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Project Runway All-Stars: S2, E3

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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

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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

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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 5

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On this week’s Project Runway, the designers were split into two gigantic teams, prompting exasperation, outrage, and a whole host of other juvenile emotions from the group. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that none of the designers’ parents taught their children how to play well with others. A sample quip from Ven reflected the general attitude in the workroom: “Honestly, I want to kill myself.” With that kind of positive attitude, how could the designers possibly go wrong?

The Challenge: Heidi and Nina tasked the designers with creating a cohesive collection targeted at “the working woman.” Each team also had to style a photo shoot featuring their looks; the winning team’s photo spread would appear in Marie Claire. While I thought this challenge produced good results, I was still bored by its premise. Can’t we get some crazier challenges up in here?

My Top Three:

  • Dmitry: My current front runner; I think Dmitry has been criminally underrated all season. His stuff is understated but always impeccable, which is perfect for a “wear to work” challenge. Loved the black and navy combo, and how he color-blocked it in a cool way. The little cap sleeves were also cute.
  • Melissa: I liked this, albeit in a “Judy Jetson goes to work” sort of way. I adored the stark blue color and thought the shape of the dress was nice. The collar and zipper were a bit cray cray, but I liked how inventive this piece was. Overall, I agreed with Nina – this look was a showstopper. It was also good to see Melissa (finally!) embrace color.
  • Ven: I know he always does the same thing, but I love Ven’s aesthetic nonetheless. The top was just perfect and I loved the stark black and white combo.

My Bottom Three:

  • Elena: This look was too drab, and I hated how the jacket’s sleeves were tight but the rest of the jacket was billowy – what an odd fit! This did not look like something anyone I know would wear to work.
  • Fabio: An utterly boring garment. I’m channeling Nina Garcia here, but what about this piece was exciting or innovative? Michael called this his favorite garment of Team 5 and to that I can only say, “Ummmm, what?!?”
  • Elena/Alicia: The pants (made by Alicia) were nice; I love a good wide-leg trouser. But the blouse was hideous, making it Elena’s second strike of the week. I hated the billowing sleeves, which seem to be an Elena trademark. If Melissa can embrace color, Elena can sure as heck find a way to escape her oppressive, bulky jacket fascination.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Oh my god. I’d rather eat dirt than work with Elena.” (Gunnar. I would bet my life she feels the same way about you, honey).
  • “Raul is the last person sitting there, like the schoolyard reject.” (Nathan. That was way harsh, Tai).
  • “I just hope he can deliver…for a change.” (Dmitry, with some stealth bitchiness there at the end of that sentence).
  • “I feel like Elena just escaped from the woods. She is an animal right now.” (Christopher on Elena. When your fellow designers repeatedly liken you to a wild animal, you might want to reconsider your behavior).
  • “I’m going to be candid with you. I was very, very worried about you because I was anticipating walking in to a hot mess.” (Oh, Tim. Never change).
  • “It looks like a f&$%ing drag queen cocktail hour on our side of the room.” (Gunnar, in a hilarious assessment of his team).
  • “Everybody hates Elena. Even if they say they like her, they hate her.” (Dmitry. Come on, dour Eastern Europeans! Don’t turn on each other now!)
  • “I think Ven is one-way monkey. Oh no…he’s one-trick pony, that’s what I meant.” (Dmitry, delivering a delightfully adorable insult. And, no, I did not forget articles in that quotation – that’s exactly what our favorite Belorussian said).
  • “Her boobs were kind of all over the place. It was kind of like a souffle that went down.” (Heidi on Gunnar’s dress).
  • “And I don’t hate a lot of things at all. That I hated.” (Heidi on Elena’s jacket sleeves. Tell us how you really feel, Frau Klum).
  • “When that dress came down the runway, I thought it looked like two puppies wrestling in a sack.” (Joanna on Gunnar’s dress. Line of the night, by far).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • As you may have noticed above, I found more bitchy lines for this week’s episode than ever before. These team challenges bring out the worst (and by worst, I actually mean best/most entertaining) in these designers. What a train wreck.
  • The producers actually showed Nathan tonight! After getting zero screentime the first four weeks, he was all over the place this episode. Naturally, I assumed this meant he would be eliminated – but the producers fooled me. Perhaps this signals the beginning of an upswing for Nathan?
  • Raul deserves a major party foul for his lack of teamwork. At one point he said, “I’m not going to change my direction just because they want me to.” I get the self-preservation thing, but he seemed hell bent against working with his team from the start.
  • Tonight’s guest judge was Joanna Coles, aka the only part of PR All-Stars I miss. I wish she could be on every episode.
  • If my personal Top Three for this week (Dmitry, Ven, and Melissa) were the final three of the season, I would be really happy. Of course, knowing PR, that will never happen and someone egregiously undeserving will sneak in there.

