Hey guys, it’s Tamara and I’ll be your recapper for Project Runway All Stars this week. Our girl CJ Bomb is on spring break. So she is in Turks & Caicos. Oh wait, no she is not. She is in Colorado. So far she has been caught in two traffic jams due to avalanches, and is now socked in with snow. She’s not happy and only dreaming of warm tropical islands. So you are stuck with me. Let’s all pray that she is back next week. Actually the REAL project runway starts next week. We as yet have no plan for how to handle that!
This Week’s Challenge
There are only six contestants left so you are either on top, or on the bottom this week. They are getting their marching orders via a telecast with Alyssa Milano as a news broadcaster discussing climate change. Their design must be able to transition between two climates.This is some stupid shit. They all have to do a remote report on climate change that will reveal the two weather conditions that their resort wear must transition between. This is the worst season of any Project Runway ever. It is embarrassing that this is an International contest.
Christina Exie gets sunny to windy. Anthony Ryan Auld gets snowy to hot. Evan Biddell gets hot to severe thunderstorms. Dmitry Sholokhov starts with sun and then it snows. Michelle Lesniak has windy weather first, followed by rain. And finally,Irina Shabayeva has rainy weather followed by high winds. This show is way worse when you have to recap it. I feel the need to point out how stupid this all is fifty times and we are only four minutes in. That is four minutes where we won’t see any workroom activity. They have one day and $200.
Shopping At Mood
Michelle’s look is for a Costa Rican mountainside resort. She is doing a jumpsuit with a skirt on top. When the rain sets in the skirt can be whisked and used as a raincoat.
Anthony Ryan always wants to do more, but is limited by the unreasonable one day limit. He’d like to get three pieces in. With a transitional challenge, it would seem they would be given more time since they essentially need two looks. He has never seen a mountain. How is this possible? So all he has seen in the movies are puffy ski outfits. He’s making a dress with a puffy coat. Maybe. Oh, Anthony. I have rooted for you all season, but you make it hard, baby boy.
Dmitry feels like he has the hardest challenge. He has to go from sunny to snow. It would be easier if they were taking off clothes not adding them.
Christina plans to make a two piece swim suit for her traveler to Mykonos. Wind and rain are perhaps the easiest of the options. She struggles to find a print she likes and comes right down to the wire before choosing one.
Evan Biddell is also doing swimwear, with some sort of coveralls tied around her waist. This seems like a really good idea all things considered.
Irina has a Moroccan resort so she is inspired by those colors. She wants to do a caftan with pants. She wants her caftan to be waterproof so it can be used as a windbreaker.
I am getting Christina and Irina confused. I literally only know who Anthony Ryan and Dmitry are. So either Irina and Michelle and Christina all have the same idea or I’m to stupid to keep things straight. I’d bet on the latter if I were you.
The Workroom
In the workroom, Biddell is freaking out about his look. He’s never been to Miami but he is making a sexy one piece based on what he thinks it would be like. He has chosen a pink fabric and a green fabric that both remind me of pastel Easter egg dye. I loved his initial concept, but I am not fond of his fabric choices. Neither is Anthony Ryan who tells him that the swimsuit is “a risk.” I still feel like he could pull it off. Especially, if he has a black model. That would give the color some pop. If he has a pale model it’s just going to be pale on pale.
Who Want Some Bad Advice?
Michelle is the first to have her creative flow interrupted by the ridiculous and useless comments by Anne Fulenwider. I hate Michelle’s awful green prints. She knows the one for the skirt/raincoat looks like old lady wallpaper but forges ahead anyway. The other green print is basically leopard print in green and black. Anne is of course fine with it. And much like Biddell, it’s too late to turn back now.
Anthony Ryan’s dress has royal blue, bright yellow and orange. It’s sort of color blockish. Anne says he does blue every week. We are nearly to the end and he needs to show more range. Really Anne? It’s the blue she has problem with?
I’m not a fan of Irina’s red pants with a primarily gray print “caftan/windbreaker.” It seems good in theory but again, the fabric choices are horrendous. Especially when it transforms into a windbreaker.
Chirstina’s black two-piece swimsuit with a black, white and coral print kimono on top is the best look so far. That’s not saying much. And Anne is finally right about something. She says it’s not a very dramatic change. True. But she is only going from sunny to windy.
Dmitry continues to struggle with the issue that his model needs to add clothes rather than take them off like everyone else. I agree, and this seems unfair to him. He wants to make a dress and coat, but what to do with the coat in the beginning?
Biddell is a disaster. Yet, Anne tells everyone on the way out how fabulous they are.
The Runway
The three women’s designs come out first. I am surprised at how good they all look on the runway. Irina and Michelle both had great, well though out transitions. Irina really improved her look to make it more dramatic. I didn’t hate any of their prints like I did in the workroom. Michelle could actually win this. Christina’s look was fine, but she put no effort into the transition. In fact, it took forever for her model to tie up her kimono at the waist. I no longer think she has the winning look. She will probably be in the bottom.
