Things that Stress Me Out in Movies

Sometimes my energy is spent on weird things when I watch movies. It's mostly little things—things that perhaps directors and actors don't really think about—and it's more than likely that whatever I'm noticing stresses me out. It's probably a weird branch of anxiety disorder.

1. When women put their purses down I keep track of if they pick them up before they leave. I may have an exaggerated fear of losing my purse, because I have vivid memories of my mother losing her purse or wallet several times.

2. In chase scenes where poor bystanders get their business shot up or destroyed. Now how are they supposed to support themselves and/or their families?

3. I keep track money exchange in restaurants. If characters leave a restaurant in a hurry and don't throw a wad of cash down first, they are dead to me.

4. On a related note, I get antsy when a character orders food, but they take no bites or one or two bites. Such a waste.

5. When characters don't close their blinds at night. I don't care if it's a RomCom or family movie, there are probably weird dudes peeking in their windows.

6. When characters "wash" their hands, but really they just rinse them for one second then dry them off. We all saw that, we all know you're now germ-riddled. Gross.

I'm sure there's more. Do you have any movie stresses, or am I the only one living in Crazy Town?

Project Runway: "Take It All Off!" and "He Said, She Said"

"Take It All Off!"
It worked out that I'm behind on posting, because there is nothing worth posting about from the Thunder from Down Under challenge. I watched it like I watched a scary movie when I was a kid: mostly with my head down and only peeking through my fingers to see what was happening. Nothing good has ever come out of a PR men's challenge. It's always a catastrophe, a tragedy, and a black mark on the show. I imagine the producers think it clever and twisty to do a mens challenge, and while it is twisty, it's not so clever to demand that the designers do something that that have no training or experience to do.

The fact is that there are different branches and sub-branches of fashion, and those branches require different training, knowledge, and experience. While some methods and techniques transfer, each branch is simply a different beast. So to say "do this thing you've never done and don't have the skills for and make sure it's not complete garbage" is one of the most unrealistic demands ever made. It's like asking someone whose food prep training consists of working a fast food grill to make a four star meal for a shi-shi dinner party the next day. You'll get food on the table, but the chances of the meal being four star are virtually nonexistent.

The best part of the episode is when one of the...ahem..."dancers" said in his Australian accent, "They didn't have time for proper stitching." Like all tragedies, there was no winner. Amanda went home, mostly because of team drama.

Side note: One of my pet peeves is when reality show contestants say "I didn't come here to make friends" when they are being nasty, and this week I finally figured why it bothers me so much. Sure, I understand you didn't come to make friends, but did you really come to make enemies? Civility does not equal making friends, and holding grudges only weakens your focus as a competitor.

"He Said, She Said"
It was a relief to have a straight-up challenge this week. The designers had to create a ready-to-wear outfit inspired by the Lord & Taylor rose. No tricks or twists. However, the winner's garment would be produced by Lord & Taylor and sold in their stores. That's a pretty big deal. Yet again there was a new team breakdown, this time chosen by the judges, but each designer was responsible for their own outfit.

It was no surprise that Richard, Samantha, and Layana were the losing team. Because of last week's ridiculous drama, Richard wouldn't even talk to Layana, so of course they had nothing constructive happen as a team.

Layana was safe because the judges thought her silhouette was perfect, but her fabric choice was terrible. I don't necessarily disagree, but even if she didn't have that dated floral, I don't think the dress would've been anything new or special.

Richard made a dress that is not only similar to one he already produced this season, but one that I could easily see as a $29.99 Target special. While there's nothing wrong with Target clothes per se (I've purchased many an item there myself), it's not something you want to try and sell to Lord & Taylor.

Samantha went home this week with her effort at making a younger look, but walking straight over the junior line. The biggest mistake was the heart cutout in the back. With all the ruffles and color blocking, the heart became too much. It's also very difficult to make a clean-looking cutout that is properly stabilized. I actually liked the idea of Samantha's dress, but as I've seen throughout the season, she clearly needs to up her construction skills and hone her editing skills. I would love to see her on PR after a few years of experience.

Team Stanley and Patricia were safe this week. It was weird, because Stanley continually harassed and bullied Patricia, which of course made her mad, but in the long run it totally helped her. While I still didn't like her design, it was much more current and salable than anything she's made, and it still totally looked like Patricia.

