- I'm bouncin' all over the place.
- She's probably going to be very surprised.
- Did I make the wrong call by going with a dress?
- I am sure will be very happy.
- I'm panicking.
(upbeat music)
- Hello, I'm Merle and today my boyfriend
and a professional stylist are going to be competing
to dress me for a typical date night.
My style is kind of all over the place.
I like a good androgynous vibe,
but at the same time I also like to feel
very feminine sometimes.
So it really depends on the day.
I don't really want anyone to be able
to pinpoint what my style is.
I like it to change day by day.
So that's confusing.
Why are you smiling at me like that?
(laughing)
I'm starting to blush, stop.
- I have been dating Merle now for a few months.
We met at a place of work.
Meeting at a place of work is great
because you see someone every day,
so I got to see her style every day.
So I think my advantage going into this
is the fact that obviously I've spent
a lot more time with her.
We've obviously gone on date nights,
so I see clothes that she would typically
wear on a date night, but I know that today
is a bit more of a different challenge,
and I know that no matter what
she's gonna look great in it.
- Mmm.
- What I do, I'm a costume designer,
and also a member of The Costume Designers Guild
so this is where I specialize in characters,
character design.
Now, you're going to be my character of this challenge.
I do know that you love dark colors,
and you also mentioned about
the androgynous look that you love.
So let's see what we can do,
and I have my own concept for your new character.
- I'm (beep).
(laughing)
- Wait, I love the idea of being a character,
that's so exciting.
- Yeah, the theatrical part of you just loves that.
- Yeah.
Okay, so for a typical date night I wanna look bold,
'cause I wanna be noticed.
I wanna be wearing something that
other people are not wearing,
which is why I like to thrift a lot.
I also want my look to be really fun,
and then lastly, I wanna look hot.
'Cause it's date night. - Of course.
- Gotta get this man goin'.
You know what I mean?
And also--
- Titillate me, Mikael, okay?
(laughing)
- Okay, I was gonna say,
I wanna look hot because I also wanna feel hot.
You know, I wanna own the room when I walk into it.
- Absolutely.
- Okay, so the rules for this challenge.
You guys have to pick a full outfit,
you have to incorporate two to three accessories.
And it has to be bold, hot, and fun.
- God help me.
I won't lie, I'm quite excited
but also very nervous.
I've never shopped for a woman before.
- With all the notes you mentioned
I'm very very excited.
We're going to incorporate interesting elements.
- Cool.
All right, you guys I'm really excited.
I have a lot of confidence in both of you.
Why don't you go out there and make me look fabulous?
- Let's go.
(claps)
(rubbing hands together)
(laughing)
- All right, we're here at Buffalo Exchange.
I'm looking for Merle's outfit here,
she wants something bold, hot, and fun.
I think it's doable here.
The thing is I already have a leg up right now.
Obviously not just 'cause I know Merle,
but, because she loves to thrift.
I'm very nervous, and excited,
but I'll meander about.
We'll look in the women's section first,
but who knows, ooh there's a funky little woo.
I'm not gonna get that but that's fun.
(laughs)
I'm gonna set this aside for now.
- So as Merle mentioned, she likes the androgynous looks.
So, I have this washed denim pants,
little bit of bell bottoms.
And I have this western belt,
'cause I think this is one of my favorite pieces
that we could incorporate for her.
- She loves like a nice long dress,
but it has to be something not too plain ya know?
Something jazzy.
Jazzy is what I'm goin' for, it's not one of her keywords
but I'm gonna go jazzy today.
Jazzy.
This is an option, this is an option for now.
I'm not gonna move it over to the final option table,
but I'm gonna hold this up--
(puts dress on)
There.
This is fairly bold.
This is like we're joinin' a cult.
- I think this is kinda fun.
Simple top, she did mention that she likes the color black.
But we can always incorporate something
the complete opposite of black, white.
- I didn't see this one.
Oh boy, oh boy.
I'ma have trouble deciding.
This one's also kinda jazzy too.
Okay, all right this is what we're gonna do.
We're just gonna take all three.
I'm gonna make an executive decision.
This may cost me.
This is the safer one out of the three I feel.
And we're not here to play it safe.
I can hear the screams in the comments
whenever I hold this one up.
It's somethin'.
I'ma keep it here anyways, for the drama.
'Cause who knows, I am kinda feelin' crazy today.
- Here's another elegant gown,
that's actually has metallic thread in it.
It's actually a jumper so--
Oh, this is actually a reversible top.
So we can go in either direction,
so another androgynous piece.
This is very goth looking.
- We need shoes, and some accessories.
Is that a scrunchie?
She does love scrunchies.
I'm getting a scrunchie.
Now what's calling out to me?
I'm gonna let Buddha pick.
(twinkly sounds)
So I'm just gonna wave and then.
Not sure how that's gonna work out
but I'll take it as an option.
