By CJ Bomb
Welcome to the Project Runway finale Part One! Now is the time when the remaining designers return home to complete a collection to be shown at New York Fashion Week. Heidi informs them they have six weeks and a budget of $9000 to design ten looks. Now I know last week I was pretty grumpy about the lack of challenges created to highlight the designers abilities with actual fashion design rather than their skills with a glue gun. This is an opportunity for them to do themselves, so to speak. Laurence is happy she has this freedom. Rik truly believes he deserves it, and Roberi is just doing a happy dance.
Now if you ever want to see how a fashion collection comes together I highly recommend watching the documentary Unzipped about Isaac Mizrahi putting together his Fall 1994 Collection. It shows the absolute chaos and terror that precedes something amazing coming to life. It NEVER fully comes together until the first model walks down that catwalk. Looks you started out loving don’t work and get scrapped. You finally put something out there and then it might get savage reviews. It is a bitch of a business and it takes a thick skin to survive. One has to be tough.
Tim flies into Los Angeles to visit Laurence and Rik. Laurence lives in a very cool loft (but of course) with her adorable son Marley and daughter Victoria. Laurence is the embodiment of tough. Her father disowned her at 16 when he discovered she was pregnant. She had to pretend he was dead to mentally survive. When he did pass away, she was numb and this has greatly affected her ever since. She cries while she tells this story to Tim and Leslie and I cry too. Leslie wants to hug her. The story of her collection is the story of her life. She says, “I always fall, but I don’t ever hit the floor.” The collection has no black (!) and the color palette goes from dark to lighter tones and finally whites. There is a very Marni/Chloe thing going on there. I always think of the designer Phoebe Philo when I look at Laurence’s work. A grown up cool girl is her client. She says she is always trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Tim is wowed. She says she has things to finish and Tim says he isn’t remotely concerned.
Tim heads over to a bowling alley to meet Rik. He is there with his adorable mom Delia and a cousin. Tim bowls like Fred Flintstone. I’m not kidding. He does the twinkle toes and then throws the ball and gets multiple strikes. “Whoever knew at my age, I could be a jock?” Tim wonders, which makes me think Tim hasn’t seen a lot of professional bowling. Delia says she knew when Rik was in high school he was destined to design. Leslie wants to hug his mom. His aunts were in the industry as garment workers and helped teach him techniques. They even helped him with the embroidered denim in his collection. The collection is inspired by Sergeant Pepper and the Sixties. He has made funky glasses for styling and I feel like they are a bit gimmicky. He has A LOT of textiles. The paisley print on denim is bringing me back to a pair of Guess jeans I had in the eighties. Tim is worried as he sees three different collections. Rik tells him that it will be cohesive with the styling. Tim tells him that’s not going to work and something needs to happen to make the garments come together. He tells him that mixing and matching is the best idea at this point. Rik is now officially freaking out because he doesn’t have enough time to rework everything.
Leslie texts me that Rik is majorly behind. I respond by opening a bottle of wine. Cohesive is the drinking word of the night. You will be drunk by the end of this program.
Tim leaves the west coast and heads to Boston where Erin is working. MASS ART, her alma mater, has graciously allowed her space to create her, uh, like, collection. As I am struggling with the corkscrew I receive a flurry of texts that read: Erin????? No Full looks???? Too many ideas!!!! ADHD!!! No yellow- thank Goodness!! I press play and catch up. I text back, BANANAS. She texts, It sure is! I write back, No! Actual bananas. And squirrels. Erin has put together the weirdest collection of textiles I have ever seen on this show. She also has not one garment to show Tim. Not one. Tim says she is breaking a lot of rules and he applauds this. He is a believer. He says it’s a fashion cacophony. I personally think it’s fashion schizophrenia and ask Leslie what color the sky is in Erin’s world. She texts back, YELLOW. Tim meets Erin’s friends and mom at a local restaurant. He asks if she has always been so last minute because she has almost driven him insane this season. We also meet her mentor. She is an elegant older woman who I assume works at MASS ART. Nope, she’s a dentist and Erin used to work for her when her biggest dream was to be a dental hygienist. Dr Porsche told her she was far too creative and to set her sights higher, which just goes to show us that mentors come in many different guises.
