Season Eight of Project Runway zips onto the screen with a jazzier, upbeat opening.
We’re shown the standard bio videos and interviews with contestants. At this point in any reality show, it’s impossible to judge any front-runners. Real World-style, the competitors are meeting each other at Grand central Station, the airport and on the Staten Island Ferry. A nice New York touch.
Introduction to some designers:
Kristin explains she has a background in graphic design and she likes to “embrace the crooked zipper.” I’ll wait to see her explain that concept to Nina Garcia and Michael Kors.
Many designers already have their own clothing lines and clients.
April likes “making dark beautiful. It’s going to be a little gnarly. I like to take things that look as if they are dying and create beauty of them. I love to destroy to create.”
The gang gathers to meet Heidi and Tim:
Heidi is her mix of sweetly confident and German robot. I like that she delivers some lines like an action star. Tim is regal and composed as usual.
The 17 designers aren’t part of Project Runway yet. The first challenge ends up being the last aspect of the audition process. Heidi tells them each to pick an item from their bags to incorporate into their garments.
But a twist! That item, predictably, gets passed to the person on the right for that person to utilize. The designers have five hours to make a new garment to show on the runway where the original garment is still apparent in the new design.
Sketching now on HP Touchpads.
Tim checks in:
McKell has made a super cute dress from a man’s shirt. She made the shirt sleeveless for the top of the dress and used a patterned fabric for a full skirt. Tim likes: “Can I be honest? This is adorable.”
Nicholas started with a polyester jacket. He is using bottom of jacket as neckline. Tim: “I’m very intrigued by turning something sportswear into something for evening. It’s not there yet.”
Cassanova has done a dress that is super low-cut in the back and Tim: Is it sexy or is it vulgar?”
April had a tuxedo jacket that she turned inside out. She’s making a dress. Tim: “April the clock is thinking. You have decisions to make.”
Jason worked with a Kimono. Tim: “Is the transformation for the most part putting the Kimono on backwards?”
April used a “cape-like jacket” with lots of beading. She made a simple dress. Tim: “I’m completely with you.”
Peach has the tube scarf that Michael knitted. She’s having trouble working in the garment. She has made a black and white dress. Looks like you can by it off the rack.
Mondo had a coat and he’s making a strange dress. Tim: “It’s looking a little matronly to me. The capped sleeve worries me.”
Hold the presses. New accessory wall from PiperLine.com.
The Runway:
*Valerie: A-line skirt, bustier top– hot pink fabric mixed in with khaki (from pants)
Peach: looks too much like an off-the-rack sundress although quite well constructed
*McKell: dress looks fantastic halter top and full, although a bit short, flouncy bottom
Andy: pants and some sort of black top. I can’t see it enough
Sarah: shorts jump suit is cute but not wearable
*Mondo: loe this dress probably because it looks vintage. Straight line, olive green with black and white zig-zag print fabric down sides, at bust and in back
Ivy: pretty silver satiny sleeveless top and cropped print pants
Michael: blouson top and black skirt, open back on top
Kristin: okay black dress with kilt used in weird collar
Christopher: went by too fast
April: short funky and bizarre dress with winged sleeves
*Gretchen: black dress with uneven hemline. Pretty
Michael: kimono-style dress witih draping in back
Jason: garmet is falling apart although he stpled it
A.J.: no a poofy party dress
Cassanova: it’s vulgar, not sexy. The model is barely covered at chest and the skirt line is at the hip.
Gretchen wins. Heidi: you had one of the worst materials to work with and you turned it into something chic and fashionable
Bottom Six= Ivy, Nicholas, Cassanova, McKell, Jason and April
Ivy
Michael: “very confusing”
Jason
Heidi: “this looks like my hairdressing cape that I wore when I went to get my haircut.”
April
Heidi: “this is like a hot mess.”
Michael: “I like deconstructed clothes but if you’re going to do it you have to show that you can deconstruct.”
McKell
Nina: “I liked the fact that you mixed the fabric.”
Nicholas
Michael: “The whole thing really doesn’t mesh together.”
Cassanova
Michael: “It’s odd. It’s a strange mix of things. She’s sexaholic but she’s conservative. She’s a pole dancer in Dubai.”
Nina: “it’s fascinatingly bad”
Selma Blair: “I loved how daring it was in the back and I also loathed it. At least it got a reaction.”
Who’s out:
McKell
Posted by Amy Steele 
