Category: ‘solutions’

Episode 5 of The Fashion Show opened with some mini-challenge trickery where designers had to create a sketch from memory. After staring at one of Isaac's Fall 2009 pieces hanging on a dress form, Kelly walked in and out of the room before the challenge began. Only, the challenge was Kelly (so tricky, Bravo!). The group had to sketch what Kelly wore.

After complaining that she barely saw anything, Daniella won the challenge and the chance to choose one designer that would be in the bottom three. Merlin was shaking in his red mini boots.

The elimination challenge gave every designer a real woman (aka, not a size zero model) and the task of creating an outfit that would highlight her assets while improving on her perceived problem areas. This really hit home when we saw the designers padding their dress forms with hips, butts, bellies, and breasts.

James-Paul was beside himself at having to design for someone with body fat. His actual quote was, “It's like asking Jesus Christ to work with Satan.” A bit dramatic, but he wasn't alone in his dismay.

Daniella burst into tears at how stuck she was in her design. When she complained that she had never designed for big women (her real model was a size 14), Isaac called her sizeist. Ouch! Still, she managed to put out a flattering navy and black jacket/dress combo that got raves from the fashion show audience (buy it here, $325).

And the bottom three pick? Angel. Bad tailoring got her there, but Keith's boring prom dress design was much worse than a messy hem and caused him to be sent home.

Daniella's outfit worked because of the belt. (And, she's not alone. Five other designers used belts or waist contrast to create a silhouette.) This Ann Taylor Cotton Twill Tuck Dress ($60, was $130) uses tucks at the waist and a big elastic belt to draw attention to the smallest part of the waist.

Browse our Belts Guide for the key belts that will spice up any wardrobe.