!
Ha ha!
I was absolutely floored
by how all three of those pieces came out.
It really worked for a woman who had curves,
for a woman who's well-endowed.
And those are all the things that we like to take care of,
especially at Macy's.
Thank you.
Okay, let's move along to orly.
Are there any offers for orly?
My goodness.
We've got $80,000 on the board from saks fifth avenue
and we have a $50,000 offer from Macy's.
That makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Thank you very much.
Now, Macy's, as you know,
this item of clothing can only go in one retail store.
Saks fifth avenue have $80,000 on the board.
Would you like to change your offer in any way?
So this week, we won't be making a purchase with you.
Thank you so much for bidding, though.
But absolutely fabulous. Really great job.
You know, I think that... It's a very novel idea.
It's new, it's different, it's fun.
And, um, it's absolutely a homerun
to have something that you can wear two different ways.
And we're really excited about it.
You know, saks is a store that I walk through
to tease myself.
- Good! - Thank you, very much.
Okay, so you both have made sales tonight.
- Yes. Yes. - You are both safe.
- We're safe, we're safe. - This is fantastic news.
Well done. Thank you, designers.
Thank you.
All right, America, don't forget,
Edmond's dresses will be online tonight
and in Macy's tomorrow,
while orly's will be hot of the presses at saks.
Coming up, more buying action
as the stores try to outbid each other
for their favorite item.
And a pint-sized designer you won't want to miss.
You're crying already.
Every great designer began with one piece
that changed the world,
whether it was Ralph Lauren's polo shirt
or Diane Von furstenberg's wrap dress,
or even coco chanel's suits.
A signature piece that stands out
can shock the fashion world
and give birth to stars overnight.
It began one week ago. Here we go.
14 designers arrived in Los Angeles
with the dream of becoming the next great fashion star.
This is an opportunity of a lifetime.
I mean, most people would kill to be here.
I don't want to let the opportunity just slip by me.
Welcome to fashion star. My name's Nicole Richie.
Hey, I'm John varvatos.
And I am Jessica simpson.
Meeting the mentors, I didn't know what to even think.
You know, everything just kind of hit me.
I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long.
Each week, you're going to have to design
a piece for the buyers.
This week, the buyers are going to want to see
your design story.
Pick one signature piece that defines who you are
as a designer.
And the one thing that you have is great support
from us as mentors.
We've also got a great group of pattern makers and sewers,
as well as top makeup artists from maybelline new York,
and professional stylists from suave
to help perfect your looks.
This is about every week.
Somebody gets to sell in h&m, Macy's, or saks.
And so I want to challenge all of these designers.
We can give them enough advice to get them through this.
A $6 million collection is on the line.
Think I'm more anxious than anything else.
This is their moment.
I'm here to win.
I'm here to become famous.
Who will rise to the occasion?
Fashion star is making this whole dream come true.
Next up to showcase their signature looks to our buyers
are Oscar fierro an Nikki poulos.
- It'll all have a waviness. - Right.
'Cause I don't want anything in a--
- yeah, you can tuck it back. - Perfect.
I'm a very unique person.
Most people see me with a colorful hat,
and I sort of look like a cartoon.
This is where I have all my dresses.
And I wear scarves all the time.
You know, like all colors.
I am my brand. It's happy.
It's an orgy of over-the-top things.
While Oscar paints his life with color in Texas,
he began in a much darker place.
Here we are. This is my bedroom.
This is my mother.
I was somewhere around 15, 16 years old
when I decided to, you know, leave El Salvador for America.
In El Salvador, growing up was horrible.
Not having food.
Designing, to me, is a way to escape from the misery.
And that's why I think my fashions are full of colors
and bright details.
There you are.
- How are you? - I'm good. How are you?
- God. - All right.
So tell me about this.
Is not as bright as this one,
so I sort of tried to bring something opposite
of the darkness of where I've come from.
I can feel the connection between this dress and you.
And I can see a lot of passion in your eyes.
And I think that that is great.
Oscar has a great spirit.
And I know that he's an artistic person,
but at the same time, it's always difficult,
because you never know
how something is gonna look on the runway.
