Project Runway Recap: The Top 11 hit their stride. And this season's mystery solved.


Also, they try in vain to remind us that they're filming in L.A. this season, and that it matters. But all that really matters is that the L.A. move has deprived us of MK and ninagarcia.

This week the designers met Tim Gunn on some generic "Hollywood movie lot" to choose film genres out of the velvet bag. They were all to create a look inspired by the genre of choice. Make-up dude Collier Strong was also there, and they were supposed to work with him as part of the challenge, but since they have to work with the make-up folks every week, this is one of those throw-a-bone-to-the-sponsor add-ons that PR occasionally does.

There were five genres, and the designers chose as follows:

Film Noir: Irina, Louise, Althea
Action/Adventure: Logan, Carol Hannah
SciFi: Ra'Mon, Nicolas
Period Piece: Gordana, Christopher
Western: Epperson, Shirin

Shirin and Epperson chose last and were therefore stuck with Western.

The designers were given 30 minutes to sketch and $150 to spend at ErsatzMood. The runway show would be the next morning.

What did we learn this episode?

-They tried to paint Shirin as the Chatty Kathy last week, but OMG it's Nicolas that cannot shut the hell up! Alternately arrogant and petrified, he always has something to say. About how he wants to win. Or about how he is out of his element. Or about how one of the other designers "doesn't belong" there.

-We learn that TV obviously can't show everything about these designs, because while I had dismissed Louise and her work as an obvious "retro" copycat devotee, Tim credits her with having subtlety and nuance. Really? Because here I was thinking it was just boring. Obviously I'm missing something despite my 36" screen.

-We learned that the designers never lear. Every week someone decides to scrap their idea and start over. Yeah, so, um, how does that work out? Well, 2 weeks ago it was Qristyl. Last week it was Johnny. This week it was Ra'mon. I rest my case.

-We learned that even Heidi can have a *really* bad fashion day. Did you check out her outfit for the day of the Show? Black sparkly leggings with ridonkulously high spike heel pumps, topped with a long beige tunic tee and a sand-colored vest. It's like she was trying to project what Mary Kate or Ashley Olsen would look like if they were double their current height. And that was just way to much boho-"chic" on top for me...paired with working girl on the bottom.

-We learned that apparently Lifetime has no intention of letting us know where our friends Michael Kors and Nina Garcia have been, but apparently Nina couldn't bear the questions any longer and broke down under the interrogation of the LA Times. Apparently, MK and ninagarcia have, like, jobs. And those jobs are on the East Coast. And sometimes even in Paris. Move the show back to NYC, Lifetime!

On to the show, where designer John Varvatos and Marie Claire stand-in Zoe Glassner join Heidi and a film costume designer (Arianne Phillips) on the judges panel. The one credit they mention for Phillips is Walk the Line. I'm not sure the Johnny Cash bio-pic really screams breadth and depth of talent to me, but whatevs.

As always click on the link on each designer's name to see their outfit.

1. Irina's Film Noir look
Irina's Film Noir movie must take place in the bedroom, because this was a negligee. It was a chocolate brown satin negligee with lace insets. And instead of wearing Little Red Riding Hood's red cape, she had a sheer, white version. Only it looked more like a big white rain slicker as it came down the runway. I thought this was pretty bad, so good thing she had immunity.

2. Carol Hannah's Action/Adventure look
I might have liked Carol Hannah's look more if it wasn't simply The Matrix. I didn't see any spark of innovation on the theme there. Black trench coat over black leggings. Topped with what looked like a rubber strapless corset with some straps and chains hanging down. Very dominatrix, not just Matrix. But not very original.

3. Shirin's Western look
Well, this was just cliche Western saloon girl come to life. Nothing new or innovative here amongst the black satin and red velvet and lace. I thought she might be at risk with this one, but I guess it had enough detail and high-quality execution to save her.

4. Christopher's Period Piece look
Christopher hit it out of the park with a modern, inauthentic, but innovative period look. This was Victorian Vampire Bride, and I went with him on it. Sure, it wasn't very period to start with a sleeveless chiffon halter-style top with high Victorian collar as nod to the period. And the full, flouncey champagne-colored skirt with black netting over-bustle took the actual look of the period and amp'ed it up. And the very wide black obi-ish waist definer wasn't really period at all. But the overall look was fantastic and seemed to really get the concept of melding the world of costume and runway.

5. Nicolas's Sci-Fi look
I confess Iw as not as crazy over this ice-queen look as the judges. It was a long, white, appliqued dress with some bizarre feather-like structures around the collar and neck. The styling was sort of the best aprt...her ice-queen make-up was great.


6. Althea's Film Noir look
While Althea thought she had a perfect Film Noir look heading down the runway, I thought this was more of an 80's Period Piece look. A sheer, white, open over-blouse over, basically, a black teddy, paired with a very high waisted black skirt. The styling may have been what bothered me most. Plain black pumps and clutch. An incongruous necklace of big silver balls. And really weird bird's nest hair. None of it said sleek femme fatale to me. More like 80s chick heading home from a one-night stand.

7. Ra'mon's Sci-Fi look
I can appreciate that Ra'mon scrapped his initial design, but stuck with the risk that design was taking (green, reptilian alien-human hybrid). but things were all wrong about this dress. The length and shape just took that risky bold idea and made it simultaneously dowdy. Personally, I favor interesting and original over safe and boring, and I thought the judges would to. But it was definitely destined for Bottom 3-land.

8. Louise's Film Noir look
So, this was kind of ridiculous. She had some story about it being a 40's actress going to a 20's costume party. Or something like that. But it was really just a plain, boring and historically inaccurate flapper dress. Bottom 3 well-deserved.

9. Epperson's Western look
For the first time, Epperson's work really did it for me. Although his collar treatment of this denim, sleeveless overcoat seemed to copy exactly Irina's newspaper trench coat collar from just last week. The overcoat was over an eggshell petticoat-style underskirt, with a brown leather waist corset over the whole thing. The styling was the best part...with a holster and brown boots and Matar's great "tough pioneer woman" atitude.

10. Gordana's Period Piece look
Gordana did a golden backless flapper dress that was, well, a flapper dress. It looked incredibly well-made and meticulous and intricate, but the judges were exactly right that thus far she has been a terrific dressmaker (and that has kept her in, not auf) but hasn't shown off much design innovation or creativity.

11. Logan's Action/Adventure look
Logan also went Matrix with his black leather catsuit. It had an interesting touch with ammo holders down the front, but it was otherwise a little too subtle to make a huge impact, positive or negative.

In the end, the judges likee:
Nicolas
Christopher
Epperson

My viewing companion and I thought Christopher was the obvious, no-brainer winner. I could live with Irina taking it over Christopher last week, but this? To have Nicolas beat Christopher on this one...not right. Who's with me?

The judges no likee:
Ra'mon
Gordana
Louise

I was rooting for Louise to go, mostly because I'm bored by that Kenley-esque retro sensibility, and that dress was a true snore. At least Ra'mon had a vision and went with it. But sadly, that vision was his downfall, and he was auf'ed.

So I was no-happy with either the winner or loser last night. What about you?

Posted: Fri - September 25, 2009 at 08:27 AM       EmailFeedback

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