Project Runway Season 9 Recaps: My myLifetime.com Recap for Episode 7-- "Rhymes with Witch"!!!

Oh The Drama...

The Newest Cast Member of "A-List: New York", Project Runway's Joshua McKinley???

I realize I'm a "little late" with my BLOG Recap posting (well, just 3 days!), you see I've been traveling like a Flight Attendant Who's Rent Is Due: I flew to West Virginia last week to host a FAB Fashion's Night Out and "Project Style" event in West Virginia, and the day after, flew to NYC for some very important business meetings (which I cannot divulge just yet! wink wink!) in addition to attending the Project Runway Season 9 Finale NYC Fashion Week Fashion Show (Recap to follow in an upcoming post, of course!). But I am back home in Los Angeles--and catching up!!! So, let's get right down to business and discuss this last Project Runway Season 9 Episode, "Can't we All Just get Along?"

First Up: Bye Gretchen Jones...

Hello Joshua McKinley. It's Official, we have a new Reality Show Villain in the House!!!

Time to talk about the Orange Elephant In The Room: Contestant/designer Joshua McKinley. This episode was all about him! It seemed the "Joshua McKinley Show" replaced the latest episode of "Project Runway". Drama was the theme of the night--and 99.9 % was conducted by Drama Queen Numero Uno. Joshua really proved himself to be a conniving, bullying, bitchy queen, in this past episode and all the while shamelessly evoking the passing of his dear mother to get "pity points".

He was such a you-know-what, he made Mommie Dearest look a tad likeable! Why he didn't do Logo's atrociously brain-numbingly bad reality show "A-List: New York" (see my lovely graphic/photoshop work above) instead of my beloved little show, is beyond me. He would have been perfect! (maybe he tried out and didn't "make the cut', who knows? Why did he do Project Runway, I wonder? To be America's Next Top Fashion Designer or to be the Poster Child for Passive-Aggressive Bitchy Queens everywhere. I guess only he knows.

My fellow myLifetime.com Recap Blogger, Laura Bennett summed it up beautifully in her blog: "Coming this fall to Lifetime, it's "Project Joshua"! Joshua struggles personally and professionally to make his dream of becoming a fashion designer come true! Watch as he develops a pattern of behaving badly toward others, and then insincerely apologizing! Be amazed as he simultaneously plays the bully and the victim! Talks tough and then cries! Curses and then admonishes others for cursing! And most astounding of all, watch as this designer uses the death of his mother to explain away all of his antics! It's tasteless fashion! It's blatant insecurity! It's "Project Joshua"! Viewer discretion is advised." Indeed Miss Laura. Indeed.

Now, let's get to the FASHION:

Red Carpet: Viktor Luna's black and white gown with printed bustier and high side slit was a STUNNER! It didn't win (the judges don't really like gowns as we all know)

The Challenge this week was the "HP and Intel Challenge", in which two teams of five (there were ten remaining designers) had to create a cohesive mini-collection of five pieces in addition to making--and using--a custom print using HP technology. Both teams for some unknown reason made black-and-white prints (next time, there should be a rule to USE COLOR!!!). The No-Drama "Team Chaos"---with Anthony Ryan, Viktor (gown above), Anya, Olivier, and little Bryce--was the winning team naturally. It was the Best Collection. I really liked what contestant Olivier Green did:

Yes, it was GRAY, and I almost back-slapped him for that (can we please see something other than Gray from Mr. Faux British Accent???). But the jacket was excellently tailored making even judge Michael Kors gasp with glee.

Anthony Ryan Auld's look was very good as well. Cute, modern, quirky, very Philip Lim-meets-Jason Wu. It had all the elements of what gets you into Anna Wintour's "Little Black Book".

The Winner was Anya Ayoung-Chee. Yes, Miss Trinidad and Tobago-I-Had-No-Idea-How-To-Sew 4 months ago, well, she is learning and learning quick!! A chic printed high-neck sheath dress with black cap sleeves. Very Nina. Very NYC. And Thank Goodness it wasn't yet ANOTHER one of her long flowy maxi dresses!!!

The Bottom Group (quelle surprise) was the one "headed" by Drama Queen Bi*** Joshua, with Bert, Becky, Kimberly, and called "Team Nuts & Bolts". They never got along, they never worked cohesively together and it showed.

I kind of liked Bert Keeder's design. It fit well and the big print worked with this style of dress. The length was just odd. I'm sure he was trying to be "modern" about it but it just didn't succeed. The booties and especially the bang'ed hairstyle were ON POINT, however.

