Hello, Project Runway fans! Last week, the designers made server and ball-boy uniforms for Susan Sarandon’s club, SPiN. This time around, their client was Heidi Klum, who needed two looks ­– one for a TV and print ad campaign and one for a public relations event – for the launch of her perfume, “Surprise.”

The fragrance’s packaging was pink, gold, and black (to go along with the scents of pink pepper, mandarin, and jasmine), and each team was asked to use those colors to craft six dresses – four options for the ad campaign, and two for the event.

Team Keeping It Real – unsurprisingly – worked well together (despite Layana panicking about using pink rather than gold during the critique session),  while the Dream Team fell apart. Benjamin needs to learn that, ultimately, he can’t control everyone else’s work and still design good garments himself.

On the runway, the winning team was once again apparent. Kate and Layana’s gown was one of my favorites, and Daniel’s would have looked better with some lining (to allow for a neater slit). Though the judges adored Patricia’s crafty leatherwork, the garment seemed too boxy for Heidi.

Over on the Dream Team, the inappropriateness of Matthew’s S&M dress made my jaw drop. What was it that Heidi said, about looking sexy but not slutty? Yeah, a little over the line. Benjamin’s strappy (literally) gown reminded me of a kid wrapping a string around his finger until the tip turns red. And Cindy’s iridescent pink fabric looked too cheap for the challenge guidelines.

This season is starting to feel like a season of Survivor where one team dominates and the other team is picked off one by one. I wonder what will happen if the Dream Team is demolished?

Let’s find out together. Until the next episode – auf Wiedersehen.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer 

My favorite designer so far is Daniel – who’s yours? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Hi there, Project Runway fans! Last week, we got through the initial groaning over a whole season of teams. This week, the designers created new uniforms for SPiN New York, the “preeminent Ping-Pong social club.”

Knowing the club was owned by the ever-beautiful Susan Sarandon seemed to make Team Keeping It Real and the Dream Team even more nervous. (Can you blame them?) Each team was asked to design five uniforms: three for female servers, one for male servers, and one for male “ball boys” (featuring the club’s “balls are my business” slogan – cue 90 minutes of male-anatomy jokes).

The Dream Team’s Benjamin micromanaged Cindy – who is a competent designer, if a bit dowdy – yet ignored James and his horrible blue fabric until it was too late. Over on Team Keeping It Real, Daniel generously helped Layana, who struggled last week. I do love that a self-taught designer like Daniel can share some tricks of the trade with the FIT grad who interned with Oscar de la Renta.

You may be able to guess what happened on the runway.

Team Keeping It Real
I really loved Layana and Daniel’s upscale take on a server’s tee-and-apron look, though it would have been better without the asymmetrical collar and back. Stanley’s male-server attire worked for the client, and no arguments here. Susan loved the graphic pockets on Joseph Aaron and Richard’s ball-boy uniform, but it seemed busy (on the plus side, the shirt and harness were fabulous).

The Dream Team
The length didn’t work for James’s cabana-boy shorts, and pairing them with that ill-cut top made it worse. As for Benjamin and Matthew’s kilt, Heidi put it best: “The crotch piece was tasteless.” (Yet “ballsy,” said Susan. Ha.) Really, not much worked out for the Dream Team – including the jacket and shorts created by Benjamin and Cindy.

No tears from me over the elimination this week, but the Dream Team has got to get it together. How are you feeling about the teams? Do you agree with Cindy that “the thrill” is gone?

And PS: Just in case you’re as intrigued by Joseph Aaron’s multicolored cat sweaters as I am, I had to share. You can thank me later. Until next week – auf Wiedersehen.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer 

Did the right person win? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

Welcome back, Project Runway fans! A week ago, the second All Stars season came to a (rewarding) close. This week, we met an all-new set of designers striving to make it to Fashion Week – but with the addition of a new twist. Teams. All season long.

I (like everyone) doubted the premise when I first heard about it. Everyone will participate in critiques of their team members’ garments. They will be judged individually, but one team will win and one will lose – so it’s possible for someone to have the worst design and stay. I’m curious to see how this affects the workroom dynamic.

But, I mean, Tim Gunn says it’s his favorite season ever. Can’t argue with that.

Anyway. After the designers began to assemble, it was clear there were some standout characteristics, like Daniel’s mustache, Benjamin’s Australian accent, Michelle’s presentation of her age (“thirty-fou-dorable”), and Cindy’s past career as a funeral director. Patricia has the distinction of being the first Native American to join a Project Runway cast.

