PROJECT RUNWAY....Nick Verreos Season 12 Project Runway Recaps Episode 6 GLAMP IT UP! My "Extended Nick Recap":

Not In the Mood To Cook Marshmellows

Last night's "Project Runway" Season 12 Episode on Lifetime dealt with Camping. The photo above reflects what I think of Camping. Not. A. Fan. So when Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum announced that they were sending the designers on an over-nighter camping/get-to-know-the-outdoors trip, my first thoughts were "Oh Thank Goodness I wasn't there!", since this is how I see camping:

My Vision of Not Cute Camping

However, Tim quickly clarified (probably realizing some of the designers had similar "Oh No!" thoughts like myself) what kind of camping they would be doing...

GLAMPING: Luxurious Camping--Although the designers' GLAMPING site on last night's episode wasn't as luxurious as the one above (there are REALITY SHOW BUDGETS, kids!), it was mini-Glamping still...kind-of.

 Tim Gunn at the "Project Runway Season 12" GLAMP site--Tim, in camo suit (love the skinny cargo pants!) with Seona Skwara of Resource Natural Spring Water

 Not So Luxe Designers at camp--Project Runway Season 12 Episode 6

Judges (left to right) Nina Garcia, actress Alison Williams (Guest Judge), Zac Posen and Heidi Klum--The Challenge this week was to design a HIGH FASHION look inspired by Nature. Some did great and some, not so much...



The Best:

Alexander Pope: Alexander created a Mermaid-shaped gown and hand-painted tree branches and used black leather at the hem. The dress fit FLAWLESSLY! Good job Alexander!

Jeremy Brandrick: Jeremy used his time while on his GLAMPING over-nighter to write a Love Poem to his husband and children. He then transferred this poem--via calligraphy--onto an ivory satin bias-cut gown. The dress was so beautiful and of course, his model 5' 11" tall Roberta Little, looked amazing; her short pixie-like wig was the perfect "cherry" on the entire 20s/30s-inspired "Couture cake". I also loved the small pearl buttons on the side--very John Galliano-esque. To be honest, I think Jeremy should have won this one. But he didn't. The Winner was...

Alexandria Von Bromssen: Loner Alexandria was the only one to create "Sportif" separates consisting of a denim jacket and--as Zac Posen said--"poopy pants", drop-crotch "knickers". I thought the look was odd; the sleeves were too big and too long, the jacket rides up in the front, the slight tummy exposure looks a bit cheap and the "poopy pants" aren't doing it for me. But somehow, the judges drank the "Alexandria Kool-Aid" and she won.

Kate Pankoke: Kate ended up "Safe" with this white tulle concoction with shiny (is it patent leather or plasticized fabric?). I thought the fit was a bit "pregnant"-like but I got the whole "Nature Fairy Princess" vibe. I also thought it was slight referential of dresses I had seen before from...

 Alexander McQueen Fall 2008 (by Alexander McQueen) and Alexander McQueen Spring 2012 (by Sarah Burton)

Kate's dress also had elements of...

Marchesa Spring 2011

The Not So Good:

Bradon McDonald (left) and Karen Batts (right): Bradon had trouble this entire episode and only made this mess of a dress above during the 2-3 hours the designers have before the actual runway show...and it showed. It looked a bit sophomoric and like an 'Avatar' Fairy Going To A Prom.  

Karen's was a Beach Maxi-Dress straight out of Fred Segal Santa Monica.  I can just see Kim Kardashian wearing this, much to many fashion experts dismay. Karen tried to be "original" by dying the dress with a yellow ombré effect but, as the judges pointed out--it ended up looking a bit  like...

A Runny Egg.

But the Worst Was:

Justin LeBlanc: Justin tried to "step outside the box" and use the glue in his glue gun to create a lace applique effect. Unfortunately, it backfired. It looked as if his dress was FROTHING. And in the WRONG place. He was Out...but not for long...



Want to Know What I Really Thought of this Episode? Here's my RECAP of this week's Episode:

Glamp It Up



Tim in a Camouflage suit? Heidi in a khaki ensemble? Is this THE "Kandahar Province Challenge"? Is the U.S. Army a new sponsor? No kids, relax, "Project Runway" is going Camping—as in tents, marshmallows and getting closer to nature...



