By CJ BOMB
Last week on our Project Runway All Stars Recap, Canadian designer Evan Biddell won in a controversial decision. And we are still talking about it! This week, the Project Runway designers are challenged to create a gender neutral look.
This week, Les is remote, which is probably for the best as I have to teach an early class tomorrow. She assures me she will be chiming in with her expert and hilarious opinions. We have said goodbye to Cynthia Hayashi on the heels of a terrible JCPenney challenge so our hopes are high that the challenge won’t suck this week. Evan Biddell points out that he and Christina Exie are the last of the international challengers. Dude, you are from CANADA.
Alyssa Milano walks out dressed as an extra from Newsies. The theme this week is gender neutral clothing as high end streetwear. Les thinks some eyebrows will raised by this but at least its better than the freaking JCP challenge. I love Rick Owens, Rad Hourani and Rudi Gernreich, so I’m cool with it.
The Gender Neutral Challenge
As for the designers, Christina Exie is happy as is Sean Kelly. The models will be male, female or non-binary and the designers won’t know until later who they are getting, they will only know the measurements. Anthony Ryan just wants to know who he’s designing FOR so he can make something that works for that person as an individual.
Michelle Lesniak is designing a hoodie dress. Dmitry Sholokov is doing a COAT dress. Irina is doing a “universal jacket”. The only person who seems to be really going for it is Sean Kelly. I take that back…Michelle is buying her typical seventies looking fabric in a floral and Evan Biddell thinks that mens t-shirts totally work with women’s evening wear fabrics. I’m not sure about either of these choices. Les isn’t sure about most of the design she is seeing.
The Workroom
In the workroom everyone is trying to figure out what model they might have based on their measurements. Michelle is sad that Dmitry has gone to the darkside and started hanging out with Irina. On the other hand, at least she has become friends with Biddell. Plus, she’s still hanging with Anthony Ryan, so she’s just going to let it go. Speaking of Anthony Ryan his model is 6’4”. That’s a TALL model. And he’s doing tiny shorts? And doesn’t he have a lot of fabric? A shiver goes down my spine for him. He scraps the shorts and concentrates on making just a jacket. Michelle is doing her “art” which Evan Biddell compares to someone peeling wallpaper off an old room where a crime scene took place. He thinks it’s cool.
Anne Fulenwider Comes in to “Help”
Anne Fulenwider walks in wearing a dress and jewelry that you just know costs a pretty penny. But somehow she manages to always look like she stepped out of Ann Taylor. She doesn’t see the trenchcoat in Dmitry’s garment (nor does Dmitry at this point). But,she does think that the trenchcoat is in desperate need of a makeover in general. Isn’t a trench one of ORIGINAL unisex garments?? She tells Sean Kelly he doesn’t his crazy rainbow thread idea on his outfit to make a statement, he needs to make sure he gets the details right.
Anne isn’t wowed by Irina’s woolrich looking coat and doesn’t see Irina Shabayeva in it at all. Anne is very happy Anthony Ryan is using color and wishes more people were doing the same. As Biddell is showing of his lace tshirt Sean Kelly pulls Irina over to snark “a gender neutral t-shirt…how ORIGINAL”. If you are going to snark to someone, Irina is always there to help out. Michelle gets grandma wallpaper as a comment instead of grandma curtains. Anne calls Christina’s look boring. Christina deflates. She then says screw it, I’m doing me.
The Models Arrive
The models come in and it looks like the coolest rave ever emptied out into the workroom. Anthony Ryan’s model looks like a taller version of Anthony Ryan. So of course, Michelle is reminded of the movie Twins. Christina’s model LOVES her garment and that makes her feel like she made the right decision. Anthony is worried about his look. His model identifies as female and is very striking. Irina got a blonde thin female model. I so wish they had shoved her outside her comfort zone.
Evan Biddell and Irina are finished. So, they spend their time complimenting each other on how decisively and smartly they work. Sean offers to help Anthony Ryan in the morning. Anthony thanks him and tells him that he would rather go down in flames by himself. He’s almost in tears and I want to reach in and hug him.
Runway Day
Christina has a lot to do so she’s in do or die mode. Anthony has pretty much convinced himself that he’s going home. Irina, never one to seek out opportunities to be helpful or even kind to others, is making herself a look. She takes over Christina’s machine and refuses to let her get on it. Christina has to hop on Michelle’s machine and when Michelle walks in to use it apologizes and explains the situation. Irina Shabayeva could care less and just keeps sewing. She’s thinks they are being petty. I think all their stuff is by their machines and that you are a narcissistic bitch with questionable taste. But, I guess I’m just being petty.
