Project Runway Episode 11: "It's Fashion, Baby"

Elena works with a child-sized dress form to plan her design.

Hilary Duff was the guest judge for the eleventh challenge on Project Runway, Season 10.

Elena works with a child-sized dress form to plan her design.

Photo: MyLifetime.com

In the most recent episode of Project Runway, "It's Fashion, Baby," there were plenty of tantrums and crying - but it wasn't all from the designers!

The competitors had to design outfits for adorable babies and toddlers, looks to be included in Heidi's new Truly Scrumptious line of kids' clothing at Babies 'R' Us. In a humorous twist, during their sewing time, the designers also had to babysit dolls that required holding, rocking, feeding, and changing. So they were under pressure to work and nurture at the same time, a frustrating situation moms everywhere can identify with.

The guest judge was actress and singer Hilary Duff, who has a 5-month-old baby boy, Luca. Her husband is former professional hockey player Mike Comrie.

On to the pint-sized designs!

The winner (boy):

Sonja's sweatsuit blazer and pants...

Sonja Williams

The winner (girl):

Christopher's design:

Christopher Palu

The loser:

Elena's design for a girl:

Elena Slivnyak

The rest of the top three:

Fabio's design for a boy:

Fabio Costa

The rest of the bottom three:

Melissa's design for a girl:

Melissa Fleis

Dmitry's design for a boy:

Dmitry Sholokhov

Share your thoughts!

What did you think of this challenge? Are you interested in designing for babies and toddlers or were you wishing for grown-up designs?

Did you agree with the judges' decisions? Dmitry ended up in the bottom three, but I know some little boys who'd love a hoodie with a car on the front!

Do you think it was fun or just distracting to have the designers taking care of the mock babies?

Do you want to see this challenge again? If yes, is there anything you would change about how it was organized and judged?

Sarah McFarland, contributor
Posted on Oct 2nd, 2012 in sewing, design, garment construction, fabric, Project Runway, designers, getting the look

Comments (8)

sewingheaven888 writes: The episode seems like fun. I have not watched it yet but reading the intake on it...I think it was a clever twist. I have three young girls and whilst trying to sew I have to stop and start when undertaking any project as children can easily get bored. I didnt set out to make clothes for children but I guess there is a fun element to it when you have your own childen to try out your new designs. Funny thing is..although kids fidget when they are babies, its doesnt seem to get any easier when they are older:)

All the children look cute in their outfits.
Posted: 3:09 pm on October 5th

Cherlyn writes: Ididn't care for the crying dolls either. I think tat was unnecessary and really didn't add anything to the challenge. It was annoying more than anything else. I loved the challenge though especially when they were asked to create something for the mother too.

I didn't care for Dimitry's jumpsuit --- I think it fit funny and the hood wasn't right. I love red though. I love bright colors on children. Sonji's outfit was drab to me but then she had the colorful top underneath. Christopher's dress was cute, but one washing and those flowers are going to be falling apart.

I would love to see this challenge used again, but leave out the dolls. I think making something for the mother was a nice gesture since they were walking the runway ith their child.

I used to make my girls outfits all the time when they were little and I had a fabric store that carried interesting fabrics. Now I have to drive three hours away to get to a store that inspires me. I still have many of the dresses I made my girls. No grand babies yet, but I will be sewing for them.

Posted: 3:09 pm on October 5th

Soli writes: I thought the crying dolls were a mean twist when they're getting to the point where they're so stressed just dealing with the challenges as it is. If they were supposed to figure out that baby clothes get changed a lot in a single day, it didn't sink it to most of them. I loved Fabio's little onsie, but the girl clothes were a bit disappointing. As far as snap on flowers on a baby dress, I just keep imagining the kid pulling them off the dress, putting them in her mouth, and mom discovering they're a choking hazard. I keep forgetting the show is on until the last minute. There's nothing new or fresh being created on the show anymore, and in truth, having the preview for the next All-Stars was a joke. Peach? Cassanova? Really?
Posted: 2:51 am on October 3rd

Lise_the_hobbit writes: I thought this was a wonderful challenge - although the twist was not really needed - designing children's clothing presents a very different set of challenges, and the stress of coping with the dolls was enough extra challenge. Since we haven't seen a menswear challenge yet, designing for children is a good idea. I think Dmitri's outfit was adorable. If Elena had done her pants in pink to match the shirt, or used the pink and navy stripe she started with for her first pants/leggings, I think she would still be there - that jackets was wonderful. I didn't like Christopher's dress design - I kept thinking about all those flowers being snapped on - which means they would come off in the wash, and I don't like the idea of the raw edges of the flowers on something that is going to get washed a lot.
Posted: 6:25 pm on October 2nd

Serral writes: I thought this was a good challenge. Clothes for little people can be as challenging as those for big people. At the high fashion level Dior and Lanvin both have lines for children; for the rest of us with smaller budgets who have sons, daughters, nieces and nephews and grand children there isn't a department store without a children's department.

However, how could the designers not know that there would be a twist? Either it was going to be a dress for Mom or a matching coat for the dog, teddy bear, etc. This is Project Runway after all.

I thought the decision to "auf" Elena was fair. Like Ven, outside of her signature silhouette, she is somewhat lost - although I did like the little blue jacket.

Christopher's dress was adorable. He also managed to be extremely tactful, with a pretentious and patronizing client. The mother's dress for a somewhat difficult body (large bust and hips) was well executed with no complaints or comments about her size.

Hilary Duff was a useless judge. She seemed to parrot Michael Kors every word. I wish they would have fewer celebrity judges. I would rather listen to a professional pattern maker judge these garments than an actress with so little knowledge about design and fit and construction.

The dolls were funny and annoying, but it was interesting to see how the designers reacted. Fabio's conversation with his "baby" was touching and Dimitry's reaction hilarious.

I could see doing this challenge again.

Posted: 5:10 pm on October 2nd

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