Project Runway All Stars recap: The designers undress innocent bystanders in Central Park, and Sean Avery’s uptown, downtown, and midtown thoughts about the winning outfit
As the cast of All Stars continues to dwindle, each episode brings a new kind of anxiety and sadness. Now that we’re halfway through the challenges, the thought of anyone getting sent home gives me the shakes. Is it just me? Do you feel it too?
We chart our emotions throughout the episode »
The Rather Good Challenge
Getting them out of the halogen-lit 1407 Broadway building, this episode saw the All Stars convincing Central Park passers-by to fork over their outfits so they could create a look that was at least 50 per cent found material. The designers face the challenge with aplomb, Anthony amping his usual energy way up, joyfully assaulting a woman in a colourful print top.
Mondo approaches his mark with an endearing and mildly psychotic fervor— crushing her hand and stuttering, “THIS IS FABULOUS WHAT’S YOUR NAME” in one breath. Also: is he wearing his own face on a tank top? Mon-do. Hrumph -5
In what was obviously just a conniving way of de-panting that sweaty muffin in the park, Anthony somehow managed to turn Austin into a blithering sissy, holding his boater in front of the gentleman’s much-scrutinized briefs. Thank goodness for Austin’s ability to take a tawdry moment and make it a poncey one. Can You Imagine Austin’s Date With That Guy? +80
It ends with Austin throwing his digestif in the guy’s face and declaring himself “not that kind of gentleman!” before wobbling away on his high wheeler.
In the Workroom
There’s low energy in 1407. In comes ol’ Lump-o-Coles, whose sole foray into critiquing Mondo seems to be to remind him that he hasn’t actually won a challenge yet. YEESH.
The most disappointing moment this episode came in the form of some pointed product placement between Joanna Coles and Jerell during their workroom critique. It went a little like this:
Joanna: Did you get this from Mood? (holding macaroni necklace.)
Jerell: Actually, I got it from the Neiman-Marcus accessory wall.
Joanna: They really have some really great stuff on the Neiman-Marcus accessory wall.
Jerell: They sure do Joanna, they sure do!
Then there was a long shot of the Neiman-Marcus wall followed by J & J’s heads exploding. I’m just waiting for the challenge where they have to make a wedding dress out of their HP Touchpads and a packet of Dentyne Fire. Grumble -10
Only a real All Star could declare his own work to be “Grandmamma,” as Anthony does. He is, in his own words, making a “onesie palazzo pants jumper,” which sounds like the only garment I want to wear ever again. Damn it, Anthony—which Tennessee Williams play are you from?
Jerell cannot resist the siren song of the NMAW.
Runway Day
Listen, you don’t have to convince me of Kenley’s truly chilling laugh, but this shoehorned plot point about her being a) loud and b) obnoxious to the other designers is pure contrived drama. There’s even a grey-toned montage of Kenley positively weighing in on the competitors’ garments intercut with Mila and Michael making sour remarks to one another. Oh come now! More Grumbling -2
On Jerell’s dress, Kara observes that there’s “a lot of women in one dress”—to which I might add, there’s not a lot of dress on one woman HEY OHHHHHHHH! I’ll Be Here All Week +2
The most inane direction of the week goes to Michael Costello, who in the L’Oréal Paris hair and makeup grotto says that he’s looking for Sarah Jessica Parker circa 1999 meets 2002, but in a futuristic way. SJP ’99 + SJP ’02 + THE FUTURE = Michael’s look? Actually, I sort of see that!
Nice glasses (guest judge) Sean Avery.
Call me nuts 4 nuts, but I like Jerell’s wacky belly-dancing ensemble. It’s got moxie.
Anthony’s onesie palazzo pants jumper is lovely, but I gotta say, inspiration? :\
Mondo’s whole outfit has to be the most impressive accomplishment of the series thus far. The fact that he made entirely new separates while keeping the inspiration clear is kind of ingenious.
