PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 10 "Sally Beauty Makeovers" Challenge Blog Recap!

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 10 "Sally Beauty Makeovers" Challenge Blog Recap!

 The Swapnil-Tim Standoff: Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

This week on Lifetime's Season 14 "Project Runway", the remaining six designers had to do the Sally Beauty Challenge: To Makeover a "Project Runway" crew member and take them from Workday Ordinary to Runway Extraordinary...

Designers receiving their "Sally Beauty" Challenge--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Crew Makeover Victims...I mean, Subjects--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

I Love Me Some Ashleigh: Ashleigh Hocking is the Talent Manager of "Project Runway" and it was wonderful seeing her in this episode--she was also our Talent Manager on "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" a year and a half ago and I have very fond memories of working with her (probably one of the fondest, from doing that show!). She took care of the Mentors--myself, Anya Ayoung-Chee, Mondo Guerra, as well as the judges and any of the Special Guest Judges. Ashleigh knows A LOT of dirt about handling all them Diva Judges...as well as handling us ;)



It was a DOOZY of an episode for so many reasons including contestant/designer Ashley Nell Tipton crying AGAIN...

Crying Ashley--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Swapnil Shinde taking his smoke breaks AGAIN... 

Swapnil Cigs--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

I Want Sleeves...And I Hate Everything That You Are Designing For Me--Swapnil's "Project Runway" Crew Client, Jennifer Cohen--Season 14 "project Runway" Episode 10

That's a Bunch of Bullsh*t: Tim Gunn on Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

But more importantly--and what everyone is talking about--Tim Gunn reaching his "I've Had It!" Moment with Swapnil and well...saying a bunch of expletives you wouldn't normally associate with the usually even-keeled Tim Gunn. Check out contestant/designer Edmond Newton's reaction:

Oh No He Didn't: Edmond Newton--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Happy Judges:  (L to R) Constance Zimmer, Shiri Appleby from Lifetime's UnReal TV show, Marie Claire's Nina Garcia, Zac Posen, Heidi Klum--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

The Good:

Merline Labissiere: Merline's design of a vest, top and side slit skirt for Camera Assistant Katie Harris was Punk Fab! One of the most impacting Makeovers for sure (although I know we all wished she would have tacked back that facing!)-well done

Kelly Dempsey: Kelly's design of faux leather overalls and knit/jersey tank for Talent Manager Ashleigh Hocking was deemed the best of the bunch this week. I thought so as well.

Not-So Cute:

Ashley Nell Tipton: Ashley, who considers herself a Plus Size Designer Extraordinaire, didn't do herself any favors--in terms of her own PR and Marketing--with this design. She should have been able to do this with her eyes closed--after all, her client Nicole Plascencia--a Challenge Assistant-- was (barely) a plus size so...What Gives Ashley? It was a #Fail

Crying Again!: Oh and yes, naturally, Ashley was crying--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Candice Cuoco: Candice created this very Hoochie-licious and low-taste level, puckering pleather outfit for her client, Model Wrangler Monique. The judges thought she looked like a "Lady of the Night". You'll have to read my Recap HERE to find out what I thought.

Swapnil Shinde: But, the worst--according to the judges--was Swapnil's "Caped Crusader" design for Production Coordinator Jennifer Cohen. This was his THIRD design. Jen was not a happy--or an easy client. But Swapnil (according to the show's editing) was seen as having wasted a lot of his time and was seen as not being accommodating to his client. In the end, while he was able to give her sleeve, the rest of the outfit...was a bit of an "Oh Dear!", especially this:

Knotted and Pinned--The back of Swapnil's top--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Bye Bye Swapnil..See you on Season 6 of "Project Runway All Stars"

Now...here's is my Recap of this week's episode:

Season 14, Episode 10: Workday to Runway

Ashley crying again? Check. Swapnil taking smoke
breaks? Check. Puckering pleather from Candice?Check. Tim cursing
several expletives? Oh dear! This episode had it all, and then some.
Lots to discuss…

The designers meet up on the
runway stage where Heidi saunters in, asking them if they have enjoyed
“getting to know all of us…and I mean ALL OF US” (as the camera pans to
the crew). Cut to Tim in the workroom, along with Sally Beauty
Consultant Liddy Bisanz and Gregory Patterson, chief hair stylist for
Sally Beauty. They are all there to announce the Sally Beauty Challenge:
Makeover a “Project Runway” crew member and take them from “workday
ordinary to runway extraordinary.”

