And now, boys and girls, a message from the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority. They would like to thank the Project Runway judges and contestants for repeating the phrase throw someone under the bus more times than the turnstiles at Times Square-42nd Street can count. Reminding viewers of the great invention that is public transit does wonders for business. Still, the MTA must also point out the importance of public transit safety. Fun as it may be to joke about on reality television, you really should never throw anyone under the bus. Ever. It has catastrophic consequences. For instance, a thoroughly unlikable designer of dubious talent gets saved at the expense of someone who started off totally annoying but blossomed into an appealing personality. Boo. Hiss.
I don’t know about you folks, but I had a reaction similar to Mondo’s about this week’s challenge. Resort wear? Meh. Though my vacations tend to be slightly more exciting than waking up late and walking around my apartment in my underwear (Mondo’s funny), I’m just not that crazy about the threads that Michael Kors and his mother wear while working on their matching perma tans in Saint Tropez. I suspect the episode would have been deadly if Tim and his velvet bag of mischief hadn’t added that twisty twist: Designers worked in pairs and each person had to hand his or her concept to their partner to execute. Instant drama!
Predictably, no one wanted to work with poor Michael C., who continues to be branded The Unworthy Loser Who Can’t Sew. Andy went so far as to claim that Michael’s the weakest designer left — ridiculous! (Hi, Ivy!) Mondo ended up being paired with him and he was not mondo happy about it. Aware of his black sheep status, Michael C. took the bull by the horns (pardon the mixed barnyard metaphors), and admitted he isn’t the “fastest” or “best” sewer and doesn’t do patterns. Mondo replied by telling Michael C. straight up that his construction is “awful.” But Michael C.’s task wasn’t exactly a cakewalk: Mondo, you see, doesn’t sketch. He just makes notes. Yikes. Ominous start for these two. Yet by the halfway mark, Mondo came around. He realized Michael C. was, in fact, a “good guy” who was willing to learn and that he (Mondo) had been a “dick” to his partner. “Michael Costello has caught me off guard,” the petite chap explained. “I was such a jerk at the beginning.” I hope these two become buds. They certainly played it classy during judging. And how cute, them sitting snugly together backstage.
Gretchen and Casanova had their share of tension, what with her trying to make up for her partner’s spotty English with multiple blown-up sketches of her design. “Oh my god, she believe that I’m a retard!” Casanova said, comically staring at his raised hands. There was even more strain over yonder in Ivy and Michael D.’s corner. Now, I haven’t been the biggest fan of Mr. Bandana’s aesthetic, but I felt for the guy last night. Getting stuck with Poison Ivy? Ouch. (Or rather: Itch.) She questioned her teammate’s construction skills. (Déjà vu! What does this woman have against people named Michael and their ability to put together a garment? Watch your back, Sir Quips A Lot.) Her bossiness went into supersonic overdrive. She hovered over Michael D. at the sewing machine and dictated instructions. “I could feel her crazy,” Michael D. said. At least Ivy acknowledged her grating behavior — sort of. “I feel like I’m turning into my mother,” she said. “And you don’t want to see a Korean get angry.” (Note to self: I do not ever want to meet Mrs. Higa.) When Tim told the designers they had 10 minutes to take back their own designs and make final tweaks before hitting the catwalk, Michael D. let out a sigh that could inflate the Goodyear Blimp: “I was really happy to get out of that chair.” No kidding.
Though she worked well with Andy (he of the newly shorn Mohawk), Valerie was all sorts of stressed out by runway time. It was her week to place the teary phone call home. She told her mom she was tired, the show’s hard, there’s so much sewing, et cetera, et cetera. Then, to cameras, she turned into a melodramatic teenager and said that if she didn’t make it to Fashion Week, “everything’s gonna die.” (?) It was a lot of fuss from someone who’s been pretty levelheaded thus far. She was feeling the sting of having been passed over for the win so many times. And she was probably still smarting from the lashing she took for last week’s hideous outfit. Still, Valerie improved tenfold last night, even if she didn’t wow me. The beige top (changed from traffic-stopping blue on the sage advice of Michael Kors) was kinda dull. And while the chevron shorts were cute, they weren’t very resort-y. Andy also dropped the ball in constructing the panels in the back. Oops. But Val was safe. Whew.
So was Michael C., obviously. He had immunity. But I suspect that Michael Kors dug his “glammy-puss” halter-top palazzo jumpsuit enough to hand the guy a qualifying score anyway. Christopher’s blousy top and too-tight white shorts were snoozy, but I’d take that outfit any day over Gretchen’s shapeless, beige-and-burgundy palazzo jumpsuit. It was just so drab. But hey, I suppose I should be thankful that it was free of both hideous side cleavage and a vulgar-looking burn stain. Which is more than we can say about what she sicced on us last week.
As each outfit went by, I kept wondering where the fun was. It’s resort wear! Beach! Sand! Sea! Where are the patterns? The color? For the love of German blondes from Miami, where is Uli Herzner?! She and her flowy, multi-patterned creations would have wiped the floor with the top three.
