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Inspiration

Project Runway, Season 14, Episode 8: Broadway or Bust

Edmond Newton working on his design in the Project Runway workroom.

This week the designers were given a triple-treat: tickets to the Broadway musical “Finding Neverland”; a trip to Mood with $250 to purchase their own fabric; and the chance to design anything they wanted, inspired by the show. (A quadruple-treat if you add the opportunity to meet the show’s star, Matthew Morrison.) Predictably, they were excited, creatively stimulated, and ambitious in their work. For the viewers, it was a relief to watch them really stretch their wings…well, some of them.

As has happened week after week, the episode began with a designer confessing to paranoia about his or her place on the show. Lindsey acknowledged that she was in trouble, having been in the bottom for several weeks. When the challenge was announced, she was thrilled, feeling that this was her chance to come back from the brink and show what she could do. Swapnil, meanwhile, finally faced the fact that he was doing too much smoking and not enough designing, and vowed to give 100 percent to this challenge.

Ashley was panicked because the challenge had so few limitations. This may sound like a strange complaint, especially after the creativity-strangling challenges the contestants have faced so far, but I think many artists would agree that design is, fundamentally, finding a solution to a problem. If the problem itself isn’t obvious, then it’s difficult to find a solution. When she sees the problem clearly (lingerie for a plus-size woman; fabricating a textile from photographs, etc.), Ashley is a champ. She has a good eye for color, understands how to construct a garment, knows what women like to wear and what a garment should do for them. Sometimes I think the very qualities that cause her to shut down in a particular challenge are the same ones that will serve her well as a designer in the real world.

Ashley Nell Tipton works on her design for this season’s eighth challenge.

ashley

This week’s soundbite from Kelly, who had never been to a live musical before: “I loved it. It’s like the movies but in 3D.” I have grown very fond of Kelly. She seems to have a grip on her design process, an open mind, and genuine, deep-down creativity that’s not hemmed in by what other people expect.

Tim paid an early, foreboding, visit to the workroom, to warn the designers that “someone is going to go home tonight.” I choose to believe the producers prompted this useless bit of anxiety-mongering, because Tim himself doesn’t seem to need to overstate the obvious. When he returned for his individual critiques, he was his usual helpful and perceptive self. The designers were working hard, listening to his advice, and really striving to do wonderful things. This didn’t prevent many of them from being very behind schedule when the morning of runway day dawned…

Runway Day

In addition to the regular judges, Zac Posen, Nina Garcia, and Heidi Klum, the designers’ work was assessed by guest judge Coco Rocha, a model who has a long-standing professional relationship with Zac Posen, and a thorough knowledge of the fashion industry.

judges

There was plenty of variety on the runway this week, and finally an opportunity to see the designers’ aesthetics. I wish this had been a two-day challenge, though: all the looks would have benefited from additional time.

The winner

Candice’s “own your dark side” black leather, taffeta and net corset-top and leggings. This was a pretty amazing creation that truly revealed the Candice style. Tim saw a 20th-century version of a 18th-century figure in this look, and the judges adored it, finding it romantic, editorial, dreamy, dramatic, sexy, modern, and spectacular. I concur–this looked like a winner to me, too.

Candice

The remaining top two

Kelly created a black lace floor-length vest with teal sequins, over a black minidress, paired with long black gloves. This look certainly had impact on the runway, but as Nina pointed out, it was really all about the fabric. Kelly chose a showstopping textile, and used it cleverly by placing the scalloped edges vertically at center front and back. Zac praised her for taking chances, but Coco thought it was a little costumey. I thought it was a successful answer to the challenge–Kelly’s inspiration came from vintage photos of theater-goers dressed to the nines. I did, however, question her decision to start her look by making the gloves (unless the episode was edited to put the glove-making before the dress design). The gloves would be the last thing I’d do–you can’t send a model down the runway in only a pair of gloves! However, Kelly had immunity this week, so she could do just about anything she wanted.

Kelly

Edmond’s blue-purple puffy “cloud” vest, belted over a black bra-top and superskinny high-waisted black pants. Every season some designer makes pants and claims it’s the first time he or she has ever done so. Can this possibly be? I don’t know whether Edmond attended design school–perhaps not, but how can a designer not have made a pair of pants before?

The judges liked the black top and pants, but were of mixed opinions about the puffy vest. Zac called it a muppet, and Coco really disliked it. Nina supported this piece as the source of drama. Heidi was fixated on the sexy black pieces and didn’t care about the “purple haze.”

Edmond

The loser

Lindsey’s “boring and plain” green dress. This truly was a big old nothing–enough so that I couldn’t even pull a decent set of quotations from the judges. Well, Nina said that green is the color of hope, but that this was hopeless. At one point in the episode, Lindsay claimed she wanted this dress to be “buoyant and fun and magical.” Apparently no one could believe in this latter-day Tinkerbell.