Okay, oh no no I'll keep two options.
'Cause maybe this is like gettin' too many patterns.
- I noticed Merle loves pants.
So another pair of denim jeans.
Look at these little crystals.
And this is actually the black version of the white blouse.
So we could always have options to play with.
- We're gonna nix this.
It's sad, but we're gonna have to nix this.
But you know what I will wear it
for the rest of this shoot 'cause I'm feelin' jazzy.
Here we go, ohh it fits me well.
(laughs)
All right, so we have three dresses so far.
We got the cult one as we call it.
I like both of these, I like both these I won't lie.
Panicking.
(heart beat)
And I feel like this is bold and fun,
but it's not necessarily hot.
This is the hottest 'cause it has
kind of a plunging neckline.
But the color it just doesn't pop as much
as these other two.
(sighs)
(breathing deep)
There's too much in my mind right now.
Did I make the wrong call by going with a dress?
(sighing)
- Oh yeah, forgot to mention this.
Yeah where it's very very fun.
With little sequins, and again with metallic thread.
Here's another jumper I have, with a heart shape neckline.
This is actually genuine snakeskin.
- Maybe I was wrong,
maybe this type of look is the right one.
It's hot, show a lot of arms.
This one's a contender again.
God dammit.
This is bold.
All right we might be onto something here.
I'm putting this one back.
Now I'm thinking that she also wanted something androgynous.
Oh my god.
You know what, I'm just (mumbles) keep it simple,
we're just gonna (sighs).
You know, it's fine.
- Merle feels like she would prefer to have a purse
with her so I have various options of purses.
Some are very kind of, fun.
Stripes.
And this is actually a unique looking,
like a laser cut purse.
- Would she dig that?
They look like they're pant legs.
I can't picture this in my head.
You know what?
This is what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna rank bold, hot, fun.
She would prioritize bold, fun and then hot.
No, no, she wouldn't.
It would be fun, bold, hot.
It's either gonna be bold or fun that's the priority.
'Cause she'll look hot in anything.
- This is actually a fun, fun accent to add,
it will actually complete the look.
This will bring this little western element to hers.
She's probably going to be very surprised
to see herself in a completely different look.
- Okay I'm panicking, I'm panicking a little bit.
I have been panicking, okay.
Build off of an accessory.
That might be the key here.
And I think the accessory that she used
to build off of which might sound crazy, is the scrunchie.
Mikael from his years of training,
you know, I'm sure that they've never seen
someone build an outfit off of a scrunchie.
So how do I build off of a scrunchie?
(laughs)
- I have some shoe options as well.
I dunno I was kind of going towards
the snakeskin for some odd reason.
The heels are not too high, so I think we'll be safe.
This is actually a fun flip-flop.
It actually matches with the belt.
- Thing is, I love this one, we're gonna cut it.
We could make a lot of cult jokes about it,
but you know, it's not hot.
Okay, I feel somethin' building here.
- This is actually a fun choker that I have.
Definitely looks very western.
Think I'm definitely gonna use this.
She's gonna love this.
- Okay, all right.
Let's just get the shoes for that one.
You know what, these are kinda fun.
Kinda have that kinda little retro feel.
This calls to me, it's bold, it's fun,
might just go with that.
Oh, yes.
Actually.
She's vegan, so I'm really hopin'
this isn't actual snakeskin or anything.
- So now we're in to make a selection for her.
This 70's pants.
Black will be too much I think.
Let's incorporate the white one instead.
As a option B, for the top.
I'll just use this and it will show a little midriff.
Definitely the choker.
Mmm, let's see.
Oh absolutely.
Absolutely.
- I think outta these two,
I'm gonna choose this as the second one.
With this, this.
I see shoes for that one.
Oh, these are actually kinda funky.
This is definitely something Merle would wear.
Doesn't really fit the criteria
I don't think too much of bold, or fun.
But I feel like this is pretty bold and fun.
And then we have these nice fun earrings too.
And then we got these jazzy kinda boots, I kinda like that.
So that's an option.
- Or maybe as a option B,
we can just kinda make a little bit eccentric.
Hmm.
It has tears here, tears there.
So this might really work.
So shoe wise, this actually the cow skin,
I mean this will actually work too.
So this, nice.
- I was and still kinda am,
really debating between these two.
But I think I have my mind made up.
I think I'm actually gonna go with something unexpected.
- So here are my two options.
You know what, I think I made my selections,
so I just can't wait to show it to Merle.
- All right, so I have both outfits here in my hands,
and I'm 'bout to open my eyes
and see them for the first time.
Whoa.
What in the whitest wheat?
Okay, I think I know which one you did.
(laughs)
This has to be the one you did.
This is the one you did.
This is the one you did?
(laughing)
Honestly this is absolutely something I'd wear
'cause it also looks really comfortable and flowy.