I was happy that Michael D. emerged from IvyGate unscathed, but I didn’t get Michael Kors’ claim that his classy black gown/cover-up with a loosey-goosey bust was “legitimately what you’d want to wear in the tropics.” Black in the humid, sweaty tropics? Maybe if you’re Robert Smith. Michael D. ended up coming in third, behind the two A’s: April and Andy. And wouldn’t you know it, he sweetly said he was relieved he didn’t win since his partner was about to get her own personal audience with Michael Kors’ Metamucil face and Nina’s death stare. He might not have designed that thing, but he sure had a hand in turning it into the wonder turd it became.
When Andy’s lavender bathing suit and slinky wrap hit the runway, it got an enthusiastic nod of approval from MK, then swam in an ocean of judges’ superlatives: “commercial,” “sophisticated,” “expensive,” “beautifully done.” No question the outfit was well made and a slam-dunk for the challenge. (Though I couldn’t get over how much it looked like one of Kara Janx’s signature wrap dresses. Anyone else?) But the win inexplicably went to April for her black (more black!) sheer cover-up and well-tailored boy shorts. My word did those hot pants mark a gargantuan improvement on her last foray into undergarment territory. Kristen Bell (a.k.a. the “stylish American actress” who sat in as guest judge) kept calling April’s ensemble a “dress” and said she’d wear it on the red carpet. Woah. Really, Veronica Mars? Let’s not get carried away now. That outfit was one feathered Blanche Devereaux shoe away from boudoir wear. April even acknowledged this: “She looks so sexual.”
For the first time this season, Mondo landed in the bottom, thanks to his unfortunate striped boy short and green-print windbreaker. MK said it looked like something you’d pick up at Forever 21, while Nina (doing the one-upping for once) so loathed it she said she imagined it at Kmart. Oh, snap! But obviously they weren’t going to send home a designer as strong as Mondo for one stinkin’ misfire. So while he hotfooted it to safety backstage, Casanova and Ivy danced in the ring of fire. Both deserved to be there. But how do you choose between Casanova’s latest addition to the Boca Raton Retirement Collection and Ivy’s Amish Toga Party get-up?
I would have loved to see Casanova get the pass. His dowdy, inspired-by-his-grandmama ensemble may have been fitting for “a 70 year-old woman to go sit in a mall and get back to the house early so she can watch television,” but at least it gave that imaginary old lady some semblance of a shape. And is it really so unconscionable to present a design not meant for Gen Y? Let’s not forget that Casanova has won a challenge. Poison Ivy, on the other hand, has spent the entire competition slumming it either in rock-bottom or middling middle, all while her monstrous ego tells her she’s the shizz. Her “design” this week offered an unequivocal answer to Nina’s question about whether she’s a designer with a compelling vision or a seamstress with strong technical skills. Her outfit was a pitiful, washed-out sack of nothing that, frankly, my husband could have made. (No offense, honey.). Even Michael D., who made the damn thing, likened it to the Statue of Liberty. Give me your tired, your poor, your shapeless fashion victims yearning to look chic. The wretched refuse of your teeming bore…
When confronted with her design’s innumerable shortcomings, Ivy resorted to her usual tactics. She went after Michael D.’s technical skills, which, she said, forced her to edit down her original design. MK (who, with Tim Gunn, had shaken his head in dismay at the sight of Ivy’s design in the workroom) wasn’t buying any of it. Nor was Michael C., whom Heidi caught rolling his eyes. All the while, Ivy’s stank attitude filled up the room like a nasty smoke bomb. She had absolutely no defense other than to point the finger at Michael D. The judges called her on it and tossed around the phrase throw him under the bus so many times we all looked over our shoulders for tire marks.
And yet Poison Ivy will live another day to give us all rashes. Obviously, it would be pretty weird for the judges to oust her when she sewed Michael D.’s top three-scoring design. And of course, there’s the drama factor. Casanova might be a reina of the stuff, but he’s no match for the devious, deluded Ivy. Pobrecito. Still, he made his exit with good humor, first pretending to hang himself from the door backstage, then, in a throwback to his promise from the season premiere, telling the cameras: “I have to say, I grabbed one ball of New York and New York grabbed one of mine.” We also got a Great Moments in Casanova montage that captured his spirit exaaaaactly. Adios, hermano. I wish you buena suerte on your quest to outfit all the prostitutas and abuelitas of the world. (I kid!)
Before I wrap this up, I’ll leave you with Sir Quips A Lot’s best line of the night, delivered, natch, in reference to our Latin brother’s aesthetic: “She’s a hooker, or a grandma going up a wheelchair ramp.”
What do you think? Did April deserve the win? Should Ivy have gone home instead of Casanova? I thought Kristen Bell was a strong guest judge — did you? Did you appreciate Michael D.’s maturity and restraint when dealing with Ivy? How many times are contestants going to have near-death encounters with public transit this season? Should we invent our own expression? How about push someone in front of the subway? Or: drop someone into rush-hour traffic? What do you think of next week’s challenge? It’s so true, right? Jackie Kennedy would totally never have camel toe!
Loved when Michael Kors said of Ivy: She’s a seamstress. (No disrespect to seamstresses, but I am sure that killed her – hopefully.)
There’s nothing wrong with being a good seamstress, but this show is about design – and Ivy, while a good seamstress, is no designer.
