By CJ Bomb
Hello everyone and welcome to THE FINALE of Project Runway. Leslie and I have our pens and vino ready to go. My husband has vacated the premises and gone over to Leslie’s house to watch football with her husband. I can’t imagine why he doesn’t want to watch with us. He tells me I’m too emotionally vested in this show. I tell him he’s an idiot, even though there might be a bit of truth to that statement. Let’s get started!
So we pick up where we left off with the designers looking shell-shocked as it sinks in they have a day and a half to fix everything that is wrong with their collections. Tim comes in and tells them they have an opportunity to go to Mood one last time and a budget of $500. Everyone jumps at the chance to grab extra materials.
The Workroom
Laurence is putting her linen outfits to the side which Leslie thinks is smart. She decides to put a flowy shirt underneath the fitted jacket and begins adding elements to her garments to make them more chic. Erin is using the embroidery machine to make more banana fabric. Leslie says that her banana fixation is beyond bananas. Rik is doing another mini dress in patent leather, similar to the leather dress the judges liked. He is also shortening and cutting all of his paisley denim to show off some more skin. He is sad cutting the fabric his mom and aunts helped him make, but it needed to be done. Roberi is creating the effect of the first dress he showed the judges last week on the rest of his garments. The normcore top and flowy shimmery skirt create and interesting juxtaposition that works and is unique.
Tim’s Critique
Rik tells Tim he realizes he was trying to show everything and “Do it all.” He is mixing and matching his pieces and editing the more clunky garments. Tim thinks this is very wise and can now see one collection rather than three. I’m getting a Moschino vibe here. Leslie is reminded of the Fendi “monster” bags.
Laurence is discarding her teenage self. She has taken the potato sack dress and Laurenced it, adding pockets and leather elements. It does look much better. Tim is happy with her edits and the fact that we won’t see the model’s belly button. I ask Leslie what designer comes to mind when she looks at Laurence’s work. She says Roland Mouret, which is a very nice compliment. Roland does like a strong shoulder. I am worried that there isn’t enough of the strong point of view we have seen from Laurence all season.
Oh Erin. Tim is worried that she is crossing the high fashion border into crafty-town. It does look like she bought out Hobby Lobby. There is stuff ALL OVER her garments. I ask Leslie what she thinks and she echoes Rik’s assessment, if you take all the crap off the clothing, the garments are pretty basic shapes. I ask her who Erin’s work reminds her of, she says Kate Spade with crap all over it. I’m laughing and she asks if that is too mean. I tell her who cares. She says she just doesn’t identify with Erin’s work. I get a Betsey Johnson Jr. thing with Erin. Or Sesame Street. We have figured out her vibe. Harajuku girl meets Valley girl meets muppet.
Roberi tells Tim his theme is “Confusion.”. Tim tells him that’s not a good theme and that confusion needs to come together and become coherent. He is losing the tennis shoes and loafers and putting all his models in high heels. He’s also softened his grunge look by putting the model’s hair up. We are feeling better and better about Roberi. Leslie gets a McQueen vibe from Roberi. The softer more elegant side of Mcqueen, that is.
We get short retrospectives of each designer this season. Rik thinks he has come a long way and when we are shown the butt cheek outfit, Les and I agree. Roberi says it’s all about overcoming your limitations and getting better. Laurence is happy she made it to her goal of fashion week. Erin. Oh Erin. Leslie points out that Erin has come full circle from being overconfident, to being on the bottom, back to being overconfident. I knew I was, like awesome, and then I didn’t think I was so awesome, but now I’m like, sure I’m really, really awesome. Leslie keeps muttering, Millennials……….
