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Laura Kathleen in the workroom during Project Runway All Stars' fourth episode.

MyLifetime.com

Anthony Ryan Auld's design.

myLifetime.com

Andrae Gonzalo's design for the fourth challenge.

MyLifetime.com

Laura Kathleen in the workroom during Project Runway All Stars' fourth episode.

Photo: MyLifetime.com

News, style, and social media collided in "Project Runway All Stars" exciting fourth challenge.

The first-ever USA Today challenge was also the first "interactive" challenge for "Project Runway."

The national newspaper asked readers to submit photos via Twitter. The photos were images that said something about the readers - who they were, how they felt about Project Runway, and their own personal styles.

Each designer selected one fan photo to inspire their runway look. There were environmental scenes, self-portraits, still-lifes, detail photos, and much more - a veritable buffet of imagery.

The prize was something every up-and-coming designer craves: Publicity! The winning designer was photographed and featured in a USA Today editorial. That's some significant exposure, so the pressure was on as the competitors sought to outdo each other.

The guest judges were popular young designer Charlotte Ronson, who has been favored by starlets from Blake Lively to Kirsten Dunst, and teenage fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson, the 16-year-old who writes TheStyleRookie.com. On to the fan-photo inspired fashions!

The winner

Anthony Ryan Auld created a sleek, sexy little dress. It was an evocative interpretation of his chosen photo, and the judges loved it.

The loser

Andrae Gonzalo. It was another odd idea (zip-together knit panels), poorly executed (again), and with a disjointed explanation on the runway (once more). He seems to be a sweet guy though, and everyone wished him success (just maybe not in fashion design).

The rest of the top three

Emilio Sosa's design:

Laura Kathleen's design:

The rest of the bottom three

Joshua McKinley's design:

Althea Harper's design:

The passing designs

Casanova's look:

Ivy Higa's design:

Uli Herzner's design:

 Kayne Gillaspie's dress:

Your turn to vent!

Would anyone out there think Andrae was unfairly booted off the show? Do you think Althea's drop-crotch pants or Joshua's Color-Brite separates were the items really deserving a losing score?

What did you think of the interactive challenge? Did you submit a photo? If not, would you next time?

What did you think of Anthony's win? Did you prefer Emilio's dress or perhaps Laura Kathleen's dyed fabric? Share what you think!

Sarah McFarland, contributor
Posted on Nov 19th, 2012 in sewing, design, garment construction, fabric, Project Runway, designers, getting the look, , USA Today

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Comments (2)

ohannieobanannieo writes: Somewhere along the Project Runway line, I became a complete curmudgeon. The show was a soap opera disguised as an artsy-craftsy presentation. There has been little emphasis on art,design or the craft involved in designing and constructing garments - with occasional exceptions. However, what has finally soured me completely on the show is the fact that I think almost all of the garments are thoroughly ugly, so ugly that they seem to be the result of a Contest to Create Ugliness, and it is unsettling. It is one thing to be avant garde or outre in art and design, but these garments are rarely truly original and even more rarely attractive. I do marvel and admire the skill involved in putting out anything in the short time they are given; it is often amazing. So - curmudgeon, me. I do think the concept of a program for budding designers is a great one, but this one veered off into something else a few seasons ago and I rarely watch it now, whereas, in its beginnings, I rarely missed it.
Posted: 1:19 am on November 21st

sews4fun writes: I think it was a tie for the bottom, Emilio, Josh and Althea. I really liked Althea's jacket but it looked like a herd of indians moved out of the pants ( and took their teepees with them )
Emilios fiasco was just ......no.
Josh's skirt was sloppy and ill fitting and the top looked like a lifejacket we used to keep on our boat.
I've seen kayne and Uli's looks before but at least they fit and didn't look riduculous.
I know Ivy is trying to effect damage control in this season after her behaviour the last time she was on and she's doing a pretty good job of it but she still puts out boring stuff IMO.
At the end of the day, I guess I would have to agree with the judges decision on the winner.
Posted: 3:39 pm on November 20th

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