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The Project Runway Blog
Runway Redemption: Bring Your Favorite Designer Back for Season 12!
It's every "Project Runway" designer's dream come true—a second chance! For Season 12, three former contestants are competing for a chance at Runway Redemption: Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman (Season 6), Valerie Mayen (Season 8) and Kate Pankoke (Season 11). And it's up to you to decide who gets a spot on the Season 12 roster.
Starting today through June 3, fans can vote on myLifetime.com using the poll below, or on Twitter by using these hashtags: #RunwayRamon, #RunwayValerie or #RunwayKate. The winner will be revealed during the Season 12 premiere this summer.
Want to know what Ra'mon, Valerie and Kate have been up to since their days on "Runway"? Read our exclusive Q&A with the designers and see their recent designs:
-Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman
-Valerie Mayen
-Kate Pankoke
VOTE HERE:
Runway Redemption: Vote for Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman, Season 6
Season 6's Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman got auf'd in Episode 6 after creating a sci-fi movie look that failed to impress the judges. He back to show everyone that he is, indeed, a strong designer!
5 QUESTIONS WITH RA'MON:
1. Bring us up to speed! What have you been up to since you were eliminated?
Since my time on "Project Runway," I have definitely experienced some amazing milestones professionally as well as personally. After returning home, I was approached by Kohl's to help rebrand and relaunch the junior label Mudd as well as oversee the design direction of one of their most successful partnership brands LC Lauren Conrad. After spending a few years making each a success for the company, I decided to make the bold move and finally relocate to NYC with my boyfriend, Brent. Bold isn't an understatement given neither of us had secured a job. However, with a gut feeling and my life savings, something inside said that simply it was time.
Before leaving the Midwest, Brent (a modern dancer) and I went on a trip to London and Paris for some inspiration. While in Paris, to my surprise he actually proposed at a little cafe by the Eifel Tower, in story book fashion. We're currently planning our wedding for next summer! Since that moment, life was been more abundant than I could imagine.
Once we arrived to NYC, I decided to focus on establishing my own label and building a local customer base. This has proven to be a huge task, as stores and buyers have been very wary of on boarding new independent designers in the ongoing economic climate. Thankfully I've made a huge custom clientele that has held sustain me. Mostly due to the continuing "Project Runway" fan base that have been emailing me non-stop asking where they can find my clothing.
A little over a year ago I was approached by JCP, having heard how successful I made LC Lauren Conrad for Kohls' and Mossimo for Target prior, to join them to oversee the design direction for a new collaboration with Nanette Lepore called L'AMOUR. Since it's launch, it's been received with universal praise, socially and financially. I guess this brings me to my ongoing question, if my ideas can make millions for these retail giants, they should be able to do the same under my own name, no?
2. What garment from your season of "Runway" do fans compliment you on the most?
I constantly have people compliment the Electric Green Neoprene Dress that I won the Garnier Surf Challenge with. I think partialy due to the somewhat impossible situation of that challenge, specifically working with Mitchell. But more importantly, a lot of fans were just inspired by my use of the material and dying it by hand. The material has actually become a pseudo-signature for me since then. Funny enough, in the next collections after the show aired, during NYFW there was a huge influx of neoprene as a trend (Even Michael Kors featured it in his collection). So I guess I was ahead of trend on that one…just saying.
3. What are your strengths as a designer at this point in your career?
I know whom I’m marketing my clothing towards and I remain consistent in my perspective of what my brand stands for. So many designers struggle to figure out their "voice," so each collection sometimes can have the tendency to look like a different person designed it. I’ve gone through that stage, and grown because of it. Now, I am not only business minded (given my mass retail background), but also I’ve created a focused and unique design esthetic that is also accessible. That’s what’s really important to me in building a successful business. If it’s not accessible, then it might as well be a hobby.
4. How has your design aesthetic changed since your time on the show, if at all?
I think I’ve evolved more as a contemporary designer. I’m still inspired by architecture and minimalism, but now I approach it with less of a "fantasy" eye. Really I’m more focused on soft tailoring with a quirky spin to it and a sense of practicality. Before, I don’t know if I was as focused on making clothes that were actually wearable. I looked at it more as art as fashion.
5. Why do you think you deserve a second chance?
I've always felt I was dismissed from my season far too soon. Actually, I definitely know I should have made it to Fashion Week. I would have wowed the judges, the industry and the fans. Aside from what has been said, as there were a lot of opinions when I was auf'd, I can account for one thing. Tim was right when he said, "I think too much." I've learned in the last few years to trust my instincts more, and not allow humility to be confused with not having a point of view. The show made me stronger as a designer and an individual. And while life rarely gives you second chances, I think this time around I would be the one for everyone to watch out for if given the opportunity to come back for redemption. Correction, I know I would be.
