Red Carpet: Academy Awards 2013

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Laura

Another Oscars have come and gone and, I don’t know about you, but I feel a bit underwhelmed. The show itself was not great; I wanted Seth McFarlane to be a lot better at hosting than he actually was. And the red carpet fashion? Kinda dull, with lots of colorless and neutral gowns. Here’s how I saw it:

Best Dressed:

Stacy Keibler: Completely perfect. Stunning. Wow. Those are all the words I have to say. Wait, I have a few more: best dressed of the night.
Jessica Chastain: First, her hair and makeup were brilliant. Love, love, love the soft waves and red lips. Second, her dress – a pale color on a pale girl – should not work, but somehow it does. Well done.
Naomi Watts: This gown took me awhile to get used to, but once I did, I decided Watts looks fabulous. It’s such an interesting bodice, but it really works, sidestepping potential awkwardness and heading right into downright striking territory.
Amanda Seyfried: My second favorite look of the night. Her hair is perfection and her dress is gorgeous – just so intricate and lovely. As with Jessica Chastain, I can’t believe such a pale girl can pull off such a pale color so well, but Seyfried is doing it.

Honorable Mention:

Jennifer Lawrence: This is certainly a gorgeous gown, but the overall bridal vibe held me back from outright “loving” it. It’s a LOT of train for one person, but J. Law’s pulling it off (well, except for the part where she fell walking onstage to accept her award). Also: her hair is absolutely perfect and her earrings, though hard to see here, were lovely.
Samantha Barks: This is one of those looks that it striking because it’s so wonderfully simple (and, yes, because there’s a gigantic slit down the front, which she’s totally rocking). I wish her hair had been a bit less messy though.
Octavia Spencer: I complained about the colorless gowns, but in this case, the color (or lack thereof) totally works. I also love the tulle wrapped around her shoulders; it’s got an old Hollywood vibe that I’m digging.
Amy Adams: At first I thought this gown was a little too “pretty, pretty princessy” for my tastes, but I decided to embrace it because it’s pretty incredible. A statement dress, for sure.

Worst Dressed:

Anne Hathaway: I hate this. Hate it. And it’s not just because Anne Hathaway annoys me; I fully accept that she can look awesome on the red carpet despite my personal apathy toward her. But this is just NOT her dress. It’s WAY too pale and downright dull – total shades of Paltrow the year she won. Anne’s hair and makeup look great, but that’s all I like about this look.
Catherine Zeta-Jones: I’m sorry, but this is tacky. Too gold, too attention-seeking. Rein it in, CZJ. Also, if you wear a solid gold dress, do you really need gigantic gold earrings, too? However, to end on a positive note: she looked fabulous in the Chicago number, did she not?
Melissa McCarthy: I’m not a fan of the color of this dress, but I can live with it. What I cannot live with? Her hair. Straight up ’80s, but not in a good way. Egregious.
Zoe Saldana: It pains me to label someone who consistently takes risks with fashion (and often looks fabulous while doing it) as a “worst dressed,” but it had to be done. This dress just looks overworked, with too much nonsense piled onto the top half and too many ideas overall. The ombre train is kind of cool, but it’s too much when combined with everything else this dress has going on.

Split Decision:

Kerry Washington: I adore the coral color, but I’m not sure how I feel about the bust – it seems like a bit too much going on. I also wish she did something (anything!) with her hair; it was just hanging there.
Jennifer Garner: I love the color of her dress; it’s unique and looks really lovely on her. However, she has a giant ruffle trailing down her spine and…just no. Looks good from the front, but not so much from the side or the back.
Charlize Theron: I feel like peplum is way overplayed at this point, but you can’t deny that this is a striking look on Theron. Also, can we talk about her hair? She makes the pixie cuts sported by the likes of Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams look like child’s play. Just wow.
Sally Field: I adore this color on her, but I think she almost went a little too matronly with this gown. The dress was too plain; I wanted a little sparkle or something to jazz the gown up. However, Field did get to walk the red carpet with Joseph Gordon Levitt which, let’s be honest, was one of the more adorable things ever.

Miscellaneous Fashion Awards of Note:

Most Adorable: There can be NO critiquing someone as adorable as Quvenzhane Wallis; she’s nine years old and beyond reproach. Her dress is cute, she’s wearing a tiara, and she’s carrying a freaking puppy dog purse. I can’t even.
Most Expected: Okay, the skirt here is fuller than Jennifer Aniston normally goes, but otherwise this look is 100% expected – solid color, column bodice, stick straight hair. But, damn, she does it well. Ultimately, I can’t fault her for knowing what works and sticking with it.
Second Most Expected: This feels reminiscent of what Sandra Bullock wore the night she won her own Oscar – that high neckline, in particular. Bullock looks good, and credit her for knowing what she likes, but I wish this look had a bit more pizazz.
Most Boring: Though her hair was gorgeous, Reese Witherspoon‘s dress was something of a snooze fest. Not really bad, but just…standard.

Best Black: This is a predictable look for Adele, but she looks lovely. The dress is nice, and I really like the softness of her hair. Also, she wins points for being an awesome human being in general. Love her.
Best 80s Diva Fabulosity: Let’s be honest: Halle Berry‘s look is kinda cray, but I sort of love it anyway. It’s shiny, and there are stripes going every which way, and she’s rocking shoulder pads. It sounds like a joke, but she looks amazing – if anyone can pull this off, Halle can.
The “This Is What Sally Field Should Have Worn” Award: When I said I wished Sally Field would have jazzed her look up, this is what I meant. Jackie Weaver‘s gown is age appropriate yet interesting. I like this dress a lot.
Worst Fabric: The black parts of Nicole Kidman‘s dress almost look like trash bags to me. Am I crazy? There’s just something about the uber-shininess of the black that does not work for me. I wanted to like this gown but cannot get on board with it.

Best Mama-to-Be: I love Jenna Dewan Tatum‘s dress – it’s pretty and sexy but totally appropriate for her now. Also, she gets my vote for best accessory, if you know what I mean. What I mean is, Channing Tatum is hot.
Most Ageless: Ladies and gentleman, Jane freaking Fonda. Wikipedia tells me this lady is 75. Whaaaaat? She looks fabulous. The yellow color is crazy but I think she’s making it happen (as best as anyone can make that color happen). Her hairstyle looks dated though.
Best Bargain: The dress that Helen Hunt is sporting is from H&M. Let that sink in for a minute. H&M, home of the $5 blouse. This is like when Sharon Stone wore a Gap shirt on the red carpet – cheap fashion made fabulous. I kind of love Hunt for this, even if the gown is a tad simple.
Worst Collar: Salma Hayek looks like she’s being strangled. I’m not a fan of her hair, either. She can do (and has done) better than this.

Most Begrudging Admittance That I Like This Look: I’m not a K Stew fan (she inspires a rage in me similar to that of Anne Hathaway), but she looks fairly good here. She usually goes for a look best described as “gothic and unhappy,” but she took a different approach – and I think it works. Minus the hair, however. That’s just tragic.
Best Red: Yeah, that’s a lot of fabric around the middle of Olivia Munn‘s dress, but I think this gown is gorgeous overall – especially the detailing on that bodice. Love Marchesa, always.
The “Take That, Beyonce” Award: During the Dreamgirls segment of the show, did anyone else think Beyonce was just going to pop up? I mean, she’s everywhere these days. Alas, there’s no time for Queen B. when J. Hud is killing the Dreamgirls song and looking fantastic on the red carpet. Her hair is gorgeous, and the color of this dress is beautiful. Get it, Effie.
Most in Need of a Hairstylist: I’m fine with Renee Zellweger‘s dress (though it’s nothing special), but what was up with her hair? Lady, I know it was windy on the red carpet, but no.

