Okay, so it took an extra day, but here's the Project Runway Season 5, Episode 1 Recap - Holy TABLECLOTH! Edition. So this season, the challenges and guest judges are revealed on Bravo's website. From the looks of it, it should make out to be an interesting season - the judges for the most part are pretty good, and the designers this year make up one of the most diverse groups we've seen. I haven't yet decided if I am rooting for any of them, but give it another episode - I want to see more originality and LESS TABLECLOTH! But let's move on. The challenge this week was to visit a grocery store called Gristede's, which was the first challenge of the first season of Project Runway - ever. So it was fitting that the guest judge was the winner of that first challenge, Austin Scarlett. The challenge was to create a garment out of everyday items that you would find at a grocery store, to completely transform the items you purchased (with $75 in a half hour) into something fabulous. Key word here is transform. The designers tore through the aisles as colorful rubber balls bounced everywhere, fruits and vegetables rolled around on the floor, and time quickly ran out. It was interesting to see the contemplative looks on their faces as they grabbed an item and cocked their heads to the side for just a second to try and visualize its final place on the garment they would create. But to my surprise, and eventual disappointment, almost EVERYONE had picked up shower curtains and TABLECLOTHS! I liked what I saw when Emily picked up a bouncy ball - it definitely made me verty curious as to what she could possibly do with it. But the majority of items purchased did not really excite me. And Tim Gunn's visit to the workroom definitely did not bolster my confidence as he went from designer to designer, finding more and more wretched tablecloth! When the looks were finally completed, I realized that not everyone had resorted to taking an easy way out of this challenge. So check it out, these photos were taken from Bravo's website: http://www.bravotv.com. Check out their website to read Tim Gunn's blog, Michael Kors' blog, and Malan Breton's blog (random?), and Rate the Runway looks you'll see here! RUNWAY SHOW: (Not necessarily in the correct order!)
Here is Joe's creation. He did not really stick out to me in this episode - didn't seem to have a huge presence in the workroom, but I like what he did with the pasta on the skirt (yes, that is pasta!) and the top is cute, too, but nothing to write home about. I want to see something exciting from him!
Here is Keith's look. It's a cute silhouette, for sure, and I love the flirty skirt, but it's a TABLECLOTH. All in all a very cute dress, but I would have loved to see maybe the tablecloth skirt-preferably a solid black or brown-and a halter top made of, I don't know, a FEATHER DUSTER! That would be REALLY cool - of course use muslin to provide some kind of base (and give the model some coverage), and just tear the feathers out to make something extra fabulous - WOW I love it. Someone make something like that! Yes feathers may not exactly be in style anymore, that was bigger last year, but still - would be cute! Anyway moving along...
Um, HELLO. Loved this. I called it once I saw Kelli huddled on the floor with a bottle of bleach. Some originality, finally! Those are VACUUM BAGS that she bleached and dyed to look completely different, THUMBTACKS along the waist, and COFFEE FILTERS covering the bust. Oh, and before I forget, the dress was held together by fasteners fashioned out of the SPIRAL of a NOTEBOOK. Thank you, Miss Creative. I loved it. Yes the bust was a little more revealing than I would like, but WHAT a transformation. She absolutely transformed those household items into something fabulous, and you can't immediately tell what the items are when you take a look at the dress. That, my friends, was a great dress.
Now onto Kenley. Must give a quick shoutout to Kenley for being from Pompano Beach, Florida, as I worked there for a summer (before my freshman year at college). Overall, really cute- the top is made out of dodgeballs and the skirt is a lawn chair. Adorable in that kind of 50's-retro vibe that Kenley seems to be ALL OVER. I'm interested to see what she creates - I definitely see A-line dresses with some kind of modern surprise. Exciting! 
Korto's creation really showcased her ability to beautifully execute a garment. The construction was exquisite, and while the silhouette was a bit bulky, I like what she tried to do. But AGAIN, it was a tablecloth, and the only real originality came in the garnish around the neck that she fashioned out of fresh produce (by the way, no one else touched the fruits and vegetables - HELLO!? Did Austin not win this challenge by making a dress out of cornhusk?). I think it was a nice touch, and a kimono-inspired dress, but in the end, not a huge transformation, so no way she would win the challenge. I can't wait to see her create trousers or a blazer - think of how immaculately put together those pieces will be! And her ability to sew pieces extremely well will allow her to focus on being creative - so, definitely looking forward to her work this season.