I can't say that I liked Stanley's dress either. If you're going to make a basic, that thing better be the most well-constructed, well-proportioned, and well-fitting garment on that stage. While it was mostly okay, those front darts were so distractingly low, that I can't believe the judges didn't say anything about it. Stanley chose the length for "appeal to more than one market," but I can't imagine that many people want a mid-calf skirt.

After a little drama that I still don't understand, team Daniel and Michelle were declared the winners! I know just how Daniel felt as he burst into tears when he talked about ripping his jacket apart. When you make something, especially something you believe in, it is a heartbreak to have it not work out. (I have certainly mourned more than one project.) Since he used up so much time on that jacket, his dress was basic and not so great construction-wise. But past challenges have certainly showed that Daniel has great construction skills, so I was glad that he was safe under the umbrella of Michelle's win. The thing that's so great about Daniel is that he is amazingly positive, and 99% of the time he has the true gift of taking criticism gracefully and internalizing it to his benefit. All he needs to do is figure out how to make his aesthetic more current and he's golden. Either way he is the dearest, tenderest heart.

Michelle won the challenge, and her design was certainly the best of the lot. It was simple enough, but the layering details, colors, and fabric combinations made it a current and young winning look.

I've had a few discussions with friends, and this season really doesn't have a stand-out talent. But we have what we have so I'm predicting for the final three Michelle, Layana (even though I don't like her), and a toss up between Daniel and Stanley. I keep thinking that Stanley will be this dark horse that suddenly starts showing us amazing things. I'm not sure why I keep having these thoughts, so we'll see if they come true.

Project Runway Teams: A Sticky Situation

I haven't posted about last week's episode, but I haven't watched this week's episode, so I'll just pretend that last week's is this week's and that y'all haven't already moved on. (I hope I reminded you of this clip.)

This was one of my favorite unconventional challenges. Partly because I've actually seen and heard about people doing this in the real world, and partly because some really interesting things came out of the challenge. In teams of two, the designers made one prom dress out of Duck brand duct tape in less than 24 hours.

There were three bad and two good dresses. First, out with the bad.

Even though it was one of the best for the judges, Patricia and Samantha's dress was the worst for me. What the judges found charming in it's insect-like or alien-like qualities, I found off-putting. I didn't like the jittery way the dress walked, I didn't like the colors, and I didn't think it was special. I will admit that Patricia's cutouts were neat, but we already know that she creates mostly good fabrics and mostly bad designs.

I had hope that Richard and Daniel would come up with something fabulously crazy between them, but I was frankly not surprised by their 80s space foil number. It wasn't the worst dress ever, but I feel that's how all Barbies were dressed in the 80s. Their one good idea, that was only slightly successful, was making a corsage. Of course the ladies need a corsage!

After last week's rip about putting denim skirts on the red carpet, Kate and Tu went ahead and used "denim" tape for their prom dress. But that wasn't their only mistake. Kate kept insisting that a long dress was young, and I kept screaming at the TV that they weren't. Especially a mermaid cut that would inhibit dancing. At prom. I admit that some girls probably want a long dress to appear older or because they fantasize about being grown up, but they always look a bit ridiculous. Kate went home for bulldozing over Tu (which she happily admitted during interview sections), and I'm sure Tu will soon follow since he has few construction skills.

In with the good. Stanley and Layana did a decent job. I almost always love a vintage silhouette, because in this day an age it tends to connote young without any hint of trashy. The armor-like style lines in the bodice were a great foil to the exaggerated hot pink bow, and making a petticoat was that extra touch that raised it from good to great. I personally would have put the bow in the back because 1) it wouldn't be in the way, and 2) I always love a good exit dress.

My favorite design, and the winner, was Michelle and Amanda's exaggerated houndstooth dress. It wasn't perfect, but it was young and fresh with that mix of soft and hard that I'm continually drawn to. Is it a dress that every girl would wear to prom? Certainly not, but their challenge wasn't to dress the "norm," and both Michelle and Amanda serviced their own aesthetics. The silhouette overall had great proportions, and I especially loved the cut and lay of the skirt. I didn't love the exaggerated bodice, because I think the dress is strong enough without it, but it didn't ruin the dress either. Michelle was declared the winner, which I was very pleased with. I mean, at this point she's basically held on with her fingernails through a lot of bad luck.

