Next in Fashion with Tan France and Alexa Chung

I'm through the streetwear episode. I'm enjoying that the challenges are not gimmicky like Project Runway has been for years. It's simply create a red carpet look, suit, streetwear, etc. Actual things a designer does in the real world. No creating drama for the sake of drama. No "characters" playing for screen time. Not sure I'm sold on the team concept. It feels that some pairs have a definite advantage having known and/or worked with each other prior to the competition. I like that the judges are in the fashion industry and not the latest Instagram "celebrity."

Just finished the series and was surprised by the winner but not necessarily in a bad way. Much better than Project Runway. Chung was especially charming.

You mentioned it turned out much differently than expected .. how so, OP?

It’s a competition? Ugh. Can’t we just learn or watch things and hear experts discuss them?

I will give this a chance, though.

Way better than Project Runway has been for years. Daniel is adorable, as are Dragon Princess.

I enjoyed talent over drama, OP. The winner was just right, loved the final look.

I enjoyed it as well. The focus on the talent and the sincerity of (most of) the contestants was refreshing.

OP: How was the end result different from what was planned or envisioned?

btw...What was the deal with the two who were kept on? It looked like coddling to me and it felt counterfeit the next round. Some people forget that it's a competition.

It’s extremely generic; there’s absolutely nothing interesting or unique about the show — even the name is completely forgettable. I like the female host but Tan is fake as hell.

I love this show...the designers are so talented with the exception of 2 designers. I enjoyed their background stories and most of them are running their businesses. I loved the finale and that wedding dress. Daniel is a cutie! Loved the Asian chicks...I can do without Alexa Chung...

[quote]I did the research for the show

What sort of research is needed on a reality show?

(honestly curious)

R9 For each challenge I'd do research on the subject. For instance, I researched the history of denim and when I found out Tommy Hilfiger was the judge that week, I researched him.

R6 Initially the show was going to be based more on historical looks and modern reinterpretations of those looks. Believe it or not, it was a bit more academic at first! I had fun researching and really hope it has a season 2.

R2 see R10.

R10 I would have loved seeing that interpretation of the show. But I guess it would be more high fashion and not as relatable.

I'm curious to know when this was filmed. Just last year or further, and for how many weeks from first episode to last did it take to complete?

R13 I did research at the end of 2018 beginning of 2019. I went to the first taping, the red carpet challenge, on April 15(had to look that up!). I was surprised at how big and nice the set was.

R13 OK, found my old call sheets. The tapings took place over approximately a one month period.

I find it cliched the two Asian designers make big puffy coats - practically copying each other and they are praises. Same fore the activewear challenge. What the hell was that they put capes on swimsuit and omg they are great?

I loved the British designer who went out on activewear. She was crying because she didn't know what to make yet she is wearing basically cool activewear - she literally had to look at her own outfit yet she made some shitty sweatsuit.

This show is a mess. It's like an ADHD riddled version of Project Runway. I barely made it through the first episode.

It had a weird beginning. They didn't really explain the teams and how they were formed you just sort of saw there were teams. Until there were not teams. Plus I don't really consider Tan a Fashion expert, he has been trying to make the French Tuck a thing for a year on QE.

More like Alexa Chunky!

Watching it now. I have been impressed by the runways, these contestants are turning out some interesting and fun looks. It feels more modern and less stuffy than Project Runway which is a nice change of pace. And that the contestants aren't limited by fabric choice but instead have unlimited options they can change at any point is another fun way the show has differentiated itself.

It was contrived and as boring as shit.

I like Tan, I just don't like him on screen. He should start writing for Vogue or something, because he has charisma, it just seems to dissolve whenever a camera is shoved in his face. He's easily one of the most low-key and tolerable members of the Queer Eye bunch, aside from Antoni.

I think they’re rewarding shot shows over the quality and tasteful fashion.

The judging is random and inconsistent.

Low rent.

Thanks for answering my questions. I am always curious about filming. The process still holds a bit of magic in my eyes.

Lord - are they still trying to make Alexa Dung happen?? Can’t stand her or her hoarse voice.

I really enjoyed this. Used to love Project Runway, but burned out early during its Lifetime run when the fixing became insultingly obvious.

