Bedazzled Hoops and Balls...
Ukraine: Ganna Rizatdinova holds her ball while she displays her lilac and purple with nude illusion mesh and crystal costumeI am OBSESSED with Rhythmic Gymnastics. Why? It's like Figure Skating but without the ice and ice skates.I especially LOVE it because I am a big fan of ballet (my distant family member was Dame Margot Fonteyn in case you didn't know so it's sort of in my blood!) and of course, I am a big fan of bedazzled leotard costumes. Rhythmic Gymnastics is a sport that combines ballet, gymnastics and dance, and apparatus manipulation--as in a ball, hoop, rope, clubs, ribbon. The London Olympics 2012 Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition began on August 9th and ends on the 11th. So, we are just beginning to see some of the bedazzled, semi-campy costumes that will surely be Olympic Fashion Moments for years to come. The costumes are very similar to Figure Skating--in that there's a lot of crystals, nude illusion, and flirty "skirts" attached. But somehow, here in Rhythmic Gymnastics, the costumes are just well, taken up a notch. They're like Figure Skating Costumes...on Steroids!
Here were some of my Faves--and Not-So Faves from the first competitions:
Australia, Janine Murray: Lots of color, abstract designs, nude illusion, it's all good to me. Fashion Grade: 9.0 (out of 10)
Austria, Caroline Weber: How fab is this? She's from Austria AND she's wearing a bedazzled DIRNDL! It's like GAY OKTOBERFEST! I want a beer, some sauerkraut and sausages from her...like NOW!Fashion Grade: 9.9
Egypt, Yazmine Mohmed Rosrom: Yes, kids you read right, this lovely girl is from Egypt!! And no, she's not covered up! I really like BOTH her costumes worn for the Hoop Apparatus and Ball competitions. If I had to pick a favorite, I would say, it would be what she wore above for her Ball performance; even her nude leggings were an extension of her costume. This is taking the look to 110%. Fashion Grade: 9.7
Belarus, Liubou Chrakashyna: Liubou is Third after the Individual All-Around Qualification Competition. Her golden yellow and black costume was a little "Firebird" and a little "toddlers and Tiaras" for me. For some reason, it did not look as expensive as some of the others worn by the Olympic Rhythmic Gymnasts.Fashion Grade: 7.7
China, Senyue Deng: For her Hoop Apparatus, Senyue Deng of China wore this, a red and green sequined stretch lace costume/leotard. I have to be honest here: I am not a fan. It looked a bit cheap, "Happy Hands At Home" and a bit dyslexic in terms of its hap-hazard design elements. Fashion Grade: 6.0
Cyprus, Chrystalleni Trikomiti: LOVE this blue and white costume from Cyprus' Chrystalleni Trikomiti. She looks like a Mythical Creature that was somehow born from the Mediterranean and Volcanic geography of Santorini. I also love that even her nails match her costume. Yassou Chrystalleni!Fashion Grade: 9.0
Russia, Daria Dmitrieva: Russia's Dmitrieva is currently in the lead. This costume for her "ball" apparatus routine is well, "just there". It is elegant and subdued and I do like the ribbon effect in the sleeves. Fashion Grade: 8.9
Italy, Julieta Cantaluppi: Oh huney! Or, better yet "Mamma Mia!". Things I like: the bright fuchsia and purple colors but then somehow, after that, it went all things Bedazzled Wrong. This looks like one of them costumes you find at a stand in a coliseum at a Jr. Gymnastics Competition event. Can someone call Roberto Cavalli, the Emilio Pucci or Gucci design houses? And quickly. Fashion Grade: 6.5
Kazakhstan, Anna Alyabyeva: Love the black with deep magenta and silver designs in this costume. And, I think it's interesting that, instead of a skirt, the designer chose to add tassels instead. The "built-in" sequined necklace is great. It helps that she is so pretty to begin with. Fashion Grade: 9.2 
South Korea, Yeon Jae Son: This costume on Korea's Yeon Jae Son is very intricate. There's A LOT going on, but it works for me. The multicolored beading looks expensive and the over-all silhouette is RICH. Fashion Grade: 9.5
Spain, Carolina Rodriguez: Purple and lilac are popular colors for Rhythmic Gymnastics at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Spain's costume is VERY Figure Skating 101. Maybe that's why I like it. But...I still feel that there's TOO MUCH going on: the stretch lace, the ombre dyeing, the crystals, the nude illusion...How do you say "EDIT" in Español ? Fashion Grade: 8.8
Uzbekistan, Ulyana Trofimova: This is Cirque du Soleil Perfect! Yes, you might say there is a lot going on in this costume too, but it all works for me. The bright pink roses, the ombre blue, the degrade effect of the neckline circle detail...This is so far, one of my favorite looks for the London Olympics 2012 Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition. Fashion Grade: 9.7
Double Quitters: Andrea Katz (left) and Kooan Kosuke (right) decide to leave Season 10 Project Runway
Now, back to this week's challenge, to design and create a look for the woman on the go. It's dubbed the Michael Kors Challenge (I'm sure it's in his contract to have one of these and honestly I would too if I was him!). Kors explained that the look the designers create should be one that can go from office to cocktails. But still be glamorous.