Tim comes in to give everyone one last pep talk. He tells them they are great designers and wonderful people and that will take them far. Leslie and I adore Tim and want him to give us pep talks. We will happily pay for this service
Day of Runway
The designers wake up at 3:30. Erin is wearing a fruit dress. Leslie just puts her head in her hands and says it’s too much for her. Laurence is wearing a royal blue suit that is everything. Why isn’t this going down the runway? Rik looks very dapper and Roberi looks like it’s Tuesday. Everyone is dealing with last minute hiccups. One of Roberi’s models cancels, but Tim tells him they have “Hildy” for him. He takes a look at her photo and slowly says “Hilllldddy” when what he’s really saying is “fuuuuccckkkk.” One of Laurence’s skirts rips and she is frantically fixing it with 30 seconds to go. Only Rik is sauntering around smugly proclaiming how great his time management skills are. Dude, the last time you did that, you were in the bottom. FORESHADOWING. Leslie wonders if Roberi is getting the “everything is going wrong” edit because he’s going to win? I yell at her not to jinx Roberi.
The Runway
What the hell is Heidi Klum wearing? Is that a tribute to Bowie? Or one of the Atlanta Housewives? Leslie thinks she looks like the tin man. I think she looks like a superhero. SUPERHO! I’m not sure that dress is supposed to be a dress. It is SHORT. Zendaya is the guest judge. Great. Leslie asks, isn’t she on the Disney channel? Gosh we are old. She’s very pretty. And very, very, young. We thought it was going to be J-Lo.
Rik comes out and tells the audience his theme is Bandits. Um, ok. We love the patent leather dress. The rest of the collection looks cohesive, well made and sort of cool, but I’m getting a more eighties vibe than the sixties. We lived through the eighties. Paisley denim was a thing. Not necessarily a good thing. Leslie is confused by the bathing suits.
Laurence’s theme is Finding the Light in the Darkness. It is beautiful, elegant and chic. Love the stitching on the jackets. The potato sack is awesome. The crowd freaks, Leslie and I freak. Leslie got chills, I got more wine. We love it, but again I am worried it’s not edgy enough for the judges.
Next up is Roberi. Still not quite sure what his theme is but love the clothes. Leslie and I agree that he has completely made it work. Ethereal and grounded at the same time.
Erin’s theme is like, PROJECT FUNWAY! Get it? The first look comes out and Leslie mutters, oh God, just no…….. She asks me if I find it costumey. I tell her I can’t talk right now. She then asks if that is a hand holding a banana, I tell her I still can’t talk because I am terrified this is going to win. After her show, Leslie says, “Do you know what the disturbing thing is?” I ask if there if there is only one thing. She says she thinks the banana reaching for the hand is making her think of some bizarro version of the Sistine chapel. What started off as whimsical has become too gimmicky for me.
Different people comment of who they think should win. The cute project runway super fan thinks Erin should win. Leslie screams at the TV, BECAUSE YOU ARE 12 YEARS OLD!!
Leslie and I both pick Roberi for the win and Laurence for runner up.
Judgement
Up first is Rik. Heidi says it all come together. Zendaya thought it was super cool. Leslie rolls her eyes. Nina offers congratulations and says she loved the patent leather dress. She was skeptical about the denim but it worked. Zak says he needs more “rodeo princess” bling on the denim.
Heidi says she saw a lot of exciting things in Roberi’s show. Nina was amazed by his turnaround. She said it was beautiful and he made the fabric speak. Zak says it was feminine but cerebral and bravo. Zendaya loved the heaviness vs lightness. They all loved the dress with the bell sleeves. They loved the sentiment and thought it looked like a daydream. There is his theme.
Then things go bananas. Zak says Erin’s collection is pop glam, meets art school. It would be at home in Colette in Paris. I disagree with this. Collette is too cool a store for this. Les thinks he’s been hanging out in Brooks Brothers too long. Zendaya had so much fun watching it. Heidi loves the color combos and it makes her think. Nina thinks it had a sense of humor and style. It’s kooky yet chic.
Zak thought said Laurence’s collection was beautiful, wearable, chic and tough. He thinks it’s the most wearable, but had the least amount of impact on the runway. Uh-oh. Heidi thought it needed more wow moments. Uh-oh. Nina says, your DNA is in this cool tailoring, we just wished we had seen more of it. I put my head in my hands and Les asks me if I’m grieving. I am.