Rate his "Project Runway" Season 6 designs
Watch Ra'mon's Season 6 Exit Interview:
More Ra'mon videos:
-Ra’mon-Lawrence Coleman Video Blog, Episode 6
-Tim Critiques Ra’Mon-Lawrence Coleman: Episode 6
-Tim Critiques Ra’Mon-Lawrence Coleman: Episode 5
-Ra-mon-Lawrence Coleman’s Closet Tour
-Ra-Mon-Lawrence Coleman’s Home Visit
-Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman's Casting Session
Do you think Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman should get a second chance? Vote for him now!
You can also vote for Ra'mon on Twitter by using the hashtag #RunwayRamon.
Runway Redemption: Vote for Valerie Mayen, Season 8
Valerie Mayen was eliminated during the textile challenge in Season 8, Episode 10. She is ready to lay it on the all on the runway...again!
5 QUESTIONS WITH VALERIE:
1. Bring us up to speed! What have you been up to since you were eliminated?
There's been quite a lot going on in my life since PR8. The year following my season was a good one, filled with crazy schedules, speaking engagements, small endorsements and exciting opportunities for my brand, Yellowcake. I worked tirelessly to capitalize on the momentum and exposure I received from the show. I was met with such positive encouragement, affirmation and support from fans and clients. 2010 was a good year, but 2011 and 2012 were a bit darker with a major breakup from my boyfriend of nearly 2 years and losing my best friend/mentor/mother figure of nearly 8 years to cancer. I also lost touch with my parents and we have yet to speak since November of 2011. Needless to say, there have been good times and there have been bad.
I also traveled to India and Africa since filming PR8. I went to Africa with the HALO foundation to work with young girls in orphanages in Uganda. I taught sewing and textile arts to girls at 5 different homes. I was there for over 2 weeks and plan to return in 8 months to a year to pursue a social enterprise venture that involves sewing and creating educational opportunities for Ugandan women. With my company Yellowcake, we give 5% of our profits to the City mission, a local homeless shelter, and we also firmly believe in domestic production and employing local. It's always been my mission to marry creativity with humanitarianism. Working in Africa and other developing countries is just the start to continuing our mission in the states to countries abroad.
As far as my career is concerned, things couldn't be better! There have been some challenges along the way, but I’m still working as hard as I always have and continuing to grow and build my work and name. 2011 and 2012 were a bit dark and heavy, but 2013 is proving to be my silver lining. At the start of the year I was able to raise a bit of money from a new event I started here in Cleveland called "Hullabaloo"! It's my attempt to start a fun fashion centric event that occurs annually in Cleveland to showcase a more adventurous and theatrical collection of my work. Our first year sold out and was a huge success, allowing me to gain a bit of capital to renovate and expand my small store that i currently have in an urban/artsy neighborhood here in Cleveland. We just opened about a month ago, and though the process was hellish and trying, we have had a positive response and loyal support from patrons. I’ve won a few Cleveland artist grants as well and entered every competition locally that I can to earn/win money for my business. In 3 years I’ve been able to create 4 part time sewing jobs for local women to assist me in producing inventory for my small store, Yellowcake. I’ve also taken on 4-5 interns a year, helping several prepare for design school themselves. All in all, my goal is to make beautiful work, create sustainable jobs and teach others to do the same, but it’s not easy going at it alone. That’s where "Project Runway" comes in.
2. What garment from your season of "Runway" do fans compliment you on the most?
Fans compliment me most on my Marie Claire challenge dress or my dress from the party store challenge. I actually made a modified version of the dress I made for the Marie Claire challenge and it’s been my top seller online ever since! I also made a fabric version of the party store challenge garment for our first annual Hullabaloo event collection. It took me nearly a week and 400 squares of silk cotton and georgette to make the damned thing, but it looks great and was one of the top favorites of the event. Most women love the Marie Claire dress for its function and flattery. Others love the party store dress for its volume and whimsy. I like them both because they are the most indicative of my style and voice.
3. What are your strengths as a designer at this point in your career?
At this point in my career, I’d say my strengths are color and shape. I’ve spent the better part of the last 3 years learning what my client wants, what they’ll pay for certain colors and cuts and how to cater to a certain demographic while still maintaining my artistic vision. I use a lot of bold color and prints in my work and I LOVE using layers, pockets, shape and silhouette to flatter the figure, make a statement or serve a practical wearable need. Most of my clients love my use of stripes, chevrons, layering, pockets and color. Those are the things I focus on when designing and they are my favorite bases to use in my work.