Let me try this. Let me try this.
But I really, really see potential there,
and I want to see him go far in this competition.
Thank you so much. I love you so much.
Look, I'm white trash.
My only concern about showcasing with Oscar
is that he may steal all the limelight.
Yeah!
It's Oscar fierro!
But at the end of the day, it's all about the clothes,
and my clothes speak volumes.
It looks beautiful.
I do have a good amount of experience.
Drop it down.
I started my line three years ago.
I do swimwear and resort wear.
And, having the response that I've had,
I feel that I'm living the American dream.
That's the front. Where is the small back piece?
I'm very determined.
No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm very driven.
I'm unsure why you're not getting this part of it.
And I am competitive.
I'm willing to spill my own sweat and tears
to make it to the end.
When you grade it-- get rid of all this.
It's just confusing you.
That's none of yours, is it?
No?
I didn't want her first.
I wanted her last. Well.
- Nikki. - Yes.
And go.
All right.
Come around here.
Oscar, you're crying already.
Hi. Hi. Welcome.
It's like the long and short of it.
Thank you so much.
Yes, it's-- it's been a journey.
I have not sleep in three months, and--
but I'm still happy! Ha ha!
Well...
Now, listen, you came here to pursue the American dream
and become a fashion star, and here you are on the stage.
I'm sorry I'm taking your time.
I kind of tend to do that.
You wanna speak with her?
I'm fine.
You saw my clothes.
So listen-- come here, come here, come here.
I want to hear what the mentors have to say
about your gorgeous clothes when we come back.
Well, welcome back to fashion star,
the biggest fashion competition ever.
Right now, we have two designers
who have just shown their signature pieces,
and our mentors have a few thoughts.
Nicole... - Hi, Oscar. - Hi, Nicole.
Okay, I have bad news and I have good news.
Okay? Okay.
I didn't like the dresses.
Okay? Okay.
The good news is, I saw something in you
when I was in that studio with you,
and I said, "I cannot wait to see what Oscar brings here."
This dress was not it,
and I want to encourage you to bring here
what I saw in the studio, because you are fantastic.
Thank you.
We've seen it all before.
I've seen it in south beach, I've seen it in Las Vegas,
I've seen it in l.A.
We're rooting for you, but you didn't do it here.
Thank you.
I love the sequin, and I would wear it right now.
I love the black.
Um, I personally think that there is a lot of girls
that wanna be in that dress, going out at night,
going out on a date.
Well, and fashion is a reinvention of itself.
You know, and, yes, you've seen it before,
and I've seen it before,
but you've never seen it with my label.
No.- - right?
Okay, Jess, let's talk a little bit about Nikki here.
It was a very easy piece to wear.
And people want to feel comfortable.
My favorite was the silk at the very end.
I loved the pattern that you chose.
Nikki, I thought they were fun and beachy.
I'm not sure that that proportion
is the only proportion you should be playing in,
but I think you're onto something there.
I love the patterns, and... The head wraps were great too.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Now it is time to face the buyers.
Do we have any offers for Oscar?
Saks?
H&m?
Oscar, unfortunately, there are no offers for you tonight.
Terron... Oscar, fashion is about business.
And I'm just worried about you being a comedian
more than a designer.
I worry about your understanding due dates--
- oh, no, I understand that very well.
But you haven't given us a serious--
well, this is the first show.
I'm gonna give it to you next time.
If there is a next time.
There will be.
I have faith in God.
I've crossed there borders.
I've went without food for days.
And, uh, I've been knocked down many times,
and it takes me two seconds to get back up.
I applaud that.
Okay, guys, are there any offers for Nikki?
Wait a second. Macy's, hello!
Yay!
Thank you. Thank you.
Nikki, I loved the feel of your garments.
I think it was very, in my mind, kind of a retro chic feel.
That's exactly right.
This $50,000 is also kind of a nod
towards what I think is your amazing talent
and my desire to see what we can do going forward.
Congratulations. Thank you.
Thank you.
Well, Nikki, you're definitely a winner this evening.
