By CJ Bomb
I thought that I was all on my own tonight for the Project Runway recap except for Lucky Lucy, my sweet furry co-pilot. The lovely Les is out on a date with her hubs and Super C is off doing whatever cool teens do. But then, friend from up north and former partner in crime Mixmaster sent me some commentary to make me laugh. We were debutantes together. We took part in an antiquated ritual where lovely young ladies are presented by their doting fathers into polite society. (Then, we spent the rest of the night, drinking, smoking and giving good breeding an entirely different meaning, but that’s another story….)
The designers are exhausted after the all nighter they pulled. Victoria is upset and uninspired now that she has been on the bottom again. At least she’s not threatening to “queet”. Her husband has sent her a zillion roses for her 28th birthday. As much shit as I give Moldova Barbie, the other designers seem to genuinely like her even though they are perplexed as to why the judges love her. So their affection should count for something. Even though she still annoys me.
An Olympic Effort
What better way to reward exhausted designers than giving them a one day challenge? What a challenge though! A group of amazing women take the stage. Olympic and Paralympic competitors are the clients. Karlie points out that it’s sometimes hard to find clothes that fit when you are a professional athlete because your shape is different. Taller, stronger, unique, etc…The designers will be making a “Victory Dress” for these badass ladies. Nancy is THRILLED. The button bag comes out and the designers are assigned an athlete.
The designers all meet with their clients. They have very specific requests. All are thrilled to be receiving a custom look. Many of them want red dresses. They each explain what they want covered up and what they want to show off the designers are thrilled to work with such incredible athletes. Designing for athletic bodies is a new challenge.
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At Mood, Christian tells them to make the clients happy, but keep their own point of view intact. Christian is flummoxed that so many clients want red. He tells them to get them to change their minds. They ignore him. Nancy wants to make sure she gets fabric that flows and doesn’t get caught in her client’s wheelchair. Brittany is getting an art-deco looking fabric because her client loves a vintage look.
Christian Tells The Designers To Step It Up!
Christian tells Sergio his color is exciting, but not much else. He wants him to play with the sleeves or the shape. Mixmaster is demanding to know why Sergio is not listening to Christian? I text back: because he thinks Christian is his equal. Christian is worried about the length of Geoffrey’s dress AND the slit. Geoffrey is worried as well.
Victoria tells Christian her client wants a dress without sleeves, but she DOESN’T LIKE SLEEVELESS. Seriously? You got a dream client and you are going to fuck it up by doing the ONE thing that doesn’t jibe with your aesthetic? Christian likes the braiding in Marquise’s look, but he’s getting a bridesmaid’s vibe from this look. So, he tells Marquise to elevate it.
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Christian thinks he should have been a ribbon gymnast. I can see that. Brittany explains her clients desire for a plunging neckline. He tells her to play with the sheer/opacity factor of the modesty panel in other parts of the garment. She likes the idea. He wants her to show who she is in the look. Christian is worried about Nancy’s time management after last week.
Runway Day
The designers (except for Victoria) are mainly concerned with the clients being happy. Victoria is worried her dress is too short. It is. Sergio is worried Brittany’s dress doesn’t look like Brittany. Even though he says it in his typical jackass way, he’s not wrong. Oh Nancy. She got crap on the iron, which Geoffrey uses and it fucks up his fabric. Nancy is like “Did I do that?” Geoffrey is RE-SEWING AGAIN….AND SMOKING. Christian is like…SERIOUSLY?
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Mixmaster (who is the mom of a possible future Olympian…totally serious) tells me she can’t take guest judge Lindsay Vonn seriously after seeing her sexts with Tiger Woods. I’m just gonna not think about that. Ever.
Deja Vu
Victoria Cocieru has made the same dress. Again. It’s very very short. Karlie says “leg goals” as Helen walks the runway. When Karlie says that to you? Take it as a MAJOR compliment. WHAT IN THE HOLY HELL? HOW THE HELL IS VICTORIA IN THE TOP? I tell Mix that it is completely unfair to judge Geoffrey on a not perfectly fitted short red dress and turn around and celebrate Victoria for THE SAME DAMN THING? Is Putin influencing the presidential election AND Project Runway?