I don’t like Anthony Ryan’s look any better on the runway than I did in the workroom. One hour before the runway, Biddell whipped up an athletic two piece swimsuit. And just like that, he went from the bottom to the top. His last minute use of a water proof vinyl on his coveralls made his transition really work. Dmitry’s dress makes his model look fat. Simply putting on a black and white coat that doesn’t seem to go with the outfit, or the second season is problematic. Who wears a short sleeve white fabric coat in the snow?
The Judge’s Thoughts
I have Michelle, Biddell and Irina in the top With Christina, Anthony Ryan and Dmitry on the bottom. I’d give Biddell the win, and it’s really a toss-up which of the bottom three should go. I do think Dmitry got a raw deal on the is challenge.
The judges’ views were mixed on Iriana. The were not sold on the fabric colors. The did like her inventiveness and the ease of transition. The only person who likes Anthony’s look is guest judge and Broadway actress, Cynthia Erivo. The other guest judge, famous Lebanese designer Reem Acra muttered something about seeing ideas that could have gone further. Isaac points out she has one nude arm in the snowstorm.
The Reem agrees with me that Biddell’s look is great. Issac says it is a sports bra and a jumpsuit. Then Biddell pisses everyone off by saying they are all exhausted. I guess Michelle will win. Reem agrees that Dmitry’s coat and dress don’t belong together. Everyone hates it. Then Isaac randomly says he loves it and calls it an All Star piece. WTF?
The judges hate Christina’s look for a variety of reason. Isaac says the bathing suit looks cheap. The rest find it generic. They all love Michelle’s. Cynthia loves it. Reem loves it except for the shoes. Clearly, she hasn’t been told the shoes all have to come from JCP.
The Final Decision
The judges top and bottoms were the same as mine but with Dmitry in the top instead of Biddell. Alrighty then. I would have picked Biddell to win.
Michelle and Irina are top two! Michelle wins. Dmitry and Anthony are safe. That leaves Christina and Biddell on the bottom!!! Surely, they are just punishing Biddell for complaining about being tired. Christina is eliminated. She is shocked. So am I really. Anthony Ryan or Dmitry should have gone. Everyone is sad to see Christina go. Especially, Christina.
Next Week: Nina Garcia arrives and challenges them to make a gown for a royal ball. I imagine they will give them 45 minutes and a $25 dollar budget.
Hopefully, CJ and Les will be back recapping from the warmth and safety of her lovely home.
Last International….and yes the Canadian contestants are international as the internationals have never competed in front of these judges before…unlike the obvious favorites.
Thanks TT! May I second the “stupid shit” & “worst season” ever comment? I can stomach Alyssa & Anne if the challenges are good and we see great design and fashion at the end. The ridiculous challenges just roll it into a shit show. We have no idea who these designers are because they have been tasked to make ridiculous clothes each week. Can’t wait to get to normal project runway. Bring on Christian Siriano!
I agree completely! The regular PR is miles ahead of this embarrassment.
Omg, how I agree. The reason I watch Project Runway is for beautiful and innovative designs. I too could almost stomach Alyssa and Anne if the clothes were beautiful. I can hardly wait for the new Project Runway.
Oh TT, it’s so very, very awful isn’t it? CO is missing NOTHING.
This should have been a double elimination of Dmitri and Anthony Ryan, but that’s the least of this messes problems. I can’t wait for the revamp!
I think the only reason Dimitri is still on is because he is from the US show. I think they are getting rid of all the international winners. If there was any justice, they’d bring Sunny back.
TT, thanks for recapping. I agree that its a really bad season. Such ridiculous challenges, I feel embarrassed for the designers…
I hear you Mark. I haven’t watched yet, I’ve of course heard the rumors over the years and lately radio interviews re this documentary. I’m going to find and watch right now…hang in there boo
I was surprised they didn’t complain about the two snow looks having a cost you have to carry. I felt like the challenge meant you would not be doing that. Tim Gunn would have made that point.
Christina’s look was beautiful. I was sorry to see her go.
Can’t wait for the real project runway!!!
I have faithfully watched week after week. It really is painful from Allysa’s clothes (say No! To wants u wearing that ugly crap) to Anne n her ridiculous critiques. Seriously, why would I buy Marie Claire w Anne’ taste. No wonder Nina left. Thought Christina got cheated after cheeky commentny her opponent made. Heck Sunny out for being cheeky too. Thank God. Bravo back next week. Barely hanging on
PR comes up with the worst challenges when it tries to be socially or politically relevant. This stupid challenge had nothing to do with climate change. It had to do with dressing on a day knowing the weather would change. Anthony and Dima were given the most difficult, sun and snow changes in one day. I know only Tahoe snow, which is not Whistler, but there is a difference between dressing for a cold, snowy day with a peek of sun than for a day that is mostly sunny with a bit of snow — typical spring weather. Both outfits COULD have been worn in those conditions. I’ve skied in T-shirt and jeans while it “spring snowed.” People ski in bathing suit tops and shorts in that weather. It’s like a sprinkle in warm areas but with snow. It blows away.
