Project Runway Recap: The Top 14 Team Up and Hang 10
How can an entire episode devoted to surf-wear go
by and nobody says "Dude" or Gnarly" or, you know, "Dude"??
In general Project Runway on Lifetime has been
pretty much like Project Runway on Bravo. They've got the routine down. I
pointed out after the first episode that I didn't get much of a sense they were
in L.A., especially not when yellow cabs were breaking through some weak spot in
the space-time continuum to show up in
L.A.
So, Episode 3 was a chance to make us feel that geographical switch. The build-up was there. Talk about going somewhere that represents the very heart of California (although, can I just say that they should have said the very heart of Southern California?) And yes, lo and behold, we're at the beach. They've got Tim Gunn in flip flops and sunglasses (and a blue blazer, but I'm pretty sure that taking Tim's blazer off would have the same disastrous effect that removing the velvet choker had on that girl in the ghost story...you know the one?) They've got some supposed "real live" surfer girls there for the designers to talk to, and the challenge is to design fun, fashionable surf wear.
Because I'm sure you're aware that surfer girls are well-known for their careful and complicated hair-dos, they decide to also throw one of their sponsors a bone and make this an episode where some Garnier hair stylist will consult on the models' fun, fashionable surf hair.
Finally, and for the first time this season, they'll need to work in teams. Shirin and six others picked out of a hat are "team leaders" and they get to pick their partner.
I am *shocked* that Irina gets picked last, because as I've said, I though she got robbed two week sin a row and deserved to be top 3 both weeks. I'm betting Qristyl is regretting her choice, when there were only two left, and she chose Epperson over Irina!
After a 20-minute caucus between the teams and the surfer girls, they hit Ersatz Mood with only $50 and 15 minutes to spend! Thank you ErsatzMood.
About halfway through it was sprung on the designers that they would have to make a second, "Avant Garde" look to accompany their surf wear, on which they could spend $200 on a return trip to ErsatzMood.
They got back to work, and as the hours ticked by I realized that once we left the beach, we left any sense of the beach behind too. By the time most of the outfits hit the runway, the beach had been covered up out of existence. Almost every outfit started with some sense of bathing suit, wetsuit, sarong etc. But most of those touches were gone or covered up by generic "cruise wear" type separates. Not surf wear.
And the avant garde looks were even further afield. I might not have been crazy about Ra'Mon's neoprene dress (that the poor guy was hand-dying 30 minutes pre-show) but at least his avant garde look "inspired by" surf wear wasn't a frickin' lace or organza or satin ball gown. Dude, some of those were totally gnarly.
So, this week's drama?
All about two things:
1. The complete abdication of "Team Leader" Mitchell, who clearly seemed to have just given up. In action, in words, he looked to be trying to guarantee his own departure.
2. The ongoing conflict between "Team Leader" Qristyl and her overbearing partner Epperson. Meanwhile Johnny (who apparently wanted the 'h' back in his name) and Irina were practically whistling while they worked. Qristyl must have been eaten up with jealousy.
OK, on to the show. Michael Kors is still mysteriously absent, so we have Heidi, NinaGarcia, Max Azaria (designer behind non-surf wear company BCBG) and actress Rachel Bilson. I don't remember what show she's on, and they ca;;ed her a designer, but unlike Week 1 and Lilo, they couldn't even name her line. Hmmm.
(Again, links are to pictures of the various outfits.)
1. Team Lead Qristyl and Epperson
Surf Wear: From the wait up this was a cute, frond-filled green print tankini top that fit well. True it was more resort wear and colonial-inspired than surf-inspired, but at least it was cute and well-made. From the waist down, this was the same print, but in a skirt that looked almost like MC Hammer pants. The skirt was too long, and paired with over-clunky shoes, the effect was one of being weighed down. Things did not improve once the model turned around, and we saw the diaper butt of the skirt. Unfortunate.
Avant Garde: Well, there's nothing avant garde about a brown tankini with a boy short bottom. I suppose the brown and neon green cover-up thingy was supposed to be avant garde, but honestly, I was so distracted by their model's butt hanging completely out of the back of their suit once the cover-up was no longer covering up, I really couldn't write much more down. It did occur to me that if butts were avant garde, then perhaps we've all been missing all along that strip clubs are the pinnacle of avant garde fashion houses.
2. Team Lead Johnny (with and "h") and Irina
Surf Wear: Think of Marshall's poorly made outfit from last week and imagine it a little better-made. That's what this outfit was. There was a white skirt that was more Season 5 winner Leanne than it was Mitchell. All folds and pleats and not quite so short. There was a one-shouldered brown sheer long-sleeve top over a beige bikini top. There was an unfortunate brown hobo bag slung across her chest...unfortunate because the strap was basically bisecting her right breast. The thing that made this outfit stand out was the brightly-colored macrame on the back of the shirt. I have to say that, the macrame aside, the rest of the outfit's look was more safari-inspired than surf-inspired.
