Project Runway: Oh My Lord & Taylor

Project Runway Episode 7:

Oh My Lord & Taylor

This week the designers were set the challenge of creating a look that would complete the Project Runway collection currently available at Lord & Taylor in honor of the shows 10th anniversary: the winning look would then be mass-produced and sold both in store and online at Lord & Taylor. Naturally each designer wanted to win this particular challenge, but I think the girls took the enormity of the winning prize to heart a little too much, as it seemed that they were each having their own little break down whilst the guys sailed through their designs with ease. Poor Sonjia even started crying just as the models made their way to the runway because she hadn't finished the hem, and Melissa finished her dress just as they were walking out the door due to the fact that she had to re-cut and sew her dress again! I got a little flustered just watching them if I'm honest...

Alicia

Christopher

Dmitry

Elena

Fabio

Gunnar

Melissa

Sonjia

Ven

There were four top designs this week, with two designs on the bottom. On top were: Melissa, Elena, Christopher and Fabio. The bottom two were Alicia and Gunnar.
Before I get into my opinions on the top and bottom looks, I just want to comment on Dmitry's dress. I personally thought that the design was to die for! So when it turned out that his design qualified as a pass and not on top, I was shocked. I loved the way his design fit the body, I loved the slight sparkle from the fabric and I loved the way the dress looked expensive and powerful. I would have definitely put it on top.

Now on to the top looks: Christopher's design knocked the judges off their feet and won him this weeks challenge. His dress was ok in my opinion though: I thought it looked stunning on the model and I love his shredding technique, but I just felt like there was an element missing from the dress. As soon as I saw it on the runway, I immediately thought of an Elie Saab design, as his dresses tend to be very similar in cut and shape, but he always has some eye-catching detail and sparkle. Maybe that was what was missing from Christopher's design? I don't really know, but something was missing. What do you think?

Melissa's design was gorgeous. I would love to be able to wear this dress and get away with it, as the fabric and strapless cut of the neck/shoulder area were just beautiful. She did something similar with her blue dress on a past episode, so I loved her interpretation of it in this weeks challenge.
The only thing I'm going to say about Elena's design this week is that I loved the fabric, silhouette and harness detailing on the bodice of the dress. It's probably the only design from Elena so far that I feel I want to wear and it was nice to see her get into the top for a change.
Fabio's dress was nice and definitely suited the Lord & Taylor customer, but I just think the picture speaks for itself and I don't really have to comment on it. It was average for me.

The bottom two looks: Gunnar and Alicia. I actually liked Alicia's design, but I don't know if it was just her fabric choice that made the dress look better than it really was. It wasn't a car crash design - not at all, but I don't have any strong feelings towards it other than it was better than last week's pink dress.
Gunnar was over the moon with his dress in this weeks challenge, however the judges didn't quite see it the same way. Nina Garcia said that she has seen that dress at every price point and it was nothing new, whilst Michael Kors said it was verging on Mother-Of-The-Bride - I didn't entirely agree with MK's comment, but you know when that reference is pulled out that you're not doing so well!
So now you're wondering which one was saved from elimination this week: Gunnar or Alicia? Well, I can tell you that neither were eliminated this week: The judges felt that everyone responded to the brief well and that no one produced a garment bad enough to be sent home! 

This lack of an elimination however, has me thinking that maybe two designers will be going home next week? What do you think?

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Project Runway: Fix My Friend

Project Runway:
Fix My Friend

Really this episode should be renamed: "The one where Ven acts like a complete and utter dick head" Pardon my French, but seriously, Ven has infuriated me beyond belief this week. In case you missed this weeks episode, let me explain what happened in a nut shell: The designers were given the task of designing a look for a friend of their client. This woman wasn't very fashion-forward, nor did she really have much of a style. Ven's client was a beautiful, yet slightly shy plus size mother of four. She was constantly on the go between work and her family life, as her husband was a stay at home dad. Her friend wanted her to have a makeover, so that she could get some of the limelight back and feel special again. How did Ven react when he saw her? 'Shocked' because he has never dressed a 'real' woman before". I'm sorry Ven, but can you please explain what a 'real' woman is? Have you been dressing men in drag up until now? Don't be such an idiot. I'm begging you. Throughout the entire consultation and fittings, Ven continued to be rude and insensitive by implying on multiple occassions that this woman was fat, inconvienent for him and just not someone that he wanted to dress. When Tim Gunn asked him how the whole process was going, he replied "I was shocked...she doesn't have a shape or a style". When asked what size his client was, he replied: "*snigger*, like a 14 or something? I don't even know". These statements were probably some of the comments made by Ven during the whole series that had me taking a step back. How hypocritical is he? Ven himself is a plus size with 'no shape'! The man has clearly ate too many pies in his life so far because he doesn't even have a waist. I wonder what Karl Lagerfeld would say about him if he had to comment!
I can't even comment on the matter further without running the risk of completely blowing up on him. I officially hate him.