The Result: Melissa got the win (hear, hear!) and Raul got sent home, though not before hurling a steam of insults at Elena (ummm, what was that about??). I am more than okay with this week’s outcome; Raul consistently created tacky garments and needs a major attitude adjustment.

What did you think of this week’s episode? Did the right designer get sent home? And why can’t everyone just get along?

(Runway and judges photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway All-Stars: Episode 12 (Finale)

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After 11 weeks of outlandish outfits from pseudo-All Stars, countless monotone introductions from robo-Angela, spot-on critiques from Georgina, general unbearableness from Isaac, and workroom gems from Joanna, we finally came to the end of the proverbial runway with last night’s Project Runway All-Stars finale. I enjoyed this season in the beginning, but in recent weeks, my enthusiasm has dwindled considerably. I had a hard time rooting for any of these folks (I kept thinking about who I would have cast instead), and the absence of Nina/Michael/Tim/Frau Klum grew increasingly glaring as the weeks dragged on. And, as I said back in Episode 1, this season seemed tailor-made (heh! fashion puns!) for Mondo to win, so it was a predictable and anticlimactic finale. Now that it’s all over, I can wholeheartedly say: Bring on Season 10.

But before we get to that, here’s what I thought of last night’s three collections.

Austin

I agreed with Tommy Hilfiger, who pointed out that half of Austin’s collection was quite rock and roll (with the leather, bright fabrics, etc.), while the other half was composed of frilly, puffy gowns. It was a jarring combination and – while I’m certain Mondo was always preordained to win this thing – I’d guess it hurt any chance Austin had of taking home the top prize.

(All photos via Lifetime)

  • Look 1: The crazy pants and black glitter jacket were a little too avant-garde for me (and dare I say a little too Jetsons-inspired?). Both the pink fabric and the jacket looked oddly wrinkled and sloppy. And what girl wants to look like she has HUGE hips??
  • Look 2: I liked the black dress with the lace top, minus the one weird hip protrusion. This was a dress I could picture real people wearing, though it was a shade boring.
  • Look 3: Overall, I liked the combination of the pink v-neck blouse with the black leather skirt. In a way, this was my favorite piece of Austin’s, primarily because it was something I could envision wearing in my everyday life, perhaps to work (of course, that means it was not exactly high fashion). The little pads/ruffles on the shoulders were a fun touch, but the top looked wrinkly, like he was rushing to finish this piece.

  • Look 4: I found the fabric on Austin’s big statement dress quite off-putting and tacky. Also, the dress was just a HUGE blob of material. It looked cumbersome and heavy to me; I usually expect Austin to be whimsical and light with his gowns.
  • Look 5: I’ll admit that I kind of liked the black leather jumpsuit, though it was probably too Catwoman-esque. Also, this piece didn’t seem to fit tonally with the rest of Austin’s collection. It stuck out, but not in a good way.
  • Look 6: I was not a fan of Austin’s BIG white wedding dress. On the top, it was very Madonna, circa Like a Virgin, with the black gloves and white ruffles. I agreed with Tommy Hilfiger again – this didn’t belong in the collection. And, for once, I disagreed with Georgina – I could NOT see a million women wanting to get married in this.

