Project Runway Challenge -- Week 7: Shoes

For week seven, the designers got to pick (after  correctly answering a fashion industry trivia question... which really showed people's self-righteous colors... meow) a pair of shoes from the Marie Claire wall 'o shoes.

I'm feeling opinionated today so I'm going to share my thoughts and I'd LOVE for your to share your thoughts too by leaving a comment on this post.

The top three looks were: Helen, Alexandria, and Ken.  

I thought Ken's dress (aside from being WAY too short) looked like an off-the-rack clubbing dress (I'm not sure my opinion isn't tainted by my dislike for Ken's constantly negative  attitude... about everything).

And what was with all the build-up drama over the battle of the tartan pants?!  Nothing... it was nothing and went nowhere.  Both pants were nice and weren't in competition anyway.

Here's Helen's winning look:

 

And Alexandria's dress:

 

And Ken's dress:

 

The designs that were safe included: Alexander, Dom (I think she has fabulous ideas and I adored the creepers, but there were a few things about this dress I wasn't fond of), Justin, Karen (can you say "literal"?  Ha ha ha), and Kate (I would have preferred to see Kate's outfit in the top three rather than Ken's).

Alexander

 

Dom

Justin

 

Karen

 

Kate

 

The three looks with the lowest scores were Bradon (I adore Bradon, but I agree with the judges on this one.  His technique was cool, but the outfit as a whole just needed to be scratched an begun again), Jeremy (once the judges put the image of "Pretty Woman" into my head, that's all I saw with Jeremy's design), and Miranda (who was axed from the competition... I liked the pants but the rest was a disaster).

Bradon

 

Jeremy

 

Miranda

 

Our challenge is for you to find a photo of a pair of shoes you want to use as your inspiration (on the submission form, there will be a special place for you to upload the photo of your inspirational shoes as well as the usual place to upload your jewelry entry.).   

 

Submit your entry here (preferably by next Thursday, but not crucial).  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

 

Project Runway Jewelry Challenge Week 6 Results

Week six was the "glamping" (glamorous camping) challenge.  SRAJD members had the option of running with the theme of jewelry based on or inspired by their experiences in nature or by using a design from the Project Runway show as inspiration (see the clothing designs here).

Here are the entries for the week (remember, you can still submit even after the deadline!):

Nohline l'Ecuyer: "This bracelet is made of lampwork glass and looks like moving water. Interspersed with jade (rocks) and silver (mineral) spacers. Then to make it more versatile, I have used a bracelet extender to show that it can also be worn as a necklace. Double duty for glamping!"

Julie Loebbaka: "These Monsoon earrings are inspired by colors of the low desert during the monsoon season. The peridot mimics the green colors of the Palo Verde trees while the blues and greys in the labradorite remind me of the stormy summer skies."  

Grace Gipson: "Jeremy's calligraphy philosophical love letter was number one in my opinion. So I thought I would honor his design."  

 

Laura Bracken: "The instant I saw Jeremy's dress, I knew that would be my inspiration.  I loved everything about it (and thought he should have won).  I took a love letter written in 1897 from Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas and etched it onto a strip of copper which I then hammered into an arc and added a patina.  I used alternating inverted and everted blocks of text in the shapes reminiscent of Jeremy's creation.  It's almost like a hidden meaning because the everted text is very clear and the inverted text is very subtle.  The whole portion reads: 'Everyone is furious with me for going back to you, but they don’t understand us. I feel that it is only with you that I can do anything at all. Do remake my ruined life for me, and then our friendship and love will have a different meaning to the world. I wish that when we met at Rouen we had not parted at all. There are such wide abysses now of space and land between us. But we love each other.'"

Donna Jo Wallace

 

Joyce Ingram: "What could be better in nature than a cloudy seascape. Lots of wind and waves and plenty of atmosphere."

I hope you join is for the next runway challenge... shoes!

And if you end up designing something for this or any other previous challenge any time during the airing of season 12, submit it here.

Project Runway Challenge -- Week 6: Glamping

For week six, the designers had a restful day of glamping before they had to make their next outfits.  Glamping is "glamorous camping".

SPOILER ALERT!

The designers were told to use their experiences in nature to inspire a new look.

Here are the top three designs as chosen by the show judges:

Alexandria won with her stylized denim jacket and "poopy pants" (their phrase, not mine). 

 

Jeremy was a close second with a gown that featured a calligraphy philosophical love letter (and cool buttons down the side). 

Ken's "Trees and Midnight" rounded out the top three (the dress looks better in close-up where you can see his hand painted trees).

Then there were the safe outfits.

Bradon

Dom

 Helen

 

 Kate

 

Miranda

 

And the bottom three.

Karen

 Ken

Justin (who was given the boot by the judges but reinstated by Tim Gunn's one and only "save" for the season). 

Our challenge is for you to use "nature" or "camping" as the inspiration for any jewelry creation this week and/or select one of the runway outfits to inspire you. 

Submit your entry here (preferably by next Thursday, but not crucial).  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Project Runway Jewelry Challenge Week 5 Results

Week five was the Lexus challenge.  SRAJD members had the option of running with the theme of creating luxurious, high end jewelry with unconventional items or using a design from the Project Runway show as inspiration (see the clothing designs here).

Without further ado, here are the entries for the week (remember, you can still submit even after the deadline!):
 
Nohline L'Ecuyer: "I created a luxurious necklace from plastic balls, obtained from the party store. The neckpiece was made of wire and buttons on hand."

 

Cindy Burke: "The geometrically designed fashions by Jeremy, Karen, and Kate influenced me to create an Aztec inspired silver and denim necklace with a rectangular fringe!"  

 

Grace Gipson: "Project Runway labeled them, 'middle of the pack', but I thought Champagne Lexus Wear was most appropriate for the looks created by Alexander, Miranda, and Bradon as a team. In their honor, a bracelet with just a hint of 'bling' as arm candy for their lovely creations."  

Laura Bracken: "For this week's challenge, I was inspired by a combination of the geometric shapes in Karen's dress and the challenge theme of luxury."

I hope you join us for the next runway theme... the Glamping challenge!

And if you end up designing something for the Lexus (or any previous ) challenge, any time during the airing of season 12, submit it here.

Project Runway Challenge -- Week 5: The Lexus Challenge

For week five, the designers were divided into teams of three.  Almost instantly the eye-rolling and sighing began and we JUST KNEW which team was going to be at the bottom.

You can't create nice things when you're in a totally foul mood.

The designers were told to create a luxurious, high-end mini collection from unconventional materials.  The shops they could choose items from were an vintage wallpaper store, a food market, and a party supply/home goods store.

Spoiler alert!

The top looks were from team Jeremy, Karen, and Kate (Jeremy won):

The middle of the pack looks were team Alexander, Miranda, and Bradon:

Along with team Justin, Dom, and Helen:

And the losing team (which was like watching oil and water try to mix) was Ken, Alexandria, and Sue:

Sue was eliminated.

So use "Luxury and High-End" as the inspiration for your jewelry creation this week and/or select one of the runway outfits to inspire you.  You can also use Lexus as your inspiration.  And if you want to continue the challenge using unconventional materials like the PR contestants had to do, that's even more awesome.

Submit your entry here (preferably by next Thursday, but not crucial).  Can't wait to see what you come up with!