Fashion Week Looms...

This week's new episode was a reminder of why we love Project Runway. The last minute overhauls, the contestants' over-inflated egos and surprising end products that come down the runway. Wednesday's episode was no different, courtesy of Uli, Jeffery and Michael, respectively.

Now that Fashion Week is a palpable goal for the last remaining contestants, Heidi and Co. gave them a shockingly simple challenge - design something that expresses your point of view. Though this sounds easy enough, all of the designers faced their own problems with the challenge. It seemed as though Uli would be the one to go when she once again started to make the SAME dress, but after shredding it and re-designing a shorter version, she came up with the winning look. Laura's dress looked pretty much exactly like her dress from last week crossed with every other dress she has done, although they are always well made as Heidi accurately noted. As for Jeffery and Michael, they provided this week's most unpredictable garments. Jeffrey is a romantic? Somehow I find that hard to believe. His dress from this week strayed too far from his signature style which was the whole aim of this challenge. Michael, on the other hand, demonstrated far too little innovation this week. As the youngest of the bunch, it is not surprising that he does not have as much of a handle on his own point of view yet - a problem which could seriously hurt his chances at Fashion Week, where he'll have to have 12 original creations. Speaking of New York Fashion Week, a sneak preview of the contestants' collections was recently posted on YouTube. (WARNING: Serious spoilers abound in these videos Project Runway Olympus Fashion Week SPOILER)

This week's episode was tense and filled with surprises, but also showcased how close the remaining designers are. The twist this week (that no one would be eliminated) was a welcome one, as we got to see that (1) these people actually like each other, (2) Tim Gunn actually likes them (was he getting teary-eyed?), and (3) the judges aren't sure who the most promising designer is (and I have to agree).

Favorite quotes of this episode: "I'm not trying that on...it'll make me look fat"~Jeffery, joking about modeling Uli's dress, shortly before he put it on and frolicked around the work room
"It looks like every other dress you've ever done" ~Laura, in response to Uli asking if her flowy print dress was alright (the pot calling the kettle black much?)

How good does next week's reunion episode look? Who is the "fan favorite"? Is Keith actually crazy? Find out next week...

Project Re-Runway

So in honor of Wednesday's rerun, and because I have no new source material, I have decided to explain how and why my Project Runway obsession began...

Earlier this year Bravo debuted an ingenious show that followed aspiring chefs as they made intricate meals for themed challenges. The pressing time constraints, beautifully detailed creations and colorful contestants contributed to an hour of weekly television that I became addicted to. (Sound familiar?)

Just like Project Runway, Top Chef had its obvious stars (Harold), its premadonnas (Tiffany) and its flamboyant gay men (Dave was excellent). Also following PR's lead, Top Chef had a harsh judging panel comprised of experts in the field, a hot chick and the occasional guest judge. Week after week the number of contestants dwindled as the challenges got more difficult and, finally, Harold was announced the winner (not surprisingly).

After Top Chef concluded, I found myself still watching its reruns and eventually discovered rerun episodes of a little thing called Project Runway. Though I had never heard of it before (by then Bravo was already re-airing episodes from season two), I was enthralled - it was just like Top Chef but with dresses instead of dishes.

So here we are. I am now proudly addicted to Project Runway and am dreading its coming demise (the last episode airs October 18). However, in its place is the new season of Top Chef. The Project Runway of food...what could be better?

Down to Four

So it has been brought to my attention that not everyone is aware of the greatness that is Project Runway. Heidi Klum hosts the weekly show, in which would-be designers complete difficult challenges in an effort to make it to New York Fashion Week. The winner gets the start-up fees to launch his/her own line and other standard reality show prizes (a Saturn of some kind, etc.).

Already the number of contestants has dwindled from 15 to four. This weeks outing was especially tricky because Heidi brought back two of the show's recent rejects (and resident psychos), Vincent and Angela. Though neither of them deserved to still be there, and consequently got kicked off...again, it made for an exciting episode bringing the show even closer to its upcoming conclusion.

When Heidi said ominously there would be two special guests, I was a little disappointed when Angela and Vincent showed up, as were all of the other designers who unsuccessfully feigned happiness upon seeing them again. To the designers' horror, three of them were to be eliminated - after hearing this, cut to Kayne (above) downing his champagne while referring to Vincent and Angela as "cockroaches" who cannot be destroyed. In keeping with the more traditional challenges PR has been having as of late, contestants were then asked to design a black and white cocktail dress, and had to use every inch of their fabric.

It was fairly obvious from last weeks episode that either Kayne or Laura would be sent home in this challenge. Laura's breakdown lead to a moment of clarity in which she realized she could not just keep designing outfits for herself. This was her saving grace, and meant only one thing...goodbye Kayne (and his inexplicable taste). As for everyone else...

MICHAEL - Beautiful dress, as always. (It's as if they try to make it seem like he is struggling just so it won't be so obvious that he is going to win the whole thing.)
JEFFERY - Proving to be a one-trick pony like Uli. If he sends one more shredded, bedazzled, "rock n roll" garment down the runway he's going to be out.
LAURA - Her dress turned out much better than expected. I think she owes her model for that advice...
ULI - Michael Kors impression was dead-on, mocking the outfit and her accent to perfection.
KAYNE - Sadly the pageant king was eliminated for this mullet of a dress - business in the front, party in the back.
(Considering it was practically a joke bringing back two of the least talented people of season three, I will not dignify their respective dresses with any comments.)

Favorite Quote (it's a tie!): "Black people just look good in white," ~Michael succinctly, and unapologetically, describing his design aesthetic in this challenge AND...
"I'm not really a bitch, I just play one on TV," ~Kayne's charming parting words.

Couture Shock

The newest episode of Project Runway was an exciting venture for the six remaining contestants. While still in Paris the designers were asked to create a couture dress, complete with hand stitching, expensive fabrics and high-class design aesthetics. While this was definitely one of the more traditional challenges (as compared to using trash for garment materials), it successfully emphasized each designer's personal style choices and gave a glimpse into the future episodes and possible final three contestants.

The designers were given $375 and twenty hours to make a high fashion, couture dress while in Paris. All six contestants were shocked at how little time they were given, and I have to sympathize - the show's sweat shop-like element was especially obvious in this episode. Though they were in a tight time crunch, all of the designers chose ambitious garments that some of them were not able to finish (Uli's gown notwithstanding).

On to the dresses...
ULI - beautiful dress, but she's still in the flowy dress rut and needs to mix it up
MICHAEL - the judges proved their expertise when after folding the weird top into the dress it became something so much better
JEFFREY - that dress looked like it should have had a wicker basket set up on it in the middle of a park, yet somehow it won...michael kors what are you thinking??
KAYNE - laura's observation about his "Vegas"-inspired style was right on the money, but it could have been worse (that French guest judge seemed to appreciate kayne's style...or lack thereof?)
LAURA - i agreed with kors on this one...hello french maid
VINCENT - uli can be harsh, but the bottom of his dress did look like a sofa, and what's with all the glue? he should have gotten kicked off just for doing arts and crafts and trying to pass it off as couture construction

Luckily, Vincent was eliminated. Though it was funny to see him admire his own creations from week to week (as the other designers cringed), he needed to go. My prediction for the final three - Michael, Uli and Jeffrey. (While I'm not too keen on the hipster's creations, the judges seem to like him and he somehow won two in a row.)

Favorite Quote: "Vincent is a legend in his own mind" ~Laura, unamusedly, after watching Vincent ponder his own genius

Next Week
The next episode looks promising, with Laura having a pregnant meltdown and mention of dressing the Olsen twins. They better make it work...