Fashioning with the stars
a South Looper gets the boot
04/18/2012 11:36 AM
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Barbara Bates dresses on the TV runway on Tuesday, April 17
Barbara on the TV leaving all the hoopla behind on Tuesday, April 17
South Looper Barbara Bates has had quite a run on TV lately. She was chosen as one of the fashion designers to compete in a new Dancing With the Stars-format type show called "Fashion Star," in which the designers show off their craft each week, try to get department store buyers--Macy's, Saks and H&M--interested and ordering, and then one unlucky person gets shafted. After several weeks, last night it was Bates who got let go. Judges on the show include Nicole Richie and Jessica Simpson. It's hosted by Elle Macpherson.
"Remember, I am a breast cancer survivor," she joked as she saw the writing on the wall, when none of the buyers bought her dresses last night and had rather negative things to say about her designs. There was giggling at her little quip but it was no soap. And Bates got the boot. In an earlier episode, Bates' dresses got bought by Macy's for $50,000. Barbara told the show that she brought "fabulousity" to the program. As an African American designer who has designed for all famous African Americans, she said she was really glad to be getting home to her South Loop business on South Indiana Avenue.