 | Project Runway: New Rulesposted by RF Club, Group AdministratorFriday, August 6th 2010 @ 4:17 PM  (1 ratings) |
Project Runway Episode Two! "Larger Than Life"
Holy Moly the judges have a crush on Gretchen, blech. Guess, there is a reason I watch and they judge because Gretchen does nothing for me. SAFE, SAFE and SAFE. Which is funny because Project Runway used to be nothing of the sorts. I actually use to complain that they never thought about how wearable the fashion was and sometimes only went for the outrageous runway look. But, you know what? Over the years I have come to get it! I never thought I would say that, omygosh but I actually started understanding the runway look over shopping in the store. How cool!! Now, the last two episodes Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia have been awarding 'wearable' designs. Is this the 'New' Project Runway? Did it change because of Lifetime?? Lifetime is for women, the older woman and I am wondering if this has hurt Project Runway a tad bit?? If so, I will have to adjust and therefore the designers are going to have to re-think the game. Clearly if you look at the winner, Gretchen, you are wondering too, right? The two pieces she won with would NEVER appear on a runway show during fashion week, correct??? Her first win was a simple black cocktail dress with 'dressy' sleeves. Honestly, that is about how exciting I would describe that black little number. Gretchen's second win was yet another BLACK piece and it was a JUMP SUIT, oh, why do they bring back styles, ugh and they claimed it to be modernized. The judges words were "No age, No season, would look amazing on a billboard, very sophisticated and Nina tops it off with, Gretchen has a 'modern aesthetic'" All this for the JUMP SUIT that I think most women would tell you they would prefer never to wear again. If you notice the tall, leggy designer designed it and the tall leggy model loved it. Most of us do not fit that description. Did you look at those pockets, c'mon most women would die, wearing it. Most of us would not look sleek and sexy in a JUMP SUIT. It is not 1970 anymore!! I really do not see the modern or fashion forward in this piece. As one Tweeter tweeted "Valarie got hosed in this challenge". Valarie's beautiful red dress was more fashion forward out of the three and I even like Mondo's skirt ensemble better, although I would not say it was fashion forward. I do think Mondo did a better job of modernizing his "Mary Tyler Moore" inspiration than Gretchen's "Jumpsuit".
In my opinion, I thought some other Runway designs were worthy of the top spots. I still sit here amazed that Gretchen WON and I could easily have replaced her with other designers in the top three spots!!! So, who else did I think could have should have made it in?
Still playing it a little safe but clearly edgier and more sophisticated than Gretchen I thought was Sarah, Andy and Casanova . Sarah's dress was beautiful and to me seemed much more a 'Marie Claire' woman. AJ's pant and top I really liked and I tend not to 'go' pant and top ensembles. I loved the sleeves on the top, the little poof, for lack of a better term (LOL). Anyways I thought they were cute but not too cute! Last, I thought Casanova's outfit was sexy, confident and definitely more 'Marie Claire' than Gretchen's. Obviously, I need to look more closely at Marie Claire. Casanova's top was beautiful, I just loved the classic navy with the huge billowy sleeves and pulled in tight around the waste with the tight white fitting skirt. I thought it oozed class and was gorgeous. Yes, they were all a little "safe" but no more safe than Gretchen's Black Jumpsuit, correct???
Onto the loser or should I say losers?!?! Yep, Project Runway succeeded!! I really thought every week would hear Heidi Klum say "One or more of you will be out" ooooh, noooo! Just an empty threat, nope not an empty threat. Project Runway followed through and cut two. I am not going to complain about Jason. Honestly, in my opinion staples and safety pins to me are not fashion forward. Jason in his exit interview complained that Project Runway has lost it's fashion forward vision. He may have a valued argument but the outfit needs to be finished, staples and safety pins are not something any woman would want to wear and he still needed to be mindful of the challenge, a Marie Claire woman. Jason needed to realize that a Marie Claire woman would not wear safety pins and combat boots, fashion forward or not! Then, poor Nicholas, I think he just didn't get the challenge, that killed him and the top, oh the top with the missing back. Then the cape, what can you say about the cape??? The skirt was the best part of the outfit but yet again the entire outfit was a miss but I am not sure why it garnered axing him since Jason clearly needed to be axed?? It wasn't like it was a tie??? I guess Project Runway just wanted to do a twist and so they grabbed the bottom two. Wouldn't have been great if they just said, "Hey, all three of you are gone" Now, that would have been awesome!!! In my opinion, at that point Peach didn't need to stay either she clearly was no better than the other two! It does get hard to understand the judging at times!!
Oh, well, we need to get over it! We have the winner and The two losers!! Now what about the stuff in between???
We are starting to get to know the designers a little better!!
Typically in the beginning of Project Runway the designers are somewhat friendly with each other. You have always seen them bounce 'little' ideas off each other and give 'small' assistance to one another. Yes, it is a competition but in life you don't work in a vacuum and it is natural to turn to others for advice. I would imagine people who create need to 'talk' or interact to keep their creative juices flowing?? Therefore, AJ snapping at Casanova was odd? Now, I wasn't sure how much help Casanova was asking for? I thought he was demonstrating and asking for an opinion?? AJ thought he wanted actual manual labor help?? What did you think??? We later see the men all being strategical and you see AJ really trying to figure everyone out. I think AJ is going to stress himself out with competing on Project Runway and try to be a strategist and maybe AJ should just be a human being?
Of course, we get to see the normal sprinkles of interviews interspersed with the action. Gretchen is positive Nicholas is copying her work because you know, they all want to be GRETCHEN (LOL). Nicholas thinks Casanova is faking his language barrier because he only has the barrier on the Runway then we 'they' cut away to a scene where Casanova has a problem with an American saying, "Bosom Buddies" with Gretchen. What to think, what to think??? Remember earlier AJ would not help Casanova and yet we witness the designers all 'helping' each other throughout the episode. Of course, they are not sewing for each other or anything major but they are giving ideas on color, styling and such.
Nicholas in his interview states it is hard not to make friends. They know they are competing but c'mon they are together all day and all night. Of course, I can't wait to see how long the sorority girls stay BFF's, Sarah, Gretchen, Valarie and Ivy are clinking wine, giggling and having the time of their lives, yeah hooray!!! Of course, Peach is doom and gloom, oh, just doom and gloom! Then you have poor Mondo, scary and yet, you wanted to hug him at the same time. I wanted to go through the television screen and just say, "Mondo, you are special and honey, you are loved" but then I wonder if the poor guy just has no support??
I do like some things that has been added. The extension of time has allowed us to hear the designers 'dish' in the back room. I found it interesting to hear them critique the top and bottom three and they were just guessing, they guessed pretty close! They thought Valarie should have won the challenge, yeah, as stated above, I am with them on that one!! They pretty much knew Nicholas, Peach and Jason would be at the bottom!! To my amazement, they felt Jason should stay and stated that he was quite talented and as much as they liked Nicholas they felt he should go. The designers all felt Nicholas lacked talent and they claimed it was in his finishing. But, they knew Jason was in trouble because of the challenge, combat boots, really??? Dah!! They stated that they thought Peach would be okay she messed it up but at least she styled better and especially for Marie Claire.
I enjoyed hearing their thoughts because they are in the trenches. The designers can see things we can't and they KNOW MORE. It is kind of like getting the inside scoop!!!
So, did you agree with Gretchen winning?? Did you think Jason and Nicholas should have gone home?? Do you have a favorite designer yet???
Lucy
RFclub
