PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 12 Best Western Red Carpet Challenge Photo Blog Recap!

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 12 Best Western Red Carpet Challenge Photo Blog Recap!

A Trip to Red Carpet Land: Images from this week's Episode 12 Season 14 "Project Runway"

This week on Lifetime's Season 14 "Project Runway", there are only four designers left in the show and they are very close to going to NY Fashion Week to show their Finale Collections...

Red Heidi: Heidi unveils the "Best Western Red Carpet Challenge"--Season 14 "Project Runway Episode 12

The Challenge this week was to design a Red Carpet look inspired by the "Land of Glamour": Los Angeles. This was also the Best Western Challenge...

Tim Tickets: Tim Gunn had the "tickets" for the designers to fly to Los Angeles. Not sure if these would actually work through the TSA Security but...I give the "Project Runway" Bunim/Murray Art Dept. props for coming up with these "airline tickets". I highly doubt that the four contestants got to sit in "A1"; a $4,000 round trip Transcontinental First Class ticket is not in their budget, kids.

LA-LA Land: Once in L.A., the designers headed to their hotel--their home for the next 1 1/2 days while in Los Angeles

Sunset Villa: Being that it was the "Best Western Challenge", the designers got to stay at the wonderfully located Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza Hotel. The hotel is iconic and situated in the heart of the Sunset Strip.

(L to R) Tammy Lucas, Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising Best Western Hotels and Tim Gunn: While at the pool of the Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza, Lucas announces to the designers that the winner of this Challenge would get 100 FREE "Best Western Rewards" NIGHTS (!) to be used at any Best Western Hotel and Resort worldwide. Lord have mercy! Yeah...this was Candice's reaction:

Shut The Front Door!!! Designer Candice Cuoco reacts to the "Best Western Rewards" prize for the winner--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

After their time at the Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza, Tim and the designers were off to a multi-million dollar Hollywood Hills home...

Nice View: Tim Gun and Season 14 Top Four designers--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

(L to R) "The Insider" correspondent Keltie Knight and Tim Gunn: The reason for this Hollywood Hills location was to supposedly get the designers "inspired for designing for the Red Carpet. The view was very nice but I think they should have, instead, had a visit with a Red Carpet L.A.-based designer such as Monique Lhuillier or at least, gone to a red carpet premiere. #JustSaying. Also, I had issues with Knight's statements that "this is not the time to play it safe". Has she actually been to a recent ACADEMY AWARDS!!!??? It's ALL about SAFE! And Fashion BOOOOOORING.

Mood L.A.: The designer got to go to Mood Los Angeles--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

 FIDM: While in Southern California--and during their 1 1/2 days--the designers got to create their Red Carpet designs at my Alma Mater, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. In case you're wondering, this was the same place we shot "Project Runway: Under the Gunn".

While at the FIDM workroom, someone got SCISSOR HAPPY...

 Cutting Edmond: Designer Edmond Newton cuts, and cuts...and cuts, into his multicolored sequin fabric--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

From OK to Oh No: Edmond's design went from a long column gown to a cape-sleeved, fishtail hemmed mini dress--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

The Runway:

Ashley Nell Tipton: Cryin' Ashley did a pretty good Red Carpet gown, using copper/gold sequin fabric. It was impacting and sexy, but the top was a little wonky. But overall, good job! Thank goodness she didn't do a CROP TOP and PLEATED CIRCLE SKIRT.

Candice Cuoco: Candice loves the color black so it was no surprise she would do a black gown. This was the "safest" of all the red carpet looks and honestly, one of the most successful designs.

Kelly Dempsey: Kelly's halter neck jumpsuit was oh-so-chic and oh-so-perfect for a young Hollywood Starlet. The fit was EVERYTHING! She won. Rightfully so.

Oh Edmond...

Edmond Newton: No. No, and No. While this is perfect for Heidi Klum hosting "Germany's Next Top Model" or a Eurovision contest, it wasn't Hollywood Glamour Red Carpet. This was cheap looking and tasteless. It reminded me of a costume from...

Mamma Mia: The Musical

Edmond was OUT!

Or Is He???? (Hello! Tim Save!)

