Next in Fashion (2020) s01e01 Episode Script

Red Carpet

Welcome to Next in Fashion,
the design competition dedicated
to finding the next big thing in fashion.
- I'm Tan France.
- And I'm Alexa Chung, and between us,
we've worked in just about every corner
of the fashion industry.
Mm-hmm. Right inside that stage
are 18 of the world's
best and brightest designers.
Every one of them is nutso talented,
and some of them
are actually just a little bit nuts.
Yeah, and you get to sit back
and enjoy the ride.
Mm-hmm.
'Cause we're gonna take care of you.
The designers are about to go
through a whole series of challenges
hoping to prove
that they are the future of fashion.
From red carpet designs
to the perfect pair of jeans,
they really have to show off
that they can do it all.
- I think it's gonna be messy.
- Might be a bit stressful.
But my gosh, it's gonna be fun!
So it's me, it's him, it's 18 designers,
and only one winner.
Are you ready?
- I am now, yeah.
- Ready now? Okay.
No, wrong door. Sorry. Wrong door.
- [Tan] Let's do this.
- [Alexa laughs]
[theme music playing]
- [woman] Oh, my God!
- [laughing]
- [woman] Wow.
- [man] There's one for everyone.
- [man 2] Look at these!
- [woman] Crazy. What?
[laughing]
I'm Kiki Kitty.
I was a pioneer for urban wear.
I've been the ghost designer for Jay-Z's
Rocawear brand, Beyoncé's brand,
and every brand that I put out was dope.
Boo-yah! I need those. Ooh!
But I'm tired of being in the background.
This is my chance. This is my opportunity.
- Yes!
- That's a little seam ripper.
My name is Ashton Hirota,
and I'm known for avant-garde street wear.
As a designer, I have combined
a punk feel, a goth feel
and kind of harmonized it together.
[laughs] You want a haircut here?
I think a huge portion of me wanting
to win this
is not for the money or the fame.
It's to be surrounded by amazing designers
and know that I was better
than all of them.
[laughs]
- Hi, guys. Hi!
- Hello!
You look so cute.
- How's it going?
- Hi.
[Alexa] Gather 'round.
[clamoring]
Welcome to Next in Fashion.
[Alexa] We scoured the Earth high and low
for some of the best and brightest
designers in the world, that's you.
Now, we don't know that much
about any of you yet
So let's play a game of get to know you.
[laughing]
- [Tan] Alexa, will you go first?
- Yes.
I want to know who here went
to a top-tier fashion school.
- [Tan] A lot of you. That's impressive.
- Angel, where did you go?
- Central Saint Martins.
- Yes, you did.
- [laughing]
- [Alexa] Ooh-la-la.
I forgot to go to school.
Isaac, you are looking
a little bit nervous.
I'm not nervous. I'm confident.
[Tan] Oh!
That is a confident look, is it?
I didn't go to fashion school.
I just started at 20 years old.
And now I'm the only Pakistani-American
luxury street wear designer in New York.
I can say that with supreme confidence.
Okay, who of you has dressed
an A-list celebrity?
[Alexa] Nice. Oh, my God.
You're smashing it!
- Nasheli.
- Beyoncé.
- [Tan] What?!
- Yeah.
You don't have to dress anyone else
if you've already dressed Beyoncé!
[laughs] Okay.
- Hi, Marco. Who did you dress?
- Iggy, Rita, Fergie.
I like anyone with one name.
[laughing]
Okay, I've got one last question.
Who amongst you is a household name?
Maybe not any of you just yet,
but that's exactly why we're here today,
because for one of you, that's a dream
that's about to come true.
Over the course of the competition,
we're gonna put you to the test
with challenges that span
the entire fashion landscape.
This is not going to be an easy gig.
No. It would be, quite frankly,
impossible to pull it off alone.
So that's why we're gonna begin
this competition in teams of two.
Some of you have collaborated before,
some of you are friends,
and others have simply joined forces
for the common goal of winning fashion.
We've never worked together, but, yeah,
we're going to make a good team.
I think together,
we will be able to produce some
of the best garments in the competition.
Charles is the perfect partner.
He's vicious.
- My father and my husband are vicious,
- [laughs]
and this is the right partner
for my life.
[laughing]
- We have a very complimentary skill set.
- We're both, like, on the same page. Yeah.
We both studied at Central Saint Martins.
It means that we both have
a really strong work ethic.
There's something that comes with
growing up in the club scene.
- We still have the same attitude, I think.
- [laughs]
We've been friends for 18 years.
No one else in this competition,
I believe, can turn it out like we can.
We are 100% the Hollywood team to beat.
We are going to give the winner
$250,000 to invest in your business.
[murmuring]
- $250,000!
- Wow!
Yass!
- I'm going over here.
- [laughing]
Right? Can you imagine
what you could do with that?
Now, Net-A-Porter, the world's premier
online luxury fashion destination
will award the winning designer
$250,000 to fund their collection
with the opportunity to retail
their designs on the Net-A-Porter site.
[all] Wow!
Okay, this is the big moment, guys.
Your first challenge here is
a fashion rite of passage.
It is a fundamental look
in any designer's portfolio,
and it has the ability
to put somebody on the map
for all the right
or all the wrong reasons.