Mondo

I liked this collection a lot, and I too would have given Mondo the win (despite his outlandish, annoying behavior last week). What I loved about this was that Mondo stayed true to himself. All the quirky details he included were just so him (and so delightful).

  • Look 1: Mondo’s first look out the gate was strong, and I particularly loved the blouse – so fun! I was less a fan of the skirt. Does it look like it’s made of duct tape to anyone else?
  • Look 2: I adored this simple polka dot dress. What got me here were the exaggerated, whimsical details – the big pockets, the collar, and the gigantic buttons. They made the piece quirky and interesting.
  • Look 3: The silver tunic top and weird black leggings were Mondo’s big misstep. The top was just hanging there; it wasn’t anything special. And black leggings with weird pieces cut out of them? Gross.

  • Look 4: This was another favorite of mine. At first, I was ambivalent about the little peek of red, but ultimately I decided I appreciated it as yet another quirky Mondo-detail. The pants were tailored insanely well. So beautiful. This piece looked intricate and complicated, and I like that.
  • Look 5: I thought the peek of red worked even better with this dress. The print was also quite interesting here. Did one of the judges say Mondo created this print himself? If so, wow. That makes this even more impressive.
  • Look 6: I liked the long, flowy dress Mondo ended with, but it didn’t mesh that well with his other looks. The fabric was slightly crazy (and maybe borderline disco), but I loved how beautifully the dress flowed. I also loved the little peek of white lining. Very cool.

Michael

I enjoyed Michael’s collection, mostly because I personally think the flowy, funky, resort-wear stuff is fun (that’s why I always loved Season 3′s Uli. Remember her?). That said, there wasn’t anything particularly innovative about this. It was supremely wearable (particularly if you are weekend-ing in Miami Beach or something. Not that I’ve ever done that), but it didn’t seem like a show-stopping, finale-worthy collection.

  • Look 1: I loved the tan/gold jumpsuit Michael opened his show with – fun, perfect beach wear. The accessorizing bothered me though; he overdid it with the necklaces and they detracted from the overall appeal of the garment.
  • Look 2: Michael’s zebra print dress just looked like a normal dress to me – not particularly interesting. Also, this was maybe a little too tight/trashy.
  • Look 3: The shape and fabric choice here were cool, though I didn’t care for the slight puff at the hips. Why do these designers always do stuff like that? It’s not flattering! In any case, this dress was too simple. It was nice, but I wasn’t blown away.

  • Look 4: I loved Michael’s short jumpsuit – it was perhaps my favorite look of his. The fabric choice was excellent, it moved well, and it screamed summertime to me.
  • Look 5: I liked Michael’s long zebra-print jumpsuit, but the odd thing was, for being zebra-print, it wasn’t that interesting. You would think such a loud pattern would make for a more powerful look, but something about this fell flat for me.
  • Look 6: I enjoyed Michael’s signature Grecian draping, though it’s not exactly stretching himself. I also found it odd that this was the one non-printed look. And I HATED the black vest he put over the dress. When the model was actually wearing the vest, this look did not work for me.

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Does Angela’s over-pronunciation of “embroidery” bother anyone else? It’s in the intro they play every single week and it drives me insane. Also, when she was introducing the designers’ runway collections, she sounded like she was putting on a Madonna-faux-British accent. I mean, who knew I could miss Heidi Klum so much?
  • I loved Joanna lint-brushing Mondo. He, however, didn’t love it so much: “It’s a little uncomfortable. It’s like your aunt rolling you down.” Come on, Mondo. That was precious.
  • Nina Garcia was in the house! Man, I miss her. And then they showed a Tim Gunn season 10 promo! I don’t know if it was smart for the producers to repeatedly remind us how much we were missing these guys.
  • When Michael said “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry” after the runway show, it seemed so fake to me, almost like he was willing himself to squeeze out a tear. Odd.
  • On the runway for their final critiques, was Austin wearing a hot pink mesh scarf? If so…fabulous. He’s just the best.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Does Liza Minelli know you went through her wardrobe?” (Mondo, on Austin’s outfit. Priceless.)