Heidi asks each person why they should win. Laurence says she gave them a piece of her and she left her heart and soul on the runway. Rik says he stuck to his aesthetic and showed so much variety in his range. Roberi said that this is the way he communicates and he does it with love. Erin says, Like, I’ve come so far. I think, like, winning Project Runway, would be like, so amazing. Leslie mutters, Millennials…………
Rik and Laurence are auf’ed. Their families are sad. Leslie and I are sad. Roberi and Erin and standing there. Leslie and I are holding hands and praying, noterinnoterinnoterin.
Erin wins. I scream. Both my kids come in thinking the house is burning down. Leslie turns to me and says she has completely lost her faith in this show. I keep chanting, I don’t understand, I don’t understand like it will help reverse time and put the PR universe in order. My friend Melissa texts me, WTF???? Erin says, This is insane! Leslie says, it certainly is. Erin goes on, I am like, so honored. It means, like sooooo much.
Do you agree with the judges? Leslie and I demand a recount.
Happy Holidays everyone! I will be watching PRoject Runway Junior tomorrow and recapping as I am scrambling to finish everything at home. (I’m really recuperating from this) Xo.
The judges got this completely wrong! Roberi was robbed. I keep wondering why Erin is the judges favorite. She did not deserve to win.
Erin’s collection was the least coherent. It was all over the place. And who wants to wear a tent or something that looks like you would dress a toddler in. Bananas?
Two weeks ago I wrote a comment about the level of talent. I sure did eat my words last night. Sorry guys! I was super impressed by the talent shown at the runway last night. Three of the designers are incredibly talented and hard-working designers, as shown in their collections.
The collections that blew me away were Rik’s and Roberi’s. I never really liked Riks clothes during the season but I thought his collection was professional and fun. And Roberi’s collection was tailored and unique, 100% deserved to win.
I’m with the judges, I was not impressed by Laurence’s runway show. Bummer.
Erin’s collection was complete garbage and they handed her the win. Really counting on prince charming from Caracas to pull out a win but PR being frickin rigged had to give it to the person they pegged as a winner from day 1. None of the judges even really liked or understood her garbage heap/runway show but they thought it was “relevant” so they let her win. The judges should just trust their own instincts and not try to view her clothes like they think “millenials” would. I’m a millenial and I can say her junk was awful.
Not to mention they eliminated Rik simply because they didn’t like him during the season. If he didn’t have a chance at winning, why not make it a three person fashion week? Huh? Dont drag along someone who has no chance and disappoint fans who loved his collection.
Rik’s collection was inspired by Bandits. Musta been inspired by the PR producers because Roberi was robbed.
Dear God! Who is going to wear Erin’s stuff? Confused people or little kids? Or older people who want to relive their childhood in the Banana Republic? What the heck is this dreck? This show has become such a joke. And what the heck was Heidi wearing? Those boots? Hollywood and Vine baby….
First time posting; I read the rules and am glad there is a place to vent my rage. I hate this show now. I didn’t think anything could be worse than Ashley Nell Tipton’s mother-of-the-bride collection from last year, but I stand corrected.
Not only was Erin’s collection a Teletubby nightmare, she might be the most annoying person on the face of the earth with her squealing, her vocal fry and her stupid glitter eyeshadow. The worst thing about this win is that it validates her grossly overinflated ego. Hate her, the judges and this show that is a shadow of what it once was.
You said it so well, from Ashley’s awful clothes to the vocal fry arrogance.
Worst ending to PR ever! Past seasons they would have raked her over the coals for the gimmicks. I miss Michael Kors.
I will now delete without watching. Hated this season. Thanks for an amazing recap!
CJ, thanks for the great recaps!
Laurence was disappointing. I agree with the judges…no wow, she is better than that, etc.. With that being said, she was still head and shoulders above the crafty crap that Erin did.Robert had my favorite collection.
Who could predict that Project Runway could ever reach such a low?
Erin sucks. Roberi was robbed!
Roberi was robbed!
I weep for the days of Laura Bennett and Christian Seriano. Now we get this mess. Bravo, magical elves, make friends with Erika Jayne, get invited to her house and BEG her husband to help you get this show back!
