SEVEN DESIGNERS ARE PURCHASED ON NBC'S "FASHION STAR" FROM LAST FRIDAY NIGHT

Purchases from Retailers Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Express Totaled $600,000

This Week's Long Sleeve Bodycon Slash Dress in Black and Basketweave Dress in Black at Macy's and the Sheer Maxi Dress in Firecracker at Express Have Sold Out Over the Weekend

Last Week's Chain Detail Ruffle Hem Dress at Macy's and Coatdress at Saks Fifth Avenue Have Both Sold Out

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif - March 18, 2013 - In the second episode of NBC's reality competition show "Fashion Star" on Friday, March 15 (8 - 9 p.m. ET), the contestants were challenged to present their "sexiest" pieces to the buyers at Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Express. Ultimately, seven designs were purchased, with a total of $600,000 pledged by the retailers. Friday's purchases from Macy's, including the Bodycon Slashed Dress from designer Daniel Silverstein and the Basketweave Dress in black from designers JesseRay Vasquez and Garrett Gerson, as well as the Sheer Maxi Dress at Express in firecracker from designer Johana Hernandez, have all sold out over the weekend. From the series premiere on Friday, March 8, both the Chain Detail Ruffle Hem Dress at Macy's from designer Johana Hernandez and the Coatdress at Saks Fifth Avenue from designer Silvia Arguello have also sold out.

In this week's episode, designers had to strike the right balance between sexy, trend right and functional. Mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos helped the contestants translate their vision of "sexy" into the week's runway creations. While designers JesseRay Vasquez and Garrett Gerson followed advice from their mentor Simpson to switch from a sweater to a dress, Team Varvatos' Brandon Scott chose to disregard Varvatos' advice and go his own way with fabric choice for his men's jacket. At the show, Vasquez and Gerson sparked a bidding war between Macy's and Express with their form fitting Cutout Bandage Dress and designer Cassandra Hobbins was welcomed to Saks with her elegant, sheer blue Bondage Dress. Express opted for purchases from designers Hunter Bell, Johana Hernandez and Amber Perley.

The purchases made on the second episode were as follows:

MACY'S

(www.macys.com/fashionstar)

Daniel Silverstein's Long-sleeved (Bodycon) Dress was purchased in shredded black/nude, which will retail for $129.00, and both the black/nude and black/hot pink sheer cut out versions, which will retail for $89.00. The shredded black/nude version has now sold out.

JesseRay Vasquez & Garrett Gerson's Basketweave Dress was purchased in both black and grey/black multi versions, and will retail for $99.00. The black version has now sold out.

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

(www.saksfifthavenue.com/fashionstar)

Cassandra Hobbins' Bondage Dress was purchased in blue, and will retail for $225.00.

Silvia Arguello's Mini Draped Dress was purchased in champagne, and will retail for $245.00.

EXPRESS

(www.express.com/fashionstar)

Hunter Bell's Mesh Ponte Dress was purchased in both pitch black and warm stone versions, and will retail for $69.90.

Johana Hernandez 's Sheer Maxi Dress was purchased in both the snakeskin and firecracker versions, and will retail for $88.00. The firecracker version has now sold out.

Amber Perley's Open-back Dress was purchased in ivory, and will retail for $78.00

Hosted by fashion journalist Louise Roe, "Fashion Star" gives 13 young designers the chance to win a multi-million dollar prize of launching their original collections in three of the nation's largest fashion retailers. The "Fashion Star" format was developed by Ben Silverman of Electus (NBC's "The Biggest Loser," "The Office," and "The Tudors") and Rick Ringbakk of Emmy Award-winning 5x5 Media ("Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution"), and E.J. Johnston and James Deutch of EJD Productions.

The show is executive-produced by Elle Macpherson, Ben Silverman of Electus, Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth of The Magical Elves, Rick Ringbakk of 5x5 Media, and EJ Johnston and James Deutch of EJD Productions. Electus International will retain all international distribution rights.

For embeddable clips and full episodes from "Fashion Star," please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/fashion-star/.

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