Sorry about the delay--I got behind on my work last week and recorded the show, and was only just now able to watch.
Designers made fashions "inspired" by gelato flavors. In theory I am supportive of this. But I don't think throwing so many things at a six-hour challenge (Diane vonF, Miranda Kerr wearing the dress at an event) was such a great idea. "When you rush a miracle, you get rotten miracles," as Miracle Max so aptly told us.
Mondo--Orange and green caftan. A little old looking? I am not surprised by Diane's liking his garment, because she is well known for her ease, but I have to say I thought the colors were too literal a rendering of the cantaloupe.
Anthony--He used an asymmetric draped front again, which is sort of becoming his signature. I didn't diss the look as much as the judges. I liked Anthony's look better than Rami's in concept.
Kenley--Kind of a basic pink and yellow patterned dress here...not very special, but certainly clean. Very safe. Very Kenley.
Rami--I don't get it Polka dots and ruched chiffon and a whole bunch of shades of lime...I mean kiwi? Where is the taste here? I was really surprised he was not on the bottom.
Mila--I kind of like the bottom of this red and white dress. I feel like the top was too blousy, though...too unformed. It was bright, which appealed to me. I thought Diane would like it more than she did. I did agree that it was over-accessorized.
Jerell--He is complaining about a competitor's caftan? The strapping was kind of interesting up top, but the stuff stuck on in the chest area was a mistake. The look actually ended up being sort of resorty without looking middle-aged. But what is fruits of the forest? The prints he used were kind of odd together regardless of what that means.
Kara--"You want to lick this dress." That sort of cracked me up. I do see what she was going for now, but I really wish she'd opted to put darker shades up top and in the first tier or so. I also was reminded of Sweet P's tiered dress, which was also flat and unfinished-looking.
Michael--I like the color of pink he selected. The dress reminded me of a boudoir garment. I actually liked it because of the color, and the drape. It reminds me a little of my favorite Burberry trench coat. Not usually a Michael fan, but this one got me in a happy place. The hair on his model was wrong--should have been a softer coiled braid, not the parted look. More like Dianna Agron's hair at the SAGs.
April--The dress is kind of cute up top, with an interesting shape, and I like the multiple layers of blue to make the blueberry effect, but the skirt was kind of crazy. A really unfortunate issue. I hate to say this, but this might have been the time for a slightly bubbled skirt. Would that be too literal? I don't mean a really bubbled thing, just something that would make the skirt bottom nice in a short amount of time.
Austin--Kind of a spring hippie bride look? A forest nymph? I don't mind that, and it was very vanilla-y, but it wasn't very Madagascar-y (whatever that means).
Let's think about what dress you would rather see Miranda Kerr in at an industry event. There aren't many that are very VS Angel-adequate. I grant that the designers didn't know that was a factor. I could really only see Kerr in Mila's or Michael's, and Michael's is the only one that actually looked "expensive" (Help! I sound like Nina!). So, Michael was the obvious choice to win. April...well, I feel bad, but her look made the least sense, with that skirt.
Next week? Clothes...off someone else's back.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
PR: All Stars Mega-Celebrity--The Pig
The challenge: Design a dress for Miss Piggy.
Was the purpose of this challenge to collect soundbytes?
Gordana: "I've noticed she has really nice legs, and I want to show off her legs."
Joanna: "I don't think comfort, when you're dressing a mega-celebrity like Miss Piggy, should really matter."
Austin: "I feel like I do really understand Miss Piggy."
Mondo: "I want to remind her of her childhood."
Honestly. I know there is a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor going on here, but it almost went beyond that, all the way to surrealism.
The thing is, since it's Miss Piggy, a child-friendly topic, it was actually kind of entertaining. I'm not one for the soundbyte effect, but this episode was clearly aimed at a different demographic than your standard PR show.
The looks:
Michael--Those shapes, I'm sorry to say, remind me of curls of bacon. The garment is also too short. I do find the fabric interesting. I like shiny that isn't too shiny. It looked like a jacquard but I couldn't tell for sure.
April--The black feather shoulders are kind of Miss Piggyesque in a weird way I can't explain. However, this dress is also too short.
Jerrell--He came out with an unexpectedly decent garment. A little boudoir, but at least a nice length. The pink was good for Miss Piggy.
Kara--Ooh, that's awfully tight. I don't like the peekaboo tummy, either. How on Earth would Miss Piggy wear that? Frankly, I'm surprised Kara is not on the bottom.
