Mondo Wins

And nobody is surprised

Well except Mondo, maybe.

The rest of us knew the whole premise of this show was pretty much to vindicate him for his robbed earlier win from season 8.

But Austin was equally robbed for season 1, but I guess time heals all wounds

Personally I liked Mondo's designs although I thought they were very similar to his previous output

Austin's I thought branched out more although I agreed with the judges that he needed to hone his focus better (Hasidic vampire hipsters???)


But if this is the results...

I'll bite! 

Other moments of note:

Angela Lindvall looked SEX! in her Stella McCartney

Georgina Chapman was channeling her inner Muppet lady of the manor

Tommy Hilfiger gave good insight on market and retail (despite my "Meh" on him, he knows how to sell ish!) 

Not enough Isaac! 

And Joanna Coles is possibly the nicest (at least on TV) editor of a fashion magazine I've ever experienced! 

And the consolation prize of a weekend in Paris may have been custom made by the producers since they knew they weren't giving it to Austin

(Oh and I checked, Mondo's designs aren't up on Neiman Marcus online as of this post on Friday at 11am.)

Project Runway All Stars: I Nanette Lepore You!

This week we learned about the math behind running a successful contemporary label (that would be the next great American designer's market) from Ms. Nanette Lepore


I was very happy that we at least mentioned after all these seasons, that fashion design is a business first. There is no magic envelope of money and a room full of free Brothers at your fingertips.


I was very disappointed though that it went right back to fashion fantasy with this girl just looking at designs and pulling a fabric allowance out her head

And everyone easily stayed within that budget? Really? Don't they usually bitch and struggle over the measely $200 they're given for less important dresses? Seems fishy and/or a missed opportunity to expose the compromises designers face

Anywho let's talk taffeta:

AUSTIN

Austin's coat is the perfect example of how fabric is the backbone of good design. This would have been spot-on in a more structured material, but given his budget restrictions he chose this wet noodle ish. Shame cuz the color was on trend saturation and the movement I'm sure made the judges teeter

And what girl doesn't want her "That Girl" moment? 

MONDO

Remember that year Jennifer Hudson was up for an Oscar for her throw down tour de force in "Dreamgirls" and everyone was like "if she doesn't win this..."? Mondo is the J-Hud of contemporary design. I long ago suggested he has an amazing career at the helm of Forever 21 or on team with one of the labels off Bergdorf's 5th floor, because given an established contemporary designer's aesthetic he nailed it 

No surprise. What is exciting is that we're at the finale and both our boys are "IN" 

Here's where we stand as we head into the homestretch

AUSTIN   5

MONDO  5

Hmm... would you look at that. We got two winners on our hands, although we all know there can only be one on top. 

Oh, and Angela? Still nailin' it! 

OMGspell

Ooh the battle of the queens grew electric this week when the challenge became "BROADWAY"! 

And what a fabulously muddled challenge at hand. So the character the designers are creating for is rich and showy but she should look like she stole items from a flea market? 

Thanks "Godspell" actress we never saw again for that very explicit explanation 

(Ooh, girl, did no one tell you that you were gonna be on TV? The stage is forgiving.) 

Let's see what our little costumer elves banged out in response

Workin'....

Workin' it!

AUSTIN

Here's why Austin is an 'All Star' in the land of reality television: when this came out I was like 'oh he is done for!' but somehow this take on one of Henry the 8ths lesser wives totally played out almost nailing him a win? What?

(Dumbfounded)

MONDO

Was there a part of this week's instruction I missed? Where did it say make a direct historical reference to a lady of royalty, because if this ain't some Catherine the Great ish, I'll be a monkey's uncle! And that Eraserhead hair? Ooh child. 

Hey, at least we managed to go the whole episode without jazz hands....

Oh....



Well despite that offense I'm giving it to Mondo, cuz in my fantasy league, nerd alert, battle royale between former queens, Catherine could whoop on Marie Antoinette any old day. Take that queen!


Austin    3

Mondo   4

Project Runway All Stars Austin vs Mondo: Seasonal Dressing

The Winter of my discontent. This was the worst challenge. Or maybe I just have runway fatigue this week

(Angela, equally bored)

Either way here's the results served up with some snark





AUSTIN


So before we begin, really, can we talk about why each paring stole ideas from one another. Because I liked Austin's high-waisted pant here and then Kara up and does a high waisted pant. That won their Spring season! What??

