Project Runway 9/1/11
Project Runway Avant Garde
We pick up with the designers as they get their next clue from a svelte Heidi in a black lace dress (anyone else love it?). She sends them off to meet Tim at the Harlem School of the Arts. There they were paired up with a tween/teen artist and would have to make an avant garde look, inspired by a painting they collaborated on with their artist.
There were some awkward pairings (hello Skyy & Viktor and Bert & super-shy Antonio!), but for the most part, the designers enjoyed their younger counterparts.
After finishing their paintings with their artists, they headed off to Mood with $300 and 2 days to finish this challenge. (SWATCH SIGHTING!)
WORK-ROOM DRAMA
Joshua M. took credit for "focusing" Becky into doing something more out-of-the-box, which apparently means adding a bunch of boxes to a shoulder of a denim dress
The designers learned more about Bert (that we learned in the casting special): He's a widowed gay man. His partner of 18 years, died of AIDS. Then in an interview he told us again that this caused him to downward spiral into alcoholism, but that he's recovered now. Then, we watched him video chat with his family and his little dog.
And some designers struggled with this challenge. Particularly Olivier, who had a very colorful painting as inspiration, when all he wants to work with is whites and grays (not to mention the taboo gluing of the boob!). Plus, Joshua C. who just returned (thanks to Cecelia's quitting) as he battled with how to bring his wolf-painting inspiration to life without being too literal.
Let's get to the runway Zana Roberts Rossi (of Marie Claire) was filling in for Nina and designer Kenneth Cole was the Guest Judge. Plus all the artists were in the room as well!
JUDGES' TOP 3
Anthony Ryan WINNER He took the broad strokes and color palette from his artist's portrait-painting. He made a long nude, sheer dress (to represent how the painting had their skin blending into the background) with patch work of black, gray, blue and yellow swatches to represent the brushstrokes. Heidi loved the colors (thank-goodness Anthony Ryan's artist told him to ditch the orange) and Michael and Zana dug the concept and found it striking, yet not costume-y. Kenneth Cole thought it looked unfinished, but agreed it was a good concept.
Joshua M. He initially wasn't inspired by his artist's painting of a dead tree with a fertile root system, but he was able to come up with a concept/story. He did a paint treatment on a neoprene skirt (to mimic a burnt tree), which also included the carved initials (for his late-mother) and then a fiery red top (to mimic a fire). The judges all loved the treatment and concept of the skirt and Michael & Zana agreed that this could actually be wearable (the skirt, yes the top, no in my opinion), but that his hair/make-up/styling sent it into Tim-Burton land, which is why I'm guessing he lost out to Anthony Ryan this week.
Laura Her artist drew a red rose with green thorns and she made a peachy-yellow organza dress (soft flower) with a dark boning corset (thorns). The judges thought it was well made (and pretty) but they didn't quite understand the correlation between the painting and the dress. Laura explained it, and the judges seemed to get it. Heidi loved the color, but I think that's what didn't work for me, especially with the reds and greens of her inspiration.
JUDGES' BOTTOM 3
Bert He wanted to show the judges he could go outside of the box, and he did (but probably too far). His inspirational art piece was one of my least favorites and consisted of random geometrical shapes in varying primary colors. He decided to make a voluminous pair of high-waisted jumper with strapless top and attach geometric shapes all over it. The judges didn't like the fit of the pant, nor the attached shapes. All, expect for Heidi, who actually liked this "Teletubby party outfit".
Olivier He had what I thought was one of the most interesting paintings for inspiration, but it obviously over-stimulated the bland-loving Olivier. He tried to include color into his look (a dull blue) and worked with chiffon (which he normally doesn't). He basically couldn't figure out what to do in this challenge and it showed. The judges loved the structured part of his bodice, but little else. They thought he used too much fabric in the skirt and felt it was overall boring.
Joshua C. AUF'D (Again!) He had the cool wolf-painting with an exposed heart, but struggled with how to make it into a garment. He decided to go with a high-waisted leather skirt, with a white deep-v-neck shirt and leather collar strap paired with knee-high leather boots. The judges hated everything about it calling it "trashy" and a "hooker Halloween costume", etc. I can only imagine what they would have said if Joshua C. had included that awful black and red faux-fur he bought. He just isn't ready for the likes of Project Runway (and his return only makes me kind of said he was picked over the 4 that were sent packing before the competition even began. Was it his quirky personality that beat those other designers, because I'd be hard-pressed to think it was his designs).
HOW I'D RANK THE "IN"
Anya Her inspiration was a bare fiery-landscape painting, and she did a feathered-v-neck top over a voluminous open skirt in a gorgeous print (with a black mini underneath). I thought it was unique and had great shape. It was actually my favorite of the week. I'm guessing the judges thought it was a bit too costume-y to make a Top 3 appearance.
Bryce He had a creep-tastic portrait painting as his inspiration and I think he took it somewhere. He made an orangey-red straight-jacket inspired gown with dark navy blue mermaid bottom. I thought it was a unique interpretation of his inspiration, although I have serious problems with his fit and execution.
Kimberly She had a bird-painting as her inspiration and I think she did okay with it. She made a leather & feather combination outfit to represent the strength of the bird. I don't think avant garde is her thing. The silhouette wasn't all that exciting, but the execution was there.
Becky She had a very futuristic/space painting as inspiration and chose to interpret that with a one-shoulder denim side-mullet dress with attached boxes on the shoulder. Now, although her additions were galaxies better than Bert's, I think this dress fell flat in this avant garde challenge.
Viktor He had the outspoken Skyy as his artist and a dreamy, swirly painting as his inspiration. He chose to got a white and light blue one-sleeved dress with tattered holes in the skirt. I hated the asymmetrical seaming of the bodice in this fabric (I think it made his model look lumpy & dumpy), but he had immunity so