Trailer Tuesday: Marty & The Thin Man

There are no new trailers that I'm excited about. A lot of horror out there right now, which is generally not for me. I hardly make it to the theater these days anyway. But I have been watching loads of old films that I will heartily recommend. The list is getting long, so today I'll focus on just two.

First is Marty (1955) starring Ernest Borgnine. Marty is a thirty-something butcher who is kind, loyal, and steady as a rock, but acutely feels alone. His mood and basis of Marty's life is pretty much summed up in this quote: "Ma, sooner or later, there comes a point in a man's life when he's gotta face some facts. And one fact I gotta face is that, whatever it is that women like, I ain't got it." It is  surprisingly still a socially relevant film that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Marty won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and best picture at the Academy Awards as well as best actor, best, actress, and best adapted screenplay.

Myrna Loy and William Powell have the spotlight in The Thin Man (1934), adapted from a novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. Hammett is probably best known for creating Sam Spade, the hard-boiled detective famously played by Humphrey Bogart in an adaptation of Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. While The Thin Man also includes a hard-boiled detective named Nick Charles, Nick has more than his fair share of a sense of humor. So instead of being film noir, The Thin Man is more film gris et rose with a great balance of violence, murder, and belly laughs. I particularly enjoy the relationship between Nick and his wife, Nora. (P.S. I just finished the book and it's also swell, but even more scandalous.)

Project Runway Teams: Senior Fling

The non-traditional model challenge always makes me sad. The producers pick these women who we as viewers have some sort of compassion for--veterans, recent weight loss-ers, the elderly--then we have to watch while most of the designers utterly fail and make their hopeful clients look and feel bad.

I actually think that designing for elders is one of the most difficult customer groups to design for. Correction, fitting and tailoring for elders is really the challenge. Many times their bodies are so different from the median that unless the designer has had a lot of experience with custom fit and tailoring, they simply can't figure it out in a 24 hour period.

The best and the worst ended up all over the place because of the effect of team scores. The most painful designs were Patricia, Tu, Amanda, Benjamin, and, contrary to the judges' opinion, Layana.

Patricia and Tu were in a tie for the worst, and I wish one of them would have gone home, but both were saved by the quality of their respective team members' work. Patricia's model not only looked like a blob, but she looked uncomfortable to boot. To make something that looks so much like a sack yet so uncomfortable takes a special talent. It's not unlike stalling an automatic transmission car that is in perfect running condition. The fabric and color combinations are also unspeakable.

Tu, as Michelle so eloquently said, "can't sew for $%*!." The thing is, his design and fabric choice were completely appropriate. In the hands of almost any other contestant on the show, the design would probably have been in the top. But as it is, it is a tortured mess of a beginner seamer. He couldn't be eliminated because Kate had a more than decent look. But I didn't buy Kate's defense on the runway of "I only had ten minutes to spare so I couldn't help him." If you really work as a team then from the get-go, you make a plan together that is reasonable and has reasonable support built in if needed. I mean, if it were me, I would even trade on sewing and patterning skills. If my teammate could whip out a pants pattern in an hour and I could sew a skirt in an hour, I would offer a trade to save on time and up the quality for each of us.

Amanda and Benjamin were the losing team, and Benjamin went home. I've never been able to get behind Amanda, and this week I figured out why. Simply put, the way Amanda dresses is terrible, so I believe her taste level is not where it should be in her designs. Whereas Benjamin's personal aesthetic is sharp, so at least he has better taste level. And even though I like Benjamin a lot, I've never truly believed that either would make it to fashion week, so it's not that big of a deal, but there you have it.

Amanda's dress was wrong from fabric to silhouette to execution. She didn't think about her client beyond "bohemian," and there was nothing redeemable in it for her client.

Benjamin at least had the right color for his client (even though it was a difficult fabric to work with), and I don't think his design was a complete misstep, but his fit was horrific as was his execution. If that dress has an easier fit, it could have been great. Personally I would have made a shirt dress. It would have the same overall shape of nipping in at the waist with a kickier skirt, but it would have been an easier fit, and the fabric, styling, and accessories could potentially make it formal enough for cocktail wear.

