We shouldn’t relish in the designers’ anguish but we we can’t help ourselves! As soon as Heidi told them there were special guests, we saw each and every one of their hearts drop down in their stomach. Lucky, or unlucky for some, the guests for the challenge were the eliminated designers from the season. Naturally the first question we had, and are sure you the fans did as well was: ‘How are they are going to pair them up?’. Would they let the designers pick? Of course not! That would be too easy.

It was interesting to see designers confess who they wanted and who they didn’t want. We found it a sorted twist of faith that Blayne would get Stella after he teased and teased her about her “leatha”. Terri hoped one minute she did not get Keith only to have Tim announce a mere second later that they would be paired together. Korto was pleased with Kelli and was confident with her design capabilities, as was Leanne with Emily whom she hoped she would get.

If having to choose whose astrological sign would serve as muse for their designs wasn’t quirky enough the designers were thrown a curveball when they received a note inviting them and their models to the Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space . Naturally stress ensued and the designers arrived at the Planetarium both anxious and fearful at what would happen next. Surprise! The Planetarium was filled with old designers from various seasons of Project Runway including season 1 winner Jay McCaroll, and Season 4’s winner Christian Siriano and designer Carmen Webber,  as well as Daniel Vosovic and Kara Janx of Season 2. At the end of the night the PR alumni voted on their favorite piece and gave the designers some input on their pieces that could help them on the runway.

We were not surprised that Kenley, Terri, Blayne or Suede ended up in the bottom. Kenley and Wesley’s piece was not avant-garde but rather over-the-top and just as “costumey” as Tim warned. Which is precisely why Leanne and Emily were skeptical about her confidence. Of course, Kenley got defensive again on the runway and swore her design was inspired by Aquarius regardless of the judges comments. Terri disregarded all input by Keith and ended up making a piece that was totally “her” but looked cheap to both her partner and Nina. Blayne and Stella’s piece was whimsical as expected but failed to wow the judges; especially Micheal who delivered one of our favorite lines of the show when he said: “She’s pooping fabric!” Finally, rounding out the bottom four was Suede and Jerry who delivered a bland ensemble which left the judges wanting more.

The top four designs were simply brilliant. Leanne and Emily’s Scorpio design was strong and innovative and perfectly embodied the sign. Korto and Kelli made a beautiful flowing chiffon gown  for Aquarius that actually looked like water floating down the runway.  Joe and Daniel made a ruched gown that represented  fiery Aries, and Jerell and Jennifer made a long gown of mixed sequin and plaid  fabric with a jacket to match to represent Sagittarius.

Alas, Blayne and Terri were eliminated and Jerell snagged his first win by impressing both the PR alum and the judges with his design.

We checked out Jennifer’s blog ‘The Suite Life’ and found  this sweet note to Project Runway fans and the bidders on her losing design for Episode 504.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

All I have to say is that you have to go home, go home a winner!

I just want to thank everybody who bid on my losing design for the 4th challenge on Project Runway, making it the winner of the auction!!

Read more to find out about what what she’s up to and what projects she’s working on here!

I am feeling rather inspired with this the upcoming Olympic Opening Ceremony this Friday and I was pleased to see Project Runway was too! This week the designers had to create a design for the Olympian “red carpet” in the Rings of Glory challenge. Last night I got to peek at the designs in person and now I’m bringing you the inside information.

The gold medalist this week was Korto with her chic pants and vest. This outfit was fabulous on the runway; I also liked her modern take on traditional warm-ups. Korto created high-waisted, white linen pants with cuffs. Although I was surprised by her choice of fabric, they were really well made with flattering seams. Her scoop neck tank was a simple silk fabric. The highlight of outfit was the leather vest with the black and red color inlays. This leather was extremely tactile, soft like butter. Even better, Korto’s outfit is wearable for many different occasions and you seem to agree judging by the auction progress. Think this outfit would inspire you to be the next great Olympian? Then make sure you bid on it in this week’s auction.

