NBC’s new reality competition series Fashion Star will search for the next big brand in fashion. Executive producer and host of the show Elle Macpherson joins celebrity mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos for the series that will give 14 unknown designers a chance to win a multi-million dollar prize to launch their collections in three of America’s largest retailers: Macy’s, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Among the line-up of designers is out lesbian Kara Laricks. She designs androgynous clothing for men and women, “inspired by her love of menswear and an avant-garde Japanese design aesthetic,” according to her bio.
Laricks is best known for her unisex tie design, under her brand Collar, Stand + Tie. She puts a spin on traditional women’s fashion with fresh designs and perspective. We can't wait to see what she creates on the show!
A former fourth-grade teacher, she left her job to pursue a career in fashion. Laricks' partner Melissa encouraged her to make fashion her full-time job, and Laricks considers Melissa to be her biggest supporter, according to Laricks' bio.
Check out Kara Laricks Fashion Star introduction video below:
Fashion Star episodes will begin with a fashion show built around a weekly challenge that is full of musical performances, dancers and models, in front of a studio audience. The show will feature designs for America to buy, and following each episode the winning designs showcased will be immediately available for purchase.
Three judges from top retailers, Caprice Willard (Macy’s), Terron E. Schaefer (Saks Fifth Avenue) and Nicole Christie (H&M), will make on-the-spot decisions as they vie for the right to buy, and exclusively carry, the designers’ work each week.
Designers who do not sell any items from a challenge will be up for elimination. Celebrity mentors Nicole Richie, John Vavartos and Jessica Simpson can save one of the designers up for elimination from being sent home.
The designers will be tested in a variety of real-world experiences to determine which competitor has the vision, desire and business sense to grow their brand into a fashion empire. Only one designer will successfully combine fashion and business as the winner of Fashion Star and be awarded $6,000,000 in orders of their designs to sell in Macy’s, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
Fashion Star premieres Tuesday, March 13, at 9:30/8:30c on NBC.
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