And in case you missed ‘em: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10, and Episode 11.

Project Runway All-Stars: Episode 11

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(Image via MyLifetime.com)

On last night’s Project Runway, the final three designers learned that their last challenge would be to put five looks together in four days. I was extremely confused by this – at this point in the competition, the designers are typically sent home, getting several months to work on their collections before showing at New York Fashion Week. But with this turn of events, it doesn’t look like the designers will get to show at Fashion Week – nor will they have the time and the budget to create truly “wow” looks. I suppose a lackluster final challenge is roughly on par with this lackluster season, but I was seriously bummed by this turn of events.

Also in typical Project Runway fashion, there was a “surprise” last-minute addition to the challenge, which of course was not a “surprise” at all because the producers insist upon doing it every season. Robo-Joanna informed the designers they would have to create a sixth look out of old scraps from past challenges. The use of old materials seemed like a crazy requirement – the judges always complain when final collections aren’t “cohesive,” so why force the designers to work with fabrics that potentially don’t fit with the collections they had already conceptualized and begun developing? Yet another head-scratching element of Project Runway All-Stars.

Since the final runway show won’t be until next week, I can offer no fashion commentary and critique here (which is a shame, really, because that’s pretty much the reason I started recapping the show). In any case, here are a few more scattered observations:

  • Austin’s mustache is gone! Hurray! All is right with the world again.
  • When the designers went to the Marie Claire office for their consultations/pep talk session, Joanna’s yellow dress was fabulous.
  • Is it just me, or does Mondo complain every single week that he’s “not feeling it” and “not inspired”? It almost seems like part of his process at this point – complain about how horribly he’s doing, and then ultimately create the winning look. This week, however, he took it to new extremes – he wasted his entire first day “lounging around the workroom” (in his own words). He came off like a huge jerk this episode, and I’m finding myself rooting against him.
  • How much do the models really matter? The designers always make a big deal out of selecting them, and this episode’s model casting was no exception (leading to a mini-catfight between Austin and Mondo). In a sense I understand it, but I also know that in all my years of watching Project Runway, I can’t remember ever noticing a model. It’s a fashion competition, and I’m always focused on the clothes.
  • I loved having Anthony back, as Austin’s temporary “helper” this episode. He’s solid as a designer, but more importantly, he’s a comedic-quote-generating-machine. What a gem.
  • Michael described his collection’s aesthetic as an “African safari.” Does anyone remember (the far-superior) Michael Knight from Season 3? He also described his final collection in similar terms and the judges hated it. I’m just sayin’…

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “He went from Errol Flynn to Kermit the Frog” (Mondo on Austin, post-mustache shaving)
  • “I love Austin and I hope he does well. But I think Austin’s collection most definitely requires the hands of Anthony L. Williams.” (Anthony on Austin. Welcome back, Anthony. I missed your utter fabulosity. Also, this line was not particularly bitchy; mostly I just wanted to quote Anthony.)

What did you think of the final challenge? Are you rooting for any of the designers, or are you simply ready for “All-Stars” to be over?

Project Runway All-Stars: Episode 10

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Last night’s challenge on Project Runway wasn’t the most riveting or creatively stimulating, but I appreciated that the challenge brought a dose of the realities of fashion to the workroom. The designers had to work within a tight budget and create a garment with a specific price point for designer Nanette Lepore to sell. The designers sketched their looks and then worked with a “coster,” who appraised their designs and gave them a (tiny!) fabric budget. Though I love all the whimsical and over-the-top designs that contestants have created over the years on PR, it was nice to see them thinking about what folks would actually buy for a change.

This episode was the final round before Fashion Week, and the designers rose to the occasion and brought their A-games (as they should for the penultimate challenge). Though I divided them into a top two and bottom two, overall, I liked all four looks this week.