If you watched the Oscars, what did you think? Was this one of the longest, most mind-numbing shows ever? And are my picks for best and worst dressed spot on, or totally crazy?

(Images via People)

Red Carpet: SAG Awards 2013

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Laura

The SAG Awards are a funny little awards show: they’re televised, but not on a major network; they’re prestigious, but not on the same level as the Oscars. You almost get the sense that the actresses are sort of waiting until the Oscars to break out their big “statement” gowns. As such, the fashions last night were pretty low key – not that that would ever prevent me from talking about them. Of course.

Best Dressed:

Naomi Watts: Simple but striking – I think the beading on the front is gorgeous, and I love her hair. Props to her for being my only repeat Best Dressed from the Globes (a very prestigious distinction, obviously).
Marion Cotillard: Leave it to everyone’s favorite French import to be one of the only women to make a daring fashion choice last night. I adore this look from head to toe; big bows are always a risky choice, but this one looks just right. I also love the fullness of her train, and her hair is straight up awesome.
Jennifer Garner: Seeing them side-by-side made me realize that Garner’s dress is basically the gold version of Naomi Watts’s. I suppose that means I could fault them both for being boring, but instead I’m going to argue that they’re equally awesome. Same comments as Watts: simple but stunning, great beading, lovely hair.

Honorable Mentions:

Amanda Seyfried: There were a lot of basic black and navy gowns on the red carpet last night; I was bored with most of them but not with Seyfried’s. I think it’s the train that saves her here, plus I love the funky necklace and the side-swept hair.
Viola Davis: She looks amazing in every color I’ve ever seen her wear, but I think this is a particularly good one for her. There’s nothing revelatory about the design of this gown – it’s your standard Grecian-inspired dress – but she’s making it work.
Tina Fey: The perfect combination of quirky meets intellectual meets retro glam. I love her belt – it adds just the right amount of visual interest to the gown.

Worst Dressed:

Jane Lynch: Kicking of my trio of worst dressed nominees (who coincidentally all wore black) is Jane Lynch, wearing a gown with a very unfortunate top half. Are those metal studs dotting her gown? Ugh.
Sigourney Weaver: Another tragic top half: it looks like a black sheet is just pinned to the front of her body, making her appear completely flat and boxy. Just totally unflattering.
Julie Bowen: It’s baffling to me that someone as beautiful as Bowen consistently makes such odd fashion choices. Here, her violation is choosing a leather gown with funky shoulders – it just makes for a weird look.

Miscellaneous Fashion Awards of Note:

Best Color: As I mentioned, there was a flood of navy and black gowns at the SAGs last night, so it was nice to see such a gorgeous shade of purple on Sally Field. The dress itself is also quite beautiful; all awards season long, she’s done a fantastic job of dressing in a way that’s age appropriate but not matronly.
Best Matching Dress & Hair Combo: I loved the color of Jessica Chastain’s gown, and as I was looking at the photo, it suddenly dawned on me why: it complements her red hair so well. Overall, this look is a winner – but, is it me, or is her dress just a bit too tight?
Best Gothic Glamour: I don’t think the striking black gown and heavy dark makeup combo would work for everyone, but Michelle Dockery is pulling it off. However, is she flashing some side boob? How very un-Lady Mary of her.

Best Risk-Taker: If there is one person who is consistently bold with her fashion choices, it’s January Jones. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn’t – and tonight, I think her look fell somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The black strap around her neck is throwing me off here, and her hair is just a bit too much. But props to her for always experimenting with her look.
Most Boring: I’m not ever sure what to say about Jennifer Lawrence’s dress. She looks great, but in a very safe way. With that neckline, she needed more of a statement necklace, or something to give this look a little pizzazz. Really glad she won, though.
Most Disappointing: I’m still waiting for Anne Hathaway to have her knockout fashion moment this awards season; she disappointed me at the Globes and she disappointed me here too. I was annoyed by the sheer netting on top, but when I realized she was wearing a sheer overlay skirt too, this look became irredeemable. You better pull through at the Oscars, Annie.

Most Unnecessary Bow: Remember a few paragraphs back when I said that, while Marion Cotillard’s looked nice, bows were a risky proposition? Well, Ellie Kemper illustrates why: her side bow distracts from what is otherwise a perfectly lovely gown.
Most Adorable: I love Kiernan Shipka – this gown is just too cute. She’s like Sally Field, but on the opposite end of the spectrum: someone who dresses appropriately for her age, while managing not to look too childish.
Best Retro Glam: Whenever I see Best Dressed lists after an award show, Jessica Pare is almost never on them; she seems to fly under the radar a bit. I love her, however – she seems to pull retro fashion inspiration from her own show, and that works for her.

Most In Need of a Tanning Intervention: Dear Lea Michele, please lay off on the spray tanner – it’s not your friend. As for your dress: I like the color, but overall it’s a bit too plain.
Silliest Princess: I’m not sure what to make of Rose Byrne’s dress; it almost seems like a combination of a childish princess and a 1920s garden party attendee. Something about this gown just rubs me the wrong way. I also wish that the ruffles were only on top; the fact that they trail all the way down the dress is driving me crazy and seems like overkill.
Worst Hair: This is a perfectly passable dress, but Kaley Cuoco’s hair is just inexplicable – it manages both to look too puffy and too flat at the same time. And while I’m on board overall with the recent trend toward bangs (you get ‘em, FLOTUS), I don’t thing bangs are Cuoco’s friend.

Personal Best: I have never been a fan of Jenna Fischer’s red carpet choices (I think she tends to dress way too conservatively), but this is a real high point for her. She’s dressed modestly, but she doesn’t look frumpy, she looks sleek.
Most Disconcerting Couple: Rory Gilmore is dating Pete Campbell in real life?!? I can barely get over this fact, but I will say that I liked Alexis Bledel’s dress – it’s a good color choice for her. Also, Kaley Cuoco, take note: this is how bangs are done.
Worst Makeup: I’m ambivalent about Claire Danes’s dress, but the makeup she’s sporting is just plain wrong. More specifically, her lips resemble the color of Kate Winslet’s after she spent hours floating in icy waters (and hogging that damn door) after the Titanic sank.

Did you watch the SAG Awards? And if you did, who wore your favorite looks?

Golden Globes 2013: Fashion Recap

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Laura

Recently, I’ve found awards shows themselves fairly awful (bad hosts, cringe-worthy jokes, terrible acceptance speeches). In those instances, the red carpet has been the most interesting part of the night for me. However, this year’s Golden Globes reversed that trend – with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as hosts and awesome acceptance speeches from people like Jennifer Lawrence and Adele, the Globes themselves were pretty entertaining this year. The red carpet, however? Not so great. I was bored by almost every look, and even the looks I loved weren’t as wow-worthy as dresses from years past. That said, I’m still going to talk about the fashions anyway. Obviously.