Your first challenge is to create
a red carpet look.
- Sweet!
- Yes!
I'm immediately excited.
Red carpets are my thing.
I'm very couture based,
so it is my specialty.
[Angelo]
I feel good because Charles is a master.
I have the perfect partner.
- Today, I feel like a leopard.
- Yeah.
I'm ready to win my place.
Even though walking a red carpet
isn't a part of everyone's daily routine,
I still think it's something
we can all relate to.
It might be a look for your prom,
that standout gown
at your best friend's wedding,
or maybe you just love to really
over-celebrate your birthday like Tan.
Basically, something that looks
and makes you feel your very, very best.
You'll be working with one female model,
and each team will present just one look.
You're going to have
up until the runway show tomorrow night
to conceptualize, sketch
and sew your look.
- You got two days.
- What?
[murmuring]
Now, we will not be the only ones
judging your red carpet looks.
Joining us at the runway will be
some of the most influential tastemakers
in the world of fashion.
We will be welcoming the global powerhouse
that is Monique Lhuillier.
- Ooh!
- Oh.
[Alexa] Her work is impeccable,
so you better make sure
that yours is up to her standards.
And you have everything you need
to succeed 'cause we've made sure of it.
[Alexa] Yeah! Watch her go!
[designers cheering]
[Alexa] This is our fabrics closet.
We have all these fabrics to choose from.
If it isn't in there,
we can get it for you.
The world is your oyster. Dream big.
Now, your first ever
Next in Fashion challenge
starts
- Now! Right now!
- Whoo!
- [clamoring]
- [laughing]
I'm automatically thinking the red carpets
in the '90s, like, at the MTV Awards,
where everyone was like, "Look at me.
I'm a weird skank-ho."
They should look like they're going
to a red carpet event,
- but also ready to fight a war.
- Mm-hmm.
- Sexy, low-cut.
- Yeah, boobies.
- [Farai] Yeah, boobs.
- Love it.
I actually don't hate that. [grunts]
That one.
No? [laughs]
- Alexa
- Yeah.
For this challenge,
we have one dress, two days.
Normally they take weeks upon weeks,
if not months.
- Two people, probably different visions.
- [Alexa] Yeah.
Color-scheme. You want mute, I want loud.
How're we gonna bring those
to the middle?
The first moments of conception
are absolutely key.
If you're not clear in your idea,
you can't change it later down the line.
What makes a good red carpet look?
I always like
when people are pushing the envelope.
I guess I want
to see something that's edgy.
Something where you look at it first
and you're like, "Ooh!"
'Cause it's risky,
and eventually it becomes iconic.
Big no is blah. Big no is boring.
I want to gasp.
[Ashton] Like, it feels fetish,
which is what I would do,
and it feels glam, which you would do,
and it also feels hella strong.
Ashton's always been my best friend.
We worked in the same space
for maybe ten years.
We've worked with so many musical acts.
Katy Perry, Black Eyed Peas
we did together for years.
[Ashton] Ariana Grande
[Marco]
So our inspiration's gonna be Grammys.
[Ashton] It's a little bit more edgy.
Maybe throw in some bondage in there.
Go back to our roots.
That's our second nature.
- I feel like we should avoid pink, though.
- Yeah, I agree. I don't like pink.
I definitely have got a tomboy spirit.
I've always had that.
I wouldn't want to do something flow-y
and really frilly.
- Same for me.
- I know your style is the same.
[Carli]
Daniel does men's. I do womens wear.
So we're going to create a look
that is actually separate pieces.
A top, a trouser and a skirt.
It's ambitious, yeah.
We love a challenge anyway.
- Are you happy with this?
- Yeah. No, I think this is nice.
- I brought some options.
- [Nasheli] Okay.
[Isaac] The snakeskin incorporated
something like that.
- [Nasheli] No, no, no.
- This might work.
No? You think it's too much?
I'm very nervous about using
that snake fabric.
This fabric take a lot of hand tacking
and time,
and we are very short on time.
It's not going to work.
There has to be something
that's not just a ballroom gown.
- If it doesn't work, we'll figure it out.
- Okay.
Yeah, I think we should definitely,
'cause that's gonna stand out.
[Nasheli] Okay.
- And we can mix with the pink.
- I don't mind the pink.
White is better or purple.
- This is dance material.
- Oh, no. Oh, sorry.
Please, Angelo. Come on.
- We don't have a plan of attack.
- No.
I think here nothing is okay.
- That one can be nice.
- Angelo
We did not get on the same page
right away.
- Angelo is running around everywhere,
- [laughs]
and he has a million ideas he needs
to express.
- Ah, here!
- Angelo, focus.
Okay, stop, you have to focus. Look at me.
- Or for example, the black--
- Angelo, you need to listen to me,
because you're doing what you want,
and we need to work as a team.
We need to get on the same page,
or else we're not going to win.
Everybody is going to look at me,
because the red carpet gown,
this is my specialty.
And I fell into that very distinct style
at a very young age.
When I was a kid, I always wanted
to design these grand garments.
I think my parents realized that,
and they said, "Chase your dreams."
My first fashion show was when I was 13,
and I used recycled materials
found around my father's work.
My father owned an appliance store.
So they were made of duct tape,
paper clips, sheets of plastic,
and I made corsets out of them.