4. How has your design aesthetic changed since your time on the show, if at all?
My design aesthetic has definitely "grown up" for lack of a better word (uh, phrase?). I think my work has become a bit more polished, confident and defined. Where before, perhaps the judges couldn’t see a clear vision or perhaps they felt I lacked a more refined design sense, now, after running my business full time, designing and sewing nearly EVERY day and indulging in the fashion of other cultures far and away, I’ve honed in on my voice. It’s fun, it’s clear, it’s crisp and it’s definitely more me. It’s me, just the grown up, developed, brighter, better, cleaner, more sophisticated, more "you can take me seriously now" me.
5. Why do you think you deserve a second chance?
Are you sitting down for this? It’s a long one…
I know some might think it’s unfair for me to have a second chance, for anyone to have a second chance for that matter. I know the other designers may be new and without any branding or business to their name, while others may be well-seasoned veterans with eons of experience and credentials out the wazoo. I know that some people may think I’m not good enough or capable, but that’s PRECISELY why I deserve a second chance, because I fall in that happy medium between "fresh out of design school student" and "big fashion label employee/freelance designer to the stars entrepreneur." I’m a simple girl, with a simple business and big dreams to do good things with fashion. I know that Heidi, Nina and Michael deep down want the same and I can only hope and pray that I can show them that in Season 12. I am capable, I am driven and I am ready. Ready (or crazy ) to do this all over again. To endure the sleepless nights, the long hours, the bubble guts, the humiliation and annihilation, the stress, the excitement, the uncertainty…I’m ready for all of it because my business, my staff, my friends and my sister depend on it.
I run a small fashion business, I employ 5 women part time, I have over $45,000 in student loans from art school, (Should’ve been a doctor?) I teach over 10-12 interns a year, my little sister just moved in with me from Texas nearly 6 months ago to make it as a pastry chef in Cleveland, my late best friend's children (all 8 of them) are chomping at the bit for me to win this thing for their mom, I just built my first brick and mortar store and now have $20G in loans to friends and the bank to repay AND my shady conman of a contractor swindled me out of nearly $5G in hidden costs and delays…so, that is ALSO why I deserve a second chance. Running a small business is hard enough without outside help and I need this to grow my business and support the people that depend on me everyday. My success is their success.
I’ve struggled all my life with feeling insignificant. Some theories point to middle child syndrome, others point to my parents lack of involvement in my personal and professional life once I left home at 17. When on PR8, I struggled with the same feelings of insignificant when I was never able to earn a challenge win. Several times I came so so close, but never a win. When I was eliminated and even after the show, I sometimes felt overlooked, forgotten or mistaken for someone else. When I was asked to be a part of Season 10's Emmy dress episode, my dress got little attention. I was never asked to write a blog for the show or design garments or products for events. I felt maybe I hadn’t made the impression on the judges and PR as a whole that I wanted to. I deserve a second chance for the sake of redemption. For the sake of a second look at what I can really do when looked at with a fresh pair of eyes. I really think everyone will be surprised.
People are always putting Cleveland down. Making assumptions and judgments based on what the media and Forbes tells them about our condition. But I love it, grit and all. It’s been my home for nearly 12 years and I wouldn’t change a thing about it (except the parking ticket fines). I still aim to prove to everyone that extraordinary things can come out of unexpected places. That the underdog can come out on top. In case you were wondering, I’m the underdog=))
All that to say, I think I could and would make the most of this opportunity. I have too, I need too, I want too. Not just for myself but for my city, my staff, my interns, my family, and for Lisa, my champion. I will fight as hard as I need to redeem myself from my elimination of my season. I have so much more to show (cliché as it may sound) and I think the judges and lifetime will be pleased to see what I’ve got. I've always rooted for the underdog, and honestly, I don't think the judges or some fans gave me the credit that I deserved for the work I did. I think it'd be great to show the world that the little guy can come out on top too. There's never been a Latin American female winner or a winner from Ohio much less. I'd love the opportunity to be the dark horse winner no one saw coming. To challenge the status quo and surprise everyone who thought otherwise. I started sewing on cinderblocks and plywood tables, and now I have a small store to call my own. To be on PR12 and really go the distance, that would be my dream!
