Project Runway...All-Stars? Episode 4

Lets just start by saying this supermodel/host? I still can't remember her name.  In fact, there are three episodes behind us and as far as I know it's been a different woman each week.  She?  Is completely unmemorable.

Diane von Fuerstenberg? 6 hour challenge?  Before we get going I'm wondering if I should do an over/under on how many times Diane's "iconic wrap dress" will be mentioned?  If Tim were here?  It would have made for an epic drinking game. JC? I'm not sure.  How they'll even work in a visit from JC in a 6 hour challenge will be interesting... I picture much growling and "no comment" attitude from the designers Who has the time?

So, lets go.

Episode called Good Taste, Tastes Good.
Side note: When they scan the contestants? Good LORD Rami is a beautiful human being. He is swoon worthy.  Anyway....
Inspired by colors and flavors of gelato.
OK, is Kara complaining about getting THE COLOR I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO BEGIN WITH? That color is fab - she's going to have so many fabric choices to work with, I can't even believe she's unhappy with this. She is so going home this episode.
Diane von Fuerstenberg comes out wearing Rami's kiwi color.  LOL.

OK, so they don't have to be inspired by Diane von Feurstenberg's designs, so that is a bonus - I'm still betting someone makes a wrap dress.

(And the host?  Isn't very blond this week.  Same girl?)

You gotta love Kenley's honesty, "I'm not going to try anything new or take major risks..." which sort of sums up her entire design philosophy, non?

Mondo got cantaloupe? And all I see is green... hmmm. Still, not worried. I'm on Mondo for the season win.


AND here comes Joanna Coles.   She hands out gelato to the designers. She's sort of brutal. Nice, but brutal.  (Oh snap! WRAP DRESS reference.  And she sort of accused Rami of being a suck up. I LIKE her!)  We actually get to see her talk to almost all of them very very quickly, which I sort of like instead of just seeing longer versions of just a few.  The editing fits with the challenge of "very fast".  I think the only ones we didn't see her talking to are Kenley and Jerell?

Followed by the model fitting - where we get to see them make catty remarks about each others work.  LOVE LOVE LOVE! Austin is shamed by his use of a glue gun, Mila doesn't "get" Passion fruit from Kenley, Mila thinks Rami's look "is of questionable taste." (Wow, Mila has a lot of opinions. You'd never guess that by her SAME DAMN DESIGN AESTHETIC EVERY SINGLE WEEK creations.)  Anthony gives a backhanded compliment regarding Mondo's caftan, April basically calls her model fat by mentioning how, because she had to add two triangle panels, now she is running short on fabric. (ouch.) Jerell calls out half the designers on being slow workers, Austin is flashing the "look of death" regarding Kara actually using the serger instead of anticipating Austin's needs like some sort of gypsy mind reader (although, lets be honest.... there is usually a little carnival worker in Kara's presentation.)

Wait - the models are coming back in... is the Runway the same day?  Maybe. 

Kenley's dress looks like something I'd buy from Gymboree for school picture day.  I wonder if it will look like that when it's accessorized?  Jerell likes Mondo's caftan, and Kara is still ripping fabric in the corner.  Ummmm, Rami's shirt looks like crap, but the shoes from the (shout out) Neiman Marcus wall of treasures are very nice.  They're all shopping like crazy over there - because they'll need to go heavy on accessories to distract from all those glued seams and uneven hemlines. 

I almost wish, since the making of the garment was so short, that hair and makeup had to be rushed too.  Like 15 minutes for hair and 10 minutes for makeup per girl... seems more in keeping with the theme.  (Plus?  Bwahahaha on what they'd look like.)

Jarell, who made a maternity gown for the Opera challenge? Just said Kara's dress made her rail thin model look like a pregnant cupcake. Pot, kettle - you do the math.

RUNWAY!!!  Hey look - I think that's a new host! 
Judges include this new host, Mrs. Weinstein, Isaac, DVF, and Miranda Kerr.  (Why have an extra guest judge? Did someone owe her agent a favor?) 

Mondo - It's pretty.  It's really pretty.  It moves, the colors are amazing together - he's so great!

Anthony - I think the top is really cool, and the skirt is cute. I don't LOVE them together, but it fits Green Tea.

Kenley - Gymboree. I think my daughter had that dress when she was 4.  I may have bought it off the sale rack. 

Rami - I don't want to hate this, I really don't... but I also don't really have a choice.

Mila - This looks like somebody layered a couple of their older brother's mesh hockey sweaters and belted them.  Are you freaking kidding me?

Jerell - Bondage Bohemian is now a look!  (I don't hate this, I really like his fabrics)

Kara - yes, because "Chocolate Cayenne" is often represented BY THE COLOR WHITE. You freaking mess... are you kidding me?  Jarell is right, this looks like frosting on a cupcake.  GONE.

