Friday, October 22, 2010
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Finale Part 2 - Bryant Park Fizzle
I didn't jump on blogging for this episode because it was such a disappointment. I saw it coming, but it didn't make it any less painful.
First we'll start with an episode rundown.
Carol Hannah is a train wreck. Vomiting, weeping, whatever happened to baby jane crazytown. Somehow she snaps out of it around the time they do hair and makeup consultations.
Tim expresses concerns about Irina and Althea having a similar messy smoky eye on the runway. Irina says "That's Althea." That bitch still thinks that Althea is copying her because hey both do knits and a smoky eye? Seriously? That's like saying she copied her because they both used red fabric (if only - more like all black). Everybody does a smoky eye. The grand irony here:
nymag.com/irina used another copyright for her shirts like a true ho
That's right, after being told she was using a copyrighted image for her first t shirt design, she writes out "reasons I love New York" lifted straight out of NY Mag 2008 Reasons to Love New York list.
Plus, she was outsmarted by a hotel deadbolt.
Tim was more upset than I've ever seen him before the show started. They must have really been running behind. Unprofesh.
The other worst part of the show...The designers introducing their collections.
Althea was the worst I've ever seen. Wearing Ugg Boots, it was like a spontaneous drunk wedding toast more than a practiced/professional introduction. Irina's was also bad.
ew's coverage of Project Runway finale when it happened in Feb
I found out after the fact that the designers did not introduce their collections to the crowd or appear on the runway. That was all tv editing. They actually introduced their collections to an empty house before their shows started. I don't know whether that makes the results better or worse. They were probably distracted, and definitely not trying to impress anyone...but they can't blame it on nervousness from public speaking. I'm upset that the show decided not to address this situation at all. They certainly had the time during a protracted legal battle...
The guest judge:
Suzy Menkes
It's mean but I have to say it, she's a hot Mrs. Doubtfire-esque mess. That hairstyle!
So here's the runway:
Althea
Carol Hannah
Irina
What do I really like? Althea's green dress, CH's long black/maybe purple? satiny gown and her teal 13th look dress. That's it.
I felt instantly when the runway was finished that Irina would win, no contest. Did I particularly love or want any of her pieces? No.
However, she was the only one who had a connective thread and brought drama to the runway. I think she was incredibly stupid to do another black piece for her 13th look. I am not interested in her future career in the slightest.
I prefer Carol Hannah two the other two designers. I love some of her stuff, but did not enjoy the tulle barrel skirt or the teal barber's cape. I think she was trying too hard to be "edgy."
I was annoyed that they did let's meet the judges twice.
This may be a familiar rant, but I feel compelled to make it. I think that as the show has gone on, the execution quality of garments has skyrocketed in inverse proportion to creativity. I believe that the competition to be a part of the show increasing has done a great disservice to PR. When the contestants consisted of talented amateurs, we got people with ideas that were out there, who hadn't necessarily already worked in the industry or had classical training and fashion schooling and didn't know the "rules." That meant they weren't constrained by the can and can'ts of the fashion industry, but only by their own imaginations. I think taking PR pro was a huge mistake, and I can only hope they end up with a professional wunderkind who hasn't had success - which seems farfetched.
They mean it when they say that this was the most talented crop of designers yet, but what do they have to show for it? Nothing but lackluster already seen before garments. No bold statements. Certainly nothing I would rush out to buy.
Leanne was more creative than all three of these women put together.
First we'll start with an episode rundown.
Carol Hannah is a train wreck. Vomiting, weeping, whatever happened to baby jane crazytown. Somehow she snaps out of it around the time they do hair and makeup consultations.
Tim expresses concerns about Irina and Althea having a similar messy smoky eye on the runway. Irina says "That's Althea." That bitch still thinks that Althea is copying her because hey both do knits and a smoky eye? Seriously? That's like saying she copied her because they both used red fabric (if only - more like all black). Everybody does a smoky eye. The grand irony here:
nymag.com/irina used another copyright for her shirts like a true ho
That's right, after being told she was using a copyrighted image for her first t shirt design, she writes out "reasons I love New York" lifted straight out of NY Mag 2008 Reasons to Love New York list.
