By CJ Bomb
Welcome to Project Runway week 8! I know this week has been an emotional roller coaster ride for all of us. I hope that we can treat each other with respect and kindness whatever our differences of opinion and/or backgrounds. We are all connected. Sooooo I bought a good bottle of wine, some handmade baklava and I’m ready to do this! If you have had too much heavy in your life, I am HAPPY to be the frothy counterpart! And, as always, feel free to agree/disagree. Unlike some of our politicians, I can take it!
Cornelius is happy he survived last week and is still pissed he was thrown under the bus. Dax seems to think Cornelius was trying to throw him and Erin under the bus. Erin says she’s happy no one went home. Dex wants to know why the hell Cornelius is still there. Ugh, I don’t want this sort of drama in the workroom this week, it’s been hard enough breathing in and out.
Tim comes in with a rep from AARP. She says that the theme of the challenge is for those who are starting a new chapter in their lives. They are going to have very special clients. The doors open and in walks…..loved ones! Moms! Friends! Daughters! Everyone is hugging and crying. The designers are then told not ONLY do they have two days for this challenge, the winner AND the client are each to receive $25,000. WOW. Tim used the word “titillated” and I giggled like a little kid. Perhaps it was the baklava…or the vino. They are even allowed to go out to a nice lunch to collaborate and catch up.
Mah-Jing’s mom is a hip-hop artist starting her own label. MJ wants to design something for her that embodies her power. She likes the idea of Japanese origami; her second act unfolding, if you will. MJ makes a comment that he wishes that they were closer and he really wants to please her. I’m now starting to understand MJ a bit better.
Laurence’s daughter wants to open French boutiques in the US to spread effortless, Laurence-chic clothing to the masses.
Rik’s mom is going back to college. She put it on hold to raise her children as a single mom. Rik obviously adores her and I even want to reach into the screen to hug her.
Roberi’s best friend has come from Panama City where she is trying to get her graphic design business off the ground.
Cornelius’s mom is excited to travel. So is Natalia’s mom. Dexter’s cool best friend just wants to be cool. Erin’s Mormon mom wants something sexy/modest, which Erin says is a good name for a store in Utah. Is Erin wearing a Dexter shirt?
And then there is Jenni’s mom. Jenni’s mom is listing all the things she has coming up in her life, weddings, that school thing, etc… She then says, maybe a nice exercise outfit? (eek) I don’t know, do whatever you want! Mom. I love you. If you are reading this please skip over the next few sentences or forgive me. My mom would do the exact same thing. Instead of giving Jenni a direction she just wants her to do whatever she wants to do. This will not end well as “whatever you want sweetie, don’t worry about me!” is not going to help Jenni with anything specific to latch onto design-wise. So mom, if you ARE reading this, please just tell me what you want for Christmas instead of telling me you don’t need anything and to save my money. Because it’s annoying. And I’m going to get you something anyways. Love u!!
Tim’s Critique
Cornelius: Tim says he is still angry at the judges for their decision last week and he is very happy Cornelius is still there. Cornelius is designing a jacket and asymmetrical skirt for casual sportswear in which to travel. He has this rope patterned fabric that feels like Ralph Lauren gone wrong. Tim seems ok with it. I am confused as to why.
Mah-Jing: Mj’s mom, Bahamadie, is something of a sphinx. It’s a bit painful watching sweet MJ be so earnest with her. He obviously wants her approval. He is doing drop-crotch (chill people!!) denim pants and the origami inspired coat. Tim is worried as it is an ambitious amount of work. I just want MJ’s mom to validate how kind and awesome he is.
Jenni: Jenni’s lack of direction is showing in her work. Tim said her sweater with embellishments and pants that look like they were made for a different outfit are “confusing”. Jenni doesn’t care and says she is keeping it the way it is. Sigh.
Laurence: Laurence is doing a jacket with an elegant top and pencil skirt. Tim asks if Victoria can go out and buy that jacket anywhere. Laurence is like, oh Tim, you silly man, we do this dance every week. I will Laurence it. That is now something I say when I try to make something more exciting. Example: I’m going to Laurence the hell out of these potatoes. Duck fat and Gruyere, et voila! Laurenced!
Roberi: Roberi is doing an elegant dress out of several fabrics with a fitted top and an overlay on the skirt. He has put two very graphic patterns together and Tim is worried about him “over-designing”.
Nat: Nat is doing a massive black and white jacket with a wide leg pant. Her mom is this tiny thing, so this better fit perfectly. Tim tells her her fabric choices are so graphic, her jacket has to be superbly executed.