Thank you Lord! Anthony Ryan is finished. Dmitry also thinks Michelle’s outfit looks like it came from a murder scene, but unlike Evan Biddell, he is not impressed. Evan Biddell thinks that no one getting the challenge. It’s supposed to be gender neutral, NOT asexual. He has a point. Some of these look like costumes (cough, Dmitry).
The Runway
I have lost Les sometime around when Irina Shabayeva was being a heinous bitch so I guess she is dealing with homework, bedtimes or both. Alyssa looks okay. What in the hell happened to Georgina Chapman’s hair? Did she lose a bet? It’s not BAD, it’s just….weird. For her. Asia Kate Dillon is the guest judge. Love them on Orange is the New Black. They are the first people to play non-binary gender identifying characters on TV who actually identify as non-binary gender.
On the runway, Sean Kelley’s look is awesome. I love this. His model has transitioned to female so he made it a little more feminine and she is rocking it. It’s asymmetrically awesome. I would wear this in a heartbeat. Michelle’s look is definitely post-grunge-curtain/wallpaper forward. Somehow it works and looks cool.
I hate Irina Shabayeva but I like her top and leggings. The coat is meh. I will never say no to a leather legging. Ground Control to Major Tom……Dmitry has made an outfit for you. Gender neutral SPACE FORCE. I’m getting Rei Kawakubo from Christina’s look and that is HIGH praise. Everything works. Evan Biddell’s fringe cowboy vest over a lace T? Not sure about this one. Anthony’s Ryan’s model is the lieutenant to Dmitry’s general in the gender neutral SPACE FORCE. I pick Sean Kelley, Michelle and Christina for the top and Christina for the win. I refuse to pick Irina this week cause she sucks as a human. It’s a toss up between the space force outfits.
Judging
Evan Biddell is safe and he is surprised. Georgina didn’t get that Michelle’s was her at all. She loves the color mix and the florals. Flowers are gender neutral. Isaac Mizrahi thinks the proportions are “banging”. Oh sweetie, no. Asia thinks it looks easy to wear as high fashion. Alyssa wants to see it up close and tells Michelle she’s “so good”. Isaac thinks that Sean’s look is cliché? And dull? Asia thinks this is what one would expect to see in the gender neutral department of a store if that was a thing and it’s disappointing. Georgina says it’s been done before.Still, she likes the proportions and interesting ideas.
Uh-oh. Isaac HATES Irina Shabayeva’s coat. Her reaction makes me happy. Does that make me a bad person? He hates the textile and the proportions and thinks its ugly. Asia loves that Irina did a fitted top and leather legging not knowing what model she was getting. Alyssa also loves it, but Georgina thought it went junior. They love Anthony Ryan’s?Asia says it doesn’t read feminine or masculine; it’s just cool. Georgina would have loved to see something a little floaty and feminine underneath. Alyssa thinks it’s too reminiscent of the avant-garde challenge.
Georgina doesn’t like the criss cross effect of Dmitry’s coat. Isaac wants the buttons off. Alyssa thinks the fabric makes it look futuristic martian (SPACE FORCE). Asia loves it but thinks it is costumey.
Alyssa loves Christina’s look. Georgina loves the color-blocking and how it is cut. Asia thinks Christina nailed it and Isaac wants the pants.
Who won? Who Lost?
Christina WINS. Sean is eliminated???? I’m COMPLETELY CONFUSED. I got this one completely wrong. Maybe my love of Francois Marithe Girbaud and vintage Gaultier clouded my judgment? Am I losing my touch or my mind? Did you guys agree with the judges this week? Are you sad to see Sean Kelley, the prince of fringe go? Have a fabulous weekend. I will still be over here scratching my head about this one.
Great recap. Sad to see Sean go. He is so handsome and seems very kind. Irina is sooo selfish. I wish someone would have lit her ass up. I loved Christina’s look. It reminded me of something Fabio Castro from All Stars season 6 would have made or worn himself. I can’t stand Anne as a mentor. Instead of encouraging and enlightening the designers she makes them second guess themselves. Tim Gunn never left the designers in the dark he just showed them another source of light.
This was a crazy result. Dimitri made a totally feminine outfit, that was not unisex. If the tin man from the Wizard of Oz had a bride, she’d wear this. He should have been sent packing.
And what was with Georgina? The hair! The makeup! It was all so dark! The hair length was ok, but not the colour. Not a good look at all.
All of the looks were uninspired coats. Hated Michelle’s…They needed a dose of Christian Soriano… Did you see that ‘Tuxedo Ballgown’ at the Oscars? Exquisite!