Miss Drama Queen's Look was a mess. The whole look was a bit on the tacky side, mismatched and dated. The geometric jacket was interesting but that's about it...

It also reminded me of Stephen Sprouse Louis Vuitton collaboration of a few years back. A FEW YEARS BACK, are the operative words here (as well as being a "knock off"!). Listen, let's be honest--right about now, Miss Joshua could do a FAB red carpet gown and I would probably get an icky-poo face because of how miserable of a person I think he is...

But the Worst was Becky Ross' look. You just knew she was going home the minute she landed on the same team as Miss Drama Queen. He's not going (hello, it's Reality TV, they LOVE a Villain!). Her design, well, didn't have much design. It was completely wearable and completely fine. But not in a Design Competition. It was something from a "Limited" Mall Fashion Show. As a result, it was "Bye Bye" for Becky. Becky: Trust me, you are lucky to be GONE from the Drama Queen! Have fun in your "Sequestered Apartment" along with the other cast-off's!!!

As always, here's the Introduction to My Recap of last week's Project Runway Season 9 Episode "Can't We Just Get Along?" from myLifetime.com BLOG:

No-Drama Thursdays ... NOT! Last week, "Project Runway" viewers got a "drama reprieve." This week? The Drama Is Back, kids: We got an immediate amuse-bouche of things to come when the opening credits had barely finished and Josh McKinley was spouting things like "The Winning Look from last week's Avant-Garde Challenge should have been MINE!!!" So we knew it was only going to be a matter of time until the nails, gold-hoop earrings and wigs would be a-flying — once again.

Team Mean Girls Part Deux
So what brought the claws back out? Let's begin with the Challenge: As the 10 remaining designers sit with bated breath, their smiles are instantly turned into dropped heads and "Oh no's!" as Heidi announces that they are to be split into two teams of five, with no team leaders. However ... Anthony Ryan (the winner from the previous week's challenge) gets to pick who is on "his" team, and then Heidi gets to "randomly" pick from that bag who would be the other team "Non-Leader." Take a guess who it is? Just one guess … of course, it's Josh "Queen Mean Girls"! Do you think for a hot minute it would be anyone else? HELLLLLLSSSS no! Side note: I don't even think there are actual names on those chips in that bag, but if there were and Olivier's name came up first, even Miss Heidi would quickly throw the chip back in the bag and keep doing it until Josh's name was picked! Just sayin'.

Click HERE to read the rest--and make sure to leave me your thoughts and comments!!!

Project Runway Season 9: Episode 5 Nick Verreos Recap: Mean Girls Edition!!!

Mean Meaner and Meanest



Last night's Project Runway Season 9 "Teams-and-their Captains Challenge for Heidi!" episode was a DOOZY! I know I have said this before, but seriously, it was a DOOZY! What ever happened to a show that was about THE FASHION!!?? Oh no darling: Last night, it was all about who can-be-the-biggest-bitch and cause the most drama, and yes, get the most "TV Attention". Before I let you go to my MyLifetime.com Project Runway BLOG to read my RECAP of this week's episode, a few things...



Forgive me, but...I Had To Do This:



Mean Girls Queen: Project Runway Season 9 Villain of all Villains, Joshua McKinley (middle) working her "Mean Girls" pose...in her pink pleated mini and bubblegum pink pumps!



Reality TV Land crowned a new Villain, Joshua McKinley, as well as a Sub-Villain, Bert Keeder. Joshua M. was cruel to the point of disgusting with his "teammate" Becky. Yes, he did apologize, but PUHLEEEASE, only after the realized "Oh Dear! I'm gonna come off REALLY bad on TV...maybe I should dial it back a few notches and 'pretend' apologize...and make sure the cameras follow me when I do it!!"



On the subject of Bert: Bert Keeder was one to LOVE in the beginning of this season, yet it didn't take long--briefly 4-5 episodes, which BTW, that's ONLY like 7 or 8 FILMING DAYS in "real time" kids!!!--to become a nasty bitchy queen. Oh Berty...



Also, The Boyfriends Are Back Together!



FIDM's Debut Student, Joshua Christensen, got another chance after he was "Auf'ed" in the beginning of the season--to join the contestants and continue onto Project Runway. His boyfriend, Mean Girls Queen Joshua M. was very excited to see him but more excited was Joshua C. He smiled and hugged so tightly, you'd think he had been deployed for six months to fight in Afghanistan and had finally gotten off the ship and saw his pregnant wife!



