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Project Runway recap: The Ultimate Face-off [S16.Ep7]
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on October 2, 2017
Project Runway. Season 16 Episode 7 on LIFETIME. judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen. Guest judge: Asia Kate Dillion. Host: Heidi Klum. Mentor and co-host: Tim Gunn.
Episode 7: The Ultimate Face-off
As annoying as the twins are I still feel empathy for them and perhaps it’s just good editing and producing. Claire’s freaking out about being in the bottom two twice. Shawn notes that she’s also been in the bottom. “I just want to get out of this rut and move toward the top where I belong,” Claire says. She’s been saying that for weeks so either she’s out or she makes a massive comeback. Although in past seasons I’m not sure anyone has been able to make it to the final four after being on the bottom for that many challenges.
This season isn’t all that interesting or surprising and it’s unclear how Project Runway can change up the show to make it more interesting. I like most of this season’s designers okay but nobody stands out that much. I look forward to Project Runway Jr. to return.
The designers are at JC Penney. This doesn’t scream fashion to me. As Andy Cohen said in his Andy Cohen Diaries it’s “low rent.” They’re in the menswear department so everyone freaks out a bit until Tim tells them that they’re not designing menswear but using menswear as inspiration. Cue the “boyfriend” sweaters, jeans, shirts etal. It’s a team challenge. The designers will work in teams of two. First they’re assigned JC Penney fabric. Yuck. The they pick teams and can’t pick someone who has the same fabric. The teams are: Kentaro and Brendon; Amy and Kenya; Claire and Shawn; Margarita and Batani; Ayana and Michael. They get 30 minutes to sketch and will get $100 for notions, trims and supplemental fabric at Mood. I have NEVER bought an item of clothing at JC Penney. The last time I entered a JC Penney was to look at a Sephora inside the JC Penney. A dirty, messy Sephora. At Mood it’s Swatch’s tenth birthday! So cute. He’s wearing a crown. There’s a cake.
Claire: “I think Shawn has relied a lot on me for the last challenge. It’s frustrating. I too want to succeed in this competition.” Brendon and Kentaro seem to be the frontrunners. Amy and Kenya say they respect each other and work well together. During the critiques, Tim tells Margarita that her design is “a lot of work.” He’s concerned about Amy and Kenya’s look being matronly. He tells Ayana her design “looks like a hospital gown.” He dubs Brandon and Kentaro the dream team as they have similar sensibilities, good skills and have both won. Margarita seems particularly spiteful and catty every time she’s interviewed about other designers. Michael hopes that being dubbed the dream team does to Brandon and Kentaro’s heads and they “crumble.” Tim tells Michael he doesn’t understand his look but notes: “I could be wrong. I’m an old fart.”
Shawn asks Kentaro if she can design a legging boot like he’d designed for the prior challenged. Model Liris gets in the mirror to say that she’s a 14 with a “badonkadonk” and that the twins aren’t used to designing for plus size. To be fair, as Tim said when they mentioned this, none of the designers are all that used to designing for plus size women.
Guest judge this week: actress Asia Kate Dillion [Billions]
Runway notes: Amy’s look is constructed well. The hoodies that Brandon and Kentaro designed are super cute. Batani’s look is lovely. Margarita’s dress is pretty. I’m not keen on any of the fabrics but I’m not the target shopper. Underwhelmed by this week’s runway.
Ayana and Michael are safe.
HIGH SCORES:
Kentaro design
Brandon and Kentaro
Heidi: “I’m in love with both of these looks.”
Nina: “I love the effortlessness. There’s a lot of versatility in these outfits.”
Zac: “Nice casual quality. By far the most cohesive on the runway.”
Margarita design
Batani design
Margarita and Batani
Heidi: “I love both these looks too. I am a huge fan of yours Margarita. The fit is so nice.”
Zac: “I’m in love with your dress. It is just a little bit different.”
Nina: “It’s so polished and sophisticated.”
Asia: “They look comfortable. They look effortless.”
LOW SCORES:
Claire design
Shawn design
Zac: “I don’t feel the cohesion. This t-shirt is just bad design. The world doesn’t need this.”
Nina: “Why do we need these clothes?”
Amy and Kenya
Amy design
Kenya design
Heidi: “Kenya, I think what you presented is too boring.”
Asia: “These looks feel like flight attendant uniform rejections of the 70s.”
Nina: “Even the way you styled these girls, they look old.”