Back in New York City, Roberi is Face Timing with his parents and boyfriend in Caracas. He had to leave Venezuela and give everything up because there were no opportunities left for him there. His business was constantly robbed, so he had to close shop and spend a huge amount of time and money to get a working visa to come to the USA to follow his dreams. He tells Tim this with Lady Liberty in the background. It is quite inspiring. His collection represents his journey. I text Leslie that he is using positive inspiration from lots of challenging life experiences. She is worried the narrative is too much like Laurence’s. Tim is worried there are too many ideas. Roberi tells Tim that the collection is taking the viewer to many different places. Tim wonders if that is just an excuse as there is nothing holding the collection together. Roberi argues that he has made his own twist on classic shapes. Tim tells him that the shapes are still basic and that there is no innovation. Tim says the single most harsh thing I have ever heard on this show. “If that’s what you are about, you are a dressmaker, not a designer.” Ouch. Roberi deflates. Leslie and I are worried for Roberi.
Back in NYC
The designers return, and unlike seasons past, everyone is happy to see everyone. They all take the chance to check out each other’s work. Everyone is stunned Laurence has no black in her collection. Laurence is impressed by Roberi’s craftsmanship and details. Rik immediately heads to the workroom. Erin still needs to complete a couple of looks. Or actually MAKE a couple of looks. Leslie texts me that this generation doesn’t realize what it means to plan ahead. I write back that she just made us sound old. Tim walks in and I clutch my wineglass waiting for the hammer to fall. What is it now? Who is being eliminated? What crazy shit is about to go down????? They have to create a logo. That’s it. Oh thank you Lord. Laurence creates something modern. Rik creates something groovy. Erin does her name and Roberi does a typeface. That was a sane request. My heartbeat settles down.
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Rik thinks Laurence’s collection looks old. She thinks his looks too young. Erin loves that her sparkly paillettes sound like oyster shells when they move. Leslie and I now agree her world looks like a Dr. Seuss book. Everyone is choosing their looks and Tim is explaining that this is an “amuse bouche” for their complete collection. The feedback will help them determine what to edit for the final runway show. Roberi is putting his models in loafers and sneakers. WHY ROBERI??? Erin has created the world’s ugliest clutch. Rik has his glasses ready to go.
The Runway
Ok this is how sad this show has become. We have a virtual Heidi Klum on the runway BECAUSE SHE COULDN’T MAKE IT BACK FROM LA BECAUSE SHE HAD SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT TO DO. I’m about to throw my glass at the TV, but WAIT. A ray of sunshine walks out onto the runway in the form of Michael Kors! A symbol of when this show was better produced, better judged, and gave the designers the time and wherewithal to shine. I am temporarily placated.
Roberi: Leslie Look 1: Mondrian meets Candyland Me: I love the disconnect here. It works Look two: Leslie loves the casual with the sheen, it’s her personal go-to look so she’s biased. Me: I liked first look more. Look 3: Leslie: This is boring and not Roberi. Me: Casual is fine, but it has to be interesting. This is not interesting and it doesn’t have any connection to the first two looks.
Rik: Leslie: All three looks: So bad. No cohesion (drink) OmG! What happened to his judgement??? Me: This makes Erin’s collection look less wacky. I do like the leather dress.
Erin: Leslie Look 1: So over exposed shoulders. It’s Oscar de la Renta with oyster sounding paillettes and I don’t get it. Me: It’s her signature dress. Miu Miu vibe. Look 2: Leslie: This has no connection with look number one. Me: Pretty, flowy maxi dress that doesn’t seem like Erin at all. Look 3: Leslie: Coolest outfit she has sent down the runway, but again, no cohesion (drink) Me: I like the skirt, but not with that top. Needed something black and sleek.
Laurence: Look 1: Leslie: Love it, but worried the judges won’t. Me: Me too. Look 2: Leslie: WTF? That top doesn’t work and those pants fit horribly. Me: This isn’t Laurence. Look 3: Leslie: Love the top, but again, NO COHESION (drink) Me: That top is awesome. This is what I want to see from Laurence.