Don't really care about Tan or Alexa, but there were some stunning pieces that went down the runway, just gorgeous. One team was kept in too long for reasons that were made pretty clear, but otherwise I pretty much agreed with the judging and liked the relative lack of made-up drama. I just like seeing creative people being creative.

R26, for me some of the designs sent down the runway were amazing...just beautiful! I’m still gagging over that damn camel suit...the quality of tailoring would NEVER be seen on Project Runway.

I’d go piggying with Daniel- he was adorable.

Finished it. Quite satisfying. I wasn't surprised by the winner--the collection was a better fit for Net-a-Porter, but some really beautiful pieces from both.

I do feel sorry for some of the early ad-hoc teams--they were at a real disadvantage--especially the Scottish/Brooklyn pair--their aesthetics just didn't mesh at all. They were trying, but it was just an exercise in frustration for both of them.

Daniel may be way too nice to be on a reality show--he actually solved an issue for a competitor. And I love that baritone of his.

Just watched it and loved it overall. Chung was hilarious at first, but at the end both Tan and Alexa kind of phoned it in IMHO.

The contestants were pretty great. A pretty great and diverse bunch. I loved that, unlike Project Runway, it featured more challenges with menswear looks. BTW does anyone know the name of the cute model Daniel used for his great active / sports wear look? Honestly, I'd sell my soul to be able to pull off that look.

I just finished the “athleisure” (God, I hate that term) episode, and I love love love the English rowing-inspired outfit. The fit of the pants and shirt is a little ridiculous and not something anyone but an Instagram-type bodybuilder would wear in real life, but I absolutely love the outfit anyway.

I have a huge crush on Tan France. He would definitely be getting the D

ewwwww dat fug alexa chung….wtf????

A good watch if you like fashion; most of the designers were talented and all the runways were interesting, with few Project Runway-style disasters. The lack of reality-TV drama was nice, but they veered too far in the other direction: some of the super-positive exit interviews seemed forced. I would love to have Angel's baggy green jumpsuit she wore in the interview parts--it would be my version of a DL caftan.

Downsides: the Tan and Alexa cutesiness wore thin; too little attention paid to the actual process; as others have said, the random pairings; the pandering to a guest judge to save a pair who didn't deserve it.

I just watched the finale. Better than any season of Project Runway I remember. I don’t want to reveal the ending, and so I will just say that I LOVE and want to wear many of one designer’s outfits and I *would* want to wear the other’s if they were suited to me.

I agree r35...There were lots of good outfits on the show. I am still trying to find a picture of that camel colored suit the British pair designed...I just love the tailoring of that damn suit.

The judging got really wonky by the last few episodes.

The criticism of Ashtons activewear look was bizarre. And the praise for the two Asian chicks looks also bizarre.

Same with military episode. “I don’t see the military” well fucking look.

I really enjoyed it. I wish Netflix didn't dump the whole season at once. I know it's their modus operandi (and three seasons max) but this is a show better suited for weekly releases so each challenge can be hashed out. I've seen a few overall reviews but very few episode reviews and NO runway photos. The quality of the designs was so good but I can't remember many individual pieces because I binge watched it in three nights.

Alexa Chung. What's so great about her? I don't know.

thought old chung retired to the nut house yrs ago

I have no idea who Alexa Chung is but I found her really cute and charming. Tan France has a stupid name and I kind of like him less because of it (I know that’s terrible.) but he was a good cohost.

I really like the “unconventional challenge” on Project Runway. That’s the only aspect of the formula that I miss in Next in Fashion. The production is infused with enough personality to make it fun to watch. Stray notes:

—I do love that the focus is on creativity.

—It shouldn’t be a surprise that the quality is higher on this series than on Project Runway when considering that every contestant but one already runs a viable, successful fashion label in their own name. They’re all actual professionals.

—That said, it’s surprising that the one guy didn’t know how to sew. But I appreciate the production didn’t make it a season-long source of high drama the way Project Runway has. They knew who they were casting, so I’m glad they didn’t cast him to create resentment among others.

—The graciousness of all the losing contestants is a little hard to believe but I appreciated it. I am at a point of becoming physically ill at the sound of bitching and self-pity. The world has enough.

—I like Angel’s and Minju’s designs a lot. Almost all of them could be so cartoonish but almost all of them nail a strong sense of taste that makes them look high end and beautiful. I admire what they do.