Camping Convert

First things first, I'd like to take this time to discuss my abhorrence to camping. It may come to everyone reading this as a surprise, but once—very long ago—I was a Cub Scout. I HATED IT. In addition, the one time my dad tried to take me on a father-son camping trip, I cried the entire time. Suffice it to say, I don't do camping. So when Tim and Heidi announced that the designers were going on a camping trip,besides thinking bug bites, peeing in a river and snakes in my tent, I thought, "Thank goodness I wasn't there!" This all changed, however, the minute Camo-Tim mentioned that this would be more of "luxury camping"— a GLAMPING trip. I think my fuchsia-colored Prada Dopp Kit could definitely get with the GLAMPING program. I also realized that this "get out of the workroom" trip would have been a nice respite from the pressure cooker environment of the competition.



Time To Glamp It Up

I was ready to give Tim Gunn credit for coining a new word into the lexicon of hip 21st Century lingo...until I Googled "Glamping" and 1,330,000 results came back. Oh well Tim, not this time. The designers packed, got in their separate boy-girl vans, drove for hours and finally got to their Glamping site. Tim was waiting there, along with Seona Skwara, who has what could be the MOST OBSCURE TITLE in a Company EVER: she is the Head of Activation with Resource Natural Spring Water. One question: does she "activate" the Resource Natural Spring Water Spout? Inquiring minds want to know.



Nature Inspired

Along with Tim, Seona announces that...



CLICK HERE to Read the rest of my RECAP on MyLifetime.com "Project Runway Blog" 

PROJECT RUNWAY.....Nick Verreos Project Runway Season 12 Recaps Episode 5: "Unconventionally Sewn"

 Remaining designers on "Project Runway Season 12", Episode 5 in the Meatpacking District

This past week's episode of Lifetime Network's "Project Runway Season 12" dealt with MANY THINGS: it was

A) A Lexus Challenge (even though they didn't necessarily have to use the car as inspiration--go figure)

B) Another Team Challenge (2nd in five weeks);

C) An Unconventional Challenge (third in five weeks);

D) Create a trio of high-end looks;

Plus there was also much Designer Diva/Drama, naturally. Just when you thought the Drama had left the building (Hello Sandro!)...think again darlings...First, the designers met Tim Gunn at the "Gansevoort Plaza" of the Meatpacking District of NYC.

 Meatpacking Mess

I'm so glad they got all the drunk passerbys who usually surround that area every night off the pavement, just in time to film their early morning "This Is Your Challenge" shoot...

And get all those nice Lexus automobiles in there! The designers were put in teams of three and from the beginning, Ken "La Nueva Diva" Laurence was not happy about who he had to work with, particularly Sue.

 File Under "Not Happy": Team (left to right) Alexandria, Ken and Sue--Episode 5 "Project Runway Season 12"

The designers went to various places to get the materials/supplies for their challenge, including an antique wallpaper store, a party supply/home goods store, as well as a specialty grocery store.

I Need To Pay For the Broken Camera: A "Surprise Visitor"--Sandro "The Diva" Masmanidi --stopped by the Parsons Workroom to apologize for his behavior before he kicked himself off the show. I actually think the real reason he had to return was to pay up the $3,000+ film camera he broke.

Guest Judge, Stylist June Ambrose (far left), stylist to Diddy, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot and many others, joined Nina Garcia, Zac Posen and Heidi Klum for this episode

The Best of the Runway included:

Unconventional Couture: Team Alexander, Bradon and Miranda did a great job in their designs; particularly designers Alexander Pope (left) and Bradon McDonald (right). I loved Alexander's wrap/shawl and Bradon's draped "wedding gown" was marvelous!

The Top Team was Jeremy, Karen, Kate: Karen Batts' design (left) was a shift shapeless dress that was VERY Prada; chic, modern, and very Nina Garcia (no wonder she LOVED it!). Kate Pankoke's black mini dress with plunging neckline and jutting details (above, right) SCREAMED Atelier Versace in its oh-so-sexy silhouette.

 Atelier Versace Spring 2012

The Winner: But it was Jeremy Brandrick who won for his strapless design he made out of placemats and glitter. It looked like a $2000 dress one would find at Barney's NY and completely made from Mood Fabrics...NOT placemats! It was Fab. The silhouette and style was like a Victoria Beckham dress (above)--but on SEXY Overdrive!



The Bottom:

Justin LeBlanc: For me, this design above was one of the worst. Poor Justin and his attempt to make pants. First, he never made pants before and then, he tries to make pants out of STIFF drawer lining material. Then, he makes them CAPRI PANTS!!?? Oh Dear Lord! She looks like an woman on a Princess Cruise to The Bahamas.