Because no only have you a $50,000 order from Macy's,
but your dress is going to be available tonight.
And, gorgeous one here,
unfortunately, you risk being eliminated.
But thank you both very much.
Yay, yay, yay!
Nikki's gonna be in Macy's.
Next to show their signature looks
are Barbara bates and Nicholas bowes.
As a former aussie model,
Nicholas is trying to prove to the fashion world
that he's more than just a pretty face.
Perfect. I modeled for ten years, from the age of 17,
and just from there it just snowballed into
me learning all the processes that goes into manufacturing,
and also designing.
I think my biggest strength in this competition
would definitely be my knowledge of what needs to be done
to create a brand.
And I actually don't think I'll have a weakness.
This is called the dame jacket.
It's got the padding here on the chest, and the day rings.
There's a lot of motorcycle jackets out there.
So what makes this one, like, you know,
I mean, I see the details.
I know that I've got a great fit.
I know that I've really concentrated hard
on the--on the lambskin.
It's more than just talent in this business.
It isn't just about having great product,
and, Nicholas, his product needs some work,
but he didn't think it did.
While Nicholas feels confident about his jacket,
Barbara, a Chicago native and mother of three
is anxious about her runway debut.
Beautiful dress--skirt.
Thank you. Wanna buy it?
Yeah, I would totally buy that!
I just don't need more embellishments on my hips.
Well, we'll put them someplace else.
I always knew I wanted to be involved in fashion,
and while working in corporate America,
I'd meet the girls in the bathroom on paydays
and I would sell them my designs.
The small one.
So I quit my job and became a fashion designer.
My heart is pounding so fast
that I think it's literally gonna jump out of my chest.
You know, I consider myself being strong.
I've had some adversities in life.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009,
but I don't have breast cancer anymore.
- I'm ready. - All right, we're rolling!
Stand by. For the most part,
I just, like, live life to the fullest.
Wow.
My aussie boy Nicholas and Barbara.
How did you think your clothes looked, guys?
- Fantastic, I was pleased. - I was very, very happy.
I thought they looked fantastic.
Let's see if the mentors agree.
When we come back.
Coming up, Nick and Barbara face the mentors.
'Cause I really kind of want
to hit you across the face right now.
A big night is still ahead of us
with more hot-off-the-runway purchases for you
at the end of the night.
And one designer will be eliminated.
Who will it be?
Welcome back to fashion star.
This is the place where one talented designer
will get their very own fashion line in Macy's,
saks fifth avenue, and h&m!
Each week, our designers
will try to sell their latest piece from their collection.
And each week, these stores
will be stocking their shelves with items
they purchase for you.
Well, we've just seen Nicholas and Barbara's clothes
on the runway, and I think I'd like to start with Nicole.
What did you think?
- Hi, Barbara. - Hi.
How did it feel seeing your clothes out there?
Heavenly. It was beautiful.
Great. Well, I liked the small ruffles.
The bigger ones were actually more on the hip,
and it wasn't so flattering.
It Drew attention to a part of a woman's body
that we don't want to be noticed.
- Okay. - But I would just encourage you
to focus on the American woman, for sure.
All right, thank you.
I thought it was interesting you chose to do
two different reds.
I liked the skinnier version,
where you did the smaller pockets.
I just think that when you kind of go over the top--
I understand it for the runway and stuff,
but for a buyer and for a consumer,
I didn't really connect with it very much.
Why don't we talk about Nicholas now.
My aussie boy. John...
You know, I think you have a nice take on a biker jacket,
but there's a lot of biker jackets out there, though.
And one really needs to define themselves
on their own. Okay.
I wish I could have seen different hardware.
You always see zippers where they're kind of
not supposed to be.
I think it's a very fashion-forward piece.
If you understood what was going on right now,
you'd probably understand that that's what...
Is going on right now with-- with men's fashion.
Nicole...
I was definitely a little distracted by the styling.
The shorts and the cowboy boots really threw me off,
because it was this rock and roll look,
and then all of a sudden your last model came out,
and it looked like the top half of him
was going to a rock concert,
and the bottom half was going line dancing.
