Rachael Ray Makes Up With 'DWTS' Designer

By The Editors of StyleList Posted Feb 5th 2011 01:36PM

TV chef Rachael Ray ate her words this week, busting a move on her syndicated talk show in a flirty, red-fringe dress designed by Randall Christensen, costume designer for ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars.'

The sexy Latin ballroom dress was custom-made by Christensen, who dared Ray to wear one of his designs, after confronting her about repeatedly saying she'd never compete on the ABC reality series known for its super-revealing costumes.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to sit and hear you talk about my work that way," Christensen wrote in a letter that Ray read on the air Jan. 25.

She immediately apologized, saying she loved his Emmy-winning costumes, but had too many insecurities about her body to wear them. But on her show this week, in the interest of making peace, she faced her fears.

Christensen talked exclusively to StyleList, shortly after Ray slipped on the dress that was inspired by her sassy persona. He was in Ray's New York City audience the day of the reveal.

The asymmetrical dress was made of Swarvoski-encrusted Lycra jersey, with a spiral of silver jewels and beads swirling diagonally along her body, for an effect that elongated Ray's petite frame.

Christensen told us the staff at his Phoenix design studio sewed and bedazzled the dress, but he added more sparkle when he arrived in New York City for the show's taping. "You can never have too much sparkle, and it only enhances Rachael's own sparkle."

He chose red for the dress because "the fun" that Ray exudes. "She's constantly moving on her show, dancing and having fun. I thought the red would reflect her personality and the fringe would just add more va-va-voom to the dress."

High-heeled strappy sandals completed the look. Ray gave her best shot at working some moves in the dress, partnered for the segment with 'DWTS' pro Tony Dovolani.

So did Christensen persuade Ray to actually compete for the 'DWTS' mirror ball trophy? Stay tuned!

"I would love, love, love to work with Rachael someday," says Christensen, noting that her personality is ideal for the get-out-of-your comfort-zone spirit of the ballroom competition.

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Tags: dancing with the stars, rachael ray

Comments

(26)

Saturday 05 February

By k

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Gee, I'm so glad you wrote this article because the resolution of their spat was REALLY preying on my mind.

By stu

ok rachel...now exhale...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreahte.

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spanx!

By asronce

short and pudgy's my type, HUBBA HUBBA

By bob parks

Yeah, 23 skidoo, asronce !!

Sunday 06 February

By Ted Bundy

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You like pigs?

By Bug

Geez, she is a lil fatty. She's right too, she shouldn't wear those costumes. If that is meant to slim, just how fat is she really? Don't give up your day job...Oh, they canceled your show didn't they?

By wlh1923

Yikes, that dress is about as unflattering as possible. I'm thinking if you're going to go on that show and flaunt yourself first maybe lose 25 pounds, work out, get at least a hint of muscle tone. Hire a trainer for a couple months and try next season.

By WT

I can't believe I just wasted a couple minutes of my life to read this.

By GET REAL

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

JUST SAYING, THIS DRESS DOESNOTHING FOR HER BUT MAKE HER LOOK, SHORT, CHUNKY,NONSEXY, AND SORTA LIKE A TUBE OF LIPSTICK THAT HAS SAT IN THE SUN A TAD TOO LONG. I THINK THE COSTUMER GOT HIS REVENGE. HE COULD HAVE ELONGATED HER WITH THE PROPER CUT AND FABRIC, HE COULD HAVE DISGUISED HER BROAD SHOULDERS,SHE LOOKS LIKE A WRESTLER IN DRAG.

Tuesday 08 February

By tradervic

Rachael is Phatt in all the right places. I hate being with a girl that you have to shake the covers to find her. There's plenty of boney women in show bizz to go around and I'll bet most of them can't cook.

By nbart

I disagree. I don't mind a thick girl, but Ray has no boobs, no waist and a wide, flat, pancake a*s.

I could work with it.

By Kent Wood

Go for it Rachel! You have just the personality DWTS fans like to have on the show. Never mind if you dance well enough to win the trophy, just go out there, try something new and have fun with it.

By ldb11413

This designer is an opportunist. At no time did I think that Rachel was criticizing his designs. He actually used Rachel for greater exposure. I'm not sure many people knew the name of the designer for DWTS. Then he sends her a dress? It only proved her right. It doesn't suit her body type. Next he'll want to be on the show where he'll showcase a line of fashions.

By lolita

I have to say that i was very shocked at her weight. And the only reason is that I was reading an article of hers in a magazine, and she said that she watches what she eats and works out. Matter of fact she stated she did a she ran five miles a day in the morning and worked out with a trainer. She seriously do not look that she does anything. what she say she does and how she looks do not match. That is a lot of exercising she claims to be doing, but I do not see it.

By anonymous

I guess putting an entire package of cream cheese in your mashed potatoes is (according to this picture) probably NOT a good idea. Oink.

By RickFromMichigan

Rachel has the curves of a real women,that is refreshing.She seems to be beautiful from the inside out.

By Maneater

She looks like a ball of dough that needs to be rolled out and baked at 350 degrees. I heard shes called Gweneyth paltrow and wants her neck back. Oh wait, it must be so the food goes directly to her stomach.

By YellowRose3218

I would rather see a woman or man, look a little bit heavy, than to be skinny.
Skinny is not pretty people.

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