Avant Garde: This was a big poufy brown knee-length dress that was a bit of a mess. There was a woven effect across the bodice, but it was not well done enough to lay flat and was therefore more quilt-looking and pouffy. There was a whole bunch of that brown fabric bunched up and affixed to the model's right shoulder. It was as if Chris March had gone crazy and forgotten how to actually construct one of his shoulder/neck ruff concoctions. The back was just a mess of rags and strips of fabric. And none of it seemed surfy. No likee.
3. Team Lead Mitchell and Ra'Mon
Surf Wear: Surf wear, really? because this looked like a 70-s inspired dress for going disco dancing, complete with handkerchief hem, halter neck and big wide belt. Apparently there's a bathing suit under the dress that Mitchell made, but it's not visible at all. I get the story that the colors mimic seaweed on the shore, but really it's just a dress. With a bad, unmatching belt.
Avant Garde: So, this was a short, one-shouldered neoprene dress in citron green with darker patches where Ra'mon tried to dye the neoprene to tone it down. It looked basically pinned together. Even if there had been time to execute on it better, I didn't think the idea was that intriguing or attractive. Surf-inspired? OK, maybe. Maybe the only one that really did that. But neoprene alone does not a hot, avant garde look make. I thought it was a mess.
4. Team Lead Shirin and Carol Hannah
Surf Wear: A long batik cover-up over a reddish/rust bikini with its around the neck strap made of big wooden beads. It really was something you could imagine on the beach, but it wasn't the most original or exciting design around. Well executed, however, I will give them that.
Avant Garde: This was a fabulous ball gown. I guess the surf inspiration was supposed to be in the deep teal blue color, which did look like the color of the sea. Perhaps also it was meant to look like the swirling of the water after a wave crashes on the sand, what with all the layers and flounces of fabric. There was another Chris March-style shoulder flap, although much more contained and refined. All in all, very beautiful and marginally ocean-inspired.
5. Team Lead Althea and Louise
Surf Wear: This looked like an old-fashioned twenties style skirted bathing suit in red. With some black and white stripes at the bikini top. It had an appallingly bad fit a the top, all puckers and droops. It made the teeny tiny model look saggy and flabby form the side. And made her look like she was wearing a full diaper in the back. This was not good.
Avant Garde: This gown was also pretty fabulous, featuring a black strapless Wonder Woman top with various metallics pins and such woven through. The tiered ruffled skirt was mini in the front and long in the back. OK, not a unique look, but it looked very well-made. The only problem? Unlike Team 4's ballgown, I really couldn't figure out: What exactly was surf-inspired about it? Nothing I could see.
6. Team Lead Nicolas and Gordana
Surf Wear: This was one of the better surf wear efforts. The maillot top was a beautiful blue, woven and dyed macrame...very intricate and actually seemed beachy. The pants were white wrap-pants that cutaway while walking. Easy, breezy, nicely done.
Avant Garde: This was the first true hot mess of an outfit for this show. note to the wise: Lilac-colored lace chaps? Never classy. Never a good idea. Certainly not avant garde. And wearing said hideous, trashy chaps over a white mini skirt? Oh, double-trashy. There was some intriguing organza smushed all the way around the neck and collar line, but it couldn't save the hot mess of a hooker outfit going on from the waist down. Shudder.
7. Team Lead Logan and Christopher
Surf Wear: This was the second hot mess outfit of the show. There was a twisted bandeau bikini top. Over which was a plunging V-neck tan top. Belted. In a bland beige color. Ok, I guess it was sand-colored. All of this paired with a pair of leggings in a fabric that just ended up looking stained and dirty, not whatever it was supposed to look like. And there was a big floppy hat. This was surf wear for the street person. Who hadn't had access to laundry facilities in a while. The outfit looked thrashed.
Avant Garde: The avant garde look was in two pieces. A champagne-metallic zip-front sleeveless tunic top with stand-up collar, and a big huge ballgown skirt made of brown and gray and black and ivory netting and sheer fabrics. It evoked a bit a scuba top and the foam of the sea. The two pieces each, on their own, seemed good and interesting and even somewhat surf-inspired. But they didn't look like they actually belonged together.
So, after all that, we had:
Nicolas/Gordana and Qristyl/Epperson in the Bottom 2
Johnny/Irina (Yay!) and shockingly Mitchell/Ra'mon (WTF?) in the Top 2.
Honestly I could not image how Ra'mon and Mitchell made it to the Top 2. But perhaps it was all so they could deliver this "shocking" twist:
Ra'mon won.
Mitchell was auf'ed. (Which was pretty well-deserved, since he basically admitted he didn't do anything and Ra'mon did everything...see what I mean: Mitchell wanted out.)
