It's plain from the waiting room reactions of the contestants that they're surprised by who landed in the top and bottom on
Project Runway these last few weeks. I'm with them. The judges are picking the oddest, drabbest outfits for the top slots and they keep over-looking the real talent in the bunch. Let's take a look at last night's designs and then you tell me if you think the judges got it right.
The Should HavesMondo turned out this perfectly darling summer outfit and jacket. It's fun, it's cute, it's well-made and I thought he had a winner for sure. No. Not only did he not win, but he landed in the bottom three! What? The judges called him out for making K-Mart clothes for teens and I say, so? Teens have money to burn and nowhere in this challenge did it say it had to be couture for adults. No wonder he's so bummed out and questioning his own talent. Time to cut Mondo a break.
Andy keeps getting this close to the brass ring but he misses it week after week. This week, I thought his swimsuit was the clear winner. Nope. At least he made the top three but how they could place him second after that goth baby-doll of April's is beyond me. He made a swimsuit, for heaven's sake. It was chic, the skirt moved on the runway. What more does this guy have to do?
Slipping into Neutral When I think resort, I think fruity drinks on an island and lounging in a cabana at the beach in Florida, I think tropical colors, light, cool fabrics, and loose, casual clothes. What I never think of is tan, brown and black. Guess these designer go to a different kind of resort.
Gretchen is experiencing a fall from grace and I expect her to end up in the bottom next week with the way she's going. She created a flowing pant and tank combo that was lined with peek-a-boo color panels. Would have been fabulous if she hadn't gone brown and burgundy.
Coincidentally, her partner,
Casanova, also went with a neutral theme with a light brown pant and a cream top. The outfit didn't scream resort, but I don't think it screamed Friday night bingo, either. I say he's got a future in designing for rich ladies over 50 who prefer to dress appropriately for their age. Maybe he and Mondo should get together to make a line of matching outfits for grandmom and her granddaughter.
Valerie and Christopher also went with mostly neutral tones and I thought Valerie's short pants and odd, cut-out vest should have landed her in the bottom two. I can see how she was trying to add interest to the vest, but the slits moved like gills on a fish when the model walked and it wasn't pretty.
Christopher was saved by the top. His flowing, print top had this lovely side movement to it. It felt light and airy and worked with the neutral shorts. I still think he's better than this so I expect to be wow'd in the next two weeks.
A Tale of Two MichaelsMichael C and D switched places this week with D getting the flack from a nasty partner and C getting a new best friend. First off,
Project Runway should have a rule about people with the same name. On
America's Next Top Model, they make one of the girls change her name so there's no confusion. D should have been known as Drum or we could have called C "Stello." They both would have benefited greatly from a cool, snazzy name, so if you're listening, producers, it's not too late to make a change.
Stello (aka
Michael C) made a halter-top pantsuit out of this gorgeous, flowing print fabric that truly screams resortwear. Drum (aka
Michael D) made a black tube with chains and a weird neckline and for this he landed in the top three. What? I like him as a person, but how is a black tube the perfect thing for cocktails by the pool?
The Agony and the EcstasyWhich brings us to April and Ivy.
Ivy did herself in with this simple pant and blouse combo that I thought wasn't as bad as the judges made it out to be. I like the seafoam color in the top but I admit it worked because on TV the skirt kind of looked like pants. Palazzo pants would have been the perfect finish but she doubted Drum and her lack of faith put her in the bottom three. (Casanova went home though and Ivy lived to sew another day.)
April was the challenge winner and it perplexes me to no end. Her outfit was cute and inventive and sexy, but it didn't say resortwear. The judges called other designers out for not fulfilling that requirement but her punk lingerie got rave reviews. Another week of proof that I have no taste when it comes to couture clothing.
What do you think of this week's offerings? Which outfit is your favorite and which one would you have sent to the bottom of the suitcase when packing for your trip to an island resort?Photo Credit: Barbara Nitke / Lifetime Television.