Tag Archives: project runway

Project Runway: Keith Whines His Way Home

Amelia McDonell-ParryAugust 28, 2008 //

Looks We Hated: Joe’s ugly motorcross look; Keith’s bland, ill-fitting, snooze-fest; Stella’s mismatched separates, shockingly devoid of leath-uh.

Last night’s episode of Project Runway featured the much anticipated return of an actually complicated and innovative challenge. The producers may have thought the drag queen episode was a doozy but dressing a bunch of dudes in pleather and feathers is not that mind-bending. On last night’s episode, however, the designers were hauled off to a car warehouse where they were able to pillage Saturn’s warehouses for car parts to use as materials for their next design. This was definitely an opportunity for some of the designers who think they’re super innovative — ahem, Keith, ahem — to finally prove it with something other than swatches of fringe. Not-so-sadly or surprisingly, Keith couldn’t pull it off. And while his was hardly the only piece of crap to walk down the runway, we were pleasantly surprised by many of the designers’ creations. You heard it here first: Leanne is totally the dark horse who is going to win the whole she-bang. Her garment last night impressed even guest judge Rachel Zoe, who once dared to call herself more influential than Vogue‘s Anna Wintour. Keep reading »

The Five: Essentials In Our Closet

Catherine StrawnAugust 27, 2008 //

Project Runway‘s Nina Garcia has this new book out called The One Hundred. In it, she shares all of the items she thinks fashionable women should own. Well, we got to thinking about some of the items in our lives that are indispensable even though they’re a little more random than LBDs, pearl necklaces, or jean jackets. Here are five things that have made a difference in our style lives — share yours in the comments.

Textured Tights These are not an “investment piece,” per se. They cost less than $10 and will only last a couple wears, but your legs will look awfully fancy in them. [Photo: WeLoveColors.com] Keep reading »

Nina Garcia Wishes Crocs Were Never Invented

Catherine StrawnAugust 27, 2008 //

Last night, Project Runway judge, current Elle editor-at-large, and soon-to-be Marie Claire fashion director Nina Garcia had a “discussion and book signing” at the Tribeca Barnes & Noble in New York. The audience was a mixed bag: at least 15 men, a few tween PR fans, a couple fashion risk-takers (the girl to my right had on a very Carrie Bradshaw pink tulle flower headband), and a number of middle-aged ladies who wore their un-highlighted hair pulled back in ponytails. Nina was wearing a black dress designed by none other than friend and fellow PR judge Michael Kors.

Now, Nina seems to have been a writing machine over last couple years, because her first book, The Little Black Book of Style came out just over a year ago, in September. Her new one, The One Hundred, includes illustrations by Ruben Toledo, though, so there’s not that much text, at least from what I could tell when I sneaked peeks at my fellow audience members’ copies. Keep reading »

Project Runway: What A Drag!

Annika HarrisAugust 21, 2008 //

Designs We Hated [From Left]: Jerell’s Glittery Green Number; Daniel’s Sorbet Meltdown; Keith’s Filthy Howard the Duck Thing (Like Nina Garcia said, it is quite a puzzle)

On this week’s episode the designers were challenged to create an outfit for drag queens. Although this was a new challenge, not a recycle bin rescue from a previous season, I wasn’t really excited to watch it. I had a hard time figuring out why I should care.The best part of Runway for me is the fashion and this time it wasn’t fashion, but theatrics. And not haute couture theatrics that must convey a fashion aesthetic and drama. I get that the queens each have a character and their costumes must portray that character, but we learned very little about who these gals are. Sure, each of them had a catch phrase and a cool name, but there has to be more. I would have loved to learn how the queens get into drag because as guest judge RuPaul explained, “Drag is all smoke and mirrors.” But all we learned was that they stuff their bras, duh, and they must hide the “candy” (that is exactly what you think it is). Keep reading »

Project Runway: Welcome To The “Jungle” Of Teamwork

Annika HarrisAugust 14, 2008 //

We’re Not In Love [From Left]: Kelli and Daniel’s Hussy Loves Dolce & Gabbana Ensemble; Blayne and Leanne’s I Heart Old Navy Look; Terri and Suede’s Boring Boho-Chic Outfit.

