ENTERTAINMENT REALM

Project Runway. Season 16 Episode 12 on LIFETIME. judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen. Guest judge: Katie Holmes. Host: Heidi Klum. Mentor and co-host: Tim Gunn.

Episode 12: There’s No Business Like Snow Business

Final five: Ayana; Brandon; Kentaro; Kenya; Margarita

As it stands Kenya hasn’t won a challenge and Kentaro has been in the bottom twice in a row.

challenge: create a high fashion winter look

The designers head to the Minus 5 Ice Bar for inspiration in the cold. They bundle up in robes. Seems Iceland-inspired and not all that fun. Tim Gunn leaves them to get a cup of hot coffee.  They have 30 minutes to sketch, two days and $400 to spend at MOOD for the challenge.

They all seem to be designing coats which makes sense. At MOOD, Brandon finds a wax cotton for a distressed look, Ayana wants black with a neon, Kenya finds a herring bone print she likes, Margarita looks at fur and says she wants “rabbit or deer.” UGH.

At the check out, Tim says: “Did anyone purchase fur? We’re a fur-free show.” Yay to that. Cruelty-free would be fantastic but unlikely considering Heidi Klum isn’t cruelty-free and neither are Zac Posen and Nina Garcia. Margarita can’t buy the fur and can’t replace it. Tim then says he feels bad in not stating it’s a fur-free show. So with the other designers okay, Margarita gets five minutes and goes back and chooses an awful faux fur.

Kentaro continues to charm as he says of his jacket: “It looks like a beautiful whipped cream.”

Tim checks in. For Kentaro’s wrap jacket, he wonders if he should swap out the lavender turtleneck for yellow and both agree it’s too yolkish and Tim suggests using the same fabric and “owning it.” He tells Kenya: “at this point it’s all in the details.” He adds that if she’s able to “infuse some of the underlying pieces with innovation,” she might win. I’m guessing that’s not going to happen. Brandon explains that growing up in Utah they had frigid winters, so he’s created a crop top? Because an open midriff is exactly how I approach winter. Tim tells him he’s exceeded expectations and that he’s a fan of his work. Ayana works on an asymmetrical pea coat. Tim notes it has a “clean 60s vibe.” Ayana wants to paint the fabric and Tim says it looks like a possible Kindergarten project. She shows him a sample of what she intends to do and he approves. Margarita has  long sleeve dress with faux fur that Tim says “It’s Tippi Hedren and The Birds.” So she thinks she’ll make a completely faux fur dress.

The models arrive. Kenya’s excited to work with the other plus-size model Jazzmine. What if Project Runway used ALL plus size models? Ayana says: “Kentaro’s look is simplistic, it’s cool, it’s high fashion.” I agree. The winter white look definitely works.

Guest judge this week: Zac Posen muse Katie Holmes

Runway notes:

Margarita—oversized bathrobe, Flintstones

Kenya—solid coat and fabric choice. Don’t like the shirt and the high waist pants.

Kentaro—cool jacket. Shorts questionable for winter although I like shorts with tights as an alternative to skirts.

Brandon—cool coat and color. Definitely don’t like midriff exposed for winter.

Ayana—stylish. Great lines.

BRANDON

–says he hung out in Park City a lot.Zac: “Nice to see a winter version of what you do. It feels luxe. It feels street.”

Nina: “I appreciate the layering and I like your use of texture.”

Katie: “Beatifrul modern take on something traditional.”

MARGARITA

–wanted to do a coat that feels like fur (maybe because she wasn’t allowed to buy actual fur)

Heidi: “A fur dress can be so tricky but it really works.”

Katie: “I love the way it frames the face.”

Zac: “The jacket is quite classic.”

Nina: “There’s a timeless chicness to a wrap coat. When she opened the coat the surprise effect was everything.”

AYANA

–inspired by a rebel/outlaw

Nina: “I like that you played with color.”

Heidi: “I would want to have this coat. The undergarment is costumy and childish.”

Katie: “I like the fact that you get a two-in-one coat.”

KENYA

Zac: “It’s a fun textile. Her coat has some attitude. The blouse and the tweed and the pants doesn’t all sit well together.”

Heidi: “As a total look I’m not like ‘what is that?’ Her torso is super tiny.” i.e. it’s disproportionate.

Nina: “She’s way too cool for the outfit underneath.”

KENTARO

Nina: “I think you did a wonderful job and it looks very modern, very sculptural.”

Heidi: “This is heaven from head to toe. I love the fabric you used. I love the color. I want to be that girl.”

Zac: “I think this is the chicest snowwoman I’ve ever seen.”

Katie: “You’re telling a story and I really like this story.”

At this point it’s pretty clear that Brandon will show at New York Fashion Week [NYFW].

Heidi asks the designers why they should go to NYFW and who they want to go with them.

Kentaro: “brother” Brandon [of course] and Ayana

Brandon: “brother” Kentaro and Ayana

Kenya: Brandon and Ayana. Because Ayana “always has 1000 things in her brain.”

Margarita: Brandon and Kentaro

Ayana: Kenya –“she already knows who her customer is” and Brandon

It’s announced that they’re all going to fashion week. Tim says, “It’s completely unprecendented.” But then he says to wait for more information and it looks like only three will *actually go.