Just shy of a gold medal, Terri was in the top three again this week with her Americana suit. Terri’s inspiration clearly came from vintage America, with it’s classic silhouette. The crisp white pants were a nice compliment to the blue and red pinstripe blazer. Both garments were well executed with attention to detail–I personally liked the navy and red stripe down the left leg. The tube top was interesting: it was red, white and blue thick elastic strips sewn together. While to top was tiny and stiff in person, it looked good on the runway. Lastly, Terri added a touch of trend with her summery red and white stripe scarf, the perfect accessory for a classic suit. If vintage and class are you style, make sure you bid on Terri’s design in our auction.

Joe rounded out the Olympian triad with this his USA-inspired track jacket and skort. I was glad to see Joe get some attention this week as he had just been creeping along without notice. The skort was a fresh idea for the runway–shorts with a skirt front. Joe used a traditional track jacket, but made the outfit his own with his USA lettering and blue and red striping. The effect of the color blocking made the design look fresh, athletic, and classic–just perfect for the Olympics. Overall, I thought Joe’s garment was well made and finished. Want a runway original that will get you in the spirit for the Olympics? Make sure you bid on Joe’s design and you’ll be set to cheer on Team USA in style.

Jennifer just wasn’t up to Olympic standards this week and her sweater and skirt were grounds for elimination. Jennifer’s design was matronly and classic (like always). I did like her gold and cream striped high-waisted a-line skirt, but not with the sweater. The sweater just didn’t seem appropriate for the Olympics, but I will give her props for working with a challenging knit. Overall, Jennifer’s execution was decent for the runway but awful in person–the seams weren’t clean and the gold decorations were sloppily glued on the sweater. Jennifer’s design wasn’t fit for the Olympics, but the skirt would be just darling with a puffy sleeve blouse, so make sure you get your bid in.

Another Olympic hopeful this week was Jerell, but his design felt more Kentucky Derby disaster to me. Oh that hat! While it was well made with complimenting fabrics, it just didn’t fit into the Olympian ideology. The blouse was decently excecuted with the puffy sleeves and open neckline; however, the high-waisted skirt was thin and unimpressive. Overall, each of Jerell’s pieces were interesting, but the cumulative effect was too much for the runway. He should probably consider a more minimalist design for next week or we will be saying auf wiedersehen to him soon! However, if excessive accessories are your style, make sure you bid on his design in our auction.

Our last Olympic hopeful this week was Daniel with his purple and red dress. Personally, there was nothing patriotic about this dress; it more screamed Red Hat Society to me. Daniel’s dress was simple and not really Olympic inspiring. It was decently made with good seams, but he used white thread! The one major execution flaw was the zipper, which did not lay flat at all. I did, however, love the adorable red buttons down the front of the dress. Daniel’s dress was not welcome on the Olympic runway, but it would be cute for a morning brunch, so make sure you place your bid in the auction.

Project Runway has been inspired by the Olympics and if you are feeling that way too, make sure you bid on your favorite Olympic inspired design in this week’s auction!

I couldn’t wait to get a look at the Bright Lights/Big City designs from last week’s episode when they came into our office; and most of them didn’t disappoint me. Here’s the skinny on the best and the worst from last week’s challenge.

Kenley was the winner with her ode to the 80’s mini dress. She took a fashion risk when designing this outfit, but I just loved it. The dress was well executed–a mini dress with three quarter sleeves, mock turtleneck, puffy shoulders, and a bubble skirt. All of the hems were well finished and the zipper laid flat. I especially loved the fuschia and purple ombred tulle she used to offset her asymmetrical skirt hem. While her bright green floral print fabric looked fabulous on the runway, it looked a bit like a doctor’s office couch in person. Nonetheless, it was obvious that Kenley’s creativity and execution deserved the win. Currently, Kenley’s dress is doing well in the auction, so don’t miss out on your chance to have a fabulous throwback to the 80s dress.

Although Kenley ended up with the win, I thought Leanne’s separates might be the ones to beat! From an abstract picture, Leanne created a tiered skrit and simple blouse that were elegant, creative and wearable. She used basic black with charcoal grey tiers in the skirt. The sewing was among the best I saw–finished hems, flat seams, and overall polish. Leanne also paid attention to details, with the tiers at the blouse neckline and across the back of the skirt. Right now, Leanne’s design is leading the auction with a bid of over $300! If you think this outfit would like divine in your wardrobe (and trust me, it would), then makes sure you place your bid today!

