Friday, January 05, 2018

PR All-St★rs 6 Ep1: Rookies and Veterans

And we begin PR All-stars Season 6 in a football stadium because nothing says fashion like … yeah, I don’t get it either. Still, our intrepid host, Alyssa Milano meets eight All Star designtestants at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium and it looks to be a short season, until Milano brings out eight veterans of All-Stars who have appeared on the show before but haven’t one.

So, we have what are called Rookies and veterans though, thankfully, we’re told right off the bat that this isn’t going to be a season of teams … cuz that don’t work.

However, this first challenge will be Rookies—Kimberly Goldson. Stanley Hudson, Amanda Valentine …who’s already been on the PR twice … Char Glover, Kelly Dempsey, Edmond “Guns” Newton, Candice Cuoco and Merline Labissiere—against the Veterans—Anthony Williams, Joshua McKinley, Casanova, Ari South, Melissa Fleis, Fabio Costa, Helen Castillo and Ken Laurence.

The first challenge will begin after a Quick Stitch Relay to see which team can make a look the fastest; thank Dior the look didn’t have to be pretty cuz, yeah, ugly stuff was made. The winning team from the real will have a $1500 budget and the choice of a Fall or Spring collection, while the losers work with just a $1000 and get no choice ion their season.

It was a close relay, but Edmond… lord he’s dreamy …forgot to put the belt on his model and then forgot he had the belt around his neck, so the Veterans win the race and opt to go for Spring, and create a collection based on a woman going to Art Basel in Miami. The Rookies take a look back at a 1970s-inspired Fall collection.

Why am I seeing disco balls and leaves? Well, let’s dish …
VETERANS
They have this because they’ve been all-stars before, right? Yeah, that makes no sense, because it’s still the PR and still the same challenges. Still, they think they are already winners …. Until mentor Anne Fulenwider drops by.

She tells ken that a power suit at Art Basel makes no sense because it’s Miami and it’s hot; she’s worried about Casanova, but, then, who isn’t since he says he likes to design underwear. She warns Ari about the lack of cohesion in the collection, and tells Josh, who is using neon pink … again … that she loves the disco. She is concerned about Fabio’s color choices, Anthony’s elegant prom dress, Melissa’s ‘meh’ look and Helen’s boring colors.

Anthony’s dress is pretty, especially given that the model is breathing, but it’s nothing special. Ari’s is nice, but it doesn’t fit the sleek lines of the others, and Josh’s hot pink mess belongs in a collection from Adam and Eve online shopping site. Melissa’s is sleek and hot, but doesn’t say Miami or Art Basel.

The Veterans are not the winners, and Hellen, Ken and Casanova are the bottom of the bottoms.

HELEN
She’s got ‘tude already, so I see shrieking from her this season.

WHAT SHE SAID
It walks good.

WHAT I SAID
It isn’t fashion, it’s Marshall’s.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
The beautiful Georgina Chapman™ calls it a good dress, a boring dress, while Isaac Mizrahi says it’s off the rack with big hips. Alyssa Milano, though, likes it, and thinks Helen should be removed from the bottom.

CASANOVA
He still seems not to understand the idea of the show, and wants to make swimsuits and underwear.

WHAT HE SAID
I’m pretty happy.

WHAT I SAID
I like the top, but the pants seem fluttery and slutty at the same time. Sluttery?

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
The beautiful Georgia Chapman™ says the two pieces he created lack taste. Isaac likes the detail in the leather top, but says he’s seen it before, while Alyssa thinks the hard top and soft bottom … is that a gay porn reference … doesn’t work. Former PR designer, and current Beyoncé favorite, Michael Costello says the look shouldn’t be at Art Basel … shouldn’t be anywhere at all.

KEN
I loved when he pointed out the divas in the room, and screamed, Pot. Kettle. Ken.

WHAT HE SAID
It needs editing.

WHAT I SAID
It doesn’t scream power suit, it screams the power is out suit.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Isaac loved the idea, but hates hates hates the bare midriff …. Power suit belly button? Michael Costello thinks the pants are so badly constructed that they resemble the stretchy pants pregnant women wear. The Beautiful Georgina Chapman™ says there are issues with the dress, one of them being that it’s tacky. Alyssa Milano says it simply isn’t fresh.
ROOKIES
With a 70s theme raging the Rookies get to work, and seem to play well with one another. Anne Fulenwider will change all that.

