Friday, October 21, 2016

PR 15 Ep 6: Happy Hour? Not So Much

Last week was a Sob Fest so this week tears are off limits — though no one told Mah-Jing — and the designtestants are about to get their party started by attending a press event at the Absolut Elyx House along with Heidi, Nina, The Adorable Zac Posen™ and Tim Gunn.

But … anyone who watches the PR knows that a party is never just a party, it’s the next challenge and this week is no different. Heidi announces that the designtestants must use the Absolut Elyx House — kind of a retro, Steampunk, speakeasy loft bar — as an inspiration for a luxurious cocktail dress. They will have the requisite one day, but will also have a whopping $300 to spend at Mood.

The designers take their drinks and begin to sketch, or, as in Erin’s case, meander through the space, gathering ideas and inspiration.

Let’s rip ….
THE SAFES
BRIK — top left — went a little shiny, a little futuristic, a little robot, but at least he didn’t go into The Bottom Three.

CORNELIUS — top middle — started off using some fabrics he’d used in an earlier challenge until Tim Cher Snapped Him Out Of It. But what he sent down was a boring Ladies who Lunch dress and not a Luxe Cocktail number.

DEXTER — top right — thought he had this one sewn up because Tim loved the color, but then he went Fringe Wild and created a Cher Halfbreed Moment.

MAH-JING — bottom left — was first inspired by the condensation on a copper pineapple and made a red dress that looked like it was dripping blood. He, too, got a Tim Smackdown and started over, creating this boring, too high slit, too badly sewn lace concoction.

ROBERI — bottom right — chose a fabric Tim called a Missoni Navajo Blanket. I like the look, but it doesn’t say luxurious or cocktail; it says, I just ripped this off of a horse and made a dress out of it.
THE BOTTOMS
TASHA
I know instantly she’s out of her element because Tasha does hip-hop-streetwear and that is nothing like luxurious cocktail dress.

And she doesn’t help with her fabric choices, which start off as florals and light colored denim … lightcoloreddenim. I mean, c’mon! Tim is not at all pleased with what he sees and she shows him some dark denim she bought and he suggests that; he also suggest that rather than bringing the cocktail party to the street, that Tasha bring the street to the cocktail party.

It gets ugly, and simple and basic, and then Tasha runs around the room gathering up scraps from other designers to make her look “pop.”

I hurt.

WHAT SHE SAID
I’m very proud of my look.

WHAT I SAID
I hurt. I hurt she’s proud of this. I’m hurt because it’s basic … ally ugly … with a sash. I hurt.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
The Adorable Zac Posen™ said the fit was off, that the sash was bad, and then finished off with an “el cheapo” remark. Nina said it was just a badly made black dress with a ribbon at the waist, though she said she’d wear it before she would wear Nathalia’s — more on that look — while Guest Judge, actress and model, Emily Ratajkowski called it unfinished and weird.
ERIN
She was all about the copper accessories at the Absolut Elyx House and the feathers on the wallpaper in the ladies room so she chose copper brocade, ostrich feathers, sequins, and a fabric that glows under the lights; it all sounds too much, but Erin just knows that she has this one in the bag.

:::cue ominous drumming:::

Tim is also worried that it’s just too much and Erin actually listened and pulled back on the sequins and the Glow Textile … though she went crazy as a loon with the feathers.

WHAT SHE SAID
I’m feeling really good … I know I’ll be in the Top Three.

WHAT I SAID
It’s like the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz took a job as a Vegas showgirl—plus, The Adorable Zac Posen™ seemed to gasp at the sight of it.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Heidi asked is if was “cocktail” or “costume,” and then called it overdone, between the wings and the silly, bordering on funny, but really unfunny, design. The Adorable Zac Posen™  said it was Priscilla, Queen of the Swamp, though he loved the copper brocade; he then called it unimaginative — I think it was over-imaginative — and cheap and feather. Emily Ratajkowski said the feathers are a hard act to follow, even for the glitzy fabric; it was too much of a showgirl. Nina Garcia said it was like the Lion King, hated the back, and noted that she gave it one of the lowest scores.
NATHALIA
She got it into her head to create a chandelier dress and that’s what sunk her; she spent most of her Mood Dollars on this sequined, bedazzled netted fabric, and then bought some linings as well; I think she should have reversed that expenditure.