Dear Poison Ivy: He won’t “exasperate” his bag of tricks. He may “exhaust” it. And none of us saw Michael C being a douchebag to anyone. You exasperate everyone
to Pinky: I was surprised Missy didn’t point that out. Totally wrong word, Ivy!!
I think they kept Ivy because her design at least looked like resort wear. Casanova’s was not. Also, Ivy had a hand in creating one of the top 3 designs. Judges themselves said that they don’t consider past successes in judging the challenge for the week.
You are right about the wrong word, Pinky and RaRa. But it was actually Valerie who said it, not Ivy. For shame, Val! For shame!
No, they kept Ivy because she makes melodramatic TV, and Project Runway is in the horrible Bunim-Murray claws these days. They’ve been Real-Worlding this poor show up ever since it hit Lifetime.
But don’t you think keeping Casanova would make better tv? Besides, if it’s just the attitude, Gretchen is still there anyway.
It’s ironic that Valerie would say that about Michael C., since she officially ‘exasperated’ her bag of tricks last week.
Ivy can sew, but she can’t design. She needs to just get a job hemming pants and shortening sleeves at a nice tailor shop somewhere. But as much as I was sorry to see Casanova go, I would rather see Ivy get booted when she has no one to blame but herself. Had she gone last night she would have concluded it was Michael D’s fault because she’s, like, delusional. And speaking of delusion how FUNNY was all of her pouty sulky ugly faces last night? LOL. I guess poor Michael D is now the guy who “can’t sew” in the workroom ( at least until she moves on to someone else.) But the poor guy had a raving harpy on his shoulder.
s/b “were all of her”
he waa exactly right on which is why i don’t understand why they kept her! so sad to see casanova leave- he has won a challenge & has had some successes- ivy not! bad judging this week- i thought andy’s outfit was the epitomy of resort- april- not so much. i’d be embarrassed to wear it to bed!
Cassonova, I too am disappointed a “quart”.
Totally agree! What was with the judges salivating over these bizarre black creations? I guess all you have to do is make sure you throw in some asymmetrical, sloppy-looking straps and you’re golden.
Love these recaps — very witty.
Ithought they looked like old Catwoman costumes.
I like april, but her outfit was basically black granny panties with a top that made her models boobs look malformed. Andy should have won, he was just about the only one who turned out actual resort wear. At least Mondo’s was cheerful instead of looking like the resort was something out of a steven king novel. I did see Michael C’s video blog on the lifetime site and he seemed VERY grateful and appreciative that Mondo gave him a fair shake despite his initial misgivings (apparently mostly influenced by others) I was glad that Mondo kept an open mind–That showed quite a bit of class.
I agree, very bad judging in the bottom 3. You could almost see the Producers’ behind the scenes going Keep Ivy!, Keep Ivy!, even though if anyoe else had done what she did to her design they would have been gone. Because in the past they have always kept the designer who went over the top with their design as opposed to the one that seemed to not do enough. I’m sorry to see Casanova go. And I liked the fact that even though Gretchen and Michael C both did palazzo pants, I liked Michael’s so much more than Gretchen. She really needs to rethink her color palette.
Ivy’s an angry Korean seamstress not a designer. With those bland tans oiy! And she called herself the “agnry Korean” not I. Still I have to agree with her, no design eye for sure.
Once again, the judges got rid of the wrong person. OMG – it should of been hands down Ivy.I was no fan of Casanova’s at the beginning, but he grew on me & I was very sorry to see him go.
I didn’t get the judges salivating over April’s black baby doll. In hot, humid weather, someone who isn’t tan – hideous. I thought Andy should of won with his bathing suit & wrap. I hope rest of group warms up to Michael C. I love him & think this group is soo beyond bitchy/snarky they can’t see the forest thru the trees. Plus someone should tell Andy to chop that friggin’ mohawk off – horrible mess!
Oh & I loved Veronica Mars, but why was Kristen Bell a Judge?!
I liked Kristen Bell as a judge also. If I’m not mistaken I believe she has been a guest judge before. I really appreciated Mondo also this episode when he apologized to Michael C. It’s nice that Michael has someone else in his corner now that Casanova is gone.
She’s actually turned into quite the little pixie fashionista. She frequents red carpets, and almost always makes an appearance at fashion week.
Ivy needs to go home. I hope she quits and they bring Casonova back!
Wear is Uli when we need her? This year the “designers” are very boring…please no more camel and gray outfits…
The emphasis on youth is getting totally out of hand on this show. Do any of the judges realize that there is a HUGE population out there over 21? I get it that Casanova’s outfit looked like it belonged in Boca, but COME ON. It was attractive, even if for a lady of a certain age. How can that lose to a shapeless, colorless bag that wouldn’t look good on any living woman, regardless of her age? I just don’t get it.
I like Casanova’s outfit too. It wasn’t exciting, but it wasn’t the worst one up there either.
Poison Ivy’s outfit did not look as sharp as Casanova’s. I didn’t care for April’s look. The bottom didn’t fit right and puckered like her diaper outfit.
Casanova’s was not resort wear!
Maybe I just don’t understand what a “resort” is. After all, Disney World calls itself a “resort”.
I liked the top. I thought it was pretty cute. I am like Mondo though when it comes to my vast resort experience. Question – are all resorts in the tropics? Could he not have been designing for a nice Hamptons or Marthas Vineyard resort?
