Project Runway Season 9--Episode 3 "Go Big or Go Home" --Nick Verreos MyLifetime.com Recap

The Circus--and OVER-exaggerated Body Types...come to Battery Park New York!!!



This:



Equals:

Project Runway Season 9 Designers Joshua McKinley and Julie Tierney design for Challenge No. 3

Last night's 3rd Episode of Project Runway Season 9 involved STILT Walkers and designing outfits for them--that were NOT COSTUME-Y but more "Couture" as their Mentor Tim Gunn, suggested. It was a MESS!!!! I was so amazed (and not in a good way) at how BAAAD these looks were that I thought I was watching a horrible "Day At The Circus" Documentary...The designers/contestants were teamed up and well, to begin--one of the teams Josh and Julie wanted to do "Torreador Couture" and ended up doing Elephant Clown Circus Wrangler, as my images above shows you. It really should have looked like this:

Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Fall 2008

I know it is not fair to compare a $50,000 Haute Couture ensemble---which includes a hand-beaded jacket that probably took 400 HOURS to make--to an outfit on Project Runway that was made in 12 hours but there was nothing chic or modern or even something that looked wearable in Joshua and Julie's Outfit.

And to think that these were even in contention for the Best:



Becky and Kimberley: One shoulder striped, pouffed/Leg-o-Mutton sleeved jacket with contrast over-sized cuffs and asymmetrical collar paired with gold-studded army-green trousers ensemble. Enough said. The top was SOOO "Fashion School Graduation Show 101" in terms of its silhouette, styling and fabric choice. Yes, the pants fit extremely well (the judges agreed), but still: It WASN'T that good...to be considered a "Top".



Cecilia Motwani and Danielle Everine: The chiffon fabric of this look was cut and sewn BEAUTIFULLY!!! I give both of these girls points for that. But if it wasn't for the 1967 "Medicated with Way-Too-Many-Dry-Martinis-Housewife" bouffant hairdo, they might have won...

but in the end it was this that won this awful & creepy challenge:



Anthony Ryan Auld and Laura Kathleen: This was the ONLY look--a red gown with a gathered blouson top with feathered shouldered detail and thin-belted waist--that came close to NOT being COSTUME-like and from the Circus and actually reminded the judges--and me--of a gown that was just "stretched"...Laura won as a result.



The Really Bad:







Bert Keeter and Viktor Luna: These two designers argued throughout the entire challenge and the result of their look was a MESS! Using brocade from the Mood Fabrics HOME and Sofa Section (is there really such a department? I may be making it up!) is NOT a good idea!!



But it was THIS Tutu concoction that really made the judges sour:





Bryce Black and Fallene Wells: These two designers tried to do "Black Swan"-meets-Punk. Not so much. The basic black cami looks like it came from Forever 21 and that tutu, low-hanging waistband and under-skirt pants? It all looked like a drunk 50-something former ballerina had hijacked the stage and needed to be escorted off. Fallene was "Auf'ed"...



If you really want to know what I thought of the entire Episode...





Here is a preview of my recap for myLifetime.com:



Send In The Clowns



Off the Bat ...

I know that I will risk sounding like a big ol’ “Negative Ninny” right off the bat (I promise, just this week!), but ... boy, were these outfits AWFUL! Just awful! Good, I had to get that off my trimmed yet still hairy chest. Oh, and let me add the following while I am on a roll: I am all for Team Bert in this Viktor vs. Bert History of Fashion Terminology Lesson. Don’t say “Elizabethan” or “Victorian” or “Gothic” when you haven’t a CLUE what those terms refer to. Go buy François Boucher’s “20,000 Years of Fashion: The History of Costume and Personal Adornment” and then talk to me. Don’t use the incorrect terminology and not expect to be clocked on it. OK, I am done for now. Let’s discuss this week’s Circus on the Runway Challenge....



Click HERE to continue reading--and of course, please let me know what you thought (in the comments section).

Nick Verreos Season 8 Project Runway MyLifetime.com Recaps: Episode 11

80's Biker Shorts, The Lion King Zebras, Thanksgiving Turkeys, Wendy Pepper 2.0 and Topstick...Yep, It's Project Runwaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!

Let's Get Physical: Olivia Newton John and Sue Sylvester on "Glee"...and some sexy 80s Bicycle Short-clad boys

Helloooooooo ! (say it with the Heidi Klum accent!)--Yes, Season 8 Project Runway is just about in it's last episodes before it is decided Who. Will. Be. America's Next...Top Fashion Designer! Last Thursday's Episode and Challenge revolved around "Active Wear". Specifically, designing looks for...

Heidi Klum's new line for New Balance to be sold exclusively at Amazon.com. This was supposed to be the centerpiece of the episode. However, as things sometimes turn out on Project Runway, that was just an excuse to get the "Mean Girls" back and get the Drama simmerin' again...since of course we (and in "we" I don't mean ME!) love the DRAMA!

The Lowlights and Highlights:

--Ivy Equals Wendy Pepper 2.0

Ivy Higa returns as the Leader of Season 8's "Mean Girls" (along with 3/4 of the cast), accusing Michael Costello (of course) of cheating and sabotage...Well, if anyone is sabotaging it's Miss Ivy. She took this entire Episode away from everyone else: I forgot WHAT the Challenge was about and that it had anything to do with Heidi, New Balance OR Amazon.com! So, I think we can make it official: Ivy is the new...