Here's my RECAP for this week's episode:

Season 14, Episode 12: A Trip to the Land of Glam

And then there were four! Four designers are left
on this season of “Project Runway” and this week they took a trip to
sunny Los Angeles for the Best Western Red Carpet Challenge. Their
designs ranged from safe elegance to glam goddess and even stretched
into "Mamma Mia" musical theater territory. And of course, there was
that cliffhanger-like ending (To save or not to save?). We’re getting
closer to NY Fashion Week, so there’s no need to dilly-dally…time to
recap.

The episode begins with a shot of a red
carpet-lined runway stage. The designers are there as Heidi calls out to
Tim to “bring the tickets.” Immediately, she announces that for their
next challenge the designers will be heading to the “land of glam. Where
the lights shine and the stars shine brighter." Los Angeles! Tim hands
the designers their “Project Runway” super economy class tickets and
tells them their challenge: to design a look for the red carpet and use
L.A. as their inspiration. He tells them that they will be designing as
well as constructing their creations in Los Angeles. The segment ends
with Ashley saying she is excited to be thinking “outside of the box.”
No crop tops or pleated circle skirts, I hope.

The designers arrive in Los Angeles and check in to the Italian villa inspired Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza Hotel...

Click HERE on the myLifetime.com "Project Runway" Blog to continue reading my RECAP

Red Carpet Report: 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards...The Oh Dear! Top Ten!

Red Carpet Report: 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards...The Oh Dear! Top Ten!

Daytime Emmy Awards Red Carpet OH DEAR! Top Ten!!!

I'm just going to make this Short and Not-so-Sweet--in terms of my Daytime Emmys Red Carpet Fashion Two Cents. I present to you my "Oh Dear! Daytime Emmy Awards Ladies"...

The Finalists:

Petal Pusher: Pink Petal Prom Disaster--It's like someone tried to Knock Off something from Project Runway Season 5 Winner Leanne Marshall...but didn't succeed. I loved the hair though (insert Happy Face).

Where's The Rest of My Dress: Oh huney! Did you forget the rest of your dress? This is unacceptable. Maybe on the runway, it looked H.O.T. Hot on a 6 foot tall model from Brazil but here, in real life, on the red carpet, it looks as if you ran out of your secret lover's hotel room right before his wife showed up!

Scuba No: Now, I realize the whole "Scuba" Theme is big for Resort 2012, but...What in the name of Color-Blocking Fashion is this above? And those necklaces? Were they really necessary? On stage, that neckline looked a teeny weeny bit TOO PLUNGING as well. The "sistahs" didn't look so nice. Her hair and make-up look were very good though (see, I try to include some positives).

Tonya Harding Meets Daytime Drama: Bless Her Swarovski Crystal Studded Purse Heart. Let me guess: Judith Lieber? (the purse, that is) The dress is A LOT of Bubblegum Pink--and I'm a fan of Barbie Bubblegum Pink but maybe not so much of it. And why is the top section inspired by a Figure Skating Costume? Tonya Harding We've Got A (Fashion) Problem!

Real Housewives of Orange County Garage Sale: Two Word: Oh No! It's a Handkerchief-y Hem...it's Caftan-y...it's Wrong. Someone made a mistake and told her she was going to a 20th High School Reunion for one of the "Real Housewives of Orange County" as opposed to "Hello, it's the Daytime Emmy Awards"! Maybe at a resort in Marrakesh but not on the Red Carpet.

Pageant Betty: Well well well, it looks like one of Miss USA 2011 Contestants decided to "jump ship", leave the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Telecast and went straight to the Las Vegas Hilton instead! I wonder if her "handler" even knew she was missing? What is with this gown: The garish colors and the feathers on the boobie (sorry for the Kindergarten-speak), the mesh/nude-and-diamante inset...

Athens On a Budget: I get that the Grecian Goddess Look is still very in--I am a big Fan of this, but the dress is a bit of a misstep here. I think it's the "striped" fabrication--why isn't it just gathered and draped like all the other Grecian Goddess dresses? And then the addition of the necklaces, earrings and...is that a "crown"/headband? Oh those Daytime Drama girls love their accessories huney.

