Launch My Line S1E4: Congrats & Goodbye

The stripper episode without the strippers.

"Designers, this week you have to design genitals for these poor freaks of nature."

You know what? Honestly?

It was a pretty decent challenge. Except for the indecency.

Oh sure, it was cheesy in that reality TV way, but once you stop focusing on the weirdly genital-free naked people you realize it's a basic inspiration challenge, tarted up. These things normally go the fairly pedestrian route of flowers, water, and buildings most of the time, so it was actually a little refreshing to see designers use hair, skin color, body shapes and tattoos as inspiration.

The ones to beat. Didn't we say that? They just happen to have a highly functioning relationship. It's nice to see a little bit of tension so they're not annoyingly competent, but for the most part, they're both on the same page, all the time.

So congrats to them. They both have a talent for really thinking the hell out of a garment. That's not always a good thing, aesthetically speaking, but it just happens to be one of those skills that really has its benefits in a reality TV fashion competition, so long as they can be productive about it.

The result is another in a line of gimmicky items. It's her thing and she's established it. It tends to remind us of something you'd see on an infomercial at three in the morning, so we can't always support it as capital-F Fashion.

But here's the thing: One: yes, it's gimmicky, but it happens to be a highly practical gimmick; the benefits of which are immediately apparent.

Two: So far, Merle has demonstrated very good taste, which helps all these looks rise above mere gimmicks.

As for this one:
We're truly sorry to see her go. Give us this kind of whacky in a design competition. Instead of the pretentious and rehearsed whackiness of an Ari Fish or the walking soundbite generator of a Christian Siriano, we'd rather see someone like Vanessa clumsily stumble through the competition in her platform heels, loudly and somewhat cluelessly churning out clothes solely to be worn by herself. Contestants like this can be so raw and entertaining, even if they do routinely demonstrate their complete lack of proficiency in or understanding of the design process.

And attention must be paid to the skilled half of The Essas. We kind of doubt that Tressa had any illusions about their chances, but she was game to see Vanessa express herself as purely as possible and did everything she could to help her realize her vision, whacked out and impractical as it may have been.

Strangely enough...

She went out on her best look yet.

We kinda think she shouldn't have gone home for this, honestly.

Yes, those pockets are all kinds of insane but we have no problem envisioning, say, Lindsay Lohan stumbling out of a club and into a line of paparazzi at 4 am, wearing this. Which means you'd be seeing knockoffs on the racks in 8 weeks. It's the least crazy and most marketable look she's made yet, which, to us, meant she was improving as a designer and still had potential.


[Photos: BravoTV.com/Trae Patton - Screencaps: Projectrungay.blgospot.com]


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