Linds

The remaining bottom two

Speaking of Tinkerbell, or rather, “Tinkerhell,” as Nina called it, Laurie’s look also attempted to reference J.M. Barrie’s naughty fairy. Laurie’s version eschewed the green color we associate with Tinkerbell (thank you, Walt Disney) for an oatmeal-colored tweed with a bit of metallic yarn, and a fabulous silver lace. (Full disclosure: I have a shower curtain made of the same metallic tweed, so I didn’t mind the textile choice.) What Laurie made with these fabrics was pretty shocking, though: a droopy, bare-all tube top from the lace; a pair of skater-skirt shorts (I don’t know what else to call this garment: a bifurcated circle skirt?), this time so brief that the model’s derriere wasn’t even covered; and a shapeless, over-complicated jacket. I could only be grateful for the jacket, because the rest was so tragic. The model earned her pay again this week, and is probably cursing her agent for landing her the Project Runway gig. I wouldn’t have been surprised or unhappy if Laurie had been given the auf this week. I respect the judges’ decision to save “bad and messy” over “boring and plain,” but almost thought Lindsey should have been rewarded for at least making a wearable garment.

Laur

Ashley’s purple swirly gown with a draped sweetheart bodice. Precisely what you’d expect to result from Ashley’s sense of being unanchored: a dress that has a lot of features, none of them resolved. Ashley was inspired by a scene in the play in which a character twirled in a “tornado of glitter,” and wanted to capture that movement and beauty. The judges deemed her effort sad, shocking, and a hot mess, but sent her to the green room, safe for another week.

Ashley

The safe designers

Swapnil’s glen plaid twist over a chiffon skirt. Swapnil was taken aback at not making the top three with this look, an attitude that struck me as a little arrogant and entitled. He made more of an effort this week, certainly, but that doesn’t automatically guarantee anyone the win. However, I happen to agree that was one of the more arresting garments on the runway, and felt Swapnil should have been in the top three, rather than Kelly. The idea of combining a menswear fabric with such a soft, feminine textile was interesting and, for the most part, successfully executed. I loved the big, twisted petals, or ears, or whatever they are, though the straight bodice hem seemed a little awkward. I’m not sure the styling was all it could have been, either. I’d have liked either a much closer-to-the-head hairstyle or a fuller Afro; and a jewel or two wouldn’t have gone amiss. Still, it was nice to see a proper gown rather than a harness or cage, and the silhouette displayed a pleasing drama.

Swapnil

Merline’s black lace gown with…something on the shoulders. Armor? I don’t know what those are, but I didn’t think they did anything for the dress. Merline’s lace fabric was exquisite, and the dress had a dark sophistication, but it was let down by those odd helmet-like excrescences. On the other hand, without them, the piece is completely standard, much the way Kelly’s is: nice fabric deployed very safely. So I guess Merline belonged in the “safe” group…and Kelly probably did, too.

merline

Did you notice that the judges never really asked or took into account how the finished looks were “inspired” by “Finding Neverland”? Was that fair? Did you agree with their selection this week? Do you have a favorite designer, and if so, what do you think his or her changes are of making it to fashion week?

Discuss

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  1. sews4fun | | #1

    Looks like Edmond and Candice for fashion week. Although this is not the first rodeo for Candice as far as showing at fashion week, she's been there before. I don't know, but I'm thinking Ashley will be the third and we all know they have kept 4 people before but Nina clearly has no use for Kelly's sense of style, I think Nina think's Kelly has a taste level problem. Kudos to Ashley for turning the plus sized industry on it's head, it's way past time. I was a plus size for years until I recently discovered the dash diet and now wear a smaller size. Why does the fashion industry think we fat girls don't want cute clothes too?

  2. Haldis | | #2

    Here are my thoughts on this episode:
    Candice definitely was the winner - her design and fabric choices were in balance and beautifully done.
    Kelly - liked her idea of vintage Hollywood, but the outfit feels like she found the beautiful coat fabric and stopped designing. She made the coat - very simple, with no push to really do something different with the fabric. The under dress design did not convey vintage Hollywood and would have worked better long.
    Edmond - liked his poof idea - think it was too dense. It needed to be ethereal.
    Lindsey - in general her design sense seems to be pretty quiet and so for her she was pushing the envelope. In general there seems to be a real disconnect between Lindsey's design sense and the judges expectations.
    Laurie - loved the lace (which had incredible possibilities) and the tweed could have worked with it. The design and execution was a complete failure and put the model in an embarrassing position.
    Ashley - struggled through out the show with the design and unfortunately it failed. At least she was pushing the envelope.
    Swapnil - liked the top piece although the bottom doesn't look finished. The skirt seems like it's a 'throw away'. As though he suddenly realized he needed a bottom. Plus the skirt color was boring. Overall his designs all seem to be the same - I don't see him pushing himself to explore something beside rigid formed tops and so-so bottoms.
    Merline - liked the shoulder idea but it wasn't integrated enough with the dress. Like Laurie she found gorgeous fabric, but didn't push the envelope with it.
    In general I would like to see a bit less drama and whining. Also, they need to be more selective in their styling. Quite often the styling doesn't the work with the design. In fact sometimes the styling creates discord with the garment.
    Just my thoughts.

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