I completely agree. Don’t these designers realizes that you can design for older women or younger people? I loved Casanova’s outfit especially if you did the top in a brighter color. I think the hairstyle was a poor choice but I would have bought that outfit in a heartbeat and I’m in my 30s.
I know lots of older women, and none of them wear the kind of outfit C made. The older ladies at the mall? It’s all cotton t-shirts and polyester pants.
@Dawn – yes, the ladies at the mall are referred to as “Q-tips” because of the white hair and white tennis shoes.
Most 70 yo women would NOT wear that outfit. You needed a good shape for that outfit. It was open in the back too.
@Dawn-my mother does the matching sweatshirt, sweatpants look.
excuse me MK but Heidi is no twenty year old, if she can wear your clothes I guess women out there over 21 can wear coutre clothes as well.
Yeah, but the challenge was to create a resort wear. It was not.
@RCB – And April’s was?
@RCB It was evening at an expensive resort in Boca. Not al resots are Club Med.
@Dawn. Ever been to Boca? DelRay? Or remember Fran Fine’s mother. CasaNova is perfect for that crowd. It’s Jewish resort wear for the showy Lanie Kazan type. I think that’s what they mean..
I would wear it. I am not near 70. Or 60.
I bet there are more “50 somethings” at resorts than “20 somethings”. Us older women are the ones with the money to spend on nice clothes and Casanova’s look was really nice. Ivy made her model look like she had no shape at all. IMO it looked older than Casanova’s. Ive is just a wretched little witch. So happy that Mondo saw Michael C for the nice guy that he is. Now that Gretchen and Ivy have both been taken down a peg, I hope the others will stand up to them and not take their crap. I’m going to miss Casanova, he really grew on me.
Yes, Kathy. Retired ladies are a large percentage of resort-goers. Didn’t they even have a challenge a few seasons back wherein the designers had to design a look for each other’s mothers?
I don’t know many old ladies who would wear off-the-shoulder blouses.
@Kathy – I would wear Ivy’s at a resort – and all you can eat resort, that is. Under the mass of shapeless material, no one could see how fat I was getting on fried chicken and chocolate cake. Perhaps not the demographic she was looking for, however.
I am 27. If I had the body, I would definitely wear Casanova’s outfit, maybe out to nice restaurants or the theater or something like that. I thought it was sexy yet modest, and I like that. I would never, ever take a black dress to a resort (if I were able to afford one). *Side note: I actually dreamed last night that Casanova made me a lovely pantsuit, and it was flattering and comfortable and I loved it!
@BLB – maybe it should have been for a cruise, not a resort. Ivey’s outfit could have hidden all the weight gained from those buffets — and even the buffets themselves!!
R3 – Are you kidding? Do you ever watch awards shows? Every single older woman wears what? Off The Shoulder. Every one of them! It’s practically de rigeur once you past the double-5. Which is not to put down Casanova’s look, it was certainly more pulled together and appropriate than wrapping a model in two long pieces of unstructured beige silk.
I thought it was much nicer than Gretchen’s outfit (though I thought the back cutout looked just like something she would have done, surprise!). Even the model liked it, and she was much younger than me. Ivy’s dress was just a shapeless mess and she is so whiny I want to smack her. I haven’t seen a single nice garment from her and Casanova has done some great stuff. What were they thinking?
Has anyone here noticed how color-challenged Ivy is? I wonder if she was traumatized by a clown as a kid; she seems to have this almost pathological aversion to bright color. And, except for the dress she made in the party store challenge, she goes for pastels in the worst shades possible.
@Redcatlady – the same can be said for Grinchen.
Ivy’s party store work was a beautiful grey dress on my TV. That was her best work IMO. Her palette is all neutrals
Iy’s work is like a really bad Eileen Fisher. He colors are too muted and her structures are too relaxed. Eileen Fisher has relaxed but structured beautiful clothing.
Ivy is still referencing hospital curtains in her “designs”…I’m not sure what’s going on with the editing this season…we don’t see a trace of negativity from Michael C yet all the designers not only question his sewing skills they also shy away from him on a personal level…yet we get all this bad press on Ivy meanwhile all the designers were happy she wasn’t sent home! Even Michael D, who admitted she was overbearing and she “threw him under the bus” was glad she made it through another week…what aren’t we seeing????!!! Casanova did not deserve to go home this week!
I agree. I can’t believe the judges gave Gretchen a bye on that one. The top gave the model all these weird bulges in weird places. But then I was sure that April was in the bottom 3 rather than the top 3. That win should have gone to Andy.
I so agree about Ivy being color challened. Has anyone noticed she every single week she uses stormy gray as her color palate?
I agree but also recognize that in terms of the industry, while there may be niche markets, the vast majority of money/connections are made with women ages 15-40. What frustrates me is their continual focus (despite one challenge per season) on very thin women, rather than creating fashion that would work for the majority of women in the world (in other words, the ones that are over a size 2).
I know. I read somewhere that Christina Hendricks can’t even find a designer who will work with her for a red carpet look, because they all refuse to make bigger clothes (read: they don’t know how to make clothes for real women)
M – that is insane! She is so beautiful and such an icon given the success of Mad Men. If a designer hopes to sell their clothes to real people they should design them on and for real people.
