PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 10 "Sally Beauty Makeovers" Challenge Blog Recap!

 The Swapnil-Tim Standoff: Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

This week on Lifetime's Season 14 "Project Runway", the remaining six designers had to do the Sally Beauty Challenge: To Makeover a "Project Runway" crew member and take them from Workday Ordinary to Runway Extraordinary...

Designers receiving their "Sally Beauty" Challenge--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Crew Makeover Victims...I mean, Subjects--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

I Love Me Some Ashleigh: Ashleigh Hocking is the Talent Manager of "Project Runway" and it was wonderful seeing her in this episode--she was also our Talent Manager on "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" a year and a half ago and I have very fond memories of working with her (probably one of the fondest, from doing that show!). She took care of the Mentors--myself, Anya Ayoung-Chee, Mondo Guerra, as well as the judges and any of the Special Guest Judges. Ashleigh knows A LOT of dirt about handling all them Diva Judges...as well as handling us ;)



It was a DOOZY of an episode for so many reasons including contestant/designer Ashley Nell Tipton crying AGAIN...

Crying Ashley--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Swapnil Shinde taking his smoke breaks AGAIN... 

Swapnil Cigs--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

I Want Sleeves...And I Hate Everything That You Are Designing For Me--Swapnil's "Project Runway" Crew Client, Jennifer Cohen--Season 14 "project Runway" Episode 10

That's a Bunch of Bullsh*t: Tim Gunn on Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

But more importantly--and what everyone is talking about--Tim Gunn reaching his "I've Had It!" Moment with Swapnil and well...saying a bunch of expletives you wouldn't normally associate with the usually even-keeled Tim Gunn. Check out contestant/designer Edmond Newton's reaction:

Oh No He Didn't: Edmond Newton--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Happy Judges:  (L to R) Constance Zimmer, Shiri Appleby from Lifetime's UnReal TV show, Marie Claire's Nina Garcia, Zac Posen, Heidi Klum--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

The Good:

Merline Labissiere: Merline's design of a vest, top and side slit skirt for Camera Assistant Katie Harris was Punk Fab! One of the most impacting Makeovers for sure (although I know we all wished she would have tacked back that facing!)-well done

Kelly Dempsey: Kelly's design of faux leather overalls and knit/jersey tank for Talent Manager Ashleigh Hocking was deemed the best of the bunch this week. I thought so as well.

Not-So Cute:

Ashley Nell Tipton: Ashley, who considers herself a Plus Size Designer Extraordinaire, didn't do herself any favors--in terms of her own PR and Marketing--with this design. She should have been able to do this with her eyes closed--after all, her client Nicole Plascencia--a Challenge Assistant-- was (barely) a plus size so...What Gives Ashley? It was a #Fail

Crying Again!: Oh and yes, naturally, Ashley was crying--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Candice Cuoco: Candice created this very Hoochie-licious and low-taste level, puckering pleather outfit for her client, Model Wrangler Monique. The judges thought she looked like a "Lady of the Night". You'll have to read my Recap HERE to find out what I thought.

Swapnil Shinde: But, the worst--according to the judges--was Swapnil's "Caped Crusader" design for Production Coordinator Jennifer Cohen. This was his THIRD design. Jen was not a happy--or an easy client. But Swapnil (according to the show's editing) was seen as having wasted a lot of his time and was seen as not being accommodating to his client. In the end, while he was able to give her sleeve, the rest of the outfit...was a bit of an "Oh Dear!", especially this:

Knotted and Pinned--The back of Swapnil's top--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 10

Bye Bye Swapnil..See you on Season 6 of "Project Runway All Stars"

Now...here's is my Recap of this week's episode:

Season 14, Episode 10: Workday to Runway

Ashley crying again? Check. Swapnil taking smoke
breaks? Check. Puckering pleather from Candice?Check. Tim cursing
several expletives? Oh dear! This episode had it all, and then some.
Lots to discuss…

The designers meet up on the
runway stage where Heidi saunters in, asking them if they have enjoyed
“getting to know all of us…and I mean ALL OF US” (as the camera pans to
the crew). Cut to Tim in the workroom, along with Sally Beauty
Consultant Liddy Bisanz and Gregory Patterson, chief hair stylist for
Sally Beauty. They are all there to announce the Sally Beauty Challenge:
Makeover a “Project Runway” crew member and take them from “workday
ordinary to runway extraordinary.”

