The Flat Screen: "Project Runway" Ep 7 - Fade to Blue?

Ra'Mon is gone (tear) after a disastrous yet risky and ambitious green lizard leather Sci-Fi piece that cost him his place in the competition. But its a new day, new dawn, same ol' next challenge where the only clue is 'Colorful'. This week, the designers get to make a Blue wonder for Macy's INC Brand with the chance of making a Holiday dress for their Winter line......Epp makes a fab point that they have to make something that will fit into Macy's existing line and not make a piece that is necessarily their own personal style.

They get 15 min to sketch and then an opportunity to pitch to Macy's in order to become the "chosen" Team Lead (TL) for this challenge - and to show how serious this challenge really is ....there is no immunity....

The Teams: Irina (TL) and Gordana Althea (TL) and Logan Carol Hanna (TL) and Shirin Christopher (TL) and Epp Louise (TL) and Nicholas (with his fab immunity)

Off to mood, they go with a $100 budget, Gordana and Irina look as if they are going to have issues and Louise loses her money to pay for the fabric, just for a moment though, but truly showing her scatterbrain personality. This challenge should be interesting...Chris and Epp are working well together and piggybacking off each other which is good. We discover Louise's "Bird" side - she totally makes bird noises to relieve the stress which may I add is totally Louise and that's not in a good way.

At Tim's check in...

Everyone is ride or die on Tim's feedback which he gives wholeheartedly. He sees immediately that Gordana and Irina need to get it together. Epp and Chris have allegedly reinvented the Men's Shirtdress per Gunn and he thinks Carol Hanna 's teal fabric will accentuate the overall piece.

Ultimately, I'm not really impressed with most of the looks at his check -in, nothing fascinating and nothing Macy's AND at this point, I need to be wow'd.

Off to the runway, we go...

Judge Rollcall: Martine Reardon, Zanna Moore, and Michael Kors...and clearly Heidi

The pressure is taking over everybody and the judges are getting harder and harder; The skirt on Althea's just kept getting smaller and smaller as her model worked the runway;

Despite the drama, Gordana and Irina pulled out one of the higher scores;

Louise's piece was a bridesmaid dress that was vomiting ruffles; she ultimately went ruffle crazy and the lucky one, Nicholas and his fab immunity just go right along because hey, he is free and clear of getting cut;

Kors' went hard and makes Chris cry uncontrollably (which was scary) - The fact is Chris designed two TOTALLY different styles that just looked an immediate and scary mess. It actually shocked me because we all know how much I love this dude.

The verdict - Irina (the hater) wins with a fab dress that is very Macy's and she will get the opportunity to make a fab Holiday dress. This makes Irina someone to consider for Bryant Park but the next show will only tell. Despite, Christopher on the verge of a severe heart attack he doesn't get the boot ...while, Louise doesn't get off that easy ....she got the boot due to the Ruffle overdosage.

Get Irina's take....

the Flat Screen: Model Takeover: 'Project Runway' - Ep 4

This week the Designers are surprised to hear that their Models are actually their clients and the challenge is to dress their models in a design that displays their true styles as well as set them apart from the other model chicks at an industry event.

