PR: Yeah. I feel like there just isn't the major talent hanging around out there this season. I have a few designers whose clothes I like, but there's nothing making me catch my breath. And short of that, there isn't any personality making me sit up and take notice, either, see: Chris/Christians.
Anyway, I liked Irina's outfit tonight all right, but I wish she'd made the vest trimmer. It seemed sloppy, somehow, with the big cowl and the big hood. If the body of the vest had been sleek and tailored, I think I would have loved it. But I was meh on it.
I cannot believe how badly they botched both Greece and Santa Fe. I really love Santa Fe and I realize it's closer to my heart than the typical designer. And I can see how looking at photos you might pick up the muted color scheme. But Santa Fe style is so not about muted hues. It's about bright and vibrant color and silver and turquoise and more important, dynamic form. It made me want to get out my sketchpad. Not that I'm a designer, or could do anything with it if I had a design. But there's just so much more they could have done with that.
Also, I was bemoaning to the SO that it's the fact that people like Michael Kors love Santa Fe that makes it so expensive there.
Anyway, I thought it was a great challenge, and would have liked to see what some different designers would have done with it.
I do think the judging has been inconsistent this year due in no small part to the fact that the judges have been inconsistent. I think if Nina and Michael had been guiding this group with their scathing criticism all this time, they'd have gotten further by now.