These women wore DRESSES. That means a trip from car to building, not slaloming down a slope. I seldom like asymmetrical, BUT a woman who did like it could have worn AR’s dress for a nice day, putting on a coverup in case of a flurry of snow and Dina’s woman could easily been at Squaw for Easter wearing a flowy dress with a light coat for a sprinkling of snow.
Alyssa dissing the length of sleeves on Dima’s coat shows her IGNORANCE. Spring coats, think CLASSIC Easter dusters, often are distinguished by that sleeve length. Those two pieces went beautifully together and the sleeve detail was one of the reasons. Georgina said THOSE were the pieces she would buy.
Alyssa looked good for once. Skirt a bit too long for her short legs.
I will say again that I HATE 1 DAY CHALLENGES. It’s a cheap production move and restricts designers ability to execute designs. I also don’t know how Dmitry has lasted this long. I’ve hated every look this season, the coat and dress are the worst. They don’t go together and, on their own, it’s a meh. It lacks umami 😎
I am also over Anthony Ryan’s royal blue, block designs and gym pants striping. #whathappenswith1daychallenges. Not a fan of Michelle’s fabric choices this season, but the transformation was interesting. While Christinas outfit wasn’t the most innovative, it was attractive #whathappenswith1daychallenges.
I had Biddell for the win, and want his creation in a 2X STAT. Michelle will probably win the whole thing, and while I love her designs, I detest her fabric choices.
I wouldn’t wear her green ensemble for many reasons, but I thought the fabrics somehow came together on the runway when they never seemed to in the workroom. Actually, they all looked a lot better on the runway except for Anthony Ryan’s ragged hem that he should have gone home for and Dmitry’s boob revealing fishnet that made even the professional model’s boobs look awful.
Dmitry was so lucky he is a favorite bc he totally didn’t do the challenge. Granted his was harder, but he could have done something that cinched, tied, or snapped up then unhooked in cold.
I really liked Michelle’s jumpsuit, but kept waiting for someone to point out that in the wind that tiny string holding the front together would be no match and there would be nipples out for sure!
Biddells look was so refreshing, I did not understand the judges’ critique and espacially not that they sent Christina home!! She is so talanted and she reminds me of friends that I got to know in Paris that studied fashion at Saint Martin’s in London and who worked some months at the biggest fashion houses before their exam. Now much later, I wonder what would have happened to them if they went on a show like this..I think it might had been bad for them.
I could not stop looking at Biddell’s second suit. It was flawlessly sewn. IN AN HOUR. His coveralls looked like one leg was longer than the other but that may just be the way the model was wearing it. The look expressly met the challenge. He considered his location, The famous Lebanese designer said it was great and reminded her of Miami!
I think the judges were just PISSED at him for pointing out they are all exhausted. He probably threw in that JCP sucks and an hour to complete two looks is fucking ridiculous. I don’t blame him.
i thought it was fun concept. Of course it’s not climate change but weather changes all the time let alone hot flashes so we all put on and take off garments regularly. Dmitry? You make me laugh but I don’t like your designs. Your design thought process seems very rigid at times. Your two pieces were totally separate. C’mon, think differently, think joyful. The dress made your model look frumpy and saggy. And I agree with Alyssa that those sleeves on the jacket looked like she was in an accident. I thought the same when I saw them, like ragged missing arms. I really did think that and I don’t tend to think gory. Christina’s design was far better than Dmitry’s even with the never ending belt.
You could tell Christina was shocked and pissed that she was sent home. She thought she had a shot at winning.
I don’t think she met the challenge well, but she didn’t deserve to go home with that look. Dmitry or Anthony Ryan both had crappy looks that were poorly constructed.
So I am loving that Bravo is airing old PR seasons as lead up to return…in season 2 the ice skating challenge, Daniel V said that “Kara’s design was basic, but not in a Calvin Klein way, in a JCPenney way”…oh how far we have fallen
Daniel V was prescient!
Isn’t it fun to look back on the early days at Bravo? You can see how the first seasons kept getting better … then the move to L.A. and Lifetime. Plummeting… But the only way you can watch Lifetime seasons is to buy.
One of the previews shows Christian saying it’s a two-day challenge. And no one whoops for joy — I hope that means that two days is the norm. I’ve seen some larger dress forms (one said 18) but they are off to the side, so maybe that is a special challenge. I wish we had all of the new people AND Tim Gunn.