Project Runway recap - Out on the town organic

Another week of grass roots fashion (literally!) from Timm Gunn’s little minions, leaving us with a lot to discuss! Such as; do you love ballerina-meets-splatterpaint ensembles enough to vote them winners? Were you as excited as I was to see Heman and Skeletor hug it out in their love-fest? Why was Korto having such a meltdown…and more importantly, why is there a silent “r” in her name? Seriously who is that guy with the bandana? Lets hash it out.

This week’s challenge was to use organic fabric, picked out by the designer’s own model, to create a hip, young, and fun cocktail dress.  Now, I don’t have to watch The Hills to know that hemlines have been creeping obstinately past the point of no return, but when the everyday shopper starts confusing shirts and dresses, we are in boggy territory.  In addition; the barrage of rouching and braiding and cut-outs and pockets and pleats was kind of blowing my mind.  Over designing at its peak, and with a lot of shabby to show for it. 

I know I heard one of the designer’s claim that their model came back from the fabric store with “remnants of nonsense” which was absolutely true.  This sorry lot of model wannabe’s picked out truly horrible colors of shiny upon shiny and, even more brilliantly, couldn’t choose something different than every other girl, so that three of the designers ended up with the exact same poopy brown silk…leading to the bottom two dresses and ultimately our 2nd Auf wiedersehen.

Let’s talk about our bottom of the barrel for a minute. .  Leanne was driving me mad with her dreamy voice throughout the show, and her loopy brown outfit looked like the hemp macramé wall art my mom made in college. Meanwhile, prep school Wesley was killing me with his sweaters tied around the neck, and sport coats, and women’s vests.  His short brown skankville dress deserved to get him expelled. 

Deserving a little more attention was Jennifer’s breezy and beautiful orange colored jersey dress, and my personal favorite, Terri’s navy curve hugging creation set off with the perfectly ruffled plunging neckline.

Emily had a braided swimsuit cover-up, Daniel’s was a last minute black baby doll. Blayne had hot pink off the shoulder crazy, and bandana Keith sent a banana colored pouf skirt down the runway. Jerell had peacock feathers with fringe that looked like an ice-skating outfit, and Joe’s bejeweled cut-out dress was a bit too homecoming dance for my taste. 

How on earth the judges liked spiderlash Stella’s asymmetrical 80’s lace up outfit that much is beyond me.  It looked like a butter slathered member of Gem and the Rockers. On the other hand, the loving reunion between Skeletor and Heman after he called her leather-face was the highlight of the show for me. Her studded leather vest and turquoise eye shadow matched with the greasy braids he had in his hair is the ultimate indulgence.

Korto’s fish out of water design deserved to get ripped on, but **Alert** our very first meltdown ensued after her runway save.  You know it is going to be a great season when we have a crying catastrophe in the second episode. Cleary we can expect a lot of waterworks out of her and almost-loser Leanne.

I thought Suede’s paper mache criss cross design accented with tulle was a bit on the scary side, but if style starlet Natalie Portman says she will wear it, then I am outvoted.  All hail the ballerina princess winner.

Season 5 of Project Runway is off to a swimmingly good beginning.  We have excellent nicknames for several of the characters, a nicely balanced blend of designers with talent and those who will continue to keep us entertained with their craft project creations.  The drama level has only hit a 2 or 3 on the couture richter scale, but I am sensing some radical personality clashes in the weeks ahead.  Stay with me for the instant runway replay every Wednesday.