My Top Two:

  • Mondo: Yeah, this was just a simple shift, but I adored the combo of patterns (Mondo has a great eye!), and I loved the little line of ruffle detailing near the bottom of the dres. Now that was a cool touch. Though this look was, as robo-Joanna said, boxy, I forgive that because I loved the patterns so much.
  • Kenley: I also adored the peacock pattern Kenley used, and the dress she created does look quite flattering on her model. The challenge was to design something “women across the country” could buy, and I think Kenley did just that. Was this look a stretch for her? Nope, not even close. But it was a nice dress. Begrudgingly, however, I must agree with Isaac, who offered this assessment:  “It’s a good dress, except I kept waiting for it to change into something more inspired on the runway.” Yep.

My Bottom Two:

  • Austin: Austin’s coat was somewhat of a bulky blob, and I think I would’ve sent him home over Kenley. The coat did, however, have a fun flounce at the bottom and certainly moved well. When the model was just standing there, I didn’t like the look, but when she was walking, it was quite lovely.
  • Michael: I LOVED the pattern Michael chose, but I didn’t think there was enough design to this dress. It was just a long, straight piece of fabric, with a little gathering in the middle. I liked it, but I didn’t think it was anything revolutionary. Also, I didn’t notice this until the judges pointed it out, but the dress was too long.

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Is Kenley really this awful in real life? I can never decide if the editors are just playing up her awfulness or if…she’s just plain awful. Because, seriously, how can someone lack all self-awareness about how she comes off on camera?
  • Quote from Michael: “I’m making a kaftan. But this is more like a gay-dress-kaftan.” Ummm, what?
  • Poor Mondo and his utter inability to sketch made me laugh: “When I’m given time to sketch, I usually just draw hearts and stars, like an 8-year-old.”
  • Nanette Lepore was kind of scary, and apparently doesn’t believe in smiling. Austin called her “direct, no nonsense, to the point,” which I think is code for “cold-hearted and evil.” In all seriousness, though, she made valid points during her critiques. I just would have been semi-terrified of her if I were a designer.
  • Joanna’s obsession with women being able to wear a bra rears its head again! Though I find it amusing to hear her go on about this, she’s actually spot-on. I like when designers make things that “real” people can wear, as opposed to just models. Which segues into my next point quite nicely…
  • Austin said, “It’s just really hard to wear Michael’s clothes unless you’re a model.” I would argue that’s true for mostof the designers. Nonetheless, that was an astute observation.
  • In general, I loved, loved, loved the fabrics the designers used this week. Three cheers, Nanette Lepore, for having all that gorgeousness in your fabric room.
  • About his own dress, Mondo said, “You see those pit bull dogs that are so ugly, but they’re so ugly that they’re cute. That’s what my dress is.” I agreed with that – there was something odd about his dress, but it was so wrong, it was right.
  • What’s up with Austin’s mustache? Does he, like, pencil it in at times? I swear that in his interviews, it’s really light – almost to the point where I find myself thinking he got rid of it. Then, in the workroom, it looks dark and I’m reminded of how creepy it looks. Has anyone else noticed this?
  • I loved that Nanette pointed out Kenley wouldn’t take advice and listen to criticism. Thank goodness a judge (albeit a guest judge) finally called her on that nonsense.
  • I know the show has to include it because L’Oreal gives them cash money, but seriously, I could do without the weekly “let’s tell the hairstylist what kind of hair and makeup we want” session. It’s tedious and doesn’t add much to the proceedings.
  • Did I hear Michael give the instruction, “like the male Snooki” to his hairstylist? If so, I must ask – why, God, why?!?
  • During the show, there was a short ad where Heidi encouraged people to apply for season 10 of the show. Frau Klum!! I have missed you so. Thank goodness for the return of the “real” Project Runway next season. I’m about done with this all-stars nonsense.

Bitchy Line of the Night:

  • “Michael’s dress was just very…inappropriate. Also, I feel like I have seen that dress sort of on 14th street, in a bargain basement shop.” (Austin on Michael’s look)

Project Runway All-Stars: Episode 9

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This week’s challenge was one of the more unique Project Runway challenges I can remember. Robo-Angela explained to the designers that there would be a black-lit runway, and the designers would have to use “lighting technology” to create an avant-garde look. I’m not sure if the challenge pushed the designers to create their best work, but at least the change of pace was interesting.