I did think that a lot of them took the easy way out with outer wear. That said, I loved some of the outer wear! I have decided that old man PJs are unisex (which by the way is the correct term. inanimate objects are all gender neutral except in foreign languages…)The should have made a great set of old man pajamas in a large plus size and sent them to me. 🙂
I was so sad to see Sean go I really liked his outfit too. Between his outfit and Dimitry space coat I surely thought Dimitry was gone. Irina is such a selfish bitch I never liked her and I hate even more when I like something she made like todays pants and top. The coat was as awful as her attitude lol. I do agree with Christina as the winner her outfit was incredible
I loved Sean Kelley’s look. This show makes me angry every week!!! Why do I continue to watch????
But Extra from newsies… priceless! Haha.
I would have kicked that bitch off my machine.
Right? I was really suprised by both Christine and especially Michelle, I assumed by her appearance that she’d cut a bitch!
I agree TT – I loved Sean’s look. Dimitry should have gone home or Irina. I found Irina’s cliche, expected & boring. Obviously I don’t get something about gender neutral. I am a project runway super fan, but this season has left me absolutely bored. The challenges are gimmicky & very little real fashion is shown. I’m sure Anne is very nice, but there is no humor and no smack-down tough love. JCPenny challenge was an all-time low. The cheap clothes to the low-end accessory wall – the entire thing was a disaster. Hopefully Bravo can bring back some aspirational design & better sponsorship. I will stick through to the end because I adore Issac and I’ve never missed an episode yet. But, I’m thinking it’s a good thing Bravo came along to save this show.
I did like Christine’s look for this challenge. I don’t think I’d ever wear the whole outfit at once but the pieces and parts yes.
I hated Dmitry’s jacket/dress/trench, from the fabric, to the cross over lapel, agree with Isaac, the buttons (clear like used inside a garment not on the outside), the cut out back, I really didn’t like it. Either his or Irina’s garbage bag jacket should have gone home!
I kept wanting to straighten Allysa’s neckline during the runway and critique. And Georgina’s hair? What the what? She looked over bronzed too…
I loved the really tall blonde model who wore Anthony Ryan’s jacket! They were paired well, the look, the model and the designer get an A+ from me.
HOW is it that Anne could be mentoring for another season?? She did a huuuge mistake calling out Christina’s look as ‘boring’. This designer is fierce, even if things went wrong for her last week with her look doesn’t mean a mentor that obviously never wear anything inspiring herself should talk that way.
What Irena did sewing a dress for herself was actually about spitting at the challenge as I see it, and her coat showed her disrespect for it. She should have been sent home for that. Unfortunately she will be on TV next week again.
I don’t remember who was in the top and who was in the bottom, and I don’t see it here, but I liked Anthony Ryan’s coat a lot. Was he in the top?
I didn’t like Sean Kelley’s bizarre one shoulder harness with one long sleeve. I agreed with the guest judge who said wondered what season it was.
I also thought the murder dress/coat was Gawd awful.
Irina is just terrible, or playing the the sabotage game, but I loved her look.
Anthony Ryan was in the top, yes. His coat looked great on the model.
Sean’s look reminded me of something I couldn’t put my finger on first but then I thought it breathed 90″s Jean-Paul Gaultier.
I was shocked Dmitry didn’t go home. That coat looked cheap and gimmicky. If you’re going to complain about the seasonality of Sean’s outfit, when would you wear a heavy looking trench like coat with long sleeves and no back???
Loved Christinas look, sort of elegant hip-hop style.
Dmitry’s look was a trench coat dress, not just a coat. The cutout was a good way to let body heat escape. If the fabric was lightweight, I’d like it as a dress. It doesn’t seem like it met the challenge so I would choose him to go. Sean’s look was okay, seemed to have too many things going on, felt like the white shirt in the front was too voluminous. I agree with his comment that he never got his groove this system . He was good and other times cheap and tacky. I liked Biddell’s, loved Anthony Ryan’s and Christina’s. Didn’t like Michelle’s custom print. Thought Irina’s top was too tight and oddly shaped and the jacket had some wide gaps where it fastened. Her model walked liked something was sticking to her shoes, maybe the pants were too tight. My favorite part of the show is seeing what Alyssa’s stylists are doing to her. I don’t think they like her very much. And beautiful Georgina’s makeup was atrocious. thick and dark and red and fake. Still one of my favorite shows. Oh, and yes, I’d lose it on Irina for taking over Christina’s sewing machine. Irina has no business affecting the work of others when she herself is done.
I thought Irina’s model was drunk at first.
When I see PR on TT, I know I have to watch right away so I can read CJ’s review.
I took a load to the dry cleaner last week and the cashier called one of my dresses a coat. I said, no, it’s a coat DRESS, and promptly questioned myself because of the blank look on her face.
So when Dmitry snottily said, it’s a COAT dress, I felt vindicated. Briefly. Because his design gave me 80’s flashback. Not in a good way. Then I remembered my coat dress, while classic in black, is from the late 80’s! But I am no fashionista and Dmitry should know better.