The Judgement
Rik: Zak tells Rik he needs to up the octane. Huh? Heidi says she sees no cohesion. Michael says he has a good hand with leather and he likes the glasses. They are “freaky but great”, but he needs to chop the romper and ditch the model’s makeup as “She looked like she stopped in Nashville for that eyeshadow.” Oh Michael, I’ve missed you soooo much. Michael doesn’t know where to direct his focus. Nina also says there are too many messages and less is more. She hates the glasses and thinks the little purse is too junior.
Erin: Michael loves the neoprene paillette dress. He hates the clutch. Nina thinks the flowy dress is out of left field and it doesn’t belong. Zak hates the black and white top and thinks it’s wonky. Heidi thinks the skirt has a weird unflattering length. Nina tells her to play to her strengths. Nina, let’s all just be grateful Erin had three actual looks to show you.
Laurence: Heidi says it lacks cohesion. Michael thinks the pearl top is fabulous, but that the romper reminds him of the biergarten and it doesn’t work with the other looks. He tells her to pick a lane and then muses that might be a good name for his new perfume. Nina says that the tight pants of the second look cheapen the jacket. Heidi and Zak think that the romper is actually the freshest thing on the runway. Laurence assures them she will tie everything together.
Roberi: Zak says it isn’t polished. Heidi wants to know where the “sexiness” is and Roberi cringes. She hates the styling. Nina is confused. Nina says she gets his need to tone things down as she is also from that hemisphere and understands what he wants to avoid, however he needs to make it lux, polished and beautiful. Michael says he needs to “juice it” instead of sexing it. He does see something impeccable happening though.
Heidi tells the designers that they all have the same problem. COHESION. I understand that they want to show everything that they are capable of, but it makes for a disjointed collection. Saint Michael tells them that when he does a show he has only eleven minutes to tell everyone what’s important. Afterwards the designers are completely shell-shocked. Erin says that there is no time to fix everything. Maybe you shouldn’t have spent six weeks making art projects? Even Laurence looks a bit dejected.
I have had the great honor of going to a Michael Kors show a few years back. There were 40 plus looks and each one stood on it’s own and each one worked within the collection as a whole. I got the chance to meet him afterwards and he was kind and patient when I nerded out and asked for a picture. My friend took the pic and he asked, “Do we look cute?” He has forever had a special place in my heart after that moment. Do you have a fashion nerd moment? Please share! Do you agree with the judges? We love reading your comments!
And BTW, I did watch the PR Junior teaser. I am now hooked. Even though it was a bit disturbing to hear a teenage boy talk about bondage fashion. I have already picked out the Erin as well. Leslie and I will sitting on the couch together, ready to go next week!
Fashion nerd moment keeping my empty Betsey Johnson Kleenex box. Two months and counting.
I’ve never been less inspired with the Fashion Week collections than I am this year. What were they all thinking? Laurence made a huge mistake stepping away from the beautiful craftsmanship and designs we’re used to from her – I thought the Beer Garden look was actually OK, but that beautiful jacket paired with the white pants was a completely lost opportunity, especially with the model’s stomach showing. The white top and pants left me thoroughly uninspired. Step it up, Laurence!! I expected so much more from you. Rik’s paisley on denim look was so unflattering and badly designed – for me it was a WTF moment, as in WTF kind of woman would want to look that unattractive. I quite liked his other two choices, especially the spacesuit look with the sun glasses, but do agree there is a huge problem with cohesion. Erin’s picks were OK, but I didn’t like the woven black and white top with that beautiful skirt – nothing really bad about the top, but it didn’t go with the bottom. I like the print she designed for the long dress, but it looked like something you could pick up at a million different places in the summer – nothing original about the silhouette. The other dress was much better. Roberi’s choice of that shimmery fabric, paired with the contrasting tops and sneakers was unfortunate, but maybe I’m just not fashion forward enough for his designs. The photo of the pants makes it look like the model had a colostomy bag tucked down the front of them – would have been very cohesive with the dress Cornelius made with the huge tube coming out of the model’s stomach. So disappointed, but I’m hoping we were shown the crappy looks and the final runway collections will be up to the standards of other seasons.