My mom had no control over me,
God bless her.
Kiki and Farai.
- [Farai] Hi!
- [Tan] Hello, loves. How are you?
- Okay, you guys know each other.
- Yes, we do.
- How long have you been working together?
- So we met each other in 2013.
We worked together
at the Nicki Minaj collection.
- What?!
- Oh! Good name drop.
[laughing]
I loved her vibe. I loved her energy.
I hired her pretty much on the spot.
[Farai] She's always been my big sister.
She's supported me in personal life
and helps me with my son.
She's really become part of my family.
You're gonna make me cry,
so shut your pie hole.
What kind of thing are you going for?
What have you come up with so far?
[Farai] We're doing a jumpsuit look,
and it's going underneath a bolero
that's gonna go
on the top part of the garment.
We're doing a lot.
We've got the bolero,
we've got the bustier, we've got the pant.
- Yeah, we need the drama effect.
- Yeah, definitely.
Because if it's too simple,
it's gonna be like, "I'm bored."
[Tan] It sounds proper gorge,
but just to be clear, tomorrow night,
this is gonna be fully executed?
Yes, 100%.
I love that confidence.
I'm not worried about you.
- [laughing]
- [Alexa] See you later.
'Cause you know, I just love something
that's like hooch-wench vibes.
We just met the other day.
- But we both have, like, an edge to style.
- Mm-hmm.
It's all gonna be with D-rings
and straps on the side,
so the whole side is gonna be all exposed.
I'm a rebellious person.
I don't want to do a pretty gown.
They're everywhere,
so we're making basically a naked dress.
[Adolfo] The fabric, it looks like
it's metal wire, see-through.
- Slutty, but not illegal.
- Not fully illegal.
- [laughs]
- Not fully illegal.
So, I would do a very flow-y dress
of silk.
And keep it still very sexy and very
- Keep it very sexy. Yes.
- very glamorous. Yeah?
Both of our strengths is dresses
for a contemporary woman.
In India, you grew up
with all these wonderful women
looking so elegant in a sari
on special occasions.
You know, diagonally cutting across
a woman's chest just looks so glamorous.
So, we really want to make
a one-shoulder gown
that will have a slit right in the center
of the bust.
We'll start from the top
so we get the length,
and we're able to really put it back.
Yeah.
This is the first time we worked together,
and it feels like we've been working
together for the past 20 years.
[laughs]
- She purrty.
- She's cute, right?
[Marco] Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's beautiful.
If you want pink, keep it in the back.
I think the first statement
is the black dress,
and then the back,
that's when it happens.
- You want that impact moment.
- Okay.
- [Tan] Julian and Hayley!
- [Alexa] Hi.
Hi! How you getting along?
- We're from two different backgrounds.
- I'm menswear.
- I'm womens wear, quite simple.
- And I'm over the top.
[laughing]
- So we had to meet in the middle.
- How did you do that?
I'm used to managing people
'cause I'm in the Army,
and she's a single mother of two.
- So you both know how to lay down the law.
- [Hayley] Yeah, we do.
[Alexa] Amazing. And what have you
come up with so far?
[Hayley] It's gonna be the white jumpsuit
with a leather belt
to make it really contemporary.
The fabric's really sheer.
It's really crystal.
It's really embellished.
Are these Swarovski crystals?
Oh, they are.
- Oh, they're beautiful.
- We need some bling in there.
Put these in your pocket.
They're worth a lot.
Oh, my God. Look! Here, sign me up.
- [chattering]
- [laughing]
I really don't like you right now
because you selected that fabric.
[Isaac]
Okay, but doesn't it look beautiful?
- [Nasheli] I don't know.
- I guess we'll see.
[Alexa]
Isaac and Nasheli, what's going on?
So, basically, Nasheli is an expert
at draping and dressmaking
- [Alexa] Right.
- and I have a lack in dressmaking.
I do a lot of menswear,
so I'm just letting her figure out
the draping specialty stuff
and just help bring some flare to that.
And how would you describe
what you're making?
[Isaac]
Our dress is white non-stretch satin.
We are applying the snakeskin at the neck,
the shoulder and in the tail.
We really want people to look
at this dress and say, "Wow!"
Nasheli, I see you working away.
How are you feeling about the fabric?
This fabric is not something
that I would choose, normally.
Nasheli, there's $250,000 on the line.
Yeah, and that is why I need to go out
of my comfort zone.
$250,000!
That can change everything.
There are not a lot of people
with my story in the fashion industry.
[speaks Spanish]
Because I'm a Latina and fat.
I don't have a rich family.
I'm from a poor country.
I'm a single mom.
I have three beautiful kids.
They are so natural and so humble.
It's amazing to be a mom.
But I'm living paycheck by paycheck.
This competition is some hope.
It's having more time with my kids.
That is a big thing.
[exhales]
I want to prepare you a jewel.
- Yeah.
- like a jewel.
Well, show me the concept
so we're not wasting time.
Yes, I show you the things.
For me, I always focus on the idea.
I'm from a little village in Italy,
Cantiano.
I'm a creative director
of my own brand, Yezael.
My style is grand glam
contemporary wear.
I dream of fashion.
I want to be, like, superstar.
