'Fashion Star' Premiere Gets Mixed Reviews, Clothes Still Available (VIDEO)

With the weight of celebrity and big business behind it, "Fashion Star" is poised for success. The new fashion reality show, which premiered Tuesday night on NBC, hopes to break the mold of fashion TV competitions before it (let's just say it aloud -- "Project Runway") with a new concept: real buyers not only pick the weekly winner but also purchase the best looks to sell at their retail outlets.

Of course there are also celebrities involved, with Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos spinning in their chairs and giving their most clever critiques as "mentors."

But the main idea is to up the level of interactivity and real-time impact by bringing the fashion created on TV straight to Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and H&M's websites soon after the closing credits roll.

So after the much-hyped premiere, is "Fashion Star" a success? The reviews are mixed. David Hinckley of the New York Daily News took issue with the show's complicated logistics, with the two separate sets of judges making things a bit "murky" for viewers. Added Hank Stuever of the Washington Post, "It can also be difficult to understand the logistics behind what the contestants are winning from the store buyers — a licensing fee? A cut of sales?"

Other reviewers found the emphasis on wearability -- the designers are attempting to clothes suited for the average mall-goer, not a high-fashion runway -- a bit stultifying. "The contestants are not attempting couture, so most of the advice is about responding to the realities of the marketplace," writes the Los Angeles Times. "This is certainly a truth of design, but as a television viewing experience it's a dud."

"'Fashion Star' clearly isn’t going to reward any outside-of-the-box talent like that other show," admitted April Daley of Entertainment Weekly, making the inevitable "Project Runway" comparison. "But once you accept that fact and embrace the thrill of the shopping/runway combo, it’s worth tuning in occasionally."

Which is what the show's producers, as well as H&M, Macy's and Saks, are banking on. So the real question is: are people buying the clothes?

Two designs are being carried on H&M.com, one on SaksFifthAvenue.com and three on Macys.com. As of this morning, nothing's sold out yet -- Versace for H&M this is not.

But with just one episode down and more to go, time will tell if the viewers will also be shoppers. Check out the designs on H&M.com and Macys.com for yourself and tell us: will you be shopping "Fashion Star" looks?

UPDATE: Looks like the clothes were a success! Since we checked back, one H&M item and the skirt at Saks have sold out. All three Macy's items plus the H&M blazer are still available, for now...

UPDATE II: The blue and black H&M dresses may have sold out online, but H&M just tweeted, "Get @Sarahgparrott's #NBCFashionStar dress in select stores now!" with a pic of the dress display. So if you're determined, we recommend hunting around in your local H&M...

Comments

[signified]

04:25 PM on 05/16/2013

Fashion Star in fast forward: blah blah blah sexy blah blah blah sexy blah sexy blah blah sexy. Fluff is the best word I can think of to describe the clothes parading down the runway in this stridently commercial show. If its on again next year, don't bother.

[jenga227]

02:20 AM on 03/26/2012

Like the show but pricing is 2 high.

[Bonzilee]

06:10 PM on 03/24/2012

I was eager to see this show, but it is difficult to "see" anything! Dancers, music blaring, steam coming out of the stage, people in the audience told to SCREAM....enough! Show the backstage designing, interaction between the stylists, and PLEASE, no more Jessica Simpson. Sorry, she has a superior singing voice but no taste in clothing.

Make some MAJOR changes and it would be interesting. P.M.

[gsnow19543]

12:31 PM on 03/17/2012

This show is a poor mix of American Idol, The Voice, and Project Runway. I turned it off halfway through.

[robert laddie anderson]

10:30 PM on 03/16/2012

elle is so beautiful
jessica is so vanilla
varvatos is dreadful
nicole is empty

i usually like to say if you have nothing good to say about something, keep it to yourself. but i hate when money is wasted. (and it looks like a lot has been spent on his show) just another entry in the bad reality tv show pool. get rid of the bachelor and fashion star pls!