Erin: Erin has been complimenting herself as usual. She says her coat is inspired by a cocoon revealing a butterfly. I think it is gray blanket revealing a tablecloth. Tim pokes a hole in her confidence as she shows of a gray cocoon coat over a powder blue dress with a lace overlay. Tim looks over his glasses at her and says, “Errrrrrrrin…..how many times have we seen this coat?” Erin is confused. Her coats are AWESOME. Why wouldn’t the judges want to see another one? He also hates the overlay on the dress. He thinks it looks very “kids clothing”. Erin thinks it looks Mormon-chic and she is not changing a thing. Without even seeing the runway show I have already picked Erin and Jenni for the bottom for the cardinal sin of not listening to Tim. Erin says she feels it in her bones that this isn’t junior. Sigh.
Dexter: Dex is designing a sweater dress with boning he is going to embellish. Tim tells him and his BFF that they are the two coolest kids in the room and the dress doesn’t reflect that. He tells him to “Dexterize” it.
Rik: Riks mom, Delia is getting a degree in Organizational Management. Rik is designing her a elegant yet cool dress with a tweed jacket. I’m getting a very Moschino vibe. It’s elegant but cute, just like his mom. It’s got a heart with a cute white stitch….awwwww!
Even though the designers have had two days, they are behind. Nat’s fit has her worried and Cornelius’s mom tells him to “pull it together”. Erin is frantic. Only MJ and, of course, the unflappable Laurence seem calm.
The Runway
Heidi comes out in a hot pink suit. The guest judges are Olivia Culpo, former Miss USA (had to google her, am I old?) and Katia Beauchamp, founder of Birchbox.
Roberi: beautiful silhouette and the fabrics mesh well. Jenni: WTF. The pants, just no. Dexter: Ok, this came out super-cool. THIS is want I want to see from Dex. Rik: classy and cute. Erin: voluminous coat over ill-fitting tablecloth dress. Cornelius: Ill-fitting suit made of a print I hate. Did Tim waste save? Laurence: Daughter is cute, but looks nervous. Suit is ok, but not as Laurenced as I would like it to be. Mah-Jing: MJ’s mom walks and looks like a BOSS. He gave her EXACTLY what she wanted and it shows. Well done. Nathalia: I think this would be cool if it was fitted properly, but she is swallowed up by it. She should be wearing the suit Heidi has on.
My top 3: Dexter, MJ and Rik with MJ for the win. My bottom 3: Erin, Jenni and Cornelius. Jenni or Erin to go home.
Judges Picks
Top
Roberi: They love it. Miss USA compliments him on his fabric mixing ability. Heidi loves the details. Zak loves the textiles. Nina says it suits her beautifully. They all agree that this is a beautiful dress that would look lovely on many different women. (which is no easy feat).
Rik: Nina thinks the proportions are perfect and she looks lovely and dignified. Zak is impressed he made a tweed jacket look modern. Katia thinks it looks very classy and they all agree it looks expensive.
Mah-Jing: Nina says she looks like a BADASS. Heidi says it looked like “you”. Zak was impressed how she came out with such a force and they all want to know more about her. She says the clothes on the outside reflects how she feels on the inside and MJ is weeping with happiness. I adore Rik, but I don’t care, I want MJ for the win.
Bottom
Erin: The judges hated the dress. They said the coat was minimal and the dress did not match. It sent mixed messages. Olivia says it’s two stories that don’t go together. Erin’s mom says she loves it.
Jenni: Jenni’s mom did what my mom would have done and defended her till the bitter end. She insisted that she wanted this particular outfit. Heidi says it’s sloppy and juvenile. Zak tells Jenni’s mom that he feels as though she’s more powerful than this outfit. It does look like her mom went to the mall in mid-life crisis mode and asked for an outfit “like the kids are wearing!”
Nat: They liked idea but the outfit was sloppy and unfinished with pins in it. It was also WAY too big. Heidi says the jacket looks too hard and Olivia says the shape is wrong. Nat loses it to the point of Heidi asking if she is okay. Her mom says she loves the outfit and holds her daughter.
Rik is the winner! And Jenni is auf’ed! Wow, thought it would be Erin. Were YOU surprised?
I thought it would be fun to throw out a survey question each week! Who are some of your favorite CURRENT designers? Tell us in the comments. Mine are Rick Owens, Joseph Altuzarra, and Isabel Marant. I also love the houses of Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Alexander McQueen. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for the recap! This and the show itself were two rare high points in the last few days.
Jen was a brat, and that stank attitude leaked into her outfit, in my opinion. It seemed to me her mother was saying, I have all of these different clothing needs, so pick one category that would excite you as a designer and I’ll tell you more. But Jen heard it as “I won’t give you any feedback at all.”