Michael - from the "Bea Arthur Mother of the Bride" collection, we have a soft pink satin number.  My God, Michael.  I can almost smell the 'Shalimar' scent of that dress from here.

April - I don't like it.  I think the colors are pretty, but did she just invent the "booty skirt"??

Austin - Unless this is ugly in person and they can tell there are hot glue strings all over it?  He's in the top three with this one.

They call Austin, Rami, Jerell, Kenley - CONGRATULATIONS!  You are safe!  Really?  OK.

Leaving Kara, Anthony, Mila, Michael, April, and Mondo.  This? Should be good.

Kara: Kara's trying to represent flavors and feelings of her flavor. Mrs. Weinstein doesn't feel Kara's passion, TWH (This Week's Host) doesn't feel the passion, Miranda doesn't like the ruffles, Diane calls her out on it not being flattering - at which point Georgina (because you know SHE is a designer too) has to put in her 2 cents. Please, let the legend finish her sentence. Issac, so cute.  "The minute the word 'pregnant' comes up you know you've missed."

Anthony: He was inspired by his green tea gelato melting over his hand. Isaac likes the dress much more after he learns that. TWH thinks the design is too conceptual, Diane likes the skirt and the fact that you can see that it melts, Mrs. Weinstein doesn't like the back panels (Mrs. Weinstein? Is right.), Miranda agrees with the above.

Mila: She wanted to create something that evokes the color and flavor of milk, not the cherry in her gelato.  Isaac thinks this looks like cherry ice cream so clearly, TWH agrees, Diane likes it except for the fact that it looks rushed, Mrs. Weinstein isn't crazy about the design, Miranda thinks it looks easy to wear.  How does NO ONE notice that this is a belted hockey sweater?? Mila is going to make freaking top three.  Really?

Michael: he wanted to do something he could finish, and something beautiful.  Isaac loves the dress, but the color isn't quite tart enough for him. Mrs. Weinstein doesn't like the color.  Diane loves the dress, she likes the way it is draped and fluid... and just said, "Michael, you gotta call me after the show."  OMG - I still think it looks Old Lady - but GO MICHAEL!! 

April: She wanted to create something light like the gelato.  Ummm, strike one.  Mrs. Weinstein likes the colors, but thinks the corset was too ambitious. Isaac just, very nicely, told her basically that her styling sucks... but thought the dress made an impact.  Diane reads 'Halloween spider' from this look. TWH said that April has very interesting ideas, but it doesn't translate well, and Miranda likes the dress better without the belt.

Mondo: his lose interpretation of a cantaloupe. Diane thinks it's great.  Miranda thinks the back is to die for.  Mrs. Weinstein says that these colors and fabrics shouldn't go together - but they do, and I think she is baffled by how he did that.  TWH likes that the caftan flatters the figure, not crazy about the orange. Isaac thinks the back saves it, he'd like to have seen more of her body.

From these comments I'm guessing that top two are Mila and Micheal, with the Bea Arthur gown taking the win.  I'm guessing the bottom two are Kara and April... and I hope to God it's Kara that goes home - but I'm afraid it's going to be April. 

Diliberation of the Judges:
Who didn't they like? Start with Anthony. They don't love it. Kara, her interpretation was too literal. Dress wasn't flattering. April, the colors were pretty but needs more confidence as her look was a little too much Halloween - but at the same time? Not enough Halloween. Wha?

Who did they like? Michael. They thought this was beautiful, but there is something just a tiny bit off for each of them.  Mila, it was Isaac's favorite dress.  Mondo.  They did like this, everyone seems to like it.  It's between Mondo and Michael.  I am ECSTATIC that Mila isn't top two.  Freaking hockey sweater sweeping down the runway.

***
Congratulations to...Michael.  Who is SHOCKED.
Goodbye to... April.  Awww, man.  I like April.  I think she's so much better than that dress she showed today.

Next week?  Picking up people in the park. Awesome.
All photos from Lifetime's Project Runway All Star's Rate the Runway.

Project Runway... All-Stars? Episode 3

Really? Didn't know if this show was going to be blogworthy, but after the second episode I knew I had to jump in there.  New host, mentor, and judges?  Yay! 

Lets take a look at the designtestants:

Anthony Williams, Season 7, final finish? 5th.  Don't get me wrong, I like Anthony. He cracks me up! But he was eliminated twice during season 7.  I assume he's here because he's a fan favorite, and I'm glad of that. 

April Johnson, Season 8, final finish? 5th. I liked April... I did.  A 5th place finish isn't SO horrible here, as there were 17 contestants that season.  Top 1/3 of the class, she's in the right place.  (But what happened to her hair?)

Austin Scarlet, Season 1, final finish? 4th.  WHERE HE WAS ROBBED, because Wendy? Bitch, please.  No.  Austin should have been on that runway, not Wendy.  In my book Austin was top 3.  Yes, an All-Star.  (Frankly?  I'm a little surprised Austin took this gig.)