This also is giving me a huge Jolene moment
which I am living for.
I'm excited to try both of these on,
they're totally different moods.
- All right so, Merle.
- [Merle] Yeah?
- Whenever you're ready.
- I mean.
Can I look at myself?
Oh my god.
Wow this is a (beep) look.
I look like a clydesdale with these shoes.
(laughing)
But I'm not gonna lie,
like I love, love, love, love, love, love, love this jumper.
I feel like a human kaleidoscope.
This is very fun, and he knows it's an homage
to my love for scrunchies. - She loves scrunchies.
- I love scrunchies, which I guess
there is no way for you to know that.
I'm not gonna lie to you, I was a little concerned,
I didn't know. - I was concerned too.
- What to expect, but I feel (beep) fabulous.
- You look great, and these earrings,
you know who picked those earrings?
- [Merle] Hopefully you.
- The Buddha did.
- God.
- He did, you guys saw the footage.
(twinkling sound)
- I'm very very excited about this.
I like this a lot.
- I'm very pleasantly surprised,
I was very concerned.
- [Merle] Bold move making me even taller than you too.
- Yeah you know what, we're just dashin' those gender norms.
I actually had a different pair of boots picked.
As we were headin' out, these caught my eye,
and I thought, I'm gettin' these.
I picked the scrunchie because obviously
I know how much you love scrunchies,
and then of course we have this jumpsuit.
Whether you wanted something bold, something hot,
and I felt this kind of embodied everything.
- 'Cause you can see through it?
(laughing)
- Yes I can.
- You know I really love this look.
And the patch look definitely brings the 70's feel to it.
- Not only do I feel really fabulous,
I also am comfortable which I appreciate.
And honestly, I really am flattered
that this is what I've brought out of you,
when you think of what you put me in.
Because I think it kinda suits my personality.
Okay, I'm gonna go try on the other outfit, stay tuned.
- So Merle.
- [Merle] Mhm?
- Let's see you.
- [Aria] Oh wow.
- Yeah?
- [Aria] Yeah.
- Oh my god.
Okay well first of all I'm blushing.
Okay I promise I'll stop blushing, I always blush.
This is so (beep) fabulous, I can't even deal with it.
- [Aria] Honestly.
Look at that.
It's hot, just like you wanted.
- It is hot.
It's definitely fun, 'cause it's got a hat
and I never wear hats.
This is the way I wish I knew how to dress myself.
I really like this outfit.
And I like that it's all black,
because it's so bold,
well which is one of my words.
It's so bold but it's not overdoing it,
it compensates for being kind of a loud outfit
by also being muted in tone.
You like it huh?
- Yes I do.
- As I mentioned this top is actually reversible.
The necklace it actually has a little
ring a ding ding happening there.
(laughs)
And also we have the western belt.
We have the bell bottom pants,
and of course the faux snake skin, let's mention,
it really adds and complements the little scarf
which is attached to the laser cut purse.
And then to finish the look, I added the hat.
It's maximalistic, but at the same time
it's minimalism is there too.
- When I saw her hold the look up earlier,
I mean I was already blown away there.
And she looks (beep) hot.
(laughing)
- I will say, I cannot stop staring at myself
in the mirror in this outfit.
- Yeah, me neither.
- So it's gonna be difficult,
these two looks are completely different.
But I'm gonna have to just rip the Band-Aid off
and make my choice.
So I've tried on both of your outfits,
they are wildly different.
I will say, I feel like the thing
that you absolutely have going for you
is that I felt like that outfit captured me.
The only thing I could dock you for,
is that I didn't love the bag, but that's it.
Okay so for Mikael's outfit,
I have to say that outfit is absolutely stunning.
Anybody who's watching this video
is gonna be like, "That's the better outfit."
That is the way I wish I dressed myself.
The one thing I will say,
is I didn't feel as much as me.
It felt like what I've always wanted,
but it's not something that necessarily
I feel like I would've ever put together.
I've been having an actual mental crisis back there.
The outfit I'm gonna pick is Aria's.
(orchestral music)
I know that's like shocking,
it's also shocking to me 'cause I genuinely
went back and forth a million times
and mostly I'm scared 'cause I feel like
other people will be like,
"Why would you pick that outfit?"
The reasoning is, it felt the most like me.
Yours is something I wish I would wear,
but I know I would buy it and then I would never
probably wear it.
- I honestly am very surprised.
(laughing)
I mean, you looked amazing in his outfit.
- It's so cute to just to see you both
to channel each other and then you're wonderful couple.
I mean honestly - Oh my god.
- I'm just so happy for you guys.
- I'm gonna cry.
- She's tearing up.
(laughs)
- Oh my god you're so sweet.
- You're channeling each other it's just
so beautiful to see how you're channeling each other.
- What is happening?
(laughing)
- Awe, she's tearing up.
I love you.
(funky music)