During the runway critique, Angela Lindvall asks Austin how he “got along on the streets of New York,” which I assume means she’s aware of his dalliance in Central Park with a naked man named Diego. Saucy! +4
And…
Mondo, Mondo is the winner! Eat it, Coles. Sean Avery declares it Uptown, Downtown, and Midtown. To wit: you can wear this outfit all over the town. Sadly, Anthony went home on a sweet outfit that didn’t follow the brief. Too bad, but I guess that’s what happens at this point in All Stars—the quality of the work is so high that people are going to lose based on a conceptual misstep.
In a Project Runway first (which isn’t really that big a deal), Michael left his spotlight to give Anthony a hug. The judges blissfully looked on.
If I know Mondo’s game, this is the moment when he’s going to pick up the slack and win every challenge by a landslide. I have a feeling that Michael and Mondo are going to be pitted against one another in the end—I can just feel the drama a-brewing.
Also, who loves jumpsuits more, Isaac or Georgina? I guess we’ll never know. Okay, no, it’s obviously Isaac.
Total: +69
Jerell: Actually, I got it from the Neiman-Marcus accessory wall.
Joanna: They really have some really great stuff on the Neiman-Marcus accessory wall.
Jerell: They sure do Joanna, they sure do!
Then there was a long shot of the Neiman-Marcus wall followed by J & J’s heads exploding. I’m just waiting for the challenge where they have to make a wedding dress out of their HP Touchpads and a packet of Dentyne Fire. Grumble -10
Only a real All Star could declare his own work to be “Grandmamma,” as Anthony does. He is, in his own words, making a “onesie palazzo pants jumper,” which sounds like the only garment I want to wear ever again. Damn it, Anthony—which Tennessee Williams play are you from?
Jerell cannot resist the siren song of the NMAW.
Runway Day
Listen, you don’t have to convince me of Kenley’s truly chilling laugh, but this shoehorned plot point about her being a) loud and b) obnoxious to the other designers is pure contrived drama. There’s even a grey-toned montage of Kenley positively weighing in on the competitors’ garments intercut with Mila and Michael making sour remarks to one another. Oh come now! More Grumbling -2
On Jerell’s dress, Kara observes that there’s “a lot of women in one dress”—to which I might add, there’s not a lot of dress on one woman HEY OHHHHHHHH! I’ll Be Here All Week +2
The most inane direction of the week goes to Michael Costello, who in the L’Oréal Paris hair and makeup grotto says that he’s looking for Sarah Jessica Parker circa 1999 meets 2002, but in a futuristic way. SJP ’99 + SJP ’02 + THE FUTURE = Michael’s look? Actually, I sort of see that!
Nice glasses (guest judge) Sean Avery.
Call me nuts 4 nuts, but I like Jerell’s wacky belly-dancing ensemble. It’s got moxie.
Anthony’s onesie palazzo pants jumper is lovely, but I gotta say, inspiration? :\
Mondo’s whole outfit has to be the most impressive accomplishment of the series thus far. The fact that he made entirely new separates while keeping the inspiration clear is kind of ingenious.
During the runway critique, Angela Lindvall asks Austin how he “got along on the streets of New York,” which I assume means she’s aware of his dalliance in Central Park with a naked man named Diego. Saucy! +4
And…
Mondo, Mondo is the winner! Eat it, Coles. Sean Avery declares it Uptown, Downtown, and Midtown. To wit: you can wear this outfit all over the town. Sadly, Anthony went home on a sweet outfit that didn’t follow the brief. Too bad, but I guess that’s what happens at this point in All Stars—the quality of the work is so high that people are going to lose based on a conceptual misstep.
In a Project Runway first (which isn’t really that big a deal), Michael left his spotlight to give Anthony a hug. The judges blissfully looked on.
If I know Mondo’s game, this is the moment when he’s going to pick up the slack and win every challenge by a landslide. I have a feeling that Michael and Mondo are going to be pitted against one another in the end—I can just feel the drama a-brewing.
Also, who loves jumpsuits more, Isaac or Georgina? I guess we’ll never know. Okay, no, it’s obviously Isaac.
Total: +69){kind=link}