I don’t think I have ever been so disappointed. Was so looking forward to this runway show. What in the hell happened? The long dress from Erin makes the model look extremely bottom heavy. Which is weird because it’s lose fitting. The black sleeves are just ugly on the fitst look. Frankly, I don’t care for the little dress very much. I guess it’s ok. Just not runway worthy IMO. And Laurence. I would have never guessed those were her designs. I usually love her clothes. Maybe her overall show will impress more. And the guys? These are clothes I would not expect to see in a fashion show. Maybe next week we will be pleasantly surprised. We can only hope.
I’m just confused. I don’t understand why what I saw during the competition isn’t what I saw in their collection. Roberi made such beautiful dresses and yet they were nowhere to be seen. Laurence did fantastic leather work and there was none. Erin did do her emblishmemt thing so that was represented and Riks fantastic tailoring was there sort of but overall it really sucked and I want to see a damn gown
Granted, I may be the most unfashionable person on the planet, but what a big bunch of nothing. So disappointed! The season was meh…no ball gown competition, no wedding dress, resort wear.
I have loved Laurence’s aesthetic and applaud her using color, no leather or shoulder emphasis. However, the romper was boring. All I could think was how awful the linen would look in 10 minutes. The green pants looked like clearance items. Loved the white outfit. I liked Rik’s leather dress, but much of the others looked like Target clothes. Hated everything about Roberto’s collection. I can’t imagine anyone saying I want this, NOW! Both Rik and roberti have had well designed, sophisticated clothes during the season. What happened?
Although I have tired of Erin’s ornaments, the neoprene dress was cute.
I have watched every season and this one just had very few highpoints. PS Heidi phoning it in was lame. Should have proceeded without her. My other gripe was the celebrity guests who brought little to the table.
I agree Jane, I am disappointed that none to have a wow gown as a show piece. The outfits seem very underwhelming.
I think we are always supposed to hate these fashions. Then comes the miraculous last minute looks and changes that bring everything together! Oh and you no next week there will be the surprise 11th look.
Roberi has been a mystery to me all season. Some weeks I love his looks and the next week they are awful. But it seems like we are all viewing his looks from the “dark and interesting Argentinian designer” so when we don’t like something we blame ourselves, especially when the judges are fawning.
We got whackadoodle Erin again. Will she turn in to pretty decent work Erin in time?
I think Rik finally got to make the collection he wanted. I would like for him to win because he did HIM. Hi leatherwork is great. Does it have a broad market? Nope. But I think his collection is cohesive. I can see the same girl or boy in all of his looks. The fact that they don’t fit into a nice little box is exactly what his girl likes about his line.
We sure do hear alot of Laurence’s backstory. She sure does cry a lot for such a strong independent woman. I hate that they feel the need to show the weaknesses in the female designers to me it sort of taints their win. But I’d be happy for a Laurence win. She’s been very consistent from week to week. Has she ever been in the bottom? Have the boys?
Rik and Roberi have. Erin certainly has, she’s feast or famine. I don’t think Laurence talks about her background very often. I’m sure the fucktards, cough, producers pushed that. I’m hoping next week will be revelatory. I always hope.
Agreed. Normally the collections look totally bloody different after this!
Apart from Chiquita Crybaby.
Laurence never mentioned her mother…which made me cry more 🙁 Erin wacko..I think or a genius?
Erin’s affected vocal fry is like nails on a chalkboard. I was watching the episode first thing in the morning. I don’t do first thing in the morning so I was dozing off and on and I would suddenly jar awake when she spoke. It didn’t seem to bother me as much at the beginning of the season. I guess she just has more air time talking now. Why does anyone think that speech pattern is cute?
It seems to be a popular affectation among art school girl types now. Talk from the back of the throat and draw out your words, be sure to never open you mouth all the way, even when laughing and just a hint of valley girl but more nasal. Erin bugs the shit outa me. Her stuff is very craft project. And nothing is added in a particularly artistic way.
It seems to be a popular affectation among art school girl types now. Talk from the back of the throat and draw out your words, be sure to never open you mouth all the way, even when laughing and just a hint of valley girl but more nasal. Erin bugs the shit outa me. Her stuff is very craft project. And nothing is added in a particularly artistic way.