Kenley--Girl loves the girliness. I do not like the petal bust thing, not without some shape. It's like she forgot to finish the top. I do like that print for Miss Piggy, and the froth at the bottom.
Anthony--I like the feathers across the midsection and the underlying fabric choice. It is unexpectedly demure for Anthony. I could wear the dress. The skirt has a bit too much volume in front, though. It's not very Miss Piggy, but I would wear it.
Rami--Oh, the polka dots. Kind of old school Miss Piggy, no? A little too much Carmen Miranda or something, but you could see Miss P in this on the Muppet Show. I would have liked to see something a little softer, though.
Mila--I have to ask, How is that black and white mod colorblocking Miss Piggy? It's Mila. Well made, yes, but not with the fun of what Miss Piggy represents.
Gordana--I see the nightgown thing now that Joanna was thinking of in the workroom. I love the color, though. A sweet rose pink. I think it's a little too baby doll in shape for Miss Piggy.
Austin--There is too much bosom "available" in this garment. The dress does kind of remind me of one of the films, when Miss P is working at the ad agency or whatever. But it's a little much as a whole. Miss Piggy is in a kid's movie, isn't she?
Mondo--Good color in Mondo's look, but too shiny. A little too shapeless up top as well, though I like the bits at the bottom. 60s retro was not a good option, I think.
The results:
As fun as the challenge was, it seems weird to be judging these garments. I get having someone's garment win to be worn to an event. But sending someone home? And the two who were on the bottom? This week, it just didn't make sense. If Kara had been on the bottom, I might not have felt that way. I like Kara, but that dress was nuts. So, unlike the previous weeks, the judging made me shake my head this time.
Was the purpose of this challenge to collect soundbytes?
Gordana: "I've noticed she has really nice legs, and I want to show off her legs."
Joanna: "I don't think comfort, when you're dressing a mega-celebrity like Miss Piggy, should really matter."
Austin: "I feel like I do really understand Miss Piggy."
Mondo: "I want to remind her of her childhood."
Honestly. I know there is a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor going on here, but it almost went beyond that, all the way to surrealism.
The thing is, since it's Miss Piggy, a child-friendly topic, it was actually kind of entertaining. I'm not one for the soundbyte effect, but this episode was clearly aimed at a different demographic than your standard PR show.
The looks:
Michael--Those shapes, I'm sorry to say, remind me of curls of bacon. The garment is also too short. I do find the fabric interesting. I like shiny that isn't too shiny. It looked like a jacquard but I couldn't tell for sure.
April--The black feather shoulders are kind of Miss Piggyesque in a weird way I can't explain. However, this dress is also too short.
Jerrell--He came out with an unexpectedly decent garment. A little boudoir, but at least a nice length. The pink was good for Miss Piggy.
Kara--Ooh, that's awfully tight. I don't like the peekaboo tummy, either. How on Earth would Miss Piggy wear that? Frankly, I'm surprised Kara is not on the bottom.
Kenley--Girl loves the girliness. I do not like the petal bust thing, not without some shape. It's like she forgot to finish the top. I do like that print for Miss Piggy, and the froth at the bottom.
Anthony--I like the feathers across the midsection and the underlying fabric choice. It is unexpectedly demure for Anthony. I could wear the dress. The skirt has a bit too much volume in front, though. It's not very Miss Piggy, but I would wear it.
Rami--Oh, the polka dots. Kind of old school Miss Piggy, no? A little too much Carmen Miranda or something, but you could see Miss P in this on the Muppet Show. I would have liked to see something a little softer, though.
Mila--I have to ask, How is that black and white mod colorblocking Miss Piggy? It's Mila. Well made, yes, but not with the fun of what Miss Piggy represents.
Gordana--I see the nightgown thing now that Joanna was thinking of in the workroom. I love the color, though. A sweet rose pink. I think it's a little too baby doll in shape for Miss Piggy.
Austin--There is too much bosom "available" in this garment. The dress does kind of remind me of one of the films, when Miss P is working at the ad agency or whatever. But it's a little much as a whole. Miss Piggy is in a kid's movie, isn't she?
Mondo--Good color in Mondo's look, but too shiny. A little too shapeless up top as well, though I like the bits at the bottom. 60s retro was not a good option, I think.