Ditto that on Laura Bennett!
Erin is the andy warhol of fashion. And thats not a compliment.
That’s all I kept thinking, she is a derivative of Warhol and he woild mock her for being a copy!
Laurence needed her strong shoulders to be present.
Roberi was robbed all season and the judges did it again.
We need Michael Kors to call Erin out for being “Becky Home-ec-ky”. Zac is a waste.
Heidi looked like a fembot from Austin Powers.
CJ your recaps have been everything, thank you!
Omg I was saying she looks like an Andy Worhol wannabe right down to the hair color and glasses. She’s so pretentious.
I wish y’all would stop defiling Andy Warhol. I mean it’s pretty hard to that, and yet, in this case you have.
I have no problems with Warhol, I do have a problem with the judges not bothering to call Erin out for copying his use of the banana.
A sole overripe banana and an banana in brown hand printed on textiles she purchased at mood are in no way related. I didn’t even make the connection until this comment.
He crap was in no way similar to Warhol. You might have just as well suggested Carmen Miranda.
I don’t think I know what the judges are looking for. Don’t the clothes have to be wearable? How do you sit down in some of Erin’s clothes.. I, too, think Erin was the favorite from the very beginning, regardless of the style or talent shown by other designers. I would like to have Michael Kors back. Not an exciting show any more.
The judges were blind. Erin’s designs were not fashion. They were a craft project. The person in the audience with the pink hair will be an enthusiastic buyer. Since one day you are in and the next you are out, I am hoping next season gets better.
Well, on a positive note, I thought the changes the designers made improved the collections. I claim I am unfashionable because my wardrobe is dressy casual or dog park clothes. Apparently I am on point. Who knew?
I liked a couple of pieces from each designer, but was disappointed. Especially disappointed with Laurence. She had such exquisite detailing all season. What happened?
I hope Erin like uses her like winnings to like get a speech coach and like expand her vocabulary and like lose the like verbal tic.
Heidi has often had weird taste, but the gold boots were strictly Vegas by Frederick’s.
So, that’s it. I give the season a C.
Please explain “dog park clothes” as someone who is currently living in filthy pajamas or filthy sweat pants, I aspire to something greater. How do I achieve “dog park clothes” as these are items that you can actually leave the house in. TIA.
Dog park clothes are a step above PJs, although I have seen those at the park. DPC can be worn to the gas station and maybe the grocery store. Anywhere else yields side eye. DPC are dark because, duh, dogs will jump on you, with logo t-shirts. Not designer logos, more like “I 💗 Dachshunds.”. Round out the outfit with faded hoodie and run down Birkenstocks. Voila! DPC!
Oh yes, faded Piggly wiggly t shirts are perfect DPC.
You lost me with logo shirts and birkenstocks.
But had me again with faded piggy wiggly shirts.
I have been on a fairly fruitless quest for decent plain cotton tshirts in neutral colors for a long while now. Once you reach wonder whale size, it seems you must be clothed in bright colors with tons of bedazzlements.
I feel your pain. Try jjill online sales. My favorite for nonDPC. Simple styles.
Oh and Erin’s vocal fry is completely put on. She seems to think it makes her sound..cool or something.
I LOST MY MIND on Twitter over this while watching. WHOSE BANANA did Erin suck?
Actually, I don’t hate the banana outfits as much as I did the ones with shit glued all over them. It was clear super early on that the judges were all about the bullshit glued on crap. Remember the episode where they shunned another designer for appliquing something? WTF did they expect? They praised her for every little stuck up crappy outfit. If I was a designer, I would have glued on new shit too.
Laurence’s final show was a bit disappointing. But I noticed that all of them miraculously had really nice garment to walk after the previous episode where they all showed shit. #Editing. No one really thought that she would not show leather. I LOVED her in the blue suit. Like in a Meridith Baxter Birney way.
For me it came down to Roberi or Rik and I would have loved to see either win. But I would have chosen Rik.
I was so angry with so much to say last night. It’s literally taken me this long to calm down enought to comment.
