PROJECT RUNWAY.....Nick Verreos Season 12 Project Runway Recaps, Episode 9 "Modern Southern Re-Do"

Modern Southern Redo: "Designing Women" cast

On this week's Lifetime Network's "Season 12 Project Runway", the remaining designers had to design a look for Belk, the retail sponsor of this season and is the nation's largest family owned and operated department store company with 301 locations in 16 Southern states.

Speaking of Southern, the Challenge was to Design a Look For a Modern Southern Woman.  Just so you know, these are some photo samples of what Belk and dresses sold at Belk look like:

Dresses at Belk

Keep those images in mind when you keep reading--and seeing what this season's designers tried to come up as for their "Modern Southern Woman"...

The Guest Judges for this Challenge were John Thomas, Executive VP of Private Brands for Belk (far left) and George Clooney's ex main squeeze Stacy Keibler (second from left)--as well as Nina Garcia, Zac Posen and Heidi Klum, of course. The designs came out and I was dumbfounded by the fact that NONE of them looked like a Modern Southern Woman (at least, to me), or at least a dress selleable for a department store...

Let's start with the designers who got bit by the Handkerchief Plaid Virus:

Alexandria Von Bronssem: No. Not happening. Boring, very Tablecloth and too much handkerchief hem happening.

Alexander Pope and Bradon McDonald: Alexander's PLAID and HANDKERCHIEF HEM strapless dress (left) was cute and well made, but not for Belk and not a Modern Southern Woman; too tricky of a hem. Then there was (one of ) the actual Winning designs, from Bradon (right, above): I loved the mitering of the plaid and how well it fit his model Ya, but again, this was not a dress that would be sellable in a department store and the front bias cut/horizontal construction would have to be changed.

Ken Laurence: (alleged) Multiple Personality "Sybil" Ken--who is from the South--Alabama to be exact--did this hi-low dress. It was OK but verging on the "Gown Virus" some other designers caught:

Dom Streater (left) and Helen Castillo (right): When these gowns came out, all I kept thinking was "This is NOT Neiman-Marcus, it's BELK!". Why gowns? So disconnected. John Thomas, the Belk exec must have been like "Ummm, Gowns???"



The Most Modern Southern Woman (to me):

Kate Pankoke: Kate's design was the one (to me) that came closest to being a "Modern Southern Woman"--or at least, something I could see sold at Belk and Belk.com. But nope, she wasn't it. I liked the print; the simple un-tricky/non-handkerchief hem silhouette. It was a bit high-waisted but that can easily be fixed, when it comes to selling it in the stores.



The Not-So-Good:

Jeremy Brandrick: Oh Jeremy. Virgin Atlantic Flight Attendant. The Purser.



There was this "9th Hour" twist where the Bottom Three Designers were given a chance to Re-Do their designs...

Jeremy was Out for this too-blah dress above (which actually probably would have sold well at Belk), and...

Dom's re-do (above) was so well liked that she received a (sort-of) win and was told her dress would also be "Manufactured and Sold at Belk and Belk.com", along with Bradon's design...

I'm Confused, Where Are the Manufactured Dresses? When I tried to find these "manufactured" dresses that won at Belk.com, I couldn't find anything. Tim's perplexed face and stance reflects mine...



So, naturally, I think it's time I REALLY vent and let you guys read my MyLifetime.com "Project Runway Blog" Recap of this week...I have LOTS to say (as usual):

A Modern Southern Redo

A modern Southern woman. Now, this is something I have a little bit of knowledge about: this past Summer, I designed a line, NV Nick Verreos, that was sold to a major department store and I traveled around the South doing a bit of "market research" during my in-store appearances. So, I was looking forward to what the designers would think was their vision for this "modern Southern woman." As it turned out, I was left as confused as most of the judges. And what was up with that ninth hour Bottom Three face-off? And Ken's attitude? And all that plaid and handkerchief hems? Lots to discuss...



Put Down Your Mint Juleps

The episode began with Heidi walking onto the runway, telling the remaining designers that she was giving them a morning off because they needed to "relax, unwind and have some fun" (Yeah right!). The designers head to Juliette Restaurant, a French brasserie in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for a Southern-style brunch. As they were enjoying their croissants, coffee and French toast, Tim Gunn walks in—in a double-breasted suit from Zac Posen's closet—to announce that it's time to finish those mint juleps and pack all the extra beignets in a "to-go chien bag." Tim tells the designers that this "lovely, civilized, relaxed" brunch describes who they will be designing for next.