To be Italian in fashion is like to be,
"Wow!"
For me, it's easy to realize
like something you can put down,
like wings.
That can be amazing.
- Sky is not only for the birds.
- Yeah!
That's it! The wing, the architecture
- [gasps] We got our concept!
- [laughing]
Okay, concept pulled through.
We are making a gown
with a keyhole in the center.
It has a pencil skirt feel,
and it has a split train
with a very surprising end.
[Angelo] And now we need to be
as fast as possible.
Every single second counts.
Do you like that pant? Are you sure?
I'm not sure.
Doing a red carpet look for a woman
is difficult for me.
I have never done womens wear before,
so I'm glad that Carli's
by my side for this.
I'm worried about this being very light
and this very dark,
with nothing else picking up
on the top.
What I do is
really about really finessing something
until it is its absolute best.
Would it be unacceptable
to leave the edges
of the trousers raw inside?
No hem? Yes, it would be unacceptable.
- Sometimes that OCD can be a bit too much.
- Yeah.
[Minju] Angel, how's it going?
So right now,
I'm going to cut four ribbons.
Okay, good luck. [laughs]
- Angel and Minju, hello.
- [Angel] Hi, Tan. Hi, Alexa.
[Alexa] Hello.
Now, you guys have known each other
a long time.
Yes, for her collection,
I made all the print for her.
I met Minju when we were doing
fashion school in London four years ago.
We were both one of the winners.
Every time I'm having problems,
I always ring her up.
She's always like an older sister,
and she's always taking good care of me.
- [laughs]
- She's in love with me. Yeah.
[Tan] What are we making?
What we were thinking is something
with Asian touch will be really cool.
So, we are thinking to create something
with a huge cross knot in the front.
The bow at the back,
is it like the kimono bow?
Yeah, kimono bow. Yeah.
Now, you guys still haven't settled
on fabric.
That seems like a big decision
to be made pretty damn quick
- if you're gonna achieve this timeline.
- We will.
- [laughs]
- Do you want us to leave you so you can?
[continues laughing]
Minju's laughing to say,
"Yes, get out of here."
- Thank you. I will take that as our leave.
- Thank you.
- No, no. Oh. [bleeps] Ow.
- Oh!
- I'm sorry! I'm sorry.
- It's all right.
If you don't get hurt, what's the point?
[Alexa] Everybody, listen up!
Tan, myself and his beautiful sneakers,
we're here to tell you
you only have one hour left
till the end of day one.
- Damn!
- Get to it!
You cut this. I'll cut the body.
[Angelo] Then we do the zipper, okay?
- Some very ambitious ideas.
- Yeah.
[Alexa] Angelo and Charles
[Tan] I'm surprised that they managed
to come to an agreement on a theme,
but is a black dress enough?
I haven't worked like this since I was 16.
[laughing]
And I'm not 16 anymore.
[winces]
- Let me see what you're working with.
- Okay.
Isaac and Nasheli
[Alexa] I feel bad for Nasheli
because she literally looks like a mom
that's run off her feet.
- It's one piece. You want to do it?
- No, you got it.
- All right.
- [Nasheli sighs]
He's offering not much
from what I can see.
Ugh!
[Alexa]
So, now we've got Julian with Hayley.
My concern is that
it looks tacky and cheap.
Oh, my God. I'm really worried now.
I think we can't be too adventurous.
[Julian] We're not being adventurous.
[Alexa] Angel and Minju,
what do you think?
[Tan]
I love the direction they're taking.
That color is beautiful.
I would wear that mock-up the way it is.
- I'm obsessed with it.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big time.
[Minju groans]
I'm concerned about the time.
Charles, I need to cut everything?
Just cut it. Don't even pin it.
We don't have time for it.
- [Marco laughs] She's a little crooked.
- She had one too many bourbons, baby.
[Marco] Okay.
[Carli] I think you're gonna need help.
I don't think I'm gonna
get it done otherwise.
[Alexa] So, Carli and Daniel,
I think it's very interesting
that they're doing trousers
underneath a skirt with a top.
- I'm a bit worried about all of it.
- We don't even have a top yet.
- Are they gonna be ready in time?
- Short answer, no.
- Okay, I'm lining. Can you pull it?
- It's too tight.
Oh. We gotta go back up.
All right, everyone. Tools down.
Sadly, that's it,
but tomorrow is the runway day.
- So get some rest.
- They're not gonna be able to sleep.
Stay up all night and worry,
and we'll see you tomorrow.
- [Tan] Come on, dear.
- [Alexa] Let's have a cocktail.
Okay, we're talking about red carpet,
aka fancy-schmancy.
And I want to talk about shoes.
I don't often wear a high heel,
but when I do [sighs]
I always score the bottom
of my shoes like this.
You can get a little sandpaper on there.
And it means you don't slip around.
Okay, next up. [screams, laughs]
Learn how to catch and also,
just wear sneakers.
No one's judging you.
If you want to wear a flat shoe
with a ball gown,
that can be an excellent red carpet look.
So march to the beat of your own drum
and be that guy.
[man] Cut. Thank you.
You're gonna do great today, sweetie.
[hums]
- Oh, my gosh! Look at you!
- It's just casual.
- You look gorge.
- Thank you.
- Do you feel like a princess?