Quick, A Steamer: Looks like someone tried to "recreate" that Gucci Spring 2011 "Look of the Season"...and it did not work. This is like "Wet Seal/Contempo Casuals" Does Gucci. And the wrinkling didn't help. Hand-held Steamer anyone?

Runner Up:

Toddlers & Tiaras Red Carpet: Please tell me she is on some SERIOUS medication. Please. Why is she smiling? I guess I give her points for even walking out of the house, getting in a car and doing the Red Carpet. Who thinks of these two VERY different prints and then decides to combine them? Who? My favorite part, though, is THAT "TLC Toddlers & Tiaras" hair-DON'T. Will someone PLEASE stop hairstylists from doing side ringlets?? PLEASE!!!

But The Award Goes To:

My Window Curtains Are Gone: I ABSOLUTELY love this woman. Any person who would have the chutzpah to just go out, in public, to a BIG Red Carpet Event--in THIS Dress--must be a HOOT to be with! This dress is now on my official "Worst Dresses of 2011" List (I just created the list!). It's like she went to Western Costumes and got an old Marie Antoinette costume (or some curtains from a "Period Film") and decided to pair it with an unrelated black dress she had in her closet from 1987. It's either that or there's a new Project Runway copy-cat show filming in LA as we speak and this was the result of one of the unfortunate Challenges.

TRAVELING IN STYLE.....New Hainan Airlines Couture Flight Attendant Uniforms

TRAVELING IN STYLE.....New Hainan Airlines Couture Flight Attendant Uniforms

Welcome to First Class: Model in Paris showing one of the newest looks from Chinese designer Laurence Xu Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017 show which will be part of the new Hainan Airlines uniforms

Last week was the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week where many top fashion houses the likes of Dior, Valentino and Chanel showcased their latest bespoke one-of-a-kind (or sometimes for two, three or four very,very, very rich clients around the world!) couture creations.

Laurence Xu Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017

Shandong China-born, Paris-based designer Laurence Xu also showed his latest Haute Couture offerings last week. His collection, shown at the the ballroom at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand, combined elements of Chinese high glamour with contemporary stylings. 

But it wasn't his collection that made news, it was the news that he was picked to design the latest uniforms for Hainan Airlines, People's Republic of China's largest civilian-run airline and 4th largest in terms of its fleet size. Xu showed several of these Hainan Airlines uniforms designs as part of his Haute Couture collection. 

 Suited Cheongsam Glamour--Hainan Airlines Laurence Xu Haute Couture uniforms

Capelet Chic: Flight attendant Couture from Laurence Xu-designed Haiana Airlines uniforms shown at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Normally these designs would probably cost in the high thousands (normally a true Haute Couture suit--from the likes of French fashion houses of Christian Dior or Chanel--could set a client back about $50,000 while an evening gown, $100,000), but since these will go into mass production for many flight attendants and airline staff, one assumes these will actually not be true Haute Couture--even though their origins were.

Coffee, Tea, or COUTURE: New uniforms for Hainan Airlines from Laurence Xu Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017/2018

The uniforms that were showcased combine elements of classical, Far East aesthetics and the silhouette of a modern Western suit. Styles included the traditional Cheongsam Chinese dress, featuring 3/4-length sleeves, a print of clouds, skies and birds, as well as a knee-length curved hem. The curving style lines were also seen in the front part of the dress. 

The new Hainan Airlines Laurence Xu Haute Couture-designed flight attendant uniforms will also have a fabulously chic capelet coat that is reversible--gray on one side, raspberry colored on the other (Photo above).

There is also what is probably one of the most stylish aprons I have EVER seen on a flight attendant in the design of the  side-wrap draped look (model in the center, photo above). 

The men don't look too shabby either in their Nehru-collar-like suits and double breasted VERY wide lapeled coats (SOOO 80's/90's Retro!).

According to the press release, Hainan Airlines and the designer Laurence Xu began discussing the designs over two years ago, eventually going through more than 1,000 designs and more than one hundred samples of garments and accessories (yikes!). I love these designs, and especially like the mix of contemporary design with traditional Chinese styling. I also like the curved mini hats. 