The remaining
six designers are coupled with their makeover victims, I mean,
subjects. The pairings are as follows: Katie (camera assistant) and
Merline, Desiree (sound mixer) and Edmond, Jennifer (production
coordinator) and Swapnil, Nicole (challenge assistant) and Ashley,
Monique (model wrangler) and Candice, and Ashleigh (talent manager) and
Kelly. I was especially excited to see Ashleigh as one of the makeover
clients. She was our talent manager on "Under The Gunn” and working with
her was truly one of the highlights of filming UTG.

After
a brief consultation with their crew member clients, we get tidbits of
what they like: Katie (Merline’s client) describes her personal style as
“fun and flirty,” but is a bit worried that Merline...



To Continue Reading my Recap, Click HERE on the MyLifetime.com "Project Runway" Blog!

Project Runway Recaps: Last night's "Finale Part 1" Episode--Sugar Daddies, Rachel Zoe, Clunky Shoes and Bad Wigs

Project Runway Recaps: Last night's "Finale Part 1" Episode--Sugar Daddies, Rachel Zoe, Clunky Shoes and Bad Wigs

Final Four...Still

We're almost at the end, kiddies. This week's Project Runway Season 10 episode, entitled "Finale, Part 1", dealt with the top four finalists of this season--Dmitry Sholokhov, Fabio Costa, Melissa Fleis and Christopher Palu--getting their so-called "Final Challenge" (so-called because you never know if next week will bring a "Twist" and maybe yet another final-final challenge)--which is to design their Mercedes-Benz NY Spring 2013 Fashion Week mini-collection with $9,000 and five weeks. In case you guys wonder what happens to those collections, the designer's don't even own them; the show does. And then they go up for auction. So, you could buy your collection back, I guess (if you are one of the designers). Anyhow, several things stood out from this episode, and I wish I could say that the outstanding clothes was one of those things, but sadly, they were not. As always, I will finish this blog with my Recap...



Let's Begin With:

Who Are Dmitry and Fabio's Sugar Daddy? Seriously. The designers went "home" , yet for two of the designers--Dmitry and Fabio--they admitted to Tim (when he visited) that they were "using" their "friend's places" while designing their collections (and I'm assuming to live there as well). Needless to say, these places were FAB-u-LOUS! From the looks of it, Dmitry and Fabio do not need the $100,000 prize money and should just ask these friends for "loans"--or make them their "Business Associates".

First, Tim checks in on Fabio--who is in a MASSIVE (for New York City standards) Manhattan loft/apartment where he is working on his pastel colored "Cosmic Tribalism" collection. Even Tim notes on the size and niceness of the place.

Then, he's off to Jersey City, New Jersey where again, another designer--Dmitry--says a "friend" lent him this fabulously appointed place to make his collection.

Tim also goes to Massapequa, NY--this time to check in on Christopher Paul where he lives (I think) with his mom and dad.  I've dubbed Palu the "Golden Boy" of the season and he's also the "Taylor Swift" of the season, in that EVERY SINGLE TIME he wins, he does this "Awe shucks, really? Me??" By the third time, it got a little schticky. He's still cute though.

To finish his Season 10 Home Visits Tour, Tim Gunn heads West, to San Francisco to see Melissa. He checks on her collection, meets the family and takes a boat ride. If it was me, I would've taken him to a Leather Bar in the Castro. Just sayin'.



Three Looks, Zero Styling...

After five weeks, the designers return to NYC to face the judges and show three of their "best" looks, to see who really will continue on to Lincoln Center. No guest judges this time (like in Season 9), just Nina, Michael and Heidi:

They all have positives and negatives to say but in general, they all feel that some styling help is very much needed. Dmitry, Fabio, Christopher AND Melissa all had styling issues--whether it was a too-clunky shoe, bad wigs, hoochie ensembles...it was a big letdown.