- I do.
[laughs] I can tell.
I feel like a grown-up person,
like a real-life woman.
Enough about us.
Should we bring in the contestants?
- Yes, please. Oh!
- All right.
[laughing]
- Good morning, everyone.
- [all] Good morning.
Your first-ever runway show is
in just five hours.
Your dresses have all been moved
to this area so we can build a runway.
From the looks of it,
you guys have still got a lot to do,
so time is definitely not on your side.
Your models will be arriving shortly,
and they're gonna be ready for fitting.
So go, go, go, go, go!
- [clamoring]
- [laughing]
We have to go back in here
and hand sew it.
Oh, no! This is messy.
We need to fix the zipper in here
and press it out.
As a designer, I'm a huge perfectionist.
Basically, it's been looking
like a potato sack the whole time.
There is no time to worry,
and I'm, like, going right into it.
- Just rip it off. It's fine.
- Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm 100% sure.
Minju, how's it going under there?
I'm making all hand stitch inside
to give her, like, nice volume.
- The side seam is not attached together.
- [Angel] Yes.
It's really a lot and too much.
But I think we're gonna finish it.
Of course we're going to
finish it. That's the rule.
[laughing] We will do that.
Oh, hey, you're so cool, Angel. Yeah!
At this point, she has no shirt.
So unless we want her
to just go out slinging 'em [laughs]
I'm gonna have to make this happen.
[laughs]
Oh, I'm sweating. I'm totally panicking.
- No pressure.
- [Julian] Yeah, no pressure.
[man] Models, models. Hold, hold, hold.
Models.
[Narresh] Your head has to go over here.
Yeah, just right here.
I have to take it in just a little bit.
[Isaac] Would you think you could walk?
- [model] In this?
- Yeah.
- It's gonna be real tight.
- [Isaac] Really tight in the back?
[Nasheli]
We're going to fix it. Don't worry.
Daniel. Nice to meet you.
Best not to talk to Carli.
She's in a bit of a mood. [laughs]
We've got a lot to do.
So, Carli's just gonna pleat this skirt.
I'm gonna fuse some fabric
and then we're gonna try some stuff.
- No problem.
- Everyone's trying stuff on their models.
- We have got nothing to try on.
- And our model's just standing there.
And I'm like, "You might have to wait
for a minute, darling."
Carli, the trousers are too small.
[laughs]
- Might have to put a gusset in them.
- [Carli] Might as well just go home now.
The trousers, um
- They're a bit tight.
- A bit tight. A little bit tight.
I think we have to leave it for a minute.
It's just gonna be a feature.
- [Daniel] No.
- [Carli] Darling, we don't have time.
I started off at Stella McCartney.
I was there for seven years.
I moved on to New York,
worked for Alexander Wang.
And we have light.
I'm a real perfectionist.
Everything I do is really organized
in a very anal way.
Not a thread or a stitch out of place.
I don't think I'll ever be in a place
where I will be content.
I think the best people are
the ones that strive for more.
Looks good. What do you think, Ashton?
- [Ashton] I think it's gorgeous.
- And you know I hate using wool.
[laughing]
- Touché. We're both mad at each other.
- Touché.
- We don't see the slit much.
- I would do definitely the glove.
- The diamonds maybe over the glove.
- Should be here.
So basically you're wearing a lot
of see-through sheer,
and we're gonna lace you up
all down the side.
So the side will be peeking out.
And you're gonna have
some nude undergarments on.
- Love it!
- [laughing]
- [Kiki] I feel like it's too much fabric.
- I think let's leave it,
- 'cause I think--
- No, I like it.
- [Farai] It adds flowiness.
- No, you're right.
Doing well in this challenge
is really important to me
because I'm really known
for a lot of streetwear brands
with my start at FUBU, and I've launched
Apple Bottoms and Rocawear,
and all of these younger, junior brands.
And I want to show that I'm so much
more versatile, and I can do it all.
This fabric is very thick,
so it's kind of difficult
to get the needle through sometimes.
- A lot is on the line for us right now.
- It's like the competition thing.
- We're gonna win.
- We're gonna win!
[man] Designers, two hours
to the runway show please. Thank you.
Angelo, we have two hours left
to finish all of this.
We still have to line the top,
and there's so much hand-sewing left.
I've already broken a needle.
I've ripped the zipper three times out.
I should be five steps ahead,
but I'm three steps behind.
- Angelo, look at me.
- Okay.
Just unpick all of this stuff, too.
Any loose threads, cut them off
while I hand-sew.
Okay.
I think I need
more thread than this, babe.
No.
We've only got a couple hours left,
and I'm like,
"We're up against some
of the best designers in the world here.
A white jumpsuit for a red carpet
is not going to cut it.
We need to come up with a plan B."
- So, Julian, I found this fabric,
- Oh, my God.
- and I just thought mother nature
- Yass!
And it's perfect.
So I'm thinking, you know,
some kind of skirt-type thing
with, like, a trail that we can add
over the top of the jumpsuit.
- Okay, perfect.
- Hey, don't leave me hanging.
[both laugh]
[Hayley]
That would make it look more feminine,
but still keep it really modern
and classic at the same time.
I think it's going to be really good
with a big belt.