OK, let's talk about the "fashion":



"Team Joshua M"'s basic tank dress was one of the two winners last night. I get that it is very sell-able and all, but seriously? This dress is already at Forever 21: And has been there FOR A WHILE...all Team Joshua M. and Anya (who made it) did, was slop this neon athletic ribbon/trim on it:

And VOLIA! It's FASHION!!!! Not...

A few I liked:



Viktor Luna's cropped motorcycle jacket and purposely wrinkled gray jersey dress was great! Very Alexander Wang. Modern, sporty and (God forbid!) also Fashion-y.



Bryce Black: Barely out of design school and perpetually-in-the-bottom Bryce, did quite well in this challenge! Good for little Bryce. Professor Nick gives him an A!



The Worst:



Anthony Ryan Auld: Oh HUNEY. WHERE. Is. This. Girl. Going?!! She's broke, decided to leave College (cause she couldn't afford it) and is now going back-packing through Eastern Europe (it's cheaper!) by herself! Those romper-diaper-shorts were very Mahatma Gandhi. But the difference was, Gandhi's actually look more CHIC!



Olivier Green: Poor British-accent boy from Ohio and his creation. All she needs is a bonnet and a buggy and she will look right at home at an Amish farm in Pennsylvania.



Danielle Everine: I had high hopes for Danielle. I really thought she was going to be that "Silent but Deadly" contestant, in terms of her creations and really be this season's Leanne Marshall. But nope. She just loved doing green chiffon blouses. As a result, she went home.



And now: Here's a "Taste" of my MyLifetime.com Recap for this week's Episode. And as always, I would LOVE to hear your "Two Cents" and what you thought of Mean Girls Joshua, Bert, and everything else!!!





"Mean Girls": The Parsons Edition



Five things I learned from watching last night's episode:

1) Joshua M. is mean. OK, he's downright CRUEL.

2) Bert is also mean, but in a Bitchy Old Queen sort of way

3) Mean and bitchy gets you places … at least on "Project Runway"

4) Reality shows LOVE a villain ... or two!

5) A basic tank maxi dress can win in a fashion design competition! Who knew?



After last week's "Dress Nina la Diva" episode, the remaining contestants woke up only to find boxes in their Atlas Apartments. I started to get the shakes, as this reminded me of my Season 2 "Figure Skating/Make a Costume for Sasha Cohen" Challenge, when we received boxes of snap-on body suits and leggings to wear during our ice skating outing. Oh happy times! No figure skating for these kids; they were going to the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory. Heidi and Tim were there to tell them that they would be working in four teams of three....



Click HERE to continue reading my Mylifetime.com Blog.

Project Runway Season 9--Episode 3 "Go Big or Go Home" --Nick Verreos MyLifetime.com Recap

The Circus--and OVER-exaggerated Body Types...come to Battery Park New York!!!



This:



Equals:

Project Runway Season 9 Designers Joshua McKinley and Julie Tierney design for Challenge No. 3

Last night's 3rd Episode of Project Runway Season 9 involved STILT Walkers and designing outfits for them--that were NOT COSTUME-Y but more "Couture" as their Mentor Tim Gunn, suggested. It was a MESS!!!! I was so amazed (and not in a good way) at how BAAAD these looks were that I thought I was watching a horrible "Day At The Circus" Documentary...The designers/contestants were teamed up and well, to begin--one of the teams Josh and Julie wanted to do "Torreador Couture" and ended up doing Elephant Clown Circus Wrangler, as my images above shows you. It really should have looked like this:

Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Fall 2008

I know it is not fair to compare a $50,000 Haute Couture ensemble---which includes a hand-beaded jacket that probably took 400 HOURS to make--to an outfit on Project Runway that was made in 12 hours but there was nothing chic or modern or even something that looked wearable in Joshua and Julie's Outfit.

And to think that these were even in contention for the Best:



Becky and Kimberley: One shoulder striped, pouffed/Leg-o-Mutton sleeved jacket with contrast over-sized cuffs and asymmetrical collar paired with gold-studded army-green trousers ensemble. Enough said. The top was SOOO "Fashion School Graduation Show 101" in terms of its silhouette, styling and fabric choice. Yes, the pants fit extremely well (the judges agreed), but still: It WASN'T that good...to be considered a "Top".