Margarita is the WINNER
the twins will have a one hour faceoff challenge.
to be continued…
One of the twins will likely be OUT but we won’t find out until the next episode.
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music news: Fleet Foxes online-exclusive Live from the Artists Den video
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on October 2, 2017
After a six-year hiatus and several days before releasing its third album, Crack Up, Grammy-nominated Fleet Foxes performed at the Knockdown Center in Queens, New York as part of Live from the Artists Den. Live from the Artists Den is a critically-acclaimed television and digital music series best known for presenting secret concerts in non-traditional, often historic settings.
The episode airs this month. Check your local listings.
Regarding the band’s six-year hiatus, lead singer and guitarist Robin Pecknold explained: “I felt like I wanted just a broader range of experience as a person and a musician to draw from in direct and indirect ways, so it seemed like something worth being open-minded about.”
Fleet Foxes formed in Seattle, Washington in 2006. The band released its self-titled album in 2008 and Helplessness Blues in 2011.
Fleet Foxes is:
Robin Pecknold [lead vocals/guitar]
Skyler Skjelset [guitar, mandolin, vocals]
Casey Wescott [keyboards/ mandolin/ vocals]
Christian Wargo [bass guitar/ guitar/ vocals]
Morgan Henderson [upright bass/ guitar/ woodwinds/ violin/ percussion/ saxophone]
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Project Runway recap: Models Off Duty [S16.Ep6]
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on September 22, 2017
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.
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Project Runway recap: Descending into Good and Evil [S16.Ep5]
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on September 16, 2017
Project Runway. Season 16 Episode 5 on LIFETIME. judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen. Guest judges: Dove Cameron and China Anne McClain. Host: Heidi Klum. Mentor: Tim Gunn.
An easily forgettable overall snooze of an episode. It starts with Tim Gunn taking this designers to the Lyndhurst Mansion where they meet the stars of Disney Channel’s Descendants 2—Dove Cameron and China Anne McClain—this week’s guest judges. Not even Disney but Disney Channel. Come on Lifetime and Project Runway! These children’s film tie-ins are tiresome. How about a tie-in with Mother! or Battle of the Sexes? Have I aged out of Project Runway? Who are these stars?
This week’s challenge: create an evening wear look inspired by the movie Descendants 2.
Some will be designing a good look and some an evil look. As last week’s challenge winner, Michael assigns good and evil. Good looks: Amy; Brendan; Kentaro; Aaron; Ayana; Claire. Evil looks: Kenya; Samantha; Shawn; Margarita; Batani; Michael.
“I love stories and I Love making garments inspired by them.” –Samantha
Being a model-focused season, the designers discuss which models they’ll be designing for and if there are challenges, concerns or particular inspirations. In the workroom, Margarita struggles and videochats with her parents. She’s crying that she’s not a crazy designers and that making women beautiful is her thing. She says: “I would hate to go home trying to be something I’m not.” Okaaaay Margarita. It’s season 16. You know there’s going to be avant garde, evening wear and unconventional challenges. The twins persist in annoying some of the designers. The Brandon/Kentaro bromance continues.
Tim comes in to critique. He tells Brandon that he’s full of the unexpected as Brandon designs another menswear-inspired shirt dress. He tells Claire to “beat back the costume” and questions whether or not lace on Michael’s look is matronly. Shawn feels that her design is really her. Aaron’s look. Oof. He’s not lasting all that much longer. He says he’s trying to “be more innovative and fun” but Tim says “it’s a gimmick.” He tells Margarita that she’s moving in a “beautiful direction.” So she needn’t worry. Tim tells Samantha her look is “like a big craft project.”
The Brandon love fest continues as his model Christina says: “I love Brandon. All these girls have a crush on him. But he does have a girlfriend FYI.”
Runway notes: Shawn’s look is cool. Kentaro’s is flowy. Brandon’s look is interesting. Samantha’s is basic. Aaron’s look is a big no. It looks like post-school dance. Michael chose gorgeous fabric and it’s a pretty design. Claire’s is simply. Ayana’s look is lovely.
SAFE: Batani; Amy; Kentaro; Ayana; Shawn; Margarita
HIGH SCORES:
Brandon
He says he thought about his girl as a superwoman for inspiration.
Heidi: “It’s a modern straight jacket. I love it. It feels very fashion forward.”
Dove: “You did a fantastic job of taking the challenge and making it your own.”
Zac: “We’ve seen a lot of these different length shirt dresses. You can’t be a one-trick pony.”
Kenya
She says: “I’m evil and I thought about a dark tuxedo look.”