A Modern Southern Woman...Who Loves Plaid?

It's the Belk challenge: to create a day or evening look for a modern, Southern woman. Gunn describes this M.S.W. as someone who dresses vibrantly, expressively; always fashionably put-together; knows how to accessorize; and loves color and anything with feminine details. Even though the designers were told that they were having a morning off, the designers all somehow brought their HP tablets and were ready to sketch. Afterward, they headed to Mood where a lot of the designers caught the PLAID fabric virus...again!



Southern Woman Expert Ken

Ken, who hails from Birmingham, Alabama, deems himself the go-to guy when it comes to what a modern, Southern woman likes and wears. In his direct-to-camera interviews, he keeps wondering...



CLICK HERE to continue reading my RECAP! 

PROJECT RUNWAY.....Nick Verreos "Project Runway Blog" Episode 7 Recap: Shoe-In!

SHOES! Tim Gunn and Anne Fulenwider, Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Announcing Episode 7 Challenge, Season 12 Project Runway

On this week's Season 12 "Project Runway" Episode, SHOES were The Star. The Challenge was to craete a look inspired by a pair of shoes. The designers went to the Marie Claire NYC headquarters in the fabulous Hearst Building where they got to "raid" the Marie Claire Accessories Closet. Well, they  really didn't get to choose willy-nilly. Instead,
the designers (except for last week's winner, Alexandria) had to play a
"Fashion History" game in order to pick the shoes.

 Shoe Heaven: Season 12 "Project Runway" designer Kate Pankoke goes for her shoe pick

 Shame on You: Designers Dom Streader and Miranda Levy (above) were the last designers standing at the end of the Fashion History game because they somehow called in sick during "Fashion History 101" classes

One of my biggest pet peeves (I have LOTS!) is when so-called fashion designers (and students of fashion design) do not know their fashion history. Once, I asked a former student of mine to tell me which designers in the past were most influential, and she said (without blinking an eyelash I kid you not!) "Jessica Simpson!". Well, you can only imagine the "Nick Look" I gave to her. Shade doesn't even begin to describe it.

Moving on...during this episode, one thing occurred that REALLY ANNOYED ME: When Tim Gunn (who I love and respect greatly!) said that "this group is composed of THE GREATEST DESIGNERS in Project Runway history." We all know Tim has said this, like, in the last TEN SEASONS! And every time he says it, it's a bit disingenuous as well as knife-to-the-stomach to some other seasons that REALLY HAVE HAD some of the GREATEST DESIGNERS. Ask most die-hard "Project Runway" fans who have followed the show since it's inception and they'll tell you--without missing a beat--that this season ain't one of them. Just sayin'. Let's just skip to The Runway:

Kate Pankoke: Little Kate was "Safe" with this white blouse and black split-front ensemble she created for her red and yellow "Surrealist" shoes. I thought it was a bit of a mess. The blouse was way too tight and those pants were so 1998. She looked like a mistress of a Russian Oligarch.

Ken Laurence: Two words--Too Short

Alexander Pope: Two designers--Alexander (above) was one of them and Miranda was the other--were bitten by the PLAID Virus. The judges did not like Miranda's but thought Alexander's was OK. Go figure because I thought it should have been the other way around.

Alexandria Von Bromssen: Several things here--I thought those thigh-high gladiator sandals were TO DIE Fab. The outfit Alexandria made was OK--a soft-and-pretty counterbalance to those Gladiator Sandals. And finally (and most importantly), her model Ya SOLD THE LOOK and was really the reason Alexandria's outfit was one of the judges' favorite. Just sayin'.

Helen Castillo: Helen's all black very New York and Parisian Look was the Winner. No surprise there. It was VERY Alexander Wang for Balenciaga Fall 2013 (above, right), and "Fashion Folk" LIVED for that collection.

Bradon McDonald: The judge's Prized Favorite of the Season--Bradon--was heck-bent on using this bouillonné technique. The word means "bubbling" in French but it is also a pretentious way of saying "a Pick-Up" or "Puckering". He had these beautiful beaded gold flats as his inspiration, and he went 1982 Prom-Tacky. The top is tragique and that half-circle skirt is straight out of one of my Pattern/Draping class assignments.

