Pwoject Wunway:
Semi-SPOILAGE
Weighing in on this season after a few weeks, I'm trusting that folks here still watch it. This has been the year of "The Near-Assassination and Persecution of Michael Costello by the Inmates of the Project Runway Competition at the Parsons School of Design in New York as Performed by a Few Inmates, Most Notably Ivy Higa and April Johnston."
I am now the de facto President of the Alameda County "I Hate Ivy H" Committee. If she were spotted walking down the sidewalk and I could get to her, I'd verbally bitch-slap her until hell wouldn't have her.
After weeks of being tormented by designers "no longer in competition", Michael C. not only remains a viable contestant but he has won the respect and (somewhat) grudging admiration of "most" of the remaining designers. Only April, whose attitude is unfathomable given that she sent an adult diaper down the runway in the first challenge, remains a holdout and is vitriolic when the subject arises. Her contempt was spawned by Ivy H -- a Parsons "graduate" who believed herself the most accomplished practitioner of design arts on the show. It is she about whom Michael Kors declared -- after yet another "dismal" design -- "She's not a designer...she's a 'seamstress'". Ivy remains clueless about why she is no longer on the show...and remains unconvinced that Michael C. "earned" either of his two runway challenge wins. Michael C is "self-taught". He's been sewing since he was 5. He doesn't "do" patterns and doesn't have "designer" terminology tripping lightly off his tongue (Ivy was fond of making designer-esque pronouncements about applications she would be "introducing" into her design, from week to week. None of which, by the way, ever got noticed or earned compliments from the judges).
What was revealed in the last episode is that the designers would be doing a look to add to Heidi Klum's "New Balance Amazon.com line". Several of the existing designs were sent out so the contestants could see what they needed to complement with their own offerings. Her entire line is muted beiges, browns and greys, with blacks and whites used sparingly. As Mondo Guerra lamented, "There's no color in it."
Heidi made an early assessment of what was being done and wasnt pleased with several of the designers' early outfits.. After that, Tim announced they'd all be doing "two more looks". Back to "Mood" they went to correct earlier misgivings and to get more fabric. Happily (?), Heidi had provided bolts of a grey fabric that she had in excess in one of her warehouses. Tim also told them they would get "help."
And there it was: All the demons who had earned their early departure and deserved future anonymity returned...and to a one, they were all "after" Michael C. Ivy H led the charge insulting/berating and accusing him of cheating. Somehow, had Michael not "cheated" and "undermined" (that last term is Ivy's speciality, by the way), "more deserving" designers (meaning "her") would still be in the compeition. Funny, though...it wasn't Michael C. up on the runway as one of the two choices when Ivy was eliminated.
No...the truth was out. Ivy H., in the eighth week competition, had discovered some double-sided tape in the "women's" restroom and concluded that Michael C. had obviously been the one to use it for his design for the Jackie Kennedy "look". She told all the other designers at that time, and as they had all been "down" on Michael C. and criticized him at every turn before, this incident justified, in their minds, that he was not to be endured. For the Jackie Kennedy challenge, he had done an open-sided, but very well-fitted, blue cocktail dress. Ivy H believe that only Michael would have needed this tape to prevent his model's boob's from popping out the sides. As Michael pointed out, however, his model used special "pads" that prevented such a disaster.
Tim gathered everyone and said the allegation had been made and that a review of all tapes, including workroom, fittings, makeup and runway, had been made...and that NO EVIDENCE of any kind existed to indicate Michael or his model had done anything illegal or untoward. The judges, Tim asserted, would most definitely have noted such subterfuge had it been perpetrated. The judges have complimented his work and, in deliberations, have been openly supportive of his skills...especially given his lack of training. Tim Gunn also praises him in front of the others.
He also reminded everyone that it had been weeks and weeks since this challenge and that the time for accusations would have been "then" and not "weeks later."
The judges are well aware of the "mindset" that has prevailed among the contestants since day one. Gretchen has been a ringleader in being "judgmental" about the talents of others, but Ivy H has been venomous. Gretchen has openly challenged the judges' decisions/taste levels in awarding Michael C. two wins on the runway. The thing that sticks in their craws, IMO, is that Michael C. has no formal training, yet somehow makes up to five different looks before he settles on "one". They spend all their time slaving over the "one" design they initially sketch out and pattern...and then have difficulties fitting. Michael C. works fast and is very flexible and it's something the others cannot abide for whatever reason. Michael C. has a fan/friend in Mondo Guerra...who does not sketch...he does it all in his head. He's also won three consecutive challenges and is the frontrunner to take it all, IMO. Likely to move forward to Fashion Week as contestants are Gretchen, Mondo and Andy South, whose work has been "hit-and miss" all season. It's either really good or it's hideous. Michael C. is not the best...or even one of the three best... designers. But he's very good. April is also very, very good...and is an outside contender for the final three.
The Heidi challenge was won by Andy...and all three of his looks will be available in the collection on Amazon.com (they were going to choose just one, but Heidi loved them all).
By the way, it was Christopher (who every week said he hoped he wouldn't be eliminated because he hadn't yet shown what he could do) who was chosen to be evicted. The judges simply felt he'd never made an impression on them and that his looks in this challenge were probably his worst...poorly styled and executed. And who had been his helper? The incredible Ivy H, of course, who styled all his designs.
It's never dull!!!
End SPOILAGE