—The super-international cast was really interesting.

—It wasn’t lost on me how few white contestants there were—an interesting choice and I have no opinion of it; it’s just something I noticed. I do find it interesting too that one of them, Daniel, created most of the stuff that made me giddy. But I think it’s because all the stuff that made me giddy was his menswear and few others made menswear. The stripey rowing-inspired outfit and the striped suit seriously just made me feel so excited. I wish people could get away with dressing like that in real life.

—The international aspect was heavily emphasized, and I don’t only mean casting people from different countries. Daniel talked a lot about pulling from English traditions, including rowing and streetwear. Minju’s South Koreanness was discussed a lot, and Angel was most interesting in this regard—there was a strong communist vibe in her exclamations toward the end of the season that she just wanted to make the people of her country feel she represented them well, she wanted to share Chinese culture overall, etc. Yet her designs felt so individualistic and personal. That made aspects of the show more thought provoking than a fashion design reality show needs to be.

I thought the street wear challenge was the most interesting one, because for the international players street wear meant something different and you didn't just get stereotype urban street wear.

Still can't get over Daniel's athletic wear look. So great.

R42 Wasn’t that the best? I love it more than I can articulate.

I would watch if it was just Tan France because he's adorable. Alexa Chung I can do without

I saw the graciousness at losing as a sign of professionalism. These are all people who work in fashion already and want to keep their reputations intact. Very different vibe than PR with its random beauty queens and actors running through. Never know who you'll meet again.

It's one thing to come off as quirky and eccentric, totally another to be seen as high-maintenance unable to work with others.

I assume the international aspect was Netflix keeping its international audience in mind as well as differentiating it from Project Runway. And, given that fashion is an international industry, it makes total sense.

Would love to see what Minju would do with that wedding dress if she had more time to work in the detailing. It was still a fashion gasp moment.

She’s probably a nice lady, but I couldn’t stand the Scottish woman’s accent. Normally I’m not bothered by Glaswegian accents, but hers just got on my nerves.

I really liked the friendship of Ashton and his partner (sorry, forgot his name). It was nice that even when their team was split apart they helped each other out. Daniel was very helpful to his former partner as well.

Kiki and her partner should’ve gone home for their streetwear get-ups. They were awful. They didn’t go because the guest judge didn’t want to vote out the sisters. Only their African print outfit was good.

Claire has a right to be pissed.

I've finished it now and the level of work is really high. I guess not surprising since it is a very established group of designers who have already had a lot of success in the business.

Both final collections were impressive even with the very short amount of time (producers more time on the final collection for season 2, we don't need a three day collection)

Did appreciate the use of a sewing team for the finals though. Made it not just a sewing competition.

I read that they had sewers throughout but we just didn't see them until the finale...

I hope they do another season but release it as one episode per week. When it's all dropped at once, I forget half the challenges. Also it's weird that there aren't photos of all the looks posted anywhere.

Agree, R51, about both points. I get annoyed nowadays when I have to wait a week for any episode, but I also appreciate the anticipation and the delayed gratification. And this series has done a pretty terrible job of promoting itself and encouraging its designers to do the same.

I loved Daniel Fletcher’s crew-inspired designs enough to look them up. Can’t even find images of them, other than a drawing of one of them that Fletcher posted. Why wouldn’t he and Netflix both be promoting how far he went and posting images of the designs online? I mean, I guess I shouldn’t expect that from Netflix since Netflix vomits up 50 new shows every day and only seems to promote Stranger Things. But RuPaul, for example, shoves his show down his followers’ eyeballs 20 times a day every day, as anyone promoting their show would do. I literally would not even know Next in Fashion exists if not for this thread.

Thought it was funny that they had "plus-size" models for the lingerie challenge, but only for the women's looks. Don't think the pair that won that challenge would've won had their male model been a fat dude.

That is the problem with the Netflix model r52.

Shows being dumped at once means they don't get much of a chance to develop a pop culture impact like a weekly release does.

Why do Alexa's eyes look like she's ready to wield a heavy knife at anyone who gets in her way?

I think it would've been a good idea from Netflix / Next In Fashion producers to get Tom and Lorenzo to do episode reviews to raise interest in the show's future seasons. Or do their own fashion blog run by, say, Tan France himself. I don't get the feeling that Next In Fashion has this central social media presence the show would benefit from where they showcase the designers (beyond the designers' own social media) and their designs.