Rate her "Project Runway" Season 8 designs
Watch Valerie's Season 8 Exit Interview:
More Valerie videos:
-Extended Judging of Valerie Mayen, Episode 10
-Valerie Mayen’s Birthday Party – A "Project Runway" Bonus Scene
-Tim Critiques Valerie Mayen: Episode 10
-Valerie Mayen’s Closet Tour
-Valerie Mayen’s Home Visit
-Valerie Mayen’s Casting Session
Do you think Valerie Mayen should get a second chance? Vote for her now!
You can also vote on Twitter for Valerie by using the hashtag #RunwayValerie.
Runway Redemption: Vote for Kate Pankoke, Season 11
After getting the boot for her duct tape prom dress in Episode 7, Season 11's Kate Pankoke is ready to prove she has what it takes to go all the way!
5 QUESTIONS WITH KATE:
1. Bring us up to speed! What have you been up to since you were eliminated?
Since "Project Runway," it was hard to assimilate back into normal life. I found it almost impossible to relax, I felt like I should always be doing something. This has been great for business. I launched my 2013 bridal collection "Romance in Bloom" for my line Elaya Vaughn Bridal. The collection was launched this April at the National Bridal Market in Chicago where it was very well received. We have also completely rebranded, I think you will like what you see.
I have finally set a date for Zach and I to get married, it is November 16th of this year. We have booked a venue in Savannah, GA. I am not concerned about the filming interfering with planning the wedding. I already have most things in place...all I need to do is show up :-)
I was also accepted into the Chicago Fashion Incubator in March. I am one of 6 designers that were chosen. In the short time that I have been there, I have already learned so much.
It is truly touching how proud Chicago is of me. I was named one of Crain's Business Magazine's 20 in their 20's. I have made several appearances on ABC's Windy City Live, and am now part of their Dream Wedding. Each year Windy City Live selects a deserving bride to get a dream wedding. I am designing a custom gown for the bride. I am so excited that I am getting to use the publicity I have received from "Project Runway" to really give back to the community. I am also participating in a mentorship program called Spark. It is an outreach program to underprivileged middle school students who have a desire to learn about a certain vocation. I am mentoring a little girl named Angelique. She is adorable and fascinated with "Project Runway."
2. What garment from your season of "Runway" do fans compliment you on the most?
There are two garments that people compliment me on, and I honestly think that it is a tie. Everyone loves the gown that I co-designed for Heidi Klum's Surprise campaign, that seems to be a universal hit. The other dress that I get compliments on is surprisingly the duct tape prom dress. People are messaging me asking me to design their prom dresses. Several buyers actually came up to me at national bridal market, where prom dresses are also sold, to let me know that #PromIsLong.
3. What are your strengths as a designer at this point in your career?
I think that my biggest strength as a designer is my ability to stay true to myself and my aesthetic. I am good at coming up with a design and sticking to it; this is critical in a time sensitive situation like "Project Runway." My other strength is fit. I always make sure that my pieces fit my model or customer and that the garment makes them feel good.
4. How has your design aesthetic changed since your time on the show, if at all?
"Project Runway Teams" forced me to really figure out who I was as a designer because if you didn't have a clear view of who you were, you would just get lost. Through this process, I re-discovered myself. My aesthetic is vintage with a sexy flare. I like to make a woman feel sexy by accentuating her silhouette instead of showing skin.
5. Why do you think you deserve a second chance?
I know that no one is ever happy to go home, but I truly believe that I was unjustly eliminated. I was never in the bottom (for my designs) until the duct tape prom dress challenge. The challenge was to design a prom dress out of duct tape that had to be marketable because the designs were going to be voted on by actual high school students. I have been to prom, I have a younger brother who is in high school who has seen what people wear to prom, and I biannually attend National Bridal Market where prom dresses are bought and sold From my sources I concluded that prom gowns should be long. Not every girl wears a long dress, but I would wager that 85% do. If the challenge is to design a marketable dress, then I am going with the 85%. Despite Zac Posen's attempts to defend me and my decision, I was sent home. I think what was most upsetting about this challenge was that it was a double elimination. I don't think Tu or myself should have been sent home, certainly not both. Especially for a dress that later ended up being used in Duck Tape's marketing.
I believe that I deserve to come back because I was a fierce competitor and also a gracious loser. I was happy to come back and help Layana and Patricia with their designs and watch them move on in the competition. I stayed true to myself and my designs and defended my friends until the end. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to compete on Season 11 and will be forever in your debt if I am selected to compete on Season 12! If you put me back in the ring, I promise, I will not disappoint.