Plus, she was outsmarted by a hotel deadbolt.
Tim was more upset than I've ever seen him before the show started. They must have really been running behind. Unprofesh.
The other worst part of the show...The designers introducing their collections.
Althea was the worst I've ever seen. Wearing Ugg Boots, it was like a spontaneous drunk wedding toast more than a practiced/professional introduction. Irina's was also bad.
ew's coverage of Project Runway finale when it happened in Feb
I found out after the fact that the designers did not introduce their collections to the crowd or appear on the runway. That was all tv editing. They actually introduced their collections to an empty house before their shows started. I don't know whether that makes the results better or worse. They were probably distracted, and definitely not trying to impress anyone...but they can't blame it on nervousness from public speaking. I'm upset that the show decided not to address this situation at all. They certainly had the time during a protracted legal battle...
The guest judge:
Suzy Menkes
It's mean but I have to say it, she's a hot Mrs. Doubtfire-esque mess. That hairstyle!
So here's the runway:
Althea
Carol Hannah
Irina
What do I really like? Althea's green dress, CH's long black/maybe purple? satiny gown and her teal 13th look dress. That's it.
I felt instantly when the runway was finished that Irina would win, no contest. Did I particularly love or want any of her pieces? No.
However, she was the only one who had a connective thread and brought drama to the runway. I think she was incredibly stupid to do another black piece for her 13th look. I am not interested in her future career in the slightest.
I prefer Carol Hannah two the other two designers. I love some of her stuff, but did not enjoy the tulle barrel skirt or the teal barber's cape. I think she was trying too hard to be "edgy."
I was annoyed that they did let's meet the judges twice.
This may be a familiar rant, but I feel compelled to make it. I think that as the show has gone on, the execution quality of garments has skyrocketed in inverse proportion to creativity. I believe that the competition to be a part of the show increasing has done a great disservice to PR. When the contestants consisted of talented amateurs, we got people with ideas that were out there, who hadn't necessarily already worked in the industry or had classical training and fashion schooling and didn't know the "rules." That meant they weren't constrained by the can and can'ts of the fashion industry, but only by their own imaginations. I think taking PR pro was a huge mistake, and I can only hope they end up with a professional wunderkind who hasn't had success - which seems farfetched.
They mean it when they say that this was the most talented crop of designers yet, but what do they have to show for it? Nothing but lackluster already seen before garments. No bold statements. Certainly nothing I would rush out to buy.
Leanne was more creative than all three of these women put together.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Finale Part 1
To kick off this pseudo-episode, Heidi met with the designers on the runway to tell them about their final challenge: creating a 12 piece collection for Bryant Park with $9000 and several months.
This was followed up by a hilariously awkward dance between Heidi and Tim in silhouette behind the runway. Heidi dances like a freak and Tim was obviously generally uncomfortable dancing - so it made a delicious combination.
Tim journeyed out five weeks before Fashion Week to check on the progress of the three designers.
First stop = Huntington, NY to see Carol Hannah. She has been working out of a friend's house.
I was unsurprised to learn that CH was an awkward child, but was surprised to see her classic and beautiful mother. She should give her daughter some grooming tips!
Seeing Tim Gunn say "I love a kitchen" and making biscuits in a apron was worth the price of admission.
Next up was a trip to Upper East Side Manhattan to see Irina. I was actually surprised at the size of her apartment considering her entitled princess attitude...but maybe that's her prop sympathy workroom apartment rented just for PR?
She does have a lapdog named Princess. *barfs in mouth*
Tim tells her to make sure her collection doesn't looked forced. Impossible!
Everything about her is contrived and forced. The only thing I actually believed coming out of her mouth this episode was about her mother. I think she actually loves someone besides herself, which I would have thought impossible prior to this episode. I was forced to throw up in my mouth again when Tim went after-school special on us and said "Regardless of the outcome, Irina is already a winner."