Heidi: “It all works. I’m just in love with this look.”
China: “It’s tailored perfectly.”
Nina: “I love the fact that you didn’t do a gown. The drama is in balance.”
Michael
He says he’s inspired by “darker elements.”
Heidi: “She was a queen walk down the runway.”
China: “I wrote fabric sleighs in all caps.”
Zac: “It fits spectacularly.”
LOW SCORES:
Claire
She says the first thing she thought of was princess.
Zac: “It looks like Cinderella on her day off.”
Nina: “We have seen a version of this a billion times. This is a cliché.”
Heidi: “This to me is forgettable.”
Samantha
She explains that she was inspired by poison fruit and poison flowers.
Zac: “I don’t like your fabric choice. It’s just ugly.”
Nina: “This feels very old.”
Heidi: “It’s kinda like an 80s prom dress.”
Aaron
He says: “I was given good and I thought that resonated with a pink.”
Heidi: “It’s just so messy. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Nina: “It looks like a child put together this outfit.”
Brandon is the WINNER
Aaron is OUT
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Project Runway recap: We’re Sleeping Wear? [S16.Ep4]
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on September 8, 2017
Project Runway. Season 16. Episode 4 on LIFETIME. judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen. Guest judge: Demi Lovato. Host: Heidi Klum. Mentor: Tim Gunn.
Episode 4: “We’re Sleeping Wear?”
Heidi and Tim arrive onstage. Apparently designers were called back right after last week’s elimination. Heidi is wearing a backpack and Tim’s hauling backpack on wheels. They announce that designers will be spending the night atop the Empire State Building.
This week’s challenge: create a sleepwear look for Heidi Klum Intimates sleepwear inspired by Empire State Building and New York skyline. Designers will also create their own textile.
Aaron: “Sleepwear’s kinda cute and sexy so I think it could be fun.”
Samantha: “I love painting so this seems like it’s right in my wheelhouse.”
Heidi calls out Claire for looking scared. Claire says: “That building is very tall.” They all head over in pajamas. Claire holds Shawn all the way up on the elevator. Amy notes: “It feels like floating through some kind of vintage movie dream.” Once on the 86th floor and out on the observation deck, they sketch for 30 minutes. “It’s definitely a magical moment,” Brandon observes.
Kenya plans to design a romper. Michael is making a slip style garment with angles like the Chrysler building or a “Harlem renaissance” dress. Kentaro says he’s not going to construct an all-black garment but instead a colorful maxi dress. In the morning, a full suited Tim bearing breakfast sandwiches sneaks up to wake the designers. I hope they brushed their teeth at least!
Back in the workroom they have about 11 hours for this one-day challenge. Brandon’s wearing his hair in two braids. Aaron said he’s doing a two piece. Sounds like pajamas to me. Kenya says her style is classy, sexy, trendy and she doesn’t do sleepwear. Shawn’s designing a long jumpsuit while her twin Claire is making an art deco print. The twins seem calmer and quieter. As annoying as they can sometimes be they’re also enthusiastic and dedicated. It’ll be hard when one gets eliminated before the other. Deyonte isn’t yet sure of his direction.
Kenya’s struggling with her textile. As he holds up his textile, Kentaro says to Brandon: “Hey brother it looks like I killed someone with this fabric.” Brandon explains: “Kentaro’s my buddy. That’s my G. That’s my brother. I look to him for advice. Just to have the connection has got me in a good place.” We’re getting to that time in the season when bonds get formed.
Heidi and Tim arrive for critiques and Heidi says: “Did you have time for a shower or no? No. That’s okay.” As they approach Shawn, Tim tells Heidi: “This is remarkable. She has something on a form. She never has for me.” Tim may not be a fan. Heidi tells the twins to chat less, work more. Deyonte’s hot pink and gray confuses Heidi who refers to it as a clown costume. Ayana explains she won’t be designing modest this time around because under the modest clothing is something not so much modest. Margarita shows her kimono robe. “I see a menstrual cycle,” Tim says. When Michael shows his strappy design, Heidi’s concerned. She wonders how to get out to go to the bathroom. I think it’s not the bathroom that concerns her. Claire is using purple and bright pink. Amy talks about a sunset and cityscape and Heidi tells her she’s thinking too literally. Heidi doesn’t think Kenya’s romper jumpsuit is very sleepwear. “You wanta be in the bed. You’ve got a boo. It’s gotta be easy.” In other words for the Heidi Klum Intimates collection it should be easy access and easy in and easy out. [I took a look at Heidi Klum Intimates and wasn’t wowed by anything. nothing stands out as unique sleepwear.]