Rate her "Project Runway" Season 11 designs
Watch Kate's Season 11 Exit Interview:
More Kate videos:
-Kate the Princess
-Kate’s Strategy to Make an Evening Gown
-Challenge Winner 1 Interview: Episode 3
-Kate Pankoke’s Closet Tour
-Kate Pankoke’s Home Visit
-Kate Pankoke's Casting Session
Do you think Kate Pankoke should get a second chance? Vote for her now!
You can also vote for Kate on Twitter by using the hashtag #RunwayKate.
Q&A: Season 11 Winner Michelle Lesniak Franklin
Newly-crowned "Project Runway" Season 11 winner Michelle Lesniak Franklin took some time to talk with me about her experience on the show, her "do or die" moment and her reaction to being called a "mean girl." Check out the full interview after the cut, and don't forget to tune in for the Season 11 Reunion Special on Thursday at 9.8c.
Finale, Part 2: And the Winner Is...
This recap—the last of the season!—is brought to you by the sight of Patricia and her kids taking a time-out for an adorable, giggly shimmy-dance in the workroom. It put a big smile on my face.
We see the usual flurry of workroom activity at the start of this episode. Stanley, who found himself in the bottom last week, knows that he needs to hem and style his way back into the judges' good graces. Patricia is "under the gun" to give her collection some cohesion. Michelle has to re-tool her models' hair and makeup. The trio is granted $500 and one last trip to Mood, plus more time with their sewing assistants (Amanda, Richard, and Layana), PLUS a special visit from their family members for a pre-runway morale boost. Interestingly, the designers are not given any last-minute challenges, twists, or rule changes to deal with. To be fair, the first episode's introductory surprise of the team challenge conceit was enough of a twist/challenge/rule change to last a lifetime.
The big conflict this episode stems from Stanley's under-preparedness, or rather the juxtaposition of this flustered Stanley with the strict, detail-oriented time manager he appeared to be during the rest of the season. It's not totally clear if his struggles to finish garments in time is the result of poor time management during the collection-building hiatus, or if the judges demands for a younger, hipper vibe proved too overwhelming in the lead-up to the runway show. Either way, he really has to scramble to make things presentable for Fashion Week. The stress just radiates off him, and he notes a few times that he feels like he might be sick. Tim, Michelle and Patricia all individually express concern that Stanley might not present a finished collection.
But with the help of a small army of sewing assistants (and a patient stage manager), Stanley turns it out, and we finally get a full look at what he and his fellow finalists have put together. It's Fashion Week! [insert dramatic music here]
(By the way: Mr. Michael Kors is back as our finale guest judge. I've enjoyed watching Zac Posen get more comfortable in his judging role, but if I had my way both Zac and Michael would be regulars on the panel.)
Michelle - The first collection to walk. Michelle's looks expand on the casual-but-tough attitude she presented in her capsule collection last week. Lots of quilted fabrics, leather details, belts and studs, shown alongside knits (like a "bleeding heart" sweater) and more flirty paneled dresses.
Michael Kors doesn't love her closing gown—"You're talking to a guy who LIVES for heavy fabrics, but [it's like] a cardboard box walking"—and he and Zac dislike her inclusion of chiffon ties in some looks. Heidi likes the lone-wolf story behind the collection, as well as its cohesion, and Nina likes that everything is wearable and clean. All of the judges can picture young celebrities gravitating toward this collection, and they all feel that Michelle really represented her point of view.
Patricia - This tree-inspired collection walks second, opening with a pink embroidered silk dress, moving into a variety of handmade fabrics, flowy printed scarves, chunky jewelry, sequins and mushroom-y headpieces, ending with the blue dress she showed the judges last episode.
Each judge seems to be drawn to a different look from this collection, but they all praise Patricia's work with textiles and her out-there ideas. Zac and Heidi love her more forward-thinking looks, like the leather hole-punch pants. Nina (again) says that she wishes Patricia could clean up her aesthetic into a slightly more refined package.
Stanley - "Urban Opulence" opens with a chic black pant and detailed jacket. It's followed by lots of rich textures and expensive-looking fabrics, including a strapless brocade mini and a gold belted coatdress.
Michael Kors has a lot of words for Stanley's closing gown, including "Betty White on 'Dancing With The Stars'" and [his classic] "Holly Hobby" (and he hilariously calls the multi-finger ring "an appetite suppressant"). Zac calls out Stanley's old-feeling mix of fabric; Heidi questions some of his shoddy hemlines. Nina reiterates that Stanley's excellent pieces are dragged down by his dated styling choices. Zac also notes that Stanley's stubbornness really got in his way in designing and executing this final collection.
