PWOJECT WUNWAY
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This past Thursday's episode of "Project Runway" was nervewracking and, ultimately, WHOLLY SATISFYING for me. The challenge was issued by the Mayor of New York City who offered the remaining designers carte blanche to use any city landmark as inspiration for the next design.
I hoped that someone would choose Radio City Music Hall (I envisioned a full-length coat inspired by the geometry and color of the marquee/front of the building) and a separate garment inspired by the interior -- colors of the curtains, lights, etc. But, alas....
Michael C. went for Lady Liberty, which I thought was a bit predictable and possibly too literal an inspiration. Mondo and April chose the Brooklyn Bridge...Mondo for optical illusions he discovered when looking through the cabling at a certain angle...and April for...who knows what reason...I don't recall, possibly because I never saw much of it in the garment. I think it was for angles. Andy claimed Central Park, and Gretchen took the lower East Side. It was clear from Gretchen's commentary that she was ignoring the challenge concept of "inspiration" and chose to design something less "inspired by" (and not landmark-related at all) and more what she thought women on the lower East Side might wear.
If anyone appeared to be in trouble, it seemed me that Michael C. might be the one. Tim's assessment of what he was doing (two ideas at that time) were that one concept (he couldn’t make it work) was a ghastly disaster and that the other wasn't ambitious enough...and to look at what his fellow designers were doing.
Mondo was back in with the oversized houndstooth, Gretchen was making a leather jacket and “separates”, April was again doing black (ALL her outfits have been black) with asymmetrical patterns and odd cutouts, and Andy was doing a black hoochi dress which, as Gretchen called it, was a “madame” dress. Only on the back could you see any “Central Park” influence…and the back straps looked like tree branches.
On the runway, the judges asked Mondo about his garment. All but Heidi absolutely loved his look. Heidi wasn’t thrilled at seeing black oversized houndstooth again, but she loved the cut/styling of the garment. Michael Kors was complimentary that Mondo had gone the extra step of eschewing (gesundheit!) colors in favor of black and white and praised him for showing his range during the competition. During the judges' conference, Sirriano made a few remarks gestures about Mondo's personal appearance...as if Mondo were a bit chi-chi or something..he then deflected that critique to the garment, but the other judges poo-poohed him. I'm thinking Sirriano -- the Queen of Chi-Chi -- was feeling "threatened"! Next up, IIRC, was Andy, who was taken to task for his stated inspiration and the absence of any sign of said inspiration in another short “warrior princess” outfit. I’m guessing it’s because it was the final challenge because they then complimented him profusely on the look of the black outfit (shiny fabric making it look “wet” in places) and the exquisite tailoring apparent. Michael C, I believe, was up next, and he told the judges that the Statue of Liberty was his inspiration, that he wanted a dress with draping that echoed that on the famous statue without being literal, that he wanted a showstopper. Michael Kors told him that “showstopper” was what he delivered. The judges were EFFUSIVE in their praise of the dress…from Michael’s draping to the high slit in the front to the low (but decent) back. Michael was thrilled. Gretchen and April seemed to turn into stone. Guest judge Christian Sirriano said it may have been slit too high, but Heidi said, No. She wants to wear that dress.
April and Gretchen, for what it’s worth, were lambasted by the judges. Gretchen was told she apparently had run out of steam and that her garments looked cheap. They didn't rag her about not using a landmark for inspiration. Gretchen, like April, dissolved into tears and made excuses about how the challenges robbed her of creative energy, etc., etc. April was told she had delivered just another version of the same old dress she’d been flogging in several competitions. During the workrooms, both thought they’d be in the top three.
In past years, they’ve named two designers as being “in” for Fashion Week. Two other designers were told they’d compete for the third slot. This year, they’ve been told that four of them would all compete for three slots, meaning each will show a look or three in a pre-Fashion Week runway throwdown.
After the judges conferred, Michael C. was told his dress was “the dress of the evening” and that he was “in.” Then came Mondo, and then Andy, each one “in”. The choice between April and Gretchen seemed, to me, a no-brainer. And, indeed, Gretchen was “in” and April was devastated. The end.
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