The remaining
six designers are coupled with their makeover victims, I mean,
subjects. The pairings are as follows: Katie (camera assistant) and
Merline, Desiree (sound mixer) and Edmond, Jennifer (production
coordinator) and Swapnil, Nicole (challenge assistant) and Ashley,
Monique (model wrangler) and Candice, and Ashleigh (talent manager) and
Kelly. I was especially excited to see Ashleigh as one of the makeover
clients. She was our talent manager on "Under The Gunn” and working with
her was truly one of the highlights of filming UTG.

After
a brief consultation with their crew member clients, we get tidbits of
what they like: Katie (Merline’s client) describes her personal style as
“fun and flirty,” but is a bit worried that Merline...



To Continue Reading my Recap, Click HERE on the MyLifetime.com "Project Runway" Blog!

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps--EPISODE 5: "Girls vs. Girls" Project Runway Paintball Collections

Clockwise L to R): Last-One-Sitting Ashley; No-Paint-Splatter Blake; Heidi and Tim Paintball; and Lobster Red Tim--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5 "Gunn and Heid"



This week on Lifetime's Season 14 "Project Runway", it was time for another dreaded Team Challenge involving Paintball. The episode was called "Gunn and Heid"...get it?? A play on "gun" and "hide"...Yeah, it took me a while to figure that out (silly me!). Heidi and Tim sauntered onto the runway stage wearing white jumpsuits and paintball guns.

Paintball Busters: Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn--Season 14 "project Runway" Episode 5

Each "customized" their jumpsuits; Heidi popped the collar and rolled up her sleeves, while Tim donned a red tie and color-matching pocket hankie. During the team choosing process, it became a High School P.E. Class all over again when the boys (mostly) picked the boys and the "Cool" girls picked their "Cool Girl" friends--if you can call someone your friend that you've only known for like 10 days (that's how long in real time the season had been filming).

Really Bi*ches?: Season 14 contestant/designer Ashley Nell Tipton--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

Anyhow, both the Boys and the Girls left poor Ashley Nell Tipton last to be picked on either of their teams, leaving even La Heidi a little annoyed at how and why NO ONE picked her, especially since Ashley had won TWO challenges already. When the camera panned to Ashley, you could almost see most of her life roll by in front of her eyes.

Really B*tches Part Two: This overhead jib camera shot in the above photo says it all. I'm sure she probably wanted to backslap each and everyone standing up there (I would!)--except Heidi and Tim, of course. 

Moving on...time for the Paintball Game:

Tim Gunn and the designers get ready for a paintball game--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

Princess White: During the game--and after--Tim Gunn made a point of signaling "Princess" Blake Patterson out for having a perfectly Clorox Bleach-like White Jumpsuit, while the other designers were paint-splattered. Oh Miss Blake.

Time for SPF protection: After the game and back in the workroom, I couldn't help but notice poor Tim Gunn and how sunburnt he was as result of being out MC'ing that darn "Project Runway" paintball game. Benefit should send him some of their "Flawless" SPF 15 Powder!

Girls vs. Girls: During the workroom, the boys totally got along and worked well, while it was the girls, who did not. Candice was the Team General and her "Cool Girls" brigade followed along. Meanwhile Ashley and Laurie were not really buying any of it.