The results:
As fun as the challenge was, it seems weird to be judging these garments. I get having someone's garment win to be worn to an event. But sending someone home? And the two who were on the bottom? This week, it just didn't make sense. If Kara had been on the bottom, I might not have felt that way. I like Kara, but that dress was nuts. So, unlike the previous weeks, the judging made me shake my head this time.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
PR All-Stars: Operaaaaaaaaaa
A "couture"ish gown to be worn for a night at the opera. This is the foundation garment for Project Runway as an entity. This type of challenge is what started our starry eyes glowing back in the early days. When I get bogged down with the drama and the lack of interesting garments, usually I can be reignited with a gown chalenge. So let's see what came out, shall we?
Kenley--Hello, froth! That's very Kenley, no? I was actually a little disappointed...it really felt like a Barbie dress, and not in a way that would be really wowing. Maybe a sleeker shape with the organza more overlaid? Swooping around the figure?
Sweet P--Oh, dear. I respect SP's aesthetic of slightly zany color, but this dress looked like it was made from 1960s curtain fabric. There is a certain audience for this dress, I think, but there was nothing romantic and night-at-the-opera about it, which is the challenge.
Rami--I was a little disappointed here also--I'm never a fan of that skirt shape set at that particular level. It's a mermaid gone wrong. I liked the color, but the dress didn't have the grandeur that I hoped for.
Gordana--I liked the idea a lot, this sort of George Barbier appeal, and liked the color choices. BUT--the godets were too high on the top. They went too far up the thigh, and it made the "crotch" of the dress a little odd looking. If that had been lower, I would really have gone for this dress! It was unique, as Gordana pointed out, but still perfectly suitable for an opera night. I'd wear it.
Jerrell--The poofy black top looked like a negligee. I was intrigued by the bottom fabric, but the dress looked poorly fit together--the look was not unified. I'd have liked to see that bottom fabric used in a more exciting way.
Kara--This look does not have enough "design." It has a decent shape, but it isn't a wow by any stretch. Side note--the judges just went nuts about pockets in a dress. I like them, too, but it's not going to make me swoon. Anyway, I thought the fabric might be better suited to a tea dress. Or a tea cozy.
Anthony--She looks like...Princess Leia got her dress sliced up. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it is just exactly what I thought of. Like he'd been asked to take Leia's New Hope dress and make it an evening garment for today's luxury woman. I wasn't really into the choice of jewelry in the belt. It didn't quite work. Leia would have a better choice in her closet.
Austin--I'm not a big fan of the tulle at the bodice, because it seems like not enough tulle somehow. I like the gold of the dress, a lot more than I thought I would, and the bold criss-cross over the middle. The black and gold did work there for contrast.
April--I like the ombre of the red and black, unlike some of the judges. The top seems very messy. I like the translation of April's edge, but it's not tidy enough. Side note--How can you not like red and black together? For OPERA? Hello, Carmen?
Michael--This dress did not have the same expensive feel as others did, I think because there was too much to the dress in front. I did like the beading trim and the shape of the feathers up top. I'm into the shape of the that shoulder and neck portion--I've had my eye on other dresses like that. That being said, I was still a little surprised that the judges thought it was expensive-looking. Well, expensive, yes, but not a bank-breaker. The trim plus the draped bodice was too much for me.
Mila--I actually forgot for a minute what she designed. I didn't write notes this time. Then I said, "was it something black?" Yes. Black and sparkly and long. Clearly, I didn't have a strong opinion about this garment. It seemed well produced, which is fine. Just a perfectly acceptable dress, no more, no less.
Mondo--I loved the fabric selection and the pumped up class of the outfit Mondo made--I'm liking this new restraint of his without losing his Mondo. That white and silver fabric was really quite amazing. I didn't like that it was a short dress, though. I can understand the choice, but, well, in my brain that fabric could have been more of a wow in a longer shape.
I'm not surprised Austin won, but to be honest, I was most intrigued by Gordana's dress. I'd like to have another look at it, actually. It was really kind of the most interesting garment up there to my eyes. I know I sound a little hesitant here, but I don't mean to. I think the woman put up a great garment.
I'm also not surprised that Sweet P went home. I am just surprised that it wasn't Kara in the bottom two with her.
Have you been watching 24-Hour Catwalk? I'm intrigued by the idea, and I like that it's different people each time. I also think the "what's in the trunk" thing is kind of funny, since it is blatantly copying a few cooking shows. Here again, though, I'm not really listening, just watching enough to see what the challenge is and what the result is. We'll see how this wears (ha ha).
Kenley--Hello, froth! That's very Kenley, no? I was actually a little disappointed...it really felt like a Barbie dress, and not in a way that would be really wowing. Maybe a sleeker shape with the organza more overlaid? Swooping around the figure?
