The second season of NBC show Fashion Star recently launched. I hadn’t heard of the show until I stumbled upon the opening episode of season two, so perhaps it didn’t quite catch on. In any case, the show is like many others in that there are contestants who have to design outfits for the challenge in every episode. The main addition is that each contestant’s pieces are bid upon by representatives of Express, Macy’s, and Saks. Pieces that are bought become immediately available for purchase. The show draws in viewers by making the successes of the contestants immediately measurable; the bid process and the promise of a quick production cycle are exciting to partake in. In addition, the viewer is also treated as shopper who hopes to see the pieces they like be produced, perhaps for personal consumption. The tangibility of the products to the viewer is the most drawing part of the show.
