ENTERTAINMENT REALM

Project Runway. Season 16 Episode 6 on LIFETIME. judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen. Guest judges: Georgina Chapman and Kelsea Ballerini. Host: Heidi Klum. Mentor and co-host: Tim Gunn.

Episode 5: Models Off Duty

This episode opens with Tim Gunn getting tips on taking selfies at a models brunch. Just in case we forgot that this season’s focus is the models. Meanwhile Heidi joins the designers on the runway to tell them about the next challenge. Cut back to Tim and the models taking a selfie and Tim says: I’m going to send this to Heidi. Back to the runway, a producer interrupts her: “Heidi, Heidi. Tim’s literally blowing up your phone right now.” He hands her the mobile. Not contrived at all. there’s been lots of BTS footage involved in efforts to bring back viewers. Samantha sums it up: “I have no idea what’s going on but I’m kind of impressed that Tim selfies.” Heidi tells the designers that they’ll be meeting Tim on a rooftop in Brooklyn where he’s hanging out with “fashionable” ladies so he can tell them about the next challenge.

This week’s challenge: with models as clients develop a street style look that she can post on social media pages with hashtag #modelsoffduty

Anyone who has every watched an episode of America’s Next Top Model knows that even in downtime models much consider their look and more importantly their brand. You can wear a t-shirt and jeans or a sweatshirt as long as it fits your style and is model-esque.

Models pick the designers they want to work with: Jazzmine selects Samantha. Meisha picks Kentaro. Sanita chooses Kenya. Christina picks Margarita. Both Shawn and Claire looks quite uncomfortable the entire time [Claire especially] but schoolyard picks are awkward. Colleen picks Brandon. Liris happily picks Michael. Marsha picks Amy. Monique picks Batani. Janine picks Shawn. Lena picks Ayana. Sian by default is paired again with Claire. Awkward. And Claire isn’t that happy but she pushes forward and thinks this week may be her redemption.

They proceed to sketch on the streets, get $200 to spend at Mood and have one day to complete the challenge.

This episode wasn’t all that interesting. There was very little drama besides the overall annoyance of the twins. The designers seem pretty equally matched skills-wise. I like this show but I miss the characters in the early days. Kentaro and his model bond over Japanese language and culture. He designed for her in the previous episode.

When Tim Gunn comes in to critique and it seems quick. He tells Kentaro that the design is “very you.” He tells Ayana that the stars she plans to apply to her design “look like stickers.” Claire tells Tim that she thinks this will be a redemption moment. By default she’s working with the model from last week when she was in the bottom three. She’s designing and oversize sweatshirt and says she wants to maybe add lettering on the sleeve because ADIDAS and other designers do that. Oh Claire. Too literal. Not original. I am always looking for cool black hoodies sans lettering. Tim says: “the letters concern me.” Model Jazzmine tells Tim that she wants a “hipster bartender” look and Tim tells her she chose the right designer in Samantha. He tells Kenya: “This green is a commitment” and wonders if the model will look like a green bean in the green fabric. He also asks: “Is it fashion or are you just making clothes?”

Brandon facetimes his Asian girlfriend who he notes is older and more mature than him. He loves her and wants to be like her. In all the discussion of cultural appropriation no one talks about Asian culture. Brandon dresses in an Asian-influenced style. He designs based on Asian influences. He has an Asian girlfriend and has bonded most with Japanese designer Kentaro. It’s intriguing to me.

Margarita might be the next Santino Rice. She does a fantastic Zac Posen impression. She says: “They look a little off. I didn’t even score it.” Michael chimes in: “I just wrote down trash.” LOL.

Guest judges this week: country singer Kelsea Ballerini and Project Runway All Stars judge and Marchesa founder and designer Georgina Chapman. I’ve not heard of Kelsea. She tells Tim it’s her first time every judging anything. I guess that’s a surprise as there are so many reality competition shows. She unfortunately doesn’t add much to the show and I wonder why the need for two guest judges.

Runway notes: Kentaro’s outfit is cute. Claire’s is meh. Ayana’s looks like PJs. Michael chose a pretty fabric. Brandon’s model looks like she slept on the street. Shawn’s outfit is cute. Amy’s design is sleek. Samantha’s design is funky. Kenya’s look is cute.

HIGH SCORES

Shawn
She says that her model Janine likes elegant refinement mixed with “urban flair.” Very much Shawn’s aesthetic.
Zac: “The pants look sleek.”
Heidi: “It’s fantastic and look how it photographs.” Interesting to note that Shawn also designed an all black outfit but with a crop top showing skin breaks up the look on camera.
Nina: “Feminine and pretty always sells.”
Georgina: “It feels elevated. It feels elegant.”

Kenya
She explains that her model wanted trousers and loved the color emerald green.
Zac: “It’s Debbie Harry meets Peter Pan meets 101 Dalmations and I like that.”
Georgina: “She has an ease and confidence and that’s what streetwear’s all about.”
Nina: “There’s something about her that seems mysterious. So quirky and oddball I want to know more.”

Kentaro
He explains that the model loves Japanese culture. They love the skirt over the pants and the draping and crop top. Really a look that screams I’m a model because who else could wear it?
Heidi: “Your model was the coolest by far.”

LOW SCORES

Claire
She says: “we tend to be more dressed down.” Not sure who she’s talking about but I think she means the model and herself.
Nina: “I like the idea of sportswear but I think we missed a pop of color.”
Zac: “Social media is the public’s own form of editorial.” In other words, this design didn’t stand out in the pictures.
Heidi: “The only think I see when she walks the runway is her cheeks.” Noted. Heidi likes boobs but not butt cheeks.

Samantha
She says that she and the model have a lot in common. The judges love what Samantha’s wearing and ask if it’s her design. They wish she’d design like that for the runway. She wearing a gold print dress with leather harness straps for belting. She’s overall pretty cool in her style. I’d wear her clothes.
Nina: “It’s a little verging on costume.”
Zac: “I’ve seen it.”

Margarita

Her model considers Aaliyah her style icon and Margarita went there in full. The model looks like she should be in a music video.
Zac: “There’s a major fit issue with the pants in the crotch area and it makes me uncomfortable.”
Nina: “It’s so Miami.”

Kentaro is the WINNER

Samantha is OUT

Samantha is wonderful and enthusiastic and it gutted her to be eliminated. I’m sad to see her go. I’d easily wear her designs.