Terri rounded out the top three last week with her multicolored, backless mini dress and black pants. When I saw her design in person, I just loved it–it was playful, sexy, and classy. I especially liked the sleeves on the dress with the layers of colors at the cuff and baggy fit. She also made a pair of fabulous, fitted satin pants with a boot cut. Her execution was finished and polished. Terri’s design stood out on the runway to me because it was a fresh take on the dress and a new look for the Big City (and don’t forget the fabulous, fiesty sunglasses!). Make sure you love Terri in our auction and bid on her dress/pants design.

And now for the worst. Emily’s LBD with the bold ruffles didn’t make the cut this week. Her light and energy photograph was inspiring and her idea had potential, but it was poorly executed. Emily’s basic little black dress was well sewn with obre trim, but the ruffles were messy. First, most of them weren’t finished, so they were starting to fray. Second, they were poorly placed across the dress and didn’t flatter the model (and models look good in most anything!). However, Emily’s dress isn’t at the bottom of the auction, so you must like it; don’t forget to place your bid on her dress.

Although Emily got the boot, I’m surprised Jennifer’s matronly frock didn’t have us saying auf wierdersehen to her this week! I’m sorry, but not only was this dress boring and nunnish, it was poorly executed. Jennifer created a simple black and white dress with long sleeves and a three-tier ruffle skirt. While the dress looked okay on the runway, the sewing was not appealing in person. The belt hid her messy waist seam (see above), the tiers were uneven, and her whip stitching wasn’t attractive. Jennifer tried to add intricate details to her dress like the piano key sleeves and sheer keyhole on the back, but it didn’t do her justice. Right now, Jennifer’s dress is one of the the lowest in the auction, but her faithful “gojengo” fan is once again the highest bidder. Think you love Jennifer more? Then make sure you bid on her dress in the auction.

Keith was the last among the bottom three this week with his ratty magazine inspired dress. Being a magazine junkie, I adored his picture (it was so intimate and unique), but the dress didn’t pan out like I had hoped it would. However, I will admit the dress is better in person that it was on the runway. Keith had a basic slip dress which he adored with little 2×2 squares of printed fabric. It was a unique idea, but it would’ve been better if the dress had more of a shape and more intense, darker colors. The one downfall were the twisted messy straps–that might have been intentional as a literal translation of the inspiration picture, but it didn’t help his design any. Keith’s design is at the lower end of the auction, but I bet with a belt and little personality, this dress would be a great addition to your wardrobe.

That is the down and dirty on the designs from last week’s Bright Lights/Big City challenge. Make sure you place your bid on your favorite going out outfit before this week’s episode!

Even though it’s interesting to see all the designs from Project Runway in person, I do have my favorites. And I finally was able to get a better look at two of my favorite designs from 501–Daniel and Jennifer.

I absolutely loved Daniel’s plastic cup dress on the runway and it didn’t disappoint in person. His dress was just as fabulous as I imagined it. Daniel thought outside the box with his material selection and chose Solo blue plastic cups for his dress. Surprisingly, Daniel was able to create the illusion of a smooth surface with the cups. The dress had a muslin lining which served as a foundation to hot glue the plastic cup pieces onto. This was another dress that was glued onto the model and had to be cut off. The only downside to the dress was its sweaty smell, as the plastic cups don’t breathe. Overall, it’s obvious that Daniel knows how to highlight a women’s silhouette; the plastic pieces were arranged it perfectly follow the model’s hourglass shape. In the auction, Daniel’s dress did well, raising $105.

I also got to peek at Jennifer’s lipstick paper towel dress. While this dress was just ho-hum on the runway, it was marvelous in person. This dress was really well made–from the sweetheart neckline, to the fitted waist, and the immaculate ruffles. I especially liked the back detailing and tiers of ruffles; these fabulous details made the dress. Jennifer was also smart about the lipstick–making her prints on separate paper towels that she sewed on. Like to so many others, this dress was sewn onto the model and cut off. “Gojengo” was the auction winner–guess Jennifer has a fan club already, or a devoted bff. Hmmm.

