Project Runway is here again!

I don't know about you, but I really enjoy the Project Runway series on Bravo. It it the only TV show that I watch regularly - so needless to say I am pretty pumped that Season 5 is here.

For those of you that don't watch the show, each week the designers are given a different fashion design challenge and if they lose they get kicked off the show. The judges are Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and 1 guest judge. You watch the designers create their designs, work out their problems and get helpful critiques from Tim Gunn along the way. Finally you see their garment come down the runway and be judged. It is really fun to see the transformation and see how everyone's design is so different.

The first challenge of the season was to make a garment out of items purchased at Gristedes, a grocery store chain. The idea was to be creative and innovative and really push boundaries. So it was surprising that so many of the designers picked table clothes as their base fabric. Not really very innovative or creative. However, some people did do really creative things like Kelli. She used vacuum cleaner bags dyed with bleach and dye for a skirt and coffee filters for the bodice. She used lots of items pretty creatively. I also give super kudos to Daniel who made his whole outfit out of blue plastic cups. Now that is a challenge - can you imagine trying to sew on that? What is the craziest "fabric" you have ever sewn on? I think balsa wood is as creative as I have ever gotten - it works really well with machine embroidery. I know Lana Jones has been teaching some classes about embroidering on wood in case you have been inspired to try out a new "fabric".

This week the challenge was completely different. They had to use eco-friendly fabric that their models picked out for them. Each designer was challenged to make a different "green" cocktail dress in a style their models would like. I have to say I was impressed with what Stella came up with, since she kept talking about how she just wanted to sew on leather and be urban. It was pretty funny when Blayne was teasing her about how she is obsessed with leather. Blayne is from Seattle and totally addicted to tanning. From what I can tell, he will be the Christian of this season - because he is up-beat, fun and keeps people laughing. He just needs to make his designs fierce. Some of the cocktail dresses where pretty bad, however the winner Suede did make a super fun, creative dress using bias strips and tulle. I would love to wear that dress. I am not sure where I would wear it, but I am sure with the right shoes...it would all come together.

Let me know how you feel about Project Runway season 5. Does anyone have a favorite designer yet?

-Carmen
Check out Project Runway on Bravo (channel 66 with Comcast) 9pm on Wednesday nights.

Comments

[Deborah Barnes]

I watch and like it more than not...but am wondering how tulle and bias tape are eco friendly...unless from a rummage sale or something...Is the tape from organic cotton?
I love design and teach reFashion classes in Seattle...very eco friendly as reuse is 2nd to reduce in the evolved stylebook.
http://fashionethos.blogspot.com
and
http://fashionrip.blogspot.com

[Anna-Beth]

I am a total PR addict - but I was really annoyed that Suede's dress won - it was so cheesy and ugly, and the neckline was really an unflattering shape plus it looked badly sewn (Sorry Carmen! You see hotness, I see hot mess!) I really thought those structural garments that were in the bottom few were unfairly dismissed - and I don't think it's right that "joey Ramone" as my friend calls the biker chic lady, should have been in the top three for ripping off a classic Whitesnake Video costume in gold lame.
However, despite the offense to my personal fashion aesthetics, I am delighted to watch something that features sewing in a thrilling way! Ooh, as the season wears on, let's keep checking back here and keeping up with our reactions!

[Teri]

I'm with you...Project Runway is my favorite show! I started watching it late, missed the first two seasons, which I am catching up on video rentals.

I don't really have a favorite designer yet this season, but I have been amazed already by some of the creativity of them all. The blue plastic cup dress was amazing, but I agreed with the judges that Kelli's design was the most creative, plus it looked awesome.

I think for us home sewers/crafters, shows like Project Runway give us a way to live our dreams vicariously through the designers. Plus they are so entertaining!

Keep on posting, love your blog!