Flight Attendant Best Dressed--Which one wins the Best Dressed Flight Attendant? (L to R) Gianfranco Ferre designed Korean Air uniform, Emirates Airline uniforms created by UK uniform manufacturer Simon Jersey, and the new Laurence Xu-designed uniforms for Hainan Airlines

I can't wait for a going-through-security FASHION RUNWAY UNIFORM airport terminal catwalk contest the next time I see those very chic Gianfranco Ferre-designed Korean Air or Emirates Airline  Simon Jersey-designed flight attendant's uniforms confronted by Hainan Airlines COUTURE. I hope I am there ready with my iPhone to get some photos!

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK / PODSUMOWANIE / THE BEST OF

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK / PODSUMOWANIE / THE BEST OF

 

 Alexander Wang

Kolekcja, jak na tego projektanta przystało, inspirowana street stylem. Pokuszę się o określenie młodzieżowa. Mamy bluzki oraz czapki z szalonymi napisami. Sukienki, płaszcze na których wycięto wzór...liścia marihuany. Przeważają kuse spódniczki zestawione z  zabudowaną górą.

Collection, as before, inspired by street style. Kinda youth. We have blouses and caps with funny inscriptions. Dresses and coats with… marihuana pattern. What prevail? Sexy skirts with classy jackets.

 

Marc Jacobs

Mroczne królowe, a wśród nich sama Lady Gaga. Brzmi nieźle, prawda? Projektant postawił na wiktoriańskie klimaty. Długie czarne suknie i buty na niebotycznie wysokich  platformach. Do tego koronki, popartowe printy, patchwork. No i oczywiście nieśmiertelne grochy, z których znany jest Jacobs. 

Dark queens and Lady Gaga between them. Sounds good, doesn’t it? The designer created a Victorian atmosphere. Black, maxi dresess and foot-high platforms. Lace, popart prints, patchwork. Oh and polka dots, of course. It’s Marc Jacobs fall 2016 collection mix.

 

Calvin Klein

Prostota sama w sobie. Niekiedy pojawiała się kratka. Dużo było rozmytych wzorów na kształt panterki. Królowały piżamowe garnitury. Pojawiło się też wiele luźnych fasonów. Projektant po raz kolejny postawił na minimalizm. Kolekcja na jesień/zimę może wydawać się ascetyczna w porównaniu do poprzedniej.

Just simple. Sometimes we could see a grill. There was a lot of fuzzy patterns which looked like panther. But it wasn’t totally panther. Pajama suits rocked the runway. Many loose cuts showed up. Designer once again put on minimalism. New collection is a bit ascetic.

Michael Kors

Uwielbiam! Stylowy miszmasz. Wszystkiego po trochu, czyli srebro, futra, krata, beże. Muszę przyznać, że do tej pory do pokazów Michaela Korsa podchodziłam z dystansem. Wizja kobiety lansowanej przez tą markę, czyli zabieganej podróżniczki noszącej wygodne ubrania w stonowanej kolorystyce, niezbyt mi odpowiadała. Jakież było moje zaskoczenie kiedy na wybiegu pojawiały się kreacje w moim stylu, kobiece, ale zestawione kontrastowo. 

One of my favourits. Stylish mishmash. A bit of everything like: silver, fur, grill, beige. I must admit that till now I had a distance to Michael Kors. I didn’t like the vision of women traveling around the world in a comfortable clothes. I was shocked when I saw firsts looks. “It’s totally me”, I thought. Feminine and contrast.

 

 

Oscar de la Renta

Kobieca elegancja. Peter Copping doskonale rozumie dna domu mody. Oglądając pokaz można odnieść wrażenie, że sam wielki pan de la Renta czuwał nad wszystkimi kreacjami. Pastelowe sukienki oraz ciemniejsze suknie zdominowały najnowszą kolekcje. Delikatnie i królewsko. Ubrania godne samej Grace Kelly.

Feminine elegance. Peter Copping knows exactly how to show the Oscar de la Renta dna. Watching a fashion show was for me like get back to mrs. de la Renta times. Pastel and dark dresses dominated the new collection. Gently and royal. I can picture Grace Kelly wearing this clothes.

