Project Runway Recaps--My Epsiode 9 Recap: "If I See Another Flower I'll SCREAM!"

Project Runway Recaps--My Epsiode 9 Recap: "If I See Another Flower I'll SCREAM!"

Boob Jobs for Mommies, Genitalia Prints, Maxi Pads...and Ven Flower Power!



Let's Recap the Bullet Points of Last Night's Episode...



Maxi Pad Dresses:

Mommy Boob Jobs:

Male and Female Genitalia:

And...Ven Flower Auto Pilot:

Last night's 9th episode of Season 10 Project Runway was like attending a Women's Gynecological Seminar and a Flower Show...all at once! There were Maxi-pads, women's genitalia references, as well as mentions of boob jobs. And then there were those "Ven flowers" and Miss Heidi Klum's "If you do that again, I will SCREAM!" warning. The challenge for the episode was to create a print using the HP/Intel Touchsmart desktop and technology and design a runway look all while being inspired by their "cultural heritage". In a touching moment, the designers' loved ones--mommies, a sister, a best friend and a partner--were brought in to help them with their print designs. There's lots to highlight before I go into my Recap:




First, Gunnar...oh little Gunnar...

Season 10 contestant/designer Gunnar Deatherage was reunited with his GORGEOUS mommy--whom I actually met back at the Chicago Castings when I was there to film some fun behind-the-scenes segments for LookTV and YouTube. I remember her waiting outside the "Judge's Anti-chamber" all nervous as her son was in there. Anyhow, in the beginning of the episode, Gunnar said that he wanted to win the show so he could  

A) Buy himself a new pair of boots, and 

B) Buy his mommy a boob job.

If you want to know what my response was to that...you're going to have to keep reading at the end of this blog...



Now, let's get to the Runway:

It was nice to see Season 9 Winner Anya Ayoung Chee and Season 8 Designer and Season 1 All Stars Winner Mondo Guerra as the Guest Judges for last night's episode. I was a guest judge back in the 6th Season of Project Runway and I was very honored, but I do remember how the designers who were standing in front of us as we were judging, were rolling their eyes and sort of thinking "Who are YOU to judge me?" and I saw THE SAME thing in last night's episode. It was nice to see that it wasn't just me. Oh, and I thought both Anya and Mondo did a fantastic job by the way (and OMG! I LOVE Anya's ring! So fab!).



My Fave Design Was:

Melissa Fleis: Melissa was inspired by blood lines and a family tree which helped her create a red and white print which was very Resort and chic. The sheath dress was perfect! It fit perfectly, the length was just right, the print was great...I thought she should have won, being that IT WAS A PRINT CHALLENGE! Hello! I do understand that perhaps this dress was something one could see at a better department store right now. But, so what? Great job Melissa.



I also loved...

Fabio Costa: his design was very modern, very Tilda Swinton...the styling was SPOT ON. Fabio has a very European/NYC design sensibility and you can tell that design-wise, he is YEARS beyond someone like little Gunnar, (bless his heart). He just hid his print unfortunately with the black organza (same thing Christopher did) and only used it as a "secondary fabric". Oh and about that print: he said it was based on male and female genitalia. It's like "abstract Adam and Eve", I guess. Oh Fabio, you naaaastyyyyy! But, that's OK with me. I also liked...

Sonjia Williams: LOVED those pants. Perfectly mitered at the crotch and center back (the prints match, darlings), tailored and a fun print. Oh and that black cowl-back top: super. But the actual winner was...

Dmitry Sholokhov: The judges loved his jacket and were very effusive over its design and construction. But I was with Mondo on this one: It's NOT A JACKET Challenge. It's a PRINT Challenge. And to be honest, the top underneath--in the print--was not so revolutionary. Also, when you see the look above, it screams 2002, doesn't it? At least to me. But Congrats Dmitry for your first win. Finally!



Ven, Dear Flower Power-and-Maxi-Pad Ven...

Ven Budhu: I liked his one-shoulder dress. It was muy elegante and very Uptown Doyenne. But yes, that darn pleated rose thing! AGAIN. After seeing his NY Fashion Week Collection last Friday at Lincoln Center (he was one of the eight Season 10 Designers who showed and it was ALL about his pleated rose!), now I'm beginning to think he's just stubborn and wants to keep giving an "F You" to the judges. Who knows...

 Season 10 designer Ven Budhu, a Maxi-Pad Dress and Tim Gunn

This was his second dress after Tim Gunn called his fan-pleated detail on the first dress (above on form) something that reminded him of a Maxi pad. Oh Lordy. 



Now the Lowest Vote Getter...

