The Sewthern Belle's Runway Recap! Week 5

*Blogger's Note

My Apologies! I did not mean to be so late with week 5 and week 6! I did actually write week 5 and sketch my designs, but my family and I went away for the weekend and I'm not hooked up with wireless Internet access on my laptop. (And my Dad does not like wireless broadband for some kooky reason.) And then I forgot Runway was on again during week 6. So I plan to get on track this week! Also, excuse my poor picture quality on my designs, but I had to use my web cam to take the picture of my sketchbook since my parents always give me a hard time about using their printer and scanner. Oy...So if anyone wants to give me a good scanner for free or at least tell me how to get wireless without a wireless broadband, I'm all ears.

The Sewthern Belle's Runway Recap! Week 5

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! This week on Project Runway the designers had to face the 'unconventional materials' challenge. The unconventional material in question, newspaper. I love these challenges. It's the height of creativity. But I was a little disappointed with the judges' choice. And with the behavior of certain designers.

The winner this week was Irina. Paying homage to the paper raincoat crafted in the sixties (after Tim Gunn convinced her to take the risk) She crafted a very nice stylish coat.
I love the sleeves and the collar. She crumpled up the paper and bunched it up. As Tommy Hilfiger said, it's an alternative to fur. (Except for the whole getting wet thing.) And the camera didn't pick it up, but the judges noticed that she took a Sharpie and drew on the details of stitches. Very creative. But I was a little disappointed by the fact that another coat won. Why not my man Christopher? His hard armor corset and full long feather effect skirt combo was gorgeous. I love how he plays with volume. He's going to be in the top three. I just know it.

So, what I would submit for submission, is based on those paper chains we used to make in kindergarten.

The idea was to chain together the dress like armor. I would make a simple a-line dress over the muslin so that nothing shows, then, chain and sew the chain links to the slip of the dress. I love the volume that this promises.

But I was also disappointed in Johnny this week. He was voted out this week. And with good reason. What he sent out on the runway, was not up to his talents.

I loved his original concept of the origami as decorative elements. But when he tried to paint it red, and he made the origami cranes too large, it did look like a kid did it. But instead of 'making it work', he threw it out and just came up with something easy and way too simple. So for 'Make it Work Corner' this week, I combined his original concept and his little printed sheath into something more doable.
But what really disappointed me this week, was how Nickolas was treating Johnny and how Johnny tried to lie and make excuses. Johnny came up with this elaborate story of how the steam setting on the iron ruined his first dress (no one bought it...except his model). I know Johnny had a prior addiction to meth, and I think part of being a drug addict you get used to lying and defending yourself. So maybe when Tim tried to give him a helpful criticism, he went back to his old habits. And maybe, just maybe, that inner addict is trying to convince Johnny that he has no talent for design so he might as well give up. Which he did. I don't know. Only Johnny and God know what is going on inside his head. I just know what I observe and pray that someday, we hear a lot more from Johnny.

Now as I said, Nickolas' behavior was unacceptable as well. In fact, a lot of his behavior throughout the show has bothered me. He acts like a real snob. He's a talented designer, but he acts like he knows it. He acts like he's the only one who deserves to be there. Johnny may have not had an design that was Dior, but Nicholas did not need to roll his eyes and say it was anything but. That's unprofessional. Yes, Johnny lied and made excuses. But that is no reason to act like a seventh grade little girl in a clique and make fun of him behind his back. Or to make fun of anyone else on the show. SO when he was in the bottom two this week, and the judges said HIS design was not punk, I laughed. Hopefully, that little experience will teach him that he's not all that and a bag of chips after all. But we'll have to wait and see...next week.