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Victoria tells Brandon she knows he’s going to say it is too short. Brandon tells her this is not the case this time??? What bothered him whas the choice of polyester. He would have used a beautiful stretch crepe. Lindsay loved the dress and thought it accentuated who her client is.
I Thought It Was Perfect
Sergio Guadarrama’s model embraces her belly and looks radiant. I love the color and she looks beautiful. I am also liking the cut-out in the back. But it is the model who makes this look. Not Sergio’s genius. Mix wants to know what he was thinking with the shoes. She thinks he made her look like a banana.
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Karlie thought Sergio’s dress was pretty but very day, not evening. Elaine thought there was a missed opportunity to celebrate the client’s baby bump more. Sergio would NEVER put a pregnant woman in tight clothes. He responded,“I thought it was perfect.” Mixmaster texts, “Yeah Sergio, we know you do.” Brandon thought the chiffon on the bottom was beautifully done, but the cap-sleeve and the darts on top were a bit off. He also explains comfort is also about confidence. Not putting all pregnant women in flowy stuff.
Quinceanera Princess
Even though the model is very happy with Marquise’s dress, it is still reading junior to me. Mixmaster thinks Marquise “Made this amazing athlete look like she’s going to a quinceanera.” I pick Marquise to go home.
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Karlie thought the top was more sheer than it needed to be. Lindsay thinks the slit was strong but the dress looked junior. Lindsey Vonn thought Marquis could have pushed the envelope more and made it more sophisticated.
Basic Brittany
Brittany Allen’s This dress is a basic pretty black dress. I don’t see a lot of Brittany in it. It was very well fitted though and her model looks very happy.
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Nina thinks she chose a smart fabric that made it look luxe, but this dress is a cliche. She wanted to see something more creative. She gets that they are working with clients, but she needed more. Lindsey Vonn said she needs nudges now and then from the designers and stylists she works with to step outside her comfort zone. Brittany says she gave the client exactly what she asked for. Brandon said you could put anyone in that dress and it didn’t seem made for the client.
Spotty Styling
Geoffrey Mac’s dress is a great color and I like the straps. I think the fit could be better. The slit is in the wrong spot for me. She does look stunning. Her shoulders are everything.
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Geoffrey tells them to bring it on. Laughing. He’s not getting points docked for the stain. Elaine is on fire tonight. She thinks it looked cheap and tacky. She also thinks the fit was bad. Nina thought there was almost some exposure happening. But,Karlie and Brandon think this is a fun dress for a young hot woman going out dancing with girlfriends.
The Train To Victory
Nancy Volpe Beringer nailed this. It has form and function but it is also innovative and beautiful. Tatyana looks stunning. The train is working. I’m so happy this woman didn’t get stuck with Victoria. I picked Nancy for the win.
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Elaine wonders if the color is uninteresting? STFU Elaine. Nina thought it was the right color as anything else would have read too girly. Karlie thought the trim was a little heavy. Brandon commends Nancy for the amazing construction of the garment. She absolutely took care of her client. Then, Karlie and Elaine get into over who should win. Is Elaine the reason Victoria is always in the top? She argued for her to win this challenge pretty hard.
And The Winner Is…
Thank you lord Nancy wins this challenge. And since everyone’s clients were blissfully happy NO ONE IS HEADED HOME. Then,Mixmaster tells me that Victoria is a total btich when this is announced. Victoria wonders what kind of a competition this is when no one is eliminated. You know what kind? The kind where TWO designers are going home next week. AND it’s the AVANT GARDE challenge (my fave). We will then be down to the final four. Not gonna lie, this has been a long season. Thank you Mixmaster for making me laugh. Stay warm up there! Have a great weekend everyone! Love, CJBomb.