I saw that too. Next season, they should have a challenge to design a red carpet look specifically for Christina Hendricks (Ivy is not invited to participate).
I’d much rather see Christina Hendricks as a guest judge than January Jones…
actually Christina Hendricks has worn a few dresses by previous PR winner Christian Siriano, on the red carpet.
I’m with you. I actually liked Casanova’s design. It wasn’t spectacular but it wasn’t the piece of crap that Ivy sent down the runway.
right on jen- casanova at least had a design element & has won a challenge…judges were totally off & ivy should have gone home! also, andy should have won- i would have worn his outfit & i live in boca! april’s on the other hand looked my kids moxi girl outfit!
I am with you, Jen. I thought his outfit was classy and pretty, and not all women want to look “hot” in every situation. I think older women are more likely to opt for Ivy’s shapless dress instead of C’s more fitted one.
I liked it, too. It maybe could’ve used some more color, but it looked comfy and breezy. Perfect for dinner at a nice resort.
I even liked the crochet belt. It reminded me of that macrame work I’ve seen from the tropics. Also reminiscent of hammocks strung under palm trees.
Agreed. I’ve seen stuff like Cassanova’s outfit at Chico’s all the time! Very wearable for more mature women, but still had lots of structure and shape. Boo! Ivy’s silky blanket/outfit needed to go!
I concur! My 18 year old daughter and I both liked Cassanova’s outfit better than many of the others sent down the runway. I am really not sure what the judges are looking for this season. Half the time I think the “best” are the worst. Hated the cut of the black baby doll thing that won, it was terrible on top and looked like a Victoria Secrets wanna be. Maybe color choice could have helped Cassanova.
Thank you – I so agree. I didn’t mind Cassanova’s outfit but Ivy’s – please. It was a sack in dreary colors to match her dreary attitude. Cassanova made two pieces nicely fitted. But I knew they would keep her. I loved Mondo and Michael C last night – they were adorable sitting on that couch during the judging.
I liked cassanova’s outfit as well. I thought it was sorta elegant and unless I misheard it, even the model said she would wear it. The decision was made for drama but Ivy should have gone home.
I agree – I’m 40 this year, and I’m the one with the dough to buy more expensive, elegant clothing, and I’m sick of PR judges ooohing and ahhhing over garbage I walk past at the teen shops. Ugh. I’ll take Casanova’s tailored outfit anyday over that tacky black teddy thing. Ugh, that was awful, and looked like something a hooker would wear.
Agreed. The people who can afford to go to “resorts” and who can afford to buy higher fashion are older women! and none but the totally desperate would wear April’s design (hopefully). I dont get thier responses.
I was thinking the same thing — are there not millions of women in their 40s and beyond who buy clothes? I mean, I’ve seen Michael Kors’ clothes in Macy’s and they are not exactly “youthful.”
Maybe everybody should e-mail his website (if possible) to give him a wakeup call on this.
Ivy’s design was so blah. Heck, I could have designed that! I thought Casanova’s was really classy. It didn’t look matronly to me. I’ll miss him–he’s quite humorous & light-hearted.
@cookie, yeah, thats why you are here writing about -what-could-have-beens.
i live Ivy and Gretchen! you americans are stupid! you hate you bitchy bitches.
I agree completely – the judges didn’t even look at how pretty the back of Casanova’s top was. Would be perfect in Boca, etc. In comparison, Ivy’s was just a HOT MESS and not in a good way. She’s a total BEYOTCH and needs to go. Gretchen’s get-up wasn’t much better – it looked older to me than Casanova’s who’d wear those unflattering bottoms?!-she got lucky & I actually really liked Michael C’s – I think he would have been safe-even if he didn’t have immunity. And the judges should be careful with their age obssession – afterall it seems like all ages are 10yrs younger now – I.E. isn’t 40 the new 30, etc. so 70 would be the new 60 & Casanova’s didn’t look like an the image of old-fashioned grandma-Gretchen grandpa sweaters were waaay worse! Judges need to get over it – just because they always dress the same!
In fact, at the Project Runway site, some bloggers are speculating that Gretchen just MIGHT have deliberately sewn Casanova’s outfit poorly to get him sent home!
@redcatlady – I don’t think Casanova’s was sewn poorly. In fact, I think it was one of the better executed garments. The judges just didn’t think it was youthful or edgy.
I meant, Gretchen might’ve altered his original design for the blouse — both Tim and Kors perused the sketch during the workroom visit
Andy’s was the BEST. Cassanova’s was NOT the worst. It wasn’t exciting, but the top was really cute. He is just the sweetest man, and Ivy is useless and talks too fast and says nothing. And Valerie’s was better than the other 2 black ones in the top 2.
I agree, it seems to be coming mostly from Nina. But of course, she’s in charge of Marie Clare, while they like to think their readers are “smart and sophisticated” in reality they cater to mostly teens and college 20-somethings, and their articles are all about how to be pretty and snag a man. Career women are not exactly the market they’re after.