Judges Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, Miss Heidi (in a very Wilma Flintstone one shoulder animal print dress), actress Hayden Panettiere and Fashion Designer Rachel Roy took a look at the creations.
LOVED both of these designs--I'm sure if I was asked to do this challenge, I would have probably done something along the same drape-y, jersey, cocktail-y look. But maybe in a color. For sure. With that being said, I just didn't think these were actually realistic fashion visions for a real woman "on the go". These were DEFINITELY cocktails at the Dream Downtown Meatpacking NY Hotel...and certainly NOT, I'm working 8 hrs at my Google Office Job and then I'm picking up my kids at Daycare and then finally, I'm meeting my girlfriends for some Dirty Martinis.
To me they were more the Marie Claire Magazine Editorial version of what they would "envision" a "Woman On The Go" to dress like, not necessarily the real thing.
I did like Melissa Fleis' layered look (for a woman on the go in say, San Francisco or Seattle) (left photo) and Elena Slivnyak's gray coat and super skinny pants ensemble (right) looked very chic and also maybe, just maybe a little more "Woman On the Go", at least for me.
I also thought Dmitry Sholokhov's (one of my favorite Project Runway Season 10 designers) look (photo above) was very good. It was Day and yes, could be Evening too.
Nathan Paul's drab pea-green dress and cardigan look was BAAAD (left). Rule #215 in Fashion: Do NOT--under any circumstances--put pea green on a blond. And this look aged the model so much. And not to mention how rather uncreative it was. Judges don't reward Kooky Creative more than boring uncreative. She looked like a School Principal. And then , poor Fabio Costa. All the judges agreed that he styled himself better than his model (right photo). His own look should have been on TOP and his actual design belonged in the bottom. PS: I just love how these Project Runway designers--post Season 2--now are all UBER self-styled, especially for the judging day. They are much too TV savvy. Almost to a fault. Certainly for Fabio.
Raul was brought back because of the fact that two designers had left. Congrats mija. He boasted about how fabulous and talented he was and therefore, deserved to be there. Humble NOT. But then he makes this mess of an outfit above. And in addition, he FAILED in the "I Can Make Pants" competition: 
Thanks to tomandlorenzo.com for these MARVELOUS photos
But the worst was Buffi "I am FAB in Dubai" Jashanmal. Huney. What. Were. You. Thinking. Cheetah print dress and a coral apron. No. Not here and not ever. Look at the model's face: She's like "I cannot believe I am standing here and getting payed next to nothing in this God Awful outfit". Can I run out of here and go have a drink with my girlfriends and call my booker to tell him what a bad decision I made in doing this show? Please".
I did think it was great though, that Buffi said her "Good Bye's" with a "I'm going to continue to do Tacky!" At-a-Girl! At least she OWNED it! Hasta La Vista Buffi!
The London 2012 Olympics are coming to an end (insert sad face) and while there are a lot of things I will miss--fashion and non-fashion-wise: those low-slung men's swim trunks (OMG Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Tom Daley!), the ball-tossing Rhythmic Gymnastics and the bravado of those men's track-and-field DIVOS (Yes, Usain Bolt, I am talking to you!). There's also things I won't miss, particularly those DRAB-as-DRAB-can-be gray Nike hooded parkas that the Gold-winning US Gymnastics Team wore on the Medal Podium. But back to the positive: somehow I missed discussing those AMAZING swimsuits/costumes from the Olympics Synchronized Swimming competitions. 