Wendy Pepper. Congrats!

--Thanksgiving Day Turkey Work Out Gear?

During this episode, the bitter "Mean Girls" Designers who were brought back to "help" kept making fun of what Michael Costello was creating for Heidi and her new line, saying it reminded them of something from a "Thanksgiving Day Turkey Parade". I actually thought they were cute...Just to remind people THIS...

Is what a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Design actually looks like! Thank you very much :)

--Topstick/Toupee Tape/Double-stick Tape was the new Season 8 Cast Member

Continuing on the "Mean Girls" and accusations...Miss Ivy accused Michael C. of using double stick tape on his dress for the "Jackie Kennedy Challenge". I didn't realize that using Topstick was against the rules. Why is Topstick against the rules but using glue, glue stick and staples NOT? Read my MyLifetime.com Blog to see what I think of all that.

--Bicycle Shorts Are BAAACK Y'all!

Yep, Gretchen had a pair of bicycle shorts in her "Heidi Klum for New Balance" looks-they were asymmetrical and black and none of the judges thought they were cute. I would have liked them if they looked more like the ones above--thong and all! At least, I would have given her credit for being kitschy and campy!

--The Best & Not So Good

I actually liked Mondo's group-he stuck to the color story for Heidi's New Balance line, it looked wearable as well as directional; very Alexander Wang Barney's CoOp. And of course, those geometric headbands were oh-so-editorial! Even though he was being kind of a you-know-what to Heidi, he should have won...again!

I wasn't a fan of Andy's active wear looks though. Michael Kors and Heidi K just LOOOOVED it! I didn't get it. Nina Garcia did say they looked "a bit" Halloween-y. On closer inspection, they also reminded me of this:

The "Lion King" Zebra costumes! There's an inspiration: The Zebras from Lion King-Inspired Active Wear by Andy South! Love it!

But it was "Cutie Christopher" who was sent home--when I saw those weird proportions, twisting inseams, crazy styling (Wedge heels??Really???) and even crazier slits placed in the most WRONG places, I knew it was going to be his time. Michael Kors was right, they did look rather "Retirement Home Pajama Party". Christopher's girls were on their way to play Mahjong and then meet their girlfriends for some Bloody Mary's...as opposed to go to their next Bikram Yoga appointment.

Even this lovely lady looks more fashionable than any of Christopher's models...

Oh well, with that, we (and when I say "we", I mean "I") give you a smooch on the cheek for being CUTE and for designing for the "Older Clientele"...they are sometimes forgotten on Project Runway.

Here's a Sneak Peak of my latest Blog Recap of Episode 11 for MyLifetime.com:

Lies, Losers and a Tale of Double-Stick Tape

Oh Lordy: I just knew that after a solemn and genuinely emotional TEARJERKER of an episode — and I would be remiss not to mention HOW TIMELY it was with all these sad gay suicides occurring in our country — that it would be followed by DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA! I'm not talking the good, Joan Crawford, DIVA kind. I'm talking about the silly, bitchy, bitter kind. Yep, it seems that the producers saw the drama fading away as soon as the "mean girls" were eliminated, and thought to themselves, "Hmmm, how can we recapture that Jersey Shore level of fighting again?! I know! Let's bring back the bitter, angry eliminated designers! Yeah! Problem solved!" But I digress … let's start from the top........

To Read The ENTIRE Recap Click HERE

Nick Verreos Project Runway MyLifetime.com Recaps: Episode 4!

Hat Fantastique!!!

On last night's Project Runway Season 8 Episode, the contestants had to create an ensemble inspired by incredible Hat Couture designed by Philip Treacy. Who needs an outfit when you've got those FABULOUS hats??!! The episode was filled with Ambulances, a Designer Down, More of Gretchen Replacing Tim Gunn while he's not there, FOUR designers caught...

The "Handkerchief Hem Bug" and we even got to witness...

The FIRST ever Triple Panty in Project Runway History from...

Separated at Birth?! Figure Skater Nicole Bobek (left) and Project Runway Contestant Nicole Johnston (right)

Designer April Johnston--who bears a striking resemblance to Olympic Figure Skater Nicole Bobek (I know, did I just give you a Figure Skating Reference!?). She designed a Hoochie Indochine ensemble to go with her Asiana-inspired hat. I suggested that maybe she should have referenced...

John Galliano's masterful Spring 2007 Haute Couture Christian Dior Collection...but alas she did not. For all my thoughts, below is the beginning of my MyLifetime.com Recap of this week's Hat-Glorious Episode:

Finally...It is interesting that the winning design was worn with this iconic Isabella Blow hat (below). Maybe the memories for Philip Treacy helped give Michael Costello the win?!

We Will Miss You Isabella Blow xoxo

Below is the beginning of my mylifetime.com recap:

Sad Orchids, Handkerchief Hems and a Triple Panty Party!!

OMG!!! It's Philip friggin' Treacy! God, Genius, Hat Zeus! Seriously, I got the shivers just thinking about what I would design with one of his masterpieces! I was so excited at the prospect of the marvelous creations these designers would make. But then someone slapped me back to life — I think it was the Ghost of Alexis Carrington from "Dynasty" — with the realization that Casanova was still in the show and that there would certainly be some embarrassing messes ahead ... But before we get to all that, plus the Triple Panty Party and how EVERYONE'S drinking the Handkerchief Hem Kool-Aid, let's talk about Designer Down.....

Click HERE to read the entire Recap!