Ladies and Gentlemen,

How did I KNOW the hairnet would end up on here??

I truly love you guys…

I truly love Austin too.

That is really funny. I love the hairnet…priceless!!

Good Lord, he cracks me up. I am humbled by his hair, makeup, and styling abilities, and I’m a straight woman as well.

” Anonymous said…
There’s no gender lines there. He is simply a beautiful creature.”

So true and the best way to describe Austin.

Right on with the “beautiful creature” comment.

I would really, really love to see Austin model some of his own fab gowns. he’s got the glam and the cheekbones to hang the dresses off of..

Eleanor Roosevelt??? I was thinking more along the lines of Mia Farrow’s portrayal of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, finger waves and all. Austin even has the same glazed-over look of adoration for all things glamourous in his eyes. I can almost hear him say “I’ve never seen such beautiful shirts before”….

No, Eleanor Roosevelt was a little to masculine for our Scarlett.

Austin is prettier than I am. Wow.

<3 <3 <3 Austin... he's been my favorite person from all three seasons... although Uncle Nick is definitely up there, too. :)

actually, he bears an uncanny resemblance to my great aunt Marian

What if…Eleanor Roosevelt could fly?

I’m just questioning how this look is appealing or adds to his “presence” as a serious designer. To me, it doesn’t. Even Michael Kors keeps the limp wrists under control. It seems to me that a bigtime fashion designer would have to deal with a lot of well-to-do straight women who would be creeped out by this look and would prefer to think of their gay designer as kind of an asexual escort/friend. To some extent, I think a gay designer may have to play to stereotype to get established. Austin’s sterotype is the polar opposite of what many wealthy (read straight-laced) women would be comfortable with. Even for those who are accepting, this rubbing it in your face approach may create discomfort, whereas a more professional Kors or Gunn “presence” clearly does not.

fashion curmudgeon said… “Austin’s sterotype is the polar opposite of what many wealthy (read straight-laced) women would be comfortable with.”

If memory serves, Halston never had issues with this and he had quite a following. (read Jackie Kennedy) And honey, he definitely had a “presence”. I think that the majority of straight laced, wealthy women you speak of recognize that the design is what is appealing, not the “presence” of the designer.

Never mind Wendy’s hair. What is going on with her makeup? I haven’t seen anybody wear blue eyeshadow all the way up to their brows since I was a little girl. It’s just plain hideous and scary.

Yomanda said…
That skin! That hair! Those lips! He’s like a china doll.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Fashion Curmudgeon, you make a valid point. It would be a little intimidating for most. At least he has a legion of admirers here.

Priceless!!!
I was privileged enough to attend his trunk show and try on one of his wedding gowns and the gown and he are both exquisite beyond words. And I need to find out his skin routine because although he does apply his makeup flawlessly he also has a great canvas on which to apply.
He always makes me think of a scene in “Designing Women” when SUzanne’s mother is talking about when Suzanne was a baby and people would say “What a beautiful child! Whatever will she be when she grows up?” and her mother would reply “Why the center of attention, of course!” That, to me, is Austin Scarlett.

Anonymous said:

“If memory serves, Halston never had issues with this and he had quite a following. (read Jackie Kennedy) And honey, he definitely had a “presence”. I think that the majority of straight laced, wealthy women you speak of recognize that the design is what is appealing, not the “presence” of the designer.”

Well, there’s gay and there’s
**GAY**. Halston was quietly and unobtrusively gay. In public, Halston was always dressed and well-groomed in a very masculine way. And, when he finally appeared in public in a dress, it wasn’t until after about twenty-five years of solid career work. By then, he’d even already done a bridge line for J.C. Penney and gave that company a near-heart attack by suddenly choosing to be so obviously gay. It turned out to be his downfall, and his employer the licensing company fired him. Bergdorf’s dropped his line, and he was pretty much washed up, dying of AIDs a few years later.

It’s the flaunting (not the being) of girlish gayness that moderately conservative folks would object to, and these uncomfortable folks would be a major potential source of a high-end designer’s income but for the discomfort. Can you imagine what would happen to Michael Kors’ business if HE suddenly appeared in public in a dress?

“Can you imagine what would happen to Michael Kors’ business if HE suddenly appeared in public in a dress?”

Haha. I would laugh.

“fashion curmudgeon said…
I’m just questioning how this look is appealing or adds to his “presence” as a serious designer. To me, it doesn’t. Even Michael Kors keeps the limp wrists under control.”

Michael Kors is ORANGE!

The weakest link in the Project Runway chain is the fact that Michael, Nina & Heidi, three over-confident fashionistas with seriously questionable taste, are somehow allowed to pass judgement on these aspiring designers.

–Gotham Tomato

Holy crap! He IS the biggest SissyFag eva!

