George Simonton auditioned for the new reality show “I Don’t Have a Thing to Wear” while teaching his contemporary tailored design class at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
He aced the screen test and is now Master Designer of the program, which features FIT students and begins on The Learning Channel Sept. 1. Simonton, who has taught fashion classes at FIT for 20 years, will critique what the show’s producers are describing as “design prodigies.” Stylist Jorge Ramon will also offer his two cents.
Produced by New Harbor Entertainment, “I Don’t Have a Thing to Wear” specializes in fashion emergencies. Each week one woman will describe the event that she is to attend, open her closet to the experts and allow a rack of clothes to be wheeled away. Once it’s in the studio, students help themselves to the attire and come up with two outfits. FIT set up the producer with alumni interested in appearing on the program.
The first episode centers on an administrative assistant from Hoboken, N.J., who moonlights as a stand-up comedian and needs an outfit in which to audition in front of some big shots. The design duo’s wheels — a 1967 red and white ambulance/station wagon complete with fins and a flashing light — is sure to leave an impression.
“There are no seatbelts and no signals….I don’t drive much in the city. Jorge [Ramon] was a nervous wreck behind the wheel. It was like a big tank,” Simonton said.
Once they got to the Bronx, they pretended to wheel a clothing rack into the ambulance. “It’s really scripted even though it’s reality TV,” he said.
The show set up an Eighth Avenue design studio for filming, with Singer donating sewing machines, mannequins, thread and other materials, Simonton said. If the program is picked up after its initial run of six episodes, as many as 50 more will follow. Either way Simonton stands to get some free publicity, and the timing is ideal. This fall he launches George Simonton Collection outerwear, 15 luxury coats and jackets.
“It’s win-win for everyone. September is when the fall garments land in stores,” he said. “The stores are very excited because they know the power of TV — even straight men watch ‘Project Runway'”