Irina’s was so hideous, she should’ve gone home. Or Dmitry. Wasn’t he in the bottom once this season?
If Sean had chosen a different fabric and not put that chafing strap under the armpit, he might’ve been saved, but overall, I found it boring.
Kudos to Christina. It’s usually the kiss of death when a contestant says the challenge is perfect for their own creative vision. But she had a well deserved win. Glad she stuck to her guns and didn’t let Ann’s bad advice derail her.
Alyssa’s crop pants, shirtwaist and tiny tie would’ve landed a designer in the bottom. And who puts crop pants with heels on a short person?
She is narcissistic bitch with questionable taste. And no you are not being petty. They should have went Flintstones on her and pulled her by her hair off the machine. And I loved it when Issac said he hated it. 🙂
I liked Sean’s look. I thought it was unique, high fashion, and delivered for what the challenge asked.
Irina is a selfish bitch.
Dimitry did make a futuristic space costume, but it wasn’t he worst look.
I think Evan should have went home. He made a t-shirt with jeans and a Butt-Ugly fringe vest.
No design in that look.
I like Anthony & Michelle, but their looks were over-sized ugliness, yet they did what the challenged required.
Christina’s look was great. Looked comfy, yet hip, and anyone could wear it.
Again, Irina is a bitch!
Sometimes, I strongly feel that the judges get it way wrong, especially when their explanations strengthen my opinions. I feel so vindicated when CJ thinks the same and so eloquently explains why. Sean’s design certainly shows the INSPIRATION of Gaultier, but it wasn’t a knockoff or copycat. That is what happens in “true fashion” — new takes on historic designs. Sean’s showed as FASHION, not just the generic styles that a “girl” could buy in the men’s department and a “boy” could find in women’s wear at Macy’s. And WTF did it matter what SEASON it was for? Not like they were showing at a seasonal show. And why NOT use pinstripes, Isaac? It was an innovative way to use a fabric identified with classic “menswear.”
More important: HOW could the judges send Sean home and keep Irina? Hers was unoriginal and fug as hell. Taking Christina’s machine instead of her own or one left empty from an eliminated designer? For an outfit for HERSELF (that I don’t think she would have been allowed to keep)! Clearly, she did it to fuck with Christina. Especially when every minute can count.
Christina winning after Anne’s worse-than-useless advice was vindication. Sending Irina home would have been poetic justice.
TOTALLY AGREE
“an extra from newsies” BWAAAAAAAA.. Hilarious!!! I STILL want to know what planet the people are from who dress her. Good Lord, they are doing her zero favors.
Meanwhile, Irina should have been sent home for acting like a diva on a machine that wasn’t hers. What’s wrong with her anyway? She’s so arrogant. She needs to go and I’m tired of seeing the same thing from her. A big hooded something. She did it in her season PR also. Must be her go-to.
That Anne, I am convinced, hates this part of her job because the contempt in her eyes while talking to the designers is not normal. Is he jealous of all of them? Maybe she wanted to be a designer? It’s something because she is cold, distant, angry and jealous. I think Georgina was trying to look gender neutral with that wig. She doesn’t understand what it means….
I hough Alyssa looked good thus week. Love Asia Kate Dillon on Billions.
I thought she made a cute paper boy. It was one of her best looks. All things considered.
I thought Alyssa once again looked frumpy n stumpy. I was surprised my fav Michelle was in the top bc I did not like her look at all!
I thought Dmitry’s was much worse than Sean Kelly’s. And I love Dmitry; always have. But I am a 54 year old women and I loved Sean Kelly’s outfit. So maybe that means it didn’t meet the challenge if someone so vanilla as me loved it.
Another recap that is better than the actual show. I was also Lol’ing to the extra from newsies too CJ. 🙂
Unisex is a much better descriptive word I think too, TT. I was confused by the whole set up and the judging. I also think there has to be a better solution than “they”. I will never be able to use a plural pronoun to refer to singular, altho’ it may not come up much.
I’ve been rooting for Christine and so glad she won. I’m wearing a similar garment as I enjoy the recaps and comments – my Beverly Rock plus size PJ’s.
I loved Sean’s look, and liked Biddel’s, and Dimitry’s. I guess I’m the only one who thought Dimitry’s was pretty good. Overall, I’m not loving this season. It started off okay and seems to be getting worse. I generally don’t enjoy the All Stars Seasons, partly due to the judges, although I’m liking Georgiana Chapman as a judge. I rarely agree with Issac.
Thanks for the recap.
I liked Georgina’s hair myself and Anthony Ryans look. His model really added to the look; very striking. Irina is very annoying. When Isaac said he hated the coat I was hoping she would be out. Fingers crossed we see her back next week.