Gunnar Deatherage: Gunnar designed a print--with hands outstretched trying to grab a bird--based on the bullying he has endured throughout his childhood and high school years. The minute the episode focused so much on all of this, I knew he was GONE. He said his design was "Equestrian" but the judges were not so complimentary when it came to his design.



PS: This is Chic Equestrian...

Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco for Gucci--unfortunately his design was closer to...

An ad for Chico's. Enough said.

Here's my Recap for this week's Project Runway Episode:

If It's Another Flower I Will Scream!

It's the halfway mark of Season 10 of
"Project Runway." We began with 16 designers and now, we're down to 8.
Last week's Team Challenge was "The Boris and Natasha Show"
as I called it in my last blog recap. It was all about Dmitry and Elena
and their bickering and hate-talking which dominated the entire
episode. The fashions were mostly a yawn except for Sonjia's winning
Armani Prive-esque jacket and Christopher's asymmetrical camel coat, so
of course, the episode concentrated on the bitchy drama. What should the
next challenge bring? Well, let's find out...



Pay Your Bills. .. Before Getting Mommie a Boob Job

As the episode begins, there's a little confessional scene from
Gunnar saying that he wishes he'll win so he can buy himself a pair of
boots and his mom, a boob job. OK huney, that's cute for TV and will
guarantee you get some camera time (Gunnar, you just made the producers
and editors have an editorial orgasm!), but it's not so cute in real
life. Here's some advice: those two things might not be your top
priorities when someone hands you a $100,000. Maybe paying your college
loans, bills, setting up a design studio ... those might be your
priorities. Oh these kids, they slay me ... AGAIN!



Addicted to Heidi

Heidi in a very mini, strapless black dress (a la Robert Palmer Girl)
—l; walks in, warning the remaining designers that they all need to
step it up and "wow" her. Umm, HELLO! Amen Sister. This is not the first
time she's said this to this group. I wonder why? I’ve been saying
throughout this season that the fashions have been rather unmemorable.
It looks as if the theme is "Make it Safe". But when it comes to
"characters," Season 10 has it in spades. Which is better? Well, talk
amongst yourselves on that one because I would rather discuss this
week's challenge and fashions.



HP Haute

Tim Gunn is in the Parsons Workroom with Season 8 Finalist and All
Stars Season 1 Winner Mondo Guerra. They are there to introduce the HP
Print Challenge (Yeayyy, one of my favorites!): Create a textile design
and a modern runway look inspired by your cultural heritage...



To read the rest...CLICK HERE--and as always, PLEASE leave me YOUR "Two Cents" and comments!!!

Project Runway Recaps: Episode 6 --"You Ain't No Waif Yourself"!

Project Runway Recaps: Episode 6 --"You Ain't No Waif Yourself"!

Villain Ven, a Brawny Paper Towel (Wo)man, Hoochie Momma's and My Recap:



Oh Ven!

Posterboy for Plus Size Bashing? Project Runway Season 10 designer/contestant Ven Budhu

Villain Ven: Last night's Project Runway episode was about designers working with "real people"--as opposed to size 0 six foot tall Super-humans known as models. It was the "L'Oreal Hair Challenge of Making Over a Friend" Challenge. The ten remaining designers got ten women of varying sizes and it was their job to create a new stylish look for them. Ven Budhu, who up to now has been a top favorite because of his consistent, elegant styles and Haute Couture aesthetic, suddenly became the most hated contestant of Season 10. I, for one, was one of his "cheerleaders"...

Terri (left in her Ven Budhu Cocktail-meets-work design) and her designer, Ven with Terri's friend Theo, on the right photo

But that was all thrown out the door last night. Not because he created something majorly ugly, but because he was a disrespecting human being--toward his lovely client, a woman named Terri. Throughout the episode, he said some doozies like he was "shocked and disappointed" that he had to work with a real person and not a model, and that his client has no fashion sense and isn't fashion forward--I could go on and on...

Take That Ven!

It was so disgusting that at one point, I almost threw my carb-filled Fettuccine Alfredo dinner at him for saying all those nasty thing about--and to--his beautiful client Terri--but I didn't want to ruin my perfectly good flat-screen TV. What. Is. Ven's. Problem? And like I say in my Lifetime.com Recap--I was so surprised NO ONE--his client or her good friend who enlisted her for this Makeover--went right back at him with a "You AIN'T no WAIF yourself Ven!".

Big Is Beautiful

Important Bullet-points for Ven:

* Non-Size 4 Women Are BEAUTIFUL too!

* The Average Size of the American Woman is a 14

* Good Luck having a Fashion Business without MAJORLY apologizing to all these women

and finally

* Wouldn't it be nice to Google your name and see your fabulous fashions first...as opposed to your photo as a "Plus Size Basher"?