Runway Time--Of course, the runway collections reflected the harmony that happened in the Boys + Merline Team (Team Blue) . The Boys' collection was the better one...by leaps and bounds:

Blue/White Cute: (L to R) Designs from Blake Patterson, Merline Labissiere, Joseph Charles Poli--My favorite here is Merline's asymmetrical kimono-like sleeved coat with fitted skirt (middle)--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

My Top Three: (L to R) Designs from Jake Wall, Edmond Newton and Swapnil Shinde. It was a tough choice, but I liked Edmond's the best (middle). It was polished, elegant, and Fashion Week Runway Ready!--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

Happy Dance: Team Blue--The Boys + Merline--Won! And Edmond (far left) was chosen as the Top Winning Look. They were all very happy and it was well deserved--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

And then there were The Girls:

Team PURPLE: (L to R) Designs from Laurie Underwood, Candice Cuoco and Lindsey Creel--Of the three above, my least favorites were Laurie's and Lindsey. Both looks lacked creativity and that special fashion "It" factor--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

But there was WORSE: (L to R) Designs from Ashley Nell Tipton, Amanda Perna and Kelly Depsey. Not a fan of all three. Ashley's (far left) was "Missy" and Fashion School Student-like and Kelly (far right) was a harness-Mermaid Lite skirt mess. Amanda's hi-lo tie-dye tent was Patternmaking 101--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

No BUENO Mija: Nina Garcia and Zac Posen show their disgust with the Girl's designs while they were on the runway. BTW: Next season, we should put "pop up bubbles" over the judges heads. Pretty Please??!!--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

Bye: It was Amanda's time to go since she had been at the bottom so many times already and also for that hi-lo, tie-dye tent dress. You cannot design that while Swapnil is doing THIS. Case closed sister!--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 5

And now, time for my Full Recap of this week's Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode...And as always--don't forget to leave me a comment on the "Project Runway" Blog on myLifetime.com ! I read them and will comment back--whenever I can :)

"GIRLS vs. GIRLS"

It's the fifth Episode of "Project Runway" Season 14, and
just as the designers are starting to find their groove. Boom! It's time
for another team challenge. This week’s episode involved a game of
paintball, Tim in a white jumpsuit and sunburnt, a team full of mean
girls, plus one of the best collections I have seen in a long time on
“Project Runway.” Let's get started.

As the episode
begins, Tim and Heidi saunter onto the runway wearing white jumpsuits
and holding paint ball guns. Gee, I wonder where this is going? Before
any announcement of a "Project Runway" paintball game, first things
first: picking teams. Blake begins the process since he won last week's
challenge. He chooses Swapnil. I give Blake points for that pick. These
two have had their disagreements. I'm glad that Blake put that aside and
realized that having Swapnil in a team would be good, since he is
arguably one of the best designers this season. Blake may not know how
to tell time, but at least he knows that much. 

Next,
Candice is first named for the second team and she chooses....Amanda?!
This goes back and forth between the guys and the girls in a high school
P.E. class manner. It quickly becomes boys vs. girls. And most
surprisingly, one of the most talented contestants so far, two-time
winner Ashley, is left last. Candice and her "cool girls" brigade do
their best to...

TO CONTINUE READING my RECAP, click HERE on the "Project Runway" Blog!

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Nick Verreos Recaps on MyLifetime.com--Premiere!

Tim, Heidi and the Season 14 designers--Project Runway Season 14, Lifetime

Project Runway is BAAAACK!!! Yes, kids, it's Season 14--Fourteen seasons and over 10 years later and "Project Runway" is still going strong. And I am happy to also be back...RECAPPING the episodes for Lifetime Network and the Mylifetime.com website and "Project Runway Blog". I'm honored to have been doing it for EVERY SEASON since mine (Season 2) of course! This new season brings 16 designers, lots of drama, crying and oh, I almost forgot...FASHION!

Emmy-award nominated hosts, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn--Project Runway Season 14, Lifetime

In the Premiere episode, the designers met up with Tim and Heidi at Madison Square Garden where they were introduced to their first challenge: create a look that best shows who they are as a designer, in one day...

Here are "bullet points" on the Highlights and Lowlights of the Premiere Episode:

No, this is NOT my original FIDM tool box, in case you're asking ;)

* THREE of the designers DID NOT bring their tool boxes!! WHAT THE H%#@ !!!??? I cannot  for the life of me understand this. Other than: AMATEUR HOUR! They all had some useless excuses which didn't help.