Google "Jupe bouillonné" (Bubbled Dress en francais) and you'll see what I mean--it is the exact same techinique one sees in very tacky Prom and Wedding Dresses. The technique was used BEAUTIFULLY by....

Couture Master Cristobal Balenciaga--especially in his Fall/Winter Collection 1967 "chou" coat

Bradon just graduated from my alma mater--FIDM--and I had just seen his "Debut" collection back in March, and he's obviously very talented...

Bouillonné Bradon: Bradon McDonald FIDM Debut 2013 Collection

He showed several bouillonné looks which he also brought to the "Project Runway Season 12" Castings/Auditions in which I was a judge. So, in other words, I guess, this bouillonné thing is one of his "Bradon Bag O' Fashion Tricks". Toward the end of this episode, he realized that maybe he shouldn't have used it and kept it back in his "bag". While I thought for sure he had one of the worst designs, he was not the designer that went home. This was:

Miranda Levy: Yes, the other Plaid Girl, Miranda Levy. Miranda did a plaid high-waisted pleated pants with top and bolero jacket look for her patent leather red flats. I liked her look. I certainly didn't LOVE it. But to me, it wasn't the worst. I was happy Miranda didn't do yet another pencil skirt (that's Miranda's bouillonné!). The mitering (matching of the stripes) of the CF seam of her pants was done much better than Alexander's (the other Plaid Girl). But I did think the models hair was a tad too...

Amy Winehouse...but Nina HATED this outfit saying that it was way too Christmas-y...

A Plaid X-mas

Here's my RECAP of this week's Episode--Enjoy! And please, don't be afraid to tell me what YOU think:

Shoe-In

I must confess, I'm a shoe-a-holic; I love
shoes. My two obsessions are YSL "Johnny Boots" and colorful suede
driving loafers from Florence Italy. I own three YSL pairs and about
four of the Italian ones. I get the suede loafers from a "secret" little
store in Firenze (and I am NOT telling anyone what the store is!). I am
only admitting this shoe confession to try and dispel the myth that
only women are OBSESSED with shoes. Lots of men are too. And to be quite
honest I think there are quite a few of us that are addicted to women's
shoes too! No surprise that some of the top designers are Christian
Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik and Brian Atwood. So right away, I was excited
about the challenge and interested to see if the designers could make
the shoes the star.



Justin...You're In!

Last week, the designers got to go GLAMPING. Alexandria won the
challenge (much to my dismay, since I liked Jeremy's bias-cut "love
letter" gown better), and Justin was out, almost. Tim Gunn used his save
and Justin was still in, not because (as Tim said) "he's one of the
nicest persons here," but because of his talent and that he needed "a
little more time" on the show. OK Tim, if you say so.



Shoe Krazee

For this week's challenge, it was ALL ABOUT SHOES: the designers went to
the Hearst Building and met up with Tim Gunn and Marie Claire's
Editor-in-Chief Anne Fulenwider. Anne announced that this week's
challenge was to choose a pair of FAB shoes from the Marie Claire
accessory closet and create a look inspired by those shoes. Before they
could pick, there was a fashion quiz they had to take. Alexandria did
not need to participate since...



Click HERE to continue reading my RECAP on MyLifetime.com's "Project Runway Blog" 

PROJECT RUNWAY.....Nick Verreos MyLifetime.com "Project Runway Blog" Recaps: Season 12 Premiere...Parachute Style

 Emmy-nominated Hosts: "Project Runway's" Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn

Hellooooo!!!! (think of how Heidi Klum would say it!)--Yes kids, it's "Project Runway" time again. Last night was the Season Premiere of "Project Runway" Season 12! TWELVE seasons! Oh and did I mention it got nominated once again for an Emmy!? ("Survivor" and "American Idol" did not--ouchey!). And Heidi and Tim also got nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition Hosts--together! Congrats!!

Photo Courtesy of TomandLorenzo.com

There was A LOT of speculation leading up to last night's premiere when Lifetime released preview video of the first episode weeks ago showing the supposed skydivers jumping out of planes: EVERYONE thought "Oh Dear! Are the designers really going to be doing that!!?". Nope, thank goodness that didn't happen. Those were professionals. The point was to announce the First Challenge: to create a look out of Parachute Fabric, of course!



