By CJ Bomb
It’s the finale of Project Runway All Stars! Then we focus on to Project Runway on Bravo.
Hey everyone! Sorry I missed last week’s Project Runway All Stars Recap, it was a perfect storm of several different work events converging and I was scrambling to get everything done. Thank you to our fearless leader TT for doing the Project Runway All Stars Recap: Modern Families. While I loved the idea of the family challenge there was some unflattering stuff going on. But of course this being Lifetime, instead of cutting a designer and moving on, or giving two-day challenges and cutting more people, we are keeping ALL FOUR designers and slogging it out to the very end. All I can do is pray that this is, in fact, the end. So pray with me people.
All the designers are dressed in their finest to go to the Baccarat Hotel. Each one thinks that winning this would make them “the best of the best”. Somewhere Christian Siriano is laughing so hard champagne is coming out of his nose. The final challenge is creating a collection with six looks and a theme left up to the designers. They have a budget of $3000 and some support in the workroom. Dmitry asks if it is going to be Georgina Chapman or Isaac Mizrahi.
Four Designers, Four Days
They have FOUR days. Four fucking days. Well that should keep the quality level high especially with whatever dumbass twist will be thrown at them. As I have said before, this is when it becomes Project Best Tailor….aka who can sew the fastest. Evan is very gracious and tells us that even though he is going to win, he is sure that the others will show us nice things too. Great.
They walk into the room next door where they are casting models. No different body types to see here folks. I think this is a tragedy. Tomorrow night, I will expound more on that, as well as a few other subjects when I recap the real Project Runway. I digress…
The Inspirations
Evan Biddell is basing his collection on his feelings throughout the season, being paranoid, tired, entitled, etc, and the idea that the Queen of England is a reptile. AKA, the greatest conspiracy theory ever. How very McQueen of you sir.
Irina Shabayeva loves art and wants to deconstruct shapes into pure geometry a la cubism. That should be doable in four days. I guess if anyone can pull of this construction it is Irina Superbitch. I mean Shabayeva. Oh Michelle Lesniak. Her collection is inspired by the 1970’s. Not the curtains or bedspreads of the 1970’s, mind you…She says that her favorite album is Neil Young’s Harvest Moon, which was released in the 90’s. But to be fair has a 70’s vibe. She’s calling it Harvest Mood. Sigh. Dmitry Sholokhov is doing faces. He says it’s very ambitious and bold. I think it’s very eighties.
The Fabrics
They have ONE FUCKING HOUR at Mood to blow $3000. Irina is getting fabric with substance. Dimitry is getting shiny things. Evan is using cork and croc print. Michelle? Peach organza? Good lord.
Evan is using the royal blue croc print to make a Game of Thrones suit. Michelle makes me love her again by pretending to be announcer in a fashion competition and saying that “Michelle is making ugly old lady stuff out of old wallpaper.” I do like the self-aware humor there which is why despite her missteps, she is always one of my favorites. Dmitry is aiming for two looks a day. Irina has made triangles today. That’s it. Hopefully she kicks it into high gear tomorrow.
Help Has Arrived! Plus SHE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED!
When the designers walk into the workroom the next day they are greeted by magical elves. Sean Kelley is there to help Michelle, Christina Exie is also back to help Evan, MONDO (Project Runway All Stars Season One Winner_ has deigned to return to help Irina AND SWEET MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS HOLY WHY? WHY? WHY? I HATE THAT I EVEN HAVE TO TYPE HER NAME. Yes. It’s true. Banana woman is back people. To help Dmitry. Erin Robertson. Like a bad urban myth where you say her name three times and she appears. I will be calling her Banana. TT can yell at me, or edit me, I don’t care. She won on gimmicks and appliques. Evan is thrilled he has Christina. Mondo is intimidated by Irina? No Mondo, no.
Anne Fulenwider Arrives To “Help”
Anne Fulenwider asks the helpers to leave to she can “help” the designers. First up is Michelle. I think that Anne has Stockholm Syndrome when it comes to Michelle’s fabrics as she’s now enthralled by them. When she tells Anne that she’s going for the seventies country moon goddess vibe I’m mentally transported back to all the Grateful Dead shows I went to with my boyfriend (now husband) while I was still trying to pretend to like the band for his sake.