A first in Project Runway history.
So, it's getting far enough along that I am starting to develop some favorites, how about you? Who are you rooting for now?
So, Episode 3 was a chance to make us feel that geographical switch. The build-up was there. Talk about going somewhere that represents the very heart of California (although, can I just say that they should have said the very heart of Southern California?) And yes, lo and behold, we're at the beach. They've got Tim Gunn in flip flops and sunglasses (and a blue blazer, but I'm pretty sure that taking Tim's blazer off would have the same disastrous effect that removing the velvet choker had on that girl in the ghost story...you know the one?) They've got some supposed "real live" surfer girls there for the designers to talk to, and the challenge is to design fun, fashionable surf wear.
Because I'm sure you're aware that surfer girls are well-known for their careful and complicated hair-dos, they decide to also throw one of their sponsors a bone and make this an episode where some Garnier hair stylist will consult on the models' fun, fashionable surf hair.
Finally, and for the first time this season, they'll need to work in teams. Shirin and six others picked out of a hat are "team leaders" and they get to pick their partner.
I am *shocked* that Irina gets picked last, because as I've said, I though she got robbed two week sin a row and deserved to be top 3 both weeks. I'm betting Qristyl is regretting her choice, when there were only two left, and she chose Epperson over Irina!
After a 20-minute caucus between the teams and the surfer girls, they hit Ersatz Mood with only $50 and 15 minutes to spend! Thank you ErsatzMood.
About halfway through it was sprung on the designers that they would have to make a second, "Avant Garde" look to accompany their surf wear, on which they could spend $200 on a return trip to ErsatzMood.
They got back to work, and as the hours ticked by I realized that once we left the beach, we left any sense of the beach behind too. By the time most of the outfits hit the runway, the beach had been covered up out of existence. Almost every outfit started with some sense of bathing suit, wetsuit, sarong etc. But most of those touches were gone or covered up by generic "cruise wear" type separates. Not surf wear.
And the avant garde looks were even further afield. I might not have been crazy about Ra'Mon's neoprene dress (that the poor guy was hand-dying 30 minutes pre-show) but at least his avant garde look "inspired by" surf wear wasn't a frickin' lace or organza or satin ball gown. Dude, some of those were totally gnarly.
So, this week's drama?
All about two things:
1. The complete abdication of "Team Leader" Mitchell, who clearly seemed to have just given up. In action, in words, he looked to be trying to guarantee his own departure.
2. The ongoing conflict between "Team Leader" Qristyl and her overbearing partner Epperson. Meanwhile Johnny (who apparently wanted the 'h' back in his name) and Irina were practically whistling while they worked. Qristyl must have been eaten up with jealousy.
OK, on to the show. Michael Kors is still mysteriously absent, so we have Heidi, NinaGarcia, Max Azaria (designer behind non-surf wear company BCBG) and actress Rachel Bilson. I don't remember what show she's on, and they ca;;ed her a designer, but unlike Week 1 and Lilo, they couldn't even name her line. Hmmm.
(Again, links are to pictures of the various outfits.)
1. Team Lead Qristyl and Epperson
Surf Wear: From the wait up this was a cute, frond-filled green print tankini top that fit well. True it was more resort wear and colonial-inspired than surf-inspired, but at least it was cute and well-made. From the waist down, this was the same print, but in a skirt that looked almost like MC Hammer pants. The skirt was too long, and paired with over-clunky shoes, the effect was one of being weighed down. Things did not improve once the model turned around, and we saw the diaper butt of the skirt. Unfortunate.
Avant Garde: Well, there's nothing avant garde about a brown tankini with a boy short bottom. I suppose the brown and neon green cover-up thingy was supposed to be avant garde, but honestly, I was so distracted by their model's butt hanging completely out of the back of their suit once the cover-up was no longer covering up, I really couldn't write much more down. It did occur to me that if butts were avant garde, then perhaps we've all been missing all along that strip clubs are the pinnacle of avant garde fashion houses.
2. Team Lead Johnny (with and "h") and Irina
Surf Wear: Think of Marshall's poorly made outfit from last week and imagine it a little better-made. That's what this outfit was. There was a white skirt that was more Season 5 winner Leanne than it was Mitchell. All folds and pleats and not quite so short. There was a one-shouldered brown sheer long-sleeve top over a beige bikini top. There was an unfortunate brown hobo bag slung across her chest...unfortunate because the strap was basically bisecting her right breast. The thing that made this outfit stand out was the brightly-colored macrame on the back of the shirt. I have to say that, the macrame aside, the rest of the outfit's look was more safari-inspired than surf-inspired.