Heidi parted the group like the Red Sea, into two teams of eight: Team Keeping It Real and the Dream Team.

The Dream Team’s Emily only had sketches to present during the critiques, which we all know means disaster (ironic, since she talked a big game). Kate didn’t want to listen to her Keeping It Real team – until Tim said the same thing.

On the runway, Emily’s unfinished piece, Cindy’s horribly mixed prints, and some of the other designers’ “sad and boring” looks (stated by both Heidi and new judge Zac Posen, who replaced Michael Kors this season) had the Dream Team on the bottom.

Over on Team Keeping It Real, Daniel’s silk wool crepe suit felt very New York. I really liked Richard’s sporty, asymmetrical dress and Stanley’s metallic halter jumpsuit (though I wouldn’t wear it myself). And Patricia’s painted pattern with the pop of blue was a lovely addition.

All in all, a winning premiere. Are you looking forward to more from the teams? For now – auf Wiedersehen. 

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer 

Did any of the designers immediately strike you? Sound off in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

This is it, Runway fans. Last week’s couture challenge sent Joshua packing, so Emilio, Anthony Ryan, and Uli were left to duke it out in the All Stars finale this week.

The challenge was to create a mini collection and plan a runway show around it, all in four days. Let’s just skip right to the important part (although Joshua refusing to be Anthony Ryan’s assistant and Casanova crashing out on the couch instead of helping Uli were both pretty good moments):

Emilio: Urban Plantation
The story here was strong. I loved the white shirt under the bustier, the unstructured jacket with the last dress, and even the bright red pantsuit, but the 80s graphic print put this collection into a-little-too-loud-for-my-taste territory.

Anthony Ryan: A Fine Line
Though I expected more from Anthony Ryan – this was supposed to be a collection, yet there were no separates – I liked the colorblock theme. The opening look (the one Isaac called the best dress he’s ever seen on the show) didn’t appeal to me personally, but I adored the silver-and-yellow dress for showcasing one of my very favorite color combos.

Uli: Mystical Winter
Ivory and white have worked for Uli, so I’m not surprised she went with winter for her finale collection. The detailing was incredible, but the faux fur looked inexpensive. The styling was very “snow queen,” with a hint of masculinity. The best look for me? The long vest and graphic silver pants.

Overall, I only liked the winning designer’s collection – but loved his or her body of work from the show, which made it okay. Were you all for the winner, or did another designer steal your heart (only to have the judges break it)?

That’s all for now. Join me next week for the premiere of Project Runway: Teams, as we welcome back Heidi, Tim, and the gang (minus Michael). Until then – auf Wiedersehen.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Who was your favorite All Star this season? Share in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Awards season is officially here, and after last night’s Golden Globes, it’s safe to say it started with a bang. While the night’s top moments belonged to Les Misérables, Ben Affleck’s Argo, and one very glittery Jodie Foster, let’s be honest – the red carpet was the real star of the show. Here are some of my favorite looks:

Claire Danes: The Homeland star looked gorgeous in a bold red Versace gown. Totally flattering and structured in just the right places, this gown made the brand new mom one of the best-dressed of the night. (And yes, you heard right – she’s just a month removed from giving birth.)

Anne Hathaway: Before picking up the Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture award, the Les Misérables star arrived in a sparkling white Chanel gown. The sleek, slim-cut shape was femme without frills – a perfect counterpoint to her pixie cut.

Jessica Alba: Perhaps one of the forgotten best-dressed of the night, Jessica Alba showed up in a strapless coral number and a blingy statement necklace. I loved the coloring – with her complexion, she pulled off that coral easily.

Kerry Washington: It’s not hard to make the Django Unchained star look beautiful, and when she opted for a neutral Miu Miu & Chopard gown, she reminded us that sometimes simpler is in fact better. Shimmery embellishments and some saucy sheer accents upgraded the straight shape, making the simple gown into something eye-catching.

Some other favorites: Taylor Swift looked surprisingly grown-up in a purple Donna Karan Atelier gown, Olivia Munn aimed for understated in a Giorgio Armani number, and Julianne Hough went all-out with cascading gold studs. After an ultra glamorous night like this, there’s only one thing to say – awards season, I missed you. (Only 41 days until the Oscars!)

By Anna Kuchinsky, Staff Writer

What were your favorite red carpet looks from last night’s show? Share them in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Bonjour, fellow Project Runway fans! Last week, the designers crafted custom dresses for lady veterans. This week, they took an haute little side trip to France.