And I was like, "wait--
what state are we in? Like, what's happening?"
Look, everyone's got their own opinion.
I think, you know, I like John's advice
from a guy's point of view was...Not bad.
But it's very hard to understand the girls
giving advice about men's fashion.
Well, they've been in the fashion industry.
- Really? - Burn... That is so aussie chauvinist.
Um, I'm a little bit offended.
Not a little bit, a lot of bit.
To talk down to a woman in this business--
we're runnin' the world right now, okay?
And, really, we're trying to help you.
I'm trying to help you. I'm trying to be nice.
I understand that. I do, I do.
Because I really kind of want to hit you
across the face right now.
- I'm embarrassed. - Why?
Because these women have been in fashion for many years.
They have an opinion.
You know there's two women buyers behind you, right?
Hi.
We got-- we got some disputes here.
But I--you know, why don't we turn to the buyers,
and we'll see.
We'll see what the buyers think.
Let's start with Nicholas.
Are there any bids for Nicholas?
No bids for you tonight, Nicholas.
I'm sorry.
I mean, if I may... I know I'm a female...
It was a bad choice of words. Sorry.
Would you mind, Nick, if I said a few words?
Not at all.
Your jacket is on trend.
The edginess, the choice of leather,
the detailing-- you are on trend.
And I've worked-- I'm a female,
but I've worked with menswear for, yeah, quite some time.
And I think you have potential to really put variation
into that style, and that's what I would like to see.
Yeah, thank you.
Okay, so... Do we have any offers for Barbara from Macy's?
Saks? H&m?
Well, unfortunately,
there are no offers for you tonight, Barbara.
Um, Barbara, I think it's very clear
that you're a phenomenal talent.
The fabric manipulation on those pockets
was some of the best I've ever seen.
But as a designer, you do need to sometimes pull back
and say, "is this saleable? Is it wearable?"
Okay. All right. Thank you.
Okay, guys, so unfortunately, you both risk elimination.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
How was that?
Dude!
It was more of a razz comment, like, say it--
- from a southern woman's standpoint,
that's why she got so offended.
She's from the south. She doesn't want to hear that.
All I was trying to say was, someone like her...
Doesn't really know what's going on.
I...Disagree.
- Whoa. - But it really...
Coming up on fashion star...
It looked hot going down the runway.
- Agh! - This could be your only chance
in front of these buyers.
And you literally put someone else's clothes on the runway.
Next up are two designers
who come from very different worlds.
We have Ross Bennett and Sarah parrott.
My name is Sarah, and I'm 31,
amd I'm from marietta, Georgia.
Hi, my name is Ross. I'm 27 years old.
And I'm from Austin, Texas.
Fire in the hole. Fire in the hole.
Everyone always asks me, like, they're so crazy, you know,
"you're a straight guy who's married,
who likes to hunt and fish, yet designs clothing."
I don't care what anyone else thinks.
I've studied under some of the best tailors in the world.
President bush's tailor, lbj's tailor.
Most of my customers are lawyers, attorneys,
state senators' wives.
They're pretty high-profile women in Texas.
I have an advantage because I make my own patterns.
I sew everything myself.
And I can't wait, because...
That's what's gonna separate the men from the boys.
Did you have, um, your spelling test today?
Yes. A-plus.
Good job, Ben!
I have two kids at home,
so my life really revolved around them for quite some time.
But I've always wanted to be in fashion.
You know, I don't have a design background.
I didn't go to school for this.
I've never been sold in a store.
I have, like, a sewing room upstairs, and that's it.
My mom always made dresses for, like, the holidays.
So she kind of showed me the basics, you know.
Unfortunately, my mom passed away
the day after my first son was born.
It was just a devastating blow in my life.
Losing my mom made me strong enough
to kind of go after my dreams.
Thanks, David.
This is what I should be doing, and...
I'm supposed to be here.
'Cause if it got pulled in anymore,
it would come up too high.
So right now, I'm making sexy shift dress.
It's kind of modern and still classy.
And it's something that girl that's 18
or a girl that's, like, in her 40s
would maybe just, like, be, like, "oh, my God.
