Project Runway: Getting rid of the Crazies ALREADY?!

Man, oh man. Who's going to entertain us for the rest of this season of Project Runway? For the second week in a row, the Loony Bin has come to pick up what's rightfully theirs. Oh, Malvin. You seem like such a tortured soul without even trying.. maybe. I guess it's true though; you ARE too conceptual for America. Where are you from again? New York, right? Ok. Malvin, find me a pregnant woman who's about to burst who actually wants to wear an outfit inspired a chicken and an egg and I'll take your place in the Loony Bin myself.

In all, this was one of my least favorite challenges in the history of Project Runway. It was entertaining for sure, but just a little awkward as well. Seeing these stick-thin models with ENORMOUS bellies be-bopping down the runway was pretty hilarious. Though most of the designs were good, I can't for the life of me understand how Epperson was safe. His jacket was fine; a bit oddly shaped, but when the model took it off.. HI-Ooooooh! That was a serious fake belly she had on. (I really wish I could find a picture of it to post. I tried really hard. There are just some things a slow computer won't let me do.) That with the shiny WHITE (!) fabric was too much for me. Call me crazy, but I don't think many hugely pregnant women would want to walk around head to toe in white.

As for Mitchell. I was reeeeally hoping he would redeem himself after last week's catastrophe. I really liked the smocking situation going on last week and would have liked to see where it was heading. But that's beside the point. He smocked a collar and made it into a moo-moo and I'm kind of surprised he didn't get auf'd. But thank goodness he was back or we wouldn't get to see his attempt at making some GIANT pleated shorts. Ok. Like the judges, I really liked the idea of this one too. The top and sweater thing were cute (I didn't think the top was too tight, Nina!), but the shorts. Please. Why didn't he just make a skirt? That's what they looked like anyway and wouldn't a skirt be easier, too? I'm no expert, but..

One more thing that bothered me: come on Ra'mon, do you really need to quote past winners? Is that really going to make you more likable? Do you think it will take the attention off your poorly constructed bowling ball bag dress? No. So please stop quoting Christian (He did it twice with a "hot mess" and "fierce!"). And we all know you've more than likely watched seasons past of Project Runway, so no need to name drop past contestants (Stella and her love of all things "leathah"). Really.

Now to the good parts! I liked all of the top 3 designs. The lacework on Louise's dress was so pretty, but I wish the dress itself had been just a smidge longer. Althea (I always think of one of the best episodes of Friends EVER when I hear her name. The 2:10 mark. "Nice shooting!") scored points with me for making a long one. I like long dresses. That's that. But Shirin was clearly the winner from the beginning. Her draping reminded me of Rami (love him!) And the jacket! So pretty. Well played, Shrin. Well played.
















Lastly, I just have to say that at the 28 minute mark there is a pillow from Pottery Barn on the bed behind Mitchell. I love spotting things like that. That's one main reason I still watch Desperate Housewives. I think they buy most of their props from PB. So thank you, Project Runway and Desperate Housewives for keeping Pottery Barn in business!

Spoiler ALERT!

I just came across this photo of John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer filming some scenes for the new season of The Office! Apparently these pictures surfaced DAYS ago. How am i just now seeing them?! I love everything about it!

I wish they were real.

Two of my favorite things.

In keeping with the Project Runway theme, InStyle has asked 9 designers (including Christian Siriano) to sketch their versions of Bella's wedding gown from Breaking Dawn. I can only imagine this scene being incredibly cheesy in the movie, but these sketches made me wonder what they'll go with when the time comes to actually choose a gown. We all know how bad the wardrobe was in Twilight. I'm really hoping things are better in the rest of the movies. I mean, come on.. Rosalie is described as "the most beautiful girl in the world." Would she really wear stone-washed skinny jeans with stripper shoes? I know the budget was low, but I'm pretty sure they could have found cuter stuff at Target for way less money.

Here are the sketches in all their glory. I do like what Christian came up with, but my favorite would have to be either Monique Lhuillier's or Lela Rose's. I think they both fit the description from the book really well. And seriously, someone please tell me what Brian Reyes was thinking when he sketched his gown. Even after reading the description I still can't see any semblance of a dress.

YIKES.

"Where's Andre?!"

In honor of the return of one of the best reality shows on TV (isn't THAT an oxymoron?), I've decided to start up the ole blog again. Several times I've started to write a new entry, but nothing seems important enough to share with the world. (And by world, I mean the handful of readers I've probably lost during my 8 month hiatus. Ah well!) Nothing important enough until the return of Project Runway! That's right, the return of high fashion, insanely short deadlines, all-nighters that make me tired just from watching them AND Tim Gunn and his ENORMOUS vocabulary. I mean really, how does he remember all those words?

Anyway, I'm excited about this for many reasons, and here they are:

1) The challenges are actually that: CHALLENGING. When would making an evening gown out of recycled material, flowers or nothing but denim be easy? It's impressive to me how creative the brains behind PR are. Is it really someone's job to think of these challenges for the contestants each season? I wouldn't even know where to begin if asked to construct something for a fellow contestant's mother. Yikes. That could get ugly. (And it did.) Put that with a tight budget, and even tighter time limit and you've got a real challenge in store along with some great entertainment. But what's more is that these challenges are also..

2) Rewarding! I guess it's rewarding to eat a grasshopper or lay in a pile of poo. Wait, no. No it's not. Is it? Color me crazy, but I'd feel better about myself by winning a challenge that had me make an outfit based on a famous piece of art rather than solving a riddle or not getting kicked of the island.

3) The contestants on PR aren't there just for the fame or money. Sure it's a bonus. I'd admit that. I don't know if they get compensated for their time on the show (I would think so?), but these people seem to really care about what they do and want to further their careers. Even though it's a reality show, PR is a great way to do that. I stopped watching any reality competition on MTV a long time ago because it was always the same old characters (and that's just what they are: characters) coming back to get paid so they don't have to get real jobs. It's disturbing.

4) The time limit. I mentioned it earlier, but some of these times limits are crazy short. I used to argue that they needed to lengthen them by maybe a day or even just 12 hours, but seeing what Christian Siriano did last season in a manner of minutes was baffling and made me take my arguments back. Now I just sit back and make guesses at who will be the first to crack under the pressure.

5) Michael Kors. He's hysterical. Even when he's completely ripping someone's creation to shreds, he comes up with the funniest sayings.

6) Nicole Kidman!! Okay, this is just for tonight's episode, but she's making a "cameo" to announce what the challenge will be. Sadly, she won't be guest judging (that seat will be filled by... Lindsay Lohan?! Since when has she EVER dressed appropriately?) Anyway, I was thisclose to seeing Nicole at the movie theater a couple weeks ago and have come to terms that I may not ever see her around town.. just the rest of my friends will. But I do have a theory: Either I'll never ever see her and my dreams will be crushed, OR I'll get to meet her, we'll be the best of friends, I'll babysit little Sunday Rose (what a great name) when she and Keith are busy. She'll introduce me to an Aussie fellow back in Sydney and we'll marry and I'll obtain dual citizenship and I'll split my time between the states and OZ and become part of Nicole's entourage..

But I digress and promise I'm not crazy. I'm just a fan! (That's what they all say...)

Anyway, I'm more than excited about Project Runway tonight! The countdown is on and I'm hoping the contestants are as fun and entertaining as they have been in seasons past.