I cannot fathom why the jufhrd said Layana had a high score. Her craftsmanship was subpar, her fabric was a misstep and looked tortured, the silhouette wasn't flattering, and the proportions were abysmal with a too short skirt and overly long bodice.

I also cannot fathom what they were loving about Richard's dress. I get what he was going for, and he almost made it, but missing with a design like this is a always a huge miss. There was too much volume overall, and the gathered panel in the front was so unflattering as was the length of the dress. I had a hard time even looking at it. Plus her hair? Get it out of her face already.

You may have expected me to put Samantha as terrible too, but I don't think it was as terrible as the judges said. Don't get me wrong, it is awful, but it totally fits into Samantha's and her client's aesthetics. The proportions of the silhouette were spot on, and I didn't mind the mix of "princess" with leopard, but I did mind the poor craftsmanship and the color of the top.

Michelle's was my favorite of the night. It was only too bad Patricia brought down their team score enough that she wasn't a winner contender. Michelle's design was so sassy, easy, and age appropriate. The proportions are perfect, and her client was exuding joy. At this point we can only hope that Michelle will have her day in the sun. I'm rooting for her to be in the top more and more.

Stanley's design was completely elegant, despite the crotch proportion and fit. It was the right color and the right design for his statuesque client. The judges thought so too, because he won the challenge.

P.S. I hate it in a designer's exit interview when they say they have "so much more to show." Why didn't you just show it then? I suppose I understand, because it's hard to do your most quality work in this kind of competition, but at the same time, just show your best work already.

Project Runway Teams: A Little Bit Country, a Little Bit Rock

This week the designers were broken into teams of two to design a red carpet look and a stage look for country music star Miranda Lambert. The designers were advised to celebrate Miranda's curves and to make sure that their designs were chic, young, fresh, and easy.

My absolute favorite look was the red carpet look from Benjamin, and I was sorely disappointed that he didn't win. The fit of the dress and the craftsmanship were impeccable--I barely have the words to do the dress justice. The foundation, which you don't even see, is really what makes the dress perfection and is a testament to his craft. The gown was elegant and classic, but at the same time fresh with just enough details to make the look pop. Plus, the color, amazing. Good on ya, Benjamin, for finally getting it together. Now lets hope he can stay together. (This picture does not do the dress justice.)

And his teammate, Amanda, also got it together this week after being lambasted by her teammates. Granted, this challenge was 100% in her wheelhouse, but at least now we know she is what she says she is. Some designers claim to excel in an area, then when they get the opportunity to excel, they bomb. Amanda's dress was great for stage with all the movement of the fringe. However, a slightly lighter color or maybe a little crystal on the ends of some of the fringe, would have made it stand out even more. (I'm not a fan of sparkle, but it makes a huge difference on stage. Like, for real.)

Team Richard and Stanley were the winning team, with Richard coming out on top as the winner with his take on fringe. Richard's dress will look amazing on stage, and that dude works well under pressure, but I was still slightly disappointed with his win. I can't even tell you exactly why. Maybe it's because he kept saying "It is everything" about his design.

Stanley's dress was more of a great idea then a great design. His hammered paillette belt was beautiful in shape and placement, but for the rest of the dress it was obvious that he didn't think enough about who he was designing for, nor was his craftsmanship of the bodice at his usual level. The main fabric was also a little lack luster and doesn't look expensive.

I don't even really want to talk about the bottom designs. I mean, first of all, both Daniel and Michelle put denim in their red carpet looks. DENIM. I don't care what world you are from, there is a one in a billion chance that a designer could even come close to making denim work on a formal red carpet. And I am emboldened to say that no one in the history of ever will make a long denim skirt chic, not even in a casual look. They are always, always a bad idea. Then Michelle put that finge necklace over her look that covered up any work she did on the vest. I actually didn't think the necklace was terrible per se, but it certainly was terrible with that outfit. I really like both Michelle and Daniel, so their designs were especially disappointing. Zac may have had it right when he said Daniel "might be amazing, but he might not be cool."