[lizbeth58]

09:27 PM on 03/16/2012

I do not like this show, at all. Every time a fashion show airs on TV it tries to be like project runway. Same thing happened with the show Imam started. The whole premise is just wrong. I don't think it's going to work.

[Leah Cawley]

09:30 PM on 03/15/2012

Too glammed up and the music was cheesy. You didn't feel any real connection or care about the designers. You don't get to see them interact in the workroom. PR is way better. The clothes were just normal. U didn't see any amazing pieces. Very disappointing show. The only cool thing is that if u do see something u like u can buy it in a store.

[Buzz the Bear]

01:36 AM on 03/15/2012

Fashion Star? I could do without The Solid Gold Dancers, the cheesy music and the faux drama. This show is all over the place trying to inject too many elements in its quest to be exciting and relevent.
And as with all these reality competitions, Top Chef, Project Runway, Chopped, etc., the contestants all have that backstory where they are in it for, or are dedicating their efforts to their deceased mother, children, granny....whatever. It gets old. I want to see talent, not some little freak who is more style than substance.....and not much style either, for that matter.

[DSevere]

10:29 PM on 03/14/2012

Project Runway is much better but I'll still tune into Fashion Star. As far as the clothes go, I liked the black leather version of that blue dress. The rest of the stuff, eh....

[Fayem]

09:47 PM on 03/14/2012

At 6' tall, Elle Macpherson won't be buying any of the garments. I wish some designer would come out with stylish clothes for tall women.

Also, isn't Lizzy designing for Plus size women? They should have put her asymmetrical tunic on a plus size model.

[LeftRightCenter]

09:33 PM on 03/14/2012

ummmmmm, i'll keep watching but um, i have a bachelor of science in fashion merchandising & this show was pretty darn bad

[Jelgueco]

04:37 PM on 03/14/2012

I like the first episode of Fashion Star! Yes it's shameless advertising but at the end of the day , the business of fashion exists to sell clothes not to simply produce clothes to be gawked at (and never to be seen again) by 99 percent of the viewers. Fashion snobs are expected to look down on Fashion Star, (they're too fashionable for mass market) But the viewers are excited to take part as evidenced by sold out items. I don't think it should be compared to PRoject Runway as it has a different objective. But if we're comparing :) let me just say that I'm a die hard Project Runway fan so i become emotionally attached to the contestants. Watching All stars I felt so bad to see that these talented designers of previous seasons are still nowhere the level of being really important. I mean is there any one from Runway who even got close to being a household fashion name - whether it's high fashion or retail? Even the winners are so forgettable now except maybe for Christian Siriano... at least for Fashion Star they are given a solid springboard to launch their lines and based on the sales they get, they can start building major relationships already with these retailers.

If I was a designer I would rather have a thousand regular woman wear my clothes that one stick thin model who wore it in a magazine, but that's just me :)

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

03:12 PM on 03/14/2012

Hey! I wear clothes! That makes me qualified to "judge" a fashion competition, right? I've even picked out things I like on occassion, though no one ever put my name on the label.

I saw about 5 minutes of this show last night when my wife had control of the remote. Easily the dumbest fashion design show yet. Nicole Richie's claim to fame is a famous father and being Paris Hilton's drunk friend. Simpson? ANother one of those entertainers who has decided to pay some anonymous designer to come up with clothing designs she can stick her name on (hey, she has the capital to bankroll it, right?...doesn't make her a designer). What a joke.

[Erica Marcum]

02:22 PM on 03/14/2012

Just tried to order the Kimono/Caftan dress from Macy's and it's already sold out too!!!! I guess I will have to get a jumpstart next week. I really like the show and its concept. The clothes are very practical and can be worn more often than just for special occassions. I thought the zipper "twofor" skirt was really cute!!!

[Carolyn Forte]

02:03 PM on 03/14/2012

This show was boring. Not sure if I'll watch again. I will not buy anything either.