Later on as they continue to work it turns out the twins ARE irritating everyone again. This time their tag team approach bothers the other designers. “I think we all help each other out in the workroom but I think the twins take it to another level. It’s not fair,” Margarita says.
Kentaro’s model says she’s the “Naomi of plus size” and that she gave some advice to Kentaro because she’s known for her shape. Aaron’s having problems with his fabric as its texture changed and there’s not much flow. Amy had remarked that he’d have a tough time working with his fabric. Kentaro has learned a new American term and tells Samantha he wants to stop being anal so often. Samantha hugs him. “Kentaro is all sugar and happiness and butterflies and so sweet,” she explains. A model says she feels frumpy and matronly and too covered up in Deyonte’s design.
Runway notes: Amy’s design is in a pretty print and color. Margarita’s look is bleh. Claire’s doesn’t do it for me. Michael’s look is very pretty. Don’t like anything about Deyonte’s design. I want Ayana’s look. It’s super lovely. I want Shawn’s look in a different color. Kentaro created a nice print. I adore Samantha’s design and want those pants.
HIGH SCORES:
Michael
He tells judges his inspiration is art deco.
Demi: “I love the color combination. The blush is so pretty and flattering on many complexions. The neckline is unique. It’s practical and comfortable.”
Heidi: “It looks sophisticated, sexy, expensive.”
Zac: “I wrote down Deco Cleopatra.”
Nina: “I love the effect in the back. The multi straps. It feels very 1920s. Very New York.”
Shawn
She says she noticed the plaque of origin that stated that the building is sleek and slender and she wanted to “evoke the same kind of feeling.”
Heidi: “You are giving us something sophisticated, sexy, elegant.”
Zac: “It looks very polished.”
Nina: “I love the detail of the print. It looks modern, sophisticated, sensuous.”
Kentaro
He says he saw a sunrise and the top part he modeled after the building. He also noted that it “flows like a butterfly.”
Heidi: “This I can see a woman wanted to go to bed in. We have design here. It feels easy. A little flouncy.”
Nina: “This is adorable, charming, fresh. There’s something very feminine about it in a very quiet and modern way.”
Zac: “Beautiful draping. Effortless. Easy. It has something playful. I thought it was a breeze and happy.”
LOW SCORES:
Aaron
He tells designers that he was inspired by a vent. Which is problematical in and of itself. A vent? Of all the aspects of that building?
Heidi: “I’m so surprise. You’re giving two pieces that are too tight.”
Nina: “The waistband looks like a bad sweatpant. It’s a problem.”
Zac: “I thought it was lackluster. This is Runway. The world is watching.” IS it Zac? I’m not sure ratings-wise.
Deyonte
He tells the judges that after Tim and Heidi’s critique he did some revamping and thinks the model looks beautiful and dreamy.
Nina: “First of all, this doesn’t even look like something to sleep or lounge in. It looks like a dress. Her armhole feels very high up so she’s looking tight on top. The shape is nothing.”
Zac: “It’s boring. This didn’t do it for me today.”
Heidi: “Where is the sexy? Show me the sexy.”
Kenya
For her inspiration, she says she thought art. She starts crying during the critique and judges go easy.
Heidi: “I’m sad to see you at the bottom.”
Zac: “You have a beautiful color palette.”
Nina: “You didn’t take the easy way out and you get a lot of credit.”
Michael is the WINNER
shop Michael’s design here.
Deyonte is OUT
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Project Runway Recap: ‘A Leap of Innovation’ [S16.Episode 3]
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on September 2, 2017
Project Runway. Season 16. Episode 3 on LIFETIME. judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen. Guest judge: Maddie Ziegler. Host: Heidi Klum. Mentor: Tim Gunn.
This week’s challenge: create a look inspired by dance, movement and innovation.In another inexplicable tie-in/inspiration, designers watch the children’s animated film Leap! as well as a performance by the dance group Hiplet. Designers will have 30 minutes to sketch and $200 to shop at Mood.
Batani: “This challenge is perfect for me. I do hip-hop dance. I do belly dance. I do Indian dance. To bring it together with fashion is just going to be explosive.”
Kentaro remarks that he’s only worked with size 0-4 models. Might be challenging for him that his model this week doesn’t fit that size range. Margarita will use her Puerto Rican culture as inspiration. Ayana has become an early favorite for me. This week she creates her own starry textile. She notes that her design is “flowy and has movement but also looks like stars and looks like midnight. Reach for the stars.”