Cecilia Motwani and Danielle Everine: The chiffon fabric of this look was cut and sewn BEAUTIFULLY!!! I give both of these girls points for that. But if it wasn't for the 1967 "Medicated with Way-Too-Many-Dry-Martinis-Housewife" bouffant hairdo, they might have won...

but in the end it was this that won this awful & creepy challenge:



Anthony Ryan Auld and Laura Kathleen: This was the ONLY look--a red gown with a gathered blouson top with feathered shouldered detail and thin-belted waist--that came close to NOT being COSTUME-like and from the Circus and actually reminded the judges--and me--of a gown that was just "stretched"...Laura won as a result.



The Really Bad:







Bert Keeter and Viktor Luna: These two designers argued throughout the entire challenge and the result of their look was a MESS! Using brocade from the Mood Fabrics HOME and Sofa Section (is there really such a department? I may be making it up!) is NOT a good idea!!



But it was THIS Tutu concoction that really made the judges sour:





Bryce Black and Fallene Wells: These two designers tried to do "Black Swan"-meets-Punk. Not so much. The basic black cami looks like it came from Forever 21 and that tutu, low-hanging waistband and under-skirt pants? It all looked like a drunk 50-something former ballerina had hijacked the stage and needed to be escorted off. Fallene was "Auf'ed"...



If you really want to know what I thought of the entire Episode...





Here is a preview of my recap for myLifetime.com:



Send In The Clowns



Off the Bat ...

I know that I will risk sounding like a big ol’ “Negative Ninny” right off the bat (I promise, just this week!), but ... boy, were these outfits AWFUL! Just awful! Good, I had to get that off my trimmed yet still hairy chest. Oh, and let me add the following while I am on a roll: I am all for Team Bert in this Viktor vs. Bert History of Fashion Terminology Lesson. Don’t say “Elizabethan” or “Victorian” or “Gothic” when you haven’t a CLUE what those terms refer to. Go buy François Boucher’s “20,000 Years of Fashion: The History of Costume and Personal Adornment” and then talk to me. Don’t use the incorrect terminology and not expect to be clocked on it. OK, I am done for now. Let’s discuss this week’s Circus on the Runway Challenge....



Click HERE to continue reading--and of course, please let me know what you thought (in the comments section).

Nick Verreos Season 8 Project Runway MyLifetime.com Recaps: Episode 11

80's Biker Shorts, The Lion King Zebras, Thanksgiving Turkeys, Wendy Pepper 2.0 and Topstick...Yep, It's Project Runwaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!

Let's Get Physical: Olivia Newton John and Sue Sylvester on "Glee"...and some sexy 80s Bicycle Short-clad boys

Helloooooooo ! (say it with the Heidi Klum accent!)--Yes, Season 8 Project Runway is just about in it's last episodes before it is decided Who. Will. Be. America's Next...Top Fashion Designer! Last Thursday's Episode and Challenge revolved around "Active Wear". Specifically, designing looks for...

Heidi Klum's new line for New Balance to be sold exclusively at Amazon.com. This was supposed to be the centerpiece of the episode. However, as things sometimes turn out on Project Runway, that was just an excuse to get the "Mean Girls" back and get the Drama simmerin' again...since of course we (and in "we" I don't mean ME!) love the DRAMA!

The Lowlights and Highlights:

--Ivy Equals Wendy Pepper 2.0

Ivy Higa returns as the Leader of Season 8's "Mean Girls" (along with 3/4 of the cast), accusing Michael Costello (of course) of cheating and sabotage...Well, if anyone is sabotaging it's Miss Ivy. She took this entire Episode away from everyone else: I forgot WHAT the Challenge was about and that it had anything to do with Heidi, New Balance OR Amazon.com! So, I think we can make it official: Ivy is the new...

Wendy Pepper. Congrats!

--Thanksgiving Day Turkey Work Out Gear?

During this episode, the bitter "Mean Girls" Designers who were brought back to "help" kept making fun of what Michael Costello was creating for Heidi and her new line, saying it reminded them of something from a "Thanksgiving Day Turkey Parade". I actually thought they were cute...Just to remind people THIS...

Is what a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Design actually looks like! Thank you very much :)

--Topstick/Toupee Tape/Double-stick Tape was the new Season 8 Cast Member

Continuing on the "Mean Girls" and accusations...Miss Ivy accused Michael C. of using double stick tape on his dress for the "Jackie Kennedy Challenge". I didn't realize that using Topstick was against the rules. Why is Topstick against the rules but using glue, glue stick and staples NOT? Read my MyLifetime.com Blog to see what I think of all that.

--Bicycle Shorts Are BAAACK Y'all!