* It's only the first challenge and there was crying (Ashley Nell Tipton) 

* A designer who has applied EVERY SEASON on the show and has not gotten in...until now (Edmond Newton)

* An obnoxious "Chatty Cathy" designer who would not stop talking and/or singing (Merline Labissiere)

* Fresh out of school young designer who thinks he is "FABULOUS!". Can't wait for Nina to tell him otherwise. Oh wait, I think she did! (Blake Patterson)

* Hoop earring-loving designer from BAHSTON. Wow! Those are some serious Hoop Earrings!! (Kelly Dempsey)

* Fresh out of school designer from New Zealand who tried and failed at Grecian Goddess draping (not so easy kids!).

The Best

Merline Labissiere--modern, chic...outstanding. Merline was made out to look like an obnoxious Chatty Cathy in this first episode, but she ended up creating one of the best looks

Ashley Nell Tipton--LOVED this look, and so did the judges. I liked it's playful elegance, she utilized the FAB print to all its exuberance, and the combo of the paper-bag waisted box pleated skirt with modern cut-out top was perfect; it was the clear winner.

The Oh Dear!

Lindsey Creel--I cannot, for the life of me, understand why you would make a look straight off of the Nasty Gal website...available for $29.99 ??!! It's cute but any girl can find 10,000 variations of this at any store. Isn't "Project Runway" a DESIGN COMPETITION??!! Give me something!

Blake Patterson--Can anyone say Parachute Circus?? The actual dress is not that bad; but it was definitely the wrong fabric for this design.

Hanmiao Yang--Tablecloth, bed sheet, no shape, wrong fabric. I get what she was going for--maybe a little bit of Prada Vintage Grandma Chic but...it didn't work. It was more Grandma than Chic.

Duncan Chambers-Watson--Fresh out of school designer and a native of  New Zealand, Duncan, tried and failed at Grecian Goddess draping. I think he said his forte is menswear (obviously) and I assume that this was his first attempt at draping. It didn't work. people think it's soooo easy to create a Grecian goddess gown and to drape correctly. Not so mucheey...

Here's my RECAP of last week's Premiere Episode of Season 14 "Project Runway"--Hope you enjoy and make sure to leave me your comments on the Lifetime website...

"Let the Fashion Games Begin"

"Project Runway" is BACK! Yes, for the eleventh straight year Heidi, Tim and Nina return again for Season 14; and I’m happy to also be back, here on myLifetime.com, to recap the episodes for another season. In this premiere episode, Emmy-nominated hosts Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum assure us that there will be a lot of drama, tears and fashion that “inspires us, excites us and scares us," and oh, Tim will drop the “F-Bomb.” Ready for another season? I am. Let the "Project Runway "Season 14 Fashion Games begin…

Sixteen aspiring designers show up to Madison Square Garden for their first challenge. The Season 14 designers are a diverse crew; consider it a "Project Runway" Benetton ad for 2015. They include Duncan, a fresh-out-of-school 24-year-old from New Zealand; Kelly, a hoop earring-loving Boston gal; Mumbai India-based designer Swaphil; Ashley, a self-described “fun, funky and fat” San Diegan; David, a swarthy-sounding Italian residing in NYC; Hanmiao, originally from China but living blocks away from Madison Square Garden; Savannah Georgia-based Merline, a former architect of Haitian descent; Amanda Perna who got into Season 9 but did not make the “first draft pick” cut; Blake, who thinks of himself as “fabulous”; and Edmond, who has applied to “Project Runway” since THE VERY FIRST SEASON and now, finally made it.

Tim and Heidi await them to introduce the challenge: one day to create a look that shows who they are as a designer. There are swaths of Mood fabrics, scattered throughout the arena. The designers have three minutes to shop, yank and grab--up to four different textiles--to then bring back to the workroom. Post fabric grab session, it’s time to haul the designers back in the vans...

Click HERE to read the rest of my "Project Runway" Season 14 Premiere Recap on MyLifetime.com's "Project Runway Blog"!