The Uh Oh Kids: Ken Laurence did himself NO favors this past week acting in a not-so-very nice way toward fellow designer Sue Waller; at least from my unscientific research on the "internets", let's just say he ain't well liked out there.  At the same time Miss Sue came to "Project Runway" without schoolin' herself on how to A) Sew on an industrial machine (or regular machine for that matter!); B) Thread a Bobbin, and C) Know the Basics of Pattern Making (she should watch my Look TV Video at least!). For that and for the most "uninspired" look of the night, it was her "Auf" time...And just in case...



Sue, Here's my Look TV "Basics of Pattern Making 101:

Look TV "Basics of Sewing" Nick Verreos Video:

And here's my "Project Runway Blog" Recap of this Episode and what I REALLY thought of it all:

Unconventionally Sewn

In my last "Project Runway" blog recap, I ended with "hope the drama has left the room and now we can get back to the FASHION"... Well, I got 50% of my wish. Last week, we had the celebratory episode involving the designers creating looks inspired by bow ties and Bradon's heartwarming-and tear inducing marriage proposal. Also, Sandro "The Drama Diva" left, punched a camera and POOF: no one is out. Now is a new week and a new challenge. And yes, new DIVA Drama...



Bridge and Meatpacking Tunnel

Miss Heidi greets the designers by telling them that they are to meet Tim (and a guest) in the UBER hip (still?) Meatpacking District of NYC. Cut to the Gansevoort Plaza. PS: I had no idea that's what it was called—I just thought it was the place where drunk "Bridge and Tunnel" couples stumbled along the cobblestone streets. Tim Gunn is there with several shiny new Lexus automobiles. He's with Brian Bolain, Corporate Manager for Lexus.



And You Must Solve a Crossword Puzzle Too!

Oh yes, it's another "Brand" challenge. As it turns out, it's not only that but...

A) It's also a Team Challenge (the designers are put in teams of three).

B) It's an Unconventional Challenge (The third in 5 episodes! What is this, the "Unconventional Season"?). The designers will not be going to Mood but instead, get their materials from an antique wallpaper store, a specialty food store, or a home goods/party store.

C) The designers must design a mini-collection of high-end looks.

D) Be inspired by the Lexus automobiles...or not.

E) They have a $1500 suggested budget.

F) Have only one day to do it.

G) And they must do all the above PLUS solve a Crossword Puzzle involving World Politics...OK, not this last one, but I wouldn't have been surprised if they did!



Driving Miss Sue

Teams are announced and they are Jeremy, Karen, Kate; Alexander, Bradon and Miranda; Dom, Helen, Justin; and Alexandria, Ken and Sue. The last one being the most contentious from the start: Ken is not happy...



Click HERE to Continue Reading my RECAP on the "Project Runway Blog" on MYLifetime.com

PROJECT RUNWAY.....Nick Verreos MyLifetime.com Project Runway Blog Recaps Episode 4: "Fit To Be Bow Tied"

"Modern Family" actor and co-creator of "tie The Knot" tie company Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Tim Gunn--Season 12 Project Runway Episode 4

This week on Lifetime Network's Project Runway Season 12, the designers found themselves in a workroom full of ties. The ties were all from "Tie The Knot", a company/organization co-created by "Modern Family" actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita...

 

Bow Tie Cuties: Justin Mikita and Jesse Tyler Ferguson

The designers were at first scared (look at those "Oh No!" faces above) that it was going to be the dreaded "Menswear Challenge"...

But as it turned out--notice how their their gasps turned into smiles--it wasn't. The challenge was to make a Look using at least ONE tie from "Tie The Knot", incorporating it into their design.

Jesse and Justin's "Tie The Knot" design company gives the proceed from sales of their ties toward Marriage Equality. So this was dubbed "The Marriage Equality" Episode, not just for that but of course for what happened when the winner of the Challenge was announced (Warning: Spoiler Alert!)...

Bow Tied Heidi--Season 12 Project Runway Episode 4

Bradon--he proposed to his partner of 18 years right then and there--then later found out via Skype from his partner that the Supreme Court had overturned DOMA and therefore now they could finally get married. Oh and yeah, there was Sandro Drama Drama Drama. The entire episode was a tour-de-force of crazy emotions running the gamut from wanting to throw something at the TV (I wanted to slap Sandro upside the head through the TV!) as well as crying (yes kids, my partner and I cried while watching the proposal part, both during the judging and later Skype call). Anyhow, let's discuss--briefly--the Runway Designs, before I can "set you free" to read my RECAP of the episode...

