Project Runway All Stars: "Finale Part 2"
Photo: Lifetime Television
Last week, the designers were asked to create six looks in four days with only former contestants as help. We rejoin Austin, Mondo, and Michael on the day of the final show. The final three designers get to work finishing their collections in the workroom at the location for the runway show, Gotham Hall.
The VIP show included some big names from the fashion industry, but didn't seem to carry the weight of the usual Fashion Week extravaganza. Nina Garcia was in the crowd, and thought the designers had come a long way from when she was judging them on Project Runway. The guest judges for the finale were Tommy Hilfiger and fashion director for Neiman Marcus, Ken Downing.
The Collections:
Austin
"Austin Scarlett" - I couldn't make this up. So here is the description directly from the mouth of Austin himself, "a story of a vampire from the 18th century who has lived many hundreds of years and now resides in Williamsburg and occasionally borrows clothes from her Hasidic dandy friends."
The judges thought this was more "best of" Austin Scarlett than a cohesive collection. They weren't sure about the red carpet dress, but loved the leather lacquered look. The final wedding dress was a big hit, but did it fit the rock and roll vibe of the collection? Finally, the judges thought Austin brought youth to a couture collection, and that as a designer he was full of ideas.
Victoria North, executive web producer Posted on Mar 23rd, 2012 in design, Project Runway, all stars
Comments (19)
I love Tim, but did not miss Heidi at all.
Posted: 4:15 pm on April 4th
His whole collection was so diverse as well as together.
I could picture a hot vampire or any woman wanting to wear the most beautiful clothes EVER from his collection.
He is the MOST creative of the three and he should have won.
Mondo's collection was ok as was Michael's, but they are not NEARLY as creative as Austin.
If I could afford them, I would wear ALL Austin's clothes.
I love the diversity in his style.
Funky, Mod, Feminine, Rock Star, you name it-Austin has it in his repertoire`.
Posted: 4:12 pm on April 4th
Posted: 12:01 pm on March 31st
Posted: 7:24 am on March 30th
I didn't take this very seriously when I saw that some of the participants were not around long in their season. I think the spit-marker and the one from Ohio were a little ridiculous to be included, but I bet that some of the runners up or the third prize winner level are successfully working out there in the field.
I think the whole thing has really fallen apart since the show was taken from Bravo. I would probably not watch this again. I never agree with the judges, anyway.
Posted: 12:43 am on March 30th
I was rooting for Mondo. I thought his collection the most interesting and most wearable, though I do agree with the person who characterized his details as being from the 40's. And, in fact, they did look a little frumpy.
Still, I was thrilled when Mondo won.
Posted: 8:48 pm on March 29th
Initially, I thought maybe we would see something great - but now knowing the outcome was just to give Mondo a prize, makes this season a joke. He is simply not consistent and the rainbow colored pillow case - he called a dress that won on the one episode - was the worst joke of all
What annoyed me more than Mondo winning was the constant reminder in the work room that we were seeing the best of the best in these all-starts - BULL - best of the best means everyone on that show would have finished in 1st or 2nd place in their seasons...that was not the case. We were simply seeing the best of who didn't have something better to do in their careers at the moment. Kara crying about feeling maybe she isn't that good - get clue - you weren't that great on the first go around. She hasn't improved at all that since then.
I won't even get started about the judges. Except to say that every other fashion design show that Isaac has been selected for as a judge has been cancelled after only one season. There is a reason for that.
Thank God for the fashion show on regular TV where we are seeing real people win actual contracts to have their designs sold in regular department stores. People who are making clothes for real people and not some tooth pick walking down a runway.
Project Runway since leaving Bravo is quickly becoming yesterday's news. Not sure if I can stomach another season.
Posted: 5:26 pm on March 29th
He lost me at his description of his inspiration. A vampire? Borrowing clothes from a Hasidic dandy? While my romantic partner loved the catsuit, we both laughed at the pick puff in the back of the leather skirt ... and I'm still trying to figure out why he thought that ice cream cone of a 'capri' was at all a good idea.
Michael:
I'm just plain lost on the idea of why a collection being 'too commercial' is a bad thing, if part of the grand prize is a boutique in Neiman Marcus. I liked his work.
Mondo:
He (and the judges) whined continually about Kinley using polka dots, and yet his whole collection had.... polka dots! I was not excited about his collection.
Final verdict on the 'season':
Tim Gunn must come back. That woman (I was so unenamored of her that I can't remember her name) was less of a mentor and more of a crotchety nitpicker.
Posted: 5:10 pm on March 29th
Posted: 2:11 pm on March 29th
Loved it!
Posted: 11:01 am on March 29th
Posted: 10:09 am on March 29th
Of the two, I think the judges made the correct choice, although I can't imagine Mondo in the working world running a business and working at the magazine. I'm familiar with creative angst, but Mondo's seems really self-indulgent to me, especially considering that nobody forced him to enter a competition like this and the pressures come with the territory.
I liked Austin's wedding gown and the 'lacquered lace' dress, but overall his designs usually strike me as too "poufy" and not looks that a real woman wants to wear. Mondo's work usually looks like a well-made cartoon to me, (perfect for Jessica Rabbit) and in my opinion, he'd be great in costume design for theater, but I don't really read his looks as fashion-forward.
Don't forget it's a tv show, too, "characters welcome." I would have loved to see Rami win, but he comes across as well-adjusted and just a sweet guy, and to me, clearly the producers wanted to encourage "out-there" behavior and Austin and Mondo both are such characters, so flamboyant each in their own way, I think the producers probably encouraged their 'survival' in this show.
oh well, I'll be back to watch season 10, espec. since it'll have Tim Gunn, so maybe the next batch of designers will be interesting. And producers, if you're out there, bring us more design and less sniping!
Posted: 9:39 am on March 29th
I only hope that Mondo gets over himself. As a fashion writer for the magazine and a designer, too, he doesn't work well under pressure. He'll be locking himself in the room, pouting because he can't think of something to write.
Hopefully, he will receive guidance on what I feel could be a real detriment in the dog-eat-dog world of couture.
Posted: 5:55 am on March 29th
Posted: 12:35 am on March 29th
Austin's wedding dress was one of the most beautiful I have seen in a long time no matter if Anthony sewed them or not (that is what they were there for).
Michael's items had a few problems (fitting) but he is at least thinking commercially and no doubt most cohesive. I think he should have won over Austin by a very small margin
Posted: 12:06 am on March 29th
Posted: 7:58 pm on March 28th
Michael's was uninspiring; Austin's wasn't great but there were some good pieces; and Mondo's was a collection, but I didn't like it.
Posted: 6:47 pm on March 28th
I liked the All Stars show and the judges and Joanna Coles but I MISSED Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn.
Posted: 1:12 pm on March 28th
I still don't see the "art" in Austins collection and I think his main support in the judges arena was Angela, I think she might even have been pulling for him to win
As IF! The whole storyline went to far and lost me.
I liked his laquered lace dress and the petal wedding dress, good think Anthony was there to sew the petals!
I have to say, I'm underwhelmed by Michaels collection, it was blah and uninspiring. I know he wanted to show that he can do something besides dresses and who knows, maybe he knew he wasn't going to win and may have used this chance to show he has range. I am still amazed by his quick and well done sewing skills, he is a true tailor who designs wearable clothing.
I have some concerns about that dark place Mondo seems to need to go to find creative inspiration, how far down the rabbit hole does he need to fall before he comes out the other end?
At the end of the day, Mondo has his pound of flesh as do all his supporters ( like me ) who were outraged at him being cheated out of his rightful win the first time around.
Posted: 8:16 pm on March 26th
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