“The weakest link in the Project Runway chain is the fact that Michael, Nina & Heidi, three over-confident fashionistas with seriously questionable taste, are somehow allowed to pass judgement on these aspiring designers.”

I agree Deborah. In some ways I wish we could have some new judges to switch it up a bit, but at the same time the show wouldn’t be the same without Heidi, MK and Nina. But it gets frustrating when they just agree with each other all of the time. Sometimes I wish we could hear them debate about an outfit, instead of always agreeing with one another. They can’t always be thinking the same things.

Sorry, that went totally off track from what this thread is about.

Austin’s simply not of this Earth! What an individual!

Gayboys, you certainly have a talent to pick ‘em!
xoxoxo

Have ya’ll been to Austin’s website?! Wow, it’s so pretty, just like him! Check out the link on the PRG main page down on the right. Late!

His makeup is much more skillfully applied than Wendie’s, though that evil mirror shot at the end is wonderful. Good job boys.

thegayboys said:

“Can you imagine what would happen to Michael Kors’ business if HE suddenly appeared in public in a dress?
Can you imagine what would happen to fashion if everyone acted like Michael Kors?”

There can be little question that fashion would suffer immensely.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not anti-gay. But there definitely is an invisible “comfort line” and I guess I’m on the edge myself, making me a different voice here. Even though I came to adore the TV Austin as a real “character,” I personally would be a little freaked if the Austin in this picture were fitting me but, oddly, would not be if he were wearing the black glasses and tie of the picture from the previous episode. Go figure. That shouldn’t make one iota of difference — yet, it does. I see this same thing in the corporate world, too. Playing to stereotype in appearance does, even after all these years, still seem to make a distinct difference, especially in the upper levels of management and with what I would refer to as “the landed gentry.”

So, for example, when I see pictures of Austin in his current incarnation with bare shoulders and gauzy, see-through wraps, I wince. To me, that isn’t going to attract big financial backers or the wealthy clientele that he would need to make it as an independent because it doesn’t telegraph “serious and dedicated professional.” So I worry about Austin’s long-term prospects when he presents himself to the public that way.

Sadly, this is a surprisingly conservative country (particularly outside of New York City and Massachusetts), as the repulsive DOMA and offensive state constitutional same-sex marriage amendments demonstrate. Knowing that, isn’t a gay male designer seeking to gain a national professional reputation taking chances when not favoring a more conventionally masculine look? I do think that not being as obvious allows the clientele to mentally compartmentalize and be accepting in a way that being more obvious does not.

It’s striking to me how everybody is so concerned that Malan make it professionally, but with Austin they just focus on how ethereal he looks without any introspection regarding what effect that has on his professional prospects. (Not that this delightful group of pictures was supposed to stimulate introspection, but it did for me for reasons that will become apparent momentarily. ) From the design business point of view, I wouldn’t think that “ethereal” puts bread on the table.

I worked at J.C.Penney’s corporate headquarters during the Halston debacle, so did see from the inside just what a disaster Halston’s sudden change in public image from masculine to feminine was taken as being to the company’s own reputation with its conservative customers. Having seen that Halston debacle up close and personal is exactly what makes me so concerned for Austin, who takes the feminine image from the get-go. I worry that there are wonderful opportunities that won’t come his way and design houses with a broader business base that would otherwise hire Austin but for the way he chooses to portray himself publicly.

Sorry for talking so long. Off my soapbox.

I want to share a little history with you. I did 6 weeks in hell, I mean, Neiman Marcus, when I got laid off in the early 90s. I worked in the lingerie department.

My absolute favorite customers were the girly gays. I had two drag queens that used to come looking for me, and we would have so much fun together! They were sweet, they were very knowledgeable and they were grrrrreat customers. They were nicer than the women, and less piggish than the straight men. I’d hang out with them in a New York minute, whether partying down or just getting our nails done!

To fashion curmudgeon:

According to the bio on Austin’s website:

By the age of 13, Austin had given up trying to conform: “No matter how much I try to be plain, people don’t accept me, so I might as well be fabulous.”

And, fabulous he is! He has the courage to unapologetically be who he is. And, as someone already pointed out, Amsale doesn’t seem to mind.

fashioncurmudgeon said…

It’s striking to me how everybody is so concerned that Malan make it professionally, but with Austin they just focus on how ethereal he looks without any introspection regarding what effect that has on his professional prospects. (Not that this delightful group of pictures was supposed to stimulate introspection, but it did for me for reasons that will become apparent momentarily. ) From the design business point of view, I wouldn’t think that “ethereal” puts bread on the table.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

Austin Scarlett is the designer for AMSALE BRIDAL GOWNS. Have you paying attention? “Ethereal” and talent has but bread on his table. This “Halston Debacle” was, what, 30 years ago? Like your sensibility?
You sound like those people who preface their bigoted statements with, ‘I’m not racist, but…’

Leave Austin alone. He’s EMPLOYED (and just 25yrs old and headed for more huge success) AND ethereal.

