SeenON! : What was it like to watch the show last night?

Danielle: I was watching it last night with a pillow over my face, so I was hearing it more as opposed to watching it.

SO!: What was the most difficult part to watch?

D: Inside the Elle closet. They made it a lot more dramatic than it was. But I knew they would try and do that. What you didn’t see was that after Malinda gave us the challenge we ate lunch. I got really sick and my stomach hurt worse than it ever has. It is also hot in the office and we can’t open the window because of the sound. So I was in pain and hot and I was supposed to find something in the Elle closet. It was stressful.

SO!: We thought it was interesting that you confronted Ashlie and Johanna about how you felt about body image.

D: I was extremely fed up.It might have been unfair how I did it, but I needed them to know how I felt. Johanna was the one who made me feel the worse always walking around the house talking about how one’s body should be like a coat hanger.

SO!: Given that Johanna was the leader and it appeared you and Kate split most the work, many people were surprised you went home and not Johanna.

I thought it was going to be me and Kate [up for eliminations].When I realized it was me and Johanna I knew I was going home. Kate gives good television, and Johanna is your visual representation of what Elle is.

If you base it on the challenges; I mean I won three challenges in a row. I definitely think I earned Anne and Joe’s respect. I don’t feel like [Anne] wanted me to go home. But there are many things that go into deciding who goes home.

SO!: Who from the cast do you still talk to?

Well everyone moved to the city but Kate. I live here and grew up here. Everyone invaded my city. I love Kate. She has been the most supportive to me with everything that has happened after the show. I do not speak to Johanna, and Megan and I can be civil.

SO!:How did you learn about Stylista?

D: Well I’ve always been a writer. I was in school for writing. I wanted to work in magazines. But I had to leave school. I was at a fashion after party with an ex boyfriend and someone approached me and told me about the show. I had to jump through hoops to get on the show. They were many interviews and other things we had to do. I had to break out of my comfort zone immediately. if I had heard about this on the radio or seen it on the TV I may not have tried out.

SO!: What’s your advice for people trying to break into the business

D:I would tell people to try and get an internship. I would also tell them to use common sense because a lot of people in the industry don’t use common sense. Also if you get the chance to do the reality show, I say do it. I don’t regret going on the show. I would do it a million times over.

We open last night’s episode right where we left off on Episode 3 with Ashlie and others balling their eyes out at Cologne’s elimination. Back at the house the sadness and shock don’t subside and the Stylista’s prepare for the next challenge.

Assistant’s Challenge

The following morning Devin receives a call from Brett asking she and all the Stylista’s to meet her at Department store Henri Bendel where they will be personal shopping for Anne. While most are excited about this challenge there is also a feeling of terror at having to pick out an outfit that Anne will find both suitable and stylish.

The Stylista’s rush around the store on a tight $1,000 budget trying to put together Anne’s look and then meet Brett on the street with their outfit for Anne’s inspection. Just like the breakfast challenge we marvel at the unknowing mistakes some of the Stylista’s make in picking out pieces for Anne. How was Ashlie to know that Anne loves color but not orange which she says is unflattering on her? To make matters worse Brett announces two Stylistas will go home.

Anne picked Devin’s sapphire colored tie-neck blouse and cream pants as the winner of the assistant challenge making her the Stylista responsible for picking the teams for the editorial challenge.

Editorial Challenge

Brett announces that the Stylistas will be split into teams of two where they will style a fashion spread with a look from designer Tory Burch. Devin picks team one as Danielle, Ashlie, Kate, and Megan seriously denying she chose the members based on their friction. Then she chose her own team choosing to work with Dyshaun, William, and Johanna. Immediately there is friction as team one tries to plan their layout. They all four have different ideas and Kate continues to threaten that she will be heard or she will say something at eliminations.Team two seems to agree and it appears as though with their cohesiveness and their and team work that they will take home the win.

In the prop store Ashlie, Danielle, and Kate lean towards a retro feel as Megan seems to feel like they should go in another direction. Kate picks a retro TV she loves and thinks it will be perfect for the shoot. Team two decides on a minimalist aesthetic which seems risky but depending on the team works it could actually be fashion-forward. Team one continues to argue as they build the set and even as the model comes unto their set to pose. Megan retreats and barely participates. Meanwhile, team two seems to be working smoothly with mannequins lined along a back wall with their model as the focal point in the room.

Eliminations

It’s no surprise that Tory Burch herself is the guest judge and the Stylistas seem delighted to have her. Although Tory admits she was not inspired by a retro feeling when she designed the beaded tunic she likes Team One’s layout. Anne and Joe agree but feel similar to Megan as far as taking a theme and being too literal. As Megan proceeds to tell the judges they worked as a team and she went with the concept, Kate intercedes and tells them this is untrue. Additionally Danielle admits that she helped plan but basically abandoned their photo shoot. Tory was confused by Team Twos concept and found the mannequins strange. Anne and Joe did not like it either however Joe did commend them for taking a risk and being fashion forward.

Although Team Two took a risk with their layout it feel flat and they lost to Team One. It was down to Dyshaun, Devin, and William as the bottom three. Ultimately William was eliminated for not showing his point-of-view and Devin for her lack of leadership and point-of-view. We leave the group as Dyshaun is welcomed with open arms and the eliminated two pack their boxes.

Watch the trailer for next week when the Stylistas will have to dress to the nines and network. Can you say drama?

Last night we were introduced to the eleven stylistas Arnaldo,Ashlie, Cologne, Danielle, Devin, Dyshaun, Jason, Johanna,Kate, Megan, and William who are vying to the the next Junior Editor at Elle.This first episode had everything we dream of: cattiness, anguish, and fashion.

Despite their best effort on each stylistas part to create a healthy and stylish breakfast, it was fashion assistant Ashlie who won the assistant’s challenge by preparing Anne Slowey, clad in sky-high pumps and a YSL necklace, a simple and chic breakfast tray. Later that day Joe Zee, Elle’s Creative Director, was called in to teach the group about style the ” Elle way.”

Due to Ashlie’s win Brett Ramey, Elle’s Photo Director announces that she will get to pick the teams for the editorial challenge where each team will be let loose in H&M to put together cohesive looks, put on a fashion show for Anne and Elle staffers, and then create a contributors page describing those looks. Brett, cleverly puts the bug in her ear to “strategize” about her picks to give her team an advantage. Once we saw that Ashlie placed each of the stylistas with the poorest remarks from Joe Zee together we knew the next segment was going to be fun. We also know judging from the look on Megan’s face that she is NOT thrilled about the team she’s been placed on by Ashlie. Can anyone say tension.

The following day each team picks their looks from H&M. Some groups such as team two had a bit of a power struggle as Megan took the lead totally disregarding most of what Arnaldo and Danielle said. Even group three had the issue of whiny Kate who complained about the looks not being “her.”

Back at Elle (okay the fake Elle), each group got a chance to work it in the fashion show and present Anne with their stellar style. Then it was off to the office where each group worked together to make their contributors page. Again, team two struggled as Megan convinced her team it was to be 30 words per group not per person. Once in the boardroom where the stylistas presented their pages to Anne it was clear not only that Megan got the assignment wrong but others like group three missed the mark with their bright yellow page.

Ultimately, it was group one Ashlie, Cologne, Johanna, and Dyshaun that took home the win with their ‘The Belles of Elle‘ layout. Watch clips and read more about the stylistas here.

Stay tuned next week for more power struggles and …(gasp!) even an ambulance!