Yep, Gretchen had a pair of bicycle shorts in her "Heidi Klum for New Balance" looks-they were asymmetrical and black and none of the judges thought they were cute. I would have liked them if they looked more like the ones above--thong and all! At least, I would have given her credit for being kitschy and campy!

--The Best & Not So Good

I actually liked Mondo's group-he stuck to the color story for Heidi's New Balance line, it looked wearable as well as directional; very Alexander Wang Barney's CoOp. And of course, those geometric headbands were oh-so-editorial! Even though he was being kind of a you-know-what to Heidi, he should have won...again!

I wasn't a fan of Andy's active wear looks though. Michael Kors and Heidi K just LOOOOVED it! I didn't get it. Nina Garcia did say they looked "a bit" Halloween-y. On closer inspection, they also reminded me of this:

The "Lion King" Zebra costumes! There's an inspiration: The Zebras from Lion King-Inspired Active Wear by Andy South! Love it!

But it was "Cutie Christopher" who was sent home--when I saw those weird proportions, twisting inseams, crazy styling (Wedge heels??Really???) and even crazier slits placed in the most WRONG places, I knew it was going to be his time. Michael Kors was right, they did look rather "Retirement Home Pajama Party". Christopher's girls were on their way to play Mahjong and then meet their girlfriends for some Bloody Mary's...as opposed to go to their next Bikram Yoga appointment.

Even this lovely lady looks more fashionable than any of Christopher's models...

Oh well, with that, we (and when I say "we", I mean "I") give you a smooch on the cheek for being CUTE and for designing for the "Older Clientele"...they are sometimes forgotten on Project Runway.

Here's a Sneak Peak of my latest Blog Recap of Episode 11 for MyLifetime.com:

Lies, Losers and a Tale of Double-Stick Tape

Oh Lordy: I just knew that after a solemn and genuinely emotional TEARJERKER of an episode — and I would be remiss not to mention HOW TIMELY it was with all these sad gay suicides occurring in our country — that it would be followed by DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA! I'm not talking the good, Joan Crawford, DIVA kind. I'm talking about the silly, bitchy, bitter kind. Yep, it seems that the producers saw the drama fading away as soon as the "mean girls" were eliminated, and thought to themselves, "Hmmm, how can we recapture that Jersey Shore level of fighting again?! I know! Let's bring back the bitter, angry eliminated designers! Yeah! Problem solved!" But I digress … let's start from the top........

To Read The ENTIRE Recap Click HERE

Nick Verreos Project Runway MyLifetime.com Recaps: Episode 4!

Hat Fantastique!!!

On last night's Project Runway Season 8 Episode, the contestants had to create an ensemble inspired by incredible Hat Couture designed by Philip Treacy. Who needs an outfit when you've got those FABULOUS hats??!! The episode was filled with Ambulances, a Designer Down, More of Gretchen Replacing Tim Gunn while he's not there, FOUR designers caught...

The "Handkerchief Hem Bug" and we even got to witness...

The FIRST ever Triple Panty in Project Runway History from...

Separated at Birth?! Figure Skater Nicole Bobek (left) and Project Runway Contestant Nicole Johnston (right)

Designer April Johnston--who bears a striking resemblance to Olympic Figure Skater Nicole Bobek (I know, did I just give you a Figure Skating Reference!?). She designed a Hoochie Indochine ensemble to go with her Asiana-inspired hat. I suggested that maybe she should have referenced...

John Galliano's masterful Spring 2007 Haute Couture Christian Dior Collection...but alas she did not. For all my thoughts, below is the beginning of my MyLifetime.com Recap of this week's Hat-Glorious Episode:

Finally...It is interesting that the winning design was worn with this iconic Isabella Blow hat (below). Maybe the memories for Philip Treacy helped give Michael Costello the win?!

We Will Miss You Isabella Blow xoxo

Below is the beginning of my mylifetime.com recap:

Sad Orchids, Handkerchief Hems and a Triple Panty Party!!

OMG!!! It's Philip friggin' Treacy! God, Genius, Hat Zeus! Seriously, I got the shivers just thinking about what I would design with one of his masterpieces! I was so excited at the prospect of the marvelous creations these designers would make. But then someone slapped me back to life — I think it was the Ghost of Alexis Carrington from "Dynasty" — with the realization that Casanova was still in the show and that there would certainly be some embarrassing messes ahead ... But before we get to all that, plus the Triple Panty Party and how EVERYONE'S drinking the Handkerchief Hem Kool-Aid, let's talk about Designer Down.....

Click HERE to read the entire Recap!