Best Dressed:

Naomi Watts: I love this color on Watts – the deep red was just gorgeous. The cut of the dress (which you can’t see that well from this photo) was also really nice, and I liked her hair a lot – it had an old school, 1920s vibe that seemed to be on trend last night.
Julianne Moore: You can always count on Moore to wear something striking on the red carpet, and this was no exception. You might hear “black and white dress” and think “boring!,” but the way the white stripe was incorporated into the dress and the cut of the shoulders made this so visually interesting. I think Moore takes the overall best dressed crown.
Michelle Dockery: I can’t think of one thing Dockery has ever worn on the red carpet that I liked so, most of all, I’m just relieved to see her in something fabulous…finally. This look is risky and unique, but it paid off. Great hair, too.

Honorable Mention:

Katherine McPhee: I don’t know much about McPhee, but my impression was that she had sort of a wholesome persona, so I liked seeing her play against type with this daring dress. Also, her hair and makeup were styled perfectly to complement the look.
Sally Field: I love that Sally Field shows up, looking fantastic, and really shows some of these younger, misguided actresses how it’s done. Navy is the perfect color for her, and this dress is classy but not stuffy. Her hair is a bit messy though.
Amy Poehler: On a night where nearly everyone bored me, I was mostly excited to see something unique come down the red carpet, and this is nothing if not unique. This fit well and looked sharp – plus, I liked her side swept hair and cool necklace.

Worst Dressed:

Jessica Chastain: Chastain is so hit-or-miss on the Red Carpet; it seems like she either kills it or is a total train wreck. And, sad to say, it was the latter here. I wasn’t a fan of this dress’s color, but it was the fit that I really found atrocious. Her hairstyle was also a bit scary. Good to see her win, though – she deserved it.
Rachel Weisz: When I first saw Weisz on TV, I only saw her top half, and I thought this might be a winner – it looked like a classic dress, and her hair is beautiful. Then the camera panned down and…yikes. The sheer polka dot overlay is downright tacky. Still, you can’t feel too bad for Weisz – she gets to go home with Daniel Craig, which pretty much makes her the biggest winner of all.
Sienna Miller: People always claim that Miller is some sort of brilliant fashionista but, honestly, how many great red carpet moments has she had? I can’t think of any, and she certainly didn’t have one tonight; I hated that this was two pieces and the floral bits looked tacky and cheap, as though a kindergartner had glued them atop the dress as a craft project.

Other Fashion Awards of Note:

The “Girl, Where’s Your Train?” Award: I loved almost everything about Kerry Washington‘s dress – except for the length. It would have been even more striking if it had a nice, dramatic train. Still, this is a solid look – and Washington looks great with bangs.
Most Expected: Big puffy princess skirt. Precious nails. Retro-ish hairstyle. We’ve seen it before from Zooey Deschanel, but it still looked good, despite its predictability.
Worst Color Choice: The silhouette of Amy Adams‘s dress is beautiful (if a bit too tight), but I loathe the color – it matches her skin almost perfectly, and I just don’t think that’s a flattering situation for anyone. If this had been a bold – or, hell, any – color, this probably would have been a best dressed for me.

Best Post-Baby Rebound: You guys, Claire Danes had a baby a month ago. I repeat: one month ago. She looks fantastic. This dress is simple (which is no surprise coming from her), but she looks wonderful.
Second Best Post-Baby Rebound: Adele also had a baby recently and also looks fantastic. This was a pretty basic black gown, but the collar added some interest. I also loved her updo. Plus, she high-fived Daniel Craig after she won her award, which was adorable. Unrelated to how she looked on the red carpet, but adorable nonetheless.
Most Awkward Bust: I almost loved Jennifer Lawrence‘s look, but I just can’t handle what was going on with the top half. The pointy bra top was almost reminiscent of Madonna, which is never a good thing.

Best Glamming Up: The red carpet doesn’t seem to be Lena Dunham‘s natural habitat, but she cleaned up really nicely last night. Her gown was simple (verging on boring), but the rich brown color and the pleating work added just enough pizzazz. It was also great to see her win two awards, and her onstage shout out to Chad Lowe was one of my favorite jokes.
Tackiest: I’m sorry, Julianne Hough – you seem like a nice person, but from the awful hairstyle to the crazy, gold-bedazzled, overly-tulled ball gown, this look was just wrong.
Most Funereal: There was so much dark material here that it looked like Morena Baccarin was preparing to attend a very fancy funeral. I also think that this look – particularly the sheer material covering her arms – is much too old for her.

The “Nice Dress, but I’m Already Sick of You” Award: First, I have to get this off my chest: my Anne Hathaway annoyance was temporarily put on hold after I saw Les Mis and realized she really was that good, but it’s now back in full force – something about her just screams “insincere” to me. When she acted so shocked to win last night, I just thought, “come on! We all KNEW you were going to win.” However, I will have to come to terms with her, because I know she will be popping up on every red carpet for the next few weeks. Speaking of which, her dress. My verdict: fine. It was good, but not great. Beautiful, but not very dramatic or special. Try harder for the Oscars, Annie.
Best Retro Glamour: There seemed to be a lot of Downton Abbey-inspired creations on the red carpet last night, but Catherine Zeta-Jones just might have had my favorite one of all. Someone like her is just born to exude old Hollywood glamour, and last night was no exception. The dress was gorgeous; I especially loved the beautiful beading.
Most Attention-Seeking: I know this is going to sound harsh, but…please go away, Jennifer Lopez. You weren’t nominated for anything and, let’s be real, you’re barely relevant as an actress anymore. Something about this attention-seeking number just grated on me; why not let the actual nominees shine on the red carpet? Not everything has to be about you.

Best Little Black Dress: Does Salma Hayek age? I’m beginning to think not. She looked great, and this dress was a good choice for her. Sure, it’s simple, but I think on someone like her, it’s enough to make an impact.
Split Decision: At first, I really disliked Kate Hudson‘s dress – the gold collar, in particular, threw me off. However, upon further consideration, this look is actually growing on me. She looks pretty chic, and I like the black and gold combo. But, I do think her hair should have been pulled back – it’s fighting with that collar for attention. All in all, I’m torn between loving and hating this look.
Most Outrageous Slit: There were a couple dresses with crazy high slits last night, but I think Eva Longoria‘s takes the cake and, overall, I was not a fan of her look. Honey, Angelina Jolie you are not.

If you watched the Golden Globes, what did you think? Who wore your favorite looks?

(Images via People and Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway All-Stars: S2, E3

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Laura

The Challenge: The designers met Carolyn in Long Island City, where they saw the world’s largest collection of “aerosol art.” Carolyn tasked the designers with making their own “wearable art,” which they were to create by using spray paint to design their own patterned fabric. While this seemed like a pretty creative idea for a challenge, it struck me as super difficult to spray paint something with any level of accuracy if you’ve never done so before – and, from some of the patterns the designers produced, I suspect I was right.

My Top Three:

Casanova: The shape of this dress was very basic (and verged on being cut too low in back), but I thought Casanova knocked it out of the park in terms of spray painting technique. His design actually did look like wearable art, which was the whole point of the challenge. I especially loved the little cityscape Casanova painted in the dress’s bottom left quadrant.
Anthony Ryan: I adored this dress, particularly the patten, which I found bold and graphic in the best way. The dress was also well-tailored, and I liked the wide black belt. Anthony Ryan’s look was the clear winner to me but, sadly, not to the judges.
Joshua: I struggled to come up with three top looks this week, so, suffice it to say, Joshua’s look is not my absolute favorite. However, I do think there’s some good stuff going on here. All his different patterns were quite interesting – to me, they seemed like they should not work together, but somehow the way he put this garment together, they did.