[Julian] I'm from the military,
and if I see a void that needs
to be filled
so that we can complete our task,
my military brain kicks in,
and I just fill it with something.
The first thing I think is, "Let's just
throw crystals all over this jumpsuit."
Right now, I'm gonna apply Swarovski
crystals along the side of the zipper.
I'm gonna put them around the belt
and inside and in the bust as well.
[Nasheli] My expertise is in woven fabric,
so I'm very nervous
about using the snake fabric.
But I think we're taking it
to the next level,
and we are bringing a new proposal.
I think this was a good pushback
from Isaac.
[Isaac] I bring in a perspective
that she hasn't seen before.
- Okay.
- Show me. Come on. Yeah, yeah.
Cool. All right.
It's gonna be a little tap.
My name is Isaac Saqib,
and the name of my company
is Mercy X Mankind.
We make what the market would define
as luxury streetwear,
but I don't have a real definition for it.
Young Thug is one of the top rappers.
We ended up sending him
a cow pony hair printed coach jacket.
He definitely killed that look.
Not to sound obnoxious,
but when I first started the line,
I think I spent $5,000.
So at this point, if you gave me $250,000,
I'll be a millionaire six months from now.
[man] Designers, one hour
to the runway show, please.
One hour. Thank you.
- [Angel] Okay, let's go.
- Go, go, go!
- This looks nice, Carli.
- Yeah?
Yeah, look.
- Yeah, should we try it on her?
- Yeah, I'll go try her on.
Finally, we've managed
to get our stuff together.
We have done a top.
We've got the trousers.
We've got the skirt, and we're gonna
put it on her for the first time.
Wow! That top actually worked beautifully.
I'm really proud of us
for pulling that off, I have to say.
I mean, for a moment, a bit touch and go.
Thirty minutes left!
Ooh! [bleeps] No.
Simple touch with a very intense black.
She needs to look like a cat.
[Claire] This is quite fiddly to do.
- Is that side as tight as it goes?
- No.
- [both] Go, go, go, go, go.
- Perfect. In.
- Yes.
- Okay.
Don't you feel like a queen right now?
- Don't you feel--
- I feel like a badass regal queen.
Yes!
- Maybe we just need to move this up.
- [man] Five minutes to runway.
[cheering]
This is a huge night for us.
It's our first-ever runway show.
And the theme tonight is red carpet.
I think it looks good.
[Alexa] We're also excited
to introduce two people
who are not only some of the most
influential individuals in fashion,
they're also an important and integral
part of the Next in Fashion family.
Please welcome to the stage
Instagram's Eva Chen
and stylist to the stars
Elizabeth Stewart.
[audience cheering and applauding]
- Hi, guys. How are you?
- Hello.
[Tan] I'm so excited to have you here.
Thank you for being here.
- Thanks for having us.
- Thank you.
[Tan] Elizabeth, you dressed
Julia Roberts, Gal Gadot, Sandra Bullock.
What is important when dressing
a celebrity for a red carpet look?
It's almost like armor.
It can make them feel really strong,
really beautiful.
A lot of that is
the power behind the dress.
And if you feel a certain way
in your dress,
it can be super, super impactful.
The world of fashion has really opened up.
It's not just about the final look.
It's about getting hair and makeup done.
It's about the whole process.
- [Alexa] It's storytelling now.
- Exactly.
[man] Two-minute warning, everyone.
Two-minute warning. Thank you.
[Narresh] It doesn't look bad.
It really doesn't.
[Daniel] Let's get you to the iron.
Let's press the back of the skirt.
Just not quickly.
Just, you know, take your time.
Our guest judge tonight is a designer
whose work is synonymous
with classic glamour.
Her looks have been worn
by the likes of A-listers
such as Taylor Swift, Reese Witherspoon,
and, no big deal, Michelle Obama.
Nothing. No big deal at all.
Please welcome the unparalleled
Monique Lhuillier.
[cheering]
- [Alexa] Hi, Monique.
- [Tan] Hello. Welcome, Monique.
- Thank you so much for being with us.
- Thank you for having me.
So, Monique, in your opinion,
what makes a great red carpet look?
Something that enhances a woman's beauty,
but also makes her feel comfortable
and really authentic to her style.
[man] Thirty seconds.
Right, go.
Nice and tight. Um
[Isaac] Zipper is on.
- High-five.
- [laughs]
[shouts]
[laughing]
- [man] Models on the runway, please.
- [Daniel] Come take my hand.
- Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?
- Yeah, we are!
Amazing! In that case,
let the red carpet runway begin!
[woman] Get into single file.
Can you guys get into a single file?
- [man] All right, guys. Here we go.
- [man 2] In five
[orchestral music playing]
Standing by. Three, two, one, go.
Here we go.
[Elizabeth] It's gorgeous. Very vibrant.
The way it hangs on her is stunning.
I love the bow at the back.
I like how they mixed the materials,
and I do love how they're pushing it.
[Tan]
Did you see all the paneling on that?
It manages to be elegant,
even with all that sheer paneling.
[Monique] I don't think satin
works well with the leather.
I think there's too many ideas
in one gown.
Seeing this model walk down,
it looked very uncomfortable to move.
It's very tight.
Three, two, one, go.
Too much going on for me.
One too many ideas.
