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Project Runway Episode 9: “It’s All About Me”

Anya Ayoung Chee and Mondo Guerra were guest judges for the ninth challenge of Project Runway's 10th season.


The ninth challenge was a special one from Hewlett Packard, the technology sponsor for Project Runway. The designers were asked to use their HP TouchSmart computers to create fabric prints, AND the prints had to be based on their cultural heritages. Every designer had a visit or a special video message from someone in their family to inspire memories of their culture.

The guest judges were two past-season favorites, Anya Ayoung-Chee, winner of Season 9, and Mondo Guerra, a Season 8 finalist who went on to win Project Runway All-Stars. On to the clothes!

The winner

Dmitry won, with a chic little suit. The top and the jacket’s piping were in his self-designed print.

 

The loser

Gunnar was out. Here’s what his design looked like:

The rest of the top three

Melissa’s design:

The design by Sonjia:

The rest of the bottom three

Christopher’s design:

Ven’s design:

 

Still “In” there

Elena’s look:

Fabio’s design:

 

Tell us your runway recap

What did you think of the prints the contestants came up with? I thought they were quite tame for the most part! Have you ever designed your own prints? Would you like to give it a try?

What did you think of Dmitry’s winning design? This is his first win on of the season. Do you think he has a chance to become a finalist?

Gunnar, once a fan favorite, is off the show. I thought he was wobbly ever since the Lord & Taylor dress challenge. What do you think? Do you think someone else deserved to go home in Gunnar’s place?

Discuss

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Discuss

  1. Cherlyn | | #1

    Sorry to ee Gunnar lose out this week. I really thought Christopher would be gone or Elana. The one I really thought should go was Elana---did not care for her look at all. Something about the sleeves that I thought wasn't right. Ven---another flower? Really! I liked the sketch he created but then when I saw what he weas doing, I couldn't believe it. I guess if he desn't improve by next challenge, he will be gone.

    This week, I really felt that Sonja had won it wth those pants. I liked her look the best. I also liked Melissa'sdress and her print, but I had to agree with the judges that something about the sleeve wasn't right o this dress---probably should have been a strap or straps and not that cap effect.

    Thankfully, the judges didn't ask Fabio about his pattern---did Tim tip the judges off and told them no to ask?

  2. sews4fun | | #2

    Sadly, I DO think it was time for Gunnar to go, that "outfit" was just AWFUL! It was funny but in a sad way when the judges said the print looked like a sheet of postage stamps and it was too true.
    I am glad Dmitri FINALLY got a win for once! I loved his ensemble and thought the way the fabric looked like it was just floating pieces held together by nothing was very clever.
    I would like to see Dmitri, sonjia and Melissa in the final three, I think they all do nice work.
    AT LAST! The judges tell Ven they are sick of his rose motiff and the whole one trick pony thinggy he has going on! Ven is just SO full of himself and his myopic fashion views wore thin quickly. I hope they take Ven out next week or Elana and her medical smock she made this week- I kept looking to see where the funnies were at on it, it looked like the comic section of the newspaper to me.

  3. Ikebana152 | | #3

    I thought that Ven should have been sent home. The print looked like a Marimeko outdoor tablecloth. It appears all he can do is fold fabric into roses. Did he study origami or fashion design?

    Gunnar's jacket was tradtional, but so is a lot of Ralph Lauren and it seems to work for the vast number of people who buy Ralph Lauren. At least it was an attempt to do something different. His departure was gracious.

    I hope Sonja makes it to the final three. The pants were beautifully done.

    Glad to see Dimitry step out of his comfort zone and win.

    Several times designers stated, " i don't work with prints" - WHAT ?

    I sound like a broken record, but how do you get out of design school and not have worked with prints, or real bodies, or made a cocktail dress that wasn't black?

  4. User avater
    iris68 | | #4

    Happy for Dmitriy!

  5. Cherlyn | | #5

    I would like to know how Dimitry did that technique he used on his jacket. I really liked his jacket!

  6. pentimento | | #6

    Cherlyn,
    From what I've read on PR's blogs, Dmitry's jacket used mesh inserts to allow the print blouse to show through. I don't think there was any piping or embellishment involved.

  7. daglag | | #7

    I think Ven should have gone home. As others have said, he appears to be a one trick pony. Ever since the "real person" challenge, I've not been impressed. He seems to be more of a fiber artist than a fashion designer.
    Gunnar was not going to last much longer anyway if he had not been "out" this week.

  8. User avater
    aislinnluv | | #8

    I couldn't see the logic in keeping Ven and aufing Gunnar. I would buy Gunnar's jacket, although I liked it better with the black that Tim talked him out of using on it. Wouldn't touch that dress of Ven's with a ten-foot picnic umbrella. Maybe I'm just a suspicious cynic, but it seems the producers like to keep people for he sake of drama, and once Christopher and Gunnar made up, that source of friction was gone, leaving Ven to be generally disliked by the remaining designers. Gunnar had shown real talent in the previous challenge, whereas Ven gave us a lackluster contribution to his group's effort. Wrong call, judges.

  9. user-253850 | | #9

    I have lost total faith in Ven after his treatment of the woman in the friend challenge. We have seen his presented design over and over again. Being a designer calls for a host of skills, particularly the ability to engage with one's client. He has lost me on that one!! Frankly, I thought he should have gone home.....

  10. User avater
    lbmdesigns | | #10

    I think we will be hearing a lot from and about Gunner (not Ven - too much in a box!!!). Glad for Dmitry, he has always been consistent.

  11. Lise_the_hobbit | | #11

    I absolutely loved Dmitri's jacket - if you go look at the extended video showing the judge's critique, you find out that those pieces are sewn to a very fine mesh to hold them in place, and he used the same fabric at the bottom of the skirt - your photo caption is incorrect, it is not piping. I would love to see the inside of that jacket to see how the mesh was finished into the lining.

    Certainly the choice of special judges was appropriate - I don't think Anya made anything out of solid colors if she could find a print instead, and while I don't like Mondo's stuff that I saw on All Stars, he does know his way around fabric design.

  12. allthatjazzercize | | #12

    I thought this episode was so fun! Not only did we get a peek into the designer’s home-life, but we also got to see them exude artistic talent that goes beyond the mere structure of the dress through the creation of their fabrics! I was so taken by how touched they were at the sight of their loved ones. I have felt the same way after coming home from an extended business trip with Dish and seeing the open arms of my favorite people. Sometimes, family is the best cure for stress! The only bummer of the episode was seeing Gunner go, but he did lack the talent of the other designers. Now that he is gone, this competition is seriously heating up! I have no idea who could possibly be out next, but I can’t wait to find out! Of course, as my luck would have it, the new episode airs tonight during the season premiere of Up All Night (that comedy is so cute for anyone who hasn’t seen it). Even the encore airs during the premieres of The Office and Parks and Rec! It’s lucky for me that this crisis is easily solved since my Hopper DVR can record up to six things. I would hate to miss either show!

  13. sewsilky | | #13

    I loved Fabio's print. Beautiful. But the garment design wasn't strong enough to enhance it. On the other hand, Elena's print was pretty weak, but her jacket design saved it.

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