The other important development this week? For once, I basically agreed with the judges (except they sort of liked Mondo, and I did not). In any case, here’s what I thought:

My Top Two:

  • Kenley: I liked this dress a lot; I loved how she made her own plaid pattern out of the neon tape – very cool idea. I was not as sure about the gigantic mesh top, but I think the look worked overall. I also liked the styling here; her model had awesome hair. I would have given Kenley the win.
  • Austin: This dress was whimsical and fabulous, although I don’t think it quite met the challenge. He didn’t incorporate the lights into the dress; he made a dress and wrapped the lights around it. Nonetheless, I liked this dress because it seemed true to Austin – it looked like a dress he would normally make, but with some lights added. The dress gave me a “Marie Antoinette at a rave” vibe – and I dig that.

My Bottom Three:

  • Mondo: I agreed 100% with Georgina here – all I can think of is Madonna when I see this dress (I mean, pointy boobs – really?). My only other thought was that this was terribly boring. I mean, Mondo’s looks are usually semi-crazy, so you would think he would pull off something interesting here, but…not so much.
  • Jerell: Oh dear lord. This looked like a Brazilian Carnival showgirl costume gone awry. I mean, really, what is this? I was not a fan of all the random string/fringe protrusions. Georgina remarked that “it feels a little tribal raver,” and I couldn’t agree more.
  • Michael: This look is very strange, and did not seem fashionable to me in any way. It looked like something Queen Amadala (Natalie Portman) would’ve worn in the terrible new Star Wars movies (okay: I’ve never seen them. But everyone says they’re terrible). I would have sent Michael home for this look.

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • We’re getting down to the wire here, and I’m realizing I don’t care about the outcome – this whole All-Stars thing isn’t panning out for me. I’m ready for the next season, and for the return of Nina, Michael, Tim, and Heidi.
  • That said, I will concede that Georgina is a great judge (perhaps better than both Michael and Nina, albeit far less quippy and entertaining). I wouldn’t mind her sticking around on a long-term basis (Isaac, however, can leave anytime). Everything she says is well thought-out and intelligent. She doesn’t make catty remarks just to provide a good soundbite; she actually provides useful information the designers could use.
  • When they were at the lighting store, Austin randomly sprayed perfume (or something) and then sauntered through its mist. Could he be more over-the-top fabulous?
  • I loved Austin’s sketch and original conception of his design (he used the phrase “magical, windswept, starry skies”), and it was nice to see his idea ultimately realized.
  • Jerell called his ensemble a “tribal peplum skirt.” Peplum is freaking everywhere these days – on several Oscar looks (like Michelle Williams) and in Jason Wu’s Target line (like the gold peplum blouse I bought). This means I am on trend – for the first time ever. I mean EVER.
  • Joanna’s hair kind of glowed in the black light room. Pure amazing-ness.
  • Angela said, at least twice, that Pharrell Williams was voted “best dressed man in the world?” To that I say: by whom, exactly?
  • I consistently like Kenley’s designs, but I believe approximately 5% (or less) of the words that come out of her mouth. Nothing she says sounds sincere. For instance, when Jerell left, her saying, “oh, Jerell, I’m so sorry” sounded a lot like “good riddance, bitch” to me.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Michael is turning his model into an Ewok.” (Mondo; none of the other quips this week even come close in terms of sheer bitchiness.)
  • “Austin has become very high maintenance. He’s like a little prima donna.” (Mondo.This was particularly apropos in light of his perfume-mist-twirling-routine.)
  • “You’ve really stretched yourself this time.” (Mondo to Kenley; it doesn’t sound that bad when written out, but he said it in the most sarcastic, harsh tone imaginable.)
  • “Jerell’s design is…um…just weird and poorly constructed.” (Austin. I concur.)

