Watching the looks on the runway, and listening to the judges, it was pretty clear the designers didn't do so well.
View full sizeLeft to right, Cynthia Rowley guest judges with Isaac Mizrahi, Georgina Chapman and Angela Lindvall in the sixth challenge of "Project Runway: All-Stars."Episode 6 of the first season of "Project Runway: All-Stars" found the remaining eight designers paired off in what host Angela Lindvall called a "fashion faceoff" (which they should have used when they had guest judge/hockey thug Sean Avery).
The challenge: Create sportswear for a weekend getaway, geared toward a specific season. There were two designers per season, paired in mini head-to-head challenges: Who could create the best design for spring, summer, autumn and winter? The four winners would be safe, and the four with the lower scores would be up for elimination.
Watching the looks on the runway, and listening to the judges, it was pretty clear the designers didn't do so well. Two of the seasonal winners easily would have been losers if their opponents had come up with anything decent. What I hate about challenges like this is that a lousy design gets a pass because it was just a bit better than another lousy design. Worse yet, not everyone is being judged on the same challenge – sure, it's a sportswear challenge, but designing for summer is literally 180 degrees different than designing for winter.
It was interesting when judge Georgina Chapman, responding to Angela's "Have we made our decision?" question to wrap up the judging, replied:
View full sizeLeft to right, Rami Kashou and Mila Hermanovski's designs."Reluctantly."
What was she reluctant about? Having to declare anyone a winner? Sending Rami Kashou home when the judges had to force themselves to say nice things about the designs of Kara Janx and Mila Hermanovski? Not sending Michael Costello home after saying, "... if he was to do a collection, I don't know what we would get"? When she said that during the deliberations, I thought for sure Michael was toast.
Rami's hideous green blouse was a construction nightmare. Designer Cynthia Rowley, the guest judge, nailed it when she described the effect on the model's bust: "... that diagonal line kind of makes it look like she's lopsided." But his jacket was a winner, a modern-looking design.
Was Rami's overall look worse that Kara's boring three-piece outfit? I don't think so. I think her's was the worst effort of the show – emphasize "effort." As the judges said, there was nothing original about it; she certainly didn't do much in the way of designing.
What's worse: Creating something wearable that's unoriginal, or over-designing (and except for the green blouse, not in an unappealing way) while at least trying to do something new? I guess the judges gave us the answer, but I wonder what the outcome would have been if all eight were judged as a group rather than the head-to-head format.
Winter competitors Jerell Scott and Michael were this week's drama. Michael couldn't get his act in gear with his sketched design, and started on a coat very similar to Jerell's. Jerell firmly believed Michael copied his design. In the workroom, mentor Joanna Coles called everyone together and asked what they thought about it. "If it is a competition and you do see someone doing something that you think is better than your idea, is it wrong to use that idea?" she asked.
"I think if you see a better idea, then you have to push yourself further, in your direction," Mila said. Michael accomplished that; even though he lost head-to-head to Jerell, his was one of the three best designs.
It was a tough week for defending challenge winner Mondo Guerra. The challenge took place on his mom's 60th birthday, and he describe his look as a "fantasy of my girl representing me going to her party." When the judges mercilessly shredded his look, he cried his way off the stage and into the stew room. "That was embarrassing," he said, sobbing.
We can't let this episode go by without noting this week's scary Joanna mentor moment: It came when she called out "Austiiiiiinnnnnn!!!!!" ahead of his mentoring session. That sent a chill up my spine. In fairness, I suppose I'd appreciate a clear warning that Joanna is coming ... and it won't be pleasant.
The critiques, with judges' comments:
SPRING:
View full sizeLeft to right, Austin Scarlett and Kara Janx's designs.Austin:
Angela: “There's something about this girl that reminds of a small town going to church or something.”
Georgina: “I can't see an everyday girl, modern woman, in this.”
