Last week on “Project Runway” the season began with an unconventional runway, with the contestants creating looks out of party materials, challenging the designers to be super creative on day one. This week it was all about designing for the “everyday woman.” How some of the designers approached this challenge traversed the gamut from uninspired to super-drop crotch un-realness. Time to discuss this week’s visions for a supposed “everyday fab” girl.
As the episode begins, Heidi saunters onto the runway to congratulate the designers on surviving the first challenge and adds that they all look like they could use “fresh air.” She tells them that Tim Gunn—and a special guest—will be waiting for them at a park, concluding by telling them that today will be “FAB-U-LOUS!” Hmm, let me guess, this is the JustFab Challenge…
Moments later, Tim is in the park introducing Chief Marketing Officer of JusfFab, Traci Inglis (yep, I was right!). He tells the contestants that there are over four million women in Manhattan who are getting dressed every morning, with Inglis adding that JustFab’s goal is “to make women of every age, every height, every size, look and feel fabulous.” On cue, 100 women—of all ages and sizes—walk into the park highlighting the tableaux for the next challenge: to create a look for the everyday woman, making them the most fabulous version of herself. Tim warns the designers to remember that versatility and diversity among their clientele does not mean “hum-drum.” They are creating FASHION. The winning look, Inglis says, will be reproduced and sold on JustFab.com (no word of the designer making any profit from this). I must say that the strangest thing about this presentation and challenge, is the fact that these hundreds of women presented to the designers are just for show. I first assumed that the designers would pick from the women and design an outfit based on their body silhouette. But instead, the designers will just be presenting their looks on the “everyday” 6 foot tall, size 2 runway models. If you ask me, this seems like a missed opportunity.
Following their first trip to Mood, the designers get to work on their designs and Tim visits for his critiques. Alex is working on a chiffon button-down blouse and tapered pant ensemble which Tim approves of. Erin is designing a trapeze dress with sequined adjustable tabs. Gunn isn’t so sure about the bedazzling, but Erin convinces him otherwise. He tells Jenni to “throw the dice” when it comes to her exaggerated crotch pants and is “arrested” by Linda’s ribbed knit fabrication. Speaking of drop-crotch, the design bug also bit Laurence, as she’s doing a drop-crotch silhouette too, this time in combination with a jumpsuit. Tim questions the versatility of her design in regards to women of all sizes wearing it (I do too!). With Brik, Tim warns him that less is more. Later in the workroom, Kimber is frustrated with her top that she seems to have sewn inside out. She has a soft floral crepe fabric and is using stiff denim as her lining. Those two fabrics are like oil and water. It doesn’t take a master of fashion design to understand that this might be problematic.
At this point in the episode, we also get to know a little more about Linda, her newscaster past and how she wants to win for her daughters. The jaded “Project Runway” viewer in me thinks she’ll be going home just because of this little emotional insert. Time to reveal her storyline before it is too late! Last but least, we are getting a very strong hint on who the villain of the season is (Hint: Cornelius). It’s only the second episode of the show and even the editors can’t hide the fact that Cornelius is the shadiest designer in the entire group. When they show him gossiping with the various designers, trying to give his “two cents” on their work, I only want to yell at him to “get yourself some business!” Sorry, but he’s only 24, fresh out of school and HE thinks he can be Tim Gunn? Ay caramba.
Runway day and Heidi, Zac and Nina (as well as Tim) are on hand to decide which look will be perfect for JustFab.com. Guest judge is actress Nina Dobrev, making it a double dose of Nina. Here are my thoughts on the runway looks:
Laurence’s khaki drop-crotch jumpsuit is the ultimate hipster girl look, I give her that. But, in my years of designing for real women of different sizes for my “NV Nick Verreos” line on QVC (albeit, a slightly different market than the JustFab customer), I would know that this look is a definite no-no. I loved Alex’s bow-tie blouse and cropped pant look. It was Parisian woman on a night out, ready for some wine and aperitifs. Jenni’s super drop-crotch pants and jacket ensemble was editorial but yet again NOT for the “everyday woman” of varying sizes and ages. This is for a 23-year-old Instagram stylista. I was surprised at how much I liked Kimber’s printed hi-lo cropped top and high-waisted pants. I disagreed with the judges and felt it was quite wearable and versatile for many women, but certainly not as fashion forward as some of the other designs. Erin’s voluminous neoprene dress was fun and chic and very JustFab. I loved the tabs and cinching aspect.
I did not hate Brik’s ensemble of a jacket and jacquard jersey pants, but I did think it was a bit lackluster and slightly too “Armani Exchange”-business for me. Sarah’s was one of the worst. Not only was it boring, it looked like something you would find in the back of a department store on the sale rack. Tasha’s was a mess. How that black and mesh, belly-exposing outfit did not end up at the bottom is beyond me. And then there was Linda. Her iridescent organza raincoat and knit dress ensemble was unremarkable and sloppy. I would not have been as harsh as Zac, in asking for the jacket to be burned, but it wasn’t anywhere close to being “everywoman fab.”
Just when I was wondering why Traci Inglis, the JustFab CMO, wasn’t the actual guest judge of this challenge, she walks out to announce the winner: Laurence. If it was up to me, I would have chosen Erin, considering the criteria was to design a look for women of every age and size. I agree with Nina Garcia that while Laurence’s design was super cool, this was not something a 73 year-old—or 43 year-old for that matter—would ever wear. I’m sure her winning jumpsuit will be modified (no more drop-crotch or awkwardly placed back pockets perhaps?) when it goes on sale.
In terms of the not so good, it was between Brik’s no personality creation and Linda’s shabbily made look. I had a premonition that Linda might be going home and unfortunately, I was right. Too bad, since—as the judges suggested—this should have been the perfect challenge for her. My advice to Linda is to not give up on your dream. Life can be about second (third or fourth) chances and the fashion industry is always welcoming to people reinventing themselves. If anyone can do it, I have a feeling Linda will. From news journalist and mom to fashion designer… why not?!