Fashion curmudgeon,

As to where Austin goes after Amsale, I suggest you read the Q & A with Austin at Fashion Forward on bravotv.com.

I can’t say I’m squarly in the “Austin is fabulous” camp (He’s a little too girlie girl for me – but I admit that I’d kill for his complexion!) but I do think he’s miles and miles ahead of that slob Jay McC. If I were to hire a designer and had to pick between the two – it would most definately be Austin solely on his look alone. He cares about what he looks like and has a personal vision for himself. His website is pretty great and so are his designs. Alright, maybe he’s growing on me…

Good God, are people really taking all this PR1 bullcrap seriously?

Austin is FAB, an absolute darling. His whole life is fashion.

I love you, Austen dahling. You can be my Clark-Gable-wife girlfriend any day.

Dear Fashion Cur’
I would much rather have Austin grab me in the breast with all his femininity. I recall a very masculine gay dresser putting his hands on me once and THAT creeped me out. I had heard the guy was gay but the way he touched me was most definitely masculine and his “normal” masculine appearance made it confusing as hell. Personally, I have no problem whatsoever with Austin. It would upset me terribly if Austin started editing himself to make you or anyone else happy.

That Other Redhead, sounds like you had your very own Miss America “hands on” experience.

I still say Austin Scarlett is the love child of Catherine Deneuve and Yves Saint Laurent.

Brian

Hey, did I start the whole “ethereal” debate? Rock on! The man has a GREAT job..why are people worried about where he goes “next”? That’s like someone landing a gig in a Broadway play and people are speculating..but where will she go NEXT? Enjoy the moment Austin!

“katiecoo said…

Austin Scarlett reinvents the word *ethereal*. I love his courage and his uniqueness. Muah Austin! “

He really did. We love you, Austin!

I do not think Austin is trying to “be” any one lady. It seems like he is trying to be ALL of them. I thought that sort of drag ended in 1969 after Stonewall. Austin is very young and maybe needs a tired old drag queen to take him aside and tell him it is perfectly alright to be who you are and that he does not have to be an amalgam of what he thinks he “ought” to be. Austin is young, beautiful, and fabulous now. When he is 60 he may be only a tired joke. If he REALLY wants to be a drag queen or transsexual or transgendered then, bless his heart, you go girl! I hope he knows that he does not HAVE to be any of those to still be fabulous. Nor does he have to play the butch stereotype of what a man is “supposed” to be. Hopefully he will find his middle ground where he is comfortable being who he is and not play at being someone else because that is what he thinks he has to do. Too many gay men, especially us older ones, got caught up in playing a “role” that did not really reflect who we were and caused ourselves and others untold heartbreak. Whether that was trying to emulate some fabulous woman past or present or playing the straight role and stifling our gay selves, it was crushing to who we really were and resulted in a lot of self-loathing. He can only be a second-rate someone else but he can be a first-rate Austin. I hope he finds who he really is and then can continue to be true to himself. If that hampers his “career,” so be it. All of life is a trade-off. Better to be happy in your own skin than be miserable behind a mask.

Being truly fabulous is not how one looks but how one feels inside.

Fashion cur…

As long as people think like you, and I’m not making assumptions about you… (though your “outward appearance” conveyed through your comments portrays you as a dinosaur) then no, people “like Austin” (i.e. creative people who aren’t afraid to be different whom, might I add, actually made the fashion industry great) will be totally accepted. But let’s all hope the world outgrows you like it did the dinosaurs…

I’m sure that if Austin had to choose between fitting in to some stereotype or being unsuccessful but happy in his own skin… I’m pretty sure he would choose to make himself happy, and forge his own way in the world.

No, Austin probably won’t be able to follow the footsteps of other fashion designers because of his flamboyance, but he will get to do it his own way. He will forge ahead because he has true talent. There will be people who will refuse to work with him, but there is a market for what he does.

So what if he can’t follow the same path as all the “straight-laced” designers?? Do you really think he wants to fit in all of a sudden?? Why would someone who was obviously born to stand out want to devote his life to fitting in??

Fashion cur… while I accept that you do not believe you are a homophobe (scared of the gays,) It may be time that you evaluate your attitude, because it is a bigoted attitude. For you to believe that someone can fail despite their obvious talent just because everyone else is as bigoted as you is funny, because we are not.

Halston being reprimanded by JC Penny happened decades ago. It may not be happening as fast as it should, but the world is growing up. You should join us.

Precious!

Looks like someone has a bee in his bonnet about Austin Scarlett (I mean you, Fash…Curmudge…). To bring up Halston from ages and ages ago, well, only shows your sensibility.

Austin is a fabulous designer and is doing the work he loves, while looking fabulous and being himself. If people don’t want to buy from Amsale because of him, that is there prerogative. I am sure there are others who will step into the breach.