So happy for Nancy!!! She totally nailed this but it was nice to see all of the athletes so happy with their designs. Win/win
My two wishes granted: Nancy for the win and no one sent home. Extra thrill: Brittany taken down a notch. I like her, but she deserved it. I hope Geoffrey makes the finals. This Victoria love is baffling. What would have happened if her client hated asymmetrical and cutouts? They ripped Sergio on his sleeve construction, but Victoria’s left bust piece had an uneven bottom and the back strap joining the front left bodice seaming should have been done reversed, with the strap seam in back — or done better, it was distracting. Victoria: What kind of competition is it where no one goes home? Me: One where YOU should have gone home last week for crappiest and FOUR other times for not following the challenge parameters. Something in the Moldovan buttermilk ain’t clean (Elaine)!
One general rant: How do they decide what is going to be a one-day challenge? Two of the most time-consuming challenges were short. Last week, they had to dye fabric before they could sew. This time, they had to fit people with bodies that were “non-dressform.” They had to spend time padding and altering the forms to drape their designs. These were special occasion dresses, not stretchy athleisure wear. It sucks. I love that none of the designers even flinched. Too bad Victoria had a lady with an easy fit. I wish she had more of a challenge, EXCEPT then the athlete may not have felt as happy with her dress AND the process.
I love that they only gave compliments while the clients were on the stage! That was always so painful in other seasons with “real” people where it would feel like the person’s body or taste was being criticized. This kind of consideration and heart is exactly what I’ve come to expect from this team of judges.
Here is the thing about Victoria. They loved her FIRST dress. Then every judge that has come in to guest judge has loved her dress.They get a pass because it was the first time they are seeing the look. I don’t hate Victoria’s dress. I hate that she sends the same dress down the runway EVERY SINGLE WEEK (except for the tie dye week, when we learned she is clearly a one trick pony who can’t make anything else) without the slightest nod to the confines of the challenge.
AND THE JUDGES NEVER SAY ANYTHING. Yet they call out Nancy for making pants three or four times in a season? Pants are pretty much pants, but the asymmetrical cut out dress is the same damn thing every week.
Oh and I put the thing in about Elaine fighting for Victoria and wondering if she was the one who is insisting that she win everything. Sometimes I have to flesh out a paragraph and sometimes I have to delete things to make it fit the format. I should have purple penned that. CJ’s opinion may vary. But that was as close to a housewives brawl as we will ever see on this civilized show!
Lindsey Vonn looked great as usual and was a really good judge.
It’s so odd that Victoria got the most “average” model with the same aesthetic as her. Had she been given one of the other models it would have been a total disaster. I’m glad everyone really liked the dresses that were made for them, but when Victoria said “I wish there were less.” after everyone was safe, I though yes, but of you. 🤷♀️
Just like everyone else I don’t understand what hold Victoria has over the judges! I agree, Putin is using PR to practice for the 2020 election. Short and slutty – I can only imagine what Michael Kors would of said.
I meant to post in last week’s recap (maybe I did…) that Michael Kors would have giggled his ASS off at her denim diaper!
I am impressed that not a single designed has complained about the models’ sizes- not even the curvier models. Whether they learned from watching previous seasons or were “trained” ahead of time, I don’t think I’ve heard a single complaint over a model’s shape/size/form.
It is utterly inconceivable that they would be able to make designs for any body! Those without model shapes all run around nude. Perhaps that will change.
I was crying when Nancy won, she so deserved it! Victoria’s dress was obscenely short and EXACTLY the same as every other dress she’s done thus far. How could she be possibly have been considered for the win? Something stinks in Moldova! Sergio is the most unaware human being I have ever seen in my life! The things that come out of his mouth are so offense at times, and the fact that he doesn’t realize it is bizarre. It was nice to see how happy the athletes were, and each of the women did genuinely seem thrilled with their dresses. What an amazing group of women’s they were! I’m nervous for next week. I really want both Geoffrey and Nancy to be in the finale, and I believe Brittany and Sergio belong there too. I’m sure I’m wrong about one of them because Victoria will wind up in the finals even though she does NOT deserve it.