Then her mom riffed on them being winners for having a daughter like her and I went into a diabetic coma. Lifetime, what have you done to Project Runway?!
Next Tim heads to Dayton, Ohio to drop in on Carol Hannah. From the dangerous looking warehouse elevator to the street scenes of life in Ohio, I have now been convinced that I never want to go there.
What a love letter to OH from the producers of PR. I think it reads:
Ohio. It blows.
Althea was mind-meltingly stupid during this visit. She vaguely stated that she was inspired by sci-fi movies without any elaboration. She told Tim she wanted to be a designer because she always loved art and drawing...the end. She seems to have no depth at all. Maybe she's just camera shy and terse, but I get the impression she's an Amazon-sized rube.
The producers decide not to inform Irina that her stupid trademarked design Coney Island t's are out until 10 days before fashion week to up the drama. She frets and decides to replace them with an equally as stupid/stupider t of her own design.
I loved the amazingly incredible awkwardness in the hotel suite after Irina and Althea exchanged a faux-warm greeting. The tension was palpable.
Then Tim arrives to tell the girls about CH's terrible contagious stomach virus. The girls react with barely contained glee. Irina says she feels truly bad - complete shit. At least Althea acknowledges that they can't really be upset about the competition taking knocks.
Against all odds, Carol Hannah shows up in the workroom the next day, telling the other girls she was up barfing all night. My husband says she looks better when she's sick. I think she had her hair done for fashion week - huge improvement.
Nina and Michael come in to give advice. Seemingly without seeing any of the girl's work - Nina makes an "innocent" comment about how an all black collection is difficult to pull off and Irina gets her back up about Nina being wrong. B---h, whether she's wrong or right, you do realize that she's judging you right?
As usual, the designers have a last minute challenge sprung on them. They are to create a thirteenth look to fit in with their collection. Logan, Christopher, and Gordana show up to lend a hand.
In a horrible stunt to try to convince people to watch the abomination known as Models of the Runway, the producers decide to let the "Muse models" cast the models for the thirteenth look. You know they are going to pick models fatter, uglier, and/or older than themselves so that they can look better. *sigh*
Althea gets first pick and snatches up Logan. Irina gets Gordana, and CH is stuck with Chris. He may be doomed to be rejected by PR and also be given a small-pox blanket (in the form of a hug and partnership with stomach virus of doom CH).
Why Althea didn't pick Gordana - who is obviously the best seamstress, is beyond me.
They are given the requisite sketch time and $250 for the NY Mood.
As promised, the episode ends in CH toilet jockeying. If only there had been more actual vomit and less schlocky vomit-inducing moments...
Althea tries to help by putting an ice pack on the back of her neck. Who does that? Is that a thing?
I am concerned. Although much was saved for the finale, what I did see of the designers collections was very underwhelming. I'm not holding out much hope of loving these collections.
This was followed up by a hilariously awkward dance between Heidi and Tim in silhouette behind the runway. Heidi dances like a freak and Tim was obviously generally uncomfortable dancing - so it made a delicious combination.
Tim journeyed out five weeks before Fashion Week to check on the progress of the three designers.
First stop = Huntington, NY to see Carol Hannah. She has been working out of a friend's house.
I was unsurprised to learn that CH was an awkward child, but was surprised to see her classic and beautiful mother. She should give her daughter some grooming tips!
Seeing Tim Gunn say "I love a kitchen" and making biscuits in a apron was worth the price of admission.
Next up was a trip to Upper East Side Manhattan to see Irina. I was actually surprised at the size of her apartment considering her entitled princess attitude...but maybe that's her prop sympathy workroom apartment rented just for PR?
She does have a lapdog named Princess. *barfs in mouth*
Tim tells her to make sure her collection doesn't looked forced. Impossible!