These fabrics look like Stevie Nicks threw up in the workspace. Anne loves the green neoprene, lace and leather coat. She even tries it on. She loves the peach organza? Seriously? The key is making it elegant. She says it could be amazing or a hot mess. Pretty much the theme of Michelle’s whole season. I’m hoping she pulls it out.
Will Dmitry Be The Three Time Champion on Project Runway?
She tells Dmitry that he could be the triple winner. I’m sure that thought hasn’t even crossed his mind. She loves the cut out faces on his red jacket and I have to say it does look cool. He has gone naughty Golden Girls again with a long jetted black, yet sheer see-through gown. She pulls over a piece that is giving her romance because while she thinks everything is a little stiff and needs more drama and romance. Dmitry promises there will be a spark.
Irina explains her idea and Anne likes it, and the pyramids she has created but she thinks everything looks too similar and there needs to be an ebb and flow. It can’t be all cerebral with no visceral. Irina is flummoxed. She tells her to make the jacket with pants. Irina thinks that she has a point but how do you do that IN FOUR DAYS. It’s hard. Yes it is. It’s Project Runway.
Anne doesn’t seem impressed by Evan’s royal reptile collection. She says they look like Evan-like pieces, but she doesn’t see any cohesion at all. She says she is worried. He takes this in and decides to listen to her.
MONDO!!!
The helpers return and everyone reviews the critique. Irina is trying to get all her silhouettes done by the end of the day. Michelle is prepping on her statement piece so she can walk in and see it tomorrow with fresh eyes. The next day she notes that the challenges where she has been the most successful are the ones where she tried to be the most innovative.
Mondo gives the best pep talk ever to a crying Irina. Why can’t she be more human on a regular basis? Obviously her mother’s cancer is on her mind. In this moment I want to hug her. I’m sure it will pass as she would probably shove me across the room. Mondo takes care of her. She thanks him and he tells her that this is her dream and he’s going to try and help her as much as he can. Sweet moment even as I remember how little sympathy Irina had for anyone having any emotions through this competition.
The Models
Everyone tries to fit and figure out sequencing. Evan teaches his models how to slither. What the fuck is Evan wearing? It’s a like a 80’s Locklear skater outfit. Michelle plans to go from wow moment to subtle to ending with another wow moment. Irina is just happy she had looks for each model to try on. After fittings the models leave and editing commences.
Day Three
The helpers come in and tell the designers that they only have three hours left to work with them. Everyone scurries to figure out what needs to be prioritized. They frantically sew and then with encouraging parting words the helpers say goodbye. Francesca Amfitheatrof, branding consultant extraordinaire comes in give the designers advice. She gives a lot of generic branding advice when they could be sewing.
Everyone seems to be in a good place even though there are a lot of finishes to be done. Once more proving Mondo is awesome, he has left notes for Irina on what is left to be done on each look. She seems to be in a better place today. There is champagne and cake for the designers and hopefully no last minute surprises. They share a kind moment and it’s nice to see everyone being nice.
In the interest of keeping this two-hour finale under eight pages I’m going to hold off any more commentary till the actual runway.
The Runway
Alyssa comes out and looks lovely. She’s in a sexy jumpsuit that works with the girls and doesn’t cut her off in the wrong places. I’m trying very hard to imagine this on Karlie Kloss. Because let’s face it, Karlie is a six-foot fashion alien. And, Alyssa is just trying to do well with what God gave her. As are the rest of us. Good hair and makeup too, girl. Nice way to end it. Random people and designers flash across the screen…is that an Ulli sighting? The guest judge is…..Andrea Riseborough. Okay. Going to reserve judgment until I hear what she has to say. Did they borrow this set from a burlesque show in Atlantic City? The beads? No.
Irina Fearless Feminine and the Strength of the Modern Woman
The kimono coat with obi belt is working with the leather piping and the triangle shapes. There is a hard and soft element to the next look with a structured black top and a lined acid green (this is how you do that color Michelle) asymmetrical flowy skirt. I’m not as thrilled with the red peplum top and the asymmetrical athletic looking pant. The next look is very basic yet not. A deceptively simple red dress with structured shapes that somehow flatter the model instead of making her look huge.
