Lifetime
Project Runway All Stars Brings In A Posen Counsel
The designers raid Zac Posen's atelier for fabric with which each must execute his or her signature design technique in a red carpet gown. Whose would kill the step-and-repeat?
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Obviously there have been many points this season -- in all seasons, really -- when my opinion has diverged from the judges', but I think this might be the first episode this season when I was actually shocked: Helen was...safe? She's not my favourite designer OR person, but the challenge was to create a red carpet gown -- using fabric from Zac Posen's atelier (and, by the way, apparently a limited selection of fabrics given that we see one of them twice) -- that demonstrates the designer's signature technique. She made a gorgeous gown with an impeccable corset and she's the only designer not even to get to the critique? Get the fuck out of here, show. I actually think she should have won.
I disagree; if your "signature technique" is corsetry, said corset maybe shouldn't look like a DIY headboard. The fit on the skirt was flawless, though, so I wasn't surprised the scores split the difference and left her safe. I was a little surprised at what won, given how poorly the blue fabric Anthony used read to me. It's like it needed to be either a shade lighter or a shade darker, but where it was, it looked too doctor's-waiting-room to work for the red carpet. And he needs to start adding a belt if he's going to keep piecing his waistlines. That said, he's a far better fit for the prize, which is to dress a leading lady in a "Lifetime movie event." Not that I wouldn't want to see what Fabio made of that, because I love him and I would marry his design before God and everybody, but it's a little more Anthony's speed.
Please let's talk about Fabio's, because: I did not get it. He in no way seemed to be trying to win, and if he was just trying to please himself, I guess that's fine; he seemed very pleased to learn that Alyssa could ID his style as soon as his look walked. But I don't know why he picked that dowdy fabric. In fact, I was kind of shocked when we saw the proof that Zac had even used it for a gown -- for Amy Schumer to wear to win an Emmy -- because to me it looked like it should have been made into a trench coat or something. Maybe Fabio was thinking "slightly fitted caftan" would work on a Lifetime leading lady like...Joanna Kerns??? Because it was quite matronly.
I don't disagree, at least as far as the fabric, but I also felt like we didn't get a great look at it, compared to what the judges saw. I loved the drapey sleeve, which still felt sexy to me, but it also worked for me as a red-carpet look...because I could see Meryl Streep going, "Where's one I don't have to wear a girdle w-- this one!" I love Ms. Meryl and her fuck-it take on awards-show fashion, but: you know. It's Meryl. She's 68. Did you agree with how they piled on Edmond's, though? Because I didn't think it was nearly as horrendous as the judges did. The zipper was a little funky, but I'm not sure that deserved a reference to Alyssa Milano's single bone (hee) of marital contention.
First let me just back up to Meryl because I am two-thirds her age and I couldn't begin to imagine looking as gorgeous as she did at the Oscars last weekend. And even if she did decide to emulate her Post character in a fashion caftan, I feel she would choose one in a bolder colour and/or with more embellishment -- and on the latter question, to be fair, Fabio might also have done if he'd had MORE THAN A DAY to work on it. Anyway, on Edmond: that zipper was a worse crime than the size/placement/fact of his rose, and I think it was out of respect for his craftsmanship that he stayed over Joshua; Edmond's days of skating through are probably about to end, though. And I hope he appreciated that he is still here due to Joshua's taste level. Bro, you can't go to every challenge hoping the guest judge is going to be Donatella Versace!
Yeah, it was time for Joshua to go. I didn't hate that look, because the contrast between the deep V neckline and the pin-tucking worked, and I tip my cap to his bullshit artistry in calling the top "unresolved," when actually it felt intentional, but unfinished and, as usual, too hoochie. I don't think there's no place for Joshua's aesthetic in fashion. I bet if he had three days for these looks instead of one, they might look editorial instead of All The Way With Stephanie Kaye. (Original Degrassi reference; kids, ask your parents.) But he doesn't, and he's never able to adjust much in any direction. Not that Edmond is either, though, and his issue is construction, so I think you're right that he's next unless Stanley literally murders someone on the runway...and even that might not be enough to end the judges' love affair with him. I didn't get that landing in the top, I really didn't.
I was grateful that Rosie Perez was guest-judging so that she could raise a salient point regarding Stanley's look, which is: lots of women have breasts. Even women who wear gowns. Seeing it up close during the critique, it was even more absurd how constrained his model was in that bodice. Obviously you and I can't relate, but don't women who have smaller boobs...want to show off what they actually do have?! The gown was well-made otherwise, but how that ironing board torso got into the top 3: I don't get it either. Then again, given the look our host was boasting, perhaps we shouldn't trust her opinions with regard to fashion or fit. ALYSSA, WYD.
I juuuuuust do not get it. Literally every garment she had on on the runway cut her at literally every wide point! I'm all for not caring about "supposed to" in fashion, and from the neck up she's looking fab, but...is she such a cow in person that stylists put her in this nonsense, like, for revenge? Or do they try to talk her out of it and she's like, "It's fine, Padma wears these all the time"? You're better than this, Milsie.
If only Anthony and Ken had been present for her fitting.
