Episode 308 (8/30)
Recap The designers are told they will need to create an outfit for an international jet-setter. The twist: They will be that jet-setter. Designers are the models this week. After a review on the runway, Heidi informs the designers that the final test will be how their creations travel. They hurry back to the apartments where they find airplane tickets. Once at the airport, the destination of Paris is revealed. In Paris, the ensembles are reviewed by guest judge Catherine Malandrino. In the end, one designer goes home. Six remain. Tim's Take Heidi announces that for this challenge the designers will be creating a look for a hip, international jet setter. Back in the workroom, the designers learn that they will be designing for themselves -- that is, they will each model their own look on the runway. They have 15 minutes to contemplate this challenge and sketch, and then we go shopping with a budget of $75. 2006 CFDA Award winner Francisco Costa, creative director of Calvin Klein Women, is our esteemed guest judge for this challenge. After the judging, neither a winner nor a loser is selected. Rather, Heidi announces that the designs will receive a final judgment after we see how they survive a trip. Towards that end, she tells the designers to skedaddle from the runway, head to the Atlas, and pack a bag. An airline ticket is positioned on the bed of each designer. Once at the airport, the destination is revealed: Paris! We arrive in Paris the next morning and make our way to the studios of Parsons’ sister school in the 15th arrondissement. Parsons was one of the first American colleges to found a campus abroad. That was in 1920. The school operated a full-blown campus until the advent of WWII, at which time the school closed its doors at the now ultra-glamorous, but then not so, 9, Place des Vosges. The school was reopened in the 50s, but did not become a degree-granting program again until the early 80s. We’re thrilled to have Parsons Paris as our home base for this trip. We’re also thrilled to have the incredible and ultra-glamorous Catherine Malandrino as our host judge for this trip. Born and raised in France, Catherine designed for a number of couture houses before launching her own label in 1998. We’re all so fortunate to have Catherine’s support! The designers give an informal, floor-level runway presentation to Catherine in the workroom. Catherine adds her scores to those of the judges in New York. What follows are the results, as announced in Paris.
Jeffrey wins! There was no doubt that this design clear represented Jeffrey’s point of view. It was rewarding to see him so thoroughly engaged in a menswear design, and it was doubly rewarding to see the deftness of his abilities. In addition, his design was incredibly ambitious: A jacket, embellished t-shirt, and pants. I frequently worry that Jeffrey won’t have time to finish a challenge, but there was no mistaking his drive and determination to fully succeed with this one. The end result was excellent and authentic. Rock on, Jeffrey!
Angela is OUT. Her demise began with her fabric choice: silk linen. Few fabrics are as travel unfriendly -- it wrinkles instantly and behaves (or misbehaves!) as though those wrinkles were heat-pressed into place. Then, use the linen to make a cargo pant? For an international jet setter? Add to that the granny circles -- oops, I mean fleurchons -- and you had one hot mess. In the words of Catherine Malandrino, “Ahnschaalaa, you are not of this world. You are out.” It was truly difficult to say goodbye to Angela, especially given how excited she was to be in Paris, but what choice did we have? And, only too fittingly, Angela receives this week’s Jubilee Jumbles Award. Everyone scream, “FLEURCHONS!”
Laura selected a nude silk jersey and created a stunning halter-dress with a wrap-tie at the midriff. Laura’s decision to use jersey with its inherent stretch was wise, as was the decision to create a less structured silhouette than we’re used to seeing from her. Superb.
Michael eluded me when I saw him select a seersucker at MOOD. Huh? I couldn’t imagine how it could possible fit into his sensibility. I was very wrong. The seersucker proved to be the perfect counterpoint to his hip-hop cargo pant. And the transition of his original design for a motorcycle jacket into a similarly structured shirt was a brilliant innovation. Not surprisingly, Michael’s design was a strong contender for the win.
Kayne channeled Elvis, plain and simple. I first became worried when Kayne selected a Versace-like fabric at MOOD, because it was so graphically dominant and over-the-top. But that was nothing compared to his intention: to cut out some of the bolder elements out of that fabric and attach them to a black shirt. Oy! Catherine Malandrino and our judges in New York all agreed that Kayne’s design was a major misstep. Kayne, for the second challenge in a row, please get back on your mark or the judges may become less forgiving!
Uli is flirting with becoming a caricature of herself. That is, she’s pummeling us with Caribbean hippie dresses in riotous prints. In spite of her dexterity in execution, I was fearful that the judges would declare that they had seen this dress too many times before. Furthermore, her design limited the possible destinations of her international jet setting. Thankfully, she survived this challenge with only some soft admonishments from the judges. Heed their words, Uli!
Vincent, stymied by the prospect of designing menswear, took the safest route, understandably. His fabric selections were dark and staid. For the design of the pants, he used his own pants to do a rub-off. (A rub-off is the use of an existing garment to create a pattern. In the case of most menswear, using a rub-off is smart and efficient.) There was nothing striking or innovative about Vincent’s design, but, thankfully, it wasn’t a float in a parade either.