My Bottom Three:

Emilio: I hated this look – the print and color scheme were way too aggressive. I could tell Emilio’s pieces were well-made, but I simply could not get past the in-your-face coloring. It was just too much for me, so naturally the judges named Emilio the winner.
Suede: This garment looked very crafty and amateurish, as though there were a bunch of yellow circles slapped all over it for no good reason at all (which is quite possibly the case). I also hated the bottom of Suede’s dress – there was way too much fabric, and the construction of it looked so cheap.
Laura: It’s possible that I found Laura’s look even more atrocious than I otherwise would have because her personality has become so off-putting, but I really was not a fan of this piece. The mixture of purple and yellow paint became a little drab and gray looking, and the hemline (as Laura herself acknowledged) was way too short. But what bothered me the most about the dress was the back – those pieces of black fringe hanging off were just tacky.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

“I’m painting my canvas purple, yellow, and black, and I notice that Althea is using purple and yellow, because they look so great together. Oh, hey, Althea honey – you need to get your own ideas.” (Ugh, Laura Kathleen has turned into a full-on beast this season. Also, Laura – I’m pretty sure you’re not the first person in history to pair yellow and purple together).
“Now, I’m thinking of my fine line in fashion: is it hideous? Is it fabulous?” (Joanna to Kayne. Let’s all take a wild guess about which side of the line she thought Kayne’s garment fell on).
“But is he a seamstress or a designer?” (One of the guest judges on Kayne, which, if you’ve followed this show throughout the years, you probably know is one of the worst criticisms the judges can give).

Random Bits + Pieces:

The show insisted on using the term “aerosol art” repeatedly. I’m sorry, but can we just call it graffiti?
Kayne summed up the awfulness of Laura Kathleen perfectly when he said, “I’m hearing that Laura Kathleen has offended everyone. She’s on everyone’s last gay nerve.” I agree. I mean, when did Laura become such a seemingly terrible human being? I’m ready for her to go.
Andrae’s glasses this episode were very Harry Potter circa The Sorcerer’s Stone, were they not? Love it.
Speaking of Andrae – someone needs to forcibly remove the tulle from his hands. He uses it every week, and every week I come to the conclusion that it’s not adding anything to his look.
This week’s judges? Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra, two designers who were dressed like lumberjacks and are apparently favorites of Anna Wintour’s. I had never heard of them before, but they delivered thoughtful and helpful critiques.

The Results: The judges named Emilio this week’s winner (Whaaaa? Anthony Ryan was robbed). Mercifully for PR fans across the universe, the judges eliminated Suede, thus sparing us of further weeks of listening to Suede talk about himself in the third person.

What did you think of this week’s Project Runway All-Stars? Do any of the designers have a future in “aerosol art”? Were you sad to see Suede go?

(All photos via Lifetime)

Project Runway All-Stars: S2, E2

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Laura

Last week, I mentioned that I was a bit fatigued by Project Runway, but this week it occurred to me that this season is actually off to a promising start. The All-Stars episodes are one hour, instead of an hour and a half like Season 10, and I think the brisk pace suits the show – less workroom drama, more focus on the fashion. I’m also finding most of the cast appealing (and, when not appealing, at least interesting), and the fashions the designers turned out this week were solid overall. All in all, I’d say the second round of All-Stars is off to a much better start than the first edition.

The Challenge: Carolyn and some random executive for the Jones Group (who?) tasked the designers with creating a party look for a night on the town, inspired both by disco and a Nine West shoe (product placement alert!) of their choosing. Maybe it’s just me, but disco seems like one of the more random inspiration points for a challenge – of every era and style you could choose, you choose that? Plus, the word “disco” doesn’t exactly scream fashion-forward to me. But I guess that was the challenge?

My Top Three:

Joshua: This was a striking look, and I absolutely loved the vibrant turquoise fabric Joshua chose. I also thought the pantsuit was a nice choice – it evoked the ’70s but still looked wearable today. Joshua also include lots of nice details: the shiny lapels, the cute belt, and the cutout in the back. Joshua may be ridiculous, but I’m liking his work this season.
Laura Kathleen: She said her look was meant to evoke Diane von Furstenberg in the ’70s, and since I love DVF, I loved this look. The jacket was cute, but I loved the outfit even more without it since you could really see how striking (and fun!) the jumpsuit was.
Emilio: I just loved Emilio’s dress; he somehow made hot pink and hot yellow shiny fabric look sleek and chic. I thought this did a great job of fusing together the disco aesthetic with a ballgown – which is an odd combination, but I think Emilio pulled it off.

My Bottom Three:

Wendy: Oh, dear Lord. I don’t think I got the full effect of this outfit’s atrociousness from glimpses in the workroom, but I sure did when it walked down the runway. First, the bell-bottom pants? They were way too flared, and the material Wendy used for them was flat-out tacky. Second, this look was way overdone, particularly the metal chains hanging off the pants and the black gloves. The top was okay, but not good enough to save the outfit (or Wendy herself).
Suede: I hated Suede’s dress – it looked like a bulky, lumpy, wrinkled sheet. Wait, not just a wrinkled sheet, a wrinkled sparkly gold sheet. There was way too much fabric and way too little design in this garment. I cannot believe this wasn’t in the judges’ bottom three.
Andrae: My first thought was that it literally looked like Andrae’s model had a raw piece of purple tulle wrapped around her – what the hell? Also, once she took off her “coat,” there was nothing to the look; you were left with a simple pencil skirt and rather plain top.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

“Laura Kathleen is a sweet girl, but she can be a little annoying at times. I’m more interested in being in the mix with more of the real designers, like Emilio and Uli. Those are people I feel like are more designing on my level.” (I’m sorry, but was Althea this big of a bitch in her original season? I don’t remember her being this catty).
“If you want to make a costume for the ’70s, Wendy is killing this challenge.” (Laura Kathleen on Wendy. Guys, Laura Kathleen wants you to know that she’s mean, she has no friends in this competition, and she’s in it to win it).
“It’s like Mad Max. ‘Welcome to Thunderdome!’” (Joshua on Wendy Pepper’s look. Please note that the way he pronounced “Thunderdome” was fabulous).
“Just the word ‘blazer’ makes me shrivel up a little.” (Joanna to Laura Kathleen. Girl, what do you have against a good blazer?!)
“So, I’m feeling a bit of white man’s overbite when I look at this.” (Every week, there’s a moment that reaffirms my love for Joanna Coles, and this exchange with Suede was that moment. One, Joanna demonstrated the white man’s overbite dance. Two, she reminded me of Billy Crystal in my all-time favorite movie).
“I see these Mamma Mia inspired bell-bottom pants and I’m like…puuuke.” (Joshua on Wendy Pepper. He may be overly bitchy at times, but at least you can count on him for a good soundbite).
“And then there’s Suede’s. I’m not gonna dance in that dress. It’s like you’re stuck in a golden refrigerator.” (Uli on Suede. His dress was solid gold, but I’m a little lost on the refrigerator part of the analogy).
“That outfit belongs on the streets, in some back road at five in the morning.” (Uli on Wendy Pepper. Uli was a bit sassy – albeit in the sweetest way possible – this episode, no?)
“Talk to me about how this is referencing the ’70s…I mean, perhaps this was a couple of years in the ’70s where I was asleep.” (Joanna to Uli. Oh, Joanna. We know you weren’t sleeping during the ’70s, but rather raving at Studio 54).

