Project Runway Recaps: Episode 5 "Marie Claire Team Challenge"--My Recap!
One Way Monkey, Silk Chiffonies, Eddie Munster and The Working Woman:
This past Thursday was the newest episode of Project Runway Season 10 so you know what comes after the episodes...my Recaps!
First, let's begin with this gem:
A One Way Monkey is a One Trick Pony...in Belarusian: Dmitry Sholokhov, one of the more talented designers in this season of Project Runway (and one of my favorites from early on, I might add!), mouthed this one liner on last Thursday night's episode of the reality show.
In trying to describe--and diss--fellow contestant Ven Budhu, during his confessional, Dmitry (above) wanted to say that Ven was a "one trick pony" in terms of his repeated silhouettes and style aesthetic--and instead he said "One Way Monkey". One Way Money...One Trick Pony...Potato...PoTATOE...it's all the same. Awww Dmitry, you slay me! PS: I like Ven's "One Way Monkey" style aesthetic! He's one of my top faves of this season as well.
Onto the episode: Separated into two teams, the designers were asked to create a capsule collection for the Working Woman that would then be photographed for the Marie Claire @ Work supplement of the magazine. Nina Garcia--Marie Claire's Fashion Diva--said it had to be both Editorial and work for the "real world".
The teams were "Team Five" (above)--all boys--Christopher, Gunnar, Ven, Nathan and Fabio; and...
"Team Six", which consisted of Alicia, Dmitry, Elena, Melissa, Raul and Sonjia
No one likes to work in teams so they were not happy about that, and is it just me, but throughout this season, there just seems to be a cloud of general unhappiness to begin with. They all seem MISERABLE...and what is up with all the profanities? (and I am by no means a Wash Out Your Mouth With Soap Profanity Grandma!)...
These future designers want to be the next Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Yves Saint Laurent, Ann Demeulemeester...whoever---and build brands, create design companies, open stores...well, I just NEVER saw any of those aforementioned ICONS of the Fashion World shout profanities like these kids on their way to success and fame. I feel as if I am watching "MTV's Real World" and not my little ol' show. Moving on...
The episode also had Raul hoping to create a Reality Show "Bromance" with Cutie Christopher but when Fabio--from Christopher's team, didn't choose him--Raul was left sad that somehow, his Christopher-Raul Bromance was over. Awww, the young gays...
Miss NOT Congeniality Award: Elena tried her best to become the Most Hated Contestant on this season. She fought with just about everyone, got on everyone's nerves--in the workroom and while trying to dictate the Marie Claire @ Work photoshoot. She also called the "Team Five" boys the "Silk Chiffonsies" (or "Chiffonies") calling them out on their love of silk chiffon (I guess I would be in that group too!). She also called Raul "Eddie Munster" (see bottom of this post). I bet Raul is changing that pointy thing on his forehead hairstyle AS WE SPEAK. There's always a Villain on all these types of shows and I think we finally know who the Villain of this season is: Miss Elena.
The Runway: Joanna Coles--Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire (she's also the "Tim Gunn" of Project Runway All Stars)-- was the Guest Judge for this "Design a Working Woman's Collection" Challenge. Now, in case you were wondering what actual successful fashion designers think is Working Woman Clothes, take a look:
Working Woman Fashion
Now, here's what the PR Season 10 contestants did in Thursday night's episode:
Alicia and "General" Elena worked on these two looks. Alicia did the pants (both FAB!) and Elena made the jackets--one Victoriana/Gothic and the other, contemporary and very NOW! Of the two looks, I liked the one on the right better. It seemed more "real world" Working Woman--a young fresh out of college Jr. Assistant at a PR firm or magazine.
I also liked Christopher's printed silk chiffon skirt with black jacket look. It was very H and M cute. One of my faves.
Dmitry of the "One Way Monkey" fame--designed a color-blocked sheath dress that was chic and sexy. Is this something a girl can work in an office? Maybe not, unless that "office" was being the hostess at the hippest new restaurant in the Meatpacking District. But it was a very well made dress.