She does love Kimberly’s pants, but dubs Char’s look claustrophobic and itchy; Stanley’s is not fashion forward and she does think Candice has evolved from her season’s black-and-red collection. She thinks Amanda has a 70s vibe going, but it’s a 70s kitchen vibe, and says Merline’s isn’t modern, but more Little House On The Prairie. Kelly’s is very 70s, though, Edmond’s seems conservative and traditional.

Stanley’s look is like a throwback, and not the 70s, but maybe the 40s; Bonnie might wear that robbing a bank.  Kimberly’s look appears to be a onesie and a diaper worn over orange pants. Kelly’s is right out of the 1970s … like in a movie, and as a costume. I loved Candice’s flowy Stevie Nicks Goes Uptown vibe, but Amanda’s Ode to Breasts was a bit much.

Edmond … gosh, he’s adorable… Char and Merline really listened to Anne and switched up their designs and it paid off, making them the tops of the tops.

EDMOND
He has an aesthetic and sticks to it, but I'm not sure he can mold his aesthetic to each challenge. But, yeah, adorable.

WHAT HE SAID
The fit is very beautiful.

WHAT I SAID
Gosh Edmond is dreamy … I say that because I don’t really like the color, the shoulders, or that snake thing. But gosh, Edmond ….

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
The Beautiful Georgina Chapman™ loves the “easy glam” of the dress but hated the big shoulders. Michael Costello pints out construction issues, while Alyssa calls it “unexpected’ and Isaac says it’s fresh, glamorous and dramatic.

CHAR
I tried to remember her from her season and, well, there she is.

WHAT SHE SAID
I love the volume and the fit.

WHAT I SAID
It’s a fun little number, in a somber color, even for a mullet dress.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
After shortening her dress and lowering the neckline and adding a cape, Michael fell in love with the look, Isaac said he normally doesn’t like a high-low dress, but somehow this one works. The beautiful Georgina Chapman™ noted the sleeve issues, but loved the color, while Alyssa loved the movement.

MERLINE
Merline will always be the one who struggles with time and construction and this first challenge was no different.

WHAT SHE SAID
I love the shape.

WHAT I SAID
If she hadn’t opted to do those crazy sleeves, she wouldn’t have been in the top, she would have been on a bus back to sewing school.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
She really switched it up, and created cool sleeves that were far from the prairie. Isaac loved the openness of the sleeves, while Michael Costello said it was reminiscent of armor. The Beautiful Georgina Chapman™ loved Merline’s architectural take on fashion, but noted the seam mistakes, while Alyssa loved the strength and softness of the look.
Edmond is safe, and it comes down to Merline and Char, and Merline’s sleeves take the Win.

As for the Bottoms, Helen is saved at once and then Ken and Casanova are up to be chopped. It was a no-brainer: Casanova must go.

I loved when Ken, clearly one of the biggest bitches and jackasses in PR history, muttered while checking out at Mood:
“I see a lot of my team members with stuff in their baskets that we did not discuss, but to be nice I’m just gonna say — there is some tacky s— in these baskets.”
And he was right.

Anthony’s description of Edmond’s zipper:
“Edmond’s zipper has scoliosis.”
It was kinda spot on.

Isaac Mizrahi telling the designtestants:
“I’m gonna be super bitchy this time.”
But then he let The Beautiful Georgina Chapman™ take on that role. I don’t know if this was filmed after all the revelations about her soon-to-be-ex-husband-sexual-predator Harvey Weinstein, but GC was gunning for fashion victims.

I don’t quite get the new runway; why change what’s always worked?

Josh McKinley’s eyebrows … is that done with a grease pencil?

Anthony’s work apron, and the idea he has a company called DPD, Dead People Dresses, and he actually makes corpse couture?

What did YOU think?

3 comments:

  1. :-) Project Runway Fridays again! :-)

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  2. What tdm said. I didn't know this was back on. I'm not going to watch this time around. The only bitchiness I can stand these days is yours, Bob, and it is delicious. Your recaps are all I need to get by.

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  3. Bob beware - the contestant in red with blonde hair looks a lot like a presidential daughter possibly looking for a new career when daddy is thrown into the nick!

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