Moving on...let's get to some of the FUN parts of last night's Episode:

Guest Judge British fashion designer Alice Tamperley, whose client includes Catherine, Ducchess of Windsor (wearing one of her Temperley London designs at the London premiere of "War Horse"--The designer didn't know what "Hoochie Momma" meant (until Michael Kors translated it into UK-speak and said "a Tart"--in case you still don't understand Ms. Temperley...



This is HOOCHIE:

This Is Not:

Dmitry and his client Angela: Dmitry Sholokhov's look for his client was directional, very NYC, Fashion Dominatrix--It was one of the Top Looks from the episode. I loved this look. I only wished that it would have been longer--right above the knee or to-the-knee would have been perfect! But a good job Dmitry (and his HOT client Angela).

Gunnar and his client, Kim: First off, congrats to Gunnar Deatharage for NOT being a Ven Size-ist and complaining about how "big" your client was. I have to admit that I would have expected that behavior from you (you have been that Bit*** Queen "character" this season huney!) but...you were a PERFECT Gentleman. Your momma done taught you right! Now, back to Kim--she was Fabulous and Fierce on the Runway. Whatever she's drinkin'...I want SOME!!!



Brawny Girl Winner:

Before: designer Fabio Costa's client Ko-Rely (above) and her plaid non-sexually threatening plaid shirt

Ko-Rely's Muse (above)--The Brawny Paper Towel Man

After: Fabio won this "Make Over My Friend" Challenge for his original color-blocked dress for his formerly known as "Brawny Paper Towel Girl" Ko-Rely--she looked great (sans the belt)

The Hoochie Momma's:

Sonija William's twisted knot dress for her client was a little too short and the judges really didn't like it. I was surprised Alicia Hardesty's very, very tacky design--a pink taffeta badly-fitting WAAAY too short dress--did not end up at the bottom. She was VERY VERY lucky because for me, this was WORSE than who actually got the boot:

Nathan Paul's royal blue and black dress for his client--Liana who sings pop/R and B--ended up at the bottom for almost the same reasons I think Alicia's dress should have been at the bottom. Liana did look like a tacky club goer at some Vegas nightclub--and the side illusion panels did not help, but...I still think Alicia's might have been worse. 

Which was MORE Hoochie in your eyes?



Here's My Recap :

You Ain't No Waif Yourself

On almost every season of "Project Runway"
there is the "Dress A Real Person Challenge." In past seasons, designers
have had to work with moms, bratty teenagers, and even on my season, we
had to make over our fellow designers. Don't remind me the outcome of
that one. Moving on... It's the challenge that both furthers the
stereotype that (some) fashion designers are body dysmorphic creatures
who worship and idolize the size 0, 6 foot tall, super human creatures
(models), and at the same time, can show that we do care about a "real
size" woman. It's an intelligent designer who can be successful at the
latter, which is of course the most important factor, since most women
are NOT a size 0, 2 or even an 8 for that matter. In actuality the
average american woman is a size 14. So with that in mind, let's start
this week's recap:



I Have Style ... But My Friend Doesn't

Heidi waltzes onto the "Runway" stage and announces that "for your
next challenge, we have some new clients for you." Ten men and women
enter and flank Miss Klum. Before the remaining 10 designers can whisper
in disgust a, "Are we creating something for them?!" Heidi adds, "Well,
these aren't your new clients ... you'll be creating looks for their
FRIENDS." It's the L'Oreal Hair Challenge of Making Over a Friend. OK,
now you can cut to the designers giving looks of "We have to dress REAL
PEOPLE!?" Even Heidi noticed the "Oh no" looks as she tries to remind
the designers that "this might be a lot of fun..." The operative word
here is MIGHT. Even Heidi wasn't buying what she was selling — knowing
there is bound to be designer/client drama. They all head to the Parsons
workroom where Tim awaits with L'Oreal consulting hair stylist Johnny
Lavoy, who will help in creating the friend makeover transformations.



Meet Your Clients

Time to meet each of the designers' "real life clients" who were
(supposedly) chosen for each designer at random: Sonjia gets Amanda, a
sweat pant-loving tomboy who hates to shop. Elena is handed Jenna, who
is "bubbly" and loves color. Christopher gets Kate, who is hoping for a
trendy jacket. Dmitry is paired with Angela who likes chunky jewelry and
contrast. Alicia gets Martina, who wants men to marry her and women to
BE her (at-a-girl!). And finally, Melissa gets Kannace who likes
dresses...



CLICK HERE to read the rest of my Recap--and make sure to let me know YOUR thoughts--on Ven, Hoochie Momma's, and Big Beautiful Women--after the Recap on my BLOG