Sweet P--Oh, dear. I respect SP's aesthetic of slightly zany color, but this dress looked like it was made from 1960s curtain fabric. There is a certain audience for this dress, I think, but there was nothing romantic and night-at-the-opera about it, which is the challenge.
Rami--I was a little disappointed here also--I'm never a fan of that skirt shape set at that particular level. It's a mermaid gone wrong. I liked the color, but the dress didn't have the grandeur that I hoped for.
Gordana--I liked the idea a lot, this sort of George Barbier appeal, and liked the color choices. BUT--the godets were too high on the top. They went too far up the thigh, and it made the "crotch" of the dress a little odd looking. If that had been lower, I would really have gone for this dress! It was unique, as Gordana pointed out, but still perfectly suitable for an opera night. I'd wear it.
Jerrell--The poofy black top looked like a negligee. I was intrigued by the bottom fabric, but the dress looked poorly fit together--the look was not unified. I'd have liked to see that bottom fabric used in a more exciting way.
Kara--This look does not have enough "design." It has a decent shape, but it isn't a wow by any stretch. Side note--the judges just went nuts about pockets in a dress. I like them, too, but it's not going to make me swoon. Anyway, I thought the fabric might be better suited to a tea dress. Or a tea cozy.
Anthony--She looks like...Princess Leia got her dress sliced up. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it is just exactly what I thought of. Like he'd been asked to take Leia's New Hope dress and make it an evening garment for today's luxury woman. I wasn't really into the choice of jewelry in the belt. It didn't quite work. Leia would have a better choice in her closet.
Austin--I'm not a big fan of the tulle at the bodice, because it seems like not enough tulle somehow. I like the gold of the dress, a lot more than I thought I would, and the bold criss-cross over the middle. The black and gold did work there for contrast.
April--I like the ombre of the red and black, unlike some of the judges. The top seems very messy. I like the translation of April's edge, but it's not tidy enough. Side note--How can you not like red and black together? For OPERA? Hello, Carmen?
Michael--This dress did not have the same expensive feel as others did, I think because there was too much to the dress in front. I did like the beading trim and the shape of the feathers up top. I'm into the shape of the that shoulder and neck portion--I've had my eye on other dresses like that. That being said, I was still a little surprised that the judges thought it was expensive-looking. Well, expensive, yes, but not a bank-breaker. The trim plus the draped bodice was too much for me.
Mila--I actually forgot for a minute what she designed. I didn't write notes this time. Then I said, "was it something black?" Yes. Black and sparkly and long. Clearly, I didn't have a strong opinion about this garment. It seemed well produced, which is fine. Just a perfectly acceptable dress, no more, no less.
Mondo--I loved the fabric selection and the pumped up class of the outfit Mondo made--I'm liking this new restraint of his without losing his Mondo. That white and silver fabric was really quite amazing. I didn't like that it was a short dress, though. I can understand the choice, but, well, in my brain that fabric could have been more of a wow in a longer shape.
I'm not surprised Austin won, but to be honest, I was most intrigued by Gordana's dress. I'd like to have another look at it, actually. It was really kind of the most interesting garment up there to my eyes. I know I sound a little hesitant here, but I don't mean to. I think the woman put up a great garment.
I'm also not surprised that Sweet P went home. I am just surprised that it wasn't Kara in the bottom two with her.
Have you been watching 24-Hour Catwalk? I'm intrigued by the idea, and I like that it's different people each time. I also think the "what's in the trunk" thing is kind of funny, since it is blatantly copying a few cooking shows. Here again, though, I'm not really listening, just watching enough to see what the challenge is and what the result is. We'll see how this wears (ha ha).
Thursday, January 05, 2012
PR: All-Stars Unconventional
So, my mother asked me the other day if my blog was still more than a Project Runway blog. I said it was, I just hadn't had the time/inclination to write more. I got a lot to say, just haven't had the impetus to put it in writing. Yes, this blog is still the all-rounder.
That being said, Project Runway All-Stars is going on right now, so...here I am! I just took a bubble bath and am drinking my favorite bar drink, Coke and grenadine, and am in my fluffy white bathrobe.
Joanna Coles is walking around the work room, examining the designers' starts. I'm actually not a big fan usually of Coles, but she seems positive so far. Also, an article in Digital Spy quotes her as joking, "What if she wants to wear underwear?" is her sort of catchphrase. Gotta respect that, given my complaints about past design efforts that are too short or too tight!
Also, confession: I muted the telly during everything related to personal aspects. Watched the first little runway, the dollar store scene, and the workroom so far.