Thank you for a fun recap. The looks are not what I was expecting from any of the designers. Especially Laurence. Liked the beaded top, the fitted jacket was gorgeous, maybe over a high-waisted, flowy pant? Thought the romper was cute, but cohesion. Liked Rik’s leather dress. Erin’s middle dress, ill fitting and looks like a nightgown? Expected more from Roberi, and thought the paper bag pant top was over, but maybe it’s in again.
Underwelmed by everyone. Yuck. I wish they could all start over because I believe these 4 can do so much better. Especially Laurence. Wtf happened to her taste level with that tacky second outfit? In my eyes she’s been too good for this show and its weird ass challenges until now.
Michael Kors?! Please come back for good!! No offence to Zac Posen, but the combination of Heidi, Nina, and Michael created excellent tv and witty banter.
Does anyone know why he left? Too busy, or could they no longer afford him?? Would love to know. Maybe he just knew to leave while the show was still in its prime.
The fashions were ho hum, not one designer had a runway collection deserving to be shown.
Where was the one piece that finishes the line which is always outstanding?
I missed several episodes but what happened?
I don’t see designer clothing.
Loved seeing Michael Kors back this week! Miss him on the show.
I’m rooting for a Roberi win. When he nails it, he NAILS it!
Me too!
Scratch most of the ten looks from everyone and start over. I had such high hopes for 3 of them. There can’t be an 11th look because Erin wouldn’t have enough time to complete another craft project. She had six weeks and schizophrenia didn’t help her produce much for Tim to see.
I’m sorry I can’t bring myself to like anything Erin…in fact I convinced myself that Tim was blowing a cacophony of smoke up her …
Everything was flat even the comments about who they think their biggest competition. I want my favorites to get it together and deliver something phenomenal but I’m afraid this is over.
Michael Kors: he and Nina are the kind of judges these guys need.
Robert, please listen to the judges. I want to see you break out as a designer.
OK to get something positive from this episode, tears can make you creative, Michael Kors, and Rik’s mom.
It was completely worth watching this entire season just to see Michael Kors again and hear him mention someone’s design as looking like poopy pants again.
I missed his giggle.
But… did I fall asleep, or did they NOT bring them down to inspect the craftsmanship of the garments?
I miss MK, but I LOVE Zak Posen for adding the inspection of how well it is made to PR. They need to to it on All Stars and PR Jr. It was a dream to see MK and ZP inspect the outfits up close together.
I hope this season’s batch of PR Jr youngsters are as delightful as last season’s, as that season could have taught some major lessons to the alleged adults on all the PR seasons in how one should really be behaving in life.
Gone are the days of Christian Siriano or Dmitry Sholokhov. These collections are not fashion forward. Very disappointed with all of them.
Ah how I love Dmitry…
CJ …I’m doing my happy dance just knowing that you and the lovely Leslie will be back. Your recaps trigger the fashion imaginations in my head possible. I fix almost every piece that goes down the runway.
TT…I agree with you, Rik’s collection was all about him which makes him the winner in my head. Just wish he would leave the Hip Hop influence behind and just stick to optical affect for the leather pieces. Too many influences.
As for the rest of the designers, I just don’t see them working on their own. Love the Dr. Seuss description for Erin. Tim had it right about Roberri … dressmaker and Laurence a very talented leather jacket maker. She never gets the bottoms right on her looks.
My fashion nerd moment, i learned that when in New York one should always dress the part. Because I grew up in the Midwest and designers just don’t have the same influence on Fashion as they do to NewYorkers. When you grow up in the fashion industry you hate the way tourist dress. So my one tour guide buddy told me about her dream to hire a tank and drive down the streets of New York and with a loud speaker she would critic everyone on the sidewalks on just how inappropriately their looks were.
Can’t get that image of the tank out of my head Especally when I realized she was really talking about me.
This season I started watching when there were only a number of people who I could remember. Like top chef, I have trouble keeping up with all the different people. (Guess old age, or lack of concentration 🙂
I think production could stay out of all the extra, there is no other show competing with it. That’s what can ruin it.
I love Michael Kors’ snark, but between his all black clothing and Tim Gunn’s fabulousness, Tim for the win. It was nice to see Kors again. He and Nina have the best comments.