Random Bits + Pieces:

“I immediately gravitated toward the orange heel. It just kind of spoke to me.” I don’t think I even need to tell you that it was Kayne who spoke these words.
“To create a look in a day, that’s no time at all. So if you see a glue gun coming out…honey, that’s okay.” Honey, it’s not okay. In saying this, Anthony Ryan summed up my basic problem with this show: they simply don’t give the designers enough time. C’mon, producers. Get with the program.
“You know what I like about this challenge? Nightlife. Slutty. Casanova.” I’m not sure why it’s a plus to associate yourself with “slutty” designs, Casanova, but whatever. Also, note that he put air quotes around all three words, a la Joey Tribiani.
Okay, Suede and Wendy Pepper? That’s like the weird friendship EVER. Maybe Wendy can use her new-found influence over Suede to make him stop talking in the third person. Forever.
Moment #2 that reaffirmed my love for Joanna Coles, from her exchange with Casanova: “Excellent. I like the word ‘comfort.’ It’s so important in fashion, but no one ever talks about it.” Preach, sister.
Kayne led the group in a disco dance party at the end of the workday (pictured above). Of course he did. Also note how joyfully Wendy Pepper joined in; she appears to have become totally zen since her season. I was curious to see how long that would last but, sadly, after her elimination, I guess we will never know.
This week’s guest judge? Rafe Totengco, who designs handbags for Nine West. I knew he was an appropriate choice for this challenge, but my gut reaction was that I wanted to see a more “name” designer in the guest chair. However, Totengo offered very thoughtful critiques and won me over – he was a solid guest judge overall.

The Results: The judges named Uli the winner. Her look was not my favorite, but I like Uli so much that I couldn’t help but be pleased with her win. Wendy Pepper was sent home, which surprised me – I thought the producers would keep her around for the potential drama factor alone.

What did you think of last night’s PR All-Stars? Will you miss Wendy? Will Andrae ever put down the tulle and make a good design? And will Suede ever stop referring to himself in the third person, for the love of all that is good and holy?

(All photos via Lifetime)

Project Runway All-Stars: S2, E1

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Laura

Can I be honest? I am suffering from Project Runway fatigue. Though I still enjoy the show, it’s just not what it was during the early seasons. Additionally, having the regular season and the All-Stars season back-to-back seems like poor planning on somebody’s part. And, on top of all that, didn’t we just have an All-Stars season less than a year ago? Shouldn’t there be years between All-Stars editions? It’s a lot of PR, and perhaps it would have been better to spread the crazy fashions and workroom meltdowns apart a bit, no?

Rhetorical questions aside, I’m attempting to go into this season of PR with an open mind. While I did not enjoy the last All-Stars season, this go round has some advantages to it. First, monotone model slash host Angela Lindvall has been auffed; Carolyn Murphy is replacing her. Second, some of the contestants coming back are absolute classics from seasons of yore (Uli! Andrae! Kayne!). While I’m still holding out for an All-Stars edition that features Laura Bennett (my all-time favorite) and Jillian Lewis, it’s good to see these other guys back too.

So, how did this all pan out? After just one episode, it’s hard to tell – this was not the most dramatic outing, with nary a meltdown in sight. As of now, I’m reserving judgment on the merits of this season. Instead, let’s discuss the fashion from this week’s episode.

The Challenge: The designers split into two teams (a team challenge! Oh, the horror!), and Joanna then tasked them with creating a mini-collection based on an “attitude.” One team chose “bold” and the other chose “confident,” which aren’t exactly revolutionary concepts when it comes to fashion. Is it just me, or is this a pretty yawn-inducing concept for a first challenge?

My Top Three:

Ivy: I loved the jacket Ivy made, particularly how the print matched up perfectly from the arms to the torso. That was such a cool touch. I didn’t like the shorts so much, and I almost feel bad about putting this in my top three since I gave Christopher such a hard time for showing shorts on PR Season 10 last week. Nonetheless, the strength of the jacket made this a top pick for me.
Laura Kathleen: I liked how sculpted the top was, as it provided a nice contrast to the more relaxed skirt. It’s hard to tell from just a photograph, but I found this striking when it came down the runway – it was interesting, while also being something an ordinary person could wear.
Uli: In a sense, this is classic Uli – long and flowing. I loved Uli and never minded that aesthetic, repetitive though it was. But, I also think this dress is different because it’s a bit more refined and sophisticated than her typical beach-y look. Perhaps that’s simply because Uli was forced to work with the black and cream fabrics her team chose, but whatever the case, this dress is working for me.

My Bottom Three:

Emilio: A, this look bored me; the overall silhouette is too basic. B, I really detested the cutout in front – it was just too tacky, and it’s weird to see a dress with such a traditional shape have such a garish detail.
Kayne: All I can say about this look is, whaaaat? It’s like cat woman on crack. I am astounded that this did not fall into the judge’s bottom three. It’s way over-the-top which, I suppose, is true to Kayne’s style, though it doesn’t make for the most sophisticated garment.
Andrae: I adore Andrae – he’s one of my favorite PR “characters” of all time. However…this look was a mess. Particularly with the top, it just looked sloppy and thrown together. The tulle placed over the top didn’t add anything to the look; it was simply distracting.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

“I mean, we have Andrae and we have Laura Kathleen. It’s like two little chihuahuas barking back and forth at each other.” (Joshua, who I’m fairly certain is going to be supplying a large percentage of this season’s Bitchy Lines).
“I’m a little terrified to meet you because I remember you being such a bitch on your season.” (Joanna to Ivy. This, my friends, is why we all love Joanna Coles).
“When I think of lace and black leather, the word that comes to mind is ‘hooker.’” (Roughly 20 minutes into the season, and Joanna was already on fire).
“Suede, oh God. Napkin, anybody?” (Uli on Suede’s dress. It’s more awesome if you imagine it in Uli’s delightful German accent).
“It was a mess, like his mind.” (Rachel Roy on Andrae’s garment. Ouch, but she has a point – Andrae always was a little cray cray).

Random Bits + Pieces:

It’s a mark of Project Runway’s declining quality that my three favorite designers in this competition are all from PR’s early glory years: Uli, Kayne, and Andrae. Uli for her designs; Kayne and Andrae for their personalities. Some of the people on this show from later seasons, I barely remember (Emilio? Peach? Suede? Casanova? Who?)
Did Suede always talk in the third-person so much back in his season? Because it’s insanely annoying and he needs to go, like, now.
I’m not sure if Carolyn Murphy is a good host, but compared with PR All-Stars S1′s Angela Lindvall, she seems like a total pro. Major upgrade, PR All-Stars.
This week’s guest judges? Rachel Roy and Mondo. I always enjoy Rachel Roy on this show – she brings thoughtful and articulate critiques to the table. Mondo too has guest judged before, and he comes off a tad too snarky to me. Perhaps winning has gone to his head?

The Results: Anthony Ryan won the challenge (I wasn’t a huge fan of his garment, but his southern charm is delightful). Peach was out – and given that she and Andrae were the bottom two, this was quite a relief. It was clear from the beginning of the episode that Peach was way out of her depth; she was clearly the right choice for an early exit.

Are you watching Project Runway All-Stars? Which designers would you have liked to have seen back? And who’s your early favorite to win this edition of All-Stars?

(All photos via Lifetime)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 14 (Finale)

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Laura

And so we have arrived at the end of this long, strange, and overall unfashionable season of Project Runway. Though I hold this show near and dear, I have to get two grievances off my chest before we begin.