I loved Casanova’s outfit over that black, K-Mart style shortie night gown thing and a host of other black ‘things’ for the tropics…but then I enjoy Casanova’s personality and, I suddenly recalled, I am nearing 70 and a previous resident of Boca Raton, unfortunately bolstering the judges comments – but, I DO like fashion as well as the next grandma (not yet on a wheelchair ramp).
I totally agree. Invariably as I’m watching the runway show everything that I say (to myself) oh that’s cute the judges hate and the ones they like I think are awful! Gretchen’s two wins were just boring and that negligee that won? Ridiculous.
Between Ivy, Gretchen, April and the constant Michael C. bashing it seems that the show has devolved into every other reality show out there. I’m sorry, but, unlike the rest of the country watching horrible, mean spirited people soak up unwarranted attention is not entertaining for me. If I continue watching it will be to see the challenge be set up and then FF to the runway show.
LouBeOh, I totally agree. Bad behavior, uncouth people are not entertainment for me nor to I consider it entertainment.
Project Runway is with Ivy, Gretchen and posse (sometimes even MK, Nina, and Heidi) is becoming just one more in “trash” tv/entertainment. I for one am sick of it.
Why is it that everyone forgets about the Drama that Project Runway has been from DAY ONE!
-Morgan the crazy model
-Wendy Pepper “No one likes you Wendy, NOBODY”
-”Who stole my dye!”
-meltdowns and walk out in the reunion show my Vanessa
-Austin’s uncontrolled weeping on the couch when Vanessa was eliminated
AND THAT’S JUST SEASON ONE!
What a great and true comment! I have never seen Project Runway with such complete whiny, nasty, snotty people. They’ve been backstabbing before but not so blatantly mean and vicious.
On top of this, the whole bunch has a fraction of the design talent exhibited in prior seasons. Sigh.
I think the extra half-hour is designed just so we can hear this crap. I don’t mind more time seeing the garment construction, but more time for this whining and backstabbing isn’t necessary.
I am with you, too. Watching petty, ugly-acting people be mean is not my idea of entertainment. I almost turned it off last night.
I can’t help but wonder what theses people, particularly Gretchen and Ivy, think when they see themselves on TV? Who would want to hire or work with them?
My wife laughed so hard when MK said that any woman would wear Andy’s bathing suit. Then thought she might be getting old because she like Casanova’s shirt. There was more design in that shirt than anything that Ivy did.
Yeah, no way could just any woman wear that bathing suit. But boy, did I wish I had the body that could wear it! And I liked Casanova’s shirt too, but it needed to be in a livelier color – beige is just so lifeless most of the time.
Bruno could wear it. Kristin said a size 12 could wear it. The question is Would they?
I thought a couple of times that Andy’s model was having a crotch ‘wardrobe malfunction’ in that Borat-inspired suit.
You don’t want to show any va-jay-jay on vay-cay!
That would be really cray-cray!
You guys are funny!
The show always teeters on whether it is about the design or the construction. Despite their lack of sewing skills, the Michaels know how to proportion an outfit. The “seamstresses” miss that mark.
I was so happy that Mondo and Michael C. got along! My boys played nicely together! I was worried when Mondo tried to be mean, but it turned out he just doesn’t have it in him. They were so cute with their arms around each other.
Mondo and Michael C showed class. Something that seems to lacking with this season’s posse. Good for Mondo and Michael C.
I really like Mondo. He makes me happy.
The shot of them seated in the lounge while waiting for the judges results was priceless!
Mondo looked like a ventriloquist’s dummy sitting on Michaels’s lap.
Yeah I loved when Mondo admitted that he was a jerk and had really judged Michael C. Such class by the two of them.
Agree! I think Mondo jumped on the “Michael can’t Construct” bandwagon, but realized what a talent Michael is. Michael may not be the best organzied designer on the show, but he’s consistant and he makes beautiful clothes. Stop the MC hate!
Ivy has been stinking up the place with bad fashion all season. I get that they want to keep a male female balance but they were wrong and I don’t think anyone was ready to see Casanova go home yet
I hate to sound mean, but MAYBE, just maybe, Ivy could hyperventilate herself into going home — and Casanova could come back! Just a thought.
@Redcatlady – Too much to hope for, but it is fun to think about. After all, they did bring Anthony back, no?
@Redcatlady – I like how you think.
I literally lol’d when I saw Mondo and Michael sitting with their arms around each others shoulders like two little friends on the playground. Best moment of the show! JMO but Andy was totally robbed. That S&M getup was ridiculous, and Ivy should have gotten the boot!
Agree with you on it all–how did Andy not win that? April’s was OK but I wouldn’t call it resortwear, it’s boudoir wear (or if you would choose this outfit, it would be called booty-wear). Liked April’s well enough but Andy’s met the challenge criteria and was gorge. Mondo & Michael-BFF’s I hope–MC needs a pal in there.
Totally agree; I liked April’s outfit but I thought Andy’s was the perfect design for the challenge. I loved the choice of fabrics and colors and that the wrap can be tied on so many different ways. The model did a great job showing it off, and this was one of the most professional executions in this season. I agree with others that the focus on grungy youth is getting tiresome and Heidi better watch out because sooner rather than later she’s going to be too old to wear those tight, short and shiny getups she likes. I’m gonna miss me some Cassanova
haha All Heidi was missing last night was Cassanovas Aladin shoes
GHR….I actually think Heidi is already too old to wear her tight, short, and shiny crap. She looked ridiculous at the Emmy’s, absolutely ridiculous. Honestly, I don’t think anyone should wear something *that* TS&S, regardless of age.