Everything about her is contrived and forced. The only thing I actually believed coming out of her mouth this episode was about her mother. I think she actually loves someone besides herself, which I would have thought impossible prior to this episode. I was forced to throw up in my mouth again when Tim went after-school special on us and said "Regardless of the outcome, Irina is already a winner."
Then her mom riffed on them being winners for having a daughter like her and I went into a diabetic coma. Lifetime, what have you done to Project Runway?!
Next Tim heads to Dayton, Ohio to drop in on Carol Hannah. From the dangerous looking warehouse elevator to the street scenes of life in Ohio, I have now been convinced that I never want to go there.
What a love letter to OH from the producers of PR. I think it reads:
Ohio. It blows.
Althea was mind-meltingly stupid during this visit. She vaguely stated that she was inspired by sci-fi movies without any elaboration. She told Tim she wanted to be a designer because she always loved art and drawing...the end. She seems to have no depth at all. Maybe she's just camera shy and terse, but I get the impression she's an Amazon-sized rube.
The producers decide not to inform Irina that her stupid trademarked design Coney Island t's are out until 10 days before fashion week to up the drama. She frets and decides to replace them with an equally as stupid/stupider t of her own design.
I loved the amazingly incredible awkwardness in the hotel suite after Irina and Althea exchanged a faux-warm greeting. The tension was palpable.
Then Tim arrives to tell the girls about CH's terrible contagious stomach virus. The girls react with barely contained glee. Irina says she feels truly bad - complete shit. At least Althea acknowledges that they can't really be upset about the competition taking knocks.
Against all odds, Carol Hannah shows up in the workroom the next day, telling the other girls she was up barfing all night. My husband says she looks better when she's sick. I think she had her hair done for fashion week - huge improvement.
Nina and Michael come in to give advice. Seemingly without seeing any of the girl's work - Nina makes an "innocent" comment about how an all black collection is difficult to pull off and Irina gets her back up about Nina being wrong. B---h, whether she's wrong or right, you do realize that she's judging you right?
As usual, the designers have a last minute challenge sprung on them. They are to create a thirteenth look to fit in with their collection. Logan, Christopher, and Gordana show up to lend a hand.
In a horrible stunt to try to convince people to watch the abomination known as Models of the Runway, the producers decide to let the "Muse models" cast the models for the thirteenth look. You know they are going to pick models fatter, uglier, and/or older than themselves so that they can look better. *sigh*
Althea gets first pick and snatches up Logan. Irina gets Gordana, and CH is stuck with Chris. He may be doomed to be rejected by PR and also be given a small-pox blanket (in the form of a hug and partnership with stomach virus of doom CH).
Why Althea didn't pick Gordana - who is obviously the best seamstress, is beyond me.
They are given the requisite sketch time and $250 for the NY Mood.
As promised, the episode ends in CH toilet jockeying. If only there had been more actual vomit and less schlocky vomit-inducing moments...
Althea tries to help by putting an ice pack on the back of her neck. Who does that? Is that a thing?
I am concerned. Although much was saved for the finale, what I did see of the designers collections was very underwhelming. I'm not holding out much hope of loving these collections.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Art School Confidential
This runway episode is the last challenge. Heidi makes a crack about views and I yell Getty at the t.v. and hedge my bets with "or Hollywood sign".
The designers think it's a sign of how very serious Project Runway is - with LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa showing up to welcome them to the Getty challenge.
Whereas I, being a (somewhat cynical) realist, realize that it's nothing more than our second-rate mayor being a media whore.
Tim G. takes the five remaining designers on a 30 minute tour of the Getty. It's
all rainbows and sunshine as the designers find their inspirations.
The designers are given 30 minutes to sketch and are transported to Mood for their last visit.
Chris is still doing his Cinderella routine - I can't believe someone like ME is HERE.
Everyone has paired up and Althea is the odd Amazon out.
Tim was cracking me up this episode. Calling Irina's goat cape "roadkill" and her look "a post-apocalyptic moment" and then that delightful cackle.
Plus, there was that hilarious crack about Nina's stilettos shooting off her feet.