First reactions ........Johnny is geeked about the challenge because him and Emarie work well together besides, she is fab. Epperson was struggling, Qrystal doesn't want to go with her client's colour palette & go against a design in black and for reason, Logan freaks out even though Kojii gives him a lot of cute concepts to work with (i.e. 50's, cosmo, girly, etc.)
On Tim's check in -
Althea is looking and sounding good: Her concept and pace are strong and immediately, I look forward to the finished project. Tanisha is opting to step out from the rest by not getting a dress but instead a stylish 3-piece suit so despite Althea having her work cut out for her, she has it all under control.
Q's is looking messy; and the minute Tim gives feedback about the messy ensemble' she totally gives up and starts from scratch...to what?! a basic black dress; the very thing she did not want to do.
As you know I am a Carol Hanna fan, and I do think the outfit is cute, but I totally agreed with Tim and that, the shirt and bottom look sort of grannyish. I really don't want her pieces to start to move to the back for me, but I'm no longer impressed at least not at 1st glance.
Epperson is taking the distance from his family hard which may be his driving force or kill him in the end but we shall see.
Johnny goes into diva mode telling the model in so many words, to 'not to tell him how to make his clothes'. From methhead to Diva all in 4 episodes ...interesante
To the runway we go,
Judging was hardcore...
Gordana's and Shirin's are cool. Chris' green apple dress is amazingly hot finished. Louise creates a piece that screams Fatma 100% and it looks soooo fab (see right)....And just like that Louise moves to my 'The Designer to be reckoned with' list. Celine and Nicholas have a great dress too and he shows he is not all costumish. Ra'Mons explosion of blue flower was great for me and Vanessa because I am plotting how I can get that. Carol Hanna's soft purple and hard leather is hotness! Just by adding a strap the shirt gained youth and solidify's her great decision to listen to Mr. Gunn.
Epperson has made a dress that started plain but instantly became one of a kind.
I almost choked when Heidi called Johnny's dress a Bridesmaid dress and both Q and her model gets roasted for her plain black dress.
Althea's suit is flyy and I'm wit the judges, I want it too! The boy, tuxedo blazer and shorts was so so everyday and definitely sets her apart from the rest.
The verdict is a much deserved win for Althea !!! While, Carol Hanna, Johnny and Epp are in....Q and Logan are left on the chopping block....both missed the mark but Q got the boot for being plain Jane. See the sketches and Tanisha to the right --->>>
So since it was the models as clients, I was curious to watch Models of the Runway. and its funny to find out...Vanessa, Lisa and Tanisha are the Dream Team....these are the chicks that are killing it on the runway. I agree but I think Kojii needs to be up in there somewhere because thats my boo aside from Tanisha. Sadly, Chris has to choose his model and its a no-brainer, Val gets the boot AGAIN.
See ya next week!
@TheAutty on Twitter
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the Flat Screen: "Project Runway" Ep 3 - Surf Tag Team

The designers go on a field trip to the heart of Cali, "The Beach", and are greeted by Tim in flip flops (aka mandals), slacks, a blazer and some fly shades in typical Gunn fashion. The challenge this week is a Surfwear Look - with Garnier in the building where this week the focus is not only, the challenge but a fab hairdo as well. This week they are also forced to be in teams of two. So much dreadful Project Runway drama has been due to 'TEAMS'. Teams can be the death of many people and throw in a reality show where creative people who are not used to working with people have to work together and WIN?! Sweet drama...anyhoot, immediately Ra'Mon freaks out from the thought of teams because he knows.

Soooooo...Shirin is an automatic team leader because of her win last week and despite, immunity Shirin pulls no punches that she is in it to win it by choosing Carol Hannah as her partner.

The other teams were:

• Logan and Christopher
• Nicolas and Gordana
• Mitchell and Ra'Mon
• Althea and Louise
• Qristyl and Epperson
• Johnny and Irina

They get 20 min to consult with the surfer girls to brainstorm and get an idea of what they "really like". Nicolas, as team leader, could care dayum less what the surfer girls have to say and Epperson treats Qrystyl like she's beneath him despite her being the team leader- which shows in their immediate clash when they are choosing the fabric. Mitchell mentions that he chose Ra'Mon to "carry him" but questions his choices of fabric and concept.

The tension between Qristyl and Epperson GROWS completely out of control and Ra'Mon quickly sees that he clearly is going to have to pull the weight. With all of this and this already big challenge, Heidi raises the stakes because obviously the surfer look is super easy so she makes them create a second look AND--->> in the words of Ra'Mon, "CAPITAL W T F!" ...Second Look is Avant Garde / Surfer Comparison look.