Elisa Jimenez, Season 4, final finish? 10th. Tenth? Frankly, 10th place was a gift as Jack would have kicked her ass down to 11th if he hasn't gotten a mersa infection and had to withdraw himself from the competition.  Bottom third of the class does not an All-Star make. What the hell is she doing here, was Dancing With The Stars full up?  There is good news: She was the first eliminated from the All-Star parade... to the surprise of nobody.

Gordana Gehlhausen, Season 6, final finish? 4th.  And really, she was a better designer than Althea, which takes her up to 3rd.  She should be here, and she's very, very good. Besides, I love her accent.

Jerell Scott, Season 5, final finish? 4th.  This seems to be a running placement for qualification, there are a lot of 4th place finishers.  Granted, he was 4th behind Kenley... so, you know.... ewww.  Jerell is totally fun, and I really liked when he told Kenley that her outfit was all "hip hop", when actually it was all "white girl at the 2nd rate mall". 

Kara Janx, Season 2, final finish?  Hmmm, 4th?  Should have been 5th - because no WAY this chick actually beat out Nick, right?  Judges were totally high. Still, 5th would have been a decent showing.  She'll be out early though.  No way she gets through episode 5 alive.

Kenley Collins, Season 5, final finish? Gifted with a 3rd place finish. I think the 50's prom dresses are going to get old very quickly. Also? I wonder which episode we see her turn in the overconfident bitch we all know and don't really at all love.

Michael Costello, Season 8, final finish? 4th. I love Michael. I love everything about him, but what I especially love is that he beat Ivy's ass and she was LIVID.  Go Michael! All-Stars could go very well for Michael if they give him the right challenges.

Mila Hermanovski, Season 7, final finish? A well deserved 3rd. I didn't love Mila's work, but I appreciated it. She could actually go a long way in All-Stars.

Mondo Guerra, Season 8, final finish? 2nd. ROBBED. Everyone who watched Season 8 knows that Mondo should have been the winner over Gretchen. It was the worst decision I think they've ever made on the final runway - and it made me really mad. If I had to pick a winner at the beginning of this season?  Mondo for the win. (I'm a Denver girl, come on!)

Rami Kashou, Season 4, final finish? 2nd. Against Christian Siriano. Had Christian not been there? Rami would have RUN AWAY with that season. He's fab - but Christian Siriano is probably the best designer that has ever been on Project Runway. Rami will be Mondo's #1 competition.

Sweet P, Season 4, final finish? 5th. I'm not a fan of Sweet P as a designer. I AM a fan of the woman she is - she's sincere and funny and such a "girlfriend." She's be so much fun to have coffee with, but I wasn't really surprised that she was 2nd out. I'm sorry, Sweet P, I really would love to hang out with you, though. 

****
I think Elisa was put in to the competition so that they could kick someone off pretty easily and not feel bad (first one out is such an ego blow).  You cannot keep someone around who "blesses" things by spitting on them. Not during cold and flu season. And I was really very sure that Kara would go before Sweet P - but I was wrong.  So by the time I start blogging the season, Elisa and Sweet P are already gone.  Neither one of them was going to make it too far - but Kara's dress was uglier. Just sayin.

OK, and can I just stop and say HOLY COW to Mondo's and Rami's creations on the first challenge?

2nd Challenge, A Night At The Opera.  Kenley created a prom dress (wow. Nobody but Miley Cyrus was going to look at that gown and think "Opera",and that's because Miley would be thinking "Opry"), and Jerel, Kara, and Sweet P looked like they created maternity dresses. Not one of them successfully hit that empire waistline correctly - which made those skinny models look like balloons on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route. Is this a look now? Please don't tell me that this is a look now. Michael had a super beautiful showing, as did Mondo. Austin's gown was the winner - but I sort of expect more from Austin than this. He IS gowns. I believe there are actually Oscar dresses coursing through his veins... and this was just a not enough. Rami's color was gorgeous, but the design didn't really work for me. 

3rd Challenge?  Designing for Miss Piggy.
Let's get started!
OK, they all see Miss Piggy, and they're all acting like it's such a fun idea.  NOT. 
OH WAIT - Miss Piggy will be judging.  LOL. 

$150 and just one short day.  Yikes!

(Do you love that they are talking about Miss Piggy like she is an actual person?)

I'd put her in brown, as I LOVE pink and brown together. Sort of a rich brown take on the little black dress - Audrey Hepburn style. But there seems to be a lot of black and pink going on. What a surprise, Mila is going for a 60's vibe. Can she DO anything else? 
Kara and Mondo fighting over gloves.  Kara should just give it up.
OK, enough of that.  She's made Mondo mad, so the gloves will be off so to speak. 

