I really, really wanted to like "House of Boateng," the six-part series on the Sundance Channel that follows British menswear designer Ozwald Boateng’s attempts to get a foot in the door in the American market.But the episodes have been draggy, even at a half-hour each: Boateng micromanages his apparently feckless staff while simultaneously trying open a flagship store in New York. But it’s not clear whether these "problems" actually exist or whether he’s just blowing things out of proportion, because viewers only see his perspective — him talking on a phone. And anyone who’s been stuck in a car with someone on a cell phone knows how interesting THAT is to watch and listen to.The main problem: We’re not invested enough in his success. Boateng’s already the head menswear designer at Givenchy (one whole episode was devoted to him readying his show in Paris), so how much does it matter whether his own venture, Bespoke Couture, succeeds or fails in New York? When he’s soliciting potential partners, the speed and brusqueness with which he’s summarily rejected should leave us rooting for him as the underdog … but we don’t. His meetings are presented flatly, with little explanation as to the importance of this venture.Even the footage at the Givenchy fashion show was boring, not riveting: Backstage, Boateng gets a manicure, his toddler son needs to be escorted to his mother in the audience, etc.I will say, the man knows how to cut a suit. If anything, it makes me want to run out and get several well-tailored slim suits so I can look like him.

Posted in: Uncategorized |

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.