First, the episode began with the final four attempting to completely revamp their collections in one day, in response to the judges’ critiques of their mini-collections. I cannot believe the show didn’t give the designers more time. Why not have the judges critique the designers a week or two before Fashion Week and give them time to make meaningful changes? Show, you’re losing me here.

The second thing that lost me? Last week, the judges were quite harsh on all four designers’ preview collections. This week, however, they loved everything – their comments were overwhelmingly positive. There’s no way the designers improved their collections that much in just a day, so the complete shift in reaction from the judges just felt fake and forced. And, it only underscored how completely pointless last week’s outing was. Show, please fix this.

Okay, time for me to quit complaining about the direction the show has taken and start complaining about the designs that walked down the runway at Fashion Week. Here’s how I would rank the designers, from best to worst.

Fabio’s Collection:

Overall: I loved the colorful fabrics Fabio chose; particularly compared to the other three collections, his felt like a welcome breath of fresh air. I also thought his collection was the most innovative; it didn’t look like things I had seen before. Fabio was the biggest revelation of the finale for me. I never would have thought I’d rank him above Dmitry but…I have to give Fabio the edge.
Favorite Pieces: The blue shorts and over-sized sleeveless cardigan (the only pair of shorts from anyone’s collection that I liked), the white cropped pants and blousy top (I know nobody could wear this in the real world, but it looks cool and modern), and the pink flowy top and grey pants/skirt (were they pants? Were they a skirt? Who knows, and that’s part of Fabio’s genius).

Dmitry’s Collection:

Overall: Dmitry’s collection was polished and refined. I liked the touches of yellow here and there, and everything was perfectly tailored. There were a few random lapses in taste, however – I hated the sheer tops. They simply weren’t classy enough for Dmitry’s collection.
Favorite Pieces: The white jacket with winged sleeves and geometric cutouts on the front, the yellow dress with glimmered, beaded shoulder pads, and the dress with chevron print and black fringe (loved how unique this was).

Melissa’s Collection:

Overall: This was pretty standard Melissa: big collars, lots of leather, lots of black. Props to her for having a distinct aesthetic, but…it’s not an aesthetic I particularly love. Also, her models were clearly having problems walking in a few of her dresses – so points off for that.
Favorite Pieces: The coat with the crazy big collar (the collar was standard Melissa, but I loved the fit of this coat and the collar added just the right amount of edginess to the look), the black dress with blue belt, and the black dress with the white back (this was super simple, but the white back added just the right amount of surprise to the look).

Christopher’s Collection:

Overall: The color palette Christopher used was very drab and dull – I hated it. There were also far too many pairs of shorts; seriously, you come to Fashion Week and show shorts? I didn’t see anything particularly special about this collection – Christopher was, by far, the biggest disappointment.
Favorite Pieces: The blue pleated coat with printed purple pants (the piece of Christopher’s I most loved), the ombre gown (that was definitely a wow piece, although the fabric didn’t match up in the back and that really bothered me), and the asymmetrical shift dress (which I didn’t like very much, but it was the only other look of Christopher’s that I found acceptable).

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

“Chris, he has no direction. He doesn’t know what to do and what to make. I think…he lost it.” (Dmitry, delivering an accurate assessment. Christopher was a train wreck this episode).
“Blood orange? She’s so pretentious. Shut up, it’s f–king red.” (Christopher on Melissa, completing his transformation into a bitter, evil jerk).
“You sent the girl down the runway in a dress that no one could walk in. I literally wanted to nail her shoes to a skateboard and have someone pull her.” (Michael on Melissa’s dress, which was, indeed, insanely tight around the ankles).
“To take these Jordan almond pastel colors…I was like, oh God, is he really going to go there?” (Michael on Fabio’s collection. I was trying to figure out how to describe Fabio’s color palette and, of course, Michael found the perfect way).

Random Bits + Pieces:

Christopher needs to keep that ego in check; after the judges critiqued his mini-collection, he seemed appalled that the judges had dared criticize him: “I’ve been a front runner this whole competition…the judges are making it seem like they’re doing me a favor by moving me forward.” Oh, honey. Your collection was heinous. The judges did do you a favor.
In addition to that, Christopher was just a raging jerk throughout the entire episode. From mocking Melissa to being rude to Tim to generally being a huge downer, I totally lost any love I had for him.
I am SO SICK (all-caps most definitely warranted) of the time wasted in the L’Oreal Styling Room each episode. This is deathly boring. Can’t the show find a way to work L’Oreal into the episode without wasting so much time every single week?
This week’s guest judge? Jennifer Hudson. She looked absolutely fierce in her bright teal pantsuit. Her critiques, however? Not so fierce. She’s very soft-spoken, and I don’t think PR bitchiness is really her metier.

The Result: The judges’ decision came down to Dmitry vs. Fabio, and I agreed with the judges there – those two were clearly the standouts. While I liked Fabio’s final collection slightly better, Dmitry’s overall work throughout the season was stronger – so I was happy the judges gave him the win (although watching Fabio cry at the end kind of broke my heart). Nonetheless, it was good to see my favorite dour Belorussian come out on top.

(Judges, contestants, and runway photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 13

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Laura

By now, the rhythm of Project Runway has become familiar; this many seasons into the show, it wasn’t hard to predict how this episode would play out. The designers would leave, Tim would come visit them at home, the designers would return (so happy to see each other again! Besties!), and the designers would have mini-meltdowns as they tried to select which of their looks they would present to the judges to make it to Fashion Week. There were no trips to Mood, no montages of the designers sketching, and no wacky challenges – and while this made the hour relatively low-key, it also meant the focus was on the fashion. Which, given that this is a fashion competition, is probably just as it should be. So let’s get right to it: who’s going to Fashion Week?

The Challenge: Heidi and Tim informed the designers that they would each get $9000 to create their collections…but that not all four were guaranteed a spot in the finals. This was meant to be shocking, but since this happens pretty much every season, it barely registered. The designers headed home to create their looks and then, upon their return to New York, were told they would have to show three pieces to secure their places at Fashion Week.

Here are my thoughts on each designer’s look, from my most favorite to least.

Dmitry’s Three Looks:

Look One: I did not love how shapeless this dress was, but I adored the geometry of the piece – very cool.
Look Two: Not sure about this. I loved the pants – they were impeccably tailored and just all-around quite cool. Dmitry started to lose me on the top, though. Something about the sheerness of this just didn’t read “chic” to me, which is the word I typically associate with Dmitry’s style.
Look Three: Yikes! Not sure about the fringed arms on the jacket, and again, the sheer top underneath. But, the jacket (and the material it was made of) were fantastic.
Overall: I wanted to love this because I love Dmitry, but I just didn’t. These pieces were solid but not wonderful. You could see the architectural look that Dmitry was going for, and everything was impeccably made as per usual, but some of his choices just felt off. But, I thought everyone’s looks were lackluster last night – so I would still rate Dmitry’s mini-collection at the top.

Fabio’s Three Looks:

Look One: Loved the pants, loved the necklace. The top looked cheap to me (though I liked the fabric it was made of) and the vest wasn’t anything special.
Look Two: I hated the way this top puckered; it was an interesting idea with the geometric cutouts, but Fabio did not execute it well. The back of the top, with it’s lace panel, was quite pretty.
Look Three: Hated this. It just looked like a bedsheet, to be honest. I did love the geometric neckline though.
Overall: These pieces did look like a cohesive collection, and I loved the geometric flourishes Fabio added throughout. But, I wasn’t crazy about his color palette – it looked too washed out. And, as the judges noted, some of these pieces looked cheap. I still rate this above Melissa and Christopher though; at least Fabio tried to do something different and special, whereas what we saw from the other two were drab, blah messes.