Another great recap CJ! I’m disappointed in Erin. At one point I thought she might be the cream of the crop, but alas, she sucks. A design line I’m particularly fascinated with is Altuzarra. Most of it is out of my price range, but a girl can dream.
Great recap, I like that they designed for their own loved one instead of each others. My mom would totally Jenni me. Oh dear just make me something nice, but comfortable and kinda cool and young but not too young!
Erin, what a mess. That lace! Even if the coat and dress combo had not clashed in every way possible, I would have sent her home just for that tacky lace is choose.
Really like Rik and Roberti’s dresses, happy Rik won.
I live in FL and mostly wear shorts and flip flops so I don’t know much about current designers, but adore Christian Siriano and his work, especially the designs for all sizes including plus. He has done fabulous red carpet looks.
Thought Erin should have gone. I think they are hoping that she will rebound so the can squeeze her into the finally. But she’ll be gone if she makes another large wool coat. So overdone. For some reason I don’t mind Laurence’s constant use of leather. It is amazing.
Isabel Marant!
J’adore.
Excellent recap! Am enjoying your take every week.
On the outfits alone, Erin should’ve gone home. She’s gotten so awful, I had the fleeting thought that she was asked to dumb it down by the producers so she wouldn’t look like the hands-down-winner -take-all that she appeared to be in the first three challenges.
Poor Jenny. When I heard her mom giving her too many options, I knew it wasn’t going to go well for her. When her mom talked about the formal events she was participating in, I thought why not make her one outfit with separates that she could wear to all of them, to include a dress, jacket and pants.
Mah-Jing! Even if he didn’t win, I think he felt like a winner. And he was.
Rik’s outfit was so perfect, though. I am happy he won. Sounds like his moms is still paying his way (!) so am happy he could pay her back!
Oh, I dont know much about designers, but I do like the Italians, Emilio Pucci and Roberto Cavalli. Vibrant and gorgeous colors and fabrics with an easy and worldly allure.
Hated hated did I say hated Jenni’s. Pants print was fugly the fit was terrible the sweater was like old fashioned. I thought Rik’s was really pretty on his mom and well made. Fabric choice and the design he made nice. The dress itself though is not anything new I’ve seen it 1000 times. MJ was at least something different than is on the market. I think Lawrence was good again.
Recap on point as always. Jenni was the right person to go home, that outfit was the worst!
The pant color clashed with Moms skin tone, ugh and the sweater looked too small and itchy.
Nat’s was pretty bad as well.
Loved Rik’s and MJ’s. I didn’t think Roberi’ s fabric choices worked but what do I know, I
live on a horse ranch and my go to designer is Cahartt.
Helmut Lang.
I wish Erin was gone, but Jenni needed to go. Poor thing that her mother opened the door for her to go.
I literally had to pause the TV when MJ said who his mother is. Bahamadia!!!!! OMG she’s awesome, go ahead you tube her. I was totally pulling for him to win, but I’ve been pulling for him for a while.
Kollage!
I LOVED Rik’s outfit this week! I feel like it was perfect for this challenge in every way. Him and his Mom were so sweet, so glad they won!
Ugh, Erin needs to go. Like, right now. They had a clip of Nat saying that Erin has been in the bottom a ton lately and showed video proof of three horrid outfits that somehow did not send her home. She’s dodged elimination so many times now. Just cut her loose.
PS Roberi is absolutely adorable. Did you see him spin when he left the room? Twice? So cute.
I grew up going to underground clubs where Bahamadia was performing…I was excited to see her and even more excited that Mah Jing was her son..I thought Mah Jing should have won and Erin should have been sent home.
Favorite designer, I am loving all things Gucci right now.
Look, I like MJ just fine, but I do not understand why that look was in the top. I loved Rik’s look. I thought the heart under the jacket was adorable. I loved that it was age appropriate. Rik is becoming my new favorite.
This seems to be the season of outerwear. I like it, but it seems odd that so many people are doing outerwear when we don’t usually see a lot of it on this show. I AM SO OVER LAURENCE.
CJ Olivia was Miss USA quite recently, I watched that year. I may be huge now but I am a pageant girl at heart, Sort of so you are not old. Just not a pageant follower.
I loved CJ’s “grey blanket over a table cloth” description of Erin’s look. I didn’t like her winning looks and her losing ones are worse.
When it comes to fashion, I am a HUGE fan of House of TJ MAXX and Micheal Kors who makes great jeans for fatasses.