That’s right. This episode started with the designers packing their bags for a less-than-24-hour hop across the pond to tour the House of Valentino, learn about couture, and shop at Janssens & Janssens for fabric to create their own couture-inspired looks.

Cue the collective jaw-drop.

With 3,000 euros and one hour to shop, Emilio said it best: “To have a great budget to buy beautiful fabric really elevates this challenge to the level of couture.” And Joshua – in a French shop brimming with gorgeous material – picked the tackiest floral fabric possible. “This is like Joshua and the Amazing Technicolor Couture Challenge,” he said. Okay. Let’s see how well that works out.

Back in the States, Joanna cautioned Emilio against going appliqué-crazy and Anthony Ryan about running out of time, worried about Uli’s dress coming across as “gladiator alligator meets Sicilian widow,” and tried to be polite about Joshua’s choice of fabric.

The runway was a mix of hits and misses. Joshua’s lace-and-floral combination was risky (as couture should be) – but quite possibly the ugliest thing I’ve seen yet. And while the judges liked Emilio’s gown, it could have been fitted better (and I wish he had kept some of the appliqué we saw in the workroom, despite Joanna’s warnings).

Anthony Ryan’s look was a touch funereal, but it certainly met the conditions of the challenge in a way that Uli’s dress did not. Despite its strength, her construction was problematic in the lining and back – and one challenge from the finale is not the time for such issues.

Rather than announcing a final verdict, the judges sent Anthony Ryan and Emilio through to the finale and held Joshua and Uli back for a tiebreaker challenge: deconstruct their gowns and create a new look, all in one hour.

Who was your pick to win the Hunger Games–style face-off between Uli and Joshua? Were you satisfied with the judges’ decision?

Join me next week to watch the Final Three in action. For now, au revoir.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer 

Did the right person go home? Sound off in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

 
Welcome back, Project Runway fans! Last week, the designers created ready-to-wear looks (and tried to impress Elie Tahari in the process). This week, in a tribute to the U.S. armed forces, the Final Four were each paired with a female veteran who needed a dress for a special event:

Joshua: Army veteran Captain Leslie Nicole Smith. She lost a leg while deployed, and asked for a fun, girly dress she could wear with heels to a military event.

Anthony Ryan: Air Force veteran Officer Donna Barrios. She needed a strapless dress for her 40th birthday party, and wanted to hide her curves.

Emilio: Navy veteran Petty Officer Lisa Dalhouse. She was hoping for a colorful, short number to wear to her friend’s Las Vegas bachelorette party.

Uli: Marine veteran Corporal Jessica Lord. Corporal Lord tasked Uli to design a purple “Uli dress” – and since it’s for a wedding, no white allowed.

Print and color challenged some of the designers: Joshua resorted to dye (though he wasn’t very familiar with it), and Uli found that purple prints were mysteriously elusive at Mood. The others struggled with fit – Emilio sewed an entirely new bodice, and Anthony Ryan had trouble balancing his own aesthetic with his client’s desire to cover her body.

But everyone was a star on the runway. Uli’s silhouette and high-low hemline were perfect for Corporal Lord to wear to a wedding, and Captain Smith (along with her service dog, Isaac) strutted confidently in Joshua’s strategically placed cheetah print. Officer Barrios loved Anthony Ryan’s ombre halter dress, but Carolyn and Georgina disagreed. And the judges thought Emilio’s look would have to be cleaned up before Petty Officer Dalhouse wore it to Vegas.

The judging results would have surprised me if I’d heard about them before watching the episode. Who are you most excited to see next week?

Talk to you then. Auf Wiedersehen for now.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Do you have an early pick to win? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

 
Hi there, Project Runway fans! Last week, the designers faced off in Roaring Twenties style. This week, it was all about creating a ready-to-wear, affordable look for the wider market.

I love ready-to-wear challenges. This show is, at its core, about jump-starting the careers of up-and-comers – and there’s no better way to prepare for a life in fashion than by designing for the everyday consumer.

The designers headed to Elie Tahari’s 5th Avenue design studio, where they met with Carolyn and Elie himself. Carolyn explained that they needed to keep the price point between $500 and $700. Elie added that the winner would have his or her work manufactured and sold in his stores and online, and profits would benefit Save the Garment Center.

The stress in the workroom was intense – typical for this point in the show. Uli picked white fabric for the fifth time (and fretted about it), Joshua struggled with his zipper, Emilio ditched his colorblocking without having a great backup plan, and Ivy refused to take hints from Elie regarding her dress’s length (even after Joanna called her a “lazy designer” for suggesting that customers could have it hemmed themselves).