Totally agree about what looked like ” S&M wear” from April, not “resort wear”. Then I remembered who did the “mentoring” this week and Michael Kor’s first reaction to April’s work. He loved it and I was scratching my head at that. In what resort would anyone be wearing that, no matter what age? I question the taste level of the judges as much as I question the taste of April as a designer.
GHR and Katja:
Did you see the outfit she was wearing at the beginning when talking about the challenge? I’m surprised this hasn’t been brought up yet. But it was awful! Her hair was slicked back or something and she was wearing a horrible tiny tank with Hammer pants. I’ve stopped listening to the judges on their ideas of “good” fashion. It’s mostly crap anyway.
I guess April won because the challenge was really ‘hostage resort wear ‘ -what you wear when you’ve been abducted and taken to an asylum for your vacation.
Or so her fantasy goes.
No wonder she never smiles…
Thought April’s looked like something a bride would wear on her honeymoon, not out to the pool.
I’m really, really glad Mondo wasn’t sent home or Gretchen/Ivy et al would have tried to blame it on Michael C’s construction.
I think that Mondo did something that has never been seen on any sort of reality t.v., he showed some integrity. I want use that image of him and Michael C. for my Christmas Card
Well said!
Totally agree. How nice in a season of caty, scapegoating “designers” to see someone acknowledge their own mistake? This group behaves with a herd mentality that makes me question their artistic abilitys since great art depends on individuality and a point of view which is unique
If it were Ivy rather than Mondo who was paired with Michael C, she would never have given him credit for trying to learn, nor would she have apologized for her behavior. Kudos to Michael C for accepting Mondo’s apology with class. That’s the difference between mature, decent human beings and Ivy/Grinchen’s ilk.
I can’t believe they picked that so called “punk” baby doll outfit as the winner. It looked like a PJ from Victoria Secret. The one that Andy made was way much better for resort wear.
I am seriously doubting the taste of the judges, including that of Bell.
JohnC, I agree it looked like sleepwear not beachwear. I wonder about the judges idea of fashion sometimes.
My first thought about April’s outfit was “android prostitute in an ’80s scifi movie set in the early 21 century”. I don’t understand how it was not in the bottom three, let alone the winner. I really expected Andy’s to win. Also I liked Casanova’s – just because a 35 year old would wear it instead of a 25 year old doesn’t make it matronly. And I expected Mondo to be the third person in the top of those called (along with Andy and Casanova). I guess I’m just not fashion forward enough.
I agree with everything you said.
The judges seem to have a narrow age group not younger than 21 but not older than 21 1/2, no one over this age is into fashion and they should stick to outlet stores.
What got me about all the design is the blandness in color, beige, metallic gray, these people would blend with the beach they would need a rescue party to find them.
@mari – that is hilarious, especially your last statement!
Funniest quote of the night for me: “It’s funny, because I often describe myself as a punk/edgy babydoll.” Me too, Kristin…me too…
When April declared that she was making an outfit for someone who’s been “cautured,” I figured she was toast. When that outfit rolled out, I was positive. Shows what I know. : )
“captured,” that is!
April’s babydoll nightie reminded me of one Jane Fonda wore in “Barefoot in the Park.” Clearly not beachwear and clearly not modern, original or edgy.
Bell kept saying she would wear April’s “outfit” on the red carpet – say what? I laughed when I saw it come down the carpet – was completely off the mark re: resort wear IMO.
I’m so happy that Mondo acknowledged how awful he was being to Michael C. I love both of them & hate seeing everyone gang up on Michael so it’s nice that he has someone on his side now. They were so cute on the couch together at the end! Maybe this will call off the mean girls who were picking on him because they knew they’d get no opposition. Gretchen’s outfit was horrible on top & I think she should have made bottom 3 for it. I don’t like Ivy but poor thing. You could tell she really was trying not to blow up at Michael D. She legitimately thougth she was holding back. I’m glad she didn’t go home because he would have felt to blame & she would have blamed him. She needs to go home in a way that does not allow her to blame anyone else.
I do not see anything excusable about about Ivy. She thinks she is the cat’s meow and is NOT! If she had not elected herself as Fuehrer, hovering over Michael D like she did was not the answer. Furthermore, Michael D could not be a miracle worker, “sewing” Ivy’s “POOR” boring design did not change that is was a bad design.
Gretchen’s design was BORING and something that has been seen before.
Ivy wanted to deflect blame for a bad design on construction, it was a shapeless skirt with a camisole, there was no design. Michael D. had is hands tied by a boring design and a bossy egotisticle designer(seamstress). He should have apologized to Michael C. for what he has had to deal with, with this crazy woman.
She should have given Michael the design and if it was not finished in time, or executed poorly, that fact would have spoken for itself.