Gordana is super emotional about Monet and her dress, appealing to the audience on a spiritual level. I like Monet as much as the next guy, but Monet is so bland as an inspiraiton - pure gift shop material. His paintings fall perfectly in line with meek Gordana's grey aesthetic.
"I'm here for the final challenge, how many can say that?"
Um, 5?
Chris describes himself as a designer - "pretty but kinda dirty."
Me - "good ideas, but messy results"
Althea was so busy shooting laser beams out of her eyes at Irina she stabbed her model with a pin - poor thing, she barely missed a vital organ.
The judges this week:
Cynthia Rowley
Nina Garcia
Cindy Crawford (gorgeous)
Althea
Inspiration = Getty Center Architecture:
Very messy. I can see the architecture connection, but the design is made to look all the worse since the Getty building has such clean lines.
Carol Hannah
Inspiration = French Bed:
Call me crazy, but I saw it more as
Inspiration = Disney:
It's a gorgeous and flattering red carpet ready dress. It's also very safe and kinda bland considering the inspiration.
Christopher
Inspiration = Algae-covered Rock Fountain:
I like the idea - but the judges nailed it: poor textile choices, lacking execution.
I think that Gordana and Chris should form a design team where he sketches and she makes the garments. They could learn from each other.
Gordana
Inspiration = Claude Monet's The Portrait of Rouen Cathedral in Morning Light:
The dress is fine. Not transcendant, not ugly. The back is worse than the front, as Nina observed.
Irina
Inspiration = John William Godward's Mischief and Repose:
I can see the inspiration here; she's trying to make a stick figure look rubenesque. The color and the back are nice. The dress as a whole is a big fail. It looks more like a bad gypsy costume than a lounging Grecian goddess.
The designers are asked to defend themselves and choose the three who should go on to Bryant Park.
Irina chooses Althea and Gordana
Gordana chooses Chris and Irina
Chris chooses Carol Hannah and Irina
Althea chooses Carol Hannah and Irina
Carol Hannah chooses Chris and Althea
Breakdown:
Everyone thinks Irina should go except Carol Hannah. Three think Chris should go to BP(not Althea or Irina - the two hardest chicks in the competition), three think Carol Hannah should go to BP(not Irina or Gordana), three think Althea should go to BP(not Gordana or Chris - the emotional ones who think they should go in her place - sensing weakness), and two think Gordana should go (I'm counting the designers - who want themselves to go through - as a vote; aka no one thinks she should go except herself and her best buddy Irina who obviously wants to pick off the steeper competition).
I must be getting too jaded, because Christopher's emotional I am the algae covered rocks speech did not get me. I think it got my husband a little though. heh.
Anyways, I think Chris is the biggest girl left in the competition and his crying and belly-aching was starting to give me Ricky deja vu (that's a BAD thing).
I love how Irina's Oscar speech about how she is a poor immigrant who is struggling was so hollow and rehearsed. She is obviously rich and overpriviledged, why not just say she deserves it on merit alone instead of insulting everyone's intelligence with her poor acting. She was not emotional at all on learning she had made it. She obviously expected it. Bitch.
At least Carol Hannah was gratified.
Thoughts:
I think Gordana and Christopher were the deserving parties to be sent home and that both should not have made it this far. I can't say I'm very excited about seeing the final collections with the pool left though. I would choose Carol Hannah as my favorite among the ladies, but I have no strong sentiments - other than a hope to see a lot of vomit in the next episode.
My pick for the winner, final collections sight unseen:
Carol Hannah
PS-Please stop doing smoky eye and bedhead, you look like you just rolled out of the gutter.
The designers think it's a sign of how very serious Project Runway is - with LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa showing up to welcome them to the Getty challenge.
Whereas I, being a (somewhat cynical) realist, realize that it's nothing more than our second-rate mayor being a media whore.
Tim G. takes the five remaining designers on a 30 minute tour of the Getty. It's
all rainbows and sunshine as the designers find their inspirations.
The designers are given 30 minutes to sketch and are transported to Mood for their last visit.