It's clear that Epperson and Qristyl are still struggling with their "partnership" ....Carol Hannah's Model bailed out on them due to a commercial and they seem happy when they bring back sports built model, Valerie. Tim hearts Johnny and Irina's, Avant garde concept. But then again, pretty much, Tim loves everybody's starters UNTIL yes, you know it...he reaches Mitch and Ra'Mon and FINALLLYYYYYY, Ra'Mon takes the reigns to try to avoid the chopping block and makes every piece while Mitch is perfectly ok with making the swimsuit but wait, isn't Mitch the leader? Yikes. All good signs that Mitch is on the way out. Epperson and Qrystl actually have a blow out on the floor! Like a 'you said, I said' blowout, I loved it! It tickled me inside and truly showed us all just how weak Q is and how controlling Epperson is....hmmmm

To the runway we go...............................

The Judges this week: Fab Max Azria, Nina Garcia, Rachel Bilson, and of course, the lovely Heidi.

I truly love that dude Ra'Mon! Shirin and Carol Hannah's look was super hot - the surfer look with dress was very wearable and cute. The avant garde piece looked like something fit for a queen and I mean that in a good way...totally wearable and fashion forward. Nicolas had two great concepts but wouldn't have been nothin without Gordana. Logan's and Chris' avant garde piece was fab and Chris is great as a lead showing versatility. Max Azria is immediately impressed by the work done on Johnny's dress.

To sum it up, the motto of this week thanks to Max Azria, becomes "If you're not a team player, you can't be a designer". Epperson's and Q's "bad marriage" almost cost her but the verdict was in....... Heidi calls Mitch out on his pure laziness so dear friends, Mitch finally got the boot for only making the swimsuit yet he left with a little dignity with a big ol' flunkie smile on his face. Ra'Mon got his well - deserved WIN which I had to cheer towards the TV because he totally deserved it. See his winning looks at the top.

@TheAutty on Twitter

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the Flat Screen: 'Project Runway' Episode 2 - Preggo Challenge

Another visit to Heidi delivers this week's challenge of creating a look for an actual celeb, supermodel, and tv star, Rebecca Romijn , also hot mommie-to-be.

Which brings this week's challenge to "Preggers Chic Challenge" - Romijn is pregnant with twins and yearns to have an outfit that shows a beautiful silhouette and is slightly, form-fitting.

Off to Mood with a $200 budget, Shirin opts to go left from the rest of the people with a vision of making a dress and a coat. Qristyl (my apologies for the misspell on the last post) looks like a fish out of water when pressured with deciding the perfect fabric for their preggers client. The nerves take ahold of Ra'Mon as he begins to create his piece and play back feedback from last week in his head as it was "being too safe". Unlike Ra'Mon though, Mitchell is again annoying by going with the goal of safe or in other words, "I'm gonna try not to get on the chopping block this time around". Tim may have went too far with his comment of "cuckoo already happening" about Malvin and his chicken lays an egg concept but I heart Tim for keeping it real. Malvin's "chicken leg" vision is a hot mess and scares me right off the back because my secret wish to eliminate Mitchell looked slim to none.

Off to the runway,

The pressure was on since Kors was replaced this week by Monique Lhuillier which left 3 moms that know what's hot when it comes to maternity clothing.

Louise with her tiered beauty in red and amazing attention to detail really impressed me; dyeing her lace top and putting layers in the dress to compensate the changes of a pregnant woman's body; love the inverted seams on Johnny's dress, although it was a boring piece it kind of gave the dress some type of pop it desperately needed; Shirin's vision in fruition was hotness; and Althea was a major plus for considering the client's mission to be sexy; the back screams "I'm preggo, but hey I still got it".

Ginormous WTF to Epperson & Malvin; AND of course, my man I love to hate, Mitchell, who tried to play it safe with an everyday t-shirt and shorts look but then got slapped in the face because despite the easy design; his construction was YET AGAIN poor and frankly, sloppy and amateur.

Finally, Ra'Mon created a dress that basically said "Hey look at me, Im caught up" and ummm...that's not in a good way.