 

Samantha was extremely lucky in her immunity. Her look was boring and her construction was barely passable. So that meant that poor, sad Matt went home. I felt really sorry for him, because it's hard to get out from under the weight of self-doubt, especially when everyone around you is moving forward. But designers cannot stay based on their emotional state.

Lastly, special dishonerable mentions to Kate and Patricia. I don't think Kate's idea was the worst, but the color and fabrication mix may have been the worst. The dress fit well and was in good proportion, but the red leather with a different red chiffon looked classless and like a "sexy" 90s vampire. The model just needed black lipstick.

There was nothing redeemable about Patricia's look. The underdress fabric was horrific, and no amount of "gun belt finge" will change that. The only reason she wasn't in the bottom was that Layana's scores pulled them through. I'm ready for Patricia to go home now.

Red Carpet Review: Academy Awards 2013

There are only two things I will say about the hosting and show in general: there were segments that seemed to stretch out for eternity, and why can't Tina and Amy host everything, because MacFarlane was lame. Moving on.

I've been seeing and saying this for a while, but the 20s are and will be strongly referenced in fashion this year, and the Oscars certainly showed that. It's not the straight-up flapper references that you might expect, but instead Art Deco becomes the star. There was plenty of beading and column dresses to help stars look like charming versions of the Chrysler building.

Jessica Chastain and Catherine Zeta Jones were both in Deco beaded gold, but each having different success. Chastian's is subtle and lovely, and while Jones's beading was neat, it was not the best silhouette for her body.

Halle Berry's Deco dress was the most architecture-like. I love the minimal structured shoulder that has been more popular in recent years. It's strong without being 80s big or overly masculine.

Other Deco dresses included Stacy Keebler and Michelle Obama, and Nora Jones' and Nicole Kidman's dresses showed small winks to Deco.

 

Worst!
I didn't consider any dresses in my deliberations from red carpet interviewers or other stars who are always poorly dressed, bless their hearts. Aside from the usual suspects, my bottom three are Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, and Renee Zellweger.

I know, Stewart should probably be one of the usual suspects, but she just looked so sloppy, from hair to dress to posture, that I couldn't not put her on the list. The fit is terrible and the dress looks like it's sliding down her body. Plus she cleared her throat into the microphone at least twice while she was presenting. Ew.

Renee Zellweger looked sloppy too. The color was wrong for her and the silhouette did nothing for her figure. She looked like she felt really uncomfortable.

My boo-iest boo goes to Anne Hathaway. I have to admit that the dress looks passable in this picture, but it was worse when she moved in it. It looked like student work to me with the odd fit, that tortured looking fabric, and eight different straps in the back, and I'm always disappointed when dresses don't have or don't facilitate bust support. However, I loved her necklace.

Dishonorable mention!
I have to mention both Jennifer Lawrence's and Amy Adams' dresses. While they both had lovely elements, they were simply too much dress. The ladies looked uncomfortable and cumbersome when they moved, and I can't even imagine trying to sit in a theatre seat for four hours with that much fabric to contend with.

 

Speaking of volume, Jennifer Aniston's dress had a better proportion of volume, and she looked lovely in that perfect red.

Best!
I wrote down a lot of dresses that were good to great, but nothing was a stand out for me. I suppose my four favorites were Jessica Chastain (pictured above), Sandra Bullock, Charlize Theron, and Naomi Watts. (Yes, Naomi Watts.)

I have been loving designer Elie Saab lately, and Bullock wore it well. Lace is rather a tricky medium, because it can quickly turn old fashioned and dowdy, but Saab has the magic touch.

I just love that Theron's dress is dramatic with exceptionally clean structure and lines. I could've done without the vee in the front, but it didn't ruin the look.

I will get flack for this, but I applaud Watts' dress. It was different from anything on the red carpet, it had those clean lines and asymmetry that I love, and it was a nice balance of classic with something unexpected. Not just anyone could've worn this dress, but Watts pulled it off in my book.

Honorable Mentions!
In no particular order, all of these ladies looked lovely. Octavia Spencer, Kerry Washington, Queen Latifa, Jamie Foxx's daughter in dark teal, and Daniel Day Lewis' wife.