All On the Line

>> Joe Zee's Sundance Channel reality show, All on the Line, has been picked up for a second season on the eve of the premiere season's finale episode, airing tonight. The second cycle will debut in November.

And it sounds like another editor is working towards his own reality project. Andre Leon Talley, who has put in time as a judge on the past three seasons of America's Next Top Model, was spotted with camera crews trailing behind him this past weekend while he was in Savannah for SCAD's annual senior fashion show. Although the crew told onlookers they were filming for Top Model, it's rumored to be be for a reality show focusing on Talley, instead.

UPDATE: Talley has responded to the rumors: "There is no truth to this rumor about a reality television pilot." [The Cut]

In the past couple of years, we've witnessed a number of talented designers forced to fold their business due to the ever-changing fashion industry and economic hardships. In times like these, it's always good to get some advice from someone who has been in the business for a while now — someone like Joe Zee. We recently chatted with the creative director of Elle Magazine and star/mentor of reality fashion show, All on the Line, about what to do, what not to do, and everything else in between. Listen up to what he has to say:

FabSugar: What has your experience been like on All on the Line and mentoring struggling fashion designers?

JZ: It's not the typical portrayal of fashion, it's something that feels real, genuine, and authentic. I was so moved emotionally. There were times when I was on the floor with them, jacket off, sleeves rolled up trying to help. There were also times when I was so mad at the designers, and there were other times when I wanted to hug them. I was so invested in their final outcome.

FS: Tell us why you think it's so important for designers to understand the business aspect, the balance between creativity and commerce, in the fashion industry.

JZ: People have to live in today, you can't just be an artist for art's sake, because you might as well live upstate with the doors locked with no computer, no phone, and just paint your heart out. Otherwise, if you want to do this for business, you have to start appealing to other people, that's the important thing.

More from Joe on why designers should take business classes, successful and unsuccessful characteristics, and more after the jump

>> A couple of weeks ago, a video preview of Joe Zee's upcoming Sundance Channel series, All on the Line, came out, and now there's a premiere date for the show: Tuesday, March 29 at 10 pm ET/PT. There are eight hour-long episodes in the series, each featuring a different struggling designer who is on the brink of bankruptcy and losing their business. The designer roster includes: Liquica and Andrei, Marc Jacobs alum Dana Maxx, former DKNY Jeans director Leila Shams, Gemma Kahng, Julia Alarcon, Project Runway alum Kara Janx, and lingerie line Layla and Josh — more details on each at the link. [Racked]

>> Elle creative director Joe Zee has a new show coming to the Sundance Channel in the Spring, and the first video teaser has been posted — watch it here. In each episode of All on the Line, Zee meets with a struggling designer and helps them "take it to the next level." To the designer shown in this first preview, for instance, Zee warns against the use of "slutty fabric." And in response to the inevitable Project Runway show comparisons, Zee says: "This show is no-nonsense, it's not a game. It isn't about elimination of contestants, and you get to see an insider's view of how the design process works, and how concept goes to reality." [@mrjoezee]

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>> Bits: The Selby Goes High Fashion, Joe Zee's New Show Begins Filming —Todd Selby has worked with Louis Vuitton on a number of special projects and photographed Helena Christensen's home for Vogue Paris, but it sounds like he's graduating to high fashion editorial — his first? On Monday, Derek Blasberg Tweeted, "Just wrapped a high fashion photo shoot extravaganza with The Selby and Vanessa Traina. The fur was flying!" And today, Joe Zee is experiencing his own first: he started filming for his upcoming show, All On the Line. Speaking of shows . . . Andre Leon Talley and Vogue-approved model and streetstyle blogger Hanneli Mustaparta are hosting the live webcast of the Fashion's Night Out fashion show on CBS.com on Sept. 7 starting at 7 pm EST. [@derekblasberg, @mrjoezee, The Cut]

>> There's more TV coming up from Joe Zee. In addition to his regular appearances on MTV's The City, Zee is getting a new show, All On the Line, to be aired on the Sundance Channel in 2011.

Each of the show's eight episodes will portray a new fashion designer in crisis, with Zee stepping in to provide "tough love" and "make or break [the designer's] dreams," according to the Sundance Channel. Zee, who will serve as a mentor to the designers and host of the show, will help the designers fix the problems with their collections and prepare to present for a buyer. “It’s about helping them get to the next level,” Zee said. “I will be here to lend my expertise." The program is in the middle of casting, according to Zee, who will also serve as a producer for the show.