Project Runway All-Stars: Episode 8

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On this week’s Project Runway, the designers and robo-Joanna took a little field trip to the United Nations, where Joanna tasked the alleged all-stars with creating a look based on world flags. Did anyone else find this challenge odd? I mean, I’m fairly certain these designers cannot identify most world countries on a map. And, more to the point, it seemed like a fairly lame source of inspiration.

Anyway, all that aside, here’s what I thought of this week’s designs.

My Top Three:

  • Mondo: I liked this dress a lot, and I thought his challenge win was quite well-deserved. I loved how stark black the dress was from the front, and I thought the green and yellow chevron stripe in the back was a fun surprise. Isaac, however, didn’t like the pop of color. To that, I say, pipe down Isaac (I’m finding him increasingly grating).
  • Kenley: How fun! I adore the contrasting fabrics (what an unexpected combination) and the ruffle. I thought this was somewhat less 50s-ish than her typical looks, so it was a nice change of pace for her.
  • Mila: This was very simple, but I actually liked it. I loved how bold and striking it was. Yes, the mismatched lengths were odd, and yes the yellow strip down the front was strange. And, yes, I did think that if you just cut the bottom off altogether, it would have been better. Still, I thought this was original and more fashion-y (technical term) compared to the others, and I definitely didn’t think it was worthy of being sent home (that honor should have gone to Jerell!). Also, Isaac said he got “Communism” from this dress, and then clarified to say he just meant “Russian.” Uhhhh, those are two different things, buddy, if you want to get technical about it.

My Bottom Three:

  • Austin: I liked this dress, though it was pretty basic. My main problem with it was that it simply wasn’t anything special – it didn’t go above and beyond. I also thought the fabrics looked cheap, and the presentation was sloppy. Unlike the judges, however, I did like the color combo. Any proud Wolverine loves a good maize and blue color palette when she sees one!
  • Jerell: This was downright tacky. I might have liked the dress on its own, but with the fabric explosion atop it, the look just did not work. Georgina said the piece needed editing, and I definitely agree with that.
  • Michael: Ugh, I HATE the gigantic big blue bow on the sleeve. I also thought the back of the dress looked too baggy, like someone could easily sneak a peek down the back of it (scandalous!). This dress looked so promising in the work room,but it didn’t really pan out.

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • The episode opened with Austin and Kenley talking about there being a “lack of inspiration” with Kara out of the competition. Um, what? Maybe season two Kara, but not this season’s Kara, who bumbled her way through every single challenge.
  • When Joanna walked into the workroom, she said, “This is the most talented room in the history of Project Runway.” Again, I say – um, what? Most of these people are clowns. Give me Season 3 or 4 any day!
  • One remark Joanna made that I loved: “Let me ask you a question designers hate….How do you wear a bra with this?” I always wonder about this – sometimes the designs on this show are so impractical!
  • Mila complained about Kenley always doing the same 1950s silhouette (which is a valid criticism), but maybe someone who always does black and white color blocking shouldn’t whine about repetitive design.
  • On the runway, Joanna delivered the usual spiel, but added a little twist: “One day you’re in and the next you’re out. That’s never been more true than on All-Stars.” What? How so? The eliminations here work the same as any other season. Joanna brings the pretty, but not so much the words.
  • This week’s guest judge was Catherine Malandrino. I love her! She was on one of the early seasons (season 3?) and all I remember is finding it hilarious to hear her say “hideous” in her thick French accent (eeeee-deee-ousss).

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “I’ve never seen a polka dot flag before, but I guess the State of Kenley Collins has polka dot flags.” (Michael, on Kenley’s fabric choice)
  • “Is this India? I have to say it looks a little bit like a national costume…It looks like one of those dolls you might buy at the tourist office when you’re leaving Delhi.” (Joanna to Jerell)
  • “All she needs now is a crown and she could possibly win Miss World 2011.” (Mondo on Michael’s dress)
  • “I love Jerell, but I really think the outfit…it was one of the most vulgar, tasteless, hideous things I’ve ever seen in my life.” (Austin on Jerell’s dress. Ouch.)
  • “I think that bow would look better on a Christmas present.” (What??? Robo-Joanna comes alive with a rare dash of wit!)