What about Kara's look says "winner"?! This is sad shut-in runs to the store! 

Not that Austin's prim tea break from the lending library fared much better. I love a good floral, but this ain't it. I was genuinely worried for me old pal, Austin, this week. 

MONDO

The judges had the nerve to rip apart how "juniors" Mondo's look was but then turn right around and rave about this polka dot romper from Kenley? (Again polka dots from both of you? For Summer?)

And downplay the uneven polka dots. Really visually heinous

I'm gonna reward this week to Mondo. I like "Juniors" clothes and think win or lose, he needs to ditch the PR franchise and become head designer of Forever 21. And I mean that as the utmost compliment! 

AUSTIN   3

MONDO  3


Once again tied up. These two are like the Giants vs Patriots, but a wee bit gayer.

Project Runway All Stars Austin vs Mondo: Miss Piggy is the Client!

Work it out!

Most of the designers were floored by the opportunity to dress such a fashionable figure in pop culture. How they composed themselves at all is beyond my fathoming....

                         (Austin)                                                                                        (Mondo)                                

Oh, that's right, they didn't! 

Blech, guys. What happened here? Both dresses are far too referential. Austin's is straight up Proenza Schouler for Target 

While Mondo's look is cribbed from Bryce Howard Dallas in "The Help" 

Damn! Down to that unfortunate helmet hair! 

Either way, both were literal and literally AWFUL! 

If I have to chose, Austin, you sneak by with this week based entirely on styling. Your model's hair and youthful energy are far more Piggy than that Betty Ford look of Mondo's

(Stealing Angela Lindvall's thunder!)

So the score is:

Austin  2

Mondo 1

Don't be too excited, Senor, that was a default point. You better step it up!

Some Old Friends at Chanel

Seems Karl has mended fences with model heiress, former muse AND former frenemy Ines de la Fressange. So fickle, the kaiser. 

Meanwhile also on Chanel's runways some of my old friends (or more accurately: models I heart all over)

Angela Lindvall

Jacquetta Wheeler

Stella Tennant

Coco Rocha

Carmen Kass

Only with Karl is a fashion show like a game of Pokemon

cuz he's gotta collect them all!

Thanks for the Ad: Fall 2010 Fashion

It's one of my favorite times of the year again: September Fashion Magazine Time!

Now the editorial part long ago lost its allure to me after far too many disappointingly silly actresses against white backdrops modeling clothes that could be appealing if on a real model and not some dishwater tanned blonde girl from the latest interchangeable romantic comedy (this month's roster of Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston excel at proving my point!)

(Awkward pose with claw hands in a kimono)                                  (Random Barbara homage)  




So let's look at the ads! Cuz they still sell a fantasy land where you wear heels and and a full on Look to lounge on fire escapes and traipse around the city doing fabulously chic and indeterminate tasks

I've never been crazy about Natalia V (and that pose is sooooo Benny Ninja episode of America's Top Model), but DAMN if Karen and Christy aren't making a dramatic case for purchasing a vanity and a full skirt

Anja missed her train Friday afternoon, too wrapped up instead pondering why a raven is like a writing desk

Every August, the streets of New York City are filled with European tourists. Misleading ads like this are why every single one of those Euros is holding bags from mall brands like American Eagle, Express and Old Navy 

Speaking of Old Navy, kids,  Domenico and Stefano spent a lot of money to look real cheap. And that strategy only works for Dolly

I see Anna Wintour advised Ann Taylor to dump the models and sip from the dishwater blonde actress cup 

I was a fan of all the color blocking and 60's futurism Nicolas Ghesquiere used for Fall 2010, but this ad looks like you forced your sloppy, bratty teenage daughter to go to Sears for the annual family portrait

I LOVE Angela Lindvall!

Not a fan of Guess, but kinda loving this rockabilly meets Gina Lollobrigida imagery

And Moschino got the Colonial for Fall memo, although my version will have a whole lot less c**k rings involved. Yikes!