Project Runway, Episode 9: The Last Challenge

This season of Project Runway really has been a bummer. Where are the Jeffreys and Seth Aarons and Mondos and Christians who are a little outrageous and take risks and actually pay off? I do really like Viktor compared to the other contestants' design and stylings, but when I compare him to designers in previous seasons I feel a little disappointed. And maybe that's why so much focus has been on the drama of the contestants' relationships this season. Maybe they producers realized that they failed in the casting and had to try and make up for it somehow.

But here we are. The finalists have been chosen (Viktor, Anya, Josh, and Kimberly) and I can't help but watch the finale. I will also watch next season. There's just no other place where I can get this kind of fashion fix. Additionally I will watch as long as Tim Gunn is on.

My favorite of the evening was definitely Viktor. His designs, even if he doesn't alway push them far enough, are always tasteful, polished, and well fit. And let's be honest, if, say, Anya or Oliver were sewing the same designes, the clothes would look like they came from Dress Barn or Wal-Mart. But it in the hands of someone who knows their craft, the clothes look polished and expensive.

Kimberly's designs were okay. But I did like, at least in concept, her orange coat. The buttons and loops look classy and the pleats in the back are delightful. But the silver dress was awfully remeniscent of the outfit Kimberly made for Nina earlier in the season.

Part of the challenge was to show a range of clothing, but Anya showed little range in my eyes. Her cocktail dress and gown looked too similar, and her rust pantsuit thingy-ma-bob was so dated and old lady. How do the esteemed judges not see it? Or am I terribly off-base?

The stinker of the night was Josh. His ill fitting vest paired with a circle skirt (shocker!) were especially disastrous. And a metallic toga? What the what? It looks like a 50s version of the future without the charm of the kitch. 

At least this season will soon stop torturing me. 

I Like It When: Website Edition

I like it when the design or function of a website surprises me. Maybe it's because I have no skills, knowledge, or talent that goes much beyond the basics in the area of computing. Recently I've run across two websites that fit into this category. First, there is Built by Wendy. When you get to her site, just slowly-ish scroll down and watch the magnet-like effect unfold before your eyes. It delighted me with surprise. I wouldn't say I'm necessarily a fan of all her fashion, it's mostly just okay. Here's one I like well enough, even though she needs more stabilizer in the pocket flaps.

Second, there is Patrik Ervell. I gasped a little when I first saw this "fidgety" site, based on its fresh, surprising presentation. (And this time I DO like the fashions.) Not only is it visually interesting, but I think that the movement better shows customers how the clothes move and function, and on some level, how comfortable the clothes will be. The tiny repetitive loops of the models' movements are oddly hypnotic.

I wonder if the site designer was inspired by the moving photos and posters in the Harry Potter movies.

Project Runway: The Horror

I don't know why I didn't think to blog about Project Runway before. I watch it every week and I definitely have STRONG opinions about what happens. But this week was a drama doozy that has hefted me onto a Project Runway soapbox.

For the sake of full disclosure, I'll admit was on team Bert from day one. His story broke my heart and the garments he brought to the audition were simple and elegant and beautiful. But I am not longer on team Bert. I suppose it was naive of me to think that because Bert has been through so much heartache and loss in his life he would have more compassion and empathy for his fellow human beings. Nope. Uh-uh. Not even close. I was shocked and disgusted by his petulant and childish behavior toward his team during the challenge, but especially during the runway critique where he fist-pumped and laughed his way through his teammate's critiques. It was a disgusting display.


Moving on, Bert was not the only one who chose to be awful to his fellow contestants. Josh M. gave Bert a serious run for the money by being dismissive and cruel to his fellow teammate Becky. He basically used and abused her sewing skills and didn't let her contribute to the the design aspect of the team design challenge. It was awful to watch. Unfortunately his behavior was rewarded when this boring 90s reincarnation co-won the challenge. I mean, boxy knitwear with a racer stripe? It wasn't great in the 90s and it's even worse in this supposedly "fashion forward" seeking reality show. Barf.

Josh M.'s "winning" look.


But I did think that the other co-winner deserved his win. Viktor treated all this teammates with respect, they communicated well, and they made a cohesive and sporty collection. Viktor's winning design has a nice balance of hard and soft and is casual enough to wear with tennis shoes (which was part of the challenge), but could be worn with sandals or heels to change the look a bit. He should have won outright, but unfortunately for the world, I don't get to decide these sort of things.

Viktor's winning look.


Last but not least, there is Anya. Anya was cast on the show even though she claimed she had been sewing for only four months. And for some reason the judges LOVE her, even though she consistently sends the same thing down the runway. I respect Anya for her determination and her vision and her hair, but I am angry that they are glorifying the fact that she has no sewing skills. True, you can be a designer without sewing skills—it happens every day—but Project Runway REQUIRES that their contestants sew their own designs. Turns out Anya has had sewing help from her fellow contestants on almost every challenge. If those judges can't see that Anya's a one-trick pony (she uses the same racerback design on everything), I'm not sure if I can trust their "authority" as judges. (P.S. Josh M.'s dress that won was actually Anya's design and, of course, the back has her signature racerback.)


Until next time, rant done.