I was disappointed in Emilio’s runway look – he should have kept some of the colorblocking – but Isaac was right to say, “I won’t let Emilio go this week. I will lie down on the runway.” Joshua’s color was wonderful, but the dress was the epitome of awkward between the saggy chest and bunched rear. Ivy picked a great fabric with spectacular movement, but the length killed it.

On the I’d-actually-wear-it end of things, Anthony Ryan’s dress looked comfortable and flattering (I love vertical-striped patterns), and I adored Uli’s color, detailing, and length. I doubted her fabric in the workroom, but on the runway it looked sleek and modern – nothing like a “potato sack,” as Emilio called it – and the touch of fringe on the sleeves made it 100% Uli.

My pick for the Final Three (assuming they go with that method this season): Uli, Anthony Ryan, and Emilio. How about you?

We’ll find out soon. For now, auf Wiedersehen.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Would you buy the winning look? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

 
Hello again, Project Runway fans! Last week, the designers celebrated Christmas in New York (literally). This week, they faced off in crafting fashion from the the 1920s – the days of flappers, Prohibition, and speakeasies.

Host Carolyn Murphy had each designer select a card: Emilio and Joshua got an afternoon garden party, Ivy and Anthony Ryan picked the after-hours speakeasy, and Uli and Laura Kathleen wound up with an evening social soiree. The task? Create a ‘20s-style design for the assigned event – and make sure it’s better than their opponent’s.

The face-off format created plenty of drama in the workroom – especially when the Ivy we remember and love (to hate) gave Anthony Ryan’s look a five out of ten, when he rated hers a seven or eight. And in a direct attack on Uli’s aesthetic, Laura Kathleen quipped, “I’ll combat trims and feathers with fur.”

The runway roared with flapper style – and since we’re down to six, all the designs were up for critique. The judges split them into high and low scores based on the match-ups – Emilio, Anthony Ryan, and Uli scored high, while Joshua, Ivy, and Laura Kathleen (two of which were this episode’s biggest trash-talkers – oh, the irony) scored low.

Emilio’s dress was smart and ladylike, but I agree with judge Georgina Chapman in that it lacked personality. Uli’s design was my personal favorite this week – between the movement of the fringe and the shawl, it was beautiful and original. And Anthony Ryan’s feathered capelet helped the design feel powerful and striking while remaining feminine and fun.

The use of color on the back of Joshua’s dress was remarkable, but the front – between the brooch and the simple style – wasn’t interesting enough. Ivy picked a gorgeous, expensive fabric – and then went on to create a heavy dress with a poorly executed feather trim. Laura Kathleen’s fur and imperfect trousers fell flat with the judges, though they appreciated the whimsical nature of her outfit.

And then there were five. Auf Wiedersehen – until next week, anyway.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Did the right person go home this week? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

 
Hello again, Project Runway fans. Last week, the designers crafted eco-friendly looks for the red carpet. This time, it’s every viewer’s favorite drama-filled episode: the unconventional-materials challenge.

The designers joined host Carolyn Murphy at the South Street Seaport, where they met one of the most sought-after jewelers of his generation, Fawaz Gruosi, and learned that the challenge winner would receive a de GRISOGONO watch. Also, the designs had to be crafted from materials found at “Christmas in New York,” the largest year-round holiday shop in the city.

Of course, the designs couldn’t look “Christmassy” – a surefire way to challenge people who primarily have tinsel, tree skirts, and ribbon to work with.

The runway had some pleasant surprises beneath the holiday trappings, but several designs were gift receipt–worthy. Joshua’s shorts made me cringe – and the judges (including guest Kylie Minogue) noted that no one wants to see a model’s privates on the runway. Casanova’s dress was pretty enough, but it did not look unconventional. And poor Ivy just can’t seem to get away from this yellow/gold motif, no matter how many times it doesn’t work for her.

Laura Kathleen, Anthony Ryan, and Uli all had similar designs, but they were the looks holiday partygoers would be excited to unwrap. Isaac Mizrahi (whose shoes and bags are on Rue today) noticed Uli’s signature style in her dress, and said that the mix was “like magic.” Anthony Ryan’s look was perhaps a tad too Christmassy with the snowflake embellishments, but it had “a sense of relief and cleanliness” (as noted by Georgina Chapman). The pockets on Laura Kathleen’s dress worked well, but the droplets seemed big and the shape a touch boxy.

Do you think the judges sent the right person packing?

More next week. Until then – auf Wiedersehen.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Which of the three similar garments was your favorite? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.