Recap The designers are told they will need to create an outfit for an international jet-setter. The twist: They will be that jet-setter. Designers are the models this week. After a review on the runway, Heidi informs the designers that the final test will be how their creations travel. They hurry back to the apartments where they find airplane tickets. Once at the airport, the destination of Paris is revealed. In Paris, the ensembles are reviewed by guest judge Catherine Malandrino. In the end, one designer goes home. Six remain. Tim's Take Heidi announces that for this challenge the designers will be creating a look for a hip, international jet setter. Back in the workroom, the designers learn that they will be designing for themselves -- that is, they will each model their own look on the runway. They have 15 minutes to contemplate this challenge and sketch, and then we go shopping with a budget of $75. 2006 CFDA Award winner Francisco Costa, creative director of Calvin Klein Women, is our esteemed guest judge for this challenge. After the judging, neither a winner nor a loser is selected. Rather, Heidi announces that the designs will receive a final judgment after we see how they survive a trip. Towards that end, she tells the designers to skedaddle from the runway, head to the Atlas, and pack a bag. An airline ticket is positioned on the bed of each designer. Once at the airport, the destination is revealed: Paris! We arrive in Paris the next morning and make our way to the studios of Parsons’ sister school in the 15th arrondissement. Parsons was one of the first American colleges to found a campus abroad. That was in 1920. The school operated a full-blown campus until the advent of WWII, at which time the school closed its doors at the now ultra-glamorous, but then not so, 9, Place des Vosges. The school was reopened in the 50s, but did not become a degree-granting program again until the early 80s. We’re thrilled to have Parsons Paris as our home base for this trip. We’re also thrilled to have the incredible and ultra-glamorous Catherine Malandrino as our host judge for this trip. Born and raised in France, Catherine designed for a number of couture houses before launching her own label in 1998. We’re all so fortunate to have Catherine’s support! The designers give an informal, floor-level runway presentation to Catherine in the workroom. Catherine adds her scores to those of the judges in New York. What follows are the results, as announced in Paris.
Jeffrey wins! There was no doubt that this design clear represented Jeffrey’s point of view. It was rewarding to see him so thoroughly engaged in a menswear design, and it was doubly rewarding to see the deftness of his abilities. In addition, his design was incredibly ambitious: A jacket, embellished t-shirt, and pants. I frequently worry that Jeffrey won’t have time to finish a challenge, but there was no mistaking his drive and determination to fully succeed with this one. The end result was excellent and authentic. Rock on, Jeffrey!
Angela is OUT. Her demise began with her fabric choice: silk linen. Few fabrics are as travel unfriendly -- it wrinkles instantly and behaves (or misbehaves!) as though those wrinkles were heat-pressed into place. Then, use the linen to make a cargo pant? For an international jet setter? Add to that the granny circles -- oops, I mean fleurchons -- and you had one hot mess. In the words of Catherine Malandrino, “Ahnschaalaa, you are not of this world. You are out.” It was truly difficult to say goodbye to Angela, especially given how excited she was to be in Paris, but what choice did we have? And, only too fittingly, Angela receives this week’s Jubilee Jumbles Award. Everyone scream, “FLEURCHONS!”
Laura selected a nude silk jersey and created a stunning halter-dress with a wrap-tie at the midriff. Laura’s decision to use jersey with its inherent stretch was wise, as was the decision to create a less structured silhouette than we’re used to seeing from her. Superb.
Michael eluded me when I saw him select a seersucker at MOOD. Huh? I couldn’t imagine how it could possible fit into his sensibility. I was very wrong. The seersucker proved to be the perfect counterpoint to his hip-hop cargo pant. And the transition of his original design for a motorcycle jacket into a similarly structured shirt was a brilliant innovation. Not surprisingly, Michael’s design was a strong contender for the win.
Kayne channeled Elvis, plain and simple. I first became worried when Kayne selected a Versace-like fabric at MOOD, because it was so graphically dominant and over-the-top. But that was nothing compared to his intention: to cut out some of the bolder elements out of that fabric and attach them to a black shirt. Oy! Catherine Malandrino and our judges in New York all agreed that Kayne’s design was a major misstep. Kayne, for the second challenge in a row, please get back on your mark or the judges may become less forgiving!
Uli is flirting with becoming a caricature of herself. That is, she’s pummeling us with Caribbean hippie dresses in riotous prints. In spite of her dexterity in execution, I was fearful that the judges would declare that they had seen this dress too many times before. Furthermore, her design limited the possible destinations of her international jet setting. Thankfully, she survived this challenge with only some soft admonishments from the judges. Heed their words, Uli!
Vincent, stymied by the prospect of designing menswear, took the safest route, understandably. His fabric selections were dark and staid. For the design of the pants, he used his own pants to do a rub-off. (A rub-off is the use of an existing garment to create a pattern. In the case of most menswear, using a rub-off is smart and efficient.) There was nothing striking or innovative about Vincent’s design, but, thankfully, it wasn’t a float in a parade either.
Designer: Laura
Designer: Uli
Designer: Jeffrey WINS
Designer: Kayne
Designer: Vincent
Designer: Angela OUT
