Aug 29, 2014

What Did We Learn From Project Runway This Week? Season 13, Episode 6

Something is afoot on Project Runway. For one, Kini was once again denied a deserved win — for the third time, I think we can agree.

And two: when did each episode of Project Runway become an hour and a half long? (And how did I not notice that?)

Anyway, the challenge was to design two non-traditional bridal looks — one for the wedding and another for the reception. Featuring guest judge Dita Von Teese (whom my six-year-old daughter proclaimed "THE WHITEST PERSON SHE HAS EVER SEEN!"), the challenge allegedly had no rules.

It was another team challenge and the time constraints were again unfortunately tight. I say "unfortunately" because there's little room for ambitious design when you only have a day. But back to Kini for a moment:

Lesson 1: Being a team player doesn't always make you a winner

Truly, I think both Sean and Kini should have won for these two looks. They were the only team that managed to design and execute cohesive, beautiful and appropriate looks, each making the other stronger:  


Kini's design (left) was exceptional and Sean's winning look is fairly divine. Kini's quibble with Sean was the fact that he only sewed the pants (oh, those amazing pants!) while Kini picked up the slack and finished the white blouse for him. Kini is obviously a sewing superstar, banging out complicated, well-finished looks week after week (I would LOVE to take a closer look at his process, wouldn't you?) but as we've been told before: this is a show about design, not sewing. However, had Kini left Sean to finish the blouse on his own, perhaps the runway results would have been different. 

Lesson 2: Effort doesn't always equal elegance

Sandyha spent hours creating what she called "handmade French lace" in this bright yellow. She then sewed strips of it to her bodice (below left). Googling French lace I could find nothing that resembled Sandyha's handiwork. And to me it just looked like upholstery trimming. I'm all for handcrafting, but if the effect is the same as hotgluing bulkifying braided trim to a satin bodice...then why bother?


Of course, Sandyha was safe and Char went home. Her look (above right) was quite the mess and she seemed uncharacteristically lost in this challenge for some reason. But I was so sad to see her go. I was sure she'd make it at least near the end. Let's look back at some of her other, better looks over the past five episodes:

Lesson 3: Designing your own textile opens up a world of possibilities

Fade's look (below left) was not my favorite but I was interested in his technique. Using the same fabrics as Emily (below right) he layered and pieced together shapes to make this edgy textile. The effect is pretty cool — and definitely unique. And somehow it didn't end up bulky (or quilty) as I'd expected it would. 


I'm exhausting my kid's TV time — and the minutes in which I can devote to this (summer vacation is SO long), so I will leave it up to you readers to comment on Samantha and Alexander's looks: 










16 comments:

  1. I'm frustrated by how much the producers appear to be manipulating the judging process. The only design up there that deserved to win was Kini's but he's obviously being overlooked for some dramatic purpose. I REALLY need to stop watching this show. It's become such a pointless train wreck. But for some reason I keep tuning in! The 'ox-blood' duo were so ridiculously bad. It looks like a midwestern prom ad from the mid-80s.

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    1. Ox blood — the color — and the word both make me want to barf. I thought they were so unambitious in their designs....I wonder if the crazy time constraints are dialing back everyone's creativity. Some really good people have done disappointing work under these conditions. JUST GIVE THEM TWO DAYS!

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  2. What I learned this week is that if you are Sandyha's team, you will go home.

    Yeah. I'm irritated with the short timeline. It means that the things being sent down the runway are worse and worse. AND irritated by the 90 minute run time that doesn't even show us more sewing or draping or drafting. Sigh.

    Yeah. Poor Kini. I wonder whether this is heading towards a much deserved win or some kind of blow out.

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    1. THAT IS SUCH A GOOD POINT. Hopefully that was the last team challenge of the season.

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  3. Maybe it's time to remake this show into one where the viewers vote. The judges would have their say and then the people like US would vote. They already got to choose who appears on the show. Except for giving us 3 lame choices for a designer comeback. Is there some kind of disclaimer in the credits that says "the judges get to be arbitrary and that the outcome has already been determined".

    AND Kini's dress was magnificent and we never see him sewing because he is DONE before the camera finds him.

    As soon as I saw the yellow girls, I screamed and covered my eyes. Maybe after this is all over Kini will give Char sewing and draping lessons.

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    1. there IS a disclaimer in the credits that says the producers opinions are considered in judging.

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  4. I was sad to see Char go because I rather liked some of her previous work. This time it was like Sandyha gave her a bunch of materials and she just wasn't feeling it. The construction really was a mess though, so I can't argue with that decision.

    Really want to see Kini and Fade make it to the end. Maybe with Sean? Just because I would like to see his collection when he is given more than a day to sew. The three of them would produce interesting collections I think.

    Kini - first winner of PR to never win a challenge? They are setting him up for that. Also, it was funny to see Heidi being out-voted. She was so team Kini this week, we just need to get them on the same page on the same day.

    I actually really liked Fade's dress - it was a really interesting use of textiles. Emily's gown was a bit too costume-y for me to take it seriously.

    Samantha's dress didn't bother me as much as it bothered the judges. Not a fan of the mini-ombre effect, but the idea of the lace applique was nice. The red/red color combo was more believable than the other dress in the group. Alexander's gown... ugh. So heavy handed! Like, it looks like someone plucked the entire cast of Swan Lake and then rolled in the feathers. And that seam on the skirt! It's bugging me almost as much as it bothers Zac Posen.

    I still haven't agreed with a single winner this season (Sean's Emmy dress was the closest I've been to agreeing with the win), but at least I'm mostly agreeing with the people they are booting off.

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    1. It's true, and last week Zac was Team Kini. I think eventually everyone will be Team Kini.

      I like your description of rolling in the Swan Lake feathers. So funny!

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  5. Bring back unfixed judging...pleeeaaazzeeeeeeeee
    kini was robbed...robbed. Even though it was thee uglist yellow ever....char's dress was a mess no matter what...they both should've went home

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    1. I was trying to think about how it could have worked....a well-fit and cut leather bustier (why did she feel she had to keep the leather all in one piece? I don't get it), and with a huge airy crazy train skirt that was an explosion of joy and sunshine....then I think the yellow could have been magnificent. It had to be joyful to work. And the design was not joyful. I still like Char though. Sad to see her go.

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  6. once upon a time they'd allow two days for a big challenge, and if a wedding dress isn't a big one, i don't know what is! i'm tired of the sub-par looks, and it's really not fair to the designers. if their first idea isn't the best idea, too bad! Kini is just a machine... seriously. and seriously robbed of the win.

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    1. Yeah, do they pay by the day for their time at Parson's or something? Budget cuts?

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  7. Team Kini! The Gretchening of Amanda is a travesty.

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    1. Ha! The Gretchening of Amanda....that's hilarious. And true.

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  8. It was hairpin lace, not French lace. It's actually really beautiful, but the time, place and color was really wrong this time. I felt sorry for Char, but she was the one to choose yellow (although not as bright) and she had really bad construction. I think she was getting tired, her last two looks are not as good as first ones. Or she consentrated on teasing Amanda too much. I really liked Fäde's dress. I would like to make something similar in red tones, but I'm not sure I could capture the lightness of this dress. And I liked Amanda's way to embellish her white dress with black triangles - I didn't like the shape of the dress, but overall it looked nice. There should have been two wins: both Kini and Sean deserved it :) They have double elimination, why not double win? :)

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    1. SUCH a good point. They do have double elimination and I think a double-win would have been appropriate in this case.

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