[Alexa]
Yes. It's quite odd fabrics, isn't it?
But I do like the color.
It is a very rich and beautiful color.
It feels modern to me.
I love the pant with the overskirt.
Do you think the pants
were necessary with that?
I love a pant.
Standing by. Three, two, one, go.
When I saw this fabric originally,
I was like, "Oh, no."
But actually,
it looks very beautiful here.
Into the back.
I'm into the button detail.
The styling is not sexy.
[Eva] I just think
it's a little bit too busy.
Yes, but the skirt's
quite stunning, actually.
It's subversive, it's dangerous.
I love the intricacy of this dress
and the pattern here.
This is very difficult to achieve
in such a short time.
Three, two, one, go.
Last model's out.
- This is fantastic.
- [Tan] I love this one.
[Eva] It's like Matrix lady.
I love how it transformed to another look
once she lets the train down.
- That's a showstopper.
- [Tan] It is a showstopper.
[cheering]
- [Ashton] Now I'm happy.
- It's over!
- Stunning!
- You're so good!
I can't stop kissing you.
I can't stop kissing you.
- [Farai] She's a crier.
- No, it's dusty in here.
[laughing]
[Alexa] Okay, guys.
Let's go and meet the designers backstage.
Let's have a look.
- Yes.
- Ready?
- I get nervous still.
- I get nervous, too.
Every single part of it has been done
by both of us.
I not only love the idea,
I love the execution.
I love the color choices here,
how the blue mixes in with this green,
- and I love the draping underneath.
- Very strong as well and confident.
She looks like a bad bitch.
It is a very cohesive look.
I don't know how you achieved that
by never working together.
And that just shows your strengths
and you checked your ego at the door,
and you wanted to create something
that was formidable.
- That means a lot.
- Thank you.
It was tough in the beginning.
He has a million ideas going on,
and I overcomplicate everything.
Did you find you were doing
a bit of the heavy-lifting?
- The thing is--
- That's where you got the muscles from.
[grunts, laughs]
Angelo was immediately
a creative director,
and he brings a lot of ideas forward
with concept,
and that's something
I don't necessarily have.
I think it was really well done,
well-executed.
I love the window, which are tricky to do.
- [Charles] Mm-hmm.
- I love the unhooked back and the drama.
I'm really thinking about what
the red carpet needs today.
That's really impressive.
And I think Gal Gadot would
really, really love that dress.
- Thank you.
- Bravo, guys.
So I love the dress overall.
I think it's definitely a statement.
I love the buttons, the cut,
and also you could tell
that the model feels comfortable.
Okay.
I love the overall look.
And I liked how you had a lot of detail
in the neckline and in the back.
I'm glad that you landed on this
because it does seem you kept in mind
what the event was
very, very clearly all along,
- and I applaud you for that.
- Thank you.
It's a little bit too much
going on for me.
There's a lot of layers, a lot of ruffles.
The color and the textures were amazing,
but still may be a little bit too much.
You've got your cape bolero,
there's also the bodice.
- There's a trouser and a half-skirt.
- [Farai] Yeah.
My only issue is the fabric as well.
I just feel like it didn't sew up
quite as nicely as it could have done
if it was a different fabric.
After the judges,
- my confidence is a little shook.
- Same.
Which I didn't think was possible.
Yeah, I felt like somebody took a pin
in a balloon and just popped it,
- Yeah.
- and just left me with the shrivel.
[laughing]
When you're thinking about this fabric,
in particular, the sheerness of it,
are you worried about a slight
not-suitable-for-work moment?
Not really.
- Okay.
- No.
I did have the same concern, thinking,
"Whoa, I'm gonna see her knickers.
Am I gonna see too much?"
But I love that you gave us
something interesting.
- [Eva] Good job guys.
- Thanks!
The inspiration for this look?
I do a lot more harness
and bondage feeling.
He does a lot of paneling and cut-outs.
[Alexa]
I think it's amazing how edgy it is.
I think so many red carpets
are really boring,
so it's nice to see something
with some pizzazz and personality.
As an LBD, which we know is
a classic fashion thing,
it's a really great twist, and it
really has a point of view from you guys.
- I think that's incredible.
- Thank you.
Have you ever designed evening wear
and red carpet before?
- No.
- No.
I think this would work perfectly
on the red carpet.
- [Minju gasps]
- [Monique] I love the color choice,
and then what I also love is
when she turned around,
there was an element of surprise
with how you did the bow in the back.
- Could we see a Michelle Obama moment?
- I sure can.
- I can also see, like, a Brie Larson.
- Yes!
[Monique] I can also see Taylor Swift
in something like this.
I love this dress.
I would wear this dress.
Like, give it to me.
I want to borrow it after this.
- Whose idea was the embellishment?
- Julian's.
- [Alexa] Did you have resistance there?
- [Hayley] Well, personally,
I would have had it plain just because
I like things being really simple.
[Elizabeth] I love the black and white
simplicity of it,
with the simple shape, the birds.
I feel like maybe you could have had
a few more days together
to mesh your sensibilities because
the rhinestones are a little bit too much.
Okay.
All these details,
is the reference Game of Thrones?
- Is it a mermaid reference?
- That was coincidental.
The Met Gala is something
you have to be brave in.
People are looking
for something different.