The judges spend quite a bit of time deliberating. Should the winner of "Project Runway" be a designer with a modern, borderline over-designed sensibility (Michelle); someone with ideas that are innovative, if at times inconsistent (Patricia); or someone who designs beautiful but utterly staid pieces (Stanley)?
After a long discussion, they choose Michelle as the winner. I'm behind that decision 100 percent. From my spot at the Fashion Week runway show (where her work got a very vocal response from the "Runway" alumni in attendance), her collection was exciting, cohesive, and totally wearable, not to mention fully representative of her personal taste and aesthetic. Plus, it was constructed well! What more do you want from a "Runway" victor?
Seriously, I'm asking. What more do you want? What do you think of Michelle as the winner of "Project Runway" Season 11? What looks from each collection stood out to you? Do you think our final three would have made it this far in a non-team season? Let me know in the comments.
Exclusive: First Look at Season 12 Casting!
"Project Runway" Season 12 is underway! Here's a look at Marie Claire's Katie Connor, Tim Gunn (!) and PR alum Seth Aaron Henderson at the casting table in Seattle.
There will be an open casting call in New York City on April 24 from 10:00 to 4:00 at the Hilton New York, Concourse C. For more details, click here.
Which city do you think will have the best designers? Sound off below!
Finale, Part 1: The Wubbulous World of "Runway"
We're down to the Final Four: Stanley, Patricia, Michelle and Daniel. Heidi and Tim sternly remind the designers that "now is not the time to rest on your laurels," and that "any one of you could win this"! The four each receive $10,000 to create a 12-look collection for Fall 2013. They'll show three looks each to the judges, who will then choose three designers to show full collections at Fashion Week. And with that, they head home to detox from the cameras and get to work.
It's time for home visits! Tim heads out on a cross-country trip to check in on the final four and critique their collections. In Taos, NM, Tim meets Patricia's family. "People enjoy our celebration [of] our culture," Patricia explains, "but then they don't want to be intrusive, so that's what made me think of [making] contemporary clothing." In her (huge!) studio, she presents Tim with the seeds of her collection; his advice is for her to back off from her more literal tendencies. Stay away from the arts and crafts, Patricia!
Tim jets off to Portland for a meal with Michelle's husband, brother and parents. He confesses to speaking on Michelle's behalf after a few "dicey moments" with the judges. She shows off the beginnings of a wolf-inspired, dark-hued collection, to which Tim responds favorably. "Just don't over-design!" he whispers on his way out the door.
Time for Daniel, whose hair has grown out like a Chia Pet. In his Austin studio Daniel describes the melting pot of inspiration for his collection: the cosmos, astronomy, Salvador Dali and surrealism, and his trip to Berlin. Tim seems to dig a lot of what Daniel has put together, but he also has a viscerally negative reaction to many of Daniel's other ideas. Which is...probably not good.
On to West Hollywood, where Stanley is putting together a very dramatic, opulent group of garments that Tim cautions must be edited well in order to be effective. The only problem Tim really has is with a discordant orange dress that Stanley agrees to get rid of. Over lunch with Stanley's partner and niece, Tim tells him that the other designers see Stanley as a force to be reckoned with.
Back in NYC and back in the workroom, the designers unload their collections and get to work making adjustments and finishing things up, with special help from Amanda, Richard, Layana and Samantha. The rest of the episode is a lot of busy-busy workroom stuff. Tim comes in to critique again. Michelle notes that Stanley has an enormous amount of work left to do and very little time in which to do it. Layana and Samantha gossip about the uneven quality of Patricia's looks. But let's get right to the runway!
Michelle - I confess that Michelle's aesthetic is right up my alley, but even if it wasn't I think I'd approve of these pieces. They demonstrate an attention to detail and cohesion that wasn't totally apparent in Michelle's earlier work this season. The judges compliment the mini-collection's wearability and the incorporation of different fabrics, but Nina asks that Michelle refrain from adding too many unnecessary details, namely the messenger bags and the compasses. Heidi also hints that she'd like to see more color. Michelle easily moves on to Fashion Week.
Patricia - I was very curious to see what Patricia would produce with more time and fewer constraints. The horsehair cape with leather pants is a total knockout, and might be my favorite thing that Patricia's ever sent down the runway. But that grey dress with the gaudy necklace and scarf is horribly misguided, and the sequined blue dress is one of those divisive looks that can make or break a runway show. The judges go back and forth, acknowledging the merit of Patricia's artisanal techniques but hesitating over the thought of her sending out a collection that lacks cohesion and maturity. But they err on the side of generosity, and Patricia moves forward.
