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Fierce Fashion Faux Pas
Episode 4
Fierce is the new hot.
I actually said, “That’s fierce!” to my 84 year old grandmother last night. She had no idea what I was saying, but she went with it, because well, she’s fierce!
The Challenge: Brilliant. Although it was another team challenge, it let each designer individually shine with a stitch of drama. If I had been sitting there when it came time to pick a captain I would have fell silent and refused eye contact. You know, like in school when the teacher asks about a homework question you “forgot” to do, so you stared down at your blank notebook paper hoping your name wouldn't get called.
Each group had two days with a $225 budget. The designers easily formed groups after picking outdated trends; which will all appear again in our lifetime, because much to my dismay, tights are “in”. I’m sorry, but only certain people can pull the look off without looking like an eight year old on Easter. Anyway, the challenge required each team of three to create a relevant and cohesive collection. The former fashion trends were equally hilarious and hideous, but my favorite was the overalls. I despise overalls. My personal law for overall-wearing: painting or pregnant. I’m not pregnant and I don’t paint.
There was also fringe, cut-outs, dancewear, shoulder pads and many more forgettable fashion-whys. Jack chose pleather or “Britney Spears on crack.” Silly Jack, Britney is on crack! TMZ never lies. Right?
The Designers: It has taken me four episodes to realize SNL alum Chris Katan has been with us every stitch of the way. It wasn’t until Christian did a twirl dance with his fabric and huge smile that I knew – MANGO! He's so fierce. Steven’s sarcasm and Tim Gunn impression had me laughing out loud throughout the episode. Bruce Fretts gave America's Next Top Model a "jeer' compared to PR, because PR not only has the talent, it also has the personality. Each designer is established and knows who they are. It’s been four weeks and they are all finally coming out of their “kits”. PR knows how to make it work!
The team captains were Chris, Ricky (He was Bill, Victorya was Hilary – you get it.), Christian and Jillian. I didn’t know how to react to Chris being captain. As many of you readers know, he was my favorite. However, I knew this challenge would make him or break him. He has a tremendous amount of talent, but I feared his costume design experience would overshadow the “reinvention” of shoulder pads. Jillian, who did some early morning painting, chose overalls. The moment she grabbed that photo I knew she had it. Not only was she determined to prove her talent as a designer; she also had to defend her personal style.
Jillian’s team was perfection. I knew Kevin would finish on time. Jillian was nervous, but she didn’t use catty antics to get him to go faster. She simply implied that he needed to get it done. Also, she and Rami were wonderful. My good friend/roommate in college was very Conservative, whereas I was the opposite. We always said, “Agree to disagree?” When you can’t change the past or opinions of others, there is no need to argue. You have to agree to disagree and move on. The problem is resolved and both sides keep their dignity.
If Victorya wanted to be captain, she should have said it. However, she’s smart and knew to keep her mouth shut. She was on a team with Ricky and Elisa (a sweetheart all around). Both have been in the bottom for previous challenges. Why put herself in jeopardy as captain? It’s a competition, being manipulative is crucial. Ricky took the crown and ultimately the fall.
The Decision: Ugh, I was so bummed when Heidi replied (for a third time in four episodes) “Ricky you’re in”. Its official, Ricky is the “Vincent” of this season. He has hung by a thread for three out of the four challenges. Simone, Carmen and Chris didn’t get to show their true talent, whereas Ricky has had plenty of opportunity. I didn’t care for Chris’ jacket, but they adored Christian’s design in episode one, so I thought maybe they’d let Chris stay. I was wrong.
I was also wrong about overalls. They are only hideous 99.9% of the time. Jillian’s team did a fantastic job! Christian’s also did very well, but I couldn’t help to notice the lack of pleather. Jack was supposed to reinvent pleather and yet, I didn’t see it anywhere on his model. I actually thought all the collections were relevant and cohesive, but Chris’ team was boring and Ricky’s looked cheap. In the end, it costs a lot of money to look cheap and some are willing to pay that price to stand out.
We'll miss you Chris!
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Dec 6, 2007 1:54 PM
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I was bored with this challenge. I thought all of the designs were ugly. I thought Steve's outfit looked more like a Karate outfit more than a dance outfit. And his impersonation of Tim doesnt compare to Santino's who was dead on of mocking Tim. I still can't believe that Ricky is still in.
They need to do a make-over on the designs asap. Cause Im getting sick and tired of looking at Christian with his Flock of Seagalls hairstyle.
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Dec 6, 2007 2:22 PM
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Yay! Casey's blog!
Yes, we'll surely miss Chris. After all, he added the "Chinese food" component to the proposed Project Runway perfume, "the smell of tears."
But, oh Lordy, the fabric of that jacket. The color of that jacket. The sleeves on that jacket. I don't remember even the 80s looking that bad.
Jillian's collection ruled, and I loved Rami's dress with the piping. But it's a shame that there wasn't some kind of compensation for the single designer with the best overall garment in the challenge. Because Sweet Pea would have won hands down. And I'm not just saying that because I would have scored some major points for my PR Fantasy Team. No wonder Donna Karan loved it so: it was so Donna Karan!
Speaking of the PRFT, I'm up to 13 points after last night's ep. Hot diggity dog.
Shout out to Casey's fierce granny!
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Dec 6, 2007 2:33 PM
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fopas = faux pas?
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Dec 6, 2007 2:48 PM
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binarystatic - Thank you. I thought I fixed it during my earlier attempt at editing, but I guess the edit didn't go through.
Tiny Dancer - Chris ended up being my third choice... oh well, its still fun to play!
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Dec 6, 2007 3:12 PM
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Damn you, Ricky! I couldn't even count on you to cry!! Now I'm really gunning for him and want him out by next week's ep. Grrr...