I love that dress."
Will you walk in that one for me, please?
- Howdy! - Hi.
- How are you? - Ross Bennett.
I'm Jessica simpson. It's nice to meet you.
I hear you're a Texas boy. J.J. Pearce boy.
- No way! - Yes, ma'am.
We went to the same high school.
That's correct.
When I met Ross for the first time,
he definitely lured me in with being the Texas guy.
I've heard that Ross knows how to tailor something,
so I hope that he's really good when it comes to fit.
I like these fabrics. I think it's good to show--
- you like the blue? - Yeah, I do like the blue.
'Cause I was thinking about white.
I think white's harder to sell.
You think so?
And then walk back. Beautiful, ladies.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
I left everything at home.
I left my wife, my dog, my job.
I'm here to win it.
There's no one who puts on a presentation like I do.
I like the idea of using a strong color on the lip.
Maybe with her, we'll just go a little more in that coral...
- Exactly. - And as far as the eyes go,
be just a little bit of gold or a brown.
Nothing too busy.
But how do you feel you should be?
I'm a nervous wreck.
Macy's, saks, and h&m
are the biggest stores that you can come across.
Come on over here, Ross.
You know, it's a dream come true,
but it's pretty terrifying.
All right, here we go.
Three, two...
It looks like someone's grabbing her in her vagina.
We call that a "wedgina."
Go, go.
Ross and Sarah, what a collection.
How does that feel up on the fashion star stage?
- Feels awesome. - Pretty amazing.
- So you're excited. - Yes.
- We're excited. - Excited, yes.
I'd like to hear what the mentors have to say
when we come back.
So before we find out if there are any offers
from our buyers, let's hear what our mentors thought
of the designers Sarah and Ross.
Let's start with Jessica.
Sarah, it looked hot going down the runway.
You should be so... Thank you.
So proud of yourself.
And I'm glad you went with the teal.
You were not going to do it,
but I'm really glad you went with it.
I think that you're gonna have a buy.
I really do, like, I'm crossing my fingers
for you with that dress. Thank you.
That means a lot. Thank you.
John...
I definitely think you need to push the bar up a little bit
in terms of making signature. I agree.
Think about what people are gonna know you for,
how they're gonna read that on the street.
But I think it's great.
Thank you so much.
Okay.
Now, Ross... John, did these styles resonate for you?
You know, you're a dapper guy, but I'm really challenged.
I kind of feel like the pant is from another time,
and not in such a good way.
It definitely doesn't feel that it would fit
into a current fashion sense.
I kind of disagree. Not--no offense.
That's fashion.
- No, offense. - That's fashion.
We all have our opinions, and that's why,
to America, there's so many opportunities out there
to buy so many different things.
- That's right. - Ross, you are my Texas boy.
You say that you specialize in fit.
I don't think that the fit was a+.
- Okay. - For runway, first opportunity,
that might not have been the best fabric to choose.
I'm gonna take "unflattering" a step further,
because it was grabbing in the... - In the tushi! - Nope!
A little further up.
Yes. Yes.
You know, look, you are so cute.
Your style is so cute, with the bow tie and the suit,
and I would have loved that on a woman,
for her to look like a sexy version of you.
Okay, so now it is time to face the buyers.
Okay, buyers, do we have any offers for Ross?
So we have no offers for Ross.
What happened?
You know what, Ross?
I think you are clearly talented.
That particular pant had a very limited
scope of customer that could really wear it.
And, you know, for Macy's, we pay very close attention
to try and service as many of our customers as possible.
Ross, I didn't love it. I'm being brutally honest here.
I just thought there was too much fabric,
things that I've seen before.
It wasn't unique.
It wasn't really special enough for saks.
All right.
So are there any offers for Sarah?
We've got $80,000 on the board.
That's incredible!
I bet your mom would be very proud of you right now.
So let's find out from h&m and from Nikki,
I mean, what do you love about this dress?
Where do I begin?
It's like the little black dress reinvented.
I think you found the perfect combination
of wearability, commerciality,
and just enough distinctive details
that elevated that dress to another level.