I wish, wish, wish, the producers would stop having the hosts ask the contestants how they are feeling so as to elicit tears—with tinkling music lightly playing in the background no less. Drives me nuts.

I started doing shots each timed it was asked (I binged watched) and had a hangover the next day.

Though it was lovely and I really liked it, I didn’t get a military vibe from Angel’s design in the military challenge. And I thought Charles’ white pantsuit with the navy top was nice and crisp and had a naval feel to it. I can’t believe he was told to design from the heart! Just because he was fast doesn’t mean he didn’t care about his design or the challenge.

Angelo was a sweet, hot mess.

Yes, I also liked Charles a lot and thought his military look was fine. (If I could only see it again). I did see a photo--somewhere-- maybe it was a photo -illustration, of Daniel's crew look

APOLOGIES, only the final two had sewing help for their collections, not throughout the competition. TLo made a mistake. They did an overall review.

Every winning look on video

Just finished watching it and really enjoyed it. Relieved that it was free of Project Runway’s gimmicks and drama. Thought Minju deserved the win. It was good to watch talented people push themselves and still behave decently towards each other. None of it felt dumbed down.

Except for Tan France. His dress sense alone was questionable. At times it just looked like he was trying too hard and what was on the runway made what he was wearing look foolish and tacky. Not least was the outfit for the final. It looked like he’d borrowed his gran’s housecoat. Either that or he was about to pull on a pair of ice skates. It made me question his judgement of the contestants, particularly when he criticised something for being overly theatrical. Mate, look in the mirror. Your haircut alone won’t stop shouting. Tim Gunn had gravitas and a certain charisma. If this program tanks it will because of France. He’s probably a nice bloke but...

R61 Don’t you think the show has stylists who dress the hosts? I feel like on any show like this, the producers must feel like the hosts have to wear noticeably avant garde clothing to justify their being there at all.

Daniel is a cutie. Is he a gay? Or just British posh?

He’s gay

Seriously r63?

Of course he is gay.

I agree r57. The trying to produce cliche emotional drama during those segments just felt cringey and unnecessary. It was always my least favorite part of the episode.

The first team eliminated, Pakistani guy who was obnoxious and Puerto Rican woman with a bunch of kids. They did the whole "Queen for a Day" sob story about her tough life but she actually is a teacher and department head at an art school which sounds pretty stable. Not as dire as they made out.

That guy was obnoxious. He was like, “I’m the only Pakistani American high fashion designer in NYC” or something like that.

I doubt that’s true. I was glad he left first.

I was also tired of the military guy. How many times did we have to hear he was/is an army officer?

R62 - I guess you could well be right because I’ve taken a look at what photos are available online of what he wears on the show and what he wears elsewhere and there is a difference. But he still wore the stuff. Apart from the final outfit, the polka dot and foofy collared shirt number and the leather jacket with gold zips looked cheap and tacky and like something a teen girl would wear when she starts experimenting with being edgy. There was also the Colonel Sanders suit and the pink one that looked like an old Prince outfit from the 80s. And those fucking black heels.

It’s only my opinion. I really do hope the show gets another season and more and I wish him the very best. But I don’t feel his criticisms and concerns carried much weight when he was in those outfits.

He did look the business in the pale lavender suit.

I like everything about the show, except Tan France.

Alexa Chung is far more charming than Tan. I wasn't familiar with her before this show, but I found her such a nice presence in front of the camera.

Tan is in this along with all gay people.

It makes sense that they had seamstress working behind the scene. At any rate after the Streetwear episode I skipped to the runway portion of the remaining episodes. I probably would not watch a second season.

Is it me or are the hosts poorly dressed for this show? I have to roll my eyes when they try to critique someone and they are dressed like paupers.

I can tell some of the designers have to stop their eyes from rolling when they get their first look at the hosts: Alexa and Tan.

Tan and Alexa look extremely old.

They definitely picked the host for their "fashion" background; I guess Alexa calls herself a designer.

I really enjoyed Next in Fashion. It had none of the histrionics of Project Runway, and it's way better than the other new design show, Making the Cut. I liked that the focus was on the clothes and that the challenges weren't conceived to create maximum drama. I don't watch for the drama, I watch for the designs.