Kudzanai wants to get the judge’s attention this week as he’s been safe so far. Whenever someone says this they ultimately win or get eliminated. He states: “I’m African so I’m incorporating a lot of different aspects from African culture—feathers, colors, all those aspects of motion and movement.” Deyonte chose a chartreuse fabric. He then has a sewing accident. A needle goes right through his finger. Medics bandage him up and he continues on.
In the workroom, there’s not yet much friction between the designers. The twins seem to annoy everyone. And you know producers were excited to bring this element to the show. Because why not? Twins worked on The Bachelor franchise. Kenya: “I’m just tired of the twins running around the workroom like their heads are cut off.” Kudzanai: “The twins are a lot. I wish I was sitting somewhere a bit quieter.” Project Runway has always attracted vast swaths of designers, this season’s cast is especially diverse. Michael and Margarita bond over their Latina backgrounds [he’s Mexican; she’s Puerto Rican] and speak Spanish to each other. Brandon, already quiet, gets in what he calls “Zen mode” when designing. He’s so focused that he blocks out all noise and distraction.
Tim comes in for critique. He tells Claire what maybe many are thinking, to “stay away from Red Bull and coffee.” He tells Shawn she might be thinking too literally. He warns Aaron not to make his garment “a pu-pu platter of different treatments.” [side note: do millennials know a pu-pu platter?] He tells Margarita that her design “looks like full tilt costume.” To Ayana: “There’s a lot going on. I’d reel it in a bit.” And to Kudzanai: “It’s a look that’s about being a lot of look and at this point I think you just have to go for it.”
Runway show notes. Deyonte’s design is way too short. Not flattering. Kudzanai’s design isn’t flattering at all. Margarita’s look is puffy. Claire’s looks ill-fitting. Ayana’s look is stunning. Shawn’s look is okay. Batani created a pretty flowy floral look. Samantha’s design is edgy.
HIGH SCORES:
Batani
She tells judges she got her inspiration from the inventor in Leap! She thought about colorful butterflies.
Nina: “When I first saw the shadow of this I already liked it and then when it walked down the runway, the print, the color, the fluidity of the fabric really captured it for me.”
Zac: “I was mixed on it.”
Heidi: “I am a huge fan of Burning Man and a lot of people wear this kind of stuff there. It’s loud. It’s a little bit sexy but a lot of people have wings.”
Margarita
She tells judges that she’s inspired by dance and that Bomba, the traditional Puerta Rican dance came to mind. “So I set her in a little tropical paradise ensemble,” she states. I didn’t love this look. I wouldn’t have picked it for top three.
Heidi: “I loved this look. It moved beautifully on the runway. It looked sophisticated. Maybe the midriff is a little too open.”
Nina: “I love the spirit of this dress.”
Brandon
He tells judges that hip-hop was the inspiration. Also something that’s inspired his designs from the beginning. After this runway, I expect Brandon to be showing at NYFW. When I saw his final look I just thought: it’s black and white. It doesn’t appeal to me. I like man-bun Brandon and his quiet Zen energy though. The models also favor Brandon. He’s handsome. And mysterious.
Nina: “Wow. I love this. I love the creativity. I love its boldness.”
Heidi: “I love your taste. It is fabulous. It is different. Something we haven’t seen before.”
Zac: “These are the moments I wait for on Project Runway. It’s a really focused point of view. It talks about movement and innovation.”
LOW SCORES:
Kentaro
His inspiration [and his inspiration from the beginning of the competition] is his training as a pianist and classic ballet.
Zac: “I don’t think it had the biggest runway impact. It’s just not enough. I’m not impressed.”
Heidi: “It’s a little too literal. It’s a little too snoozy.”
Nina: “There needed to be some kind of punch when we saw it.”
Deyonte
He tells judges his woman is going out on the town to see the Hiplet dancers.
Zac: “It’s definitely vibrant. That’s about it. It’s dull. A sheer skirt and lace top and a mullet hem?”
Guest judge Maddie Ziegler: “This reminds me most of dance because I’ve worn a costume almost exactly like that.”
Heidi: “You guys are designers. This is supposed to be fashion. I see an ice skater. I see bad 80s. It is a little bit painful.”
Kudzanai
His inspiration is mixed West Indian culture. Earlier in the episode we saw Kudzanai’s African/West Indian backstory.