Chris is still doing his Cinderella routine - I can't believe someone like ME is HERE.
Everyone has paired up and Althea is the odd Amazon out.
Tim was cracking me up this episode. Calling Irina's goat cape "roadkill" and her look "a post-apocalyptic moment" and then that delightful cackle.
Plus, there was that hilarious crack about Nina's stilettos shooting off her feet.
Gordana is super emotional about Monet and her dress, appealing to the audience on a spiritual level. I like Monet as much as the next guy, but Monet is so bland as an inspiraiton - pure gift shop material. His paintings fall perfectly in line with meek Gordana's grey aesthetic.
"I'm here for the final challenge, how many can say that?"
Um, 5?
Chris describes himself as a designer - "pretty but kinda dirty."
Me - "good ideas, but messy results"
Althea was so busy shooting laser beams out of her eyes at Irina she stabbed her model with a pin - poor thing, she barely missed a vital organ.
The judges this week:
Cynthia Rowley
Nina Garcia
Cindy Crawford (gorgeous)
Althea
Inspiration = Getty Center Architecture:
Very messy. I can see the architecture connection, but the design is made to look all the worse since the Getty building has such clean lines.
Carol Hannah
Inspiration = French Bed:
Call me crazy, but I saw it more as
Inspiration = Disney:
It's a gorgeous and flattering red carpet ready dress. It's also very safe and kinda bland considering the inspiration.
Christopher
Inspiration = Algae-covered Rock Fountain:
I like the idea - but the judges nailed it: poor textile choices, lacking execution.
I think that Gordana and Chris should form a design team where he sketches and she makes the garments. They could learn from each other.
Gordana
Inspiration = Claude Monet's The Portrait of Rouen Cathedral in Morning Light:
The dress is fine. Not transcendant, not ugly. The back is worse than the front, as Nina observed.
Irina
Inspiration = John William Godward's Mischief and Repose:
I can see the inspiration here; she's trying to make a stick figure look rubenesque. The color and the back are nice. The dress as a whole is a big fail. It looks more like a bad gypsy costume than a lounging Grecian goddess.
The designers are asked to defend themselves and choose the three who should go on to Bryant Park.
Irina chooses Althea and Gordana
Gordana chooses Chris and Irina
Chris chooses Carol Hannah and Irina
Althea chooses Carol Hannah and Irina
Carol Hannah chooses Chris and Althea
Breakdown:
Everyone thinks Irina should go except Carol Hannah. Three think Chris should go to BP(not Althea or Irina - the two hardest chicks in the competition), three think Carol Hannah should go to BP(not Irina or Gordana), three think Althea should go to BP(not Gordana or Chris - the emotional ones who think they should go in her place - sensing weakness), and two think Gordana should go (I'm counting the designers - who want themselves to go through - as a vote; aka no one thinks she should go except herself and her best buddy Irina who obviously wants to pick off the steeper competition).
I must be getting too jaded, because Christopher's emotional I am the algae covered rocks speech did not get me. I think it got my husband a little though. heh.
Anyways, I think Chris is the biggest girl left in the competition and his crying and belly-aching was starting to give me Ricky deja vu (that's a BAD thing).
I love how Irina's Oscar speech about how she is a poor immigrant who is struggling was so hollow and rehearsed. She is obviously rich and overpriviledged, why not just say she deserves it on merit alone instead of insulting everyone's intelligence with her poor acting. She was not emotional at all on learning she had made it. She obviously expected it. Bitch.
At least Carol Hannah was gratified.
Thoughts:
I think Gordana and Christopher were the deserving parties to be sent home and that both should not have made it this far. I can't say I'm very excited about seeing the final collections with the pool left though. I would choose Carol Hannah as my favorite among the ladies, but I have no strong sentiments - other than a hope to see a lot of vomit in the next episode.
My pick for the winner, final collections sight unseen:
Carol Hannah
PS-Please stop doing smoky eye and bedhead, you look like you just rolled out of the gutter.
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