Moving on to better things now: the designs. Like I said, the challenge was for each designer to create a look based on their clients current lifestyle and needs, however it had to be a change for them, as they were all in need of a little style renovation. Let's see what they came up with:

Alicia

Christopher

Dmitry

Elena

Fabio

Gunnar

Melissa

Nathan

Sonjia

Ven

The top three looks chosen by judges: Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, Heidi Klum and guest judge Alice Temperley were by Fabio, Gunnar and Dmitry. The bottom three were: Ven, Nathan and Sonjia.

Starting with the top three looks: I really loved Gunnar's look. Not necessarily with the design itself, but with how he made his client feel. He listened to her, made her feel special and gave her a look that she absolutely adored. I feel that he really responded to the point of the challenge and did his client justice.
Dmitry's look, although a little lack luster in my opinion, looked great on his client - especially along with her new hairstyle, cut and colour. The colour was great, but I think it was really the accessories such as the stud clutch and ankle boots that made the outfit stand out.
Finally, Fabio's look. His client was a real tom boy: hated showing her femininity as she felt it made her look weak and rarely wore dresses unless forced to. As Michael Kors said post-runway "It took a boy in a dress to make her wear a dress". I think he did a great job in giving her something that made her look feminine and strong, but in-keeping with her own taste. In the end, a winner was chosen and that person was Fabio. Well deserved in my opinion!

Now on to the bottom three: Ven's look was obviously in the bottom three. It was hideous. He always uses the kinds of fabric that looks like a cheap imitation silk. Maybe it's just the colour in this case, but no woman in their right minds would wear something made from that fabric. I certainly wouldn't. The judges said it looked like two outfits, with the top cutting her in half and doing absolutely no favours for her body. They couldn't have said it better, really. He didn't listen to his client. In fact, he had no intention of ever listening to her as soon as he saw her 'plus size' frame. She wasn't even that big. I mean, has he seen half of America? He, himself is bigger than her and manages to dress himself without complaining about it. I actually think that the client's before image of plain t-shirt, cut off jeans and flats looked a lot better than the types of clothes he puts on himself - and he's the designer who is supposed to be fashion forward!!
Moving on to Sonjia now: Her client was a sporty tom boy, who preferred to live her life in sweats, shorts and baggy sweatshirts. Sonjia put her into something that made the client feel sexy and empowered as a woman, however the judges felt that the hem was too short (slutty, was the term they used actually) and the knot on the front put her body out of proportion: They even went so far as to say that the only woman able to pull something like that off, would be someone ready to give birth.
Lastly we have, Nathan's look. Nathan's client was an up and coming R'n'B performer who wanted something with cut out panels, her mid-drift showing and other rather inappropriate features. Nathan tried to make a compromise with the client and gave her a blue satin dress with sheer side panels and sleeves. Although the client loved her dress and said she felt comfortable in it, the judges didn't agree. They said that he threw away a great opportunity due to the clients curvy figure and performing lifestyle, and in the end chose him as this weeks loser and eliminated him from the show. Personally, I disagree with the decision. Although Nathan's look wasn't exactly fashionable or appropriate, his client loved the look and felt comfortable in it, which was part of the challenge. If I were to choose someone to leave the competition, it would have been Ven due to his complete selfishness and lack of understanding of his client. He was rude, insensitive and a complete jerk in general. 

I think I'm going to have to stop there, because once I get going on a subject that displeases me, there's no stopping my rant. 

What did you think of this weeks challenge? Did the judges make the right decision in terms of: top and bottom looks, as well as the winner and loser? Leave your feedback and let me know what you thought!

Photo Credit: www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway

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