Can you imagine Victoria’s collection? Ten asymmetrical dresses with cutouts at the waist… ugh! I can’t believe none of the judges have called her out on that.
And he’s always so confident. It’s fascinating. The other side of the coin to Geoffrey.
Yeah, I love Britanny and Marquise but those two need to go last week. I don’t even consider the chance that Victoria will go. She seems to be bought and paid for as our winner. I hope Nancy wins but I wouldn’t be mad if Sergio did.
I so agree. There was nothing wrong with the dresses, but they were a huge yawn. Britanny and marquise are inconsistent. Some outfits are incredible, others are ill conceived. I found it a little too politically correct to not send anyone home. Since when did a happy client or following client wishes matter?
I’ve been so impressed with Nancy and Chelsea’s character. They have struggled and come back positive. Nancy put so much thought into her dress, she deserved that win. I can’t imagine any other designers would have created something so beautiful and well suited to a wheelchair. 👏
I Also liked Sergios dress. I just have to ignore his bloviating.
Does project runway still do a final 3? If so, I’d dig seeing collections from Brit, Victoria ( I know, I know.. But her one design has intrigued me loads more than what most of these designers have put out) and either
Geof or Nancy.
Also ( and I’m really playing with fire here and risking getting sent to the wls haha)
But I also thought ‘banana girl’ was a deserving winner.
But what do I know? I don’t know shi t about fashion. Really, what draws me to the series is the math and architecture elements of it all. It’s fascinating to me .
ETERNITY IN THE WLS WITH NOTHING TO WEAR BUT LEFT OVER APPLIQUES!
I like Britanny. I feel like this is going to be one of those seasons where we really see someone take all the lessons learned and really put them to work if she is in the finale. Nancy’s was AMAZING. Also, that she made the fasteners, etc. friendly to her client’s needs!!!! I appreciated the lower open back on Sergio’s athlete… AND that she could still wear a bra if need be!
I agree about Brittany; she has the largest breadth as a designer and pretty good technical skills, too. I would love to see the collection she would produce.
There was no doubt that Nancy deserved to win the challenge. Hands down. However, Christian is correct. She has significant time management issues. I am not convinced she could complete a cohesive collection in the time allotted.
Sergio’s client had pregnancy boobs. She is a tall thin athlete. I am sure she and her SO would have appreciated if Sergio had showcased her girls. Big design miss. Not his 1st. While Sergio is talented and “can sew a garment” as Brandon would say, he seems drawn to predictable silhouettes. He is no Christian, nor Sebastian.
Geoffrey is a true artiste—with the temperament that goes with it. As I have said before, he is his own worst enemy. I hope he can keep it together a couple more weeks!
Marquise is very talented, and I am glad he came back and had several more amazing looks. I completely expect him to go home next week. It is his time.
Still torn about who I wish to be in final vs. who I expect will be there.
I don’t see the level of talent that you guys see with Geoffrey. I think some of y’all just like him as a person and his constant crying make you really pull for him. Muchlike Diego’s shitty arrogance makes some overlook his talent.
I hope Geoffrey wins the while thing, he fights and put his heart into this. Plus he does FASHION, unlike some other designers in the competition have failed to do too often.
Victoria’s dress at a family dinner, well that would be interesting. Eek.
Love Nancy. So talented and an inspiration to all of us seeking our dream!
I can hear the judges now “Whose collection do we really want to see? Victoria has given us the same dress the majority of the runway. Nancy has only given us the same pants along with underwhelming tops. So who is going to give the better runway show?” The avantgarde challenge hopefully will show amazing designs but all of the designers need to step it up and Wow the judges next week. My prediction for the final three is Geoffrey, Sergio and Brittany. If they have a fourth one it will be between Nancy and Victoria. I hope Victoria is eliminated next week to make it so far then to be cut would throw her into a huge meltdown and that makes great tv.