I thought that just for the sin of not finishing her clothes that Nathalie would be sent home. It felt like a travesty to me. At least Erin and Jenni’s clothes were finished. Jenni’s mom appeared totally ok with looking teeny bopper, but it was not age appropriate at all. And the cropped sweater over long tshirt looked wrong, proportion-wise. I really did not mind the pants at all. With a better fit on a younger woman and with Instagram-worthy styling, it could have looked nice.
Someone had said on one of these Project Runway threads that she thought the final 3 would be Roberi, Laurence, and Rik. I agree!
I love reading the recap and to be honest I usually fast forward most of th show to the runway . I am not high fashion at ALL! I am very small and find that pants at kohls I the jr dept fit well if I can find pair that is not low cut .
I hated Erin’s dress more than anything I have seen yet this season. Immediately I of Scarlett ohara grabbing the draperies but instead reaching for the lace tablecloth and making a dress overlay on top of a sky blue sheet. The coat was so dull it did totally look like a sofa throw. Horrid
I loved Rik’s it was perfect for an AARP challange ! I loved MJ’s too but most AARP women would I think relate more to Rik’s
I know I am old and can’t stand rap (to me no musicality, just speaking to a beat) but what the hell was that Mah jing made? She looked like leather wrapped around a barrel, high waist, purple socks. I also thought she was cold to him and rude to the judges. I felt sorry for Mah Jing having a mother so unenthusiastic about his passion.
Beautiful recap. Thank you! Didn’t realize you recapped PR. I liked what Rik, and MJ designed for their mom’s. Though MJ mom liked her design, she appeared distance mostly; saying…Umm, Umm. I wished she showed more of a loving connection towards MJ, esp. when he became emotional. IMHO: I felt Erin should have gone home her design was a mess. I have the feeling judges are hoping she gets back on track and be around for the finale.
Designers I like Alexander McQueen (RIP), Comme des Garcon, and quite a few local designers in Montreal, QC.
Have a wonderful weekend as well.
Are u a Denis Gagnon fan?
Yes, I am. Love all DG designs. 🙂
Moi aussi!
Wow…..why on earth is Erin still here? Even if she did not go home, she should have been final two in the bottom. I don’t have a problem with Jenni going home but Nat’s unfurnished clothes were terrible, plus she had massive fit issues. I just love Roberi, He is sweet, humble & talented! I did not like his dress at first, but when it walked the runway, I got it. He tailors clothes beautifully and has a real eye for the future of fashion. Rik’s dress was awesome glad he won. Laurence is wearing off me, she seems to be a one trick pony……but lets see. Erin was weathering Dexter’s shirt, interesting.
I love Dolce & Gabanna, Dior and for gowns Marchesa!! Also agree with loving Christian Siriano, his stuff is beautiful. As far as old time designers, when he was alive, there was no one more bad ass than Yves St. Laurent!
Erin is a one hit wonder.
Loved the recap! I was very happy that Rik won. His dress and jacket were so age appropriate and the proportions were perfect. He and his mother were wonderful together and best of all, they clearly could use the challenge money.
Roberi is a very interesting designer and I always look forward to what he comes up with. Erin’s lace dress was just ugly — I don’t understand why she’s still there.
I really felt for Mah Jing. Why was his mother so cold to him?? He seems like such a kind, sweet guy and those massive tears at judging really got to me.
Was glad to see MJ make something other than a shift dress. Loved his look. All of the bottom designers deserved to be there.
JustMySize
Loved the recap and the comment that Jen (? the one auffed?) was just being a brat. The separates idea for all the events/ideas Mom had was perfect! There was no excuse for that give-up, unfinished mess!
Mah Jing’s Mother Dearest came across as an ice cold bitch. 🙁
Jenny’s outfit looked like it was on backwards, and the patterns togeth were awful. I was hoping that Erin would get the boot, her look was horrible, but alas another pass from the judges. I have yet to be a fan of hers. CJ, yes Erin had on a Dexter shirt, this is second time she’s worn it.
I was scared MJ would go home, usually when they show so much emotion and get the “Family edit” they are sent packing, so glad he was in top for once.
Rim and his mom were lovely, so happy they won.
I thought MJ’s mother really rocked the runway in the outfit MR designed for her, but I think that if he’d designed it for anyone else the judges would have ripped him a new one. I thought it looked like he’d dressed her in giant Hefty trash bags, but then I’ve never been known for my fashion sense. She’s a fierce woman, but I thought she was kind of cold to her son. Love his tender heart. Jenni’s design was horrendous, as were Erin’s and Nat’s. I’d have been OK with any of the three going home. I liked the business outfit on Rik’s mom, it suited her, but thought Roberi’s filmy dress was beautiful and original. Love this show.