Ven Meet Dior: Ven's jacket and skirt was gorgeous and Jackie O fab--the jacket reminded me of the iconic "Dior" Bar jacket/suit (seen above from Dior Haute Couture Spring 2012). As Nina would say, it was a bit "referential".
The Top 2 though were Fabio's black and white color-blocked tunic dress and Melissa's royal blue high funnel neck sheath dress. Melissa's won for being very editorial, looking great in photos, and for its bold dramatic color and silhouette. Do you guys think the judges made the right choice? Talk amongst yourselves or leave me your comments on my Lifetime.com Blog HERE.
These above were the Bottom: potty mouth Gunnar (he's one of those that needs his mouth washed with soap) did this dress on the left which did not do anything to make the model's boobies look pretty. Heidi said it was a "deflating souffle" or something to that effect. But it was Raul who was sent home--mainly for his not so cute tops--one of which was this bib-front ruffled blouse that was anything but exciting or creative. If you're going to do a blouse like this, at least twist the ruffles diagonally or a bit askew or something! This blouse looks like it came from the Loehmann's ultra, ultra sale rack.
So it was "Adios" to Raul aka Eddie Munster. His goodbye was less than gracious and well, I had my "Nick Two Cents" thoughts on that plus MUCH MORE on this past episode...so here's my Recap:
Team Miserable
Hello "Project Runway" fans and blog
readers. A new week and a new recap ... and yes, another chance to get
something off my chest. Here we go:
Why is EVERYONE on Season 10 So Miserable?
People are crying left and right, contestants are bolting out in the
middle of night, everyone is OVER-stressed and swearing like drunken
sailors (What. Is. With. All. The Swearing by the way? I feel like I'm
watching Snooki on "The Jersey Shore"). The whole thing is kind of
depressing. Now, granted, it is always easy to remember the good and not
the bad, but I don't recollect the environment back in my season being
so miserable, or my fellow cast mates being so contemptible (Or at least
most of them). We would be in the confessionals cracking jokes, saying
this-and-that (and not in a nasty, spiteful way) and the requisite "I'm
not sure I will be finished on time" comments. On this season, it's been
a cloud of unhappiness and doleful anguish almost every week. And it's
only week five. I'm beginning to understand why Andrea and Kooan did a
"I'm OUTTA here!" without even batting a L'Oreal mascara'ed eyelash.
Design a Working Woman Collection, Direct a Photoshoot, Work on a Team & Go to Mars!
Heidi enters the runway and brings out my Colombian sister from
another Mister, Nina Garcia. Nina announces to the designers that this
is the "Marie Claire Team Challenge" and they must create a capsule
collection for a working woman that is both editorial AND will also work
in the "real world," AND they will work in teams AND they will also
direct a photoshoot of the collection with the winning team being
featured in the Marie Claire @Work supplement of the magazine. Oh, and
did I mention that the winning design will also be launched in the Mars
Rover to be used as an instrument to find proof of water on the planet?
Just kidding. But seriously folks, that is a LOT rolled into one
challenge...
Bromance Ends As Soon As It Begins
The designers begin to choose the members of their teams and Raul is
the Last Man Sitting. He's feeling like a "schoolyard reject" as
Christopher, whom he thought was his new Bromance love, ends up passing
him over for Potty Mouthed Snooki, I mean Gunnar. The final two teams
end up being "Team Five" (5 designers) Nathan, Ven, Christopher, Fabio
and Gunnar, and "Team Six" (6 designers), Sonjia, Elena, Melissa,
Dmitry, Alicia and Raul. During the pre-shopping pow-wow meeting, Raul
(feeling his ego at an all-time low) is confrontational, already
predicting his teammates will throw him under the "Team Challenge Bus."
He also declares that he's "good at making pants" at which point I
almost hear the producers rushing to the "Project Runway Season 10 Wall
of SHAME" and showing proof of just the opposite from last week. Oh
these kids, they SLAY me.
Click HERE to read the rest--and be sure to tell me YOUR thoughts!
Did the right Winner Win? Is Elena AWFUL? Should Gunnar stop swearing? And did you think Raul's Goodbye was classy with a "K"?