The verdict is obvious....Shirin WINS with her fab dress full of fly details that even I can appreciate as a non-mother, this dress makes one hot mommie (see the winning look above). As far as the loser, which came first: the Chicken or the Egg? In Malvin's case, neither. The piece proved to be unflattering and totally inappropriate (yes, inappropriate). He got the boot and I totally agree. But yet, I can't help but wish Heidi added Mitchell to the boot. But he's off to another show because the whackos obviously need to be weeded out first. But here's to next week!

See what Shirin had to say about her winning look...

By: Autty @TheAutty on Twitter

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the Flat Screen: 'Project Runway' - Episode 1

First of all, welcome to L.A. & F.I.D.M. ! We missed you Heidi & Tim! Welcome quirky personalities, divas & future stars!

Let me just say I love the model spin off 'Models of the Runway' which shows the hit show, 'Project Runway', from the models point of view where they have no choice but to hope the designers deliver and it will take the attention off of them. But Heidi makes it perfectly clear, it is a battle for the models too. The greatest thing is you get the inside dirt on the designers (how they really are) and you get to see how they were even chosen anyway. So I'm geeked to see how that will be :-) The first challenge is the Red Carpet Challenge with the infamous, Nokia theatre as their inspiration. The red carpet is where many designers fall in love with Fashion. Guest judge Lindsay Lohan joined the wonderful judges, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, and Heidi Klum for judging. Of course, Tim started it off with his infamous saying, "Make it Work" as he had to talk Johnny, new designer and former methhead, out of quitting or at least from giving up on the first frickin challenge because the pressure was TOO much. Mitchell annoys me immediately because he doesn't have his dress ready but the real reason is the measurements he took were ALL wrong. But he blames the model,Yosuzi , being 5 inches thicker - like really? like overnight? like women never lie about their true sizes? BUT, I can tell that Mitchell is already a hot mess and I will celebrate the day when he goes. But a part of me is curious about good ol' Mitch despite my previous comment but again, that's a tiny, minimal , itty bitty curious. People to look out for this season: Love Ra'Mon (should be careful since his piece was seen as safe & well structured), Irina (although the dress was very long), Love love love Carol Hanna and Christopher, where his piece was coined as having "had some bite to it" but he needs to be mindful of colors chosen People to NOT look out for: Hated Mitchell and Crystal ...Ra'Mon stayed whispering, a sly "Call Me" to Lohan. Ari was booted for her eclectic, out of this world fashion that had nothing to do with the red carpet or any that I know of. But still, I feel sort of melancholy because I wanted to see more innovation this season and I believe Ari had what it took. However, the verdict was in and Christopher wins the first episode and gains immunity for his rough meets feminine red carpet look. Winning look at the top or you can see at http://www.mylifetime.com/.

@TheAutty on Twitter

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Fashion Bloc: "Project Runway" contestants come to Lenox Mall

"Project Runway", Bravo’s former reality competition show for fashion designers has moved to Lifetime. Another change is that the show will be moving to Los Angeles after being filmed in New York since the show’s launch. The show is known for its innovation, crazy challenges, yet serious competitiveness. Each season brought an edge to the previous season, that as a fan, I thought could never get better …but it always did and I look forward to another season. This season will be just as important for the show due to the move, the heavy publicity, and the litigation nightmare regarding the move. Besides, Lifetime is not known for being a “stylish” or “hip” network but it is aiming to prove us all wrong with its already popular shows such as “Army Wives” and “Drop Dead Diva”. Over the weekend, Lifetime introduced a few of their contestants to Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta. The show's visit introduced: Carol Hanna Whitfield, 24, and Gordana Gehlhausen, 45, both from Charleston, SC, as well as, Mitchell Hall, 26, from Savannah, GA. Dave FM’s Mara Davis hosted a “Project Runway” challenge in which six people would try to design a T shirt seven minutes with the lucky person getting a $100 Simon Mall gift certificate which was a success for the network and its stars. Although, there are mixed feelings about the move, there’s no question about the love for Project Runway. Ultimately, we all just want to see the show! Project Runway premieres Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 10 pm et/pt. To get to know the other designers, go to http://www.mylifetime.com/.

Writer/Editor @theAutty on Twitter