I don’t see what you guys are seeing. Victoria’s dress did not look like her other designs. And it was horribly short and the asymmetrical hem looked like a tail. I don’t blame her for saying she was disappointed that someone wasn’t eliminated — it is a competition and she wants to keep it moving. She only said aloud what some of the others were merely thinking. I liked Sergio’s. Yes, I guess it wasn’t really a night look if that was the challenge. I think Elaine said that she couldn’t tell that his model was pregnant. c’mon, it was obvious. I give Sergio credit when he says that he is happy to help the other designers and wants to win it on the runway not the workroom. I believe him. I could not tell that Marquise’s athlet’s top was revealing, guess I need a bigger TV screen. His model looked young, he should have styled her in a more mature way, maybe a cooler hair style. I can understand Christian trying to steer the designers away from so much use of red but he can’t tell Marquise that purple is almost red when the red was to represent the Chinese flag. Nancy’s functional and carefully designed creation was special. The train was requested by her Olympian. It was sweet, a bit distracting. The athlete had awesome shoulders, maybe a necklace or hair style would have softened the look. Brittany’s was too mature looking, would have like to see the model’s breasts have some support. Geoffrey, you lucked out. it was ill fitting on the top and the slit was crazy tacky. “could see where he was going with it” but executed poorly. Was happy that all the Olympians felt beautiful. They were. Nancy and Sergio for the win, Victoria for the loss.
I love how I sit in my favorite ratty bathrobe critiquing fashions. You know what would have worked for Brittany? A different bottom, a side cut or a flounce or something. Not the whole length but just the bottom to give it something different. I hope Nancy and Geoffrey for the end, Nancy has to stop with the pants though. I loved her design this week, would have liked to see it without the overskirt though.
Elaine needs to take several seats and STFU when it comes to my guy, Geoffrey! Who does she thinks would take her advise on anything!
I totally agree!! Just because you wear clothes doesn’t mean you should judge a runway show! I can’t with Elaine! Get her off the show!
Nancy won and she didn’t do pants….Excellent.
I am getting worried for Geoffrey, I so want to see him and Nancy in the final.
I am sooo confused over Victoria and the judges feed back she should have gone weeks ago. WTF
Asymmetrical dresses with cutouts at the waist was the fashion choice in Southern Spain 3/4 years especially in a print. LOL
If Victoria makes the final then something is muggy in Moldovia.
Elaine is a journalist… what does she know about fashion when i’m pretty sure someone dresses her. Brandon confuses the shit out of me, he makes snide remarks about Victoria’s designs then when he judges her, he says the complete opposite thing. argh
Geoffrey for the win! 🙌🏻
Brandon saying one thing to Nina and another to Victoria makes it clear he knows the real deal and for some reason has to keep putting her through.
If Diego was humble and cried every week and Geoffery said he was just as good as Brandon and Christian and gave everyone unsolicited, condescending advice, you guys would all be cheering for Diego.
I loved that Nancy won! Next week is Avante Garde and since Victoria only does what Victoria likes I’m sure she will give a whiny excuse as to why there is a skirt is a tongue hanging down the side, cut outs and straps. The fit for Sergio’s model on the bust shocked me. I don’t particularly like the man or most of his designs but with how simple the dress seemed I’m shocked he didn’t nail the fit.
Thank you for the STFU tossed at Elaine. I love it when Nina just shuts her down without even acknowledging her presence. The judging was set up perfectly from the beginning of the show – model, designer, journalist, and guest. Do we need two journalists? Nope.
Methinks Elaine’s journo credentials were superfluous as to why she was included as a judge.
I think Elaine’s intense connection to Victoria is correlative to her perceived value as a judge to represent those considered to be Victoria’s client base. I know it seems ambiguous, but I tried to comment previously about Elaine and Victoria. I struggled with the words.
You’re correct. She’s fresh from Teen Vogue and seems to reflect that point of view. Still, guest judges could do the same thing. They often have.
Methinks you are correct.