Some of my favorites are back, and some of my non-favorites are back. I don't understand Austin Scarlett's mustache. On the fashion side of things, the little runway was typical, no? The designs coming down all seemed very typical of their makers. They were identifiable.
Here comes the big runway:
Austin--Not a fan of the middle. Too froofy, hot glue melting or no.
Kara--I've missed her accent. As I typed that, I kind of forgot what she put out.
Jerrell--I am forever bored by his clothes. I can't help it. Flow I respect, but I don't see much growth.
Elisa--I liked her inspiration look. The print of the top was nice in her dollar look. The rest...no.
Rami--Could we stop saying "This bitch is owning it?" Ridiculous. I may own a look, but do not refer to me as a bitch. This dress looked painful to me.
Sweet P--I don't get this dress. It's so simple. It reminds me of Old Navy maxi-dresses.
Mondo--Didn't look very Mondoish, actually. I liked the skirt and the deceptive demureness of the shape. And he made a headpiece.
Kenley--Too stiff. I liked the color of the back, but the white of the front was too unshaped.
Gordana--I liked it...kinda of cute and fluid. Not a big fan of the shoulder treatment on this, though.
Anthony--A great shape, but...it felt kind of like a craft project.
Mila--This was very Mila...well constructed and blocked, and ultimately not memorable.
Michael--I don't think he did a bad job with his mop materials. The shape made me wonder what it would be like if it were metallic in some way.
April--I liked the top of April's mop look; it gave it some shape, and for whatever reason I'm responding to neck treatments lately.
I hate to say this, but my least favorite look was Sweet P's. There wasn't anything to it. Elisa, though...she's just not popular in terms of her aesthetic and her attitude. My favorite look....this is a tough one, but I'm going to go with Mondo. I can understand the judge's point of view on Rami's piece, but I don't like its shape.
So, there is this 24-hour catwalk thing coming up. I guess I'll give it a look, though I am deeply suspicious of Lifetime's reality shows generally.
That being said, Project Runway All-Stars is going on right now, so...here I am! I just took a bubble bath and am drinking my favorite bar drink, Coke and grenadine, and am in my fluffy white bathrobe.
Joanna Coles is walking around the work room, examining the designers' starts. I'm actually not a big fan usually of Coles, but she seems positive so far. Also, an article in Digital Spy quotes her as joking, "What if she wants to wear underwear?" is her sort of catchphrase. Gotta respect that, given my complaints about past design efforts that are too short or too tight!
Also, confession: I muted the telly during everything related to personal aspects. Watched the first little runway, the dollar store scene, and the workroom so far.
Some of my favorites are back, and some of my non-favorites are back. I don't understand Austin Scarlett's mustache. On the fashion side of things, the little runway was typical, no? The designs coming down all seemed very typical of their makers. They were identifiable.
Here comes the big runway:
Austin--Not a fan of the middle. Too froofy, hot glue melting or no.
Kara--I've missed her accent. As I typed that, I kind of forgot what she put out.
Jerrell--I am forever bored by his clothes. I can't help it. Flow I respect, but I don't see much growth.
Elisa--I liked her inspiration look. The print of the top was nice in her dollar look. The rest...no.
Rami--Could we stop saying "This bitch is owning it?" Ridiculous. I may own a look, but do not refer to me as a bitch. This dress looked painful to me.
Sweet P--I don't get this dress. It's so simple. It reminds me of Old Navy maxi-dresses.
Mondo--Didn't look very Mondoish, actually. I liked the skirt and the deceptive demureness of the shape. And he made a headpiece.
Kenley--Too stiff. I liked the color of the back, but the white of the front was too unshaped.
Gordana--I liked it...kinda of cute and fluid. Not a big fan of the shoulder treatment on this, though.
Anthony--A great shape, but...it felt kind of like a craft project.
Mila--This was very Mila...well constructed and blocked, and ultimately not memorable.
Michael--I don't think he did a bad job with his mop materials. The shape made me wonder what it would be like if it were metallic in some way.
April--I liked the top of April's mop look; it gave it some shape, and for whatever reason I'm responding to neck treatments lately.
I hate to say this, but my least favorite look was Sweet P's. There wasn't anything to it. Elisa, though...she's just not popular in terms of her aesthetic and her attitude. My favorite look....this is a tough one, but I'm going to go with Mondo. I can understand the judge's point of view on Rami's piece, but I don't like its shape.
So, there is this 24-hour catwalk thing coming up. I guess I'll give it a look, though I am deeply suspicious of Lifetime's reality shows generally.
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