Hasta La Ideas

Despite our loyalty to all things Isaac Mizrahi, we had resolved to abandon The Fashion Show, Bravo’s Project Runway manqué, when it was revealed in a design history-themed challenge that many of the contestants had never heard of Halston or Madame Grès, which is analogous to a bunch of art students staring blankly at the mention of Picasso or Rubens. Good luck with the fashion careers, kids! Still, we’ll try to forget Reco‘s “Halston-inspired” corset dress and give the show another try tonight, when designer Isabel Toledo, currently the subject of an outstanding exhibition at the Museum at FIT, and Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey serve as guest judges for challenges that involve draping [Madame Grès cackles from beyond the grave] and a spangled red carpet gown. We think this is contestant James-Paul‘s competition to lose, but will his Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic and self-described “post-colonialist approach” be derailed by compulsory Swarovski crystals? Meanwhile, one designer gets reprimanded for ripping off Lanvin, although judge Fern Mallis notes that if you have to steal from someone, you couldn’t do much better than Alber Elbaz. Here’s a sneak peek…

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