I have no idea how I got so lucky to have CJ BOMB!!!! write these recaps. But she was simply fantastic all season. I am thrilled she is going to recap PR JR for us. I feel like I am there with her and Leslie on the couch every night.
When I was a kid growing up in Libya, I had a friend named Leslie who was five years or so older than me. She lived a few doors down and would deny hanging out with a little kid in public. She was Canookian and taught me things like, “If humans don’t start using their toes more, future generations will not have toes.” and “Religion is for idiots.” and “The fact that your parents make you say yes mam and no mam to adults is backward and totally American,” and “Donny Osmond is the sexiest man on earth,” and she had the soundtrack to Jesus Christ Superstar. And so much more. So any chick named Leslie has a place in my heart.
Thanks so much for this season and for agreeing to do PR JR.
xo
tt
So so kind of you to say about the name – Leslie! Have had fun with CJ but I must say – PR needs to get on with some 2017 resolutions. Move networks, Bring back Michael Kors and better talent! Happy Holidays.
Roberi should have won. I’m so disappointed but it seems like the most succesful designers of previous seasons, have not won the final prize. Roberi and his boyfriend were so adorable after the runway show, it brought a tear to my eye.
Um… Spoiler alert in the headline of this thread. Oh well, it saves me the time of watching the season finale part two. At least all indications pointed to Erin’s win so it’s not a big shock but the results should be below the fold.
Sorry. But I really am saving you from the two worst hours of your week. And yes I know your entire household is near death with the flu. It was worse than that.
Then it was sorta like the entire season. This show was way better when it was Bravo. I am looking forward to watching the first episode of P.R. Junior, unless of course you have something else to pass along. 😀
I was beyond furious last night!!! what a travesty!! I kind of knew this was going to happen, given the fact that Erin not only survived 4 bottom 3 placements during the season, but she did it with ease. I do believe the fix was in from the beginning. I really hate to think that, but there is simply no explanation for what happened last night. Erin’s collection was ugly as hell and really non-wearable!! How dare they insult designers who know how to create, sew and fit a woman’s body with beautiful clothing!
I’ve been ride or die Roberi all season and he did not disappoint. For me, I though placement should have been Roberi, Rik, Laurence and Erin butt ugly last. What an insult to the other 3 to give a win to this disgusting woman who cannot put an adult sentence together. Roberi liquidated everything to come here and try to win this competition, it was heartwarming to see. Rik borrowed money from his mom and they insult them with this bullshit! I am so ticket off I feel like a Tasmanian devil whiling around in my own misery.
What a huge disappointment!
As each of the collections came down the runway, I got really worried about the judges were going to do. Rik’s was good but he didn’t highlight his best looks LB’s work was very beautiful and showcased her mature perspective(I had that blazer). Roberri’s looks were such a turn-around from the preview and so wearable for today. But Dr. Seuss’s little runaway child will only be able to hire other designers to do the actual designing of wearable clothing that she will decorate. That bothered me as I watched Her clothing sparkled on the runway after the other designer’s clothing walk the runway
Erin’s gimmicky stuff had me scratching my head right from the beginning of the entire season. Once you used the Dr. Seuss description, CJ, I could only see her work in that vein. Real clothing designers have to like a women’s body and not see her as a cartoon character. I would have loved to see Tim Gunn’s thought bubble over his head after the winner was announced.
Thank you all for the WONDERFUL re-capping CJ, Leslie and especially you TT. Your WITT just makes reading your blog such a highlight to my day. I’ll will still be watching PR junior and All Star because I’m such a glutton for these design shows and I really love Tim Gunn.
Erin was so sure she was going to win she couldn’t even act excited when it happened. What a disappointment. CJ, your recaps were the highlight of the season. Bring on PR JR!
Reminds me of America has talent when they gave the win to the little girl with the scratchy voice. So disappointed. Wtf is going on with these shows?