Tim is not happy, and drops the “It looks like an ice skater’s outfit” bomb. Nathalia starts over, and is able to borrow fabric from Jenni, who gets Nice Points this episode, to recreate her look into a two-piece, one-piece, sequined chandelier over a pencil skirt looking thing, and, to top it off, she thinks she’s saved it.

WHAT SHE SAID
I feel like I got it together … I’ll be okay.

WHAT I SAID
It’s a crooked, badly sewn, slice of cheesy motel room shower curtain over a halter top and a pencil skirt. I was doing this crap in my sleep!

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Heidi hates it, and calls it a teen prom dress from the mall—those of you new to the PR, anytime someone calls a look “mall” that’s the sign of death. Mall, bad. Heidi was also dumbfounded when Nathalia explained that this was her second look and that she made it in four hours; Heidi said it was a thirty minute look. Nina Garcia called it the furthest thing from luxurious, and dubbed it badly made and cheap. Emily Ratajkowski, though, liked it because, while it looked rushed, it was creative. The Adorable Zac Posen™ agreed with Emily — though he also called it a hot hot mess — because there were some good ideas … badly made.
THE TOPS
RIK
Rik was inspired by the bartenders — they were hot, to be sure — but then threw a curveball by adding his inspiration was the bartender’s leather aprons. He’ll make a leather apron dress, and I was worried. I kept getting an “it’s too literal” vibe.

But Tim appreciated the idea, though he cautioned Rik from doing any kind of hand-painting or embellishment; he cautioned Rik to keep it simple and let the leather talk.

The last time leather talked to me I ended up in a dungeon in Chinatown and … but I digress.

WHAT HE SAID
I feel like I took a risk with the color and doing something unconventional.

WHAT I SAID
It’s very cool, but to me it says Lady Blacksmith not Little Black Dress.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Emily Ratajkowski loved it—but god does she have a monotone robotic speaking voice and mannerisms—and called orange a brave color. Nina loved that Rik went out of the box, and called it confident and beautiful, and said she loved the details. Heidi loved that it was a modern and new eye-catcher of a look, while The Adorable Zac Posen™ called it smart, said he loved the color, but hated the exposed zipper.
JENNI
She was all about the speakeasy attitude of the bar, as well as the copper and gold accents, so she’s making a loose-fitting copper dress and adds appliqués to it that are very similar to the appliqués Erin added to the coat the two of them made last week; her idea does not go unnoticed; or un-snarked.

EmbellishmentGate!

But Tim liked it and calls it “compelling” and so Jenni keeps on adding things to it that Brik rightly calls an “under the sea” vibe.
WHAT SHE SAID
I am so enthused.

WHAT I SAID
It’s very simple, and I am also getting a Little Mermaid Ursula On The Runway vibe. But I do like its simplicity.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Both Heidi and Zac say they thought this was Erin’s look because of the “bedazzling;” Heidi wonders if Jenni copied it, but Nina goes Team Jenni and says maybe Jenni was inspired by Erin and that’s a good thing. Heidi does like the ease of the look, and the plunging neckline, while Nina added that the fabric was beautiful and feminine and the design seemed effortless. Emily Ratajkowski called it a fashion piece while The Adorable Zac Posen™ said he could see it in the Absolut Elyx House; he also said it was a modern take on a vintage look.
LAURENCE
At the Absolut Elyx House, Laurence was all about a leather Chesterfield sofa and took that idea and ran with it. She used black leather to create the tufted Chesterfield sleeves on her dress as well as a pleated leather top; the rest was a simple black dress that Tim called “spectacular.”

WHAT SHE SAID
I definitely think mine stands out.