I'm sad to see Chris March go. I've loved him ever since he teared up at SJP's arrival but I wasn't a fan of his work. I thought for sure that Kit's team would win. I liked their collection better. The only outfit I liked from Jillian's was Rami's dress (naturally as Rami is da man) and the last piece from Team Kit (the pencil skirt suit) was dead sexy. Oh well. Good episode but I did find it kind of boring. Stephen was cute but no one holds a candle to Santino's "Andre and Tim at Red Lobster" impression. It still cracks me up whenever I think about it.
Oh my, and did anyone get a little scared of Heidi when she was forcing Sweet Pea to choose who should go home from her team? Damn, Mrs. Seal knows how to play strict no-nonsense teacher when she wants to.
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Dec 6, 2007 4:47 PM
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Spot on, olomaya.
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Dec 6, 2007 5:44 PM
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I loved Chris's personality, but I guess most of his work has been pretty forgettable, until this week. I have to say, I didn't think his outfit was that bad. The dress was pretty stunning, I tought. And the print of the jacket didn't bother me. Once again, I guess I really don't understand fashion. Anyway, I will miss Chris. I would much rather have seen Ricky go.
I GUESS Jillian's team had the best collection, although I am starting to hate her. Loved how Kevin just kept his head down and quietly came through in the end. Although his I'm-the-only-straight-guy riff gets tiresome, he's got skills. But really, what's with the donut around the model's neck on top of those elegant shorts? What outdated trend is that, cause I totally missed it.
Although I too am somewhat tired of team challenges, it was interesting to watch the dynamics of picking the teams, and especially the captains. Obviously the losing team's captain will have a bullseye painted on his/her back, so it's all about ego - do you, Mr./Ms. Team Captain, have the mad skills to pull your team together (the rest of which are obviously less talented than you), and potentially win the challenge? Victorya played Ricky like a violin. It looked to me like she did NOT have confidence in her team, she wanted to run the show, but did not want to be the one to go if they were unsuccessful. Ricky was so dead-on, calling her passive/aggressive. Unfortunately that was the only thing I liked about Ricky in the entire episode. I am tired of his tears, tired of his sulking, tired of his hissy fits. He needs to go.
The individual outfits I liked: Sweet P, Christian, Jillian and Kevin.
I am so in love with this show, I am one of those crazies who is delighted to find a rerun of the episode I have already seen two or three times. By the end of the week I am mouthing the words before the designers say them.
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Edited by rushmore at 12/07/2007 5:59 AM
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Dec 7, 2007 8:45 AM
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This episode made me like Ricky more and Victorya less. If Ricky hadn't told her to change the fit of her dress maybe she would be the one going home. I will give her slight credit for giving him the credit in front of the judges, but then she was back to slamming him for not stepping up when she was the one stepping over everyone.
I would not wear the majority of what is considered high fashion so I like the designers who have a clean, classy,yet body conscience and pretty. All that out there stuff is like blue eyeshadow or purple lipstick. Its not for everyone.
I was ok with seeing Chris go, but I would have rather it been Victorya or even Steven.
I think that the only fair way to do this thing is by having them compete individually otherwise they are emphasizing the reality show part over the fashion and substance.
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Dec 8, 2007 11:32 AM
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Was so glad to see your blog. Couldn't believe that there wasn't one for PR and there you were. Thanks.
I'm a hetero male who just happens to like this show. Hated to see the sweet Simone go so quickly but it was understandable. I do like Jillian and Elisa and also Jack (Jim Carrey?) and Christian. The latter is like a car wreck that you can't take your eyes off. Off-putting are Victorya, Ricky, and Sweet P.
It's true that team leaders are the ones who win and the ones who are out. Avoid that role. In Ricky's case, he got suckered in but didn't follow through. He said that Victorya (a true bitch) didn't have the balls to be leader, well, Ricky didn't have the balls to put her in her place. Sadly, Elisa was caught in the middle. While team competitions show a designer's ability to lead, what motivation do the other team members have? Elimination of a competitor? Not much motivation to excel.
Men's wear was a good challenge but they should have been given more time to work on the items due to the difficulty in tailoring menswear.
Sorry, but Heidi gets on my nerves. Just don't like her. And the constant repetition of things is annoying. Like Nina and Michael. Wonder, though, if it's the editing, but it seems they rarely disagree. They all seem to like the same things.
Tim Gunn is underused. By the way, Tim, as to buttoning your jacket: top button sometimes, middle button always, bottom button NEVER.
Another note: It galls me when they pan former fashion trends. When those trends were the rage, I'm sure the designers were sporting them (were they born at the time). It's a cheap shot to criticize something in retrospect. Better to say that it is unimaginable now to think that was fashionable.
Last note: Who dresses the designers? Sure, express yourself, but it seems that in an industry focusing on fashion, our designers are, for the most part, poorly dressed. Maybe some week they should have a surprise judging of the designer's attire after the judging of their creations.
Okay, I'll shut up now. Keep up the great blogs.
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Dec 10, 2007 3:43 PM
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This doesn't have to do with this specific episode, but Project Runway in general: I can't find it on my TV schedule! I know this is dumber than dumb, but I live in Peterborough, Ontario, CANADA, and if you know when and where Project Runway is showing, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE answer me with what channel and what time! I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
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Dec 11, 2007 1:52 PM
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sharondunford - I'm so sorry. My co-workers and I looked into it and we have yet to find it on a channel in your area. We found Project Runway Canada on SLICE, Mondays at 10pm (finale this week); but no Heidi Klum PR. We'll keep looking for you though!
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Dec 11, 2007 3:23 PM
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