PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 13 Pre-Finale Episode Photo Blog Recap!

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 13 Pre-Finale Episode Photo Blog Recap!

In this week's Part 1 Finale Episode of Lifetime Network's "Season 14 "Project Runway" , the episode began with the "Will Tim Use His 'Tim Save'" on Edmond, who was eliminated...And naturally, just as I (along with most of the viewers and fans) predicted...

And The Best Acting Award Goes To: Tim used his "Tim Save"...but before he did, Tim did his best to get an Emmy for Outstanding Acting in a Reality Show, dragging it out as long as possible and looking quite emotional and perturbed...until he announced that he would indeed use his Save.



Heidi announced to the Final Four that they would have 7 weeks and be given $9,000 to create a ten look collection. So, up first were the Tim Visits. First up, Tim flew to San Diego to visit Ashley where he ended up...

Donning an apron and making tortillas--Tim Gunn with designer Ashley Nell Tipton's family, in the kitchen, making tortillas--Episode 13 Season 14 "Project Runway"

Then, he went to San Francisco to check in on Candice:

A Cold, Fogged-in Beach: Not sure why Candice--or the producers--chose a cold fogged-in beach as the backdrop for the meeting with Candice and her children and mom--especially with so many other gorgeous sights in San Francisco. Who knows??



Next, he visited Kelly in Massachusetts and naturally she took him to the DELI!!!

Kelly From the Deli: The owner of "Bob's Italian food" Deli, where Kelly worked--presents Tim with his very own Big "Gunn" Milanese Sandwich--Episode 13 Season 14 "Project Runway"



Finally, Tim heads to Atlanta to visit Edmond:

The Smallest Restaurant Booth EVER: Tim Gunn with Edmond and his family--Episode 13 Season 14 "Project Runway"

Welcome Back Designers: After they returned from making their collections, Tim gave them one final "twist": They had to present a 3-Look preview to Nina, Heidi and Zac and one of those looks had to be new (as opposed to one of the ones they made back at home)...



The results were mixed...

Edmond Newton: Not cohesive, one too many ruffles and not enough SEX! I just wanted to rip that gathered ruffle off that black gown! Oh and that bow on the other one as well

Candice Cuoco: Witchy Asiana. The judges hated the hat (me too!) and that printed red outfit. The latter one looked dated and what was up with those Fashion School 101 Basic Bustiers? I did like that lace and leather coat though.

Kelly Dempsey: Her "Studio 54 Meets new Age" grouping was fun but the judges thought it wasn't luxurious enough. They were right. One could find these things at H & M...or a "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" revival!

Ashley Nell Tipton: Ashley's "Mexico City in the 1950's"-inspired Plus Size looks were universally liked. The judges just complained about her construction and fit. Just from looking at their 3-Look Previews, Ashley's was the strongest.



We will see who prevails next week and wins Season 14 "Project Runway"...Until then, here's my complete RECAP for this Part 1 Finale Episode:

Season 14, Episode 13: And Then There Were Four...Again

Last week's episode ended with a "to save or not to
save Edmond" silence. I, along with anyone else watching it with a
pulse, guessed correctly what was going to happen. This episode had the
designers going home to create their collections, the much anticipated
Tim visits, a freezing beach (in San Francisco?!), a tortilla making
party, and the most cramped restaurant booth known to man. And then
there was the collection preview judging that didn’t go so well. Lots to
discuss.

We begin with Edmond waiting for his
goodbye hug from Tim. We all knew what was going to happen, but Mr. Gunn
did some of his best acting to date in an attempt to heighten the
emotional drama in the room and drag out the moment as long as he could.
Tim saves Edmond and all four are going to NY Fashion Week. They all
meet up back at the runway stage where Heidi tells them that they have
seven weeks and are getting $9,000 to create a 10-piece collection back
at home. Heidi also makes a point to advise Ashley to consider creating a
plus size collection, something she’s wanted to do all along. 

Five
weeks later and Tim visits the designers in their homes, otherwise
known as "time for Tim to rack up his frequent flyer mileage points." He
begins in San Diego with Ashley...

To Continue Reading, Click HERE on the myLifetime.com "Project Runway" Blog

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

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 11 Avant-garde Challenge Blog Recap!

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 11 Avant-garde Challenge Blog Recap!

 Is This Avant-garde: Season 11 "Project Runway" Episode 11 "Avant-garde Challenge"

This past week's challenge on Lifetime Network's Season 14 "Project Runway" was the Avant-garde Challenge. Fans and viewers of the show always look forward to this challenge since, besides the "Unconventional" one, this really shows how creative the designers can be and how their design boundaries can be pushed.

The Bridge Is Your Inspiration: Tim Gunn introduces this season's Avant-garde Challenge overlooking the Queensboro Bridge--Season 14 "Project Runway Episode 11

Iconic NYC bridges were the inspiration...