Last night on Project Runway the designers had to create a work outfit that could transition to night for Brooke Shields’s character on Lipstick Jungle. Besides receiving immunity for the next challenge, the winning designer would also have the ultimate prize of Shields wearing the outfit during season two of Lipstick Jungle. They had 30 minutes to sketch and then Shields picked six designers from the remaining 12 to head up a team of two. Keep reading »

Project Runway: I Heart Blayne & The Retro Olympics

Amelia McDonell-ParryAugust 7, 2008 //

I give up. I totally have given into Blayne and have decided that he’s as lovable and funny as a puppy that’s just learning how to walk, but occasionally has accidents in your apartment that make you hate him for a couple minutes. Maybe it’s that we both have an addiction to being tan, though I gave up the booth years ago in favor laying out on my roof deck and slathering on bottled self-tanner. (May I recommend, by the way, that Blayne use a bronzer for African-American women in between tanning booth sessions? It’s my secret.) In any case, Blayne is just one of the many Project Runway contestants this season that seems to be competing to coin the show’s next catchphrase rather than to win the title of Top Designer — after all, “fierce hot tranny mess” is worn the hell out, and Blayne’s “holla atcha boy” is desperate to take its place. While we’re not convinced it’s bankable enough, it’s certainly better than Suede’s desire to make his own name — spoken constantly in third person — the next big utterance on reality TV. Amelia does not like Suede, she does not like Suede at all. Keep reading »

NYC Night Inspires Project Runway Designers

Annika HarrisAugust 1, 2008 //

Designs We Hated [From Left} Haven’t we seen Stella’s rock-and-roll look before in, like, every rock video from the ’90s?; Keith’s toilet paper in a windstorm dress–should have used gray fabric, bud; Jennifer’s matronly Forever 21 creation.

On Wednesday’s episode of Project Runway the designers were challenged to use New York City as their muse for a nighttime look. And Tim Gunn took them to Mood Fabric to shop for themselves, finally. This challenge like the first one is not original. It’s was done in a previous season. The designers were whisked-off in true tourist fashion on a double-decker bus to various neighborhoods in Manhattan, where they photographed their inspiration. Keep reading »

Project Runway: Why Don’t We Hate Tim Gunn Yet?

Amelia McDonell-ParryAugust 1, 2008 //

Every reality show has a breakout star — Lo or Whitney on The Hills, Nicole Richie on The Simple Life, etc. — but usually that star has a fall from grace, once everyone has tired of his or her eccentricities. Just look at Christian Siriano — even we’re sick of saying “fierce” all the tme. But this is not the case with fellow Project Runway star Tim Gunn. I don’t think anyone expected Tim to become the show’s most beloved cast member, least of all Tim, but five seasons in, how is it that we still love him so freaking much?! Check out the clip from Wednesday’s episode above. We want to smack Blayne, but Tim is just adorable as always. He’s so stylish and handsome and cultured, yet he reminds me so much of my grandma when he says, “Holla atcha boy!” Keep reading »

The Daily Squeeze: Romeo And Juliet, Bones And Breast Cancer, And Tim Gunn’s Big Day

Catherine StrawnJuly 29, 2008 //

Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending. [NPR]

A new study says that women with stronger bones are more likely to develop breast cancer. Do we really have to choose between cancer and osteoporosis? [AHN]

Today is Tim Gunn’s birthday. Forget to get him a present? “Make it work, people!” [Blogging Project Runway]

Keep reading »

Project Runway Designers Demonstrate Why More Clothes Aren’t Green

Catherine StrawnJuly 24, 2008 //

From left: Jerrell’s monstrosity; Why the heck did Joe cut a circle out of the front of his dress and put a crystal border around the hole?; Kelli had a vision for her dress — it just wasn’t a good one. [Photos: Bravo]

On last night’s episode of Project Runway (I’m sorry if you missed it because I told you it was on at 10pm, rather than 9pm — here’s the recap), the contestants had to create cocktail dresses out of eco-friendly fabrics selected by their models. For some reason, the silk/hemp blend that was popular with many of the models seems to come in just two colors, an ugly bronze and a slightly cheap-looking pale good. Apparently, it was very difficult to manipulate — I have never seen hemlines so crooked. Guest judge Natalie Portman was as ladylike as ever, always saying something good about the design before giving her criticisms, and in the end, Suede’s innovative criss-crossing of fabrics won her over. Heidi Klum even said she’s wear the dress if she were 10 years younger. Heidi, you don’t need to shave off 10 years to wear this dress.

To see our favorite designs, keep reading… Keep reading »