Stanley - Stanley's interest in and skill with luxe, ornate fabrics are his saving grace after showing these otherwise "blah" looks. Zac and Nina both decry the proportions and the dated styling, with Zac taking a moment to call Stanley out specifically for not producing anything more interesting in his time away from the show. "Chic banal," Zac calls these looks, and the other judges seem to agree. But Stanley's done too well this season (and impressed the judges too often) not to move on, so he's confirmed for Fashion Week as well.
Daniel - These looks are a far cry from the white, red, black and light blue ensembles we saw in his studio space at home. Heeding some of Tim's advice about staying away from unexciting colors, Daniel chooses to emphasize his use of stingray. But showing three all-black ensembles that mirror work you've done before is certainly not the way to convince the judges that you belong at Fashion Week. The judges are bored, and Daniel is auf'd.
Here we go! Off to the final runway show of Season 11. How do you feel about the final three? Who of the eliminated designers do you wish would have made it this far? Were you as bored by Stanley and Daniel's capsule collections tonight as I was? And based off what we saw in this episode, whose collection will come out on top next week? Let me know in the comments.
Eurotrip(s)
This recap is brought to you by Stanley's confession that as a little boy, he wanted to be a vampire. I am not at all surprised by this.
We ended the last challenge on a weird note. Michelle was on the verge of elimination until a last-minute reprieve from the judges, and now we see the follow-up to their "You have one last chance!" threat. Heidi and Tim meet the designers on the runway to explain that for this challenge, they'll be creating high-end runway looks with a budget of $1000...and finding inspiration and fabrics in Europe.
Unlike in previous seasons, when the whole gang would pack up for the same exotic locale, each of our final five is headed to a different fashion capital. They'll be accompanied by an eliminated designer acting as travel buddy/sewing assistant. I can't remember another season in which auf'd designers were called upon for help so often, so I'm glad Amanda, Richard, Samantha and Kate were given a bit of a reward in the form of a super-quick Europe trip.
The tickets are dispensed: Layana to Barcelona, Patricia to Paris, Daniel to Berlin, Stanley to London...and Michelle to good ol' New York City, where she'll have to atone for her sins in the previous challenge. Womp womp. She handles this disappointment with an understandable mix of resignation, bitterness, and turning-lemons-into-lemonade enthusiasm.
Watching the rest of the group gleefully jaunt around Europe is refreshing. They seem excited and inspired, and the shenanigans they get into—trying to buy fabric on a steep exchange rate; finding iconic spots in which to sketch and discuss—make for a nice change of pace, not to mention a nice change of scenery. And later on in the episode, the judges (including guest judge John Legend) have an interesting discussion about art vs. fashion while debating which contestants should get to move forward. But sandwiched in between is some intense workroom time and a very solid runway show. Let's talk about the looks:
Stanley - "A woman tucked away inside the dark, dramatic Tower of London" is essentially Stanley's story behind this garment. It's not a flashy look, but the judges love the pop of sequins lining the dress, and Stanley gets compliments on the sleek capelet.
Michelle - On her NYC sightseeing tour, Michelle spots the patterns left on the sides of many buildings from old fireplaces and chimneys and incorporates those ideas into a quilted patent leather harness/breastplate and a strapless cashmere-wool dress. Heidi dislikes the messy quality of the dress hemline ("It looks like a dirty horse blankie," HAH), but otherwise the judges are impressed.
Daniel - A geometric, modern building inspires Daniel in Berlin, and Amanda encourages him to work that into a design for a hipper woman. The result is classic Daniel—structured jacket, black dress—but with a more current sensibility than he's known for. The judges love it, and unanimously praise the way the look evokes the city to which Daniel was sent.
Patricia - I like Patricia's intention to emulate the rougher edge of Paris, rather than the uber-romantic ideal many of us are used to, and I'm surprised that this look—one of the more accessible pieces she's ever done—doesn't get a better reception from the judges. Nina is underwhelmed at the oddity of it ("It looks like a collage you put together with paper-mache") and John Legend dislikes the lack of the character in the slacks. Heidi likes it, though. (Patricia is really becoming a point of contention between Nina and Heidi, which could prove interesting as we head into the end of the season.)
Layana - It might've been best for Layana to avoid mentioning that she was inspired by older architecture in Barcelona because the judges latch on to "old" as their primary issue with this look. I am so into the print and piping on the coat, but the judges rightfully call Layana out for its matronly length and the ridiculous sleeves. But Layana isn't phased: She loves her work.