And in case you missed ‘em: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episdoe 6, and Episode 7.

Project Runway All-Stars: Episode 7

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This week on Project Runway, the designers were tasked with creating a look that could be worn in the Broadway revival of Godspell. I thought this challenge was promising, but I wasn’t ultimately wowed by anyone’s looks (in fact, the only one I really liked was Michael’s – I put the other two in my top picks by default). And, as per usual, the judges and I disagreed greatly on the results. Here’s what I thought:

My Top Three:

  • Michael: Headpiece aside, I liked it this look quite a lot. I loved the flouncy-ness of the skirt, and the top was fun as well (though the bow in back was a bit much). I also loved his color palette – from the bold and bright skirt to the pattern of the top.
  • Kara: I loved the red skirt, though I agreed with Georgina when she said it had an odd slit in the back. I also enjoyed the fur stole and the nice pinstriped vest underneath. Isaac said this was the best Kara’s done all season, and I have to agree. The misstep for me was the silver bow – it being glittery and paired with a red skirt was a bit too Christmas present-y.
  • Mila: Okay, yes, the skirt is heinous. But, I adored the faux fur jacket and I didn’t mind the gold top either. Mila said, “I hope the judges notice I pushed outside my box.” And I couldn’t agree more – she totally did. This look was very un-Mila, and since I don’t like her typical stuff, I actually liked this one.

My Bottom Three:

  • Jerell: This look was dowdy and drab – it made the model look ancient, particularly when paired with her ridiculous hairstyle. As this came down the runway, Jerell said to himself, “Job well done, Jerell, yet again.” His delusion knows no bounds.
  • Kenley: This is probably who I would have sent home. I absolutely hated the white fur trim on the jacket; it looked cheap and tacky. But, my biggest problem with the outfit was that the patterns of the coat and skirt really clashed. I thought they looked garish together.
  • Austin: UGH. The judges loved this look, but I did not get it. I thought it was so weird, and as it came down the runway, they cut to Sutton Foster (this week’s guest judge), who had a look of absolute bewilderment on her face. That was about how I felt. It was WAY too puffy, and I thought the leggings looked tacky.

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • The episode opened with everyone expressing shock that Rami is gone. They should be shocked. I’m still not over it.
  • What the heck was the headscarf thing Kenley was wearing in the beginning of the episode? I wanted to rip it off her head! It was just too much.
  • Kara hopes the judges will notice her “simple, chic” aesthetic at this runway show. GUYS, did you know Kara’s clothes are simple and chic? What??? I’ve never heard that from her before!
  • When Joanna visited the workroom, she told Austin, “I love it because it reminds me of ‘is it hideous or is it fabulous?’” Oddly, he seemed to take this as a compliment.
  • I also love that Joanna told Kara she wasn’t being as ambitious as she needed to be. I liked Kara on her original season, but this go round, she HAS been lackluster. Joanna’s critique was absolutely right.
  • Joanna insinuated that she performed in Godspell once (albeit not in a professional production). Wait, what??? Are you telling me that our favorite fashion ice queen sang and danced on stage? I have to see this.
  • The silly editors hyped the designers arguing over sewing machines in the previews for this week, but it turned out to be barely anything at all. Not going to lie – I was hoping for a bit more controversy. This episode was pretty ho-hum.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “I don’t make mediocre, half-assed pieces. I do every piece with a wow factor. So it must be hard for those other designers.” (Oh, Kenley. Will you never learn humility?)
  • “The only one I don’t understand is Mila’s. It’s kinda like a girl who can’t get into the club.” (Jerell on Mila. I do see his point.)
  • “I thought it was her best challenge to date, but I didn’t like it.” (Isaac on Kara. Ouch.)

And in case you missed ‘em: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, and Episdoe 6.