And also showing the edginess in the leather
and going with the softer color in the blue
shows your versatility and how smart you are
with your choices as designer.
- Thank you. - So congratulations.
It's going to be a huge seller,
and, um, we're happy to buy this style.
I really appreciate it. Thank you so much.
So, Ross, unfortunately, you didn't sell this evening.
You do risk elimination.
And, Sarah, not only have you made a sale--
$80,000 with h&m-- but you are safe tonight,
and your little black dress will be on sale at h&m.
Amazing. Yes.
Thank you, designers.
Well done. Thank you.
Thank you. Good job.
You are insane.
I'm shocked.
Like, it's what I wanted, but I'm still shocked.
So to actually have somebody from h&m buy something
that I've designed is pretty incredible.
Welcome back to fashion star.
15 minutes, guys.
Our next four designers have readied themselves for battle.
- Good luck. - Thank you.
Ronnie.
I currently design for Abercrombie & Fitch.
I just want to show America what I can do.
Luciana... I started my company four years ago.
It's a contemporary line of dresses.
- And Lisa. - My whole thing is late '50s, early '60s.
All from different walks of life.
All with the same goal...
Fashion star is the opportunity
I've been waiting all my life.
Becoming a fashion icon.
Yay!
But for one mother and former microsoft project manger,
Lizzie Parker's dream started quietly at home in Seattle.
I went on craigslist, bought two sewing machines,
and used software and kind of worked out
how I was gonna make things that I couldn't find in stores.
To show her clothes
to some of the most powerful buyers in the world
seemed impossible two short years ago.
This is an opportunity for me to launch
into three major retailers.
I mean, it's pretty major.
But tonight... - Lizzie, come. - Okay.
Everything changed.
How do you feel?
Stunned and excited.
Lizzie's designs stood out...
I like that it was sophisticated.
It's very sellable.
I really appreciate that you can wear what you make.
While the others failed to get a buy.
It is not original.
You have a lot more in you than what we've seen tonight.
Really dig deep and think about something a little riskier.
And the time had finally come to see if Lizzie
could become the person she'd always dreamed about...
Are there any offers for Lizzie?
A fashion designer for some of America's biggest stores.
- $50,000! - My God!
Macy's, you gonna let-- oh!
My goodness.
You've made a sale from Macy's.
$60,000.
So Lizzie's dream comes true, and her designs will be sold
alongside the biggest names in fashion
in a huge national retailer.
The biggest thing is
people are gonna be wearing my clothes.
- They absolutely are! - They're gonna be at Macy's!
My daughter and son had very simple advice for me.
They said, "don't go home."
Next up, our last showcase of the evening
before someone has to go home.
They are Kara laricks and nzimiro oputa.
Dude, I wasn't this nervous until now.
You know, my look is very androgynous.
I mean, it is me. What I design is kind of me.
My specialties right now are accessories.
I take pieces from different deconstructed items of clothing,
and then I create them into something different.
I would love to do an entire women's-wear line,
but, you know, financially,
I haven't been able to do it on my own.
She's aggressive.
Yeah, I like that.
Except not too aggressive, 'cause the double-sided tape...
My piece is a simple accessory collar
and it's attached to a stand,
which is this portion of a shirt,
and then attached to a tie,
is one of the very first things that I created.
I feel like it's my identity,
this kind of masculine meets feminine.
So maybe we do this really tight,
as like a twist, so that it's got, like,
it follows the head shape here.
- That would be really great. - So it's clean.
And then the swoop.
You know, year after year,
as I look at fashion shows and I look at trends,
always menswear-inspired comes up.
And it's a little bit risky. It's a little bit exciting.
It's a little bit avant-garde.
And I just would love to bring that to not only the buyers,
but the greater public too.
Okay, cool.
In this showcase, I'll be presenting
a very functional blazer.
It goes from the corporate guy
to the guy who wants to go to the lounge.
- Do it, yeah. - Let's go.
Growing up in Detroit, it was rough.
Weren't the richest family.
We had to make due with what we had.