Heidi asks, as she does every season, why each designer feels he or she should go to Fashion Week, and which other designers should accompany them. Michelle and Stanley get the most love here, and combined with their solid work in this challenge, they're shoo-ins. (Stanley gets the challenge win.) Daniel and Patricia are also picked to move on, leaving Layana to be eliminated.
Which look was your favorite? Which do you think best encapsulated the city that inspired it? How are you feeling about the final four? Let me know in the comments.
Editorialize This
This recap is brought to you by the looks of elation from the remaining five designers when they're told that they'll finally be responsible for producing looks ON THEIR OWN. So long, teams. It was nice knowing you.
Tim takes the designers to the headquarters of Hearst publishing in midtown Manhattan—the camera doesn't do justice to the building's beautiful geometric lobby/commissary space; it's really beautiful—where they meet up with this week's client, Nina Garcia. She explains their task: Create a fashion-forward editorial look to be worn by Jordana Brewster in a fashion story in the May 2013 issue of Marie Claire.
And, being Nina, she is quick to list what she doesn't want. No red carpet looks. No gowns. No t-shirts, no pants. "Do not disappoint me! Do not embarrass me!" Also, "the look needs to be bold in the color, in the shape, in the print, in the silhouette, in something, because that's what editors will want to photograph." Nina is nothing if not consistent in her preference for clean, eye-catching editorial looks, so any designer worth his or her salt should know exactly what marks to hit to do well in this challenge.
After a flurry of fabric purchasing at Mood, the designers meet back at the workroom, where the button bag pairs them off with eliminated designers who will act as helpful seamstresses. "Helpful" is the goal here, but let's be real: This is a pool of uneven talent. Stanley snags Tu (who was more or less a glorified seamstress for Kate earlier in the season), Michelle giddily chooses to work with Amanda, Daniel claims Samantha and Layana picks Kate, leaving poor Patricia with Richard just one challenge after their hot mess of a partnership got Richard auf'd.
The workroom is comprised of exactly the shenanigans you'd expect. Patricia struggles with her design and with explaining herself to Richard. Stanley is understandably but obnoxiously bossy in his interactions with Tu. Michelle and Amanda work together well...but no one stops Michelle as she barrels forward with her design of a crop top and olive green pants. Nina's cry of, "No t-shirts, no pants!" echoes it my head right about now.
Stanley - Essentially built for Nina's approval, Stanley thought of everything with this design. It's flattering for Jordana (he even styled his model to look like her—smart move); it's made of three pieces that the photographer and stylist could swap in or out; it looks clean and appropriate for a Marie Claire reader's taste and age. He gets the win.
Layana - The color is eerily reminiscent of Kate's ill-fated duct tape prom gown, but this look screams Layana. The judges respond to her use of leather and hardware in the architectural "armor" top. She's safe.
Daniel - My favorite moment of the episode comes when Daniel's look walks the runway and the camera cuts to Layana, who sort of mumbles "Ohhh..." and looks away akwardly. That's how I feel about this look. It's so very Daniel, with its structured shoulders and bright color, but his is a shtick that I'm tiring of quickly. It's an eye-catching look, sure, but very Easter-y, and it's nothing we haven't seen from him before.
Patricia - If this design had been sent out at this point in the competition in any other season by any other designer, I think the judges would have eviscerated it. Zac and Jordana think that it looks unfinished, Nina doesn't like the shape, Heidi calls it "borderline Pocahontas". I just think it looks juvenile and a little cheap. I understand the judges' fondness for Patricia and for her unique perspective—I share it, and I know many of you do, too—but c'mon.
Michelle - I love this look. The color and cut of the pants, the use of sheer fabric, the asymmetrical top; it all really works for me. But the judges are rightfully horrified by how wrong it is for the challenge parameters. Nina said VERY SPECIFICALLY that she didn't want a top and pants. I find it hard to believe that Michelle didn't hear that VERY SPECIFIC directive, but I also don't think she's egotistical enough to balatantly violate Nina's rules and then feign ignorance about it. Regardless, the judges find the look too plain for an editorial and throw her on the bottom.
The looks of utter shock exchanged between Daniel, Stanley and Layana after Patricia is declared safe sum up the ridiculousness of the judging. Thankfully, Michelle is barely spared elimination by a twist that we have to wait until next week to hear more about. Do you think she should have gone home? Should Patricia? What do you think is in store for Michelle next week? Which look do you think would have fit best in the pages of Marie Claire? Let me know in the comments.
!["How I Met Your Mother"](http://mylt.ltcdn.com/d6/sites/mylifetime.com/files/images/imagecache/carousel_159x119/2011/01/12/HIMYM-159x119.jpg ""How I Met Your Mother"")