Maybe it’s just me, but the lace triangle pyramids that Mondo spent endless hours creating are not really showing up on camera. I’m guessing they look awesome in person. The pants are well done. I’m confused by the last look which is a lace pantsuit. Overall I like it. I got Thierry Mugler which is a good thing.
Evan Biddell Mixing Street Style with Aggressive Elegance the Regal Reptilian
Isaac is does not look impressed when the cork mini dress walks down the runway. It’s a cute dress made of cork. The back is fabulous. That dress looks like it sauntered over to Michelle’s corner and had a baby with her boho collection for the next look. I’m not sure about the drapey sleeves with the cork suspenders. It’s McQueen lite for me. Again, the third look is a boring top with a cork skirt. I do like the Vampira suit…wait I just saw the legs. Now we have skort looking thing with a mini jacket and copper pellets on the shorts. The final dress is a dramatic silhouette with curves accentuated by copper paillettes. I’m sorry guys, I’m not really getting street and the serpent aspect was too literal for me. I felt as though it was derivative.
Michelle Lesniak A Textured Baroque Romance Novel that starts off Nice and ends up Naughty AKA Harvest Mood
Okay, I am NOT a boho chic girl. But I do love the first dress Michelle sends down, peach organza be damned. Somehow the flow and structure and mixed fabrics make it work. I’m ok with the fabric choice on the second look, but the cold shoulder silhouette is kind of basic. Ditto with the next mini-dress. I wish I could see the details up close. Ok this is a sentence I never thought I would type: I’m LOVING this peach organza jumpsuit. Flowy and sophisticated. The green coat is now a coat vest and I’m trying to get over the color. But that’s my own issue. It looks cool. The last dress is a sister to the first. LOVE. Elegant flowy, yet structured at the same time. LOVE the sleeve. Referencing YSL Hippie Chic on this last one. High compliment.
Dmitry Sholokhov Personal Journey as an Artist and a Human Being
LOVING the structured cut out jacket and the pants are awesome with the cut out tuxedo stripe. And now we are back in the eighties with enormous shoulders and sequins on a black mini that Joan Crawford would have ROCKED. We have another cut out jacket with a fringe skirt. And a mustard dress with a BIG off shoulder piece. Confused by this. There Is a see through sequined number with lots of fringe. What happened to the flowy lace dress? It’s now a mini dress? I feel like of lot of this is ice dancing after party attire with a little Rifat Ozbek and Jovani. Dmitry would kill it at Jovani.
JOVANI!!!
Ok guys, I’m picking either Dmitry or Michelle to win. Love them both for different reasons. Am impressed with what everyone did considering the time frame.
The Judges’ Critiques
Irina Shabayeva
Isaac Mizrahi thinks Irina did a phenomenal job and confirms my suspicions that the lace looks better in person as he loves those looks in particular. Georgina Chapman thinks that the lace geometry worked exceptionally well vs the structured flat primary pieces. Seeing it now more up close I agree. The lace top is structured yet soft. Andrea Riseborough also loves the last two looks especially the white lace. Alyssa loves that she showed everyone of her techniques. Alyssa is proud of her.
Evan Biddell
Georgina thinks Evan has a different way of looking at things and that makes his work exciting. She would have like to have one clean look to set everything off. Isaac thinks the frock coat brings it down because anyone would wear it, whereas the rest are things no one has seen before (beg to differ) but if they were to pick the winner based on that Evan would win. Evan freaks. Andrea disagrees and actually WROTE in her notes: I would wear this which makes Isaac laugh. Alyssa thinks the cork dress is a work of art and the body con dress is beautiful.
Michelle Lesniak
Isaac thinks the sleeve of the finale dress is “the best thing in the world”. He says the first dress and last dress are pillars and he loves the simplicity of the “pyjama” (the jumpsuit). He thinks she hit it out of the park. Georgina thinks her clothes have a lot of humor and fun in them. She loves the green coat. Andrea thinks the looks are demure but sexy. Alyssa says the last dress is the best thing she has ever done on Project Runway and she loves the color palette.
Dmitry Sholokhov
Dmitry cries. Georgina says it beautiful and ambitious. She says the workmanship is pretty masterful. She adores the first look and loves the everything but thinks the mustard dress belongs with a different collection. Isaac agrees and thinks it reads cartoonish. He loves this missing tuxedo stripe of the pant. Andrea would love to wear the beaded jumpsuit on the red carpet and loves the lst dress with the lace. Alyssa LOVES the exaggerated ruffle.