My father's Nigerian, and it was...
Engrained in us that we will be successful.
This is it. We about to make history.
- Stand by. - Three, two...
Wow. Kara, that was a bold choice, going with just a tie.
Thank you.
Let's hear what our mentors thought when we return.
Welcome to fashion star.
Now it's time for nzimiro and Kara
to hear from our mentors.
Nicole, what did you think?
Let me tell you, first of all,
your presentation was phenomenal.
Um, I thought that they were a great representation of you.
But you didn't design the clothes.
No, I did the collar attached to the tie as an accessory.
Okay, so...
This could be your only chance in front of these buyers.
And you literally put someone else's clothes on the runway.
I do understand.
I wanted to design a very simple,
kind of avant-garde accessory
that could fit into anybody's existing wardrobe.
Kara, when we met the other day,
you talked about deconstructionism,
which I thought was really interesting,
and this is this deconstructed shirt and tie combination.
But it doesn't tell enough of who you are
and what your real story is about deconstructionism.
That should have come down the road a little bit
on one of your pieces.
- Okay. - I'm intrigued.
I really am, because... I just feel like you're teasing us.
I do feel like there's something in you that has a cool,
unique feel about you that's gonna make
an awesome line, and I kind of, like,
am believing in you a lot.
Thank you, thank you.
I'd like to hear nzimiro.
I really don't have any complaints.
I love a guy in a suit jacket.
I love the patchwork.
Maybe I just find men really sexy,
and they looked great in it.
Detroit boy to Detroit boy.
Mano to mano.
Okay, so I love your story.
The styling was great.
The combination between the pea coat and a tailored jacket,
the little stand-up collar, permanent stand-up collar,
is a nice little touch.
Kind of a hidden treasure.
You're on your way.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Well, these are important lessons for the designers.
But now it's time for nzimiro and Kara to face the buyers.
Okay, let's start with Kara.
Macy's, saks fifth avenue, h&m, any offers for Kara?
The tie didn't rock, babe.
- Bummer. - No.
Kara, why did you present only the--
the necktie and the collar as representative?
I'mI'm most inspired--
I take apart things that we already wear.
For example, a men's collared shirt.
And when I lay all of the pieces out on the table,
I use the ones that I'm most inspired by.
And I started with the most simple, the most basic
of the items that I've designed,
which was the collar, the stand, and then the tie added.
So it's just the beginning of what I have to offer.
Butbut do you think that you're possibly a one-trick pony?
No, not at all.
I have a whole collection ready to go.
Nikki, h&m, no interest there.
No buys tonight, Kara.
I have to say, coming out with the tie and accessory first,
it was a little bit, maybe, indulgent
and--and a big risk on your part, to be quite Frank.
I don't know that you made the right decision tonight.
Thank you.
Okay, so are there any bids for nzimiro's jackets?
H&m, $50,000.
That's unbelievable. That is amazing.
That is amazing. Thank you.
I see your product hanging very well in h&m.
Nikki. Your details, your fabric choice, the collar,
all of those small things that really are important
in men's fashion, you hit the nail on the head.
And I think this is a great buy for us,
and we can definitely sell it.
Thank you. I hope you can.
Thank you.
Saks fifth avenue, I was sure that would be
something you guys would like to have.
I like your jacket, um... One thing that I always like
is a little bit of surprise and delight in clothing.
And something that I always wear,
much like what you've done... Wow, look at that.
Who would have thought that you
would have had a jacket like that.
But that-- but that's what fashion is.
It's a business, and it's about surprise and delight.
Gotcha.
Well, listen, guys, nzimiro, you are safe for this evening.
Kara, no offers this evening,
which means, of course, that you do risk elimination.
- Okay. - Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Well, it's been quite a night.
We have eight designers who failed to sell their clothes.
And any one of them could be going home.
Over the break, the buyers and the mentors
have some tough decisions to make.
When we come back, we will find out
who the mentors have chosen to save
and who the stores are sending home.
Coming up in just a few moments,
these six fabulous designs will be available
for you to purchase.
But eight designers were not so lucky,
and one will go home.