Love the mentor visit!  Good old Joanna Coles. Starting with Gordana  She wants to show off Piggy's legs, deciding chic, girly, carefree. Joanna gets a nightgown vibe.  "This is going to be comfortable for her".  (Reminder: She's a PUPPET.)

Mila next. Joanna is in to the mod vibe.  Did these judges NOT watch the previous seasons - because Mila hasn't advanced her vision one iota in three years.  Joanna cautions her to be careful regarding a headband, because she doesn't want to impare her hearing.  (Ummm, again... PUPPET?)

Kenley's turn.  "How does a pig feel about wearing a giraffe print?"  (OK, clearly medication is needed, for they ALL seem to thing that Miss Piggy is real.)

Austin. Austin "feels he understands Miss Piggy. In many ways we are kindred spirits."  Really Austin?  Because Miss Piggy isn't REAL. There is a guy named Eric Jacobson who's got his hand up her ass making her move and talk. Wait, maybe there is something to that whole "kindred spirits" thing? Joanna is not convinced of the vision. (And I'm not convinced of his sanity.)

Mondo's concept is to give her something from from her childhood, because she brought so much joy to his childhood.  He is assuming she was born in the 60's.  I believe we all know she'd take offense to that assumption? (Oh, I so want him to tell the Pig that she looks like she's FIRMLY in her 40's!)

Time to call it a night.  You know they'll have like 20 minutes in the morning, mad dash to clothe the pig.

Runway day!
Everyone does seem excited to meet Miss Piggy.  (The clips they've shown of the judging don't look so positive!)

The Judges:
Angela Linvall (host)
Georgina Chapman (designer)
Eric Daman (stylist, sitting in for Isaac Mizrahi)
Miss Piggy (client)

My impression:
Michael's dress, I don't love the fabric, but the bow thing on the shoulder seems very Miss Piggy.
April's dress, Cute.
Jerell's dress, I hate this.
Kara, Actually turned out much better than I anticipated, with Mondo's gloves and Austin's shoes to complete the look.
Kenley.  Ummm, I don't like this, but the judges? Might.
Anthony's dress. Its a pretty dress, but I don't see it on Miss Piggy at all.
Rami's dress, to me?  SPOT ON.  It's animated and fun, and not something a real person could ever really wear... because she ISN'T REAL, this is it for me.
Mila's dress looks like everything Mila always makes. Could Miss Piggy pull it off?  Sure, but so could I.
Gordana'd dress.  Actually, the neckline is SO right for this challenge.
Austin's creation... That dress is not going to place top three.
Mondo. I think the dress is OK, the styling is not good. 

Austin, Rami, Gordana, Kenley, Mila, Michael.  Top three and bottom three.  Everyone else is safe.

Austin:

Georgina - beautifully constructed, but the colors aren't happy.
Eric - hates the bows.
Angela - proportion is thrown off.
Piggy - "Can you hula hoop in that dress?"


***

Rami:

Georgina - he went fresh, had a little wink to it.
Eric - fun fun fun Parisian Hog Couture.
Piggy - garish, outlandish, ridiculous, and she LOVES It!

***

Gordana:

Angela - Pretty dress, but understated.
Georgina - doesn't quite fit.
Piggy - fine dress, doesn't know if it's "moi"

***

Michael:

Georgina - likes that it has an air of sophistication
Angela - should have been more pink?
Piggy - Would make her feel like a present for Kermie.

***

Mila:

Georgina - color would have been better for photographs
Eric - wanted color.
Piggy - doesn't SCREAM Miss Piggy, it whispers it.

***

Kenley:

Georgina - color was great, doesn't like the top.
Eric - whimsical, likes the print.
Piggy - does like the hat, because after the event she could take it home to clean her pots and pans.

OK, they start with the ones they hated... Austin!  Bwahahaha! Nobody liked this one.  Mila's dress, which brought up Wednesday Addams comments.  Oops.  Gordana.  Boring, won't flatter the pig.

Who did they like?  Kenley; Piggy doesn't like the idea of a Pink Giraffe.  "I'm not sure what that says."  I'm not either!  Rami;  THIS DRESS IS THE BOMB.  Whimsical, fantastic.  Michael; Except for the styling, the color and the hat, they liked the the dress itself.  Not the winner, clearly.


So WHO WON?
Rami!  NO????? What? Michael??? Who the f*** would pick Michael's dress over Rami's??  I demand a recount... This is simply wrong.  Project runway?  I'm keeping count here... this is one in the lose column for you.

Who's gone?
Gordana.  Which means I cannot believe that KARA outlasted Gordana.  Are you kidding me? 

So, what's up next week? Diane von Furstenberg gives them a 6 hour challenge. I'm personally hoping for a bench clearing brawl over the accessory wall!

***All pictures from: PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS, EPISODE 3, RATE THE RUNWAY***