Now, there were lots of "Firsts" and new things happening in this season of the show:

 Tim Gunn with judges (left to right) actress Kate Bosworth, Nina Garcia of Marie Claire and designer Zac Posen

Something New No. 1: Tim Gunn has a much-more involved role. Not only does he co-host, mentor and console the designers but he also takes part in the judges' runway process by bringing out the top and bottom designs for an up close-and-personal look. He also gets to save a designer. I think these are great new additions to the show.

Something New No. 2: The first ever hearing impaired/deaf contestant on "Project Runway", Justin LeBlanc

 Something new No. 3: Seeing the model's CHA-CHA! (more on that later)--Photo Courtesy of TomandLorenzo.com (Thank Goodness they got that screencap!)

 Parachute Runway:

 Parachute Couture: Model Carmen Kass models the ULTIMATE in a "parachute-inspired" look--Christian Dior Autumn/Winter 1999/2000 Collection designed by John Galliano (this 'chute is made of silk and all hand-stitched!)--This is what I was looking for in terms of looks from the designers but I realize it may have been a too-high aspiration, but nevertheless...

Here were some of my Faves:

Sue Waller: Great job on this dress--very directional and probably the most "high fashion' of all the looks that came down the runway. And I also love that the colors reminded me of the Galliano-designed Christian Dior Haute Couture creation from the photos above

Jeremy Brandick: Also LOVED this look--the skinny "parachute pants" were an updated--and so chic--version of the type of "parachute pants" I wore back in the late 80s (Oh Dear!)

Bradon McDonald: Bradon was the Winner with this beautifully ethereal, floaty dress/gown with rope detail. The colors were glorious, the movement on the runway was great...it all added up to a definite winner!



The Bottom:

Sandro Masmanidi: Oh huney! Yes kids THIS was the look which showed the model's V-Jay-Jay (notice how she's covering her CHA-CHA up with the ropes). Not cute. A vulgar mess in fact. She looked like a "Lolita" hooker who got caught in a parachute landing accident.

Timothy Westbrook: Timothy is one of the "characters" of this season. I have my thoughts on Timothy but you'll have to read my Lifetime "Project Runway Blog" Recap (starts at end of this post). In terms of his design--just take a look above. To add insult to injury, he sent his model barefoot and sans makeup and hair products. Tragique. I though he should have gone home.



But the Worst (according to the judges):

 Angela Bacskocky: Angela created a hooded poncho. And nothing else. Bye Angela.



And now, without further ado, here is what I REALLY thought of the premiere Episode on MyLifetime.com "Project Runway Blog" Recap:

Runway Freefall

"Project Runway" is BAAACK: last night was
the premiere of Season 12 of "Project Runway" and there's been some
shake-ups. It took almost 10 years (Season 1 debuted in 2004!) and 11
seasons later for "Project Runway" to stir up its own classic format. As
the saying goes, "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it," but obviously
someone thought it was time for some fixin'—and some new additions. So
before I get to the new cast and my "Nick Two Cents" on this premiere
episode, let's discuss:



The New

• First "Project Runway" designer/contestant to be hearing impaired/deaf.

• The runway got a "Hollywood set" makeover—stage lights and video screen.

• New retail partner: Belks—a department store chain with over 300 locations, primarily in the South.

• Instead of weekly challenge money, the designers will get a GoBank
Debit Card and will manage their spending for the entire season.

• Anonymous runway show—judges don’t know who’s designs are coming down the runway.

• Tim offers opinions to judges and sits with the judges during runway.

• Tim brings up the top and bottom designs so judges can view them up close and personal.

• Tim Gunn gets to save a designer; only one for the entire season.

• And a prize package estimated at half a million dollars!

I am intrigued by a couple of these new additions, such as the judges
not knowing whose designs are coming down the runway and the up
close-and-personal look into the garments. (God forbid they did that
during my season—several of my hot-glue-and-safety pin-loving cast mates
would have been IN TROUBLE!).

Cast of Characters

I had the pleasure of judging the Los Angeles Castings/Auditions—along
with Tim Gunn—and was happy to see two of the designers we chose make
the final cut: Alexandria von Bromssen (the Aristocratic-sounding Euro from San Mateo) and Bradon McDonald
(the former Mark Morris dancer who just graduated from FIDM, my alma
mater). Besides these two, there's a bevy of "characters": (among
others) a high heel-wearing sustainable fabric-burning unicorn lover; a
swarthy mustachioed Russian with...



CLICK HERE to continue reading my RECAP!