Avant Garde: This was a big poufy brown knee-length dress that was a bit of a mess. There was a woven effect across the bodice, but it was not well done enough to lay flat and was therefore more quilt-looking and pouffy. There was a whole bunch of that brown fabric bunched up and affixed to the model's right shoulder. It was as if Chris March had gone crazy and forgotten how to actually construct one of his shoulder/neck ruff concoctions. The back was just a mess of rags and strips of fabric. And none of it seemed surfy. No likee.
3. Team Lead Mitchell and Ra'Mon
Surf Wear: Surf wear, really? because this looked like a 70-s inspired dress for going disco dancing, complete with handkerchief hem, halter neck and big wide belt. Apparently there's a bathing suit under the dress that Mitchell made, but it's not visible at all. I get the story that the colors mimic seaweed on the shore, but really it's just a dress. With a bad, unmatching belt.
Avant Garde: So, this was a short, one-shouldered neoprene dress in citron green with darker patches where Ra'mon tried to dye the neoprene to tone it down. It looked basically pinned together. Even if there had been time to execute on it better, I didn't think the idea was that intriguing or attractive. Surf-inspired? OK, maybe. Maybe the only one that really did that. But neoprene alone does not a hot, avant garde look make. I thought it was a mess.
4. Team Lead Shirin and Carol Hannah
Surf Wear: A long batik cover-up over a reddish/rust bikini with its around the neck strap made of big wooden beads. It really was something you could imagine on the beach, but it wasn't the most original or exciting design around. Well executed, however, I will give them that.
Avant Garde: This was a fabulous ball gown. I guess the surf inspiration was supposed to be in the deep teal blue color, which did look like the color of the sea. Perhaps also it was meant to look like the swirling of the water after a wave crashes on the sand, what with all the layers and flounces of fabric. There was another Chris March-style shoulder flap, although much more contained and refined. All in all, very beautiful and marginally ocean-inspired.
5. Team Lead Althea and Louise
Surf Wear: This looked like an old-fashioned twenties style skirted bathing suit in red. With some black and white stripes at the bikini top. It had an appallingly bad fit a the top, all puckers and droops. It made the teeny tiny model look saggy and flabby form the side. And made her look like she was wearing a full diaper in the back. This was not good.
Avant Garde: This gown was also pretty fabulous, featuring a black strapless Wonder Woman top with various metallics pins and such woven through. The tiered ruffled skirt was mini in the front and long in the back. OK, not a unique look, but it looked very well-made. The only problem? Unlike Team 4's ballgown, I really couldn't figure out: What exactly was surf-inspired about it? Nothing I could see.
6. Team Lead Nicolas and Gordana
Surf Wear: This was one of the better surf wear efforts. The maillot top was a beautiful blue, woven and dyed macrame...very intricate and actually seemed beachy. The pants were white wrap-pants that cutaway while walking. Easy, breezy, nicely done.
Avant Garde: This was the first true hot mess of an outfit for this show. note to the wise: Lilac-colored lace chaps? Never classy. Never a good idea. Certainly not avant garde. And wearing said hideous, trashy chaps over a white mini skirt? Oh, double-trashy. There was some intriguing organza smushed all the way around the neck and collar line, but it couldn't save the hot mess of a hooker outfit going on from the waist down. Shudder.
7. Team Lead Logan and Christopher
Surf Wear: This was the second hot mess outfit of the show. There was a twisted bandeau bikini top. Over which was a plunging V-neck tan top. Belted. In a bland beige color. Ok, I guess it was sand-colored. All of this paired with a pair of leggings in a fabric that just ended up looking stained and dirty, not whatever it was supposed to look like. And there was a big floppy hat. This was surf wear for the street person. Who hadn't had access to laundry facilities in a while. The outfit looked thrashed.
Avant Garde: The avant garde look was in two pieces. A champagne-metallic zip-front sleeveless tunic top with stand-up collar, and a big huge ballgown skirt made of brown and gray and black and ivory netting and sheer fabrics. It evoked a bit a scuba top and the foam of the sea. The two pieces each, on their own, seemed good and interesting and even somewhat surf-inspired. But they didn't look like they actually belonged together.
So, after all that, we had:
Nicolas/Gordana and Qristyl/Epperson in the Bottom 2
Johnny/Irina (Yay!) and shockingly Mitchell/Ra'mon (WTF?) in the Top 2.
Honestly I could not image how Ra'mon and Mitchell made it to the Top 2. But perhaps it was all so they could deliver this "shocking" twist:
Ra'mon won.
Mitchell was auf'ed. (Which was pretty well-deserved, since he basically admitted he didn't do anything and Ra'mon did everything...see what I mean: Mitchell wanted out.)
A first in Project Runway history.
So, it's getting far enough along that I am starting to develop some favorites, how about you? Who are you rooting for now?
Posted: Sat - September 5, 2009 at 10:18 AM EmailFeedback
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Published On: Sep 05, 2009 10:18 AM
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Published On: Sep 05, 2009 10:18 AM