Wesley created this yellow dress with tablecloth (NO WAY, REALLY?), plastic cups, and twisted flyswatters. It's a cute look, definitely a bright color, but not enough creativity for this challenge. I love the dress and would absolutely wear it, which is why Wesley was not Auf'd, but for this challenge we really didn't get to see a total transformation. And when he was choosing shoes from the Bluefly.com stash, I would have loved to see a red satin stiletto a la Reese Witherspoon at the 2007 Golden Globes in a yellow Nina Ricci cocktail dress with those red satin Brian Atwood heels. Definitely a "TAKE THAT" to Ryan Philippe. But I digress- let's get back on track.
Terri was very innovative with her top, taking apart rag mops and weaving them to create a sleeveless top and pairing it with a, OH MY GOSH, shirt made of tablecloth. The top was cute, and so was the bottom, but only half the imagination required to win the challenge.
Suede's dress. After Tim came in and provided the designers with some critiques and suggestions, Suede realized that he could be penalized for his lack of originality, and started tacking on random items to the final product. I guess it's a cute dress, but I definitely want to see him do something else. Maybe a full length coat that can be simple and allow us to see his ability to put together pieces. I wasn't really impressed but I still want to see what he can do.
Stella, Stella, Stella. I'm just glad you did not get Auf'd. I felt bad for you when you realized that the trash bags you bought were the cheap kind that crinkle and tear easily, and not those good, strong ones that have a glossy coating. I felt bad, but I also watched you start to freak out and wallow for a bit, and I thought: Why are you acting all defeated?! This is the time where you can come up with something fabulous in crunch time and WOW the judges and mention on the runway that you had a major crisis but when it's time to kick ass, you clearly can deliver. If you had more time, I could see a muslin-based dress with the trashbags cut into little circles or squares plastered all over, almost like feathers or sequins. That would take away the annoying crinkly sounds and good-for-nothing texture, and maybe give you a cute little strapless cocktail dress? The final product defintely showed that you had problems putting it together or maybe not enough time, and I definitely want to see the edgy girl from Queens bring it to the judges next episode. This was just a little, one-time mishap. ...Wasn't it?
Leanne's dress is PINK (the white coffee filters might be a bit much, but whatever, it's not just a tablecloth). I liked the meringue cookies on the straps and down the back- it was creative. But it was a tablecloth, again! The color was cute and the confection [TOO] SWEET, but I'm excited to see what she does next week. Maybe try a more flattering cut for your model, too. Make her look good! I must say, I'm a little disappointed in everyone's use of the tablecloths! It was a really safe move. Too safe!
Jerell's dress. It's a cute, sugary-sweet confection, just like Leanne's, and almost makes me feel like the workers at Dylan's Candy Shop here in Manhattan should be wearing those around the store (headpiece included!). He used a lawn chair and umbrella to create the garment, and I must say, did a really cute job. Excited to see more crazy things out of this guy. And if not crazy, at least colorful!
Jennifer's paper towel creation. It's a cute cocktail dress, but nothing special. I like the ruffles and sweetheart top, and especially how she used her lips to make little imprints that she placed around the garment. A cute touch, and a smart move when she was in a crunch.
Emily's look. Again, paper towels, but a vey simple dress, and the collar was just too much. Remember Daniel Vosovic's bulb top that was inspired by the photograph he took of an orchid at Michael Kors'? That was fashionable. This was just a mess of balloons and bouncy balls. But I think she has guts, so let's see what happens next week.
Oh, Blayne. You GIRLICIOUS beast, you. I think this guy is going to be fun. The mop front almost looked like an adult diaper, but who am I to judge? It reminded me of that concoction Victoria Beckham wore that basically showcased her underpants to the world. Do you remember that? And how the "girlicious" was written sideways down the model's leg? ...Blayne is going to be super fun! Blayne, sweet like Kayne (Season 3) and creations insane, I know that none of your designs will ever be plain. Okay, enough. I'm sorry. ;D
And now Jerry. Who was Auf'd. I have no words.
We finish with second best. SO CUTE! This is entirely made of blue plastic cups. I love the creativity it took Daniel to actually envision this, and then execute it beautifully. It was definitely a winner, but the judges were a little turned off by the fact that you could tell it was a bunch of plastic cups. Whatever. I loved it! Plastic-cup-looking or not, it was a smart idea, and worked in the end. But I have a serious question. In the makeup room, the model is seated, in this dress, while having makeup done. How was that possible? I'm intrigued. Anyway, I think it was a cute design, and I think he's going to be someone to beat here. _________________________________ OKAY. Way too long of a post. You can expect much shorter commentary next week. But this extra large blog is my way of making up for the day in between. If you didn't get a chance to see it, Bravo usually airs the previous week's episode just before the new episode at 9pm, so you better catch up! Auf Wiedersehen! ...Okay once. Never again. ;D |