I'm really wondering if next week, Rachel Zoe is coming in for a quick "intervention" prior to the Finale Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week. But then, I realized "wait, she's on another network...that ain't happening!". So, let's go through the TOP FOUR Finalists' designs:



Christopher Palu:

I really like Christopher (I don't know him personally but I mean his designs)--and I think what he showed was SO Junior Department. I mean Forever 21 ALREADY has this in their stores. It's not a bad thing unless you're trying to show innovative, break-through, heart-pumping FASHION (with a Capital "F").

Christopher Palu or Forever 21?

A chiffon v-neck tank and leather shorts. Seriously?  No wonder the judges were frustrated. I was too.



Dmitry Sholokhov:

Dmitry showed very elegant, chic pieces. The ivory sheath dress with sheer panels was superb and I liked the jacket on the right but...

This ensemble was a mess. Those pants are SWIMMING on the model. About two sizes too big. If you are going to do loose/slouchy, do it. But this is a bad fit. And together with the sheer top and bra...Ayyy Dios Mio! Rachel Zoe: Dmitry needs you.



Fabio Costa:

 A) I liked the color splashes here and there (you know I LOVE me some color!).

B) I liked this uniquely draped dress and the necklace was sooo Italian Gallery Owner Diva, but...yeah, those wigs. At first, they were pretty cool, kinda Haider Ackermann-meets-Tilda Swinton but I can understand why Michael Kors felt that they were a bit distracting. Speaking of distracting:

Those shoes!! Grey lace-up booties for Spring 2013. Not sure. And with a loosely draped easy-breezy Summer side-cowl dress? Not so muchey.



Melissa Fleis:

Melissa's three looks were a big disappointment. Hot shorts again (like Christopher). This time, shown with a scoop-cut-out knit sweater top. And a BAD wig. Then, there was this cropped jacket with an oversized collar and cuffs. CUT those cuffs off. Please. And the slouchy drop-crotch pants. Cute on skinny gay boys. Not so much on the model.

Oh, yes, she also did a dress. That a girl can already find at your local Macy's. I am sure. Now, about those wigs: PLEASE Melissa, I really hope you rethink this...

Oh Wait! She did!! (Yeayyy!!) Above is a photo from Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week and one of the looks from Melissa's finale collection. And it looks like she also got rid of them "Fashion School Student 101" oversized cuffs...and re-did the pants as well. Thank Goodness.



And now---here's my Recap---Enjoy!! And don't forget to leave me YOUR comments on the MyLifetime.com site--right after my blog:

Calling All Stylists!

Well kids, we're heading to the end of Season 10 of "Project Runway"
and I learned several things from this penultimate "Finale Part 1"
episode. For one, most of these kids (save Melissa) do not have a place
to call home or their own place to work. Secondly, I learned that a
stylist is a very important job and someone ALL these designers needed. I
also think that this pre-finale episode is in serious need of a reboot.
Wondering what I mean about that? Keep reading...



Don't Be Safe

Last week we saw the end of Sonjia, with her table-napkin-meets-bad-figure-skating-costume design. As I argued in my last recap,
there was nothing avant-garde about her design, nor the designs of most
of the other four. (Note to producers: Maybe it's time to re-name that
particular challenge). I also discussed my annoyance at seeing very safe
looks from all these designers. I think I am echoing what Tim, Nina,
Heidi and Michael feel EVERY episode. It goes without saying that I
think "safe" just doesn't cut it, especially at this stage. Need I
remind you? DO NOT BORE NINA. So now we are down to the top four.



Congrats! You're The Top Four

Our dear Heidi congratulates the designers for making it this far and
tells them that they will each be given $9,000 and five weeks to create a
mini-collection for Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week. That's the good
news. The not-so-good news is that NOT everyone is guaranteed a spot in
Fashion Week. Or so she says. As an avid viewer/fan/former
contestant/perpetual recapper of the show, I've heard this song from
Heidi before. Can anyone say "Season 9"? But oh well, we'll stick to the
script, Miss Heidi.



Massapequa X-ray

Four weeks later and Tim Gunn is off to visit the designers. No trips to Trinidad and Tobago (Anya) or Hawaii (Andy South) this time around. So...



Click HERE to continue reading my entire recap.