WHAT I SAID
It’s so serious and severe looking, cool and sleek like Grace Kelly at a funeral, but the back is BAM! I.Love.It.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
The Adorable Zac Posen™ loved it, and loved the sleeve treatment, calling the shoulders sharp and mean. Heidi also loved it, calling it elegant while loving the play between hard and soft. Emily Ratajkowski loved how well-tailored it was, though she also thought black was an obvious choice for a cocktail dress, but she wanted to wear it. Nina was gobsmacked; she called it “the Bentley of Little Black Dresses;” she called it perfect; she called the tailoring impeccable; she loved the sexy back.

It was a slam dunk for Laurence … wait. What? The Bentley of LBDs doesn’t take the prize? Now I’m gobsmacked. The judges gave Jenni gets the top spot for her easy breezy speakeasy number.

Erin dodged a bullet with her craptastic salute to plumage but only because Tasha’s basic … ally ugly dress was unbeatable for the Auf’ing.

I love that Cornelius, who tried to use the same fabric he’s already used, dogged Nathalia for her chose of chandelier textile; but I loved when Nathalia looked at is fabric choices and said they’d make a good couch.

Poor Dexter, though; he  was on a high from last week’s win and Tim saying he loved his color choices this week, that he missed Tim saying “watch the fringe”  critique. His Fringe With Benefits look — I think Brik coined that term — would have landed him in the bottom if he hadn’t had immunity. Maybe it’ll take some of the hot air out of his head.

Speaking of hot air, Erin; I knew the instant that she and Dexter laughed like Mean girls about how good they were and how much they loved each other — seriously, Chip’n’Dale are less aggrandizing to one another — the Epic Fail was about to happen.

I’d also gotten a Madonna vibe from Erin; the hair, the gap in the teeth, the speaking voice. But this week, when dogging Jenni for her embellishments on her look, Erin channeled the bitchy, self-entitled, condescending Madge. I’m kinda getting over her, and will say that I loved her fall from the top. A little gratitude and kindness might be in order.

And I loved the backstage comments on EmbellishmentGate — did Jenni “copy” Erin? — while the judges deliberated, when Nathalia snapped to the room:
“Erin is not the only person that has ever embellished something!”
Snap.
I also loved how Jenni helped both Nathalia and Tasha by giving them some of her extra fabrics for their do-overs; again, Erin take note.

Line of the Night #1 occurred when Brik showed Jenni his fabrics:
“Shiny is a color, right?”
Oh honey, it isn’t, but it’s sweet that you think so.

And howsabout Brik in his shorts at Mood? Yum. And howsabout Ma-Jing’s tears at Tasha’s exit? Girl, get it together, because you’re going soon.

Now, as for me, Laurence should have won this one hands down; that girl was robbed. But she’ll get even by being at The Tents, along with Cutie Rik, I hope. Erin and Dexter, if they stop this Aren’t We Fabulous nonsense, might score a bit higher with me. Jenni, though, with this win, might have a shot, too. As for Nathalia, Cornelius, Mah-Jing, Brik and Roberi? Yeah, maybe they won’t show at The Tents but they might get a good seat.

What did YOU think?



4 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:32 PM

    Ah, another episode I won't have to watch. Thanks Bob! I do wonder though, what does "luxurious" mean these days? Denim, really? Is sixty old enough to yell get off of my lawn..er, weeds? From these pictures alone I would agree with you on who should've won. They all look so drab.

    Deedles

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad to have your recap when I (think) I'll get
    to watch it tonight. What is it with denim this season?
    Maybe, well, I really don't pay attention to current
    fashion. Out here in the rural west we don't slink
    anyplace!
    xoxoxox

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just hope this doesn't become the Season of Embellishments (much like Sean's season was the Season of Fringe). While I think Laurence should have won, I very much liked Jenni's dress. Her embellishments were much better than Erin's ever have been; Erin's always look haphazard and tacky, while Jenni seems to have put actual thought into placement and coverage.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're right; Laurence should have won, as for the other two dresses, one a leather apron I wouldn't use to do the gardening in and the other a sack made out of dressy material....what nitwit would pay good money for those?

    ReplyDelete

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