To get into the Met Gala, there's 88 steps
from the sidewalk to the top.
So she would have to walk up,
like, 80 steps.
I don't know that you'd be able
to walk up those steps.
So, she's got 88 steps to walk
She's gonna want a glass of champagne
at some point.
How does one go to the toilet?
[Isaac] This we had to sew in
just 'cause of time constraints.
Five hours, six hours
that you've been in this dress,
you haven't been to the restroom.
No, and I have to go.
That, dear designers, is problematic.
That is problematic.
The feedback from the judges,
I understand.
They were thinking more the traditional
way of going to a red carpet,
while we're thinking the future.
[laughs]
Okay, we're gonna go around the circle
and you're gonna give me the winner.
Starting with you, Eva.
Who's the winner for you?
For this challenge, pink dress,
because I would literally wear it tomorrow
if I could.
- Very good. Elizabeth.
- I would say the black dress
with the train that opens up.
It's so now to have that kind of moment.
And I thought the cut
was really, really great.
Okay, Monique.
I would say the three-piece halter
with the overskirt and the pant.
I just felt like it was so current,
had a little edge to it.
And I thought she was
the modern day Grace Kelly.
Okay, guys, there's another end
to this spectrum, though.
Who's going home?
I have to say it's the white
Game of Thrones-y dress.
Comfort is important.
She was having problems
moving down the runway.
[Tan] Julian and Hayley's look,
with that bedazzling,
it just seems too home-crafty.
[Elizabeth] I think the pink ruffles
just didn't work.
Fabric was a big mistake.
[Alexa]
We're gonna have to come to a decision
because it is time
for the elimination round.
- Everyone ready?
- Yes.
[Alexa] There were so many great designs,
but of course,
there can only be one winning team.
And after much discussion, that team is
Angelo and Charles.
- [cheering and applauding]
- [Charles] Yes!
Congratulations, guys.
You queens gave us a dramatic moment.
I am not surprised.
When it came out in that moment
when she reveals the train,
your work was stellar.
It felt modern and classic
at the same time.
And the pop contrast of color,
it was made for the red carpet.
- Thank you.
- [Elizabeth] Really, really well done.
I can see Lady Gaga
dropping down that train.
- It'd be an amazing moment.
- [laughs] Yeah!
How do you feel, you guys?
- Oh, um speechless.
- [laughs]
The first three hours
was like a nightmare.
- I believe, "Okay, my dream ends here."
- [laughs]
And to hear your appreciation
Thank you very much.
[cheering]
I have the unenviable job
of delivering the bad news.
The two teams that I'm sorry
to say we have decided
are at the bottom
of the pack tonight are
Isaac and Nasheli
and
Farai and Kiki.
Please step forward.
Isaac and Nasheli,
the fit was unforgiving.
If your model can't use the restroom,
that's problematic, you guys.
I think the fit had a lot to do with it,
but I also think it was the fabric choice,
particularly the vinyl part,
which just made it so uncomfortable
walking down the runway
and made it so hard to see past that.
Nasheli, if you could change anything,
what would you have changed?
The material choices and the fitting.
You've mentioned the material choice.
Did you know from the start
that was problematic?
- Yes.
- [Tan] If you knew it was problematic,
why hadn't you said anything
up until this point?
I said it, but it's a team,
so it was difficult to compromise.
As a team, we took a decision.
It was a little bit unorthodox
for a dress to be made that way,
but I thought we executed it pretty well.
Guess not.
If we go home today,
it's just another day.
This is not just another day.
There's a lot of money on the line.
$250,000.
Nasheli, how would that change your life?
It can be different.
I have three jobs right now, so
I have my three kids, everything.
[Alexa] Kiki and Farai.
The design itself felt fussy
and overcomplicated.
There's ruffles in the bolero.
There's ruffles in the pants.
It was ruffle-mania.
I thought it came out pretty awesome.
Did you think it was the right fabric
for that construction, though?
I mean, I know there was a comment
that it was too much,
but people go all-out, and they like,
you know, do the extras.
We wanted to put a lot of emphasis
on our design.
I think in another fabric,
it would have been perfect.
Okay.
There is no fun way to say this, but
we must say goodbye
to one of you two teams.
The first team to leave Next in Fashion
is
Isaac and Nasheli.
Which means, Farai and Kiki, you are safe.
Please step back.
[Alexa] Isaac and Nasheli,
we're so sorry to see you go.
Thank you so much for taking part in this,
and we wish you the best of luck
in the future.
Thank you.
I came here for my kids,
for my whole family.
Representation is a big thing for them.
They are always looking for people
that look like them.
And I think it's important
to be an example.
So that is a big thing.
[Isaac] When I came into this competition,
it was about proving to every doubter
that I had growing up
that I can do this.
I used to be really intimidated
by women's dresses,
but I think that I learned a lot.
We made something beautiful as a team.
So I'm proud of that.
It was great working with you. Good luck.
- You too.
- Thank you.
You guys, only one of you
will be Next in Fashion.
Wait for us!
- Ay, ay, ay!
- Oh, hi!
- Tan, look. There's people there. Hello.
- Yeah, I know.
You guys, it's gonna get better.
Press the button, go to the next episode.
Which button?
It's right I'll explain it later.
Press the button.
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