Project Runway All Stars Episode 12: "Go Big or Go Home"

Photo: MyLifetime.com

Last night's episode of Project Runway All Stars Season 2 was the season finale. It was down to just three designers: Emilio Sosa, Anthony Ryan Auld, and Uli Herzner. As talented as they all are, only one could win!

The episode was titled "Go Big or Go Home." The three remaining designers had four days in which to each complete a six to eight piece capsule runway collection. They only had an hour and a half to shop at Mood, too. Can you imagine selecting fabrics for six to eight garments in an hour and half! I know I need a lot more hemming and hawing.

Emilio, Uli, and Anthony did get the help of previously eliminated designers for the first two days. Kayne Gillaspie worked with Anthony Ryan. Althea Harper worked with Emilio. Uli selected Casanova - who was a big help when he wasn't napping on the couch.

Uli envisioned a winter wonderland with mythical princesses.

Emilio conceived an "urban plantation" where women of color transitioned from the plantation to the work force. His totems were Aunt Jemima and Rosie the Riveter.

Anthony Ryan called his collection "The Thin Line." He meant to portray the division between light and dark in all of us.

Actress Liv Tyler and designer Margherita Missoni served as guest judges.

Who won?!

Anthony Ryan Auld is the winner of Project Runway All Stars, season 2.

Here's Anthony's collection, piece by piece:

The judges loved his clean lines, clear point of view. Isaac thought there could have been more consistency in the hem length.

Emilio finished as first runner-up. He had a political point of view and a lot of passion. His designs were hit or miss, though.

Uli came in as second runner-up. Uli's designs were magical, but the judges were bored. They'd seen more of the same from Uli.

What did you think?

Did the judges get it right?

Should another designer have won?

What about Uli's last-place finish? Did you think that was fair?

Which collection did you wish you could take home and wear?

Are you READY for the next season of regular Runway? I sure am, and I can't wait to see the new team challenge format. Get ready for the drama!

Sarah McFarland, contributor
Posted on Jan 18th, 2013 in sewing, design, garment construction, fabric, designers, getting the look, Project Runway All Stars, finale, runway finale

Comments (11)

ItaB writes: Anthony Ryan's collection was monotonous, basically the same design over and over - and he did a LOT of those horizontal bars during the season as well. Pretty, but a big yawn. I was really rooting for Uli - her collection was so feminine, and showed a lot more variation on her theme.
Posted: 4:39 pm on January 24th

Barbara611 writes: I think Uli should have won. I did not like Emilo's garments at all!
Posted: 12:37 pm on January 23rd

Vernelle writes: In my opinion, Anthony Ryan's collection was too much of the same thing regurgitated multiple times. I loved Uli's collection, but think Emilio showed the most creativity and versatility.

I would have been much happier if either one of these two had won instead of AR. His show wasn't nearly as interesting.
Posted: 10:27 am on January 23rd

sewingagain writes: I usually love everything Uli does, but this time I was fascinated by Emilio's layered bustiers and the vintage/modern combinations. Love the graphic quality of Anthony Ryan's dresses. I would wear pieces from all the collections. This would have been a tough one to judge. Overall, I'm glad for Anthony Ryan in that, true or not, he seamed to need the win more than the others.
Posted: 8:08 am on January 23rd

agapantha writes: I'd have chosen in exactly the opposite order: Uli first, then Emilio with Anthony Ryan a distant third. Linda G7 expressed my feelings about Uli so neatly that I needn't say another word about that lovely collection.

I liked the imagination, color, fun, and cohesiveness of Emilio's line but several pieces looked messy and uncomfortable (those separate bodices!)next to Uli's cool brilliance.

Each of AR's models appeared to be sporting some strange Mondrian version of aprons, overalls, and pinafores. The exception was the long blue and black gown; it featured a lovely back treatment which is the most positive thing I can say about the collection. I am not a fan of geometric shapes especially when those shapes disguise what lies under them in such an unflattering manner.
Posted: 2:41 am on January 23rd

dyufer writes: I totally agree. I was so shocked that Uli didn't win AND that Anthony Ryan did that I suspect there was a game being played by the judges--and it's a game I shall not watch again. If the purpose is only to make up for bad decisions the first time around, then it is insulting to both the contestants and the viewers.
Posted: 2:37 am on January 23rd

beadembroiderer writes: I totally agree. Anthony was the poorest designer. I think that Uli is, overall, the best designer but her show and the content was not her best. I liked Emilio's show, which had the content, was conhesive, and also a good, strong and meaningful theme. I loved the choice of color and the whole design of the show. I sew well and I feel I can sew well and quickly, but making the number of garments, even with help, was amazing to me. I am scared to watch the Project
Runway Teams shew this week -- seems the designers behave most poorly on team assignments.
Posted: 7:39 pm on January 22nd

jpclarksville writes: I'm beginning to wonder about the judges at Project Runway. Anthony Ryan's collection was the worst of the three. It looked like the same ugly home-ec dress coming down the runway, with the tackiest one being the two piece number.

Posted: 6:30 pm on January 22nd

LindaG7 writes: I thought Uli's collection was the most polished and complete, appeared to be well-constructed, as well as very wearable. It showed a consistency of vision and varied development of that vision, with one amazing piece after another. If it was like something she showed earlier, this was because her vision is more consistently realized. I would think that would be an indicator of a more successful professional and future star. The makeup was a bit disturbing, but consistent with her wintery vision. Her magical collection should have been the winner, for isn't runway fashion all about dreams and imagination? Her finale dress was stunning.

Anthony Ryan's collection was boring, unattractive, inconsistently constructed, and as for seeing it before, this was ripped straight from the 1960s. His finale dress was awful in construction and the top was from a different design aesthetic than the skirt. I don't know many women who want to wear that many horizontal, graphic lines across their bust, waist, and hips. The lines may be "clean" but the execution was not stimulating. The boots, heavy and unattractive, emphasized the proportion problems, although, apparently, that is the new "in" thing for shoes. The most successful dress was the black and yellow with peplum that broke out of the repetitive mold. Compared to some of his outstanding, imaginative design work during the series, this collection was disappointing.

Emilio deserves credit for trying to interpret his political idea into a clothing line and his designs looked generally comfortable and wearable. His political idea was not really showing in the designs (other than the headscarves), but the practicality of the separates was evident. It was an uneven collection and very little was a "wow" moment, so it is understandable this collection didn't win, even though it seems quite sellable.
Posted: 3:18 am on January 22nd

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