MICHELLE WINS PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS!!!!!! Dmitry is a total dick in his talking head. He loves Michelle but what he put out were masterpieces? Dude, if you were making masterpieces you wouldn’t keep coming ON this dog and pony show. (He does hug her when they come back out) Michelle tells Isaac that she wrote him many years ago and he wrote her back (handwritten on his own stationary) telling her in order to make use clothes not look home sewn she must use an iron. Good advice. Well that’s it for Project Runway All Stars . Goodbye Lifetime!! Hello Project Runway on Bravo! Tell us, do you agree with the “World Champion” choice?
See you tomorrow night! Xoxo CJ
I was surprised but happy for her. Wow, Dimitry…
I thought she was the clear winner based on this final. I had Dmitry on the bottom – his work was total ice dancer fashion, I completely agree. Admittedly I drive a VW bus, but I think Michelle has a remarkable gift for elevating a hippie, loving-hands-from-home vibe into exceptional, unique fashion. Biddell’s stuff looked like he was trying to see Michelle and raise her a sci-fi edge. Irina’s work here I’ve seen before, and I frankly am surprised she made it past the early challenges. All that said, I also think if Anthony was still in it he would have won.
When I was watching it, I didn’t agree with Michelle as the winner, but looking at the photos above, I see it. All 4 collections were interesting. I probably would have picked Irina. It was interesting to see a warmer version of Anne in this final episode.
McQueen lite in 4 days is a pretty sweet compliment….Francesca the Branding expert was taped with each designer but those moments did not make it on the show. During her time with Biddell she spoke of ‘Lee” to Biddell and brought him to tears through her comparison. Biddell spoke of this last night on his live insta viewing party. Hope we can see some proper pictures of these collections but doubt we will.
Imagine what they could have done in 7 days?
Good one! If the show continues , I’d wish they gave designers time to create better clothes . I’m amazed at what was done in 4 days.
I didn’t care for Biddels clothes or Michelle’s green jacket. The former was too murky for me and the latter looked like a leprechaun would wear it. I’m also not a fan of tuxedo stripes, although Dmitry s were divine. Otherwise I thought everyone did exceptional . I couldn’t have picked a winner .
Is Mondo not the sweetest guy ever?
Nice use of flummoxed ?
I was pulling for anyone but Irina . . . seriously. Sorry about her mother but the “everything else is crap” girl needed not to win. That being said I was pulling for Michelle! Yay!!!!!
Michelle was the clear winner. I got Dynasty flashbacks from Dimitri, too. I wonder what’s happening with him. Was he burnt out? Evan’s could’ve used a bit more time in the hopper. Too bad he ditched his plain purple dress, given what Isaac said about needing a palate cleanser.
Irina was right about the rigorous work involved this entire season. Seriously ridiculous what the show put them through.
I was sad when Michelle said she and her husband were struggling. So with all the successes and exposure she’s had on PR, she wasn’t getting anywhere in her career?
I haven’t watched this yet but that Neil Young album was released in 71 or 72. The best one he ever did.
Peggy, I love that album, too, but it was released in 1992. I thought it was earlier, too, but just checked. Now I am going to go listen to it again because I can’t get that song out of my head.
Harvest was released in 1972. Neil must have had an affinity for Harvest, hence Harvest Moon, 1992; and the name of his backup band, International Harvesters, on A Treasure, released in 2011 of shows from 1984-85.
Dimitri’s collection made me think of Blanch Devereax.
So like I’m on vacation right now in the Caribbean (brag brag) so I have only your recap and pics to judge. First thanks for the pics of entire collections! Second I think you and I have best friend chemistry and thanks for the recap! WRT the collections. I love the hair in Michelle’s and for once I like her own personal styling as a cooky Jewish grandmother in Miami. However all the outfits in the pic look like different shades of awful, unflattering, embarrassing, overstyled hot tranny mess. Like if the Anthropologie catalogue binge ate and then purged in a trash can at Delia’s. Dmitry is the winner. Irina is not a bitch. Did you see how genuine she was with the family last week? Seems like a woman who is strong, self possessed and not desperate to be liked (like michelle) gets read as a bitch. Kay heart byeee see you on bravo.