 

DKNY

Przerysowane formy ubierające bardziej duszę niż ciało. Kolekcja w typowo nowojorskim stylu. Trochę jak u Wanga, ale nie tak bardzo prowokacyjnie. Mamy tu również zalążki trendu na bluzki z wiązaniem na dekolcie. Co ciekawe na finał modelki ubrano w obszerne bluzy z napisem „Dazed kids New York”, „Designers know nothing yet”.

Exaggerated cuts dressing our souls. Clothes in a typical, New York style. A bit like Wangs collection but less provocatively. We can find here some pieces of new trends. What’s interesting in the final models were wearing  blouses with inscriptions like „Dazed kids New York”, „Designers know nothing yet”.

 

Jeremy Scott

 Kicz, o którym wszyscy marzymy. Kolekcja która nawiązuje do odbywających się w Ameryce wyborów. Jeremy po raz kolejny sięgnął pomocne kolory i szalone printy. Modelki przechadzały się po wybiegu ubrane w kuse spódnice, obcisłe sukienki oraz… kalosze.

We are all dreaming about this daub. Collection is a reference to the election in America. Jeremy once again used very strong colors and crazy prints. Models on a runway were wearing scanty skirts, tight-fitting dresses and… wellies.

 

 

 

Ralph Lauren

Konsekwencja się opłaca. Ralph Lauren kojarzy nam się z nieco biurowym szykiem, okraszonym odrobiną dzikiego zachodu. Projektant  postawił na to i w tym sezonie. Kolory i fasony ubrań idealne dla miejskich IndianekJ  Trochę wzorów i blink blink na koniec. Jednak to wciąż pozostaje w obrębie estetyki Ralpha Laurena.

 Consequence is worthy. We All know Ralph Lauren for Office chic mixed with a bit of western climats. This time it was no different. Colors and clothing styles are perfect for Indians leaving in a cityJ A bit of patterns and blink blink at the end. But it’s still Ralph Lauren.

 

Marchesa

Większość dziewczynek marzy o byciu księżniczką chociaż przez jeden dzień. Są na to dwa sposoby: poślubić księcia lub nabyć suknię Marchesa. Ok, ok do tego też potrzeba księcia. A przynajmniej klucza do jego skarbca. Jeśli chodzi o kolekcję na nowy sezon, to standardowo pojawiły się kwiatowe motywy, błysk i glamour w pelnej krasie. Nic dziwnego, że wiele sław wybrało ubrania tego domu mody na czerwony dywan.

Most of Little girls is dreaming of being a princess. There are to ways to do this: you can marry prince or buy Marchesa dress. Ok, ok to buy this you still need prince or… his money. About new collection. As usual: flower motives, sparkle and glamour. There is nothing weird about stars picking Marchesa dresses on the red carpet.

 

 

 

 

BONUS

Fenty x Puma

Tak to jest z tymi współpracami gwiazd i z tym ich „projektowaniem”. Nikt do końca nie wie na jakiej zasadzie się to odbywa. Skoro Rihanna oddała tzw. ukłon na końcu pokazu, to zakładam, że miała znaczny wpływ na proces powstawania kolekcji. Wolałabym jednak się mylić. Ubrania zaprezentowane na wybiegu są po prostu nudne i nieprzemyślane. Gdzieś mamy cięcie, potem nagle pojawia się zwyczajna bluza. Tym, co było dobre, a właściwie najlepsze są detale które odwracają uwagę od ubrań. Make up jest rewelacyjny. Fryzury kreatywne. Akcesoria bardzo w stylu Rihanny.

This is how it is with this collaborations. No one knows how is this actually happening. What is going on with this “design” by famous people. If Rihanna took her bow at the end of the show, I think she had an impact on her collection. But I’m still hoping that not… This clothes are just boring and chaotic. There are cut clothes and normal blouse from nowhere. Lets focus on a good stuffs. Thera are some really good details. Like make up or hairstyles. This what I expected from Rihanna.

 

Photo credit: vogue.com