Brooklyn Bridge

Manhattan Bridge

 Queensboro Bridge

The designers were also to create 3D prints as detail for the Avant-garde designs--using a Cube 3D printer...As a novice of 3D printing and what can be done, I am wowed every time I see the technology up close...

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of hosting a fashion event at the Las Vegas Computer Electronics Show/CES 2015 and saw this wonderful design, the "3D Spider Dress" by Anouk Wipprecht which was created using Intel 3D Printing technology

Back to the so-called Avant-garde Runway...

Not Avant-garde Judging: During the runway critique, the judges were a little confusing with their take on the Avant-garde creations from this season's remaining designers. Most of the designs were NOT Avant-garde and yet, the judges were praising them for how "Pretty" and "Red Carpet Perfect" some were. Excuse me, but I thought this was an Avant-garde Challenge NOT a Red Carpet one...



Now, in case you need a refresher course on WHAT AVANT-GARDE should look like...here's a peak:

Comme Des Garcons by Rei Kawakubo Spring 2016

 (L to R) Commes Des Garcons by Rei Kawakubo Fall 2015, Spring 2015

 (L to R) Viktor & Rolf Haute Couture Spring 2015, Fall 2015

 Gareth Pugh Spring/Summer 2015

Now that you have seen that, we can continue with what was NOT Avant-garde on the runway in this past week's "Project Runway" episode:

 Candice Cuoco: Candice's strapless mermaid-shaped gown was very elegant and pretty, as some of the judges said. And in fact Guest Judge Mel B said she would wear it to an upcoming an event. But it wasn't Avant-garde, so for me it failed at the challenge. But, yes, it was quite Flamenco pretty! I do wonder if this center back panel on the models behind...

Back Ooopsie: Was a last-minute addition since it was probably too tight. I would bet my prized pattern shears on it!

Edmond Newton: Once again, a very pretty design but not really Avant-garde. I liked how he used the "X's" of his Queensboro Bridge inspiration and his 3D prints. But this was Avant-garde Lite.

Kelly Dempsey: Kelly's design was the well deserved winner. So at least the judges got that right! This was certainly the closest thing to an actual Avant-garde design. The geometric shape was jarring yet very reminiscent of the bridges' structure and the front torso straps were a great homage to the spider web-like cables of the Brooklyn Bridge.



The Bottom:

Ashley Nell Tipton: Ashley's "Wonder Woman-Meets-Church Choir" creation had drama, certainly. But A) Not Avant-garde and B) those pants were a mess:

Waaaay Too Tight: rippling that originates from the inseam and crotch/rise is Design School 101 Too Tight Pant Fit

Merline Labissiere: Merline--a student of architecture and one of the only designers this season whose aesthetic leans toward being slightly "avant-garde"--should have had this challenge in the bag. But she was OUT. This was uninspired, not Avant-garde and almost somewhat wearable. Also, as Heidi pointed out, the bottom section was very reminiscent of...

Kini Zamora of Season 13 Avant-garde design (now THAT'S Avant-garde, kids!)

And now, here's my RECAP for this past week's episode--Read all I have to say about the episode and the NOT-SO Avant-garde designs...

Season 14, Episode 11: A Bridge Not Far Enough

''Pretty." "Feminine." "Perfect for a red carpet
event." These were all comments from the judges to some of the creations
that came down the runway in this week's episode. There’s only a
teeny-tiny problem: these SHOULDN’T BE the comments you want to hear
when critiquing an avant-garde challenge. But here we were. This week’s
challenge is always supposed to be a highlight of the “Project Runway”
season, showcasing the limitless level of creativity that the designers
can achieve. Sadly, this wasn't the case. What happened? How did four
out of the five designers get it so avant-garde wrong, and more
importantly, what Kool-Aid were the judges drinking? Time to investigate
and recap.

The episode begins with the top five
designers, Edmond being the only male left. They discuss Swapnil (who
was given the auf last week) and what a shame that he gave up so soon. I
know that there’s a lot of web chatter about Swapnil and whether or not
he was edited to seem unproductive. However, the fact that these
designers are reiterating the “he gave up” narrative, makes me think
that, in fact, it wasn’t editing.

Heidi meets up
with the designers on the runway stage, telling them that for the next
challenge that “they are going to bring some NY landmarks to life…in
3D!” as she puts on a pair of 3D glasses. The designers join Tim at a
location overlooking the Queensboro Bridge to introduce the challenge:
Create an avant-garde design inspired by an iconic NYC bridge. Each
designer gets a bridge: Kelly, who won last week, chooses the Brooklyn
Bridge;,Candice and Merline get the Queensboro, and Edmond and Ashley
are given the Manhattan Bridge...

To continue reading my RECAP, click HERE on the "Project Runway" myLifetime.com Blog