Melissa’s Three Looks:

Look One: GAH! This look is a gothic nightmare. The shorts aren’t anything special (why did everyone think sending shorts down the runway was a great way to get a ticket to Fashion Week?!), and I hated the cut of the top. Also, the model’s wig is atrocious.
Look Two: I hated the asymmetry of the coat. I’m pretty sure it was a deliberate design choice, but to me, it just came off looking haphazardly made. I also wasn’t wild about the over-sized cuffs.
Look Three: I liked this dress – simple and chic, though not exactly groundbreaking. But, as per usual, Melissa just had to add an exaggerated collar. The judges love to complain when somebody is one note – so why haven’t they criticized Melissa more over her collar obsession?
Overall: This collection was very Melissa – of the four designers, her looks were the most predictable, based on what we saw from her throughout the course of the season. But, it contained a little too much black and a few too many exaggerated collars for my taste.

Christopher’s Three Looks:

Look One: This was WAY too simple. I mean, what was special or fashion-forward about this look? Simple shirt, simple shorts, simple vest. I just didn’t get why Christopher chose to send this down the runway.
Look Two: Again, what was special about this? The leather shorts were fine, but 99.9% of women couldn’t wear them. The ostrich belt, allegedly the cool detail here, was so tiny that I didn’t even notice it.
Look Three: And, again, SO simple. What the hell? This is a skirt and a bandeau top – no more, no less. Also, I hated the way Christopher placed his silly x-ray print on the back of the dress. It almost looked like his model had a tail!
Overall: I’m not sure why Christopher chose these three looks – they didn’t make much impact, and they were all too simple. They didn’t show off any of his skills! I would have liked to see Christopher show a gown to the judges, or at least something with more impact and workmanship.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

“I really don’t feel like she pushed the envelope…her white collared jacket, I feel like I’ve seen it before. What’s so special about this?” (Christopher on Melissa’s collection. Dude may have had a point there).
“I’m definitely underwhelmed by Christopher’s collection. He has some very classic pieces and then he has some slutty pieces. It just doesn’t flow.” (Dmitry on Christopher’s collection)
“That little sweater and those shorts…if you have the opportunity to go to Fashion Week, you cannot send that down to the runway…It’s so boring. I don’t even understand why you would show this to us today.” (Heidi on one of Christopher’s pieces. I couldn’t agree more, Frau Klum).
“I would also rethink the sleeves on that jacket; they look a little Robin Hood to me…just cut them off” (Nina on Melissa’s jacket. It did have ridiculous sleeves).

Random Bits + Pieces:

Tim was killing it, wardrobe-wise, during his visits to each designer. His tie during his visit to Christopher was fabulous, especially when paired with his checkered shirt. And then his pocket squares when he visited Fabio were equally fabulous. So dapper, that Tim.
In an attempt to be innovative, Christopher played around with bleach on leather. Tim went nuts for the technique, but to me, it looked like…Christopher had accidentally spilled bleach on leather. I just didn’t get why this was so special.
I love when Tim mingles with the ordinary folks (aka, the designers’ families). Upon seeing the food Christopher’s family had provided: “This looks so…caloric!”
Melissa was super confident about her look when Tim came to visit her in San Francisco, but when she arrived back in New York and headed to the workroom, her confidence evaporated almost instantaneously. I’m not sure what it is with Melissa, but she really seems to choke under pressure. Fabio said it best: “She loves what she’s doing, but she’s not as confident as she should be.”
The designers only had five weeks to put together their collections?!? Anybody else remember the halcyon days of Project Runway when the designers had months to create their final collections? No wonder they were almost universally crappy. Producers, let’s adjust this, stat.
This week’s guest judge? There wasn’t one. I have to say, the show was just fine without an extra chair; it allowed us to focus on the judges whose opinions I actually respect: Nina, Michael, and, heck, even Heidi. When deciding between a vapid young actress and thin air for the guest judge, thin air appears to come out on top.

The Results: You’re going to Fashion Week! And you’re going to Fashion Week! And you’re going to Fashion Week! Sorry, I didn’t mean to go all Oprah there, but everybody got to move on, making this episode completely meaningless filler. I suppose I am glad that all four are still in it, since I like them all, but this episode was just a waste of time, and I’m a little bitter about that.

(Judges, contestants, and runway photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 12

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Laura

It’s the final challenge before Fashion Week, y’all! I mentioned this awhile back, but I feel like this season has gone on for a long time so, despite my overwhelming love for Project Runway, I am ready for it to wrap up. Overall, this episode was a bit “meh.” I wasn’t terribly inspired by any of the creations and the workroom “drama” was predictable, with everyone falling into the typical “Oh-my-god-it’s-the-last-challenge-before-Fashion-Week-and-I-have-to-pull-out-all-the-stops” poor me routine. Let’s discuss.

The Challenge: The designers trekked to Oheka Castle (where?), a place that, per Tim, was meant to “inspire” their designs but ended up feeling more like a meaningless field trip to Long Island. Also serving as an alleged “inspiration” was a slew of L’Oreal products (gotta get that product placement in!). All of these elements were smoke and mirrors, though, as the heart of the challenge was to create an avant-garde look. The designers were given $400 dollars and two days to create their looks which, given the nature of this show, was downright luxurious.

My Top Two:

Dmitry: This was just cool – I loved how Dmitry made a suit, but pushed it to the extreme with every little detail (and it looks even cooler when you see the model in profile, because of the sleeves). From the zig-zag shape of the collar to the pointy sleeves to the deep V in back, every detail was amazing. My one complaint? I wasn’t totally sold on the color of the fabric; it looked drab.
Fabio: This is not a design I would like in the real world, but since this was an avant-garde challenge, I think it fits the bill. I love what Fabio did to his coat – literally flipping it upside down. That was pretty ingenious, and I loved the way the jacket billowed on the runway. I was less sold on garment underneath, particularly how sheer the pants were.

My Bottom Three:

Melissa: Something about this just felt…tacky to me. I didn’t like the shiny leather top and vest, and I thought the high collar was a bit expected, given what we’ve seen Melissa do throughout the season. I also didn’t like the pops of coral; they seemed to clash with the rest of the garment. This was my least favorite look so, naturally, all the judges (except Heidi) loved it. I gotta go with Frau Klum on this one.
Christopher: Something about this just felt off to me. First, I didn’t like the way Christopher styled the look, adding feathers to his model’s arms – that felt like overkill. I also thought the design of the gown was a tad simple, and I hated the puffy hips, even though they were supposed to be the gown’s “avant-garde” element.
Sonjia: I didn’t like this, as it was a tad too Little Mermaid-esque. I also hated the random missing pieces up top. And, sorry to say, this didn’t look that different from your standard issue red carpet gown, so I don’t think it met the standards of an avant-garde challenge. I did agree with Heidi, though – the emerald green color was gorgeous.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

“Me and Fabio have the same character and the same palette, so I want to see whose they like better…mine will be better.” (Christopher, capped off with what can only be described as a diabolical chuckle).
“But does that make it avant-garde or a mistake?” (Tim to Christopher, after Christopher said the avant-garde feature of his gown was fabric shaped to make the model’s hips look wider. Tim was right about this one).
“Unfortunately to me, it looks like an ice skating costume that, you know, Nancy Kerrigan skated through a banquet hall.” (Michael on Sonjia. Welcome back, snarky Michael!)
“It’s like an old lady’s answer to wearing a bare back dress.” (Michael on Sonjia. Someone was cranky about Sonjia’s look, huh?)
“To me, she looks like she has hairy forearms.” (Michael on Christopher. Spot on, I tell you).
“To me, she looks like she’s going to a funeral.” (Heidi on Fabio’s garment. I don’t know whose funerals Frau Klum is attending, but nobody I know wears anything like that).