Isaac Mizrahi: “Tailored beautifully … I would never want to have lunch with her and go into a garden with her … those pants to me were the best thing in the show today. It's just that the rest of it was so bad. … ”
Cynthia: “It's almost so dorky it's cool … “
Kara:
Angela: “very wearable comfortable look … she kind of snuck her way into the high scores because Austin went a little nutso this time ...”
Georgina: “I wouldn't mind looking like that. … it's a perfectly OK look, but I didn't think there was anything more than that”
Isaac: “... gray, purple and then white pants, it's like, really? … I get very annoyed when there's absolutely no style at all ...”
Cynthia: “I don't see anything original about any of these pieces at all.”
SUMMER:
View full sizeLeft to right, Kenley Collins and Mondo Guerra's designs.Kenley Collins:
Angela: “I would love to wear this outfit.”
Georgina: “If you're going to use a polka dot, line it up better in the shorts … she stuck to who she was … but, having said that, we have seen this look quite a lot, and I would like to see it changed up a little bit more”
Isaac: “I like that it's one piece ...”
Cynthia: “It's really simple and chic ...”
Mondo:
Angela: “I definitely don't think this is Mondo's best look.”
Georgina: “It's a good look … not quite as brilliant as last week.”
Isaac: “It goes a little like junior or something. … I get '80s … ”
Cynthia: “I'm a little confused … there's a lot of different directions … I didn't like the choice of fabric … I hated the accessories”
AUTUMN:
Rami:
Angela: “... just makes me kind of ill, those colors, I don't why he would choose those ...”
Georgina: “I love the way the back hangs without it being belted … the top underneath, I wish I had never seen that.”
Isaac: “I wish you'd get rid of the green in the blouse … there's something sloppy about what's happening on the neckline … too much drapery around the neck … it looked like a draping project to me”
Cynthia: “... that diagonal line kind of makes it look like she's lopsided ...”
Mila:
Angela: “I really like a cape … I find Mila's look boring ...”
Georgina: “I like the pop of red … the thing that bothered me were the jeans … they were a little apologetic for what they are”
Isaac: “My problem with it was the fabric ...”
Cynthia: “I like the geometry of it ...”
WINTER:
View full sizeLeft to right, Michael Costello and Jerell Scott's designs.Jerell:
Angela: “I loved Jerell's look ...”
Georgina: “... I like the way that you've taken your bohemian aspect and your tribal aspect and you've brought it to a full look ...”
Isaac: “I think the coat's gorgeous … the buttons on the coat bother me a lot ...”
Cynthia: “I love the hat, the hair, the sleeve length, the little leather trim … Jerell's was like kind of earthy hippie, but it worked for that whole mood ...”
Michael:
Angela: “It's clear that everyone likes your look ...”
Georgina: “It's very very polished. … very sophisticated … I think his proportion is good … if he was to do a collection, I don't know what we would get”
Isaac: “The belt is so beautiful … she's resolved … I find those leggings with those shoes nasty … the design is not his strongest thing, it's the execution of a design … ”
Cynthia: “It's more of like an ensemble to me … it's almost like she's her mom ...”
Judges' Verdict (listed in order of decree):
Mila, Kara: You're safe, you can leave the Runway.
Jerell: Congratulations, you are the winner of this challenge.
Kenley: Congratulations, you can also leave the Runway.
Michael, Mondo: You're safe, and you can leave the Runway.
Rami: You're out.
Austin: You are safe, you can leave the Runway.
Jerell on winning:
If feels fantastic to be the winner in this challenge. I definitely think my look was ambitious. I think my pieces were pulled off beautifully, and with the doppelganger on the runway, I'm happy the judges were able to see the real McCoy.
Rami's farewell:
This was my first time on the bottom and I happened to be eliminated. Life goes on, the universe will take care of me in its own way . It's impossible for everyone in the world to like everything you do, and I'm OK with that, because I realize that's just the way life is. 'All-Stars' had given me the exposure that I needed to kick of what's to come next. It was definitely a great platform to showcase some of my work, and I'm grateful for that.