Posing Divas: Judges Jessee Tyler Ferguson, Nina Garcia, Heidi Klum and Zac Posen doing their best Diva Model Pose (I think the Winner here was Zac Posen HAND DOWN!)

The Good:

Dom Streater and Kate Pankoke: Both ladies did a very good job incorporating ties into their respective designs. I loved how Kate (right, above) did a bow tie shape in her skinny pants. I also really admired Dom's striped fitted dress (left, above) and the colorful bow tie neckline detail; it looked like a Rainbow Flag. I also thought the bow-shaped hair-bun was UBER fab!

Bradon McDonald: Bradon did a superb job in his ensemble of tweed boucle shorts and cropped bolero style jacket but it was his top completely made out of ties that got him the win. The top was a definite homage to ties and Jesse's "Tie The Knot" brand and his use of the faggoting technique:

Faggoting (also spelled Fagoting): Also called a Featherstitch, is an embroidery technique made of open looped stitches worked alternately to the right and left of a central rib--like the images above--Bradon showed myself and Tim Gunn a jacket with this technique during the Los Angeles Casting/Audition in a design he made for his "FIDM Debut 2013" Graduation Show collection:

 Bradon McDonald and the cropped bolero jacket he showed us during the Project Runway Season 12 L.A. Castings--the jacket was made of spaghetti bias strips held together using the faggoting technique--Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Debut 2013 Show

Now, the Not-So-Good:

Miranda Levy: Oh Miranda, she loves a Pencil Skirt. In fact I don't think she ever met a Pencil Skirt she didn't like. It seems to be the only thing she can do! For this challenge, she did it again and then made a big mistake by cropping the blouse and exposing the midriff. It went from Ladies-Who-Lunch to Ratchet and Tacky in one hot scissor move.

Sue Waller: Speaking of tacky. Sue's black jersey tank dress with bow tie "harness" straps was a mess. It was very Helena Bonham Carter Red Carpet DISASTER. She was probably going to go home were it not for Sandro and his UGLY attitude, yelling, being confrontational and eventually, leaving the show altogether...

Sandro Masmanidi: Oh, and yes, his design wasn't that good either. It was a pink Demi Moore at the 1989 Oscars-like concoction (sans the bicycle shorts, Thank God!) that screamed late 1980s/early 1990s Gianfranco Ferre for Dior--and not in a good Couture way.

Bye Sandro...and HELLO to my Recap--below is what I REALLY thought of this week's episode:

Fit to be Bow Tied

Chaotic and wonderful. Two words to describe last night’s rollercoaster of an episode. One minute I wanted to throw something at the TV and the next, I was crying with tears of joy. Let’s begin with the "how timely" factor. As you may know, lately there has been some rampant homophobia and anti-gay legislation that has been passed by the Russian Government (Sandro’s homeland coincidentally enough). Mark that with the contrast of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down DOMA and require the Federal Government to recognize same-sex marriage. This episode aired at a fitting time indeed and a coup for "Project Runway" injecting itself into current events. Now, let me get to the recap before the Supreme Court changes its mind…



Pow!

The episode began with a POW! Tattooed Helen and Anger Management Issues Sandro were arguing and shouting; Sandro subsequently storms out of Parsons, punches a cameraman (or the camera to be more precise)...and scene. Cut to 36 hours earlier: the designers awake at their Refinery Hotel, get ready and head to Parsons to await their next challenge. In the workroom, they are greeted by hundreds of colorful bow ties. The minute the designers see all the bow ties, there is an, "Oh no, Are we doing menswear?" gasp. But, alas, their frowns transition into smiles as they quickly learn that it is not. Tim Gun—in a bow tie—of course, introduces "Modern Family" actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Jesse is the co-creator and designer of Tie the Knot, a tie company created to support marriage equality.



Bradon vs. Sandro: The Two Story Arcs

The challenge is to design a look using at least one bow tie in a non-traditional way. After Mood shopping, the designers head back to the workroom. Two separate stories begin to form within this episode. The first centering on Bradon and his partner Josh; we learn that they have been together for 18 years—longer than many straight marriages, thank you very much! How "un-traditional" indeed. The second storyline is focused on Sandro. As the intro tease shows us, something will go down, but first we need to learn about the beginning and middle, since we already learned the end. As the episode moves on, Sandro is venting to his fellow designers (and Tim Gunn) about how annoyed he is at the judges’ critiques telling him...



To Continue Reading my Recap on MyLifetime.com "Project Runway Blog", Click HERE