Project Runway is back! And the Judges Decide! As opposed to every other episode? Whatever. Heidi, Nina, and Micheal Zac are here to narrow down eighteen designers to fifteen, and I wonder, couldn't the producers/judges/whomever do this before flying everybody in? I guess it's a way to introduce everybody to the audience, but if you watched the "Road to the Runway" or myriad videos available on the Project Runway website, you are already familiar. That doesn't mean I know any of their names (yet), but we have weeks and weeks (and weeks) of eliminations before we get to anybody important.
 |
| Red Robin Hostess. Table for three. |
So we get rid of three of the contestants before they can make any sort of impression (beyond tacky), but who knows, maybe they'll be back next season like Gunnar. Conspicuously, "fan favorites" Alexander, Amanda, and Ken do not have to appease the judges to come back, and frankly, I would find that much more entertaining. Regardless, the fifteen designers, plus one fan favorite, get to take on the first challenge... to once again let the judges decide. And that fan favorite is ....
 |
| Yes, that pic is from S13, not S11, she just looks exactly the same. |
 |
| Why's it gotta be black? |
Tim states "Each trunk contains five fabrics of three yards each. And not all trunks contain the same fabrics." He then encourages the contestants to beg, borrow, or steal... before begging them not to steal. Which side are you on, Tim? Apparently, he isn't on the side of fashionable accessories, because the designers are offered the assistance of the "ALDO styling wall." Let's see how that works out...
 |
| I will try to contain my hatred of Aldo's "customer service" for this season. |
So the designers are off to work. Create a spring look, using your assigned/bartered fabrics, in one day. The fact that some of the contestants look shocked irks me. This is season 13! They work, fret, design a little bit too. Tim comes in, likes some people, is covertly bitchy to others, uses the word "staccato," you know the routine by now. Some of the fabrics look god awful, but hey, its a challenge! And America collectively fast forwards their DVR to the runway.
 |
| Heidi elaborates the never ending prizes, furnished mostly by Red Robin? Yes, fashion staple Red Robin. |
 |
Michel Kors after plastic surgery, Just For Men dye job, perm, and suit shopping outside the mortuary department. Ms. Garcia, if you're nasty. |
 |
| Foolish actress admits to missing one season of Project Runway in front of its host/producer, never heard from again. |
 |
| Gets this reaction. I love Heidi. |
On with the clothes already!
SANDHYA
Sandhya starts the show with a hmm. She took the homeliest print and made it semi-modern by gradient dying it. The cut of the dress is interesting, save the shoulders which could be avant-garde if they didn't look like they were made by Santino Rice. The zipper treatment on the back is awful and the frayed hem/sleeves irk me. Still, it is impressive that she took this floral print and made a dress that seems young at heart. It is also a powerful look to debut to the judges and to start a show. For that, she deserves some credit for nerve.
My Scorecard: 4/5
---
ANGELA
Oh Angela! (/Tony Micelli voice). This has ideas, I can give her that much, and the color combinations are not atrocious. The pants though ... that fit is awful, however, I kind of like the idea of side cut outs. If only she didn't overwork every inch of fabric on the shirt, one might have been able to appreciate them. (And if the slits weren't so slutty, thanks Nina!) The top might not be so bad if it didn't have that sash appendage that hangs to the model's thigh.
My Scorecard: 2/5
---
ALEXANDER
It's youthful, cute, kind of fun in the swing of it all. But I just am not crazy about this floral peice on top. I guess it adds some visual element to contrast the B/W dress, which would have been deathly boring alone, but does it justify such an awkward cowl? And without that element, its a pretty standard pregnancy dress. Doesn't make me want to gauge out my eyes, but doesn't leave a lasting memory either.
My Scorecard: 3/5
---
SEAN
In theory, I should like this. The colors are great, its minimalist, geometric, cut at flattering length. But its also very wrong. I cannot stand this diamond/triangle shape he has going on in the front which does nothing but extenuate the model's hips, make her midsection look wide, and her chest look miniscule. Had the shape been inverted, to give a more hourglass illusion, he might have scored a win, but this shape makes it look like shes sporting a giant Free Mason symbol.
My Scorecard: 2.5/5
---
CARRIE
This one I liked quite a bit. It has great shape, the print, while busy in itself, isn't overwhelmed by the cut, which cleverly used cut-outs to minimize the amount of print is actually shown. The hips, while not necessarily flattering on wide-hipped women, look phenomenal on the model. Is this a new shape or design? Not quite. It strongly reminds me of Leanne's Lexus dress, but for the challenge, it is a stunner.
My Scorecard: 4/5
---
SAMANTHA
Another sash-appendage look? This one is hard to wrap my head around. In many ways, its striking, yet boring. Young, but aging. The all-black look stands out in the sea of dated prints, but doesn't look like an outfit anybody would want to wear. Had the pants been wider cut, longer, and that sash simply cut off, she might have had a contender. Looks well made though. But that head wrap is a big no.
My Scorecard: 3/5
---
MITCHELL
This is not good. Like any red blooded American (who was born in the 80's), I too love 80's exercise wear, but that doesn't mean it's Fashion. This is what you would find at the end of season sale at H&M, that the associate found mangled under some heavy Z-rack, shook out the dust bunnies, and rehung it the best they could, considering its missing one of its clear hanger straps. Ignoring the fabric choices, this is just so bleh, in cut, concept and execution.
My Scorecard: 1/5
---
KINI
Like Mitchell, Kini made clothing, not fashion. This is something that could be found, well, anywhere. Unlike Mitchell, it at least looks well made and wearable with only the scantest of side-eyes. The jacket is a throwaway piece (which the model clearly knew), but without it, it is the most basic of ugly printed dresses around. The length of the hem is also a bit troublesome, as well as that belt. But hey, ALDO accessory wall?
My Scorecard: 2/5
---
For those keeping track at home, we are half-way though the seemingly never ending first episode runway! Come back for part two later!
No comments:
Post a Comment