Mondo Guerra, in designing for the "Godspell" costume challenge, superbly referenced Broadway and Joseph's coat from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Mondo Guerra works on his winning design during Episode 7 of "Project Runway: All-Stars" Season 1.For the seventh challenge of "Project Runway All-Stars" Season 1, the seven remaining designers were brought to the Circle in The Square Theater on Broadway and asked to design a costume for the revival of "Godspell."
"Godspell" composer Stephen Schwartz explained the challenge to the designers, asking them to design a look for a character who is a very rich person who wants everyone to know how rich and materialistic and showy she is. It should look like something that the character put together from something in their closet or thrift stores that's colorful and exaggerated – "but they still look great," Schwartz says.
Since the costume will be placed on the character by other actors, it's a separates challenge. Everyone is given $200, some time to sketch, and then sent to Mood.
Two designers, Kenley Collins and Mondo Guerra, included coat/jackets as one of their pieces. Both were expertly tailored. Mondo superbly referenced Broadway and Joseph's coat from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Kenley's red and white brocade fabric as well as her coat design were nice, but her addition of a feather collar wasn't a good idea.
Designer Kara Janx was well on her way to elimination during her mentoring session with Joanna Coles, who more warned than mentored by telling Kara that she wasn't being ambitious enough to be an All-Star. Joanna told Kara her design ambition was behind the others in the work room. Her words of discouragement brought tears to Kara as she reflected on what Joanna had to say.
And then Kenley, talking about Kara's woes, said the kinds of things that, through the history of "Project Runway," are said about someone headed out: "... the competition's kind of getting to her. She's stressed out, she misses her kids."
As the time for the challenge ticked down, Mondo was very unsure about where his design was going, at one point saying "I have to go through a really dark place to make myself work harder." Mondo's moments of self-doubt left one to wonder if he was on his way to being eliminated ... or winning.
View full sizeHost Angela Lindvall recaps the seventh challenge of "Project Runway All-Stars" Season 1 for the designers before the runway show.I have to give a huge nod to host Angela Lindvall's shimmering silver dress for the runway show and judging. Angela earned some well-deserved hoots from the contestants for her gorgeousness; the plunging bare back of the dress suited Angela well. No doubt about it, she was hot, hot, hot.
This week's guest judge was two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, star of "Anything Goes."
Safe to leave the runway:
Angela asked one contestant to please step forward – Jerell Scott. He moved on to Round 8.
Highest and lowest, with judges' comments:
Michael Costello:
Angela: " ... there's something about her that almost is a little bitchy ..."
Georgina Chapman: "... very lovely ... I wish it was slightly more eccentric ..."
Isaac Mizrahi: "... that color (chartreuse) is a very difficult color ... pairing it with the top was a really good idea"
Sutton: "... she feels like a rich party girl ..."
Kenley:
Angela: "... I wasn't sure if this woman looked rich enough ..."
Georgina Chapman: "You cut that coat so well ..."
Isaac Mizrahi: "... you need to tweak it just a little bit ..."
Sutton: "... the patterns muddle it. ..."
Austin Scarlett:
Angela: "... really fun and modern ..."
Georgina: "I can definitely see the nod toward Marie Antoinette ..."
Isaac: "... it borders on too young ..."
Sutton: "I love the color, and it would definitely draw attention ..."
Mila Hermanovski:
Georgina: "I don't mind the top of the look ..."
Isaac: " ... somehow together for me, it doesn't work ... she looks like she uses drugs, this girl ..."
Sutton: "... it borders a little bit on someone who might walk the streets ..."
Mondo:
Angela: "Well done, Mondo."
Georgina: "What's so great is the layering of fabrics ..."
Isaac: "She's so sexy, in a crazy, kind of passive/aggressive way ..."
Kara:
Angela: "... the silver bow in the front gets very bulky ..."
Georgina: "... the ideas are really good, they just needed resolving ..."
Isaac: "This is the best you've done ... I do feel it needs to be developed ..."
View full size(L to R) Sutton Foster guest judges with Isaac Mizrahi, Georgina Chapman and Angela Lindvall in the seventh challenge of "Project Runway: All-Stars."Judges' Verdict (listed in order of decree):
Michael: You're safe, you can leave the Runway
Mondo: The winner
Austin: We also loved your work, you're through to next week
Kenley: You're also safe
Mila: You're safe
Kara: I'm sorry to say, you're out
Mondo on winning:
"This win, coming off of last week, was so validating. ... like it's amazing"
Kara's farewell:
"I don't know that this was the best challenge for me. I gave all that I had every time. I've learned how much I've grown over the past five years, and I've also learned how much more growing I have to do creatively. It's been a really, really special time for all its ups and downs, and I'm just really, really grateful for the experience that I've had."