We are going to the Opera

This is quite possibly the best challenge I have seen on Project Runway. We are going to the Opera! When those words were spoken I was dying. Now I am not the type of person who has an Opera station on Pandora but I enjoy listening to good music. I listen to Andrea Bocelli and people like that. I mean, hello, my celebrity husband is Josh Groban after all! So it was no surprise that I was dying to see what they would do.

This was the challenge of all challenges for Austin Scarlett. If anyone should win this challenge it better be him. This man is a genius at creating beautiful and exquisite evening and bridal gowns. He was the creative director for Kenneth Pool for 3 years. So he better pull out all the stops.

After sketch time, all the designers rush off to Mood to select their fabrics. Both Michael and April have the idea to create a red gown. This was the best thing to ever happen to Michael, little did he know it. After he finds out that they were both getting red, on a whim, he changed his idea completely to a black look. Smart move. April took this beautiful red fabric and dipped in BLACK DYE! Is this girl nuts?!?! Horrible! I was surprised at seeing how many people selected a floral pattern to make an evening gown. I have no problem with patterns but give me a break you are creating a look for the flipping opera, and that is what you want. Honey, that fabric is barely good enough for a sundress.

All the dresses that I said looked like a great dress for the gala of the garden club, got on the bottom. I don't care if you put pockets in the dress; it still made no sense for the Opera. April's dress was gross. As Badgley Mischka said, "it looked like she was standing in oil and it trickled up the dress." The dress was overworked on the top and the bottom looked ruined and dirty. Don't get me started on her hair and makeup.

Now let's get to the gowns of the night. Anthony, Austin (NO surprise), and Michael were on the top of the list. Anthony's dress was great but it felt more like a dress for an award show like the Grammy's instead of the Opera, especially by the way it was styled with the gloves and her hair. Austin, Austin, Austin. This dress was golden. The gown was sophisticated and exquisite. Part of me wished that he had added more black tulle to the train. But it is no big deal because the dress was still dynamite the way it was.I mean he did win the challenge after all. I hate to admit it but tonight I had a love affair with Michael's dress. I don't think I can put to words how much I loved his gown. The skirt was perfection. The bead work on the collar was perfection. The back was perfection. Feathers...Shut the front door! I wanted to take that dress home to just look at it for hours. Someone needs to get a dress from him IMMEDIATELY for award season. This guy has talent!

In the end someone needed to go home. The bottom 3 was Kara, April and Sweet P. Kara was the first back to the stew room, leaving April and Sweet P to battle it out. Sweet P was the one who was OUT. I'm sorry to say but the judges had it wrong. April deserved without a doubt to go home. Sweet P had a decent dress that was well done to an extent. I know someone would have been willing to wear it somewhere. No one would have worn April's.

Next week.... Miss Piggy! Who isn't excited about that?

Make it work!

Eliminated Designer: Sweet P

Project Runway All Stars: Week 1

When I first heard that they were going to do an All Star version of Project Runway, I was kind of nervous just because I had no idea what to expect. But then again it's reality TV so we all know we can at least expect DRAMA, and lots of it.

First thing is first. Let's get this out of the way. How the heck do they think they can do a Project Runway without the fabulous Heidi Klum? I'm sorry but the show is not complete unless you have the German accent and the famous 'auf wiedersehen' at the end of every show. Heidi was not the host of the disastrous accessory spin off show. Which I honestly feel is the reason why I never got into the show and was yawning every 2 minutes. This new host, Angela Lindvall, is ok but she just feels like any other girl you could find in California to bring in for a screen test. Safe with blonde hair. If you are going to leave out Klum at least have a dynamite host.

Upon arrival to NY designers are required to bring in a new garment to show off on the runway in front of the new judges. The judges are Isaac Mizrahi, and Georgina Chapman. No Project Runway is complete without a mentor. Introducing Joanna Coles, Editor and Chief of Marie Claire. I guess Tim Gunn couldn't "Make it work" with his new acting schedule and all.

The first challenge is nothing but typical get your materials at a...wait for it...Dollar Store. How creative! Hey producers! You always tell your competitors to be innovative, why don't you start thinking about getting some new innovative challenge ideas, that's a start. Tablecloths, trash bags, and anything that closely resembles fabric goes flying. After the designers get some time to work, they get their first mentor session, as our new host called it. Call it bad editing, but how in the world can you have a mentor session and not see everyone’s work. We only got to see Sweet P, Elisa (remember the girl who did spit marks), Gordana and Mondo. Now everything Joanna said to them was good, however, enough of the sugar coating! Get to business. I don't need for you to ask a million questions. Say if it's good or bad and come up with a new catchphrase and you are golden.

After looking at what actually went down the runway, the designers that I thought would go far proved me right. Rami was one of my all time favorite designers to ever make fashion week. I cannot tell you how upset I was when he didn't win. Looking back, all of the designers that I feel in love with didn't win. Daniel, Laura, Rami, Korto, Michael, and Mondo. Just my luck. Rami and Mondo were the only ones that did anything that looked like something you could see walking down a runway today, even if it was made from a trash bag and an umbrella.

On the chopping block was Sweet P, Elisa, and Gordana but you wouldn't have known it from the judge’s comments. They did say some harsh criticism with Sweet P's towel dress but that was it. If a dress is hideous, say it's hideous. Don't say how you "love the spirit and the story." Say what you honestly think, you won’t offend any of us. We all know that if Michael Kors and Nina were there, they would have had a million things to say about it.

Overall the show was better than the past 2 or 3 seasons of Project Runway. Why? Because these are people who were good designers, without having to be casted as the villain of the season. I am so tired of competition reality shows casting a villain. There is a way to cast certain characters without having to be so literal. I will say it time and time again that the best season of Project Runway was Season 2 with Santino, (why is he not an All Star?) Nick and Andre. Even though they had their moments of being mean, they also had fun which made it enjoyable to watch. I mean remember this?

Make it Work!  

Until next week, auf wiedersehen

Eliminated Designer: Elisa Jimenez