Welcome back to fashion star.
Now, tonight, 14 designers presented their clothes
to our stores.
Six of them made sales, and they are safe
and are moving on in the competition.
Their designs will be available for you to buy
in a few short minutes.
But eight designers failed to sell
and are at risk of being eliminated.
This is so effing nerve-racking.
At the end of the day,
I want to win this competition more than anything,
and I'm very scared about going home.
- Yeah, you're good, man. - Thanks.
I did see the pants on the fitting,
and I almost stop you and tell you about it.
But I knew that you were going argue too much with me,
so I didn't tell you.
What's the point in saying that right now?
Shut up. I'm not talking to you.
You are off your rocker.
My God. I don't wanna be the first people to go home.
Because I certainly know that I'm better
than everybody else.
Now, each week, our mentors will be given the opportunity
to save one designer.
Over the break, the mentors had to make their decision,
and the buyers had to figure out who they felt should go home.
Let's take a look.
We have to have people here
who are open to feedback of both the mentors and the buyers.
I think we need to protect the dreamers.
I'm super-sad about Ross.
All those pants.
No. They were all sorts of no.
You can say it.
We were kind of talking about Kara.
But I'm worried that she can't take it very far.
I don't know if it was overconfidence.
She had an opportunity.
Oscar.
Don't we kind of need a dreamer?
I don't know.
I have the feeling that, personality aside,
I mean, I can't sell a personality on a hanger.
Nicholas.
I wish it was just confidence
in his design, and not arrogance.
Do we owe Nicholas the opportunity
to come back and be better next week?
We're not a charity.
It's a business.
Okay, we're ready.
I would like to call the buyers'
bottom three designers to the stage.
Nicholas.
Oscar.
...and Kara.
All right, mentors.
This is your opportunity to save someone
you feel deserves another chance.
Well, this was a very hard decision for us.
Um, and we didn't originally all agree.
But we went with someone who didn't necessarily
wow us tonight, but who we have faith
that is going to really
bring something special here next week.
That person is Oscar.
Yeah!
You're stayin'. You're safe, bud.
So now it is time to face the buyers one final time.
Buyers...
Who's going home?
Nicholas, your design was commercial tonight,
but we've seen it before.
To truly be successful in this business,
you have to be open to feedback, and you--
you weren't tonight.
And at this point, I doubt that you will be able
to show the development needed
to come up with a full collection at the end of this series
for all three of the retailers sitting here.
Kara, you took a huge risk tonight.
Unfortunately, it didn't pay off.
This was your opportunity to really show us
who you are as a designer and what you stand for,
and I don't think you brought that tonight.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Nicholas.
You're not our fashion star.
You're going home.
Okay.
Nicholas, it is never easy
being the first one out of a competition,
but thank you so much for competing on fashion star.
Thanks, Elle.
It felt like a little bit of a slap in the face,
but people that know what is current
will probably be a little bit shocked that I got kicked off.
I really like my motorcycle jacket.
And I wasn't saying that girls don't have a clue
when it comes to fashion.
Bye. See ya.
Take care.
I'm just saying that
I don't think they understand high-end fashion.
You know what, guys? We just saw really what happens.
Next week, the same can happen again.
Let's just hope we're not the ones there.
Things got real tonight. I mean, we realized
that it's all fun and games in the studios,
but come to the center stage, it's a whole other ballgame.
All right, America.
These designs are on sale right now.
At saks fifth avenue we've got orly's convertible miniskirt.
Edmond's cocktail dress is available at Macy's.
Along with Nikki's kimono caftan
and Lizzie's asymmetrical dress.
And at h&m, Sarah's shift dress and nzimiro's sport jacket.
So go online to purchase these items
or visit the stores tomorrow to get these incredible designs.
Hey, what's up, you guys?
It's your digital fashionista, Jeannie mai,
taking you exclusively behind the scenes
here at fashion star.
They're freaking out.
I'm gonna show you a sneak peek
of everything that does or doesn't make the catwalk.
I'm gonna show you the drama that goes on.
Everything that's going on behind the makeup room...
Fashion star.