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Project Runway Season 12, Episode 7: “Shoes First!”

Helen Castillo's winning design.

Time for shoe puns!

The designers had to “step it up” this week.

Some “sole searching” was in order for the remaining challengers.

One designer had a look that was a “shoe-in” to win, while another designer was “booted.”

And finally, instead of a recap, consider this a “retread”:

On the latest Project Runway episode, the designers travelled to the Marie Claire magazine offices. There, they met editor-in-chief Anne Fulenwider and Tim Gunn in the magazine’s vast shoe closet. The designers had to come up with looks inspired by the shoes, and each selected a pair from the closet after correctly answering a fashion quiz question.

(Example question: Christian Louboutin based his famous red soles on an employee’s what?

Answer: Nail polish.)

Miranda was the last to select her shoes – she was unable to answer a single question correctly. She voiced a wish that the questions had been about “wallpaper or photography.” Wallpaper??

CBS sitcom Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco was the guest judge, along with Anne Fulenwider.

The winner

Helen Castillo wowed the judges with a minimalist cape and dress. The fit and cut looked impeccable. Helen’s shoes were black booties with studded toes.

Helen Castillo's design

The loser

Miranda Levy created a short white jacket, sleeveless white blouse with polka dots, and high-waisted, pegged plaid pants to go with her red patent smoking slippers. Oddly, the model was styled to look sort of like the late singer Amy Winehouse.

Miranda Levy's design

All the rest

Alexandria von Bromssen’s design:

 Alexandria von Bromssen's design

Alexander Pope’s design:

Alexander Pope's design

Ken Laurence’s design:

Ken Laurence's design

Dom Streater’s design:

Dom Streater's design

Justin LeBlanc’s design:

Justin LeBlanc's design

Bradon McDonald’s design:

Bradon McDonald's design

Karen Batt’s design:

Karen Batt's design

Jeremy Brandick’s design:

Jeremy Brandick's design

Katelyn Pankoke’s design:

Katelyn Pankoke's design.

 

What did you think?

First, I must apologize for the late timing of the post this week. It’s been a difficult week – I just moved to a new apartment and there was the Labor Day holiday, so I have been catching up. I should be able to cover tonight’s episode first thing tomorrow, though!

Do you agree with the judges’ decision for the winning design?

Was there another look you preferred over Helen’s?

What about the losing design? Do you agree with the choice to send Miranda home?

Or was there another design you thought was worse than Miranda’s?

Do you have a favorite to win?

Who do you think will be “Aufed” next?

And finally, wasn’t it adorable when Swatch the Mood dog licked Tim’s ear? Tim was looking for Swatch’s toy ball under the fabric racks at Mood. Wouldn’t you know Tim would treat a pet as courteously as any person!

Discuss

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Discuss

  1. Cherlyn | | #1

    I did not like the winning design. It looked like funeral attire revamped from the victorian era. At this point, I don't know who I really like. I think Kate is a strong contestant. I also think Karen is strong.

  2. user-1142078 | | #2

    I agree - there was nothing special about the winning outfit.

  3. User avater
    Soli | | #3

    I'm going to disagree with the two previous posts. I did like the winning LBD. It was cut and sewn impeccably. The fit was absolutely perfect and there didn't appear to be any pulls or puckers, even in HD. The dress itself could be worn for almost anything but the most formal occasion. The cape was a little Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford meets Carolyn Bessett Kennedy, but it was still quite striking. I could see an whole range of different types of women wearing it, styling it differently. Helen's minimalista styling was indeed pretty cool. I had more of a "what were they thinking" reaction to Ken's ensemble. First of all, the bodice was too long for the model. There was excess fabric above the waist seam where the fabric puffed out a little. I was also surprised they didn't call him out on the atrocious hem of the skirt, which looked like it was only folded over a quarter inch and attached with a straight stitch. That does not read expensive but cheap, cheap, cheap. Also reading cheap was the fact that the proportions of the skirt were indeed too short. I also didn't care much for Alexander's top; it looked like a muslin rather than a finished garment to me. I thought Kate's split trousers were cool and showed off the split sole shoes in a really unique way, but the blouse was not that great.

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