Synchronized Swimming occurred all last week and yes, I was watching. How could I not be: I was entranced by all the campy, bedazzled over-the-top looks from all the international teams. I don't remember them always being so Swarovski crystal KRAZEE but I am happy that they are! Let's take a look at my favorite looks:
Russia's Ishchenko and Romashina--who clinched the Gold as expected in the Duets Competition--did a fabulous routine wearing Michael Jackson-bedazzled silver and black leotards. These were simply INCREDIBLE! I want a Swimsuit company to put these out and sell them! Imagine the next time at your Princess Cruises vacation and coming out to the pool and seeing a girl in one of these! I would run to her and give her a Fashion Medal! 
Argentina: The South American duet wore halter-necklined gold, white and black swimsuits that gave a 
Austria: The Austrian Synchronized Swimming Pair wore dirdnl-inspired swimsuits (naturally, it's AUSTRIA for goodness sakes!) but there was a bit of 
Canada: I call these the "Harlequin Romance Girls" ---These one-shoulder looking swimsuits were a TEN in terms of use of bold color, campy effect and great costume execution. One word: LOVE! Next Olympics, though, I would DIE to see them somehow wear Canadian Mountie bedazzled costumes/swimsuits. Please?
France: The French duet team went with more of a swirly-patterned costume/swimsuit for this portion of the competition. I do like the colors--rose, bubblegum pink, lemon yellow and black--and the (somewhat) delicate beading at the edges of the swirl applique. They're not Michael Jackson Fab but a good "costume effort" for France.
Italy: Wow. Favoloso Italia!! These neon green and purple beaded swimsuits/costumes were BY FAR one of my favorites of the entire Olympics Synchronized Swimming Competition. They looked like Sea Creatures in a Gay Pride/Cirque du Soleil parade!!
Kazakhstan: This pair gave you tuxedos for their swimsuits/costumes. I like how the creators/designers incorporated the eyeglasses and the chain attached to them as if they are coming out of the tuxedo vest. There are SO many ingenious details in these swimsuits--notice the "braces"/suspenders and "cropped" pinstripe bottoms. Excellently designed costumes.
USA: The US finished 11th in the Final Duet Results but these costumes were one of the Top ones for me. They were subtle and rather "discreet" on the Synchronized Swimming Swimsuit Campy Meter. I really liked the bold Olympic Torch design and how it was "front-and-center" standing out against a white and light blue backdrop of the swimsuit.
South Korea: These costumes were very colorful and almost had hints of Boho Hippie Chick Tye Dye in them. Were there better costumes worn by the other athletes? Yes. But this was a "good costume show" for them.
Mexico: The Mexican Synchronized Swimming Duet team was feeling very "Animal"-inspired with these set of swimsuits/costumes. Both featured animals of some kind. The first (top) photo had a fish and a tiger--in a neon bubblegum pink and neon green trimmed background while the second suits (bottom) had wolves; bedazzled ones at that! Theses were my favorite ones of the two. But for both, they get a... 
Spain: These Spanish ladies wore two of my favorite swimsuits/costumes of the entire Synchronized Swimming Duet Competition. I could barely choose a BEST between the Flamenco polka-dotted suits and then, the red Sevillana one shoulder "Carmen" numbers directly above. They were both elegant, chic, striking and muy, pero muy fabuloso. 
Switzerland: When I took a look at these sequined swimsuits, all I kept thinking about was ABBA's "Money, Money, Money" song! In case you're wondering, yes kids, those ARE dollar bills imprinted on their costumes,in light green and neon yellow and done to look like the top of a side-exposing dress. I absolutely LOVE these!
Russia: Finally, the Gold-medal winning duet from Russia and their cherry-cheeked clown costumes. They were Campy, Sequin-Fab and I do like that they embraced the theme right down to the painted-on oversized eyelashes and hair accessories. They looked EXACTLY like the pretty clown in their swimsuits/costumes.
Congratulations Ladies and Thank you for Bedazzling my TV screen this past week! 