Wow Laurence really did a 180 with her collection. Sadly Erin has the potential to win it all
I have never really seen why there is the Erin love. Yes, she’s different and makes her own textiles by sewing on stuff. It’s been obvious she’s the judges’ favorite, because there has been some hideous clothing. I’m sure they’ve seen everything by this time so laying a piece of cloth on the floor of a club would be “interesting.”
I look forwardi to your blog every week. It makes me laugh. I record Project Runway and sometimes I play it for my 5 year granddaughter skipping through the contestants’ arguing. However, we have lots of fun reenacting the runway show. She chooses clothes from my closet and walks down the “runway”. I am Heidi and choose the winner.
She loves it and I get to play Heidi
That is so sweet!!!
You probably would be really safe with the Project Runway Junior. I don’t recall them arguing AT ALL. When they disagreed on something, they talked it out. Kids are used to working in groups.
I love it! My son and daughter in-law just were blessed with a daughter 2 months ago. Obviously I’m madly in love with her. If PR is still airing in 4 to 5 years I will play the same game with her. If not, I’ll improvise.
What an entertaining recap! I enjoyed both of your comments more than the episode itself. Although Michael Kors’ Nashville eyeshadow snipe was everything …
All in all, I was disappointed in most looks, especially knowing they had more time to work on them. This season was so-so and I’m hoping for a surprise final runway.
I like Lawrence’s collection the best of the group but was also confused by her choice to not do any of the beautiful leather work at all.i have a soft spot for Roberi for his struggle. I tend to agree with Tim though his collection and a lot during the season looked like clothes I have seen a thousand times with a cool spin in his fabric choices.
First of all, I agree with everyone above: What a disappointment! SO incohesive!
Lawrence: it made me so uncomfortable that they felt the need to make her tell her sad story and cry on camera. Borderline emotional manipulation for sure, and so unnecessary. She clearly doesn’t like to talk about herself, so let her save the tears for therapy rather than making her drag out her emotional baggage on television for the whole world to consume as entertainment.
For the designs: I like that Lawrence pushed herself, it was really the only criticism she received all season: that she stays in her box too much. However…NO leather?!! I think that was a mistake. I can get behind the no black, although she’s used that army green quite a lot too…The linen jumper was just so flat, I think mixing textiles would have made this collection more interesting…mix some leather in with that linen and now we’re talking. the second look….that jacket. I want to like it, the tailoring is perfect..but its just so 90s. It’s actually pretty awful. Why Lawrence, wwhhhhyyyyy…I can’t believe that Tim saw it and thought it was fine. Her last look was great. I love the pearl detail; it’s a unique take on the shoulder action that we all love. And the open back, with that model’s skintone, was definitely the WOW moment in the whole show for me. The pants…I don’t remember then at all, and that’s not a good sign. Would it be better with a skirt and more pearl detailing?
Erin: I will always love her. I love the sparkly cut outs…she could do a whole collection of it and I wouldn’t complain. I’d love to see a whole skirt covered in them, like a mermaid effect…Maybe it’s too contrived and not very “new” but I think that if she doesn’t create a scale effect it will be a mixed opportunity. The other two looks…meh. Hopefully she’ll pull it together. I didn’t hate the black and white top as much as everyone else did. Zac was right, the neck issues need to be resolved, but overall Erin plays well with volume and I thought it was fine…Would like to see a different rise on that skirt though..either super low and slouchy with a lot of stomach showing, or extra high with little to no skin. The colour was great.
Rik: I didn’t hate the denim; he was right, it needed to fit better, but I don’t know if it needs to be shortened…isn’t that sort of obvious and been there…”It’s not working…better make it shorter! If he wants to add skin I’d like to see something more interesting, like some cutouts in the back. The collar was interesting. If he fixes the fit and kicks it up with the rest of the collection, it’ll probably be fine.
Roberi: Maybe I’m just obsessed with exposed backs, but I was praying that that black and white affair would be backless….nope. No fashion there, as far as I’m concerned, and what a shame.
I just hope and pray that there’s no 11th look twist…just let them go to Mood, resolve their issues, and send out a collection they can be proud of! If they MUST add a twist, let the new look replace one of the originals…I’m sure they all have something that needs to be scrapped, so that would actually push them in a good way, instead of just creating a workroom mass panic attack. A girl can dream.