Random Bits + Pieces:

Heidi always wears dresses that are way tight, short, and shiny, but the one she wore at the beginning of this week’s episode was pretty bad, even for her standards, amirite?! The dress she wore for judging was also fairly atrocious. Step up your personal style, Frau Klum!
Sonjia’s gold fabric, critical to her design, went missing somewhere between Mood and the workroom at Parsons. I always find it harsh that the producers don’t let the contestant retrieve their fabric when they make a mistake like this – it seems unnecessarily cruel.
Christopher has the best facial expressions; this episode, they ran the gamut from sheer bitchy disbelief to silent rage as he looked at Dmitry’s work in progress and deemed him the toughest competition. Say what you will about Christopher’s propensity for theatrics, but boy is always entertaining.
What do you know, Melissa had time management problems this week! Seriously, this happens Every. Single. Episode. You would think she might learn to manage her time a little better after so many challenges, but I guess not.
What was with every designer saying “Goodbye, Atlas!” each time they left their apartments this episode? Did Atlas suddenly decide they weren’t being pimped enough and encourage the show to work in a few extra mentions? It was odd.
I hate when Heidi asks each designer why they should go to fashion week and which other designers should come along with them. It’s just unnecessary drama creation which, I know, is the name of this game, but still. The show does this year after year, and it always annoys me.
This week’s guest judge? Zoe Saldana. I usually complain when actresses are guest judges (see: Duff, Hilary), but Zoe has got to be one of the more knowledgeable actresses when it comes to fashion. Her critiques were thoughtful and articulate.

The Result: Christopher, Dmitry, Melissa, and Fabio made it to Fashion Week; Sonjia was sent home. I really expected ~~the producers~~ the judges to send Fabio home before Sonjia and, even though I liked Fabio’s garment this week more than Sonjia’s, overall I would have preferred to see her go to Fashion Week.

(Judges, contestants, and runway photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 11

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Laura

This week’s Project Runway was one of the more amusing episodes in recent memory, as the six remaining designers bumbled their way through caring for their “babies.” While this was a completely ridiculous premise for a challenge, I decided to forgive the show for it because it was so damn hilarious. Let’s discuss.

The Challenge: Product placement alert! Heidi and Tim met the designers at Babies ‘R Us, where Heidi told the designers all about her clothing line for children. Heidi also informed they designers they would be creating a look for a toddler and the winning boy and girl looks would be manufactured and sold at Babies ‘R Us. And then (in a twist anyone who has watched PR for awhile could have predicted), the designers were later tasked with creating a “companion piece” to their toddler outfit – a garment for each child’s mother to wear.

My Top Three:

Sonjia: I liked the cute little suit on the baby (it even had elbow pads!), but I hated the fabric Sonjia used for the shirt. Not to reinforce silly gender stereotypes or anything, but that is totally not a boy’s shirt. Still, the suit was so cute that I’m willing to overlook that detail. I also thought the mom’s look was nice – it was put together, but still looked comfy enough for a mom on the go.
Christopher: I loved this, and I am SO glad Christopher ignored the mom’s criticisms of his outfits because his instincts were spot on. The baby looked adorable – the flowered dress had such a wonderful texture. And I think Christopher chose the perfect fabric for the mom’s dress; it was gorgeous!
Fabio: The kid kinda looks like a little pimp, but in a cute and loveable way. He had baby swagger. I liked how Fabio incorporated the printed fabric sparingly so that it made the outfit interesting but wasn’t tacky. I also really liked the mom’s dress, particularly how the hem was shorter in front.

My Bottom Three:

Melissa: The baby’s dress was boring – it was just a white dress, and it was too short to boot. The little vest over the baby’s outfit added nothing special to look, and I found the smiley face on the back of the vest tacky. The mom’s outfit was a complete throwaway; it wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t really a special design either.
Elena: I liked the idea Elena had for the baby’s ruffled jacket, but the stuff she paired it with was awful. The color combination – navy, bright pink, and a sage-y green – just didn’t look great. Plus, I think Elena over-embellished the baby’s look: a sequined top, flower appliques on the jacket, a ruffled waistband on the pants, and a headband. Her mom’s look was okay but forgettable (a theme for all the mom outfits tonight).
Dmitry: I loved the mom’s dress – simple but chic, and oh so Dmitry. But…the baby’s look was atrocious. Sonjia called this a firefighter costume, but to me, with that hood, it reads more like a red crayola crayon (which, I swear, I typed in my notes before Nina said it. Just for the record). It pains me to put Dmitry in the bottom, but it had to be done.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

“It’s like you are making an outfit for a cat.” (Dmitry, on designing for children. Ladies and gentlemen, we have found the future winner of “father of the year”).
“Her name is asshole” (Elena, on the name of her “baby.” Ladies and gentlemen, we have found the future winner of “mother of the year”).
“I really don’t see myself ever putting my kid in Dmitry’s firefighter jumpsuit. He looks a little homeless, in my opinion.” (Sonjia on Dmitry’s look. This was funny, but I’m still standing by my crayon theory).

Random Bits + Pieces:

While making baby clothes was definitely a great way to stress out the designers, I am not sold on this type of challenge so late in the game – it’s completely unrelated to the sort of design these guys generally do, and I’m not sure it helped tell us who was deserving of moving one step closer to Fashion Week.
My favorite (non-bitchy) line of the night came from Christopher: “Now I know why Judy went off the deep end with Liza.” Bahahaha.
Remember last week when I called this show Project Friendship? Well, the friendship times are over, as Christopher, Fabio, and Dmitry mutually agreed not to help Melissa even though she was far behind. Honestly, I’m surprised they didn’t reach this conclusion sooner – girl may be nice, but at the end of the day, she has to lose if you want to win.
This week’s guest judge? Hilary Duff, whose primary contribution was repeating the same things that whoever spoke directly before her said. I get that she just had a kid and all, but couldn’t the show have found some other stylish celebrity mom? My dream choice would have been Stella McCartney. How amazing would that have been?!
Today, the cast of the next Project Runway All-Stars was announced. It is completely egregious that, less than a year after the first “All-Stars” (quotations used to highlight my incredulity), the show is doing another round. Shouldn’t there be several seasons between each edition of All-Stars? That said, there are a few designers I’m excited to see again – namely, Ulee (yay!), Kayne, and Andrae (“Designers, look out for Andrae – he’s our little lamb”). As for the rest of the bunch? Meh.

The Results: Sonjia had the best boy’s outfit and Christopher had the best girl’s. I probably would have given Fabio the win over Sonjia (though it’s a close call), but I agree with Christopher’s win. The judges sent Elena home, which felt right – she had never won a challenge, and it was definitely her time to leave.

What did you think of last night’s Project Runway? Was it complete nonsense to make the designers create clothing for toddlers? Did the judges make the right choice sending Elena home? And can you believe that another season of “All-Stars” is coming in just a month?

(Contestant photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

La Vida Laura

on travel adventures, nostalgic tendencies, pop culture ridiculata, and life in ann arbor

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