Irina’s collection was my favorite! Even if you didn’t love her personally, you have to love her clothes. I would wear everything. I think she should have won.
Michelle was a close second.
I think you meant Joan Collins would have rocked Dimitry’s mini dress, not Joan Crawford (?)….. although both definitely slayed the big shoulder in their respective primes. I was really rooting against Irina. She’s such a bitch. I hope they have a reunion show because I would LOVE to see what everyone has to say about her asshole comments.
You had me chuckling there with the thought of Joan CRAWFORD rocking the dress in the 1980s. (I reckon you mean Collins.)
Yes, Irina is hard to like, but I did feel sorry for her regarding her mother’s illness. Knowing the show was filmed almost 2 years ago, I was curious about the fate of Irina’s mom, and it turns out she did pass in May of 2018. So sad.
🙁
Weirdly enough, I did mean Joan Crawford (just watched Mommy Dearest…shoulder heaven), but yes Joan Collins would ALSO rock that dress.
I got Joan Crawfor vibes 100 percent.
I love your recaps so much that I read every single one and haven’t watched even one episode of all stars. Thank you for your contribution to this site. You are fabulous even if you don’t particularly like Grateful Dead ?
The best collection won, congrats Michelle. I never thought I’d be talking about clothes this way but I do get a sense of warmth and joy and personality with Michelle’s collection. Her models were wearing her clothes, the clothes weren’t wearing them. Irina is very talented but those 3D designs seemed clinical. Maybe she shouldn’t have had 3 pieces with that concept. That being said, I very much liked her first look and the red dress. The lime green skirt draping seemed forced and unnatural. Her white lace final item seemed like a karate outfit to me, however, it was the judges’ favorite. Dmitry is an artist. I appreciated his two-faces red jacket but the proportion seemed off. That mustard dress was unpleasant and out of place. His final piece, the sheer with the black cutouts, was just a little too short and too revealing, not in good taste. Biddell’s collection was costumey, the cork material was not flattering. Isaac said that although his strength was sticking to his esthetic, Isaac said that that was the problem, he didn’t like Biddell’s esthetic. I liked all 4 designers. Michelle and Dmitry have a great dry sense of humor. Irina has a condescending streak, she’d be better off if she kept her mean comments to herself. I’m surprised to hear she doesn’t have a store. Biddell has confidence, good for him. It seems that every finale episode or team challenge, the designers struggle with the concept of Cohesiveness. Rather than spending time on Branding, the designers should be taught what cohesive means. I’m still learning. I know that it is not color and it is not material. It seems to be Would the same girl wear these clothes? Yes, color palette and material sharing helps but Your Girl needs to want to wear each of your garments.
I was VERY happy that four designers went on to the finals because I really wanted to see what they would do. I liked all of the collections, but I most liked Michelle’s. I was really hoping I would like it most on its own merits and not because of Harvest Moon, the struggle she and her husband were having (I might kill to have skin like him!), and because she has been one of my favorites since the season she won — those sweaters. I loved it! On its own.
The return of Mondo COULD have upstaged everything else, but he was so professional AND kind. I wish we would have learned how the helpers were matched with designers.
I think this really would have been difficult to judge; they all were very different. PERHAPS IF SUNNY FONG HAD BEEN IN THE FINALS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CLEAR WINNER! They dinged Dimushka for the gold dress not fitting in, but did Irina’s lace creations (my favorites) fit in her collection any better? I know Isaac also loves Michelle. Alyssa looked the best she has all season. I was getting pissed when Georgina said they had a week for these collections. NO! Four days is just a tad over HALF a week! Perhaps Georgina should join Porsha “265 Days a Year” Williams. Although this was filmed before the Haaarvey (in the Ralph Krandall voice) scandal, Georgina seemed a bit subdued in this episode. Makes me wonder…
I HATED Dmitri’s collection. I just think all those cut outs were weird. I didn’t get it at all. I honestly never get Dmitri’s clothes and the fact that his has won this shindig twice blows my mind.
I actually liked Bidell’s. I think it was Issac that said, “that look is for someone who would wear anything..” about the blue coat and sparkly copper pants. I would totally wear that. I don’t think he should’ve been first out. Irina and Dmitri are doing stuff we’ve seen before.
I do think Michelle should have won. Her hippie chic vibe is new and unique and I’m into it.