Thanks for the recaps. It was kinda like watching that show the people’s couch which I love but might be the only one watching cause I never hear anyone talking about it. Everyone stepped up their game before the runway. I’m not as disappointed as most by Lawrence. I liked a lot of her clothes and just don’t get why people want to see flamingo dresses and crazy stuff on the runway. I want new styles off stuff I might actually wear. That being said I thought Rik was the best choice for a win. Roberi is so sweet and he really turned around his collection for the runway but I just felt all the shiny fabric skirts and such were something my 3 year old niece would be wearing. Erin and the bananas need no comment we all know ugg.
A wonderful recap! Erin.OMG! Take the glue gun away from her and start a ban on all glue guns!
Once you wore one of dresses, you could not wear it again. Fashion should be timeless…not mindless.
I was so excited for this season. I figured after the Chiquita Crybaby debacle of Season 14, things could not get any worse.
I was wrong. This is why I have trust issues.
Also I’m with Laurence. Her collection was ridiculously wearable, chic and luxe. If you had told me that was a Jil Sander show from NYFW I would not have questioned you. That said, the designer probably shouldn’t look better than the models. #suitwinning
I felt the judges and Tim (I love him) broke Laurence’s spirit a little saying “too much black” “same shoulders”, etc. I felt she was afraid to do what she does best. If she had done something similar to her previous leather jackets and beautiful dresses (the one with the gathered neck or quilted leather) and some color, like her beautiful blue suit, she would have impossible to beat.
I am so upset that Erin won. What a joke. I think the judges had made up their minds between Erin and Laurance long ago and Laurance disappointed them so Erin wins. Really makes me rethink watching this show but I love it so much. Why her? She did not have the best collection!
While I am ranting, I think it is a copout to use so much neoprene that needs no finishing edges, doesn’t drape and can’t be fitted well. Just used for oversized stupid dresses and coats (and scuba divers).
The second Heidi said “Rik”, I turned the channel. Words fail me. This Season was so full of promise and for the most part I really enjoyed Banana Hand Erin win ruined.
The second Heidi said Rik, I thought, Oh they are going to announce the winner first! Then I began my Twitter rant with “OH FUCK NOE!”
I’m still completely annoyed about this season and the, ummm, like, totally, like, ummmm, like, yeah, winner. Jumped the shark.
CJ Bomb, thank you very much for your fun and insightful recaps. You obvious love and knowledge of fashion has made them spot on. It’s been a delight for me to read.
I could be happy with anyone winning except Erin. PR is not only for our entertainment but for these contestants to have a future in this industry. I hope that my 3 favorites report some good news during the rap show.
If PR continues down this path, they will get all their future contestants from Hobby Lobbyists parking lot and runway show filled with elementary students.
I’m finally getting a chance after some holiday “fuck me now, why didn’t we go someplace” craziness to read this. I watched the finale with my mom – definitely not a Leslie, but opinionated nonetheless. We hit the ground running Friday AM, and didn’t stop until Christmas night (and I promptly woke up today with a deep chest cough. forgive me, because I’ve been sipping on whiskey and honey and lemon this evening, and I’m a little buzzed)
Please don’t shoot me, but Erin did have the most cohesive collection. If you took two pieces randomly, you would know they belonged to the collection.. take an additional two, and same thing.
Roberi had some beautiful stuff but my mom and I agreed, there were at least 2 outfits that didn’t mesh with the others. If he had simply included iridescent material in those outfits, it would have been more cohesive and clearly the same collection – and he would have won.
I am pleased beyond words that PR: Jr. will be blogged!!!!
I’m a little late to the party, but watching the reunion and being forced to re-live Erin’s collection. Just wondering if anybody else found the banana outfit a little too phallic and icky… I mean, come on, a hand holding a giant banana on the front and center of the skirt?! I can’t believe none of the judges thought to point that out to her. Or maybe they did and they edited it out since she won 🙁
The judges are officially on crack.
Last season I swore I was never going to watch again as PR has lost its edge and relevance.
Wash, lather, rinse, repeat and I am once again annoyed.
Peeled bananas and big buttons! PEELED BANANAS! Sheesh!
CJ – thankfully your summary with Leslie’s added comments found the humor in the train wreck.