Apparently, voting for The Fashion Show's already done.  Darn it.  If I wasn't so busy I would've tossed in my vote online.  So, my job now is to assess the final three designers on so many fronts: their performance throughout the season, their final collections, and (inevitably) their popularity among us, the viewers, because they decided to give us the final say.  Anna, Daniella and James-Paul, it's on!  Ding!

Here's a floater, though: we've been exposed to fashion for quite a while now, and we all know it's totally subjective.  While there are some constants in this field, these rankings of sort will definitely vary depending on where and how you're looking at it.  Me, I'm the guy who likes things that are well thought out, but doesn't look intimidating.  This is going to be a hard one.  So, dig.



I'll stick to my personal approaches by beginning with James-Paul, because he's the first designer that stuck to me when the show began.  I don't know.  Must be his quiet, calm demeanor, in a time when Merlin was reintroducing us to the "bitches" line.  But there was his problem: he felt pretty hard to reach, and it showed on his designs.  Yes, the judges applauded him for his intelligent ideas, especially in his final collection, but it really takes quite an investment to understand it.

And then there was the latter part of the competition, when his struggles to both please the judges and keep his design aesthetic resulted in two disastrous weeks.  If anything, James-Paul is a misunderstood designer, at least regarding the specifics.  You just know he can do pretty good, but apart from that, it's hard to explain.

I actually hope James-Paul would win.  While he isn't exactly the type who designs for "real women" like the show wants, he's got the right mix of experience and vision that will push the fashion scene forward in his own way.  But knowing how things have gone lately, I don't expect him to win--the audience won't forgive his two weeks hanging by a thread, especially since it's the last two weeks before the finale.

Daniella's the second to make an impact throughout the season, but only because of her attitude.  Nothing wrong with it per se, but it isn't exactly a good idea to introduce yourself as someone who either argues with other designers, or says negative things about them (even if it's true anyway).  I was always mixed with her: she churned out good, inspired designs, but her smugness (which only rivals Reco's) and I-bleeping-deserve-this! attitude somehow turned me off.

But at least she knows what she wants and she knows what she's doing.  Maybe it comes with her age and the accompanying idealism, but she has a strong belief in her ideas and it has served her well.  Remember the evening gown that was inspired by stormy weather--and that got Isaac initially skeptical?  Look where it got her.  It also showed on her final collection, with her spunk and youth shining through what initially seemed like a juxtaposition of tough shells and flowy fabrics.  Then again, I don't think it'd appeal to everyone.

Anna's inclusion in the final three actually came as a surprise to me--I thought Haven or Merlin would make it to the finale, but apparently things turned out differently.  I was also introduced to her during one of those work room sessions when she talked about Andrew ripping off something--or was it Laura?  See, that's exactly my point.  I don't really remember her.

The catch was, as the designers dwindled, she started to shine.  The dark horse of the competition really made strides in the latter part of the show, and when Haven was eliminated, the only was for her was up.  Her designs are approachable and fun, which is something I think many would want to buy, but from a fashionista's perspective--no, I'm not saying I am one--you don't actually know what makes Anna's outfits Anna's.  It showed in the final collection: you know the point, but you don't see it across the entire set.

She's the total wild card this week: her accessibility can catch up with Daniella, but her dark horse status somehow limits just that.  At the least, expect her in second place.  If she goes first, it'll be some surprise.

Personally, I'd vote for James-Paul.  I guess it's me and my odd high fashion thinking.  But Fern was right in saying that everyone is a winner: this is a turning point for all three designers, and whatever lessons they may pick up along the way, or wherever they may be brought after this, the only way for them is up.  The question is, whose look will be sold?

Yeah, voting seems to be over, but we can still talk about who should win--or if Reco should--so I've posted the final three's final collections below.  And then we'll go watch tomorrow.  And then we'll talk about the show itself, and that's a different thing altogether.




- Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Images courtesy of Bravo)