Make sure you check back tomorrow as I will be giving up all the details on the rest of the designs from 501. And don’t forget to nab your own Project Runway original in this week’s auction: Bright Lights/Big City!

This week, in a familar challenge, the designers were taken out into the city, where they had an hour to take inspirational pictures. Tim Gunn escorted the designers on a tour bus, where designers were let off in groups at Columbus Circle, Times Square, NYC Public Library, and Greenwich Village. The upside: the nighttime social scene was happening; the downside: it was raining. Overall, I thought the designers took some creative pictures–especially Kenley & Emily. Stella tried to stir up drama after she became irritated with an inconsiderate, distracted Keith, but it didn’t rile Kenley who backed his competitive, “in the moment” attitude.

The designers each selected one picture to inspire their design for a fabulous night out on the town. For the first time, the designers headed to Mood to pick out their own fabric. Stella kept running around screaming, “who’s helping me?,” but no one seemed to hear or care. Has she never been in a fabric store before, or does her store only sell “leatha?” In the workroom, it was interesting to watch everything come together–I was holding my breath for Kenley, Blayne, Terri and Emily who took risks with bold, splashy colors.

Kenley’s design instincts were right on cue, as she won this challenge, receiving immunity for next week. Her throw-back to the 80s was modern, playful, and perfect for a flirty girl on the town. However, I thought Leanne’s fabulous and chic separates would be hard to beat; her design was so interesting, classic, and most wearable by all women. While I had doubts about Terri’s graffiti inspired backless dress and pants, it made a fabulous showing on the runway. I also loved the sophisticated ambiance and deep olive color of Jerell’s design and the rainbow of electric colors on Blayne’s design.

While most of the designers succeeded in creating appealing garments for the runway, there were a few that were no where near making the cut. This week, we said auf wiedersehen to Emily. I loved her inspiration photo–with the moving light of NYC, but her execution was just plain awful. The ruffles were unflattering, had poor placement, and did not flow with the garment.

Personally, I liked Keith’s inspiration photo–there was something so intriguing about the battered magazine, but I was disappointed by the execution of the garment. I agree with Michael Kors’ comment: “It looks like toilet paper fluttering in the wind.” Jennifer rounded out the bottom three with her matronly frock. There are no words for it other than boring. Nina Garcia made the infamous remark, “no comment.” That is when you know it was bad!

Make sure you bid on your favorite design from Bright Lights/Big City in our auction this week. I think I might bid on Kenley’s ode to the 80s–it would be fabulously fun for a night out with my girls.

Last season some fans were upset that there weren’t more feuds and that many of the the contestants seemed to be conservative and calculating of how their behavior would look on screen. Even Christian with his “Fierce” cries was accused of not ‘letting it all hang out.’ Although there weren’t huge blowouts such as Jay and Wendy’s feud from Season 1, or Jeffrey and Angela’s feud from Season 3, I think Ricky’s consistent crying and spat with Carmen in the workroom (remember “Don’t go home too soon”?) deserves some recognition.

This season, If people are looking for some drama and feuding, I think they must have been pretty pleased with the last episode. It appears the claws are already coming out.

Let’s see. First, Jennifer steals Jerell’s model and Jerell admits he is “salty”; Blayne makes fun of Stella’s love of leather only to have Stella brush it off in an interview calling him “12″; and let’s not forget Suede talking about himself in the third person. You’ll remember in Leanne’s interview she says “Leanne likes Suede. But Leanne wishes Suede would stop talking about himself in the third person.” Yikes! I think this is an indication that Leanne smiles silently and sweetly in the workroom but probably has a lot to say about what goes on in there. We can’t wait!

And although we love when people get along and make merry, we must admit we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a good feud. These competitions are all about being hungry, and you’re not going to get what you want by not saying what you feel and/or sticking up for yourself.

So here’s hoping they continue to spice it up-both in the workroom and on the runway!