Still could have bitten her in the butt though, because part of the challenge was being able to communicate and oversee your vision in someone else’s hands. Even if he’d done her original design and done a crappy job, that would STILL be held against her based on their criteria for this challenge. It was a stupid challenge. I mean, I can see the good idea behind it…but it just doesn’t work fairly when you’re using other designers as your seamstresses instead of professional seamstresses who actually would be able to execute pants or stay stitching or whatever. I have to say, much as it pains me, I was a little bit on Ivy’s side. She’s a beast, but she was stuck with someone who couldn’t execute her vision, and I actually thought she wasn’t being as terrible as usual this episode, all things considered. I hate that I said that. I do think her fabric choices and general color palette are awful and that she’s not a great designer and that Casanova shouldn’t have gone home!! But this challenge wasn’t quite fair to Ivy. Send Gretchen home, her piece was once again fug.
I agree with you Katja. I could feel Ivy’s frustration. However, I thought it was inappropriate for her to talk about her “challenges working with Michael” when they were critiquing HIS outfit, which she had sewn. At that point, she should have said, “he was very clear about what he wanted and I had no problem executing his design”. If she needed to defend her decision to “dumb it down for him”, she should have saved that for when they were talking about HER garment that he was supposed to execute.
@cjr – Nick Verreos said the same thing on his blog. If she had been more gracious when they were talking about his design, they may have been more forgiving about hers.
Mondo was paired with someone whose sewing skills were not up to par, but instead of “dumbing down” his design, he talked Michael C. through it. And even though the judges didn’t care for it, I thought his swimsuit and jacket were well sewn. Ivy could have done the same thing with Michael D., but clearly she has no communication skills and has serious trust issues.
Excellent point.
If I were Micheal D., I woulda smacked a b itch. And Ivy, wouldn’t have been easier to defend a poorly sewn outfit than to state “I had to dumb down my concept so you guys got this yawn”?
Hi Al. Last 2 weeks it was Michael C’s fault. He can’t sew. This week Michael D. Hope Micheal D enjoyed a taste of his own medicine. I had no pity of him. When is it Ivy’s fault?
thank you, pinky!!!
I am hoping Michael D will come over to the Michael C/Mondo team.
Good point, Pinky!
Pinky…So true! Ivy always has a reason that is “not her fault” for her poor showings. Even last week, she made up the story that Michael C. was bad mouthing her as an excuse for getting no votes. Someone this deluded will never take responsibility for her own actions.
I can’t believe they kept Ivy. I can’t stand her and her attitude. She’s never been the “shining” star that she seems to think she is at all this season. I don’t get how April won. What was that outfit and who would wear it? I liked Casanova’s outfit but I guess it’s because I’m over 50. Gretchen’s choice of colors is horrible…….
Yeah…Ivy’s outfit was not to par this week. I guess it’s because Casanova does the same thing each week (except the one week where he didn’t and won!) that they let him go. I sort of liked Gretchen’s outfit this week, though I could never wear it. I can’t believe another black outfit won a challenge – I was rooting for Andy and his use of color.
Ivy stayed too long, she is a bitter “little” person.
I agree, Kristen Bell was a good judge- she gave real commentary not just a few words here and there like other guest judges. But April’s outfit was not a dress! I kept screaming (silently)that to her when she said it, not once, but at least twice. I’m sure April wanted to tell them that too, but wisely chose to stay quiet.
Kristen Bell threw me for a loop when she said she would wear April’s look on the red carpet. Red carpet?!!! Really.?
Maybe her bedroom has red carpet? ‘Cause that’s the only place April’s outfit should be worn. (I liked it, but it was a nightgown/pjs not resort wear.)
What she meant to say was that she would wear it on the red carpet on her way into the S&M Halloween Gala.
I think she was kidding when she said that.
The carpet in her bedroom must be red. Sorry, but she lost any credibility after that comment.
I think she really meant to say, “lying on the red carpet in a Howard Johnson’s motel room.”
@RaRa – next to a heart-shaped bed.
…surrounded by whips and chains…
I think she meant to say; red car port.
I thought the challenge was to design resort wear, not a red carpet outfit…
She had to be the stupidest judge ever!
You guys are all funny! You cracked up me!
Wearing that crap on the red carpet would get her a lot of press – WORST dressed press! My 18 year old daughter and I were trading back and forth what Joan Rivers would have said.
i was hoping michael d would win and ivy beetch would go home..perfect karma..
I’m gonna miss that cute little buggar Casanova. Poison Ivy should have been booted, no question. And Andy was robbed.
Poison Ivy should have gone – thrown under the bus! She has no problem doing to others – over and over! Guess she has to do something to draw attention away from the fact that she is not a designer! A good seamstress perhaps but not a designer.
@ Diana lol! Casanova was indeed a “cute little bugger” who grew on me!
I liked Casanova from the very beginning. I just love his accent and attiude.
Casanova should still be in!!! COME ON! april’s outfit was a disaster!!!
andy blew everyone away should have won
Gretchen and Ivy are both so childish. I am glad Mondo adjusted his attitude. Good for him. Black as resortwear. What resort are you going to precisely. I am glad April won. Her dress was interesting just wish it was in a different color.
She looked like she was wearing a black depends!!!
The diaper look. Not flattering on anyone. Why are the judges so d*mn fickle?!
Two of the top three looked as if they were going to an S&M resort. What is Michael Kohrs into, anyway?
Rear ends….and red balls