On Tuesday night, the highly anticipated show 'Fashion Star' aired on NBC. Nicole Richie, John Varvatos and a now-very pregnant Jessica Simpson serve as "mentors" on the Elle Macpherson-hosted show to fourteen designer wannabes who compete to have their clothing available for purchase the following day at Macy's, H&M or Saks Fifth Avenue.
An unlikely, yet charming group of mentors, each offers the contestants a wide range of support. "I think the combination of all of us, because we’re all so different, it was a great time," Richie, whose House of Harlow and Winter Kate lines have been successes (even Courtney Love owns one of her dresses), said at the show's premiere party at Macy's Herald Square location. "I think that especially for people that are presenting their collections for the first time in these big stores, it is important to get as many opinions and views as possible in order to get them to the best versions of themselves."
Here are three more things we learned last night:
1. Nicole channels her dad Lionel Richie on the show.
Richie was full of wise advice, "My father has always encouraged me to stay true to myself and not really focus on the outside world when you’re creating," she said. "And I think that’s a great piece of advice and that’s something that I have been talking to the designers about when you’re being creative to just be creative and when you’re meeting with buyers to kind of put that aside and switch gears and listen to the buyers. It’s an interesting balance, but it’s necessary if you’re going to last in this industry."
2. John Varvatos has a few fashion crushes on the show.
Although Nicole Richie wouldn't discuss Jessica Simpson's baby shower or plans for motherhood, John Varvatos was much more candid, revealing, "I opened up the door and there was a NY Post laying on the ground and it was Jessica with the pictures from Elle and she looked amazing, right? I picked it up and immediately I emailed her, 'I just woke up to the most gorgeous sight - you, naked on the cover of the NY Post.'"
Simpson wasn't Varvatos' only crush on the show; lingerie-designing host Elle Macpherson caught his eye as well. "I would sit there on stage," Varvatos recalled, "and Nicole would punch me and I'd be like, 'that's why they call her a supermodel."
3. Elle Macpherson hasn't really aged- and here's how.
It's no surprise Varvatos was stunned by Macpherson's beauty, the Australian stunner, who attended the show's premiere at Macy's Herald Square in a black fringed mini-dress, hasn't aged a bit. What's her secret? "Age-defying makeup from Revlon. That’s what I use and I swear by it." Of course, the 47-year-old who has modeled for the brand, also recommends a healthy diet and exercise. "I’m not so interested in staying in shape," she explains, "I'm more about being well and healthy and having fun. I do sports, I’m a jock. I ski, I water ski, I paddle-board, and I do it because I love to be in nature, I love to be outdoors, I love my life. It’s not about agonizing in front of the mirror and going, 'How many pounds do I weigh? What does my silhouette look like? How do I look in those clothes?'"
What did you think of the first episode? Will you tune in for more of Richie, Varvatos, Simpson and Macpherson?