Heidi: “I feel you got a little too inspired by a children’s movie because it looked very juvenile. It’s also not very flattering. It kinda looks like a piñata that exploded in the back.”
Nina: “This is maximal at the max. You embellished it so much that it’s taking away.”
Brandon is the WINNER.
Kudzanai is OUT.
Project Runway airs Thursday at 9pm on LIFETIME.
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Project Runway S16: meet the designers
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on August 27, 2017
Season 16 of Project Runway premiered August 17, 2017 on Lifetime. This season designers will design for various sized models (from 2-22 Tim announces in the first episode). The designers will work with a different model on each challenge. They’re also incorporating a model mirror where the models comment about the designs and the designers. Another season featured model “confessions” and I think it didn’t carry over to the next season as its a design show and focus is on the designers not necessarily the models.
The first episode featured a red carpet challenge. Amy stated: “My trunk is packed full of wisdom so I don’t think this is going to be that hard.” Brandon, who designs menswear, said: “I’m out of my element. It’s got me questioning myself and my abilities.”
Deyonte won. ChaCha lost and was eliminated.
Deyonte’s winning design:
ChaCha’s losing design:
On the second episode designers worked in teams on an unconventional materials challenge using recycled materials. Why do they do unconventional and team challenges so early on? During the judging, Claire said: “I’ve never designed for a curvy girl.” Maggie Q whispered to Marie Claire‘s Anne Fulenwider: “She’s totally normal.” Anne replied: “I think she’s skinnier than I am.”
Ayana won. Sentell lost and was eliminated.
Ayana’s winning design:
Sentell’s losing design:
Here are the designers:
AARON MYERS
Age: 23
Hometown: Sevierville, Tenn.
Resides in: Brooklyn, New York
Education: Columbia College Chicago
Style Icon: Alanna Pearl
AMY BOND
Age: 46
Hometown: Idaho
Resides in: Los Angeles, Calif.
Education: MFA in fashion design
Style Icon: Tilda Swinton
Current: professor at Otis College of Art & Design
AYANA IFE
Age: 27
Hometown: New York, New York
Resides in: Salt Lake City, Utah
Education: Middle Tennessee State University– textiles, merchandising and design
Style Icons: Chriselle Lim, Rihanna
BATANI-KHALFANI
Age: 32
Hometown: East Los Angeles, Calif.
Resides in: Inglewood, Calif.
Style Icons Rihanna, Janelle Monáe
BRANDON KEE
Age: 24
Hometown: Murray, Utah
Resides in: San Francisco, Calif.
Education: Art Institute of San Francisco
Style Icon: Rihanna
CHACHA
Age: 24
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Resides in: Chicago, Ill.
Education: Art Institute of Chicago– masters in fashion design
Style Icon: Miley Cyrus
CLAIRE BUITENDORP
Age: 27
Hometown: Grand Ledge, Mich.
Resides in: Grand Ledge, Mich.
Style Icon: Katy Perry
DEYONTE WEATHER
Age: 36
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Resides in: Lynwood, Wash.
Style Icon: Beyonce
KENYA FREEMAN
Age: 37
Hometown: Norfolk, Virginia
Resides in: Atlanta, Georgia
Style Icon: Tracee Ellis Ross
KENTARO KAMEYAMA
Age: 38
Hometown: Gifu-Ken, Japan
Resides in: Los Angeles, Calif.
KUDZANAI KARIDZA
Age: 32
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Resides in: Atlanta, GA
Style Icons: Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, David Beckham
MARGARITA ALVAREZ
Age: 30
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Resides in: Los Angeles, Calif.
Style Icon: Iris Apfel
MICHAEL BRAMBILA
Age: 25
Hometown: Oakland, Calif.
Resides in: Oakland, Calif.
Style Icons: Tilda Swinton, Panos Yiapanis
SAMANTHA REI
Age: 36
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Resides in: Minneapolis, Minn.
Style Icon: Janelle Monae
SENTELL MCDONALD
Age: 33
Hometown: New York, NY
Resides in: Bronx, NY
Style Icons: Tracee Ellis Ross, Corinne Bailey Rae, Solange Knowles
SHAWN BUITENDORP
Age: 27
Hometown: Grand Ledge, Mich.
Resides in: Grand Ledge, Mich.
Style Icon: Gwen Stefani
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covering mostly music and books. focus on alternative/indie and women in music, literature and the arts. feminist. vegan. mostly alternative, a bit bohemian. Masters in journalism from Boston University. BA from Simmons College.
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